Walk round d.c. in april - e.v. gathering

A walk Round DC this morning. Alive to smells n sounds n looks.

Dandelion growing brilliantly hidden between two gates.

Extolling itself with rock on it's left shoulder n cold cement curb on it's right.

Man U futball jersey on my shoulders amidst Latino brothers whom I not know.

All scanning 4 a Creator who could perhaps make sense of it. All of it.

But I wear my colors of Man U, and doubting these r the colors of Latino brothers and recognizing the alienation.

No. This is not how I want it to be.

Well planted pansies flood eyesight.

Draws me away from my tension.

European milk choocolate sweet - pansies.

As one flower they smell to the nose as nothing.

Together en-mass overwhelming.

summer fun!

creed - by a friend of mine

We believe in a God who loves.

We believe his loving is inclusive.

He does not keep his love from those who ‘don’t make the grade.

’Nor will he take his love from those who screw up.

We believe in a God who invites.

We believe this invitation is inclusive.

He invites those who ‘don’t make the grade.

’He invites those who aren’t ready to hear the invitation yet.

We believe in a God who creates.

We believe this creation is ongoing.

He has created everything in the present age,

And will create everything in the age to come,

Even as he is creating it now among us.

We believe in a God who restores.

We believe this restoration has happened,

Even as we wait for the restoration to be completed.

We believe that God is King.

We believe he does not need our help to do his work.

We believe that he wants to help us be a part of his work.

Black Eyed Peas preachin it

12 hopes for the summer

in no particular order:

1 - eat healthier food

2 - spend time with friends

3 - hang out with my kids bunches

4 - find time to be on the boat waterskiing, barefooting, and teaching my kids to ski

5 - get the vollleyball girls ready for freshman volleyball

6 - enjoy an amazing trip to Colorado - introducing my kids to the Colorado Rockies

7 - immerse myself with Kenya Matters

8 - enjoy each day of the summer because they seem to go by so fast

9 - write more

10 - read more

11 - exercise five days a week

12 - watch Lance Armstrong win Tour de France for another time!

to belong?

After ten years of being outside the denominational church in West Michigan, life looks a bit different.

Added with that mix, I've found myself in the 'emerging church' conversation for the past ten years as well.

AND... life is so much more honest, so much more kingdom focused, so much less about me, and so much more about others than I had ever dreamed. BUT?

I'm also wondering if my little conservative Hudsonville is ready to re-think what it means to be the church here? I'm just a bit skeptical, and I'm not sure if it is a fair question. Am I leaving my hometown behind, or am I called to help it more faithfully live into the kingdom?

help.

baby has a name...

For anyone reading... my sister, Marcelyn, had their little one in-waiting slide away from her and her family's life.  The previous post was not about Kathy and me, but it still stung [and stings].  Thanks to those of you who have prayed and asked.  

_________________________________________

[from Marcelyn]

Byl Baby now has a name. Brennan Di Byl.

 

Brennan means sorrow and Di is short for the flower Bleeding Heart.

As we discussed names this morning, Adryn found the name quite fitting as he said ‘“Cry Baby” because we have been crying a lot lately about the baby’. So Brennan fits for all of us.

I was walking around the house Tuesday when I was at home with the kids and saw my bleeding heart.  It was like my seeing my heart on the outside flourishing with flowers. It was an awestruck gorgeous sight.