Monthly Archive for August, 2007Page 5 of 10

Hangin’ with My Herd

Byron and I have two “Barrys” in our lives: Barry Leathers (C3 Executive Pastor, and he and Amanda are some of our closest friends), and Barry Oser (Kayleigh’s boyfriend and “like a son” to us). Ironically, both of them posted the same YouTube video around the same period of time, and had a similar take on it. You can check out their blogs about this video here and here.

Of course this video was moving to me - and I draw my own analogies from it as well. It just depends on the day as to which “character” I identify with the most. Many days, I can relate to the baby water buffalo: the enemy will try to “pick me off”, isolate me from sources of protection, strength and encouragement, and pull me to pieces. Other days, I feel like the powerful buffalo that knocks the crouching lions into the air and won’t back down no matter what comes (these days are more rare).

Then some days, I can identify best with the on-lookers who watch in helpless horror as the scene unfolds - knowing that the lions are behaving like lions - with their cunning ability to sense weakness and attack when you’re at your weakest point, and the crocodiles are doing the same - looking out for their own appetites - not making the initial attack, but wanting to benefit from the struggle.

One of the most profound aspects of this video, for me, was the fact that the herd of buffalo never give up on the baby - even when it seems certain that there was no hope of survival - even when all seems lost, they won’t leave the fallen one behind. They seem to understand that they are only as strong as their weakest “member” - and if they don’t fight back, they will lose more and more of themselves to the enemy.

Of course, we can relate to this: as Christ-followers, in the ministry, as members of a unique community of faith like C3 Church…

We have to “have each other’s backs”; otherwise, we can be picked-off, torn to pieces, and left for dead spiritually, emotionally and in all the important areas of life. I thank God that Byron and I KNOW that there are other honkin’ “buffalo” in our lives that come hell or high water, have our backs - often at great personal sacrifice.

We are the buffalo - and we’re not going to give up the fight until all the people who have felt disenfranchised by the church, outside of the grace of God, and disillusioned by “religion” hear that they’ve not been left…the herd is coming and the “lions” and “crocs” will have to have their appetites for destruction filled another day. The herd is circling…FAIR WARNING.

Love is the movement - Peace out.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on August 16, 2007
in church, faith, friends and love
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What Day Is It?…oh yeah, Happy Wednesday!

I was reminded last night that tomorrow (today, now) is Wednesday - so, I need to “do” Happy Wednesday. But, I’m getting ready to walk out the door (school and doctors appointments), so I’ll have to do a real post later.

So, until then, “Happy Wednesday!” (Amanda). And I hope whatever I write later will make you smile and not depress you at all. Don’t even give a moments thought to the death and destruction all around us, global warming, rising political unrest, or the imminent approach of hurricanes…

That stuff will still be “looming” tomorrow - so today, just be happy - it’s Wednesday, after all, and that surely is enough!

Peace out.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on August 15, 2007
in random and wednesday
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The Changing Face of Change

Tomorrow it all begins…the girls go back to school. Actually, they start out at school, and then leave for a 3 day retreat. And then, on Monday, the boys start - and the wheels of the school-year begin to turn. It’s hard to believe the summer’s over - and this has been a longer summer than usual.

So, now the fall officially begins, at least for me. It’s going to be strange to not have the boys in the same building - between homeschooling and our church’s school, I’ve always had at least some of my children close-by. This year’s definitely going to be different.

Last year was filled with change, and I’m sure this year will be, in some ways, even more so. I have tried to envision how it will be - new offices, having services in the theater, my boys in public school, both the girls in high school (with Kayleigh graduating at the end of this year!)…so much change, but a lot of it exciting to me.

I’ve never really been one to struggle with change, even a lot of it. I changed schools more than ten times between kindergarten and graduation, so I had to learn to change. Still, I’ve never dealt with change more, in my lifetime, than I did last year. It was so profound, that I know that it changed me.

I do look at life differently now. I see people in a different way. I don’t assume that many things will be the same tomorrow as they are today. I don’t take for granted that just because someone is in my life now that they automatically will be tomorrow. I expect change. I understand that not everyone can handle the pressure of an “anything for the cause” lifestyle. I try not to expect too much or too little - I just have to keep my eyes focused, no matter what changes God allows to come into my life…no matter what.

I used to hear that leadership is lonely, and my idealistic side couldn’t accept that as true. I’m too much of an extrovert for that to be true of me…but, it is true. It was a hard lesson to learn - that “holding on” is sometimes not an option, but - especially in a leadership role - it’s a luxury that can’t be afforded.

So, I look forward to the changes that will be coming this year - I really do. Change can be awesome. It can also be frightening - but, even scary things can lead to wonderful additions to our lives (like childbirth…four times!). I look forward to meeting people who have newly discovered God’s grace. I look forward to watching fellow Christ-followers discover their passions, and how to use them fully. I look forward to seeing children excited about church and the love of Jesus. And I look forward to feeling myself embrace change, because I know it will change me and make me more like Christ - No matter what.

Peace.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on August 14, 2007
in faith and life lessons
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Beautiful School Supplies

I love new school supplies - I always have. When I take the plastic wrap off of a new package of loose-leaf paper, I just stare at the clean white sheets, mesmerized - I think it’s lovely! And a newly sharpened pencil is glorious. Maybe it’s because I’m a poet, or because I’m an idealist - I love things that are clean, fresh and new…

I used to love the beginning of school and the fall - although I grew up here in Florida and the fall here never quite looked like the fall on T.V…But in my mind, it did! New clothes, new friends, clean school-supplies, and a crisp autumn breeze (okay, it was really August and 98 degrees on a hot school bus)…It was beautiful!

Now, as a parent, the process of getting ready for school is…a little more hectic - Wal-mart is a nightmare, the “lists” from the teachers often include obscure items that probably only exist in the southern tip of Madagascar, and my childhood ability to only feel the weather as it exists in my fantasies is somehow fading…maybe it’s dying of heat exhaustion!

It’s funny how we can remember things a certain way, even if they weren’t quite that way in reality. Our perception is so wrapped up in our emotions and experiences, we can fool ourselves into believing it’s a crisp fall day even in the sweltering heat of summer.

Christmas is like that for me. Even when it’s sunny and 80-something outside, in my heart it’s like a Thomas Kinkaide “Wintertime” painting, with smoke-filled chimneys and horse-drawn carriages…I guess because I need it to be that way. We all need a certain amount of idealism in our lives, some of us more than others - it’s like hope. To imagine that things are better than reality - to see things how they could be, rather than how they really are.

I’m going to try to remember how I did that when I was a child on the hot school bus, and try to look at things around me with that same sense of hopefulness - and tonight as I “play” with my kid’s school supplies, maybe I’ll drink some hot chocolate and put on a sweater…

There’s beauty all around us - even in unexpected things…like school supplies!

Peace.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on August 13, 2007
in family, hope, life and random
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