A Mighty Flood of Justice

This weekend our church has been fundraising and talking about the global sex trade, in our support of Serve Nepal, part of the SA Foundation, who are working with women who are coming out of the sex trade and giving them a safe place, new skills and restoring dignity. And as we were singing this morning God was speaking to me about His call to justice. Certainly not new territory for me, but a knowledge that has lain somewhat dormant lately. And especially in this place of working for a local church, in relative comfort and wealth, I am convicted.

We were singing, "You are the God of the broken/The friend of the weak/You wash the feet of the weary/Embrace the ones in need/I want to be like you Jesus/To have this heart in me/You are the God of the humble/You are the Humble King." And also, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is/There is Freedom", "I'm free/Free/I'm free/Free/I'm free."

And the Spirit reminded me - God is the Father and Protector of the humble and broken, something I think we all love and say "Amen" to. But there's that line, "I want to be like you Jesus/To have this heart in me," how can I sing that, and not be asking Christ to change me? How can I sing this song and not then go out to the humble, broken and weak. A simple revelation? For sure, but I don't think I've ever noticed that line in all the times I've sang that song. I've been moved by who God is and still never asked Him to make me Christ-like! At least not with that song.

And then we sang of the Freedom, and I was somewhat subdued and somber. How can I sing, "I'm free" when they are in bondage and suffering? What good, what gospel is there if I am free and that's just for me to enjoy and dance in and celebrate and cling to? The words fall empty and meaningless unless I bring freedom in word and in deed. But I didn't fall to despair because of that line, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is/There is Freedom," because I know that the Spirit is within me, is within all of His people. And His presence brings freedom. So yes - if we are not bringing freedom when we see injustice we are denying the Holy One within us. But also - if we will go to bring freedom, it is the power and character of the Spirit of God who will accomplish it! It is not by our might or strength or will. It is by obedience.

I was once told, "We are not free, until we are all free." And in worship of the King this morning the Lord reminded me of that. We in the wealthy Western church need to commit ourselves to stomping out injustice, whether it lies in our own cities, or in third world brothels. Whether it's in vogue or not. Whether it's safe or not. We have resources to serve the victims, and we make choices that are contributing to the demand! I pray that we will not deny the Holy One within us, and speak nice words of commitment when our actions prove our selfishness.

Good Things

I have had two amazing moments this week! How am I so lucky? And should I really chance mislabeling it with the word "luck"?
What a place to be in, I feel that I am starting something with incredible blessing being placed on me. And it might turn out to be a very difficult thing, it might be very demanding, and I might even have to do battle sometimes. But it is starting so good, I'm being given the gift of starting well. Everything that anyone else can do to help me start, is being done, is being given. The rest is really up to me and my faithfulness to God and task set before me.
The first wonderful Moment happened during Tuesday morning staff meeting, not a place that many people look to for good gifts! But I was welcomed, with warm words, into a group I already know. And they surrounded me and they laid hands on me and prayed, setting me aside for this ministry.
And Moment two happened just tonight, after a chilly couple hours of sledding, with the Youth who have been placed in my care. As they too encircled me, and laid hands and prayed, and the faith-filled prayers of these 14-17 year-olds praised God for His plan. And we all asked Him to do great things in this time, and to make us willing to serve, and to use our gifts.
I am loved, and trusted. And I love them in return, I don't think a better group of teens exists anywhere, these are really great kids! And God has given them to me, and me to serve them. And that is a huge responsibility, I feel it, and I know it's heavy - but I am really just thrilled.
Who wouldn't be thrilled when they had just enjoyed a cupcake buffet with "Welcome Kim" spelled out over top?

I Am IYMD!

Well, I'm in! I started the new job on Wednesday, and I've day-by-day been trying to figure out what it means to be Interim Youth Ministries Director. My big question has been, How do I take these lists of what I'm supposed to accomplish, and make them happen? How does what task I choose right now, lead to Youth Groups, Conferences, and Camps? And that which is even harder to nail down - to discipleship? (Insert proverbial "Duhn-Duhn-Duhn!")
So I'm spending lots of time in the Prayer Chapel. And making my rounds through everyone's offices, gleaning wisdom, and details and old paperwork; to sort through and integrate. And come Friday, we'll get down to business and do Youth Group.
Here goes! If you're the praying kind; please be lifting these kids, this ministry and this me up to the Father.

Cat's Out - My New Job

Well, the Official Cat is out of the bag, so I thought I would finally write on here and share with all of you my news about "The Next Step." And what I'll be doing after I head home in a couple weeks.
What I'll be doing is actually surprising to me, because I never saw it coming. I received an email a couple months ago and sat in the internet cafe with my mouth gaping, at the strange idea it presented to me! The suggestion that I consider serving the GP Church of Christ as youth pastor, or at least pray about it! In that moment I thought it was just craziness, why would anyone ask me that question? I assumed I would write back the next day and tell him, "nope, that's not for me." But I did pray about it, and in fact the idea itself grew and grew in my mind until both the praying and thinking began to push me towards the opposite answer. I began to really want to do it.
So now it is official. Starting in January I will be on staff in my home church, working full time as the Interim Youth Ministry Director. Yikes! And Yay! I'm pretty excited for this, there are just so many amazing Jr. and Sr. High-ers in our congregation! As I have been in and out of GP in the last few years I have had a lot of fun with them, leading in youth group, sunday school and conferences. And now my job is to plan those things and keep having fun, and point them all to Jesus! That's pretty exciting to me.
So the Cats out of the Bag. I figured I should finally blog this, as even my own poor brother found out by accident the other day. So now between the Chronicle and church and this blog, you all should know! I'd appreciate your prayers as I head into big responsibility, and lots of learning!

Leviticus 15?

In church this morning the speaker tells us our passage for the morning, and everyone opens up their Bibles. I didn't have mine, I never have mine, so I just pulled out my journal for the notes. And they start to read the passage out, in Bisaya of course, and I'm listening only vaguely. I know enough to know, that I only really know maternity-clinic-Bisaya.
But as their reading I begin to think - Wait a second, I know these words. What are they talking about??? I can't wait for them to get to the English translation, so I peak over at my roomie's Bible to see if what I'm thinking is what is being read. And sure enough, my maternity-clinic-Bisaya has served me well. We are reading the passages of the Law that discuss menstrual periods and semen. In church. Yes, that is our inspirational passage for the morning! Around the church people are getting shifty and uncomfortable, there are grins and nervous chuckles. Seriously, Leviticus 15?? My nurse-roomie and I are quietly laughing in the back row, and the poor translator is totally embarrassed and trying to make it through the passage.
In the end, sense was made as the speaker moved on to Mark 5 and the women who touches Jesus and is healed. He lets us know we can boldly approach Jesus, even when we feel "unclean" we can still go face-to-face with Him and ask for healing and restoration. And Jesus even calls this women Daughter, apparently the only time He ever speaks the name.
But I was lost, the start of that sermon was unfathomably awkward! I'm proud of the man for going for it, it takes a great level of confidence to address menstruation in Church. I've tried to picture a Sunday at home and Alan basing a sermon on, quote - discharges - end quote, but I'm afraid I don't have the imagination for it. Men here do a lot of things I can't imagine men doing at home, guess this was just one of them.
I have to say, it was a sermon I'll never forget!

The Irresistible Revolution

Have any of you read "The Irresistible Revolution"? I'm working on it, for the 2nd time, and it's kicking my butt, again! Maybe this time my life might be changed to the core. If not, I'll read it again!
The basis of the book is this:
Isn't there a whole lot more, perhaps a completely different "more" to the call of Christianity, than what the North American church is living and teaching? Are we not called to know and love and serve the poor, "to place them among the princes of our own people" (Psalm 111)? Was our Saviour not a homeless man, who didn't make friends with the good religious people, but sought out the "sinners" and the suffering? And if He knew and cared for the poor, and we claim we are following Him, shouldn't we know the poor? Did He not care for others imaginatively, curing blindness with a mud/spit paste, and zapping 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough for thousands? Did He not invite us into a new family, and way of being where global Christians are not like family, but are in fact our very brothers, sisters and mothers? Did not the early Church reject the way of the Roman world, sharing everything with each other, even fasting so that everyone might eat? Didn't Jesus say to "love our enemies", and wouldn't that mean we don't bomb them? Isn't there a big difference between giving to charities and actually knowing the poor? Didn't Jesus say that the world hated Him, so they would hate us too?
That's it, my synopsis of a 300-something page book, which is far more elloquent, far more butt-kicking and sure to wreck your life. Perhaps the Bible is already speaking these things to you, and you don't need another book to point out the things you've already heard. Or perhaps you are easily forgetful, and culturally stuck, and you can easily skip the "tough" words of Jesus. Perhaps you're like me.
So if you are, if you are wondering if you're missing something, if Christian faith is supposed to be more than what you're living right now. Then buy, borrow, whatever, get the book! And read it. And ask God to give you the courage to read and hear all the words of Christ, not just the ones that would our lives happier, easier, nicer. I don't think Jesus is in that business!

(The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne)

Church Outreach

Last month I participated in a Sunday morning outreach of the Vineyard church I attend here. The church is involved in this community twice a week, and on this Sunday we had church and lunch with about 200 people, in the stifling heat, under a big tent like shack!

The community is a fishing community 10min from my place, and very near the ocean, they have ponds which rise and fall with the tide, these ponds are both full of fish and full of garbage.

And they're the playground of little children.

Church

Well, it's come and gone - I've had my last Sunday here in GP, and Canada for that matter (and for now). The next time I attend church it will be in a warmer climate, in a different language and a different flavour!
I'm going to miss GP Church of Christ a lot! My home church, my family - there are so many there that I love. People I've grown up knowing, have served with, have learned from. I dearly love our church, and will miss singing alongside them, Alan's sermons, the jr high youth, my quirky-yet-lovable bible study group. All parts of this family that I love.
But as I go out, I know that the love and ministry of the church is going with me. I do not go to Manila alone, along with my midwife-sisters and (of course) the LORD, I go with the heart of our GP CofC. You are ministering alongside me, you are helping me even though I'm far away, and you are a part of any lives touched in the process.
I love our church. I love the Church!

Unpacking Words

There's an article on Relevant to check out - this man lives my (current) worst nightmare! He accidently checks his book/music/goodness filled carry-on right before a 25hr flight!!
Please LORD don't let that happen to me!
But I suppose the anecdote is not the point of the article. Unpacking words is the point. Unpacking words, like the way Alan unpacked "WORSHIP" today in church. Loved it!
Check the article (and not your carry-on) HERE.

The One, The Only: Studio Y?

Alright so I'm competing with Jeremy for who's gonna show the most Studio Y? Love... And I know you've all checked out the link on the side but I wanna give you the inside scoop on the best family theatre/dance production in the Great White North!
So once a month a mighty force gathers to put on Studio Y? a big show for the last Sunday of the month - complete with; a quirky but lovable cast, a crew of crazy Undignified dancers, guest storytellers, two rather absent-minded hosts, and my favourite - some hilarious, cutting-edge videos! Sometimes I get the chance to be involved - or just watch the dress rehearsals, and no matter how many times I see the same sketchs I gotta tell you - I'm usually still pee-my-pants laughing! (Don't worry no accidents yet!)

So follow the links to get the latest news and keep up-to-date, and if any of you are EVER in the GP area for the last Sunday of the month - I urge you, drop EVERYTHING and RUN - do not walk - to the Church of Christ on Resources Rd for 10:00am or 6:30pm! You will be glad you did.
Next Studio Y?... January 28th, 2007!

The Art of True Rebellion

I just read a fantastic article on Relevant that I just had to share with you! Now admittedly it's talking about a different kind of youth ministry than what I've grown up on. But I have seen my share of entertainment-based, babysitting style youth ministry, that was lacking or uninterested in being something so much more.
This article really stirs me, because I want to see the youth of this generation rise up and be "peculiar people". Kids who live lives that are socially responsible and who above ALL are faithful to Christ. Even to give up their rights to a life of safety, security or predictability. The call of Christ is often wild and undomesticated - regardless of where they are living, what school they attend or whatever vocation they involve themselves in.
I really have big dreams for our up-and-coming youth, the kids in my church here at home are really amazing. I have a blast with them. It is these kids who I want more for, I want to see them embrace Christ, and enter the world as His bride!

"I’ve grown to believe that student ministry is about much more than just numbers and telling teenagers to “just say no” to temptation. It’s an opportunity to place oneself at the forefront of a great rebellion, a war on the idea that Christianity is just about your inactions. “Follow” is a verb. Something must be done in order to meet the requirements of the command. If I follow Christ and my students follow with me, then they no longer have to settle for being a shadow of the greater culture. Instead, they can lead the Church into the next generation, making her what God intended her to be—a cool shade for the world to rest beneath. If they can accomplish this, the world will look at the Church and know: This is where I go when I need help …when I’m hurting …when I’m homeless … when I’m addicted …when I’m far from home …when I’m hungry … when I’m sick …when I’m ready to give up … But if I choose not to go to the church, there’s no worry, for I know that she will come to me."

Nervous, But Loved

I had the chance to share in church on Sunday - to let my GP family know where I'm headed. And if I seemed nervous, its cause I was. Not nervous to let you in on the news, but nervous because public performances tend to make me feel nauseous, to the point that I can't eat... or breathe, and my palms begin to sweat - profusely!
Remember last fall when a bear made an (Oscar worthy) cameo at Studio Y? Well whoever played that stellar role was backstage, stomach-churning in the hottest, most oxygen-deprived fur suit of all time just moments before that performance. Needless to say my fear is well grounded! (Ha!)
But however voice-crackly, all out nervous I may have been, I really was SOOO excited to share about what I'm heading into! I am amazed at this opportunity that's been put in front of me. Sometimes I begin to wonder if it is real. Am I really leaving so soon? Are they really going to let me be a midwife?
And as I stood on that stage, nervous as all-get-out I was encouraged because all through my church family, people were smiling, nodding their heads, and otherwise letting me know that they were onside, that they believe in this work of God, and in me. You all blessed me! And it has been amazing to have people come to me and commit to praying, commit to giving funds. So many times I have seen God provide for me, and through these last months as I began to count through my "piggybank" I have had to pray - God give me trust. And you are proving to me again - God is faithful, trustworthy, loving. And where He leads He will provide. He brings us together as true community to belong to each other. To give ourselves away to each other! Thank you. You bless me.

Five Loaves, Two Fish - from May 2006 Chronicle

Do you ever pick up a newspaper or turn on the news only to see that people are still poor, still hungry, still waging wars, that AIDS is still spreading? Do you ever look around your workplace, your school, your neighborhood and see people who are lonely, angry, bored, hurting, sick? Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Do you ever feel powerless? After all what difference can one person make? The numbers are all wrong, the odds are against us. The global situation doesn’t often make one feel very hopeful.
But that can’t be the whole picture, because there’s a story in the gospels about a time when the odds weren’t so good for Jesus, his pals or his audience either. The story I’m referring to is the account of the greatest seafood buffet of all time; as Jesus takes five loaves and two fish and feeds more than five thousand people. You’ve heard of it right? Here’s what I find interesting, each of the gospels records the story, but only John tells us where the foodstuffs come from. They come from the hands of a little boy:

“Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, ‘Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?’ He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
Philip replied, ‘It would take a small fortune to feed them!’
Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. ‘There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?’
‘Tell everyone to sit down,’ Jesus ordered. So all of them - the men alone numbered five thousand - sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full.”
John 6:5-11

Now I have a feeling that Jesus probably didn’t need this little boy’s bag lunch. He could have just as easily fed the masses from nothing. In fact it might have been an even bigger show of power, He could have been “The God Who Makes Pop-Tarts Appear from Thin Air”. But I think Jesus had a point in borrowing the fish and bread.
All the problems we face each day as we look at the world, at our communities, at our lives, they seem monstrous. There are no easy answers, rarely good solutions and it seems like no end in sight. These are God-sized problems! How are we supposed to help, what good can we accomplish in a world in so much need? Ultimately the answer is that only Christ can bring the healing and peace we need; it is what we look forward to with His return. But while we are waiting for that day, we can learn from this story that Jesus is the Humble King. He isn’t just looking to perform big production miracles for His sake, but He sees His children’s needs and invites all us to be involved and to join His work.
There is a moment in C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” where Mr. Beaver tells the children “…Aslan is on the move.” And to me those five words are beautiful. Aslan, our great God is coming to rescue His children, to break evil’s spell, to end the terrible winter. Where is God moving near you? He is not blind to the heartache in your home, your workplace, in the ghettos, in Africa. He is not blind; He is on the move. And He is inviting us to join Him. You may already be there, involved with God and others all around you. Or you may be seeing that God is calling out to you to join Him with your time, your heart, your prayers, your skills, your money. Wherever you are, know that God is not daunted by the odds. Even when it seems that the needs around you are enough to drown in, or that what you have to give is barely enough to be counted, know that God is bigger than bad odds, and that He is calling you to be involved.
This summer I’m offering God my five loaves and two fish, it isn’t much but it’s what I’ve got: two hands and my heart. I am heading to the Philippines to work as a midwife in an urban slum in Manila. There I will be working with my classmates to run a free birth clinic, providing maternal and child health care and love to families don’t have the resources to see a doctor or go to a hospital. Last year I began to feel God calling me join Him in this work, to be a part of what He is doing through the Mercy In Action Maternity Center. And I know that I can’t solve the maternal health needs of the world, and in the end I’m not what these women and their babies really need, they need the Great Physician. But I trust that by doing what I can, that we’ll find God moving in miraculous ways, that we’ll see life where we did not expect to find life. That we will see hope and smiles return to women who have not had any reason for them. Against all odds God’s grace is breaking through in Welfareville, Manila and I have the chance to go and be a part. Perhaps you would like to join what God is doing with a young, rag-tag group of midwives, if so send me an email, lets be in contact.
“…Aslan is on the move.” Does He have your five loaves, your two fish?

The Calling - from March '06 Chronicle

The Question.
What are going to do when you grow up? It’s the question we ask kids from the time they begin to toddle. And the pressure only gets worse through high school and college, as everyone wants to know what direction you’re heading in. Some people seem to be born knowing what they will do, others of us have to search and wait. Almost four years out of school, I have searched and waited and searched some more. I’ve always been very interested in missions, but I’ve fretted about choosing an education and career that would work both here at home and away. The world offers a smorgasbord of options and I was beginning to feel that I was drowning in the middle of them. One day I stopped asking God to help me choose well, and started asking Him to choose for me. I don’t know if God always answers that kind of request, but He answered this one. He answered by giving me the clearest sense of a calling that I have ever known. It is a calling I am ecstatically excited about, and I think I’m well suited to, but I never could have expected it.
The Calling.
Did you know that over half a million women die each year in childbirth? Or that 32,000 children, under the age of five, die each day of preventable causes? Both of these tragedies are complex and require much prayer and work for those numbers to fall, but both of these statistics can and must be changed! Seven weeks from now I will begin a mission-midwifery school that will prepare me to assist women in having safe and loving pregnancies and deliveries. And to offer health education regarding the care of young children. On June 12 the 2006 Mercy In Action midwifery school kicks off with three months of condensed study in Boise, Idaho. Followed by a year of clinical work providing free midwifery care to the poorest of the poor in Manila, Philippines, where we will learn and use skills to literally save lives. After completing this school I will have the certification required to register and work as a midwife nearly anywhere in the world! And hopefully, the chance to go as God calls and offer compassion to His children.
The Future.
What the next two years will hold for me, I can barely imagine. I expect they will be both very exciting and very difficult. As I step into this calling I hope I can be the hands and feet of the GP Church of Christ offering mercy in the Philippines. I am hoping to build a team of people here who support me and this work that God is drawing me into. If I have piqued your interest, or if you have any questions for me, feel free to send me an email, or stop me at church on Sunday.

“Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

Psalm 85:10

Emerge

Well I survived a weekend of no sleep, dozens of crazy youth, and many hours driving! I had a lot of fun this last weekend in Calgary at ABC's (my old bible college) Emerge conference. Loved hanging out with all my jr high girls, catching up with Nate and Nancy from DTS, and seeing bible college friends. But I gotta say, it was impossible to balance doing all that! Sooo many people, so little time!
So if I missed you, I'm sorry, wish I had a lot longer.
To anyone who hasn't heard, I'm heading off again. This time going to Boise, ID and then on to the Philippines as I study and learn the art of midwifery! (FYI: midwifery is being a midwife - providing pregnancy care, delivering babies, and doing check-ups on mothers and infants. I've had some pretty entertaining guesses, so hope that clears things up!)
In case you're interested here's my unofficial itinerary:
June-September - Boise, ID. Midwifery School academics.
September 06-September 07 - Manila, Philippines. Practicum; providing midwifery care in the Welfareville slum.
It's a REALLY long time to be gone, it scares me a bit, and I'm really going to miss all of you my wonderful friends/fam! Of course if anyone gets the itch to check out Manila, and maybe some tropical islands and beaches, I'd sure love to have visitors - something to think about!!
Gotta go, the weekends sleeplessness has taken a toll on me, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.