Yay, Me!

It's a day of blog programming here at Skdo's!

With the help of a new friend, I was able to tinker around until my blog shows up on my profile. Then, I finally cleared the annoying bright purple line from the header and the thick, ugly brown line from the footer.

Then, if that wasn't enough excitement for the day, I was finally able to figure out a way to extend the tan background on the sidebar.

Doesn't take much to make my day...

Lessons from Archery Camp

After the first day of archery camp, Minky jumped into the car full of excitement. “Every shot was a bullseye, Mommy!” he embellished. “I love archery! I’m really good at it!”

The next day, Minky’s brother joined in the fun. He had been absent the first night with a bug. After that night, Sony was thrilled by the experience but Minky was out of sorts. During class, the coach had sought me out to find out Sony’s experience level because Sony, a beginner with two less days of experience than Minky, was actually nailing bullseye after bullseye. Sony was a natural. Minky had gotten wind of the converstaion and had now decided that he hated archery.

“I stink at archery,” he told me the next day during a walk, “I’m no good at it.”

With the love of a mommy I responded, “But you loved it on Monday. You said you were really good at it.”

“Yeah, well…” Minky responded, “that was before Sony came. He’s better at it. Compare me to him and I’m no good.”

While Sony often lives in Minky’s shadow because Sony is a low maintenance, easy going kid and Minky is more high strung and demands more concerted effort and attention, Minky often lives in Sony’s shadow when it comes to academics. On that second day of camp, Minky had discovered that Sony could be good at something other than spelling, reading or math. His discovery of Sony’s natural archery talents had caused his own archery spotlight to dim - at least as far as he was concerned.

“Compare me to him and I’m no good,” Minky said. I responded as only a pastor-mommy could. I responded with God talk. “I don’t want to compare you to anyone, Minky. I want to celebrate how much fun you have when you do archery. It doesn’t matter if somebody is better at it than you. God created you to be you, not to try to be like somebody else.” Years of therapy conversations came pouring out of my mouth – it wasn’t until my 30s that I began to understand and attempt to grasp the message I was sharing with my usually-wise-beyond-his-years 8 year old. I can only hope that the words were planted deep inside the core of who Minky is and that he might already be on the journey of loving and accepting himself as made in the image of God. That's the bullseye I pray for him to hit.

200 Posts

Here we are – 200 posts! Since my 100 post commemoration was so well received, I'm going to do another 100 post milestone: 100 things I've learned since ordination. I'm guessing I've probably learned 200 things but 100 seems good enough. We'll begin where we left off, and it will have to be a running list because I can’t seem to come up with 100 things just now.

100 things I've learned since ordination:

1. Bringing your dog to work will offend the sensibilities of some quilting ladies.
2. Bringing your dog to work will make the secretary's day...and the dog's.
3. The church staff members are my greatest supporters and cheerleaders.
4. You will have favorite parishioners. Just try to not let it show.
5. As Brink of Disaster once said, "The problem isn't that your church members expect you to work 24/7...the challenge is that you love the job so much it's hard to go home."
6. At first, being on call 365-24-7 seems heavy and demanding. After awhile, you get used to it.
7. My boys are amazing PKs. They have graciously become used to hanging out in the ICU waiting room at the local hospital when I receive an emergency call and they have to tag along.
8. If your husband commutes, does not attend church, or does anything out of the ordinary, people will talk.
9. People will drive past your house to see where the pastor lives.
10. People will notice if (a) a neighbor mows your lawn or shovels your driveway, (b) you finally remove all your moving boxes off the front porch, and (c) your child spray paints your driveway and front porch bright blue.
11. The amount of automatic respect afforded a small town pastor is mind-blowing.
12. I have come to treasure and love my faraway friends more deeply.
13. Being a big city girl in a small town is not all bad, but, yes, sometimes it is the pits. Especially when you need a Target fix.
14. Being able to walk to work affords me the luxury of 10 uninterrupted minutes each way.
15. You know you hit too many library book sales in seminary when your pastoral library does not fit on the same shelves that were sufficient for your predecessors who had been in the ministry far longer than you.
16. A passing and seemingly innocuous environmentalist comment at dinner will send the church ladies scurrying to the kitchen to cross “styrofoam cups” off their shopping list.
17. Following well loved predecessors is actually a good thing – people will instantly respect and love you unless you give them reason not to.
18. I never could have predicted how deeply a visit to the Castle would restore and renew me.
19. To some people, your first name is now “pastor” whether you like it or not.
20. When you worship on vacation, you will turn in unconscious response when a parishoner calls out, “Pastor!”
21. The amount of junk mail sent to churches is horrendous. Plant a tree a month during your entire ministry and you may just be able to put a small dent in the number of trees killed for the junk mail crossing your desk.
22. Having your long-term predecessor in the congregation can actually be handy, especially when your most immediate predecessor assigned a lay person new to the congregation to be in charge of the church database (and thus determining things like newsletter recipients, active and inactive members, etc.).
23. I’ve always treasured and loved my husband, but I’ve come to appreciate him even more in the last few months.
24. While parishioners will basically respect your privacy, somehow they will all come by your home on the days you choose to not get out of your PJs.
25. Teaching confirmation is more fun than anyone should be paid to have.
26. Some colleagues will treat you like you know nothing and will label your words and actions as “typical first call” acts. This says far more about them than it does about you.
27. Assuming your gut resonates with the insights, rely on the wisdom of your text study and area colleagues and seek their input when you have no idea what to do.
28. First call is like parenting: remember to check your actions with your gut and to follow your gut over some generic suggestion in a book.
29. There will be times when you wonder what the heck your predecessors preached, taught or said. Hold your tongue and listen instead of responding. Chances are what they preached, taught or said was misunderstood and is not what was actually preached, taught, or said.
    
30. Express appreciation and say “thank you” far more than you think is necessary.
31. Constantly remind people they are treasured, loved and held by a gracious God.
32. Those who reject the message above just need to hear it more.
33. When your husband suggests that EVERY box be unpacked within a month after the latest move, STOP HIM! Do not pass Go, Do not collect $200. Bad idea. You will still have crap all over the house, it just won’t be in boxes.
34. Buying a house that needs a little work and a little redecorating is great, but becomes a burden when your husband is away 4-5 days a week and you’re working as a pastor.
35. When people share news with you, keep in mind they may be exaggerating. Grandma may very well not be on the brink of death, the parking lot may or may not be “full of nails” from the recent re-roofing efforts, and not everyone is reacting to your latest sermon, hymn choices or movement of the baptismal font.
36. You will learn to embody grace when expected to participate in the ecumenical services led by area colleagues…especially the week the local fundy pastor is in charge.
37. In the past four months, I’ve continued to see that my Buddhist husband is still a “better Christian” than many of the Christians I know.
38. Rats actually make amazing, lovable pets.
39. Let the machine screen all calls.
40. Never read unsigned notes.
41. Don’t think about it, just live it. You can think about it later. (This was my brother Mark’s preordination wisdom)
42. The laying on of hands is almost as cool when you’re one of the pastor’s doing it as it was when you were the recipient.
43. There is a lot of weird piety at work in the world.
44. I have come to appreciate the love, forgiveness and grace of God in new ways.
45. Voicing the realities of pastoral life is freeing.
46. My super awesome Spiritual Director is essential to my sanity, sense of self and sense of identity as a beloved child of God.
47. I always thought I’d have a way with depressed parishoiners, having struggled with depression personally. Instead, I have found it draining and disheartening. I continue to work on this one…
48. The scrapbook store in the large town about 30 minutes away is full of crabby employees. The one in the small town about 15 minutes away is AWESOME!
49. When we adopted our dog, I intended to walk him everyday. Instead, I have found that his ready smile and patient laying-at-my-feet is an embodiment of God’s grace (photo by Minky).
50. Getting out of town once in awhile restores my soul and my perspective.
51. Keeping up on my blog and finding time to write is not easy.
52. According to a parishoiner's Islamic son, it is Islamic practice to not shake hands or have bodily contact with anyone who is not immediate family.
53. My altar guild ladies love that left over communion bread turns into "Jesus sandwiches" in our home each Sunday afternoon.
54. Attempting to preach and lead worship after walking to church in allergen-laden air is incredibly difficult.
    

Aaaaahhh....Saturday

Today is Saturday. Saturday has always been one of my favorite days.

As a kid, Saturday meant watching cartoons as my working-outside-the-house mom frantically cleaned the house from top to bottom. After Looney Tunes, my mom, sister and I would go grocery shopping at Fred Meyer, and I'd try to talk Mom into buying me all sorts of unnecessary snack food, toys and stuff.

As young marrieds, Rab and I would sleep in late then go to the buffet at Szechuan West with Honger and Beachball. We'd rotate paying for one another, based upon our paydays. Life was good.

Nowadays, Saturday mornings are my one sacred time. Barring a funeral (I've yet to do a wedding), it is my time. Rab comes home on Friday nights and takes over the parenting tasks after I've lived another week of single motherhood. Rab makes breakfast, plays with the boys, tends to the pets, and I...well...write my sermon, catch up on blog reading, catch up on other reading, stay in my PJs and watch bad TV. Today's selection is Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Believe it or not, I've watched it before - it's surprisingly full of theological themes. And it's funny.

Once the sermon is complete, we usually do some family type thing. We've become particularly adept at having our family type thing involve the need to go to the nearest city.

So here it is, another Saturday morning. The sermon has not yet been written, the movie is still playing, and life is good.

All Hail the Goddess!

Minky bought some long balloons today and has been blowing them up and creating swords and crowns. At one point, he came into the room waving a balloon and said, "All hail the ninja!!!" Then he ran out laughing and came back in with the balloon on his head, yelling, "All hail mighty Minky!!" Then he ran out, moved the balloons into a Miss America-style swag and stood on the bed yelling, "ALL HAIL THE GODDESS!!"

Sony and I began cracking up and Sony pointed out that a Goddess is female. Minky looked perturbed, walked off shaking his head, saying, "I had no idea...."

Consequences

This actually happened awhile back, but I keep forgetting to blog it.

In conversation with Minky's psychologist, we decided to become more and more clear about consequences. When something great happened, we'd point out how it was a positive consequence from a good decision or action. When something crummy happened, we'd point out the situation that precipitated it. The week went on and we weren't sure if all our talk of consequences was sinking in.

Then I saw Minky out on the porch hanging around the mailbox. Something seemed a little off. I went to see what he was up to. The cat was locked in the mailbox. Yes, you read that correctly.

When I asked what was going on, Minky said that he had tried to pick the cat up and the cat growled at him using "a bad tone of voice and naughty sounding cat words." He thought that the cat needed a consequence.

A weed or a plant of beauty?

Attention all botanists!!! What is this organic gem growing all over my side yard?


(Thanks to all who commented. I now know I'm blessed with hollyhocks along the side of my house.)

The Evolving Definition of "Home"

7:00 a.m. came far too early this morning. I really did not want to leave my cozy, warm bed. Rab had come home Thursday night (yep, you guessed it...sick kids AGAIN!), so I had the morning off from any and all mom jobs. I stretched out with the bulimic, queeny cat and caught up on frivolous Today Show news. Before I knew it, it was 7:45, then 8:00. Finally, I got out of bed to begin my day.

8:30 found me on the road to the Castle. I went to meet with my SASD (Super Awesome Spiritual Director). As I reached my beloved second home town, fog blanketed the Mississippi River. Clouds filled the sky as a light Oregonian mist dotted my windshield. And, somehow, I did not experience that sigh of relief known as, "ahhh....home." I thought that was a bit strange. It was also a bit unexpected.

I don't think it had anything to do with the fog itself. I think the fog was a sign. The canvas previously painted as "home" was being obscured. While parts of the old painting may even still remain, the overall picture has changed. The details and the characters and the clarity are now a blurred shadow.

After spiritual direction and a wonderful lunch with Small Town Girl, I went about town running errands. I went to the Castle bookstore - the rest of the Castle was an empty shell - a campus in the summertime. As I headed to the stores, I still knew all the backroads. I still knew which stores to hit first in search of the items on my list. It was all familiar, but it was no longer home. It was only home-ish. A lukewarm, gray-like familiarity without all the benefits and joys, without all the people that used to make it home.

As I drove into Jerusalem this evening, nearly 12 hours after leaving. The gray, heavy clouds remained in the sky. The roads were especially dark and gray, having just received a shower of raindrops. Yet, miraculously, the sun shone brightly through the layers of clouds. Everything had that fresh, just-rained smell and outlined look. I drove past Joyous Volunteer's house and once again admired her porch. I drove past the local Piggly Wiggly. I drove by our local pharmacy, the Hilarious Methodist Organist's and by my Mobil station (not just any Mobil station...my Mobil station). And as I turned at the station, somehow, I knew...I was home.

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

Tomorrow is Pentecost. I can hardly wait. I am a huge language junkie. Pentecost is the day for us language people. We can get away with all kinds of stuff.

In worship tomorrow, a youth will read the first lesson in Spanish, a retired pastor will read the second lesson in Norwegian, and I'll read the gospel in French.

The hymn following the sermon will be Veni Sante Spiritus ("Come, Holy Spirit) - one of my favorite hymns sung by one of our best soloists in multiple languages with the congregation repeating the refrain in Latin.

Then, to top it all off, the benediction will be chanted in Hebrew thanks to this awesome site.

Venga Espirito Santo! Viens saint-esprit!

Veni Sancte Spiritus! Komm Heiliger Geist!

Come Holy Spirit!

3 Updates, 1 Post

What a week. A few times in the last few days, I've found myself thinking or saying, "Yep, that'll blog." So here you go, a bit of real life humor to get you through your Monday:

Story One: Lock and Key
Rab and I spent the better part of Sunday cleaning out and organizing the basement of the Cute Gray House. The basement has been a dumping ground for the last few months and, being hidden away from the view of visitors, it was the last room to receive some much needed attention.

We cleaned, we assembled shelves, we moved hazardous materials out of harm's (and Minky's) way. At one point, Minky was "helping" us by chipping away at one of the exterior walls with a hammer. Rab asked him to stop numerous times and finally Minky had had enough. Minky stomped up the stairs yelling and slammed the door. Rab and I both sighed in relief...until we heard the lock turn. There we were, locked in the basement with the dog with no way out (the previous owner saw to it that all the doors and windows of the basement were sealed shut).

After talking Minky down a bit, we convinced him to get the key and explained where the key was hidden. He came back with the key but was unable to make it work. We asked Minky to go get Sony. Sony, we could hear through the vents, was upstairs watching TV and did not want to be disturbed. After yelling up the vents for him to come help, he stomped down the stairs with the best heavy-footed, groaning, prepubescent walk known to man. He came to the door and was unable to unlock it. We asked him to go get our neighbors and ask them for help. Instead, he went into his best prepubescent hopelessness and went back upstairs to continue watching TV! After 5-10 more minutes of Minky trying the lock (and the dog crossing his legs), Minky said resolutely, "Don't worry, Mom, I've got an idea." These are never good words when they come from Minky...

Next thing we knew, Minky had figured out that he could unscrew the lock from the door frame (pretty ingenious if you ask me). About 10 more minutes later, we were freed. Of course, this entire story is better in person, but this at least gives you a glimpse of our Saturday adventures.

Story Two: Last time I checked
Yesterday, we went to see Shrek 3. Afterward, Rab and I told the kids we had to run a couple errands. The boys moaned and groaned in response, very aggravated that they'd have to tag along. "We don't want to," they whined. "We hate errands," they moaned. "We're not going," Sony declared. "Hmmm...." I responded, "Last time I checked, you weren't the mom or the dad." Minky responded, "Yeah, well last time I checked you didn't buy us any soda or popcorn at the movie."

Story Three: Minky and his illnesses
Last week was our first sick-free week in 15 weeks!  Yea, us!  If Minky would have had his way, though, our sick-streak would have continued.  One morning last week, Minky tried to convince me he was really ill.  Strangely, the symptoms kept moving...stomach, head, throat, you name it.  I went upstairs at one point and came down to find him leaning over his barstool, with a puddle of spit beneath him on the floor.  "See!"  he exclaimed, "I am sick!  Look at the barf!"

Later that day, Minky had OT at school and was supposed to go back to his classroom afterward.  When he was 5-10 minutes late, his teacher, Mrs. Matter-o-Fact, assumed the occupational therapist was just taking a little extra time with him.  When 20 minutes rolled around, Mrs. Matter-o-Fact called the OT who said she'd sent Minky back to class 20 minutes ago.  Mrs. Matter-o-Fact called the office and found out that he had sent himself to the nurse's office (why didn't the nurse or the office call his teacher????).  When Mrs. Matter-o-Fact went to claim him in the office, the entire office staff was convinced that he was indeed ill.  They were pampering him and feeling sorry for him.  Reportedly, he was in his element.  Mrs. Matter-o-Fact didn't buy it and told him he'd just have to work with his headache anyway.  Five minutes later, he was goofing off as if he'd never been ill.  He even told Mrs. Matter-o-Fact, "Wow, I feel so much better now!" Funny how lucky that boy is - he experiences miracle cures all the time!

"Who Are We to Stand in Front of Your Dreams?"

Last night at Church Council, I presented a proposal asking that my continuing education funding/time be spent on spiritual direction training.  Normally, I wouldn't run continuing ed offerings before council.  In this case, though, the training involves three weekends a year - including Sundays.

After having reviewed the written proposal and explanation in advance, the members of council asked a few questions.  Mostly, they wanted to better understand spiritual direction as a concept and practice.  Then, there was unanimous approval to support the proposal.

Looking back, I think my initial reaction was one of call... I responded with, "Are you sure?  You do understand this means I'll be gone 3 Sundays a year in addition to my vacation Sundays."  The headline above was the first response, followed by, "We'll survive without you...(grin) you're not indispensible."

So here I stand, humbled, called and about to embark on a 3 year training process in pursuit of yet another calling.  Thanks be to God?

The View From the Porch

Yesterday was graduation at the Castle. I feel an affinity with the class that graduated because I transferred in at the same time that they began. It was so great to be with them as they reached this milestone. It was also so weird to realize that it has only been a year since I was in the same spot. It feels like a lifetime ago.

Sitting on my old front porch afterward with Rab, it was easy to pretend no time had passed. It was so easy to set aside the congregational life and the grown up pastor responsibilities that are part of my every day life now. I sat on that porch, like I had so many times before, and caught myself expecting to see Mark or the Brink of Disaster or Sally or even PMC or any other myriad of people coming down the Kinder hill any minute. I watched my kids joyfully run around the circle, laughing and connecting with old buddies.

As I reveled in all the happy and warm memories (forgetting the struggles, of course), I leaned into the freedom of that space. Then along came my gaggle of little girls - my buddies. They began picking dandelions and any flower they could and bringing them to me. As my hands overflowed with the growing floral arrangement, little Naomi said, "We're giving you all these flowers because we really love you and really, really miss you." It was the best Mother's Day gift anyone could have given me.

Another Minky-ism to Brighten Your Day

Yesterday, Minky was feigning illness.  First, he woke up and said he had "the strep throat" (why the definite article, I'm not sure).  Then when I didn't buy it, he said his tummy hurt.  Then a headache.  Yet, somehow, he found the energy to play heartily with the dog outside.  

I got him dressed and fed then we hopped in the car.  He thought he was going to a meeting with me.  When we pulled up at school, he threw a minor fit and wrapped his arm around the van door armrest.  After about 5 minutes of prying him out of the van, we headed into school.  All of these sweet kids kept cheerfully saying good morning to him and he just scowled back.  I whispered to him, "That's really no way to make friends, Minky" to which he responded with a growl, "Shut up."

I asked the teacher to step into the hallway for a minute so I could fill her in on the seriousness of his many and varied ailments.  She told me that the other day, she had a riddle on the board that asked, "How do you get a day off from school?"  Minky, not one to normally volunteer an answer, enthusiastically raised his hand and said, "That's easy...pretend you're sick!"

Children's Sermons Can Be Risky

In the last 4 weeks, 3 of my children's sermons have gone awry at the second service.

A few weeks ago, the paperclip floated without any problems at the first service. At the second service, the paperclip didn't float until the 4th attempt (The children's sermon theme changed to a lesson in patience...). The week of Easter, the supposedly hard boiled egg was soft boiled and made a bit of a mess on the floor as it landed on the floor after being thrown in the air (In a sense, this only enhanced the theme of how God surprized us with the empty tomb). Last week, I played it safe and did a talk-only children's sermon.

This week, at text study, we were talking about the Acts text regarding the Jewish Christians and the Gentiles. The Gentiles were labelled as unclean and were disliked. I told my colleagues that it reminded me of how people react when I tell them we have a pet rat. Legolas is the most snuggly, clean and loving pet, but people assume he is dirty, mean and ugly. My colleagues challenged me to bring him in for the children's sermon...

I took up the challenge. At first service, predictibly, all went well. At the second service, Legolas decided to pee all over me. As my tweener girls screamed out, "EEEWWW!" I responded, "It's ok - it's just pee."

I have now spoken the words "damn" (twice) and pee before the assembled people of God. I'm sure my seminary professors would be bursting with pride.

Alive...just busy

Last summer, I would never have considered such a long period of time between posts. My how things change when one is gainfully employed!

Life is good. It's also busy. Ear infections, strep throat and various illnesses (we're going on 14 consecutive weeks with one thing or another, folks!) for the boys, a commuting husband who is home Fridays-Sundays, and the continual mommy-pastor balance make up the reality of life here in Jerusalem.

I found out the other day that Rab has become the topic of small town gossip because he's rarely here and never in worship (aahhh...my sweet Buddhist guy). Apparently, there are rumors going around that he is a trucker. Ha. Let 'em keep talking! Who knows what they'll come up with next.

The honeymoon of the first months of pastoral ministry is beginning to fade. Some days I find myself near tears, heavy laden with the burdens, worries, and responsibilities far beyond my comfort zone or control. Other days, I'm amazed with the effect a quick visit or kind word can have not just on someone's day but on their very life. There seems to be much drama in this pastor gig - sometimes I probably bring it on myself, other days it seems to find me.

I've had some interesting run ins with the old guard of Jordan. Any and all changes, even the ones underway before I began and ones that did not come from me, are being labelled as my agenda. One unfamiliar hymn in a service brings about exaggerated comments like, "I never know any of the hymns in worship anymore!!" It's easy to get worn down by the comments.

At the same time, though, I have amazing committee members, a wonderful council, and a fantastic text study group. Tonight, the Worship committee met at my house because our new sitter/nanny is on vacation. How awesome is that?! A job where my roles can co-exist.

Now and again, I've been able to slip away to the Castle and gain some necessary space, time, and insight. Those times also provide for such wonderful re-connection with beloved friends. I love the times I get to escape to the Castle for awhile - to a place where my first name is not "Pastor."

So, overall, life is good. Sometimes it's tough being a grown up with such a grown up job. Other days, most days probably, I feel pretty lucky to be called to a position where I can be both a mommy and be employed. Some days, just getting through the next hour is all I can expect of myself. Other days, the time flies by because of all the fun and joy.

Just a reminder...

If you are washing a car with your 8 year old and he accidentally fills the bucket with plain water and you say, "dump the whole thing"...make sure he understands that you mean the bucket of water and not the container of soap that's going into the water.

I speak from soapy experience.

Yay, Minky!

Minky had his 2nd progress check with his vision therapist yesterday. His visual processing speed and ability have increased tremendously over the last 30 weeks of therapy and his tracking ability is nearly where it should be. At his recent school conference, he was at or just above beginning 2nd grade levels for his reading and writing.

The doctor told me that one of the tests in particular had amazing results. Last July, he was unable to complete the entire test, took 110 seconds to do what he could do, and had 40 errors. Yesterday, he completed the entire test in less than 60 seconds and had no errors!

He's made a great deal of progress in the last 6+ months. Next week, we will be transferring his care to another vision therapist whose office is nearer to us. The new doctor is a close friend of our current doctor and is one of the leading vision therapy specialists in the nation. We are deeply grateful that our doctor was able to get us onto this patient load!

How Do We Begin to Explain Some Things?

Our congregation's oldest member, Sweet Lady, is preparing to die. Rapidly throughout this week, her condition has continued to fail. I feel honored and lucky to have known her. She is a precious lady.

Yesterday, with her consent, the family gathered around her as we prayed the Service for the Commendation of the Dying. Afterward, she held my hand and told me she loved me, she prayed and hoped Jerusalem would continue to treat me well, and she blessed my ministry. It was a tearful, holy ground moment. Then she smiled as best she could, looked in my eyes, and said, "Now you come see me sometime when I die, ok?" Sense of humor and vast love to the end.

After the Good Friday service, I stopped by again to see how the family was holding up and how Sweet Lady was doing. She was sleeping peacefully and the tearful family was watching Sound of Music on the television. After visiting awhile, we prayed together. I began with the words, "Oh God, sometimes the waiting is difficult. We compel you to continue to usher Sweet Lady into your kingdom..." Right after those words, the Von Trapp children chimed in, "So Long! Farewell! Auf wiedersehen, Goodbye..."

So Where's My Servant?

On Thursday, the kids had spring break. Since Holy Week is upon us, they came to work with me and hung out in the youth room while I worked. We brought some strawberries along with us for a snack...here's the conversation that transpired in the church kitchen:

Me: Here's a bowl to rinse the strawberries in, and here are bowls for each of you. Make sure you bring them back to the kitchen and clean them when you're done.

Minky: Why?

Me: Because we need to clean up after ourselves.

Minky (matter-of-factly): Why can't your servants do it?

Me: My servants?

Minky: (again, matter-of-factly) Yeah...all pastors have servants....why can't your servants clean up the mess?

Me: Minky, I do not have servants.

Minky (rolling his eyes in complete and utter disbelief): Mom...I know that pastors have servants...c'mon.

Maybe that candidacy psychologist knew what she was talking about...

I was just surfing around, catching up on friends' blogs and I came across this link on Jim's now deceased blog. He's more Lutheran than I - I think he scored in the 90s. Then again, he's in the midst of his final term at the Castle and is taking a course on Lutheran Church History. All the questions about Lutheran churches and their related initials hurt the score.

Oh, the candidacy quip? Well...when I was undergoing my psychological evaluation, the church's psychologist said she didn't think I was very Lutheran because I tested out as an ENFP. Somehow, I mustered up the courage to diplomatically share with her that I found her statement troubling because I've been a Lutheran all my life. She stated that the Lutheran church is made up primarily of ISTJs and that, with all my passion and enthusiasm, I might want to consider Pentecostalism. No joke.

You are 84% Lutheran! This is most certainly true.

Not a perfect score. What does this mean? You have room for growth in understanding Lutheran terminology and culture. Good thing Salvation is by Grace and not by merit. We can add nothing to what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. But it never hurts to learn a little more about the church on earth. Thanks for taking the quiz!

How Lutheran Are You?
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