Mosaic...a community coffee house

Mosaic..a community coffee house was unveiled last night! It was fun and I think it was well received. The real work now starts!

Had the big meeting - it went well. I have a new boss - which is good. I've worked with her for some time and she is someone who will leave me alone! I will now be responsible for all collections. Andrew has another job and will no longer deal with students. So, that's a good thing. They will hire a junior advisor who will be on my team to do the busy work of my job.

That's what I know now. I'm still interviewing and looking for jobs, but this change seems to be a message that they want to keep me - even though my "attitude" is sometimes bad. They are being generous in their minds.

The best part is...I still get to go to China and I'm not fired...those are really good things! I appreciate the love, prayers and support and think that I could stick this out until something better comes along.

I was told today not to just "leave because you're mad" however sound advice that was. I think that is good advice for us all to remember...don't leave because you're mad!

Coffee House

I decided not to post about my job anymore. It's really not uplifting to anyone and I have a big meeting on Monday that I just found out about with the big boss...so I may not have a job after Monday. Crap!

I'm excited about the coffee house that my church is starting this fall. I've been a part of the visioning, planning and dreaming team for a few months now and we're rolling out the name tomorrow night in a big all-church party. I'm very excited and privledged to be a part of something like this. It is closer to becomming a reality and I can't wait to be involved.

I can't tell the name until tomorrow...so you'll have to tune in.

The Anderson family has expanded by one member. Last week my cousin Taylor and his wife Amy had a little baby - Morgan May Anderson. I saw some pictures of her and she is so delicate and sweet. Congrats Taylor & Amy!

Uncle Scott leaves for Pasadena tomorrow - don't pick up any hitchikers!

That's all for now - have a paper to write and knees to get on!

Information School

Had an interview today at the i-School. It was for an academic advisor position for their Master's of Science in Information Management. Apparently there is a lot of information that needs to be managed!

I think I can interview really well - so I feel like it went great. The job pays less than what I make now, but if Dan can come through on the re-fi and I can pay everything off, it will be easy to take a pay cut.

I liked the people I met - they seemed so....what's the word....NORMAL! A far cry from the regime I work under now.

Stay tuned....

Jobs Jobs Jobs

I have two interviews this week! I'm excited. I also got accepted into the PhD program in Social & Community Services at Capella University. They won some award for having a really good online program...so Mark may make fun of me, but oh well!

It's about 110 degrees in the shade and in my house as well. I'm in the process of re-financing. I'm so grateful for a sister and brother-in-law who have been through this and can guide me on what to do! Thanks H&H :)

That's all for now-I'll update the blog on the jobs after Wednesday.

Here is the hotel I will be staying at in Shanghai: http://www.c-b-w.com/hotel/zhongya/index.html

Get Over It

I'm listening to a CD from a friend of mine here at work that his church put out. It's called Get Over It...and it's black gospel and it's good. I like the title best.

It turns out that I don't actually have a job interview. The person who called me was from that department and was calling at the request of my friend to tell me about the job because she does the same job. I got a little excited for no reason...but I will call her and hopefully make another contact.

I am frustrated by this job process but need to "get over it!"

That's all for now.

www.kiva.org

I've just discovered what I want to do with the rest of my life...

Take a look at this website



I believe this could be done within the US and within our churches.

I've sponsored two folks today - with minimum donations and am excited to see the outcome.

Pray for resources and direction.

Let's get out of the boat-NOW

There is a really good story in Matthew's gospel (Matthew 14:9)about Jesus walking on water. Jesus told the disciples to go out in the boat...straight into a storm that is brewing, to go to the other side of the lake.

The boat is tossing and turning in the waves. Let's pause and understand the eloquence here: Jesus told them to get into the boat, out into the storm and wait for him...I love this! The disciples are afraid and Jesus walks out to the disciples and they think it is a ghost. Jesus tells them "take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Peter calls out to Jesus and says "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water."

Jesus says one word: "Come"

I love that Peter is the only one that gets out of the boat. Jesus bids him "come" and he gets out - and does what no other human being in history does - walks on water.

Why am I so afraid to do something courageous?

• quit my job even though "society" says it's crazy
• start a microlending firm
• love people
• feed poor people
• live in community
• change the world

Jesus is outside the boats we live in - asking us to "come" and I want to be like Peter and jump in! I want to trust Jesus enough to do crazy things like walking on water or quitting my job, on faith that there is more to Jesus than what I know now.

What the h*%l

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in ME, the works that I do, he will do also; AND greater works than these he WILL do; because I go to the Father" (NASB)

John 14:12

So, I have a friend dying of cancer. I want her to be healed. Jesus says anyone who believes can do the works he does (and greater) - which includes healing.

So, my issue is, when I pray for healing of my friend she is not healed.

I believe in Jesus and I know that what he says is true.

My friend still has cancer. She has a husband and a son with Downs Syndrome. I want her to be healed. My faith says God can do this, he wants to, he is willing to and he is able to. The Bible says I should be able to do this and I can't. I don't want platitudes here... Particularly regarding my faith and the strength of my prayers. I don't need that.

I want Jesus to intervene miraculously and heal my friend. Period. End of story.

New Friends

Got a call last night after work while I was on my way home. It wasn't a particularly good/bad day at work but it's so volatile here that you just never know. My new friends invited me to share a home-cooked meal with them.

I was touched and honored to get to know them in this way. We had a great time and I'm looking forward to many more to come.

Thanks be to the Lord for his provision of friends and family to me during this time in my life. I'm grateful and want to pass it on!

I'm not diverse

I do not like my job. It's not ever been more evident than today. We had a meeting about some employee survey results that "management" felt some responses we gave in the survey were alarming. Well, they really were. People are not really happy and of course there's a cause and they are going to tackle it, solve it, measure it and report it. Whatever.

A part of the survey discussed diversity within my organization, however, the results that management shared with us today did not include any discussion about the diversity questions or the results. I kind of wondered about that and at my table during "small group discussion" (which of course is supposed to engage us all in stilted dialogue) one of my friends pointed this out. My friend is African-American and wheel-chair bound from an allergic reaction to a polio vaccination. He's really great and I enjoy his encouragement and he knows how to mix a CD like nobody else.

My friend brought this to the management's attention and stated that the results we were given left out the portion about diversity. The response from management was a joke. He (the main man) stood up and said that it didn't directly pertain to our part of the organization so he left it out.

My friend said very eloquently: "I'm diverse and part of this organization and I'd like to see them." This was met with the white, male, overpaid top level manager saying "I'm diverse too and part of this organization."

Whatever. First of all when my friend enters a room, there's no questioning his diversity - he way overqualifies. Secondly, this manager is white, male and priveledged. He is gay, but walking into a room NOBODY knows that.

This is why I'm quitting my job. Do I really need any other reason?

Proud to be an American?

Today I watched the Shuttle Discovery take off. NASA has a cool feature on their website called NASA TV. It allows anyone to watch, real time, the launch of the space shuttle. It starts with the astronauts loading and allows you to hear everything they talk about. You can watch them get strapped in and then watch the entire process from countdown to liftoff. It also allows you to hear the captain talking to mission control. It's very impressive. You can watch the guys in Mission Control hugging and patting backs after the successful lift off. Each man has a small American flag near his station seemingly always remembering who they are working for.

The pictures are amazing. After 3 minutes, they are 36 miles above the earth; after 7 minutes, you can see the curve of the earth from the shuttle; after only 8 minutes, you see the huge rocket boosters fall off and toward the ocean floor below. Only eleven minutes after lift off, Discovery is in orbit and flying about 5 miles/per second. They are now into launch about 30 minutes and are over Eastern Africa. Amazing!

I must admit, I had goosebumps when it took off - and even got a little teary eyed. It's amazing to be apart of a Superpower Nation that spends billions of dollars to get man into space. I'm also amazed that men (and women) can think at levels I only aspire to. They think thoughts that get people to space-they build the platforms, the rockets, the foamy protection. They can guide a huge shuttle like playing a video game. It does make me proud until I think about what we could do to end poverty in America...if we wanted to.

The same minds that build shuttles, rockets and space stations could think of ways to end hunger and the ugliness of poverty. I want America to be in space and to do amazing things but I also have a deep desire for our country to be about the business of our citizens - to ensure that little children have food and a place to sleep at night. I guess we choose not to do this - because I know that if we can send a man to space and bring him home safely, certainly, we can end poverty and feed everyone in America - or the world.

I was talking to a friend last night about his job at a Seattle youth shelter. The kids he sees really need help, not space stations or rockets but the same level of thought that goes into making rockets could end their struggle.

Forget about God, Jesus, the church (ha!) and even some well-meaning Christians helping - that's not the help I'm speaking of. They need real help, tangible help..daily bread, shelter, jobs - stuff we take for granted sometimes. I wonder what to think when we launch a shuttle into space and are amazed at it and my friend talks to 14 year old prostitutes (living on the streets of America) everyday who are looking for some food and a place to lay their head and who are more than willing to use sex as their currency.

I am proud to live here-I am happy it's the 4th of July - I want to do better and want to engage in the thought process that will make a difference in people's lives. I don't know how to connect the two thoughts of youth shelter and NASA but it's what I'm thinking about and wondering how to make life in America better for the hurting, the marginalized and the poor among us.

Happy Fireworks!

Kubota Gardens

Spent some wonderful time today at Seattle's Kubota Gardens - in the middle of Beacon Hill - a beautiful landscape of Japanese Gardens. There were gorgeous Japanese Maples, rhodies, hydrangea and all sorts of different garden areas. The bridge pictured above opened up to a little cove where birds of all kinds were flying in and out. It was serene, peaceful and very beautiful. I am glad I got to experience this garden and highly recommend it to anyone!

I went with some great friends of mine that I truly appreciate. Sometimes, I feel sorry for myself that I have to do stuff alone, as I have no life partner to "walk this road" with me. I usually get over it pretty quick and it helps to have awesome friends like these.

I said a prayer of thanks for my friends who are willing to walk this road with me - I am grateful for them all.

Meerkat Manor

You must watch this show. It's a great testament to how a community is supposed to live instinctively. I highly recommend it to anyone as it truly is one of the best shows I've seen in a long time.

Long live the Whisker Family!

See Animal Planet for listings.

One Choice

I was working today when all of a sudden three Seattle Police cars pull up and three officers jump out. They were chasing four teenage kids who had just tagged the side of the Wells Fargo across from my office.

I watched as they caught the kids and pulled them to the ground. These kids are about 13-16 maybe and two of the four looked really scared. I thought about the phone call their parents were about to get. It's a sunny day and their folks are probably working - or maybe not.

I was thinking about my nephew, who I love like my own son, and if I got the call from my sister about something like this. I would be disappointed that one bad choice created a consequence that would now create more issues.

One small choice - one huge consequence. I wonder if it was worth it? The tag is really artistic.

Summer Reading List

The red letter girl does read more than just the Bible....surprise!

I have compiled a Summer reading list that you may enjoy!

Wild Swans - Jung Chang (I'm reading this as required for my trip to Shanghai)
Our Town - Cynthia Carr
Take A Walk; 100 walks through natural places in the Puget Sound region - Sue Miller Hacking
Gall - Pete Gall
My Little Friend - Donna Tartt
Maybe a Miracle - Brian Strause
The Last Song of Dusk - Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
The Liar's Club - Mary Karr
The Good Pig - the Extradorinary Life of Christopher Hogwood - Sy Montgomery
Fodor's Beijing & Shanghai
Irresistable Revolution - Shane Claiborne

That should keep you all busy for awhile!

It's Decision Time Again

It's decision time. I'm almost 37 - almost have a Master's degree and I need a new job. The decision will be made shortly and I ask that anyone within the sound of my blog, spend at least 30 seconds on your knees for me.

I am making a decision that could (and hopefully will) change my life. I have decided to follow Jesus and I can't do that in my current position. I'm just trying to make it to China, but feel reassured by the HS that maybe, if I work for him, I could go to China another time.

Crisis is interesting...I invite you to join in with me and thank you for caring enough to do so.

The Power of Canceled Sin

Charles Wesley wrote a few hundred really great hymns. We don't sing them much anymore, but one was swirling around the empty recesses of my mind yesterday.

"He breaks the power of canceled sin

He sets the prisoner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean;

His blood availed for me!"

O for a Thousand Tongues

Canceled sin is one of the evil one's most powerful weapons against a follower of Christ. The constant reminder of what we've done, who we've done it to (or with), and how bad it really was is a tool the EO uses against us whenever he can.

Remember, the sin has been canceled by our asking Jesus for forgiveness...yet it continually presents itself when ever our idle minds happen across the memory. It's been forgiven, forgotten and impossible to see yet still gives us pause and obviously was such an issue in Methodism at Wesley's time that he wrote about it.

Jesus does break the power that canceled sin can have over our lives - if we let him. Maybe we should sing this little tune more often.

Moments

I was listening to a book on tape today and the author was talking about how each day is made up of single moments. These moments are opportunities for all of us. Single moments that make up our days. Moments that we have control over and some we do not. The one thing we can always control is our attitude in those moments. I can decide how I will react in the moments that make up my day. It's a simple thought, but one that has incredible potential.

Think about all the moments that make up your day. In line at the grocery store, getting coffee, talking to a co-worker or being with your friends and family are all moments that make up a day, week, month, year and a lifetime. They are all opportunities.

I want to remember that each day is made up of moments and that I can be aware of these moments to make sure that I am being the best sister, daughter, aunt, co-worker, friend and Christian I can be.

Pasadena

Just talked to my Uncle Scott from Dallas. He and my aunt Julie are moving to Pasadena next month. It's an exciting yet nerve wracking time for them. They are so cool and I'm excited to (hopefully) get invited to visit in California.

As I was talking with him and rejoicing in this decision I was also thinking about how hard change is. It's one of those things that is inevitable (like death and taxes) but you're never quite ready for it once it starts. As I get ready to complete my MA in December, I'm reminded of how prevalent change is, even in my studies of organizations and the way they function. How an organization handles change can make or break them-and I think it's the same for us. How we choose to address change and either embrace it, deny it, ignore it or hope that it goes away, says a lot about us. It can be something as small as starting a conversation with a neighbor or something as big as moving from Dallas to Pasadena...each takes courage and a lot of faith.

I'm proud of them and their ministry and know that God will use them in a huge way in this new adventure! I just want to go to Disneyland.

Are you content?

I go into churches and everyone seems to feel so good about themselves.
Everyone calls themselves a Christian nowadays. How dare we call ourselves
Christians? It's only for Jesus to decide whether we are Christian or not. I
don't think he's made a decision in my case and I'm afraid that when he does I
am going to be sent straight to hell. I don't feel I can call myself a
Christian. I can't be satisfied with myself. We all seem to be pretty contented
with ourselves in church and that makes me sick. I think all this contentment
makes Jesus nervous.
Robert Coles - Wittenburg Door

A friend of mine talks about being in the tension of wanting to do what Jesus says to do and yet purposely, still not doing it The desire is strong to act in love, but the flesh is weak...it's a tough spot to be in and the only way to get out of this tension is to do what Jesus says to do...whether that's loving someone you don't want to, staying in a job you don't like, giving money you don't want to give or helping out a neighbor or friend when it's not convenient. Thankfully we get to be in the tension - for how long? How long can we be in the tension before we're required to act? For now, I am living in the tension. Purposely knowing what to do, wanting to do it and not doing it...sounds an awful lot like sin.