Brain dump

My brain is full.

I teach one of the post elementary Sunday School classes at Etowah UMC (6th-12th grades).  This week our curriculum covered Genesis 3.  I hate this chapter of the Bible, and not just because my favorite hobby is childbearing.  My poor husband had to listen to me rant over the narrow, sin-focus of the lesson.  I wrestled with how to present the material in a faithful and helpful way, but, truthfully, went to bed dissatisfied.

Then I went to worship.  The handsome, eloquent, well-dressed preacher (on whom I have a massive crush) began reading the scripture for the day, Matthew 25:14-30, and the heavens opened up.  Go ahead and read the passages...I'll wait right here.

Ok, what did you think?

Amazing, right?!  The master was not upset by the third slave's sin.  He didn't steal or waste his master's money.  Instead, the third slave was cast out for mistrusting the goodness of the master.  Isn't that what the story of Genesis 3 is really about?  Yes, Adam and Eve were disobedient, but I think what really broke God's heart was that they mistrusted God's goodness.

The take home assignment for our class was to avoid some kind of temptation for this week so that we do not fall into sin.  That is our problem with protestant churches!  We cannot continue to talk about what not to do.  What if, instead of getting up wondering how to avoid the "sin the sin that so easily entangles," we get up fascinated by the overpowering love of God.  If we trust in the goodness of God, we can engage in risk-taking missions because we know God is overwhelmingly good.  

We are losing the cultural battle for young adults in our churches.  Why is that?  Because our faith is cheap.  We tell our youth not to drink, smoke, have sex or do drugs.  Then play, worn out, self-focused, culturally irrelevant songs, play a game and send them home.  We do not tell them that God, the creator, Jesus, the savior and the Holy Spirit, the breath of God is/are already engaged in a deep, powerful story of love and passion and long/s for each of us to join in that story.  We also do not tell them that they will not encounter this story unchanged.  This story will cost everything.  Everything.  You will no longer be safe from the hurt in the world.  God grieves the hurt of the world, and so do those who enter into God's story.  But, God is love, and love will and does win.

Christians, inexplicably, love to talk about our "sin-nature" and "the fall" and "original sin," but I contend that we should say ENOUGH!  Sure, we all sin.  I bet you know Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Do you know the rest of that paragraph? The sin club that has been bludgeoning the joy out of Christianity is actually a joyous proclamation of the love of God.  I say enough!  Let us move forward in joy to bring the Kingdom of God to earth now.

Let's stop telling our teens to avoid sinning and start telling them to discover the power of God's love for them and others.

Also, my phone is not working right.

We have lots of good stuff going on around here!  Laine is a big helper, and mommy certainly needs help.

I have decided to do the kid's sew along early because it works better with my schedule, and here is Monday's installment:

Anna Maria Horner's "Quick Change Pants" from her book Handmade Beginnings.  I have made five projects from this book, and all of them have fit, gone together smoothly, and have enough interest to not look too "homemade."  I wholeheartedly recommend it!  The bum bum ruffle was my addition, for which I am super proud.  They are corduroy and lined with flannel.  Overkill you say?  It is going to be 34 degrees here tonight and it is only October 3rd...

She's a little hard to capture...please ignore the fact that she is unloading that drawer.

Next up: School Days Jacket by Oliver + S.

Not Alone

You know, pregnant women are nuts. Universally. You may not say that because you are not pregnant, but I am and I may. What drives a pregnant woman to NEED to have the windowsills and garage cleaned out "before the baby comes," even though it is doubtful the baby will ever come into contact with said surfaces? The rational person would say it is because everything needs to be in order, but I am starting to think that that is only a very small part of it. I am starting to suspect that crazy pregnant women are actually trying to prove that they are not alone--that the community you instinctively know you will need is actually there for you...and listening to you. The truth is, the garage needed to be cleaned out. The other truth is, I couldn't do it. The deeper truth is that when I need the garage cleaned out or compost piles moved to the other side of the garden or the pasture mowed, I am really wanting to know if you are with me and if you can hear me.

And you are; and you can.

And the garage looks darn good.

Luke, you are awesome.

PS This does not mean telling me that you are here and can hear will achieve the same thing. Pregnant women are crazy.

Wanna know what I am doing right now...

Looking for Christmas sewing/knitting patterns.

I think I will probably end up starting a bunch of stuff and then having a baby and not finishing much.

BUT...I am planning on participating in a few sew alongs in October.

The No Excuses Holiday Sew Along at www.sewmamasew.com

And KCWC Fall 2011...something about sewing for your kids for an hour a day October 10-17.  Sound fun?  

Of course, I can't publish my other ideas cuz my mom reads this (hi, Mom!).  Happy season of complete insanity!