think outside the box

i don't want to label myself as a rebel...i'm hardly rebellious.
HOWEVER....i do like to make changes for the better, and it does bring a smile to my face when i can turn heads and drop jaws while in the process of making people realize there's a better way of thinking...

spoke on issues facing the church (universal and hometown) w/ dan, fuss, mike and this guy named drew today in front of what seemed like a partial congregation at Emmanuel UMC.
i think i saw an older lady give a puzzled look when i explained how i was finished w/ my undergraduate and was planning to pursue my m.div.
the...audience/class?? (not sure what to call it...i was late.) asked good questions...

my favorite one was "why do you think younger people like yourself (question is directed to all of us) shy away from ministry from the church? (then later ministry as a career)

i answered w/....well the problem is the church tries to fit ministry into a box.
the church says......this is how it should be because that's how it's always been....but church numbers are decreasing, so obviously that's not working anymore.
people/the world is changing and if the church can't/doesn't recognize that and is willing to do something about it then the church is ultimately can only blame itself for lack of attendance.
the church can't reach all 50, 10, 5, or even 2 people the same......you just can't treat everyone the same...that's NOT how you reach people.
you can't fit your congregation in this set box of ideals and character make up.....

i also brought to the attention the reason people kinda shy away from ministry as a career or look down on it as a career...first is hypocracy, second is the church. the church is not accepting well....they don't seem to respect younger ministers...the older congregations any way.
but eventually congregations will have no choice....all the ministers are going to retire or die....cause they're older.

most ministers choose ministry as a career after their career (therefore still starting older and having a shorter career).....so if anything the young ministers who are dedicating their entire life to this.....to answering the call, to making a difference....earlier. they should....be welcomed w/ open arms as if they had already been doing it their entire lives, because in the end whether they are old or young they are doing what God has called them to do....has given them the gift to do.
so embrace it....regardless of age.

this is all a part of justin's homework.....now i'm intrigued even more about the church and it's role in society.
seminary...bring it!

birthday season!!!! (+ bonus quiz from alethea)

so i think the last week and this one are going to be my favorite weeks.....three of my friends are having birthdays...which means i get to bake, and i like that a lot!
sadly though since alethea is out of town, justin has been keeping busy and has made it impossible for me to give him BROWNIES. (grrrrrrrr grandpa).

i've been super busy lately....mostly w/ work and scheduling in time for friends that work when i sleep. several of my friends have new careers and/or significant others now.
i am anxious to hear back from MTS.

......i took this from alethea. i can't sleep.
A: Attached or single? single...

B: Best friends? Jennifer, Jennifer, Mike.....the wesley ppl

C: Cake or Pie? depends. i like to make cake......but i'm a sucker for fudge pie.

D: Day of choice: tuesday...i don't have work and i get to go to wesley

E: Essential Items: cell phone + great friends

F: Favorite color? red

G: Gummy Bears or worms? i like the tropical aquatic life gummies at work...but other than when i'm at tfm i don't really eat gummy. i love choc. though....in many forms.

H: Hometown: Dyersburg, TN

I: Favorite indulgence: ice cream.....sadly though it doesn't feel the same way about me.

J: January or July: July...I love the summer, so July.

K: Kids: are awesome....

L: Life isn't complete without...? MY AMAZING FRIENDS

M: Marriage Date: n/a

N: Number of brothers and sisters: ....none

O: Oranges or apples: oranges

P: Phobia: needles, being lost in crowded public places

Q: Quotes: "They cannot hurt you unless you let them", "Do not be anxious for tomorrow, for today has enough trouble of it's own"

R: Reason to smile? I have a good life....great friends, caring family, and i am for the most part self sufficient.

S: Season? spring

T: Tag 5 people: i'd rather not

U: Unkown fact: i prefer skirts over dresses and fancy peep toe shoes

V: Veggie: asparagus

W: Worst habit: I too sigh a lot.....i say things before thinking a lot too

X: X-ray or ultrasound: whichever is needed....i guess

Y: Your favorite food? pasta.....in any form pretty much

Z: Zinc or sunscreen: zinc....? i'm going to say sunscreen

dan dan's cake + new job?

i just finished making my first cake from scratch.
this year i made dan dan a chocolate cake w/ dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and chocolate frosting for his birthday.
it turned out 1,000x better than the blackberry cobbler i made for him last year. last year we also all met at garabaldi's to celebrate dan, justin, and jared's b-days...however this year justin is going out of town to the beach w/ family, jared is....well (TBA), and dan wants to eat texas de brazil (thanks for stepping up here mr. r)
i will eventually post pictures of my two layer cake. i'm impressed w/ myself. esp. considering that my cookies did not turn out right for justin's cookout.

i was spatting off to amanda (middle mgmt) at church health center about two weeks ago about fresh market and how i want a more stable job. she informed me there was an opening downstairs in the building i volunteer in, so i sent in my request to HR and they contacted her. Tuesday she told me that i need to e-mail her my resume.
i did that tonight and we'll see what happens.
finish line called me......i didn't return the call. i've decided unless worse comes to worse i am never doing fashion retail again. it blows.
makes bread look like paradise....sides the people i work w/ are amazing....well a select few of them make it worthwhile anyway :-D