Pen 'n Paper Mama » church

quote: give it all away?

Norma Hill — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:34:07 +0000

uly 20 (looking back to July 10 and 11)

Read a quote today that challenged me: “Do you see the difference between the things of this world and the things of God? Are you eager to run and sell it all, give it away, pay whatever the price may be, in order to be part of that kingdom?”

What are my priorities? Keith Giles adds: “The cost of the Kingdom is everything, but in comparison to the treasure we receive in return, all that we have in this life is worthless and empty.”

Reading in John 6:27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you…”

it takes a family to raise a child? or a church? or a village? or?

Norma Hill — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:35:28 +0000

July 6, 2010

IT DOESN’T TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD?

A few days ago I was reading a blog post (which I cannot get out of my mind) in which the writer argued that, contrary to the popular saying, or at least contrary to some popular interpretations of the saying, it does not “take a village to raise a child.” The writer, Eric, pointed out that the “village” that the majority of our children grow up in offers a mix of values (or lack thereof) that we may really not want our children being raised with. He suggested that it really only takes a mother and father to raise a child, but that they may be backed up or supported by close friends of like values, in a Christian family’s case, their local church – if that church is really living together in love and unity, rather than just as a program-run organization. (He also raised some related issues; You can check out the whole post at A Pilgrim’s Progress), and see what he thinks).

Now I don’t have a problem with the backed-up-by-the church part, if the church is really a part of Christ’s family: a close-knit village within the Kingdom of God, if you like. In fact, I think it is ideal, and essential. But….

MA AND PA CAN DO IT BY THEMSELVES?

But I do wonder about the parents-only part. That whole “nuclear family” concept is pretty recent, and pretty western/North American.
THE “HOUSEHOLD” … EXTENDED FAMILY … VILLAGE

Historically, and certainly biblically, family was (and still is, in vast parts of the world), extended. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins … and biblically, servants (and slaves). And sojourners and people traveling through. The “household.”

Living in a single large home, or in a compound – or in a village.

It wasn’t that long ago, even in North America, that neighborhoods in cities were often villages in their own way.

NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGES BACK IN THE DAY

When I was young (mid twentieth century), almost all our neighbors within a block or so in both directions from our house – and those over the back fence, too – knew each other well. The adults all watched out for each other’s children. Grandparents often lived with families, and even those who didn’t were generally accepted as honorary grandparents, and children were expected to respect them.

We played in each other’s yards, and in the street, and in the empty lot in the middle of the block – usually without our parents directly present, but we knew they were keeping an eye on us from the houses or yards. Sometimes the adults would come out and play softball with us, or help us fix our go-carts or build our tree forts. No one much worried, because we all knew each other. When someone new moved into the neighborhood, everyone brought them pies or cookies, and invited them over for meals. We celebrated birthdays and weddings and other events together.

We were a village within the city, an extended family by common geographic location, and also, as I look back on it by generally shared values and beliefs. Most of us were at least nominally Christian, at least by Census statistics, though we represented many streams: Catholic, Orthodox, mainline and evangelical Protestants, Easter-and-Christmas-church-goers, even a Jehovah’s Witness family. We didn’t agree on all theological points, but we were neighbors, and so we didn’t fight about them either.

Oh yes, and most of us were of European descent, some recently, some several generations removed. Most of us were hyphenated-Canadians, and it was always a delight, for example, to have real home-made spagetti with the Italian-Canadians, or listen to the Scottish-Canadians play their pipes, or whatever. We were proud of our backgrounds, but we really weren’t that different.

In terms of our present-day multi-cultural society, our neighborhood (our entire town for that matter) was remarkably homogeneous. In our high school of 1200 students, there was, as I recall, one black family, one Chinese family, two or three Japanese families, and a small clan of East Indians who (very intriguingly to us) all lived together in one big house.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED, OF COURSE

I find myself almost shaking my head in disbelief when I think about it. That homogeneous “village” world seems very long ago and far away to me now. Is that why we find ourselves withdrawing into our private little “castles” and putting up the gates? Do we develop a fortress menality? To shut out those who threaten our apparently safe, homogeneous little family? Are we really better off to protect our children from those who are “different” from us, in culture, religion, values, and so on? (And if so, can we then really trust even those of our extended physical family whose lives aren’t exactly like ours? Or even the “church family,” made up as it likely is these days, of people from widely varying backgrounds? How far do we take this? What is driving us? Just protectiveness? or fear? prejudice? Can we really trust ourselves? Do we trust God?)

I’ve know parents who have withdrawn their children from the village. The children play with their own siblings, and on very special occasions with children from hand-picked families whom the parents cautiously associate with. The mothers sit with the children as they play together, watching their every move. Oddly enough, some, after protecting their children so carefully at home, send them off to public school every day. (Odd indeed. Another story…).

CAN WE EVEN STOP THE VILLAGE FROM RAISING OUR CHILDREN?

I really do think it does take a village, to some degree, to raise a child. I have yet to meet a set of parents who, themselves, have all it takes to truly raise children by themselves. At any rate, can we even effectively stop the village from raising our children? Media, schools, just observing the world around us as we drive down the streets. Shopping! Even at the corner grocery the global village is with us – not to mention at supermarkets and malls. Then there are public parks, community events, schools. Oh, and of course theme parks. Disney World, here we come!

Maybe it can be argued that “it doesn’t take a village to raise a child.” But it does seem to me that it is going to happen anyway, no matter how hard we might try to block it out.

I agree, we do need real churches, real, close-knit families of God. We need true, Godly, loving relationships with our God (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit) and with His family. We need those relationships individually, we need them within our own physical/nuclear family, and we need them corporately in the true family of the church.

We need that because we can never totally stop the “village” (the global one, as well as the neighborhood one), from raising or at least influencing our children. And not only for that reason.

We also need, as God’s children, God’s family, to together reach out to the village around us, the village to which we are called to be light and life and salt. To which we are called to live out the love of Jesus. We cannot barricade ourselves in some fortress, and at the same time honor that call. Can we?

ARE WE, AS PART OF THE VILLAGE, HELPING RAISE OTHERS CHILDREN?

And do we, while trying to “protect” our own children from being raised by the village, at the same time expect them to let us help raise their children? Is that not what many of our Sunday Schools and Youth Groups and other programs try to accomplish? Do we even have the right to try and “raise” those other children when we refuse to become, to some degree, relationally, part of their village? Will those programs even succeed without us truly reaching out, building relationships, loving our neighbors, caring for them,being part of the village?

What do you think about all this?

thinking about Family Bible Camp

Norma Hill — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:34:09 +0000

6 July 2010

When I was growing up, going to summer Family Bible Camp at the Pine Grove Free Methodist camp grounds in Winfield, BC, the first week of July, was as much a part of our family traditions as stockings on Christmas morning and colored eggs at Easter. After I grew up and moved away, I did not attend camp for many years. Finally, my husband, children and I moved back to the Okanagan Valley, and for the next few summers, I again attended family camp.

It was called Family Camp because families attended together, as opposed to children’s and teen’s camps, and men’s and women’s retreats. But it was more than just a place for families to go for summer vacation. It was a gathering of a part of the family of Jesus. Most, but not all, attended Free Methodist churches in British Columbia and Washington State, as well as some from other provinces and states. Others were from different church groups, and some who came didn’t know Jesus, but had been invited by friends who were part of His family. And over the years, many of the same families attended again and again. There were some who attended for 50 years or more, generation upon generation. Children met Jesus at the altar in the old tabernacle building; and then their children; and their children, too. Sometimes young people met, and eventually fell in love, and married, and brought their children to camp. Even if we didn’t see each other for 51 weeks at a time, on that 52nd week each year, we would join together joyfully, and spend a happy week together with our Father. We were family. It was truly Family Camp.

But things began to change. Some folks wanted to go on “real vacations.” Others preferred to go to other camps that had fancier facilities and lots of staff to wait on them. At Pine Grove Camp, fees were kept as low as possible, and everyone pitched in to do their share with cooking, washing dishes, cleaning, repairing, grounds upkeep. Those who could afford extra would donate so those who couldn’t pay the already low fees could come anyway. But we didn’t have an on-site swimming pool, or air-conditioning or climbing towers, or canoes or speed boats. We went down to the lake to swim, and hiked in the hills or played volleyball for recreation. We didn’t have cable for TV; nor internet access. Life was simple and relaxing, and a bit rustic. But most of all, we gathered to meet together with our Lord. And that didn’t seem, in those final years, to be a big attraction to a lot of folks. The elders passed away, and many young folks moved far away. And so, five years ago, the camp closed down.

But families naturally long to gather together. And so this week, as former Pine Grove Family Camp folks think back to those annual summer family gatherings, some of us have started a conversation on-line. We’ve started a facebook group, Friends of Pine Grove Camp – Winfield BC, where we’ve posted pictures and memories. And we’ve started talking about getting together again.

The Pine Grove Camp grounds are still intact, more or less, leased by another group. Theoretically, we could perhaps rent them from those who are renting them from the Free Methodist Conference. But more likely, we are thinking of just getting together at a campground somewhere, or maybe in someone’s property out in the countryside, and spending a weekend or maybe even a week together. With our Lord and each other.

From what I hear, those “luxury” camps, with classy accommodations, high-end meals served by paid staff, swimming pools and all manner of recreational facilities (and high costs), are still doing pretty well. People (who can afford it) get their vacation, and they get to hear well-known speakers and professional worship bands.

On the other hand, maybe there is room also for those who just really want to gather with Father’s family, with His church. More and more, there are those whose heart is to be the church, to live church, every day of their lives. Almost as if camp happens all year round, as they meet together in many different ways, day by day, learning together, helping each other, reaching out together, coming to know God together, living in His love as His family.

Maybe Pine Grove Camp, as an institution, as a ritual even, has had its day. And yet I know the family that grew together in that place, lives on, and the family members still long to see each other, though they have been scattered by time and location. I think that Pine Grove Family camp still lives on in the hearts of its family, and its memories inspire many to continue to follow Jesus and live His family life every day. And maybe even get together one time soon. For old times sake. And because we are family.

And that is awesome, don’t you think?

street church … days of rest (mostly) … Last Mountain memories!

Norma Hill — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:50:13 +0000

STREET CHURCH … DAY OF REST (MOSTLY)… LAST MOUNTAIN MEMORIES!

May 16, 2010 (Sunday)

Sunday (May 16) started with Another Chance Okanagan street ministry breakfast and gathering of the street church. If you’re wondering what it is about, check out the link, or go to My Church Journey site, and search “Another Chance” or “street church” for my observations!

Later, after I got home, I broke my “day of rest” rule for a few moments, and signed on to delicious.com! I also tagged my sites with Delicious and Twitter… hmmm…

When I went to university back in the day (University of British Columbia, 1977 to 1979), I wanted to take my last 3 years of university in 2 years. The rule was that to take 21 units per semester (plus summer school) instead of the usual 15 units, one had to maintain a 1st class average. Well! Most people were telling me that I’d have to study 7 days a week. But others told me I’d need to take a full day off each week, no matter what. I had been brought up in a church background in which “keep the Sabbath holy, by making Sunday a day of rest” was a key “Biblical” precept, so having already developed the habit, I decided to continue it. And I ended up with higher marks that I’d ever had before, in high school or college.

Later, I read research studies which strongly suggest that our human bodies do function best in 7 day cycles in which one day is always keep as a day to rest from our normal work! So here I am, really trying to follow the precept again. And generally, I’m succeeding – but sometimes I “fail” a little! I’m not going to beat myself up about it, though. Still, it really does give me time and space to relax (which I am not naturally very good at) and to enjoy Father and His world!

In the afternoon, hubby took me for a drive up the valley. When we got to Kelowna, he took me into the Chapters store, and announced that I could buy whatever books I wanted, as anniversary presents! How sweet! So of course I had a wonderful time browsing. And I ended up getting a book I’ve been wanting ever since the 2nd Edition came out in late April: ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett. Although I’d be happy to settle for a five-figure (or even a four-figure, at this point) income, I’ve been impressed enough by their blogs to want to take a look at their pointers! (Hmmm… does buying that book count as “breaking my day of rest rule?” lol…)

On the way home, hubby asked me to drive, since he was kind of tired, and I took the opportunity to explore some side roads that we always zip by when we are out-and-about! So we went through the old downtown core of Kelowna, and I pointed out to him the first movie theatre I ever went to, when I was about ten years old or so. Then I took a side-trip up Glenrosa to Last Mountain (aka Crystal Mtn ski area), where I learned to ski as a young teen. Of course there is no snow this time of year, but the ski hill hasn’t changed much, and it sure brought back some great memories!

Outdoor street church breakfast… and my “day of rest!” … and accommodating getting older!

Norma Hill — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:51:40 +0000

March 22, 2010 (yes, again… I am catching up! So there!)

Sunday morning (yesterday) was of course Another Chance street church/breakfast. It was amazingly warm – around 10 C at 6 am! First day of spring, certainly! I had prepared sandwich fixings on Saturday night (sliced and buttered buns; chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cukes; made a big batch of egg salad sandwich filling), and so on Sunday morning we had “subway” style sandwiches – deli meats and/or egg salad filling with veggies. Very popular indeed! I ending up putting together over 70 sandwiches in about 2 hours. We also had cereal, sliced fresh fruit, and cookies, and we served 20 pots of coffee as well as lots of juice. We estimated that about 100 folks came for breakfast, which we served outside.

Unfortunately, although the day began with warm temperatures, the sky was gray, and a chilly breeze came up. So by the time we finished breakfast, and then sat around in lawn chairs for a time, discussing the word, I was pretty chilled through, and really tired. Had a nap, read a bit, and hubby and I went out and about for a little while. Then I spent the remainder of my “day of rest” (which I have determined to re-start!) taking care of my little grandson again for a few hours. He and I walked around and around and around the many winding sidewalks in our townhouse complex. He really loves being outside, and doesn’t seem to mind the chill at all! He came in all invigorated. His nonnie (grandma), however – yes, that would be me – once again slept very soundly!

This morning after street church/coffee time (yes, you can read the details over at the My Church Journey blog. I stopped at the public library and picked up four books to give me ideas and inspiration for my new business: Getting Noticed on Google (for my blogs and websites); Home Inc: The Canadian Home-Based Business Guide; Creating a Web Site (getting new ideas for my own websites, and ideas and inspiration for the new website I am designing for Another Chance Ministries); and Blogging for Dummies (which I read a long time ago, but then didn’t pay much attention to: I know I really need to make some changes in my blogs, so I better pay attention this time!).
While I was walking to coffee time, I was contemplating about how tired I get, and how the cold affects me, so much more than in the past. I was thinking about how things change as we get older, but how we really can’t picture it until it happens to us – just like so many other things in life. And it occurred to me that I do have to learn to accept these changes. Of course I can do a certain amount to slow them down, like eating healthier, getting better exercise, sleeping regular hours (including going back to taking short day time naps – a sure sign I’m heading toward my second childhood!). But I do need to learn to accommodate the facts of aging, rather than letting them just take over. I certainly don’t want to allow myself to get discouraged, or to give up on the joy and adventure of life. Hmmmm…. Now there’s a good research topic – and potential writing topic!

I am looking forward to the strata AGM this week – to meeting more of my neighbors, and maybe getting onto the council – as the strata community welcoming person! That would be fun! And joyful! And adventuresome! Even for an old lady like me!

Wonderful day! … taking the plunge! …. street breakfast menus… and more!

Norma Hill — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:31:36 +0000

WONDERFUL DAY! … TAKING THE PLUNGE! … STREET BREAKFAST MENUS…

March 18, 2010

Sitting – for the first time, finally! – on my super-comfortable pine Adirondack chair (made by my wonderful daughter) on the back patio of our townhouse which we moved into in October! And soaking up the beautiful spring sunshine…

Just this minute a friend phoned and asked me to help update his website… fun!
And a gentle breeze is blowing my hair around…
And the sky is so clear and blue, with just the slightest puffs of tiny white clouds along the edges of the mountaintops…
And I just got back from a pleasant walk-about, and along the way I “just happened” to run into two of my best friends!
And – well, wow! Father, what a wonderful, wonderful day!

So Tuesday I did my final hour of work at my “day job” … and then came home and jumped – plunged! – right into my dreams!

I reorganized my personal/home filing systems, made up a new to-do list, and caught my blogs up-to-date.

Yesterday, Wednesday, I invited 22 people to join my local online writers group (on yahoo groups), wrote my first “new” story, finished setting up my files (for my writing and other “home business” things), completed my application to join wordguild.com, and started a “Pen and Paper Mama” facebook group (inviting any and all of my nearly 500 fb friends to join, lol… already there are 5 members!)

Today, so far, I started a bunch of discussion topics on my fb writers group, sent a notice about my new path out to a whole lot of people I know (networking! yes!)… and already people are starting to sign up for my blogs. I gave out 2 of my business cards, and bought a copy of “Now Write: Non-fiction” (ed Sherry Ellis) to give me writing inspiration on those inevitable dry days.

Still to do today: my daily story… and of course my blog… which I am doing right now. And tonight, attend the local monthly writers and publishers group meeting, which is always a great source of inspiration, encouragement, and helpful advice.

(But right now, Father… focused time with You and Your word… always such a highlight of my days!)

(Oh! And Pastor P brought over a bunch of buns and deli meats, and I picked up a case of eggs yesterday… so Sunday morning street breakfast is going to feature egg salad sandwiches and deli meat subs!)

(And this morning at street breakfast, at least 50 people turned up… we ran out of coffee so K and I ran over to a local coffee shop and explained our dilemma… and they donated a big thermos of coffee “at cost” … just $2.10. And they said they’d do it again if we ran out of coffee in future! ?)

What an awesome, amazing day! Thank You, Father!

Zeph 1:12 … I will search… and I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!’ [“stagnant in spirit” … sad, tragic, apathetic, lonely… but that IS life without real relationship with You…] 2:3 Seek the LORD…

Zeph 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exalt over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy… 19. I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. [gloriously alive in spirit! Yes! Thank You, Father!]

Penticton Pedestrian: My first new story: Another Chance!

Norma Hill — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:07:23 +0000

March 17, 2010

Well, today I wrote my first new story! Actually, I belong to a local writer’s group, and the challenge for our monthly meeting (tomorrow! Nothing like procrastinating!) is to write “creative non-fiction.” This story is actually based on the street ministry breakfast this morning – with a few extra details from other days mixed in, and some name changes. Enjoy!

ANOTHER CHANCE

“Check it out!” Steve laughed, as he dumped half a dozen tattered plastic grocery bags onto the ground, and plopped himself cheerfully into a battered black lawn chair.
The rag-tag group, in the dirt parking lot, chilly hands curled around Styrofoam cups full of steaming coffee, turned to look in Steve’s direction. Joe remarked, “Looks like you’ve been busy already this morning, buddy!”
Steve dug into the bag closest to him, and agreed, “Real back-alley treasure chests this morning!” He held up a pet dish with an attached water container, and handed it to Marie. “Your kitty is going to love this.” Next, he pulled out a couple pairs of slightly used leather shoes, one pair white, the other black. “Check out what great shape these are in! Looks like they might have belonged to a nurse. Anyway, they’re hardly used.” He held them out to the shortest guy in the group. “Maybe they’d fit you?”
Dave laughed and replied, “Don’t think so. I’d have to take a sledge-hammer to my feet to try to squeeze them into those. But yeah, they are in great shape.”
“%*@#%@*!” Bill hollered, as hot water splashed over his hand from the well-worn old thermos, which had tipped when he pushed down on the spigot.
“Hey! No swearing around here,” Vicky called out, and everyone chucked, for this was rule number one of the five street breakfast rules. The other rules, as everyone knew, were no drugs or alcohol, no colors, no fighting – and rule number five, no yawning! Nobody was sure where number five had come from, but it was somehow appropriate. After all, coffee, juice, boiled eggs, fresh baked pigs-in-blankets or barbequed hot-dogs, and cereal and milk were placed out very early every morning on a battered old plastic folding table, year-round, no matter the weather.
A well-dressed couple, he in suit and tie, and she in dress and heels, walked sedately by on their way to work. “Hello there!” hollered Pastor Pete. The couple looked sideways rather nervously at the dozen or so guys and gals gathered round the table. They started walking a bit faster, the woman’s heels tap-tapping more quickly on the paved sidewalk. “Come on and join us for some coffee!” Pete offered. The couple peeked again over their shoulders as they hurried past, and shook their heads, “No thanks,” with embarrassed smiles. “Well, God bless!” Pete called after them.
The door at a nearby construction office opened, and a young woman stepped out, coffee mug in hand, and walked across to the group. “Hi! My name’s Joanne!” She walked around, shaking hands with everyone. “I work over there, and I see you out here every morning. The boss is out just at the moment, so I thought I’d come over and meet you all.”
Everyone cheerfully said hello, and Kevin asked, “Want some breakfast?”
“Oh, no thanks, I’ve already eaten,” she replied. “But if it’s okay, I’d like to hang out for a bit, as there’s nothing happening over at the office right now.” Within moments, Kevin and Joanne were deep in conversation about construction work, and others in the group were soon joining in.
Steve was still digging in his bags, and brought out a handful of keys and locks. “Can you believe this?” he asked June. “I actually found keys and locks that match!”
June laughed. “That’s a rare find, for sure.”
“Yeah,” Steve added, “but of course I also found some keys that don’t have locks that go with them.”
June looked at the two keys he held out in his palm. “Wow, those look just like the key I lost for my bike lock. I was thinking I’ll have to get the lock cut off.”
Steve handed the keys to her. “Here, take them and see if they fit. I’d just have to throw them out otherwise.”
Just then Mike ran across the street, a big grin on his face. Pastor Pete commented, “You look warmer this morning than usual.”
Mike answered, “Yeah, I actually slept well last night, even though it was raining and close to freezing! Say thanks for me to whoever donated that blanket, eh? First time I’ve been warm enough to sleep through the night since the downtown businesses got together and put those bars across the warm spots by the heat ducts!”
Three or four of the guys nodded sympathetically. “Know just how you feel,” Marv said.
Fred wandered in from the street, and went quietly up to Kevin. Fred was shaking with cold, even though he was wearing a jacket and warm gloves. “Hey, Kev, buddy,” he spoke quietly, “Do you think you could do me a favor?” He pulled off a glove and held out a hand with fingers that were stiff and white from the cold. “I got terrible circulation. Do you think you could pour me a coffee, so I can wrap my fingers around the cup and thaw them out? If I try to do it myself, I’ll probably spill.”
“Sure,” Kevin responded, and poured him a cup of steaming coffee, around which Fred gratefully curled his fingers.
Dana quietly sidled up to Pastor Pete. “I’m kinda having a rough time,” she confided quietly. Pastor Pete gently took her by the elbow and they walked a few steps away from the rest of the group. The others noticed, but respectfully kept their distance, as pretty near every one of them, at one time or another, had themselves confided in their street pastor.
They knew from experience that Dana would find help – a listening ear, a prayer, a gentle direction to relationship with God, some warm clothes, a place to sleep, a connection to professional care, a toothbrush and toothpaste, clean socks, food for her children… It probably wouldn’t be fancy, but she would be treated with dignity and care, with God’s love shown in practical ways, and that was what mattered. She, like hundreds before her, would be given another chance.
The sun was finally peeking over the mountain top, and its rays began to warm the chilly early morning air. The thermoses of coffee had run dry, and the baked goodies had all disappeared. Everyone pitched in to pack up the remaining cereal and milk to be saved for tomorrow’s street breakfast, and the last few boiled eggs were tucked into pockets for lunch snacks. The table and lawn chairs were folded up and packed away into the truck of Kevin’s old beater car, and into Pastor Pete’s tired van.
Steve packed up his bags, and was getting ready to leave when he stopped, put the bags down again, and pulled out the shoes once more. “Here,” he said to June, “I don’t know who can use these. But you probably know someone. Can you pass them on?”
“You bet!” June responded happily. “I know someone who could use them, for sure!”
Once again, Steve gathered up his tattered bags of back-alley treasures, tied them together, and lifted them over his shoulder. “Thanks for the coffee and goodies! See y’all tomorrow morning!” And, laughing, he headed down the alley to check out another dumpster’s treasure chest.

Penticton Pedestrian: Churches dead? or alive! Lots of little street churches?

Norma Hill — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:05:32 +0000

March 14, 2010

So, after committing myself to my new path in life (read my last blog entry!), I grabbed my “antique” camera (read non-digital!) to use up the film I’ve had in it for a long time… and I put my journal in my bag… and went out walkabout in the lovely spring sunshine. Stopped for a little visit with my precious grandson…

And here I am sitting in the corner at Timmy’s, drinking my French Vanilla coffee so I can “roll up the rim to win!” LOL! There are seven people at the next table (mostly in their seventies or so), and none of their rims won anything. As one of the guys told the waitress, “We’re all losers!” Anyway, I figure that since they were right ahead of me in the line, my cup should be a winner! Anyway…

While I as walking home after street church (yes! The whole time is church, isn’t it? Even the food prep ahead of time!); anyway, of course I walked by several churches… and they were all surrounded by mostly fairly nice vehicles… and not a person in sight, not a sound escaping from the buildings… so quiet!

(I did see one guy sitting in his van drinking coffee… but it was packed with stuff… maybe he was just borrowing their parking lot space? Or??) Strange… kind of like those futuristic movies with no people… or like that series on the Discovery Channel that talks about what might happen if all humans suddenly died/disappeared…. The first few hours/days when all the signs of human habitation were still there – but no humans… there weren’t even any animals/pets in sight, for that matter! Hmmm… “I wish we’d all been ready” … but in that case there’d still be some folks around, eh!

Anyway, I felt lonely walking by those churches. Of course I know that I could just go in there and be welcomed (though I’m not so sure about my granny cart and/or backpack, and my blue jeans and wind-blown messy hair… especially if I wanted to take my cart into their sanctuary with me… )… but I’m wondering, what do “non-churched” people think when they walk by those beautiful big buildings surrounded by so many cars… and not a person in sight? “Not a sign of life!”

Wouldn’t it be something if some of those church folks just stood around outside, on/by the public sidewalk, even during the “service,” and greeted and chatted with people passing by, maybe handed out coffee…. It’s so cool at street church. We’re sitting and standing around on lawn chairs, on steps, even sitting on the grass in warm weather, talking together about You, sharing our walks, praying with each other just naturally, eating and drinking coffee together, laughing, listening…. People walking by are always greeted and invited to have a coffee and snack… and they are chatted with (and the discussion takes a break to make them feel welcomed) and lots of them decide to have a coffee, and even sit down and listen in to, even join in, the conversation.

One couple came by this morning, and accepted coffee, but were apologizing for “interrupting.” And I just burst out cheerfully, “There is no interrupting around here!” And they said, “Really? Okay! Can we sit down for a bit?” And of course we told them to go ahead, chatted with them a bit, and carried on. And that’s typical at street church! That’s church! That’s being in fellowship with You and Your people – and reaching out, naturally, with friendship, relationship – to each other and to the world that’s passing by!

Hmmmm…. Wouldn’t it be cool if there were little street churches outside church buildings all over town – and if churches all built old-fashioned “stoops” out front, lol!

…. Well, I just finished my French Vanilla… and rolled up the rim… and it says, “try again!” LOL! Well, chances to win are 1 in 9 … and obviously I’m #8 after those 7 other people…. So I bet the person after me got that winning cup eh!

Penticton Pedestrian: Street family … love it!

Norma Hill — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:10:36 +0000

13 February 2010

Brrr… it’s cold outside for morning street family coffee times… especially these days when it’s been really damp. But there is so much laughter and friendly conversation, and so much taking care of each other and looking out for each other’s needs… man, that is FAMILY!!! And I see it more when we gather outside in the winter weather, than inside where it’s warm and comfortable. And I like that people going by on the street, no matter who they are, rich or poor, young or old, always get invited to join us – and some of them do – and the others almost always smile and say a hearty thank-you for the invite!

Potluck… glad to be part of the family of God!

Norma Hill — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:14:55 +0000

July 8, 2009 POTLUCK… GLAD TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!

So I did go out for my morning walk, and mowed the lawn, and took pictures of my little garden, and put out the garbage and recycling, and had breakfast, and checked my email/ fb/ news/ etc… all before 8 am!

Since then I have done my Bible reading and a bit of study, more fb, and phoned a crazy amount of people to come by this evening to potluck and to visit our company! Also tidied the house and got some paper plates etc. B suggested I make fry bread… but I am TOO tired! I am SO excited to have people over to potluck!

(other end of the day!) So! Awesome, amazing, fun, beautiful evening! Real fellowship! Wow! Thank You, Jesus! Once again – YOU DO LOVE YOUR CHILDREN! AMAZING GRACE!

I’m so glad I’m a part of the “family of God… and the church at Penticton!”… K even took my guitar up and sang some worship songs… and I sang along…

BTW, I looked up “penal substitutionary atonement,” read quite a few viewpoints about it, etc… and listened to at least part of the interview with The Shackauthor… So I DO see J’s viewpoint… and I agree in the basics… but I really don’t think I’m as convinced Calvinist/ Reform/ Baptist as he is!! …

I’m going to listen to the interview again… and read the definitions… and really try to understand the whole thing because I do think there IS something really fundamentally important, even key, there… but…. I think maybe I still have some “but’s” or at least some not-sures, and/or questions/ wonderings…

We had 30 people over for potluck, altogether!