Accidental Arrival

Posted by Kristen on Jun 19, 2013 in All, Spiritual Stuff, Uncategorized | 0 comments

I’ve realized lately that sometimes I think I’m lost & sidetracked, only to discover that I’m actually right on course & where I need to be.

To explain this better I’m going to share a short summary of Ordinary from Bruce Wilkinson’s book, “The Dream Giver”

After much time in the Desert and fighting Giants, Ordinary came upon a city where people needed help. He was eager to continue on and pursue his Big Dream but the citizens asked him to stay and so he did. The city needed help and he was the one to supply it. As Ordinary worked through the many tasks he would ask Dream Giver for counsel and direction and he would get it.

One day he came upon the inside of the city gate only to see the name of his Big Dream written there. It was then that he realized this was the city pictured in his Dream! He just hadn’t recognized it before because, in his Dream, it was to become a greater city (because he was to help make it a greater city).

As Ordinary continued in his Dream others in the city started to awake to their Dreams and, as they did, they began their journeys just as he had done many years before.

I share all this to say that I think many of us are much more on course than we realize. I feel that, in this season, many of us will more fully see that we already are living the beginning stages of the Big Dream that is in our hearts.

If we have “itchy feet”, are angry, or feel an impulsive need to make rash decisions – lets sit back and look at the inside of the gate of the city we are already in. I believe many of us will see we are further along than we thought we were. Maybe we have already “accidentally” arrived at our destiny.

Japanese Adds

Posted by Kristen on Apr 24, 2013 in All, Nations | 0 comments

I think that a lot of the advertisements in Japan are extremely funny. When I was there a few years ago I took a photo barrage of some of my favorites.Here are my favorite ones about animals and T-Shirts.

Nothing says, “I’m a diligent dog owner,” like dressing your Chihuahua up in some bling bling!

All human begins are born free and equal in the rights declaratio. Over with wish dreams.
- This was a shirt I bought over there

Never worry about the next right before my eyes

My smile will become mysterious chuckle

It’s not satisfactory, laughing got tired

Lost History Chapter 9: Endings & Beginnings

Posted by Kristen on Apr 23, 2013 in All, Nations, Spiritual Stuff | 0 comments

In our final chapter of, “The Lost History of Christianity”, Mr. Jenkins shares some reflections on the importance of remembering the past so we can better steward the present.

• Even though churches are no longer in an area, the Church is still there
• Many blame the failure of Christianity in different areas as persecution from God but that is just bad theology

Lost History Chapter 8: the Mystery of Survival

Posted by Kristen on Apr 22, 2013 in All, Nations, Spiritual Stuff | 0 comments

Both North Africa & Egypt were thriving centers of Christianity but after mass persecution, one died out and one still flourished. Churches that adapted to change in culture remained and those that didn’t, died off. Those focused on simply “survival” lasted for a while though ultimately died off as well.

Lost History Chapter 7: How Faiths Die

Posted by Kristen on Apr 21, 2013 in All, Nations, Spiritual Stuff | 0 comments

Although this is indeed  a sad title for this chapter, if we can understand how things have died in the past we will know how to keep them living in the present . . .

Faiths die through:

• Another religion emphasizing a place of family belonging that draws others to it and marginalizes those outside of it
• Losing control of the landscape, cityscape, architecture, artwork and soundscape
• The restructuring of everyday life to make society more aware of the new dominant religion
• Lower birth rates: members of a faith have less kids than members of other faiths around them

Lost History Chapter 6: Ghosts of a Faith

Posted by Kristen on Apr 20, 2013 in All, Nations, Spiritual Stuff | 0 comments

• The premise of this chapter of Philip Jenkins book is that, even if a faith seems to have died in an area, we can still see traces (or ghosts) of that faith within the building, traditions and ceremonies of the current religion. In this way, the faith is never truly gone but always embedded deep within the cultural memory of a people.

Lost History Chapter 5: The Last Christians

Posted by Kristen on Apr 19, 2013 in All, Nations, Spiritual Stuff | 0 comments

Today’s chapter looks at the continued struggle of formalized Christianity in the Middle East & Asia and reminds us that, not even that long ago, much of the world had many more Christians in it than we would have guessed . . .

• Just 100 years ago Christians were as present, if not more so, in the Middle East as Jews in America or Muslims in Europe today.