I have big plans for this summer!!!
It's absolutely crazy and I kept telling God that I didn't think I could do it, nor did I really want to... but, its happening anyway. It's something completely out of my comfort zone... I know I will be completely stretched. But what it came down to and what I kept hearing is this.... "WHY NOT?"
Please pray as I prepare, and that the little details fall into place. I'll share more later
Saturday, January 24, 2009
whole in heaven
From December 18, 2008
Couldn't sleep.. lately its been a common occurance.
Tonight a co-workers' mother's life was celebrated at Pathway. I sat through the service in awe of the family, in how they were truly in awe of Christ and worshipping him... arms high and hearts abandoned.
It was truly a celebration of this lady's life, who by the attendance, it was obvious she reached so many people. She lived selflessly, loved Christ, and made known to her kids that as much as she loves them, our Father in heaven loves them more. She prayed prayers of gratefulness and affirmation during her final moments, rather than of desparation and pleading, and sang the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" during her final moments. What a remarkable woman; whom I never met, but I feel like I knew her a long time when walking out of church tonight. And then the slide show at the end... the pictures of her with a smile that radiated joy while enjoying moments with her family, even in the last few years when her body has been consumed with sickness.
I couldn't help thinking about how I will never know that special bond that family has. Well, I could some day but that day seems a LONG ways away. I will never know that love that Becky gave her children. I will never experience the closeness of a family at a time of greiving if God choses to end Mom's life before mine. Her funeral will not have joyous pictures of the family together. And, I will never have that peace of knowing that Mom would be whole in heaven.
That's the attitude that has come to mind the past few services that I've gone to such as tonight. But these services also help me realize something.
I feel defeated every time I try to share my faith with my mom. Her mentality about things seem to diminish and suffocate any hope. It frustrates me because sometimes I think deep down inside her she is crying for help but she refuses it at the same time. When I try to be a vessel, I end up getting hurt in the end, and sometimes think I'm not the one who God wants to be that light to her. But if I'm not, who is? If my siblings aren't, who is?
I pray for strength, endurance, and motivation to do something about this. I feel like I've been so hardened to the situation. I get upset when I experience things like tonight, but then other times I get the "I don't care" attitude because we don't have a relationship and never really have. But I really do care about her salvation. However, ultimately, I know its a choice that is between her and God.
Megan told me how it was harder tonight because her family was so close, but that she knows she's been blessed and lucky. I know God has blessed me. Through friends. Through family. I have learned how to love and care for others by other people God has placed in my life, and for that I am grateful.
But it all comes down to what has been on my mind for the past 3 months... I just want my mom to be whole in heaven some day, too. If I have to put my feelings on the line... then I'll do it. Now I just have to do it... which is the hard part.
Couldn't sleep.. lately its been a common occurance.
Tonight a co-workers' mother's life was celebrated at Pathway. I sat through the service in awe of the family, in how they were truly in awe of Christ and worshipping him... arms high and hearts abandoned.
It was truly a celebration of this lady's life, who by the attendance, it was obvious she reached so many people. She lived selflessly, loved Christ, and made known to her kids that as much as she loves them, our Father in heaven loves them more. She prayed prayers of gratefulness and affirmation during her final moments, rather than of desparation and pleading, and sang the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" during her final moments. What a remarkable woman; whom I never met, but I feel like I knew her a long time when walking out of church tonight. And then the slide show at the end... the pictures of her with a smile that radiated joy while enjoying moments with her family, even in the last few years when her body has been consumed with sickness.
I couldn't help thinking about how I will never know that special bond that family has. Well, I could some day but that day seems a LONG ways away. I will never know that love that Becky gave her children. I will never experience the closeness of a family at a time of greiving if God choses to end Mom's life before mine. Her funeral will not have joyous pictures of the family together. And, I will never have that peace of knowing that Mom would be whole in heaven.
That's the attitude that has come to mind the past few services that I've gone to such as tonight. But these services also help me realize something.
I feel defeated every time I try to share my faith with my mom. Her mentality about things seem to diminish and suffocate any hope. It frustrates me because sometimes I think deep down inside her she is crying for help but she refuses it at the same time. When I try to be a vessel, I end up getting hurt in the end, and sometimes think I'm not the one who God wants to be that light to her. But if I'm not, who is? If my siblings aren't, who is?
I pray for strength, endurance, and motivation to do something about this. I feel like I've been so hardened to the situation. I get upset when I experience things like tonight, but then other times I get the "I don't care" attitude because we don't have a relationship and never really have. But I really do care about her salvation. However, ultimately, I know its a choice that is between her and God.
Megan told me how it was harder tonight because her family was so close, but that she knows she's been blessed and lucky. I know God has blessed me. Through friends. Through family. I have learned how to love and care for others by other people God has placed in my life, and for that I am grateful.
But it all comes down to what has been on my mind for the past 3 months... I just want my mom to be whole in heaven some day, too. If I have to put my feelings on the line... then I'll do it. Now I just have to do it... which is the hard part.
Grandpa
This is an article in the hometown paper about my Grandpa. It was good to read his comments on the questions he was asked, as he doesn't talk much.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Lehman's life continues to be woven with lots of work
By Jim Langham
Lifelong resident Willis Lehman continued to do the same thing on his 95th birthday on Thursday that he has done the rest of his life—get up at 6:15 a.m. and prepared to go to work.
Lehman, a resident at Swiss Village, spends six days a week cutting jeans, sewing them together, and weaving them into carpets, placemats, and mug mats.
That's his primary job. His backup work involves working with ceramics. He cleans ceramics as they come out of the kiln, cleans them up, and paints them. That only happens on Wednesday.
In his recreation time on Friday morning, Lehman hits the home's pool area to poke the pool balls into the side pockets. That is perhaps his latest passion, one that he didn't take up until his wife, Maggie (Wulliman), passed several years ago.
"He really hit the ground running when they (Willis and Maggie) moved here in 1990," said Willis' son, Orlyn Lehman. "He's always doing something. I don't think that he ever would have imagined that he would take up pool when he was close to 90-years-old."
Lehman is currently Swiss Village's longest living resident in the same apartment.He credits his passion for weaving to Barb Yoder and Sharon Allspaw, who first introduced the idea of weaving.. 
"At first when I looked at it, I didn't know if I wanted to do it," observed Lehman. "But when I started, I realized that there wasn't much to it. There wasn't much to learn."That was over 1,100 rugs and hundreds of place mats and mug mats ago. These days, Lehman can be found at his place of work six days a week. His work is sold in a Swiss Village shop. In addition, he takes custom-made orders from customers in the community.
"You start up with jeans; you cut them up into pieces," explained Lehman. "You tear them into strips and then you have to sew them together. The different colors of denim in the jeans causes variations in the color of the carpets.
"When you're finished, you tie the strips at the end into knots, and that's all there is to it," added Lehman.Lehman was born to William and Caroline Lehman on Jan. 31, 1913. He was raised on the old home place, located on the south side of the road, two miles east of Berne on Indiana 218.
He farmed his entire life until he moved to Swiss Village."I started milking as soon as I could make it up to the cow," mused Lehman.
He initially attended the Hirschy School (one-room) and eventually Berne High School. During his community service with the Mennonite Church, he worked on the state hospital farm near Norristown, PA.
His greatest joy at the First Mennonite Church was assisting with outreach projects such as the church's meat canning project. He also enjoyed activity with the church's men's fellowship group, as well as other "helping projects.
"When asked the secret of his longevity and good health, Lehman replied, "there are not secrets, the Lord gave me a strong heart and a good clean mind."I just enjoy doing this (weaving," continued Lehman. "It's okay; it's a lot of fun. I feel good when people tell me how much they enjoy the rugs. The Lord has really been good to my family and me.
"When I think of it, I realize that I'm getting closer to 100," said Lehman. "Sometimes I wonder how close I'm going to get. The Lord has been good to my family and me. I've tried to be faithful, read the Bible, and pray."
posted by Clint Anderson @ 10:44 AM
I always know where to find Grandpa when I go visit. :)
something to think about
I CHOOSE JOY…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings,created by God. I will refuse to see any problem asanything less than an opportunity to see God.
I CHOOSE PATIENCE…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'llinvite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a momentto pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings,created by God. I will refuse to see any problem asanything less than an opportunity to see God.
I CHOOSE PATIENCE…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'llinvite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a momentto pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
are we missing the point?
From an old myspace blog:
I don't think it was a mistake that I experienced this in Africa...
We were at a church service there, in the middle of the slum, where there are thousands and thousands of people going days without food. They had a blanket covering a piece of equipment up front. During the beginning of the service, they uncovered it with a big announcement that "our offering money helped us to buy a new and better keyboard and soundboard". This keyboard had different effects to it and background noises. They were all so happy.
That money was used to buy things for the church to use to "have better worship services" when there were starving children in the one mile radius around them.
What has America done? What are churches in America doing? We have sadly gone there and shown them the America way. We have shown them our Westernized way of doing things.
Churches are running themselves as businesses, not ministries. Unfortunately, the ripple effect is hitting other places in the community as well that could use the support of churches (I think you know what I'm talking about.) Its all about spending mega bucks on your kids ministry so you churches can get the most people in, so that in turn, more offering money will come in, so then they can use that money to buy things like better keyboards sound boards. Its a repeated cycle that never ends. Local and global missions are pushed to the side.
I was at church not too long after I returned from Africa and there was an insert in our bulletin for equipment needed... along with the prices of each item. I could not see any of those items as necessities for a church to have. A $17,000 digital sound mixer? $12,000 for screens in the sanctuary when we already have one? A leaf blower? Seriously?? Are we really that lazy. I will go rake leaves for free if it means sending that money somewhere that needs it.
Are we, as a church, the body... are we missing the point??
I don't think it was a mistake that I experienced this in Africa...
We were at a church service there, in the middle of the slum, where there are thousands and thousands of people going days without food. They had a blanket covering a piece of equipment up front. During the beginning of the service, they uncovered it with a big announcement that "our offering money helped us to buy a new and better keyboard and soundboard". This keyboard had different effects to it and background noises. They were all so happy.
That money was used to buy things for the church to use to "have better worship services" when there were starving children in the one mile radius around them.
What has America done? What are churches in America doing? We have sadly gone there and shown them the America way. We have shown them our Westernized way of doing things.
Churches are running themselves as businesses, not ministries. Unfortunately, the ripple effect is hitting other places in the community as well that could use the support of churches (I think you know what I'm talking about.) Its all about spending mega bucks on your kids ministry so you churches can get the most people in, so that in turn, more offering money will come in, so then they can use that money to buy things like better keyboards sound boards. Its a repeated cycle that never ends. Local and global missions are pushed to the side.
I was at church not too long after I returned from Africa and there was an insert in our bulletin for equipment needed... along with the prices of each item. I could not see any of those items as necessities for a church to have. A $17,000 digital sound mixer? $12,000 for screens in the sanctuary when we already have one? A leaf blower? Seriously?? Are we really that lazy. I will go rake leaves for free if it means sending that money somewhere that needs it.
Are we, as a church, the body... are we missing the point??
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