Today is Labor Day. Summer is suppose to be over. However, I will live in denial about that reality for a little bit and spend some time posting pictures from my recent trip to Ocean City, NJ. Beach, I will miss thee.
K and G. August 26, 2015. 8th street beach.
Two weeks ago, as we were getting ready to take our annual vacation to Ocean City, we had to put our beloved Twinkie down. For two nights, she was coughing and hacking. By the evening of the second day, she stopped picking up the food that our almost-one year old tossed on the floor. We took her to the emergency vet early in the morning, leaving her in a oxygen cage, waiting to hear what our options were. The morning turned into lunch. Lunch turned into the afternoon. Then, finally, the vet informed us that Twinkie was suffering from heart failure. She might, with an extensive drug cocktail, live for a handful of pain-filled months. We decided it was time to say goodbye and we put her down. Twinkie, our amazing Chihuahua, was almost 12 years old.
I first met Twinkie when K and I went on our first date. K invited me over for dinner at her place before we went out. So after taking two trains and wandering through a part of Queens I didn’t know, I found myself playing with this little dog while K finished cooking potatoes au gratin. I’m a cat person. I never spent time with dogs. But this little tan furball kept bringing me a purple toy to toss across the apartment. So I kept throwing it and she kept bringing it back. I don’t know why she wanted to keep playing with me but she did. And that’s how it was for these last 9 years. The house is now quiet without her barking at random things, the clip-clip-clip of her feet on the hardwood floor, and George misses grabbing at her and she never snapped back. She was a good, feisty, and lovable gal. Take care Twinkie. We’ll see you on the other side.
I’ve never heard of a Wetdown before. Volunteer Fire Departments, when they welcome a new truck to the fleet, host a big party where other fire departments come and spray water at each other. It’s basically a big party, with a dj, food, and giant hoses acting as water guns. We had a blast at the Paramus event this weekend.
Click here to view my photos of the Paramus Wetdown on Flickr.
Last week, Luther Seminary hosted an event where 300+ leaders gathered to Rethink Confirmation. I wasn’t there but others were. Below is just a collection of tweets from participants. Hopefully these thoughts will help me to rethink confirmation too.
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626755334049173504
Parents must form own faith.
RT @thelifemosaic: “I couldn’t teach my daughter to drive without a driver’s license.” #RethinkingConfirmation— Brian Campbell (@campbellbrianr) July 30, 2015
"It’s never too early to help young people begin to see their purpose." @drreggieblount #RethinkingConfirmation
— Jen Bradbury (@ymjen) July 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/DestaG/status/626786227027480578
Youth must learn to build Christ-centered, functional relationships in their churches, schools, and society #RethinkingConfirmation
— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626798794756087808
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626806944091615232
A: Make it as much NOT like school as possible – ditch the sit still and listen model #RethinkingConfirmation
— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015
A: Take field trips – get out and see faith at work in the world #RethinkingConfirmation
— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015
A: Small groups, time for personal connection and sharing ideas #RethinkingConfirmation
— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626845880176394240
https://twitter.com/annacgsorenson/status/626850203363098624
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626850431155761153
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626853003627249664
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626854367908507648
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626864800551845888
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626871968021749760
https://twitter.com/annacgsorenson/status/626874731027795968
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627117674858844160
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627118925667438592
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627120801876062213
Great value in inviting junior mentors (high school age) to join the adult mentors in mentoring confirmands #RethinkingConfirmation
— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627125522372235264
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627126501616390144
Confirmation Tip/Trick:Teach them worship songs in Confirmation. #rethinkingconfirmation
— Brendan Johnston (@signaj90) July 31, 2015
Confirmation tip/trick: go with them to camp! #rethinkingconfirmation
— Jacob Sorenson (@CampGuyJake) July 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/annacgsorenson/status/627134271300308992
https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627136549763747840
Taken on July 16.
I attended last week’s ELCA Youth Gathering. This massive event, with 30,000 youths, invaded Detroit to worship God and live our faith out loud. Part of the event involved a giant convention center filled with interactive things to do, including re-enacting Da Vinci’s the Last Supper. We (Christ Lutheran Church) joined Good Shepherd, Glen Rock and created this:
Look at that hair.
It’s summer. This is how I want to live my life.
“And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
This was the passage, according to the New York Times, that was being studied at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church when the racially motivated terror attack occurred.
I don’t have anything to say. I’m struggling with tomorrow’s sermon (which is Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus calming the storm). But I wanted to write down the passage they were studying. I want to make sure I remember.