tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26444996741183284182024-03-19T01:09:09.630-04:00Damaska ThoughtsA place for Peter Damaska to give thought to matters on life, faith, and vocational ministry. (Wow, that sounds stressful!)Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-38821730612044807282011-12-22T10:20:00.004-05:002011-12-22T10:20:53.692-05:00Jesus<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He hungered - but He fed thousands...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He was wearied, but He is the Rest of them that are weary...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He was heavy with sleep, but He walked lightly over the sea...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He prays, but He hears prayers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He weeps, but he causes tears to cease.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He asks where Lazarus was laid, for He was Man; but He raises Lazarus, for He was God.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He is sold, and very cheap, for it is only thirty pieces of silver; but He redeems the world...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As a sheep He is led to the slaughter, but He is the Shepherd of Israel, and now of the whole world also.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As a Lamb He is silent, yet He is the Word...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He is...wounded, but He healeth every disease...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He dies, but He gives life...<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If the one gives you a starting point for your error, let the others put an end to it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Gregory Nazianzen, c329 - 389/390 AD</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(from T.Oden's "The Word of Life", p185)</span></span></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-77857259841423270552011-10-13T15:19:00.001-04:002011-10-13T15:19:33.896-04:00Permission.<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There's
a standing rule in our household; when I'm preaching and I'm going to
tell a story involving Sarah I need to give her a heads up and sometimes
get permission. It is a system we have worked out.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What I am about to share needs no permission.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Today she was remarkable to/for me.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
arrived home for lunch and she knew my morning had been heavy.
Although I did not want to dump on her, when she asked a simple question
the avalanche made its descent from me to her.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She
listened and calmly asked questions. She heard my anger and spoke into
it. She picked up our nearly one year old and directed our almost 5 year old to better activities - continuing to carry my
weight while taking the weight of others too. She heard disappointing news
and swallowed it with dignity and an incredible level of understanding.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I love her. I have loved her for years.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She loves me.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And that is good.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FToOCa0tQaby_SvMYPL6u4a4QPGDpdy1FUTqN4VlkOF8uy0m2eYxTY2r7kx6_rtXvojQm5L9gtzYGIkE-_TFA-1rwjClFUd8uvpBRJbxo0to2wznoWxb9FFjY1d6leUWXlQlFnOYSpxC/s1600/IMG_9243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FToOCa0tQaby_SvMYPL6u4a4QPGDpdy1FUTqN4VlkOF8uy0m2eYxTY2r7kx6_rtXvojQm5L9gtzYGIkE-_TFA-1rwjClFUd8uvpBRJbxo0to2wznoWxb9FFjY1d6leUWXlQlFnOYSpxC/s400/IMG_9243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-7055265538758663412011-10-05T11:09:00.000-04:002011-10-10T11:54:07.692-04:00Curve Ahead<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1992 I spent a school year in England. <br />
Yes, it was very cool. Thanks for asking.<br />
It was then that I was introduced to Roundabouts. They seemed to be everywhere! (In fact, estimates are that there are 25,000 of them in England.)<br />
<br />
What's a roundabout?<br />
See for yourself…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJM-QObuoXDIbDhWnanDRJVBsUyuBR23-HhNEcKC5fHscOdDNc8vvEUxQrtZceLOMCcDZ6LB8mlL7LCFoAtceczuLjdNnhWhQjzVCBwGZ3wBuD8Cp0IcBHa9KMqVO0dn9hUZs0xcV2WA/s1600/roundabout1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJM-QObuoXDIbDhWnanDRJVBsUyuBR23-HhNEcKC5fHscOdDNc8vvEUxQrtZceLOMCcDZ6LB8mlL7LCFoAtceczuLjdNnhWhQjzVCBwGZ3wBuD8Cp0IcBHa9KMqVO0dn9hUZs0xcV2WA/s400/roundabout1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is a traffic management device. <br />
Rather than car coming to a complete stop there is a yield process and then a series of "spokes" that a driver chooses in order to continue on a journey.<br />
<br />
When you first experience a roundabout it's just plain nutty! Especially in England where drivers drive on the other side of the road, it all seems a little out of control and hard to navigate.<br />
<br />
Sarah and I travelled to England together in 2003. We hired (rented) a car and were literally tossed a set of keys, a map and then pointed to the top floor of the parking garage where our car was waiting for us. No training, no pointers, no tips…just a car and a map. <br />
<br />
So we set off and within no time at all encountered a roundabout. Then another, and another, and … you get the picture.<br />
<br />
We managed, but it was tricky at times.<br />
When you are used to stop lights, exit ramps and right turns a roundabout messes with your head!<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you grow up in Wyoming, driving in England really messes with you.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6Fb9-qXskLxO0wBr6k6hlBYUGSvezaVww8mQ4HKhtFA8pT5pDrAWzTScoTtGZDPjrJCXhT43rtACGMDKI-B4efz3V-rZFGYjXtaC9NEv3aBBq9ITnEN79PGqLQplm1n4RDk2ErFL77c/s1600/wyoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6Fb9-qXskLxO0wBr6k6hlBYUGSvezaVww8mQ4HKhtFA8pT5pDrAWzTScoTtGZDPjrJCXhT43rtACGMDKI-B4efz3V-rZFGYjXtaC9NEv3aBBq9ITnEN79PGqLQplm1n4RDk2ErFL77c/s400/wyoming.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello! Anybody out there<span style="font-size: small;">?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the thing. <br />
Roundabouts are being proven to be safer, more efficient and more cost effective.<br />
And they are beginning to show up in the states more and more (2,500 at last count).<br />
<br />
I was in the backseat of a buddy's car recently as he attempted to navigate 3 roundabouts in city in Michigan. It was a sickening experience. He didn't have a clue what he was doing and where he should go. In fact, to get to our destination we navigated those 3 roundabouts twice! Then we had to go through them once more on our way out of town. Blimey! <br />
But you know what? On our exit, he had kinda it figured out.<br />
<br />
Here's what I wonder?<br />
Is there a curve ahead for the church which will be big?<br />
The shift from Right Turns and Stoplights to Yields and Roundabouts is big.<br />
The shift from Church as we know it to Church as effective in reaching our community is BIGGER.<br />
<br />
In America, we don't get roundabouts.<br />
In England, they get them. They are raised on them and trained to drive around them.<br />
<br />
We have a learning curve (pun intended) ahead of us.<br />
It will take time. It will require training. It will include uncomfortable experiences.<br />
But we must learn and put it into practice.</span></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-3898092419050995202011-09-28T13:20:00.000-04:002011-09-28T13:20:59.803-04:00Bananas!<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently I had 232 miles of alone time in the car. So rather than listen to repeat episodes of Adventures in Odyssey I tuned on NPR and heard a cool interview of Dan Koeppel.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I've never heard of Koeppel, but I've heard of the topic he was talking about: Bananas. Ya, like America's favorite fruit. It was a great story. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Did you know; </span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">bananas didn't always used to be the #1 fruit. Apples were. We grow apples in the USA…bananas had to be imported. It was a huge undertaking to get them to the states. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">bananas we eat now are not the same variety our grandparents (and maybe parents) ate? That species got a virus that wiped it out. It was a better tasting fruit than what we love now--which also has a virus in other parts of the world. Predictions are that it will die out in the next 10 years. Then what? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">bananas only start ripening once they are cut from the tree? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">bananas must be shipped in refrigerated containers to keep them from ripening?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> bananas emit a chemical amongst themselves that activates the ripening process in each other? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">grocery stores work very hard to get bananas on the produce shelf at just the right moment?</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> (You can actually listen to the story <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19097412">here</a> and check my facts--I'm writing from memory. And some of the banana's story is not all pure and wholesome.) </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The whole thing was intriguing to me. I love bits of information like that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIb0WvSwdVRuSyX2WYdvbN-q7hyt1OSgFSkdXv_4rObgJLi5HR65nBB0mNfSCln8nwEd08E1cw9omCmkVtLSWwZP9LrtKgBXOAJUC2l3ipURvwrGfOjJdb8vM7EcdhyphenhyphenDxrCnruMsT1dE/s1600/banana_ripeningchart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIb0WvSwdVRuSyX2WYdvbN-q7hyt1OSgFSkdXv_4rObgJLi5HR65nBB0mNfSCln8nwEd08E1cw9omCmkVtLSWwZP9LrtKgBXOAJUC2l3ipURvwrGfOjJdb8vM7EcdhyphenhyphenDxrCnruMsT1dE/s400/banana_ripeningchart.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But what really got my attention was the fact that environment matters to a banana. It grows in a particular climate, it must be shipped in a specific climate, it ripens in just the right environment. Even organic bananas--that variety of banana we should all be so conscious to eat--can only be grown in a particular environment (above a specific altitude and with specific guidelines).<br />
<br />
Environment matters. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Teachers know this. They talk about "hidden curriculum." Those things that aid/inhibit teaching regardless of what is being said; colors of the wall, temperature of the room, lighting in the room, etc... </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You know this too. If the building looks dingy you are wary of going in. If you don't receive a warm welcome you wonder what kind of people these are. If the classrooms are smelly you won't likely leave your children there. And certainly, if the message and relationships are flat…you are out of there. (Sound like church?) </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Environment matters. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If we are going to mature (ripen) in Christ, the environments we create matter. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I am indebted to guys like Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, Carey Nieuwhof and others for using the term environment in talking about church. It has shaped the way I look at what we do, what we say, how we do what we do, and how we say what we say.</span>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-90024682087903283332011-09-22T16:20:00.000-04:002011-09-22T16:20:48.725-04:00Life today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLC8FYjH1L_e99cF5JLqDTYK_kNZzRyhRcN82B_CX8KRKP3Ib-MrO4NEBRf-ML9fuQKExF50PgBCtImKYbR6Ulj5lWmEJ-CueuAHkwN6JeEwWtBtdLrSluclTUDyzwPw92Q5dS2ASCjw/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLC8FYjH1L_e99cF5JLqDTYK_kNZzRyhRcN82B_CX8KRKP3Ib-MrO4NEBRf-ML9fuQKExF50PgBCtImKYbR6Ulj5lWmEJ-CueuAHkwN6JeEwWtBtdLrSluclTUDyzwPw92Q5dS2ASCjw/s400/IMG_2885.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today is a day of remembering for our family. <br />
We mark September 22.<br />
It is the day, 2 years ago, our Annie died.<br />
<br />
Within moments of her death we were thrust into doing all sorts of weird things. They were like out of body experiences. The kinds of experiences where I remember looking at Sarah saying, "are we really doing this?"</span></div><ul style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">We drove away from the hospital with an empty car seat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">We began planning her funeral.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">We even posted on facebook the news of her death. </span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strange experiences.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A day or so after Annie's death I drove by myself the couple miles from our home to the funeral home. That drive replays through my mind in slow motion; the long hill leading down into town, the gas station and all the people with their fountain drinks, the hardware store owner standing in the door of his shop.<br />
<br />
I remember thinking, "No one has any idea that I am on my way to deliver an outfit for my daughter to be buried in." There, on the seat beside me, were her clothes.<br />
<br />
All around me life was still moving. Yet right beside me were the reminders of the end of Annie's life. <br />
<br />
Today is like that.<br />
<br />
William went to school and has soccer practice later.<br />
Kate is taking her regular afternoon nap.<br />
Eliza is on her second nap of the day.<br />
Sarah has been leading the girls through their day.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I kept a commitment on my calendar that took up my entire morning through lunchtime.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Life keeps moving while simultaneously intersecting our grief.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(I still don't know what to make of that reality.)<br />
<br />
I am anxious for our family to be together tonight.<br />
We will spend time remembering Annie.<br />
We may watch home videos of her or read through the journal we have of things we remember about her.<br />
<br />
Whatever we do, we will move...forward, not on. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiYQyGWqtHIeYM8-MuqJhlO_ItL3i6Ac1oUuxKgaSYDDT_J6Uvdb7ViRby813_TQafD6fTiUPcgyYngBa8wrrnFcvp74t2pAnM__LbcssdpedDwc4AKvNr_pxmxIoPgI0TeVyu4PuaZQ/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiYQyGWqtHIeYM8-MuqJhlO_ItL3i6Ac1oUuxKgaSYDDT_J6Uvdb7ViRby813_TQafD6fTiUPcgyYngBa8wrrnFcvp74t2pAnM__LbcssdpedDwc4AKvNr_pxmxIoPgI0TeVyu4PuaZQ/s400/IMG_2888.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">*By the way, Sarah's thoughts today are captured (beautifully) <a href="http://psdamaska.blogspot.com/2011/09/her-baby-book.html">here</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> She's amazing!</span></span></span></span></span></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-44036137187453508302011-07-22T09:53:00.003-04:002011-07-23T08:50:59.772-04:00PatienceMy wife shared a post with me this morning. I listened as she read some lines to me and digested it a little bit.<br />
<br />
I'm now at the office and took a moment to read it for myself.<br />
<br />
It's good.<br />
Here it is... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_99649269"></span><span id="goog_99649270"></span><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/07/when-youre-finding-it-hard-to-be-patient/"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJHSqSJycdhcvCKVgmjqY9iVkrCgF-_6c4ITvxr7HIdf6wTnM_X9fL3XEJMr-XkSnvMzP2gr3Mn2LdeNV3O1XT5Nzl0_EcJId8R-qs7PX6W12M-hnZYSHZsdA-h_v-pyxO46yfLo_Kp4/s320/Screen+shot+2011-07-22+at+10.02.00+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Love is Patient. <br />
I am often impatient with others.<br />
Sometimes it is to the point of being filled with pride over my ability to be more timely, quicker and a better multi-tasker--listen, I'm a guy who multi tasks even while brushing his teeth. <br />
<br />
But even if I can do all kinds of things and I don't have love I am just a resounding gong, Paul says.<br />
And if I do not love I am certainly not being patient.<br />
<br />
<i>The blog Sarah shared includes great words on being patient with others. </i><br />
<i>For us, it is being tested even as I write. Our son, who is amazing, left the deep freeze door open just a smidge last night. Even after repeated reminders to be sure the door was closed, the door was not closed. Sarah is currently wiping it down and assessing the damage---all the meat seems frozen still, thankfully.</i><br />
<br />
So I've been thinking, does my impatience with others indicate an impatience I have with myself? <br />
<ul><li>I'm 37, shouldn't I have more of my life figured out?</li>
<li>I've been in full time ministry for 11 years now, shouldn't I be better at it than this?</li>
<li>I've been a Christian for lots of years and grew up in a Christian home, shouldn't I be able to find the book of Hezekiah quicker?</li>
</ul>Am I alone here? Doubtful.<br />
I wonder if I mask my impatience with myself through being impatient with others--demanding that they fill in the gaps of my own personal impatience.<br />
<br />
Henri Nouwen suggests that “[t]he word patience means willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”<br />
<br />
Love is Patient.<br />
With others and with self.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-54589544379377675842011-07-14T05:38:00.000-04:002011-07-14T05:38:10.132-04:00Put me in, CoachI wrote some lines. Just not here.<br />
They are <a href="http://thisisthejuice.blogspot.com/2011/07/put-me-in-coach.html">here</a>.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-66853411275993933232011-06-28T09:37:00.000-04:002011-06-28T09:37:51.231-04:00Freebies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.creationswap.com/artwork/2/2/54/2254/2254_2254_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://www.creationswap.com/artwork/2/2/54/2254/2254_2254_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Here's another site.<br />
This one is full of great images and such for us in ministry. <br />
Many freebies available.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.creationswap.com/">http://www.creationswap.com/</a>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-5201227306137446472011-06-28T09:27:00.000-04:002011-06-28T09:27:29.803-04:00Underdog PastorI stumbled across a network of Rural Church Leaders earlier today. Cool to read of how God is working in rural areas.<br />
<br />
Here's a post from one of them. It's suitable for all Pastors, not just the rural types.<br />
<br />
His name is Artie Davis. He writes of the <a href="http://artiedavis.com/2011/04/25/7-reasons-i-love-the-under-dog-pastor/">Underdog Pastor</a>. Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-60711267157124376222011-04-05T06:38:00.000-04:002011-04-05T06:38:56.475-04:00Peas and CarrotsButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid<br />
Moses and Aaron<br />
Ponch and John<br />
Fonzie and...his leather jacket?<br />
Forrest Gump and Jenny.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYJ92Y3ockjj-TtpB19yKbPmJ6OLlJdKRYD_Abv74NDnSvOXiooTH5pWu_ppGWdnQAXDSD9ycbpVBqZcwdRnD4IN7-CMOMI4fckPunqcXqfR17B-5gn2zMqek9tCqAVnxwfoiuLR-K4E/s1600/forrest_gump_little.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYJ92Y3ockjj-TtpB19yKbPmJ6OLlJdKRYD_Abv74NDnSvOXiooTH5pWu_ppGWdnQAXDSD9ycbpVBqZcwdRnD4IN7-CMOMI4fckPunqcXqfR17B-5gn2zMqek9tCqAVnxwfoiuLR-K4E/s320/forrest_gump_little.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forrest Gump, 1994</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm one of those "with" guys. <br />
I love to know people are with me.<br />
<br />
Which is what makes my church's 21 Days of Praying and Fasting so cool. We are doing this <i>with</i> each other. For the next three weeks we are reading the same scriptures, wresting with the same questions, and praying for each other. <br />
I know there are people going completely without food for these weeks. I know some people have said bye-bye to facebook and other media (TV, online news...). I know some people are giving up a particular food. And that's just the people who have shared their commitments with me. I know there are others who are <i>with </i>us that I haven't heard about.<br />
<br />
We are using a prayer and reading guide to move us through this season together.<br />
You can download one <a href="http://www.nbwesleyan.org/content.cfm?id=315">here</a>.<br />
<br />
For me, there is beauty in doing this <i>with</i> each others.<br />
It's good for me.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-53162494463059954792011-01-31T08:12:00.001-05:002011-02-12T22:34:59.031-05:00Books I'm ReadingI've been spending time in the following books...<br />
<br />
<b>Practice Resurrection</b><br />
A friend and I have been plowing through this book chapter by chapter. I'm glad we read it slow. I would have blazed through the book at too quick a pace and missed much of the depth Peterson includes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.timspivey.com/.a/6a00d83452885d69e201310feb5aaa970c-320pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.timspivey.com/.a/6a00d83452885d69e201310feb5aaa970c-320pi" /></a></div><br />
<b>Parenting Beyond Your Capacity</b><br />
The way Joiner and Nieuwhof write clicks with me. I love their philosophy (<a href="http://www.orangeleaders.org/">here</a>) and their practical look at influencing the next generation for Christ.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kidzministryonline.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/6481xo11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kidzministryonline.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/6481xo11.jpg" /></a><b> </b></div><br />
<br />
<b>Bearing the Cross</b><br />
I recently re-read Philip Yancy's book, Soul Survivor, (good read) and he recommended this book. I have never read a book about MLK, Jr. I'm 150 pages in (450 to go) and I am enjoying it. The author, Garrow, gives a thorough look at King and the movement he was swept into; eventually becoming face of.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE:</span> Not going to make it through this book. Sorry David J. Garrow...just can't swing it. :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/2011/0113/11311-list.jpg10/9339478-2-eng-US/11311-list.jpg_full_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/2011/0113/11311-list.jpg10/9339478-2-eng-US/11311-list.jpg_full_600.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next in line...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Gandhi, Portrait of a Friend</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">E. Stanley Jones has connections to Asbury Theological Seminary and was a friend to Gandhi in India. I purchased this book a few weeks ago and am excited to see what it has inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/62/1e/28dc828fd7a01b7f63a14110.L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/62/1e/28dc828fd7a01b7f63a14110.L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-11413677996715663302011-01-25T11:27:00.001-05:002011-01-25T11:28:42.648-05:00Writing over there...I just posted on our church blog. <br />
I'd like you to read it.<br />
<span id="goog_1569129274">Click on my head to go there. </span><span id="goog_1569129275"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thisisthejuice.blogspot.com/2011/01/it-doesnt-matter-what-we-say.html"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRbRsy4EC536XMdDqGpmttk8uWbRSAkONH6qtbCSYTWmJeqCGSE93u12fwxMvlvFiKu_gL6IBfpn0NgokPEy0LxLBETjyKdyvYztw0DDJHA60gtSGQUCvUGYacmyHjZtqpGqKc09wsIs/s320/Photo+on+2011-01-25+at+10.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-25905789681719118092010-12-01T16:12:00.001-05:002010-12-01T16:13:06.448-05:00Local JesusI'm not sure how your community celebrates Jesus. Maybe your community doesn't do anything. I hope it does something. Here's a snapshot at how my town celebrates!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSmWtGur58MCz45IlFes-eofn3vaiCz9PgDzUuyRY27ufksmqkv8g-ELN2F1_TnBJjlEDDerzUvSaufy766dhdDU13zZD1gqIMVHHVAPWk-v3iPZ1lEl2V2lpKA1V5KhkWBy4kyNjpOg/s1600/IMG_5457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSmWtGur58MCz45IlFes-eofn3vaiCz9PgDzUuyRY27ufksmqkv8g-ELN2F1_TnBJjlEDDerzUvSaufy766dhdDU13zZD1gqIMVHHVAPWk-v3iPZ1lEl2V2lpKA1V5KhkWBy4kyNjpOg/s400/IMG_5457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
This caught my eye for a few reasons.<br />
<br />
Continue reading <a href="http://thisisthejuice.blogspot.com/">here...</a>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-22259808303303477422010-11-11T22:02:00.001-05:002010-11-11T23:11:02.574-05:00Stir the Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qqMiVfP5xQVkAxihQIU-uCMzqGlhN2QrPtT6Tjv3Jsg8N0UjEpG_QRMbV-5MGeKRUupEupDS_EOHn4_aSxoOI9-2StI98SsdfNBjTClNSYMz1vnA5ryFVqaC7k1oavijMqCnQwUp5jc/s1600/grocery+giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qqMiVfP5xQVkAxihQIU-uCMzqGlhN2QrPtT6Tjv3Jsg8N0UjEpG_QRMbV-5MGeKRUupEupDS_EOHn4_aSxoOI9-2StI98SsdfNBjTClNSYMz1vnA5ryFVqaC7k1oavijMqCnQwUp5jc/s400/grocery+giveaway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>For the past couple years our <a href="http://www.nbwesleyan.org/">church</a> has hosted Grocery Giveaways. In a nutshell they consists of 10,000 lbs. of food being dropped at our church on 12-15 pallets. From there volunteers sort, count and stack it all within an hour and a half. The food is ultimately given out to folks from our community. Each time we do this it is exhilarating. Each time it is tiring. Each time also brings with it new insights into the needs of our community, the church and my own heart. <br />
<br />
We receive our shipment of food around 3:30. <br />
We distribute the groceries at 5 pm. <br />
<br />
Today, and like every other time we get host this ministry, people start arriving to the church early in the day. Today it was at 8:56 that the first car pulled into the driveway. 8:56 am!<br />
<br />
Here's my confession. I was annoyed that she pulled into our driveway 8 hours prior to us distributing groceries.<br />
<br />
And here's the next confession, I said something about her to Pastor Josh. I said it in a derogatory way.<br />
<br />
I was wrong.<br />
It's not my business.<br />
I apologized to Josh. I apologized to God.<br />
<br />
Jesus had an experience in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5&version=NIV">John 5</a> at the Pool of Bethesda. Around that pool the sick and the crippled gathered. They hoped that by going into the pool at the point of the water being stirred something phenomenal would happen--they would be healed. So there, around that water, people would lie in wait. All day. All week. All month. All year(s)?<br />
<br />
And today she showed up in our parking lot at 8:56 am. She sat there all day! She was there 8 hours. I don't know why she "doesn't go get a job". I don't know why she doesn't go somewhere and work on her resume. I don't know why she sits in the parking lot all day for $70 in free groceries.<br />
<br />
But maybe, just maybe, she thinks that through the church, the body of Christ, something phenomenal can happen. Maybe she wants what we have--and I don't just mean our groceries. Maybe she believes the water is stirred when the people of God serve and love others. <br />
<br />
When Jesus encountered that entire pool of people he approached one man and healed him. We served her today. We also offered her an opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ prior to handing out groceries.<br />
<br />
I know her because she's received groceries before. I am guessing we'll see her again. If she is in the church parking loat at 8:56 am next month I know I will think of her differently. Rather than scold or sneer I'm going to stir the waters.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-24641645599905849512010-11-09T11:21:00.000-05:002010-11-09T11:21:00.573-05:00This is the JuiceOne of the ways we are seeking to keep conversations going and information moving in our church is through a new blog Josh and I are co-authoring. It's called <a href="http://thisisthejuice.blogspot.com/">The Juice</a>. <br />
We plan to take turns writing and will post at least weekly.<br />
When I post there, I'll let you know here too. I posted...read it <a href="http://thisisthejuice.blogspot.com/">here</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMhKynsWC4u9uqN0ylIF6Lss3Fwl188-NUqKo24vokX5Y0U_nm1rG2MQbjt9A_q31uZQVJpqrkgMRgx17GFBLw4EAt9H03YR1EskWUWNosjib9Yjz30jsvTkHjaq77tmKGr5vnCPXiHI/s400/blog+header+02.jpg" width="400" /></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-76970546555793994872010-10-25T19:59:00.000-04:002010-10-25T19:59:33.261-04:00Hear it here...We had an amazing weekend!<br />
<br />
The short version:<br />
Eliza Grace Damaska was born into our family Friday night (10/22/10). She and Sarah are both doing well and are now home. <br />
<br />
Jump over to <a href="http://psdamaska.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-new-camera.html">Sarah's blog</a> for the full story.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyWKopvvo1iA8vhNizxzo9CHXyF_D4RNC1SIn8a6NfMPwS5TL2c6qHyDfx2iKBF0h4zDvh0eOqjd2Q_j1dGhWc6FMklqV22tyWwepklI8ZAmL1yt_p95etlzXOhBvxL7DvwY40O_L9Ls/s1600/IMG_3322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyWKopvvo1iA8vhNizxzo9CHXyF_D4RNC1SIn8a6NfMPwS5TL2c6qHyDfx2iKBF0h4zDvh0eOqjd2Q_j1dGhWc6FMklqV22tyWwepklI8ZAmL1yt_p95etlzXOhBvxL7DvwY40O_L9Ls/s320/IMG_3322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-67466580289869369322010-10-18T09:29:00.000-04:002010-10-18T09:29:05.653-04:00A Regular PartyYesterday our <a href="http://www.nbwesleyan.org/">church</a> joined with many other churches nationally in celebrating Pastor Appreciation Month. It's really a cool thing. <br />
Recently I've been wondering why October is the month for Pastor Appreciation.<br />
Here's my working theory:<br />
<ul><li>November: turkey on the brain </li>
<li>December/January: it's Christmas time--not pastor appreciation time.</li>
<li>February: huh? we are too cold to celebrate</li>
<li>March: oh boy the pastor just told the Leadership Board he/she is resigning</li>
<li>April: Easter celebration (plus the pastor just announced to the church he/she is resigning)</li>
<li>May/June: school is wrapping up. We are celebrating graduating seniors and appreciating volunteers who have served during the past year</li>
<li>July: um, we don't have a pastor...remember, he/she resigned in April</li>
<li>August: still searching</li>
<li>September: we have new pastor and we are showing appreciation by helping him/her unload their massive moving truck full of stuff</li>
<li>October: Pastor Appreciation Month</li>
</ul>Whatever the reason for the timing it really is a cool deal for pastors. <br />
We don't have pay raise incentives or end of the month bonuses (at least I don't). We don't have employee of the month parking spots. We don't hang our pictures on the wall and celebrate the pastor of the month. None of that stuff.<br />
<br />
So yesterday the church said thanks and I appreciate it. I appreciate the Leaders planning this over a month ago. I appreciate the folks who decorated and set up our activity center. I appreciate the crazy people who decorated my mic stand and put ribbons on my guitar. It was cool sharing a meal together and seeing kids make multiple trips to the desert table. Thanks.<br />
<br />
Like any family gathering there were issues too.<br />
<ul><li>There were conversations about opposing views about some current ministry plans.</li>
<li>Some people were noticeably missing yesterday.</li>
<li>There were too many carbs and not enough protein items on the table.</li>
<li>The men's toilet backed up through the floor drain. Gross!</li>
</ul>In so many ways it was a regular party with many of the regular elements of any old party you might attend. <br />
<br />
<br />
But it was more than just a party. Beyond the meal, hugs and gifts the church gave us, yesterday was a another great opportunity to share life together. Admittedly this is hard for me--and I don't think I'm alone in that confession--but it's good to be together and share our lives with one another. Jesus promised that he'd be with us when we gather together and do his business. He doesn't seem to be afraid to party. He was with us. What a party! <br />
Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-73135908875546263482010-10-02T22:22:00.000-04:002010-10-02T22:22:38.649-04:00poetic memoryEarlier this week I sat in my office heart broken and deeply missing Annie. What replayed through my mind were the final hours Sarah and I spent with Annie. Only she and I will ever know how excruciating it was as we held Annie knowing she was going to die. <br />
<br />
I don't know if the following can legitimately be called poetry. Maybe. Whatever it is, it reflects some of the flood of images and emotions from those last hours with her. <br />
- - - - - - <br />
<br />
touching you, feeling your rhythm<br />
listening, watching, wondering<br />
each pause, each gap<br />
each one killing me as you died<br />
<br />
hours and music, hands and tears<br />
endless it seemed as we awaited the end<br />
you so strong, I so proud<br />
but still not miracle to be found<br />
<br />
you so heavy, you--but not yourself<br />
here but already away<br />
so tired but how<br />
this is the day<br />
<br />
in and out the helpless helpers<br />
tending, touching, crying with<br />
and we, hopelessly holding<br />
as eternity robbed your mortality<br />
<br />
no more pulse--I no longer feel it<br />
what once was, is now not<br />
the suffering, so sudden, for you no more<br />
so still so cold no breath in store<br />
<br />
one more look, one final touch<br />
naked, quiet, peaceful, beautiful<br />
home without you<br />
and I barely knew you.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-69878968782700124442010-09-21T21:19:00.000-04:002010-09-21T21:19:22.190-04:00one year. reflections with sorrowSunday Sarah and I shared with our church some of our reflection of this past year with sorrow. I love that she and I were able to do this together. It was good for me to have her next to me. <br />
<br />
Here's a copy of what we shared.<br />
<a href="http://nbwesleyan.org/content.cfm?id=213&content_id=63">Audio</a>. <br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1lmNNkBeD8e4Gp1EIi_Z0DalRnQR0yVhBwP8OyPA9yI4&hl=en#">Text</a>. (Some of this won't make sense to you if you read it. But it works for me when I preach.) <br />
<br />
As difficult as it is at times to share our sorrow with other people and allow them into the story with us, I believe it is so important for us (and others) to do so. So we talked. And we cried, some. I think I would have been a weepy mess were it not for Sarah sitting next to me. I felt solid with her there.<br />
<br />
Sarah, William, Kate & I are spending the entire day together tomorrow. <br />
Tomorrow marks 1 year since Annie died. <br />
<br />
Getting to tomorrow has been difficult for me. The past couple weeks have been sad ones. I've felt like I have been more sad -- or sad in an entirely different way -- than when we first lost Annie. It has certainly been hard for me.<br />
<br />
But life keeps clipping along.<br />
Here is how strange our life is. On the day we commemorate the anniversary of our daughter we are preparing for our new baby. We plan to spend some time at Barnes&Noble tomorrow so William and Kate can buy new books for their coming sister. It's crazy.<br />
<br />
But stuff like that has been the story of this entire year. As sad as we have been we have been blessed to have our kids around us. They have literally kept us moving. <br />
<br />
Thanks to all who have been with us this past year. Thank you for praying for us and loving us.<br />
<br />
Thank you for loving Annie.<br />
I love her too.<br />
<br />
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; <br />
he rises to show you compassion. <br />
For the LORD is a God of justice. <br />
Blessed are all who wait for him!"<br />
Isaiah 30:18<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizf08LGk4hUfeJmz-2HEfTgBaDathcgx-bq3mnX80lHJhbQy4f4EAhLJscKPKXBuy_MlzvT9GE8MzuvrZtWRo0B6eoRntQ3lqglR8KBtDOo7hQW9Yqmy8mEQZq-iCDPkqryjZZrD-UVw/s1600/IMG_2740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBatW31wudFMc_4oIPFQ3VAkKuCvA6mAhbed90XzQgsWPRPiWic7HbjL4u5BgO6DMcgku3aAuWYJtdjDj3QfQ39UVjbP1ojrj3viz28woXz2G5jRzv3HqqHj7ATYCLb3TJ_db4RQ8ag8/s1600/IMG_2569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBatW31wudFMc_4oIPFQ3VAkKuCvA6mAhbed90XzQgsWPRPiWic7HbjL4u5BgO6DMcgku3aAuWYJtdjDj3QfQ39UVjbP1ojrj3viz28woXz2G5jRzv3HqqHj7ATYCLb3TJ_db4RQ8ag8/s320/IMG_2569.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOiUwEV8ImBh1y6T47xS1kfHgD7q6O7JjTu4NAqgPcktGZgGL-A-5K6TiyV3qmwjvbbik5T-cg0a8eOc3kTUNCiyOJe1dZVvRRwK9hlUUhJ_awzY_lWLb4TgmESkGOpM6zXm0SgyCaa4/s1600/IMG_1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOiUwEV8ImBh1y6T47xS1kfHgD7q6O7JjTu4NAqgPcktGZgGL-A-5K6TiyV3qmwjvbbik5T-cg0a8eOc3kTUNCiyOJe1dZVvRRwK9hlUUhJ_awzY_lWLb4TgmESkGOpM6zXm0SgyCaa4/s320/IMG_1947.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizf08LGk4hUfeJmz-2HEfTgBaDathcgx-bq3mnX80lHJhbQy4f4EAhLJscKPKXBuy_MlzvT9GE8MzuvrZtWRo0B6eoRntQ3lqglR8KBtDOo7hQW9Yqmy8mEQZq-iCDPkqryjZZrD-UVw/s1600/IMG_2740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizf08LGk4hUfeJmz-2HEfTgBaDathcgx-bq3mnX80lHJhbQy4f4EAhLJscKPKXBuy_MlzvT9GE8MzuvrZtWRo0B6eoRntQ3lqglR8KBtDOo7hQW9Yqmy8mEQZq-iCDPkqryjZZrD-UVw/s320/IMG_2740.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOLhAPQvkfqguNJZhoT3y3KfEpmFKaoK87V9tv8EFojBwjiXB3iE02F4Yof1DC1Xhk5r2UPV0uciFaybIDSZiH6GfD1LNUhVydntNQGrxDklrHdrItWvHPoVXiUut1RCyhpk-EoyXzEw/s1600/IMG_2738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOLhAPQvkfqguNJZhoT3y3KfEpmFKaoK87V9tv8EFojBwjiXB3iE02F4Yof1DC1Xhk5r2UPV0uciFaybIDSZiH6GfD1LNUhVydntNQGrxDklrHdrItWvHPoVXiUut1RCyhpk-EoyXzEw/s320/IMG_2738.jpg" /></a></div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-12594824369512258712010-09-10T09:48:00.000-04:002010-09-10T09:48:06.306-04:00The Leader's Constant CompanionYesterday God used a message from Craig Groeschel at The Forum webcast (<a href="http://www.forumwebcast.com/">here</a>) to impact my thinking and my perspective on ministry.<br />
<br />
<b>Leader’s Constant Companion: Pain</b><br />
<b></b>As a result we flinch and are hesitant.<br />
As a result we lead so as to avoid pain. <br />
<br />
Purposeful Pain exists. <br />
It leads to good results. <br />
<br />
So often, the difference b/t where we are and where God wants us to be is the Pain we <br />
are unwilling to endure. <br />
<br />
Increasing our Pain Threshold. <br />
3 Areas: <br />
1) Increase our threshold in enduring unjustified rejection and criticism. <br />
The quickest way for us to forget what God thinks of us is to become consumed <br />
with what people think of us. <br />
What is God calling ME to do. <br />
<br />
2) Increase our threshold of pain in making the hard decisions. <br />
The “bottom line” is too valuable for us to not make hard decisions. <br />
Make hard decisions early…the longer we postpone them the harder they get. <br />
Good leaders know there are times that you have to tell people (even your friends) <br />
“this is going to hurt me more than this hurts you”. <br />
<br />
If there is a painful decision facing you. Step into it. Grab it. Make the decision <br />
God is leading you to make. <br />
<br />
3) Endure the pain of pruning. <br />
John 15, true vine-gardener-prunes <br />
If you blame yourself for the decline, one day you’ll take the credit for the <br />
increase. <br />
God may be cutting some things away in preparation for things to come. There <br />
may be times God prunes and we don’t understand. He understands—and yet he <br />
doesn’t tell/show us, yet. <br />
<br />
There’s one promise in ministry: God will break you. <br />
Push through the pain. There is more in you. <br />
God wants to do more in you that you can ask or imagine.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-1029309453944922012010-09-09T21:54:00.002-04:002010-09-09T22:12:07.156-04:00My wife is surprised I'm here too...Regardless of my absence from this blog, I do plan to be here again.<br />
<div>Some of my throughts will make it here...eventually.</div><div><br />
Tonight I can't be bothered, though.</div><div><br />
But before I go let me tell you about a cool resource. I'm tuning in again tomorrow to this amazing FREE webcast.</div><div><a href="http://www.forumwebcast.com/">www.forumwebcast.com</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>(Earlier today I tuned into messages from Erwin McManus, Craig Groeschel and Patrick Lencioni. Three of my faves. Tomorrow another fave, Andy Stanley.)<br />
<br />
If you miss it this year, get on their email list and catch it next year. What a gift.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-7581107102779674072010-05-24T22:40:00.000-04:002010-05-24T22:40:42.118-04:00Still Thinking Orange<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Core Values</span> @ NBWC are exciting to preach.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Seven down, one to go.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our fifth value is: Outreach & Evangelism</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our sixth value is: Excellence in Ministry</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our seventh value is: Discipleship that Grows Leaders</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'd love to have you listen to them and share your feedback. </span><a href="http://www.nbwesleyan.org/content.cfm?id=213"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here they are...</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Also, a huge shout out to all our volunteers from the past year! Thanks for all you do. We had a great time celebrating together; eating breakfast together (thanks Pastor Josh & co. for feeding us) and sporting out new think orange shirts.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We really are partnering together to <i>revitalize the spirit of family and community by loving and serving through Jesus Christ.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOiUeEePk2kQgSE9tOw1VO2OItjbQ4uSCY808GEb_-xlBxEIlwN104hV-p1nuStaQ3VSnkqf6Mzg3qwLfVMfrFwx86NecVbP5PleXb8X2CpJrQUhZ6mcb-NMwHuSA8ed3vPXfYlhOkUQ/s1600/think+orange+tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOiUeEePk2kQgSE9tOw1VO2OItjbQ4uSCY808GEb_-xlBxEIlwN104hV-p1nuStaQ3VSnkqf6Mzg3qwLfVMfrFwx86NecVbP5PleXb8X2CpJrQUhZ6mcb-NMwHuSA8ed3vPXfYlhOkUQ/s320/think+orange+tshirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-48835010914432971152010-05-24T22:19:00.000-04:002010-05-24T22:19:20.910-04:00DRIVE '10It has been a long time since I have taken a monstrous road trip. I did not realize Atlanta, GA was so far from North Branch, MI. (Just a little FYI, it takes about 14 hours in a church van with 12 people.) <br />
I'm still processing and enjoying the fact that I was able to go to <a href="http://www.driveconference.com/">DRIVE Conference '10</a> @ <a href="http://www.northpoint.org/">North Point Community Church</a>. Huge shout out to <a href="http://www.keystonecommunity.com/">Keystone Community Church</a> for helping make it possible to go. <br />
<br />
A couple videos will serve you well. They are both only a couple minutes in length.<br />
The first one is a hightlight video of the 2 1/2 days.<br />
The second video is one that is now circulating around online a bunch. They showed it at the conference and after you watch it you'll see why people want to share it. It's especially funny to anyone familiar with worship services.<br />
<br />
<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501487&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501487&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/11501487">DRIVE 2010 Highlight</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/northpointmedia">North Point Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11501569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/11501569">"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/northpointmedia">North Point Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
Attending the conference, like any quality conference, left me with much to think through. Josh and I went to the conference because we really like the North Point model and mindset of ministry. I could list several items that stand out to me and several lessons learned but here is a biggie...<br />
~Fun~ <br />
<br />
Yep, that's it. Fun. It is possible to take oneself too serious. (even using the word "oneself" is an indicator of how serious you've become!) And I am that guy. I have been taking myself and our church too serious. In the process I believe I have led people to take what we do too serious. Do I still believe in the seriousness of the message of Jesus? Absolutely. Does it still plague me that 70-80% of students who grow up in the church will leave the church when they are college aged? Yes! And on and on...<br />
<br />
At DRIVE '10 there was a culture of enjoyment. Aside from the evidence of incredibly hard work to make the conference happen there was a noticeable atmosphere amongst volunteers & staff that they genuinely like being where they were and doing what they were doing.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-42549816885106276482010-04-30T10:48:00.000-04:002010-04-30T10:48:10.247-04:00Thinking Orange continued...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Core Values are exciting to preach. I told a friend this week that I'm enjoying preaching them because I actually believe in them. And, I know others already do too! These are not some flashy bullet points out of the latest book but they are values that our leaders worked out together over the course of nearly 18 months. I am the lucky one who gets to present them.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Sunday I preached the our third core value: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Foundation</span></b> (listen <a href="http://www.nbwesleyan.org/content.cfm?id=213">here</a>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simply put, we believe in God's word, the message of the Cross, and God's call for us to be holy. To snag a line from Andy Stanley (whose flashy books I greatly appreciate), "Maximum Freedom is found under the Authority of God."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may seem trite for a church to say we believe in the Scriptures. But we believe it important to say it and live like it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a couple days I'm going to preach our fourth core value: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b>Spiritual Vitality</b></span>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, simply put, we believe in the beauty of a relationship with God not the performance of the religion of following God. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My boy, William, loves it when I spend a few minutes lying down next to him in his bed at night. When I am in a rush to go watch "24" or something and am about ready to leave without spending those few minutes he calls to me, "Dad, aren't you going to stay a few minutes?" Actually son, I am. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps your relationship with God has become rigid and restricted to time/place. Perhaps, like me, you need to just spend some time with your Father. Perhaps, like me, you need to remember he's not in a hurry to watch a show on tv. He's knocking on the door waiting for us to invite him in.</span>Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644499674118328418.post-48923577957208044122010-04-21T10:38:00.000-04:002010-04-21T10:38:53.936-04:00What to say?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSVU2G-N4kay0fh8fd_qJrxaBZmj49tEs_vdch7j5oW8kZ6T8qSiRPundwDVONiNnrJ7XKWB55z_uIN0Ef_WHmX94R8QxxNrCp93A5n6DqsZLe0kxpVPzSMmjI70TSqUMWXbQryF7VUs/s1600/25007_1407828477014_1271492222_1199454_5265114_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSVU2G-N4kay0fh8fd_qJrxaBZmj49tEs_vdch7j5oW8kZ6T8qSiRPundwDVONiNnrJ7XKWB55z_uIN0Ef_WHmX94R8QxxNrCp93A5n6DqsZLe0kxpVPzSMmjI70TSqUMWXbQryF7VUs/s400/25007_1407828477014_1271492222_1199454_5265114_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>When people ask, "How are you doing?" I cannot always discern if they are saying, "How are you doing today?" or if they are saying "How are you doing with...well, you know...um...you're daughter's death?"<br />
<br />
Ah, the beauty of the english language!<br />
<br />
I can, though, answer both those questions in one statement that has become a bit of a mantra for me. My answer is, "I'm more good than bad."<br />
And that is the truth. My days are mostly good. My emotional state is mostly strong. My workload is mostly manageable. etc... Yes, I walk by pictures of Annie and stare in disbelief at what has happened. Yes, I struggle to tell people I have 3 children when the truth is I have 2 children alive in my household. But still, "I'm more good than bad."<br />
<br />
The picture above is a group of people Sarah and I spend a weekend with not long ago. In the lower left are the leaders of the retreat we attended, David & Nancy Guthrie. (See my little head floating in the back row?) They designed a weekend for parents who have lost children. It's called <a href="http://nancyguthrie.com/retreats/">Respite</a>. Although surrounded by stories of grief we found it refreshing to be in a setting where there was 1 thing in common---the death of a child (or children for some couples). It was awful to hear their stories and to share ours. But at the same time it was refreshing because the "How are you doing?" question was immediately understood.<br />
<br />
"How are you doing?"<br />
You may hear me asking you that the next time I see you. Feel free to answer it as it pertains to your day. But also feel free to answer it as it relates to some deeper aspect of your life. And I will do my best to listen. <br />
Thanks for listening to me.Sarah Damaskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072477691980069490noreply@blogger.com0