by Gina | May 21, 2015 | My Life
This summer the McClain family embarks on the adventure of composting. I’m not a particularly ‘green’ person. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, but at the same time… I’m not game for complicated living. I like throwing things away that I no longer need without thought of its reuse. However, my kids come home on a regular basis touting the virtues of recycling, taking care of our environment and all that other ‘green-living’ jargon. (Do I sound jaded?)
Here’s the thing. As easy as it is to toss plastic in the trash can I can’t argue my son’s point when he reminds me that we should care about the environment God gave us. So, over the past few years my family has made some lifestyle changes. We began recycling and are better at taking the initiative to separate our trash and recycle what we can. We watch our lights and make sure we turn out lights in rooms we’re not occupying. And over time we replace equipment in our home that will conserve water and energy.
Our next ‘green’ adventure is composting. I found some pretty simple instructions to make a home-made composter with worms and all. (Wha?!?) It’s called Vermicomposting. I won’t go into detail… you can Wikipedia it here. Essentially it will reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the McClain family garbage can.
However, this adventure opens up opportunity for a new line of conversations with my kids. As we learn about how composting works for our environment I can connect them to how God works in our lives. As we learn the process of how a leftover apple core can turn into rich garden soil, I can teach them how God takes the scraps of life and turns them into rich nutrients to help us grow. How He never wastes a thing (good or bad) when it comes to enriching us so we might produce the fruits of the Spirit.
When you see my kids on the weekends, ask them how the composting is going. This should be an entertaining summer project.
by Gina | May 21, 2015 | Ministry, My Life, Parenting
…teachable moment.”
That’s what I was always told. And I believed it for a long time. That’s why conversation at the dinner table looks a little like this…
Keegan: “I had the most FUN at Enrichment Class today!”
Mom: “Really, honey. Don’t talk with food in your mouth. So, what did you do?”
Keegan (swallowing): “We builded this cool tower out of these fat, flat sticks.”
Mom: “The word is ‘built’, buddy. Not builded. That’s cool. Do you mean you used tongue depressors?”
Keegan: “No, mom. They were flat, fat sticks.”
Mom (chuckling): “They are tongue depressors, son.”
Keegan: “Oh”
Everyone returns to their meal. Keegan is corrected in the proper etiquette of table manners, and the correct term for those ‘flat, fat sticks’. But we heard nothing about how the tower was built, why he enjoyed making it so much and what else he thought he could make with those ‘fat, flat sticks’.
Not every moment is a teachable moment. Sometimes you just need to let things slide. Would you enjoy talking to someone that constantly corrected you? Probably not.
Kids give you numerous opportunities to teach them.
Pace yourself.
by Gina | May 21, 2015 | Ministry, Orange
Sometimes Kyle and I watch that Food Network show: Best Thing I Ever Ate. Not sure why. Personally I think it’s torture to watch someone talk about an amazing food that would require a plane ride to enjoy.
I guess, in a sense, I’m doing the same thing today. Sharing with you my favorite breakout session from past Orange Conferences could evoke some frustrations knowing that it might require a plane ride for you to enjoy it. However… the plane ride is worth it.
Every year that I attend Orange I attend a Jeanne Stevens breakout. No matter the topic. I know it will be great. I simply love to hear Jeanne’s approach to the things God leads her through. Jeanne is a Christ-follower, a parent, a church leader… these are roles I can identify with.
Last year’s session was on “Pushing through Resistance in Ministry”. You can read more of my live notes here. Here are a few of my favorite take-aways:
Resistance in ministry is one of the greatest challenges to overcome. Facing resistance is inevitable. Question is, how does God want you to lead through it?
Conflict is necessary for a healthy team dynamic. If you push it down, it’s like a beach ball in water… it’s going to pop up somewhere else.
Leaning into conflict releases greater impact and potential for your team. Conflict is critical.
Find the task a volunteer can do 60 -70% as well as you can. Empower them to do it and grow into the challenge. Paint the vision for that task and let them grow into that.
Jeanne Stevens will be back at Orange Conference 2011. She’s worth the plane ride. Register today.
by Gina | May 21, 2015 | Community, Ministry
We all know it’s true!
Yesterday I blogged about getting involved in the ‘messy’ side of ministry. Working an event at the church tonight. A woman randomely walks in. The event was not advertised publicly so I’m confident she did not know something was happening that night. I believe she saw the lights on and figured it was a safe place to stop. We fed her, gave her hot coffee and spent a few minutes talking with her. No heroic moves by any standard… but nice to stop and chat with someone that I might otherwise overlook.
I wonder where she is right now… God, protect her.
by Gina | May 21, 2015 | My Life
“I know, but…”
This has to be the single most limiting factor in my own personal growth today.
It smacks of conceit, doesn’t it.
It means I possess knowledge & understanding that I’m unwilling to apply. Plain and simple.
I know that eating less sweets would help me lose weight, but…
I know exercising regularly will give me more energy, but…
I know that turning my phone off in the evening would result in increased attention to the people that matter most in my life, but…
I know that investing more time in prayer would increase my intimacy with the Lord, but…
I have this interesting way of living life in the ‘but’.
And the stench is getting to me.
