Rules?
There are lots of things I love about my daughter-in-law, Nicole. One of her endearing traits is a little eccentricity that is only seen when she’s playing a card game. Often, at some point in the game, Nicole will look around the table and suggest changing the rules! (And you’d have to know Nicole to understand how she can suggest this in a way that is very inviting, flirtacious even, and at the same time dignified and business-like, as if it were actually a reasonable suggestion.) It’s become such a frequent occurance that she and Ben have developed a shortcut. In the midst of a hot and competitive game of rummy, one of them will raise their eyebrows and ask, “Choose?” The other will either respond, “Yes!” or will more warily say, “No…. not this time.” When I was with them right after Ava’s birth, I learned how to play rummy this way, and learned to like it. If you agree on “Choose,” you and all the other players, for the rest of that particular hand, can pick up without laying down. Haven’t you ever wanted very badly to be able to do just that?
Okay, what’s my point? I want to strongly suggest that we agree that in this, our very own BRC blog, there aren’t rules about what can and cannot be put in “Comments.” (Now don’t go all technical with me; you know very well I don’t mean anything crude or sarcastic or ugly. After all, it’s us I’m talking about.) For instance, in order to comment on this blog entry, you don’t have to write about rules, or about changing them, although you certainly may. Let’s agree that anyone reading this blog has total freedom to change the subject.
I’m pretty sure that there are BRC people checking in at this blog, who would like to talk about something else. And I really, really want to know what those things are. So click on “comment” and then write about what you want to write about. Let the rest of us know what you’ve been thinking about, wondering about, doing, dreaming, … whatever that is. Please. That will make this whole thing much more fun for all of us. And much more valuable too.
May 12, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Taking God on Vacation.
Sean and I just returned from vacation. 10 days in Hawaii. Yes, it was absolutely amazing between the friends we were with, environmental surroundings, and the adventures we set out on each day. But what was even more amazing: God was on vacation with us. Between our safe travel, the books I read, new christians we met, discussions between new and old friends, and reminders of our friends at BRC I know God was speaking to us each moment. It was as if He was on the sandy cliff at Waimea Canyon as I was slipping on the loose sand saying, “no I won’t let you fall” (not just at that moment but in life). As if He was writing the books I was reading (maybe he was since they were all christian related) telling me to slow down and make time for Him to minister each day to me before setting out to help others. As if He was the one talking through my friends. It amazes me with how spiritually fulfilling this vacation was and just like the scenery in Kauai, each day left me anxious for what the next day would bring. Oh, and on each new day we did not wake to an alarm clock, but to a wild rooster calling. We thought for sure we were on the youth group retreat with Lyn Koenig telling us to rise and shine.
So, I just wanted to share with all the readers how blessed Sean and I feel to be growing in faith with friends at BRC. Also, if you are going on vacation soon be sure to pack God in your suitcase.
Have a wonderful day and we look forward to worshiping with everyone tomorrow.
May 17, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Worship
) to get my worship fix. I will say that the fifteen min’s we do have is awesome and Rich and the whole worship team are so great. But fifteen min’s is just getting me warmed up. I know as I have grown in the Lord my praise has changed and because of it I am closer to the Lord. I am no longer afraid of what someone beside me or behind me might thinks when I lift my hands in the air to the Lord. I have learned to really appreaciate Debra Gordons dancing and her courage to be diffrent. And my heart soars when I see the little girls up front Sunday morning dancing for Jesus (thank you Debra ). I say more praise 
I was wondering if I am the only one feeling deprived on Sunday morning with worship. Fifteen min’s of worship seems almost like an insult to God. I have been wondering for sometime now why it is so short. I love BRC and all my sisters and brothers but I have to admit I have to to sneak off to other church’s (would never leave all you Sunday mornings
May 19, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Something came to me today and I’m sure that my sister Bobbie would agree:
Fifteen minutes of worship - uplifting
Welcoming and greeting one another across the aisle - loving
Listening to about three minutes of the Cherubs - heartwarming
Singing more songs and hymns - beautiful
Listening to about three minutes of the Choristers - special
Hearing a sermon that speaks to your heart - powerful
Spending a Sunday morning worshiping our Lord with brothers and sisters that you
love - Priceless
May 19, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I’d like to mention the Alpha retreat that I just got home from. Thank you Lord for giving me such an oppertunity to talk and learn more about you. One thing that stood out in one of the talks for me was when Jesus said ” If youve seen me youve seen the father”. Then it hit me again every time I see a brother or sister I truly get to look into the face of our Lord. Like when Nickie said that people actuley can look like there dogs or married people start to look alike the more time we spend with Jesus the more we begin to look like him and act like him and people notice.