My First Time

A few months ago, WaLT, my SaLT Group leader asked me to consider teaching a class, basically subbing for him so he can have a break. I said no.

Who am I to teach the Word? I told him that I couldn't because my heart was not right. I have been dealing with some spiritual issues that were detrimental to my relationship with God lately, nothing that was of huge concern, but that my heart was just not in a state that would be conducive to learning the Word enough to teach it. I would feel too hypocritical.

Walt told me that sometimes preparing to teach gets one in the Word and God uses that to help correct an issue like I described. I simply discarded what he had to say at the time.

A few weeks ago, I was feeling better, Walt asked me again to take one of his classes. I still said no. But, eventually, after numerous pleas said yes when he asked again.

The past few weeks I've spent in the Word preparing to lead on John 11. It was an experience and made me study a bit differently than I have before. Usually, when I study, I'm praying for God to reveal Himself to me through His Word. While that is still my prayer, I was also asking Him to guide me and reveal Himself to others through His Word, and chosen instrument, which was to be me. Ugh. The pressure!

I had, and have, so many thoughts running through my head. I have thoughts like I'm not qualified to teach, I'm a hypocrite, I'm encouraged, scared, why me?

Well, it's over now. My first time leading/teaching SaLT is over.

Things seemed to go smoothly. The class responded well to my questions and leading, and I don't think I taught any false doctrine. LOL I feel humbled, privileged, excited, challenged, relieved, anxious, etc. all at the same time. It is such an important responsibility to share the Word with others. I want to make sure I get it right, but it is comforting to know, that if I had said something incorrect or out of line, I have brothers and sisters in Christ who love me enough to correct me and encourage me. I received a lot of encouragement today, thanks be to God.

God is amazing...He uses even me.

-Sue

Who's Yo Daddy?

What's wrong with this picture? This was an actual conversation that took place in my store and I'm curious if you find it as disturbing as I do?

I was attempting to upsell to a customer who kindly refused everything I tried to pitch to him. He said with a smile on his face "nah, I got 2 kids on the way so I gotta watch my money". I gave the man his change and finished up the transaction.

The gentlemen in line behind him spoke up about the obvious special situation and inquired of the man "oh, neat,...you have twins on the way?"

The man laughed and answered "nah, two different women. I'm gonna be a busy man!" and he turned and walked away.

Maybe it was the reply itself? Maybe it was the tone and the braggart attitude the man replied with that bothered me?

The Ringtones Adults Can't Hear

Hmmmmm, I can't hear anything beyond the lowest three frequencies, which is apparantly about right for my age of 25-15. Ugh! My body is deteriorating!

I've been having fun driving the household crazy today though. I can hear a thing above a certain frequency, but I keep playing the tones that are out of my range and everyone starts yelling "stop! stop doing that!" It's fun!

Katie can hear the "mosquito tones", (she's an anomaly) so her teens wouldn't have much success hiding the fact that their cellphone is ringing...that and the fact that they don't have cellphones!

Can you hear it? The ringtone that most adults can't hear!

Chuck and Melissa Grillin'

Chuck and Melissa Grillin'
Originally uploaded by susanlprince.

SaLT with WaLT continues our new summer "salt shake" tradition of getting together with other SaLT groups. Last night we combined for an evening of fellowship with Chuck's group.

Chuck is the pastor at our church and he was the grillmaster last night. Melissa, also pictured, is the hostess. She opens her home up for these fellowships which is turning out to be every three weeks or so.

It has been a lot of fun and has really been helping us get to know other people in our church that we normally do not spend too much time with.

We played some of the DVD game "Scene It" and then headed outside for a new round of "Karen Games". Karen is our game organizer and her games have become known lovingly as "Karen Games". They are usually the kind of game that gets one out of their comfort zone and many times they require physical activity. Last night was some "Queen of the Ocean" and a fun game where a circle was formed and the person in the middle was "it".

Someone was appointed the "leader" and they give a certain sign that everyone in the ring imitates. The person who is "it" has to identify the "ring leader" in three guesses or less. It was a lot of fun!

As usual, pictures are posted on Flickr...so click the picture!

Actual Conversation

Tiffany: Mom, can you take me to Burger King?

Katie: Won't you be having dinner with the youth tonight? They are cooking out, hamburgers and hotdogs.

Tiffany: I don't want hamburgers!

Me (I just had to ask the obvious question): Then why do you want to go to Burger King?

Tiffany: I want chicken.

Kids,...they bloggle the mind.

Not Taking Up Our Cross

I asked participants who claimed to be "strong followers of Jesus" whether Jesus spent time with the poor. Nearly 80 percent said yes. Later in the survey, I sneaked in another question. I asked this same group of strong followers whether they spent time with the poor, and less than 2 percent said they did. I learned a powerful lesson: We can admire and worship Jesus without doing what he did. We can applaud what he preached and stood for without caring about the same things. We can adore his cross without taking up ours. I had come to see that the great tragedy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor." - Shane Claiborne

Read that on page 113 of "Irresistible Revolution - Living as an Ordinary Radical"

The Simple Way - check it out

I'm not sure I agree with all the stuff Shane Claiborne says or does, but he does make me think and that makes for good reading!

Confident, Dry and Secure

Not that there was any odor, but it might have led to that. You see, the best waitress in the world works at the restaurant Katie and I go to have breakfast at every Wednesday to start off our "God Day".

We have been doing this faithfully for years and years (well, at least the breakfast part!) and we've worked hard to develop a relationship with Faye, the waitress, as witnesses for Christ. She serves us each and every week with excellence and care, and today, I got to serve her!

Faye came over to our table shortly after we were seated. She bent over and very descreetly asked if either of us had deoderant in our purses. NOT the question we would have expected! LOL

I thought maybe I had some in my truck, but after I checked, I came in to tell her "sorry, no, but I'll run to the store to get some". She told me not to, but it was too good an opportunity to serve her for once!

Today, I bought deoderant for the best waitress in the world!

After paying the bill, on our way out the door, Katie asked Faye "Do you feel confident, dry and secure?"

Faye raised her hands and we all said "raise your hands if your Sure!" LOL