Tonight I tasted accomplishment.  It tastes goooood.  As a self-professed list person who writes things on my to-do list that I’ve already done just so I can have the satisfaction of crossing them off, I am not ashamed of my unabashed affection for accomplishment. I like goal-setting and I love goal-reaching.

Tonight I ran a mile and a half – without stopping – at a moderate pace.  That may be no big whoop to some of you out there who run five without breaking a sweat but as a non-runner this is a big accomplishment for me.  I’ve been running more lately trying to work up to running longer distances.  So tonight I am pleased because I am seeing growth from my discipline.  I really don’t plan on being an avid runner.  I think it is too much wear and tear on the body especially the knees.  But I’d like to build up some endurance and speed for my other sporting adventures.

Had my third eye appointment today and things are looking good (no pun intended) for the Lasik surgery this fall.  Laptop, Lasik, Laptop, Lasik . . . .hmmmm, what to do.  Preston – can you come up with an even better money-making scheme for me to try on the side?   

Speaking of seeing growth through discipline, I was reading an interesting chapter from Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry for our pastoral retreat this week.  The chapter talked a great deal about the need for repetition in our spiritual formation as disciples of Christ.  The author Willliam Willimon states "[R]ather than construe the Christian faith as a set of interesting ideas to be affirmed, I think it is wise to present this faith as a set of practices to be inculcated, a set of habits to be assumed." (213) I didn’t quite agree with Willimon on everything he wrote in this chapter.  He leans towards doing the disciplines which leads to understanding rather than the reverse.  I’d like to take a stance a little more middle-of-the-road.  I fear we have a little too much "don’t think, just do" churches out there.  But he does make some great reminders of the need for repetition of spiritual disciplines in our life.  I’m sure he has the expectation that these disciplines would be done with the intent of spiritual formation and pure motive; however, it is too often the case that spiritual disciplines such as prayer; Bible study; Scripture memorization; tithing; etc. are simply goals to be checked off our spiritual to-do list so we can receive a gold star on our chart.  A simple task to complete; not a spirit-transforming habit.

I do want to share one quote from the chapter that I think is a great reminder to all of us who are disciples of Christ:

Disciples are those who have been formed by the good news of Jesus Christ into
certain sorts of people who live in the world in certain sorts of ways that are often
counter to the world’s ways. (204)

The pastoral staff head off for Windermere Tuesday and Wednesday for our retreat which I am thoroughly excited about and very much looking forward to.  Windermere holds many special memories for me – many of those memories involve beautiful, quiet moments with God.  I’m looking forward to some quiet walks around the grounds and an early morning fog rising off the lake on Wednesday morning.

Peace – Melissa

Some of my faithful blog followers may remember that my laptop starting acting very funny back in May right before I was scheduled to leave for senior trip.  Some folks looked at it and repaired it but told me that it could die any day.  Maybe 1 week; maybe 1 year.  Who knows . . . 

I know.  3 months – to the day!

It is very weird to be at home and not have a computer.  I definitely have an addiction to getting online, checking email, blogging, etc.  Its been a nice respite but I don’t think I’ll make it very long.  So, currently I am looking around the house for things I can sell or little extra ways to make cash.  I’m open to suggestions but please note that any suggestions must assure that I’m not fired as a minister. My only stipulation.

Great weekend.  Breakfast with Kailey on Saturday was a perfect start to the day.  Love you, girl, and thanks for being such an amazing friend. Can’t wait until our getaway in September!   Then, I spent most of Saturday with some Common Ground friends.  We went to see Neil Simon’s play "Barefoot in the Park" at the Lyceum Theatre in Arrowrock, MO.  It was a great play and just a great day in general. 

Played B-ball with CG guys today.  Didn’t leave one scratch this week.  Of course, my fingers look like little nubbs my nails are so short.  But at least I didn’t leave my mark on the arms of the other players.  My goal is to have the guys fearful of guarding me not because of my nails but because of my mad skills. No, really  . . .  seriously, stop laughing.

This week is packed but two of those days will be spent at my favorite place on earth – Windermere so that makes it all good.

Verse to leave you with from Matthew 16:23: You are a stumbling block to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.  This verse was part of the passage that Doyle preached on this morning and this particular verse really captured my attention.  How many times have I been a stumbling block to the work of God because I’m so focused on human things.  My heart, my mind, my behaviors fixated on selfish things or earthly concerns rather than fixated on things of God.  I believe we are agents of the God’s work in our lives and in our world and when we are so consumed with human things we miss miraculous opportunities to be used by God to bless others and to experience blessings ourselves.  Plus, life is simply better when we think on divine things more than on human things.  Some of the most meaningful and loving things in our life (relationships) have the Divine in and through it.  That is why they mean so much to us. So, this week I’m going to work on setting my mind and heart where it should be so that I am not a stumbling block to the work that God desires to do in and through my life.

Peace – Melissa