An Interesting Exchange
An interesting exchange occured this evening. The cast of characters: Jack; Jack's fairly impersonal, business-guru-type father (a.k.a. "Pookie").
----fade in to: out on the back patio, ESPN and Tate playing quietly in the background, Jack and Jack's Father sitting around the table, having a cigarette----
Jack: Heya, Pook.
Pookie: Hi. How was church?
Jack: It was alright...
Pookie: When is Aaron getting here?
Jack: Saturday evening, I think the plane lands around five.
Pookie: Ok. (pause) Where did you meet him, anyway?
Jack: Christians connecting dot com.
Pookie: Christians...connecting... dot... com?
Jack: Yeah. You remember when I signed up at Big Church dot com, right? Just to meet other christians and all... Remember, that guy Noah that came to visit our church a couple of times? That's where I met him. But Big Church changed things around, and I couldn't hardly sign on without having to pay, so I stopped going there. So I found an ad one day on someone else's blog for Christians Connecting and signed up there.
Pookie: What's a blog? Nevermind. Is this connecting place the place where you met that guy from Tampa?
Jack: Oh, the pastor? Scott? Yeah.
Pookie: Christians connecting dot com...
----The Big Impersonal Father frowns and looks around for a paper and pen, only finds important papers that can't be written on, so Jack hands him a scrap, and he begins to write, mumbling "christians connecting dot com" a couple of times as this scene plays out.... He then sets down the paper and pen, stares over Jack's shoulder thoughtfully...----
Pookie: Is it too soon to be doing this?
Jack: ...(big long pregnant pause)... yes.
Pookie: --quiet grunt of acknowledgement--
Jack: How are you doing?
Pookie: ...Lonely. I went through a bunch of mom's papers today... got all depressed... y'know...
Jack: I think what you should do is find some kind of group, some--i don't know--some local group of people, adult singles, whatever... that meets occassionally, at a restaurant or for some activity or something...
Pookie: (rolling his eyes and twirling his fingers) oh, woo-woo... can you see me doing that? Besides, I thought you said it was too soon.
Jack: I think it's too soon to go out with the intent of finding a specific single person for whatever, but I don't think it's too soon to get some social activity going, to interact and have some companionship. It's worked wonders for me, it's why I go to the lifegroups and stuff.
Pookie: You don't go to "lifegroups", you go to your next-door neighbors house and play poker.
Jack: (laughing) Dad, I did that all of twice, and I skipped this weekend anyhow. I go to lifegroup every other friday. That's what you need--some companionship, some friends, maybe not a Bible-study, specifically, like mine, but just people getting together, meeting new friends and all. Tate, don't run over mommy's feet, that's not nice.
----fade out----
It's only been, what? Six and a half weeks? Part of me is angry with him... Part of me is really grateful that he was honest and open with me... Part of me is sad for him, because he is lonely, and it's plain as day (for me anyhow).
But I know that if he does sign up at Christians Connecting or anywhere else, it's not fair to whatever woman he hits it off with. He's not ready for a relationship--this would be a rebound. Big time. It's understandable, but that doesn't change the fact that it's selfish--and it's not a healthy foundation for a relationship. He's looking for a replacement, something to fill the hole mom left... It's not fair to do that to another human being... with feelings of their own, needs of their own, hopes of their own.
Did I say the right thing to him? Should I have said more? Less? I just don't know... It's going to be very hard on the kids the day he brings another woman into that house. Very. Very. Hard.
Anyway...
-Jack-
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Not Gonna Cut It
Ok, people. I know I have more readers than this. And I know that my readers know more people than this. I'm getting some really great responses on the survey, but not nearly enough. I've only gotten about 80 responses. It really does only take a moment. It's not long, it's not hard. It's asks things like what kind of music do you prefer, or what issues do you think churches should cover, what day and time would you like church to meet, etc. Easy stuff. C'mon. Give it a shot.
Thanks!!
-Jack-
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I've been doing a lot of thinking about what the church is and does, and what it's supposed to be and do... How to make it relevant and applicable today... How to meet the needs of the community it is intended to evangelize and serve... And so:
I've taken some time and put together a survey. Please take a few minutes to check it out and answer the questions.
Please feel free to post the link in your own blogs or send it out in emails. I really want to get a good response from this research. I'm hoping to take the survey offline onto some college campuses as well. I want to get as many people as possible to participate in this. And feel free to leave lots of feedback!! I want this survey to address the right issues and if y'all think I'm missing a key element, please tell me! Thanks so much, guys. I can't wait to study the results.
Don't worry, no personal information is collected.
Walk with Him...
-Jack-
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Worship Events
Y'all remember way back when (September, namely), when I went to the worship event with Hillsong? It was so awesome, so freeing, so inspiring... It just really helped to get me fired up and centered on God, recharged even... that was the night God really laid it out for me, and began showing me where He wanted to use me. And remember how I talked about starting a weekly worship event here in Orlando? How I really felt called to do that? Well, looks like it's getting started, people. This Saturday, even!! God's just so awesome, He's just dropping everything so casually into place, it's incredible to witness.
At any rate, if any of you are in Central Florida, I urge you to come out! Saturday, April 27th, at Sanford Alliance Church (they've graciously donated the use of their facilities until we find something more central or neutral). We're not just looking for people to attend, but also for people to serve--in all areas. If you think you might be interested (in attending OR serving, lol), leave a comment detailing such, or just email me (jackgirl_24@yahoo.com, or click the link over to the left). It's still very much a grassroots effort. It's just going to be a time to get together and get into some great fellowship with one another and with God, in corporate worship and prayer--coming together to lift God up, to worship Him more and deeply. The time hasn't been officially announced yet, but you can figure on it starting around probably 7 or so, and it'll more than likely run around 2 hours. At any rate, hope to hear from you and/or see you there!
Love God, love others, love life--and live it out loud! Live and leave a legacy that points straight to Him!
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Recharge
I got the chance to go to H2O again today. It was a major battery recharge. I can't even explain it. I brought my younger sister and brother along today. Dad was supposed to come, but he got an email late last night about his work, and had to spend the morning in his office fixing things.
At any rate... Hi, everyone. I'm gonna go check my email now.
-Jack-
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Why Aren't We?
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It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
Jesus is the way
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It's certainly worth thinking about. And worth checking the song out too--Casting Crowns... Very good song. Anyhow. Just on my mind...
-Jack-
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Hmmmm...
Apparently if you do a search for "Aaron Harring korea", you'll get my site. Heh. Thought that was pretty cool. A friend of his from the States was trying to find him, and did that search, got my site, and emailed me. Pretty cool.
I'm going through a leadership training course with some people in my church. I really like it, but I don't know if I'll be able to continue it. I hope I can, it's just that it seems like I never get to be around Tate anymore, and it's killing me. I miss my baby. One of the things we're doing in the class is going through a video seminar and workbook from Rick Warren (Saddleback Church) on The Purpose Driven Church. It's got some wonderful insight and information. (I still HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend his book, The Purpose Driven Life... for EVERYONE.)
I don't even know what to talk about, I just felt like I should blog something. I'm getting really bad again about rambling update-style posts. I need to focus. Pick a topic and stick to it, really explore it. I guess I'm a superficial blogger, at the moment. Don't worry, I'm sure that'll change. I'm always changing. Ugh. Sometimes I wish I was normal and constant and steadfast and all that boring, stuffy stuff. Then I think of what it would be like to be all that boring stuffy stuff and I'm glad I'm me.
God made me precisely who I am... He made me to be precisely the way I am... There are people out there that He wants me to reach, and only I can reach them as I am. That's so cool. There are people that you can reach that I can't. There are people that I can reach that you can't. Be glad you are who you are... Because if you were someone else, you wouldn't be able to reach the people He created you to reach.
Reach out and love someone...
-Jack-
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So tired... but so in love...
...with GOD!! I'm really really really tired, but I just have to stop and tell you guys just how awesome God is... oh, and faithful! Boy, is He faithful! He's been so incredibly gracious over the last year... from preparing our hearts, to comforting us, to sustaining us, to lifting us back up again... it's amazing. I mean, seriously... my mother DIED four weeks ago... wow, four weeks ago today, i just realized that... she's dead. she's gone. it's over. i no longer have a mother. and this is not some distant woman i saw twice a year now that i'm grown. i live in the same neighborhood, i saw her EVERY DAY... she was the most amazing woman (and she was ALWAYS right, go figure)...
but it's weird (and kinda scary)... i'm not mourning... i find myself wondering a lot, about precisely where she is (not "is she in heaven??" lol, more specific than that) and what she's doing, and things like that... and of course i have intense moments of grief, but they are just that---moments. i am so blessed!!
and things are really opening up for korea and Aaron... oooooooh woooooooow!!! did i tell you?? he's flying over here for spring break!! shhh, don't tell his parents, though. they'll be really cheesed off if they find out before he's done it that he came back to the states and didn't see them (they're all the way over in KC). at any rate! i'm so excited!! God just totally threw open those doors! it's so awesome!
the more i seek Him, the more i find Him. did you get that? i'll say it again: the more i seek Him, the more i find Him. You guys, I'm not just paraphrasing Scripture---it's the TRUTH OF EXPERIENCE... it's really truly TRUE. it's really truly REAL. it really does work that way! oooh, He's just so unbelievable... He's unchanging, unfailing, everlasting, holy, righteous, just, loving, gracious, merciful, AMAZING... and this God, this unbelievable, unchanging, unfailing, everlasting, holy, righteous, just, loving, gracious, merciful, AMAZING God sent me His Son... and killed His Son as a sacrifice for my sins because He loves me... i cannot fathom that depth of love... the closest i've come is in loving Tate... i think understanding that depth of love would kill me. i mean that. i think my mind would just shut down and i would die of heartbreak... we aren't meant to fully understand it, really truly fully grasp it, yet... our bodies, our minds, can't handle it... but i'll strive to understand it and appreciate it to the best of my ability for the rest of my life...
oh, people, He's just so mind-blowing... how can i sit here and think about getting satellite tv and cable internet and wondering what i'll wear to work tomorrow when there are so many people i could be loving... so many ways i could be loving God? so many ways to serve and to minister and to touch and impact and love...
He's just so awesome.
-Jack-
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Ugh.
Rough day. Head pounding... children yelling... house trashed... head pounding more... stuff everywhere...
(Can: open, Worms: everywhere.)
I need peace... peace and quiet and calmness and rest and relaxation and tranquility.... Instead, I rearranged my bedroom, and sent all the chaos spinning again. I hate it when I get all itchy to clean and change and throw things out. I usually just create a bigger mess. ***whimper***
Does anyone know where Justin went? He has the Fifteen Minutes : A Humor Column blog/site/thingie... it's gone, I can't find it. Ugh.
Ooooooooooohhhhhhh my head...
I'm gonna go now. Just keep reminding me that God loves me...
- Jack -
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Hi.
Boy, y'all are quiet... Anyway. I'm coloring my hair. I'm only halfway done with it at this point. The color they had me for Charlie Brown (a medium brown) had begun to oxidise and all that... it wasn't a big difference from my natural color, just a little lighter, so it wasn't like i had drastic roots or anything, it just got a little brassy and plain and was bugging me. So I took it in the opposite direction of my natural color. Now it's slightly darker than my natural brown. It looks gooooood.
Oh, but I'm not finished yet. No no no, Jack can't do anything adequately---she always has to do more. So I've got a box of mahogany-ish highlights. Ooooh, yes, Feria's the bomb. They've got little highlight kits that look easy as toast (I would say pie, but it's not very easy to make a truly good pie).
So yeah... I'm halfway done, and now I've come online to chat with Mac. I love Mac, by the way... just in case y'all were wondering. ***insert big cheesy grin here***
I'll talk at you later. I really will. I've got a lot of catching up to do---I've been such a bad blogger. Sorry!
- Jack -
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A Child Is Born
Well... ok, not a child, exactly, so much as a baby blog... i guess? heh.
I've created a new blog, for Mac. Check it out, tell me what you think! I pretty much just put in whatever I felt like. As he gets accustomed to using it and whatnot, I'm sure I'll make a few changes to suit his preferences, and I'm sure he'll want to add to the links... I just put in whatever, pretty much, just so there'd be something there. Seriously though, go look at it and give me some feedback... er, please.
Thanks!
Oh, and just to warn you: updates on happenings will be forthcoming, and there will probably be quite a lot of them, since I had put regular blogging on hold while I... well, y'know... while I wrote all that down there. Anywho.
LIVE OUT LOUD!! It's really fun.
-jack-
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