Kids say (and do) some strange stuff

OK, so we're trying to figure the best way to deal with Leslie saying "I wanna go to Harry's again," around strangers. Not odd in an of itself, but round here, "Harry's" is the name everyone calls the bar our church meets in. So strangers, who probably don't want to hang around the parents who take 2 and 4 year olds to the bar, think we have a barfly in training.

Some other things the kids have said or done lately:
Kenna-She comes sliding across the carpet on her knees, throws her hands up and says, "What am I doing?"
- We tell her to put up her toys, hand her some and send her on her way. She runs into Leslie, hands her the toys and runs off.
-If we call her anything but Kenna (Cutey, Happy, Silly, etc.) she kind of scowls and says, "I not ____, I Kenna!"
-Fits of crying come from her room at bedtime. "Whats wrong?" "I need my Alley (her monkey)?" Which is sitting beside her. We point this out. "Oh." Instant giggles from Kenna.

Leslie- Driving past a cemetery: "Hey, thats where they hide the bodies!"
-Leslie has an imaginary house, in California by the mountains, that changes colors. She also has two kids, whose name she can't remember and a car that changes colors.
-She names all of her stuffed animals (and the squirrel outside) names like Bowley. All the names end in -ley. Except her Beanie Baby bat--Bowleywing.
-Today, she got gum in her hair- "It just fell there." She now has about three inches less hair.

Much Ado About Stuff

Things have been busy. Since the Sunday Spring Break started, (it was 3 weeks ago) we have had 5 new people come to the Gate. The first of those 5, Daniel, has become our backup worship leader, and he is good. He has also brought 2 of those other 4 visitors, who have become involved. The other two came for the first time just last week, and they seemed very excited about it all. Enough to join the Gate on Facebook, anyway. Plus, some of our regulars have begun inviting people, and this Sunday could possibly be one of our biggest nights since we started weekly stuff. It is momentum, and it feels good. God has been showing up, and it makes all the difference.
Other things: We did Big Event with the church. Ours was not so big, as it took about 45 minutes. We did meet the family we worked for, as well as some relatives of one of our 'members.' (The ' ' are for the fact that we don't technically have members, not that we don't claim this person.)
The fence around our house is done. And I only had to get a tetanus shot, no stitches for this home improvement project. We have also painted our bedroom and bathroom, and are working on the kitchen- photos are going up on Facebook, if you care.
Leslie and Kenna got new swimsuits, and they want to go swimming. They apparently don't understand that water is cold in the spring.
So that's the buzz. Hopefully, I'll have more on the Gate next week.

Fences and the Appeal of God

This all started a month or so ago, when, while enjoying lunch with a co-worker, he asked how does God appeal to you? Not in the way you find a steak appealing or that great deal on a new car/camera/giant box of diapers, but in the way in which you are invited into something with Him. Michael, this co-worker (he's actually more of a boss, but a great man of God as well, hence this conversation) said he had spent a lot of time ruminating on John 1 and the way in which Jesus begins to call the disciples, and how each one gets a different appeal. The first two he spends the day with, the second he gives a name, the third he tells him what to do, the fourth he promises to show him amazing things.
So I've spent a lot of time on this: How does God appeal to me?
I have always said, music and mountains are how that appeal comes to me, but that's just a couple ways. I discovered a new one that I've always kind of known about, carpentry. See, I've been building a fence this weekend, by myself for the most part, which is good, because I am the only one who hears it when I say something in anger I shouldn't. Which is often, more often that I am comfortable with.
Anyway, as I put together this fence, I began to feel a kinship with Jesus, a carpenter's son. He built things with his hands, cut them to fit, pieced them together, solved the problems that arose. In fact, after popping the I-pod in my ears, I really discovered I found more peace, and less angry explosions over the ever stripping drill bit. I began to enjoy myself and feel God's presence. I prayed a bit more.
All this to say, maybe God doesn't just appeal to us in one way, but in many, if we're only willing to see it.

Open to Suggestions

We've been meeting weekly with the Gate for almost a month now, and we really are looking for alternative ways of worship. We set out to be 'not your typical church' in style, and yet thats what we look a whole lot like. So, we are thinking of alternative ways to do the corporate worship, besides announcements, sing, pray, and speak.
There is always taking the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper for you Evangelicals, but we want to steer that more toward the more intimate small groups. Dramatic readings can often be...not engaging at best and not worshipful at worst, prayer times are great, but for non-believers or those uncomfortable praying, it can be difficult. Vivid video with background music, asking people to read along silently and contemplate might be an option, but we need good video and music.
So what about you? What are some interesting ways you have experienced corporate worship?

Newness

This past weekend, the Gate began weekly services. The group was small, but the technical aspects were good. Really no glitches, which was a first. And for that, we are thankful.
I am, however, more thankful for the fact that the bar is now cleaned on Sunday mornings instead of Monday mornings. Seriously, if you've never seen a bar bathroom after Saturday night and before the cleanup...well, just be glad you've been spared this.
Anyway... the theme of this semester is Hard Times and the New Humanity. It comes out of the obvious relevance of the hard times we are in, but it also points to the fact that the Christian faith has always grown and matured and often expanded when times are hard, or near insurmountable.
This week was the Great Commandment, and the key thing I noticed was that when asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus responds with not one, but two positive commandments. I hear commandment, and think, "Thou Shall NOT..." which is probably what the Pharisees thought, and so Jesus responds with (paraphrased), "Love God with all you have, and love others as yourself. Oh, and by the way, all the other commandments are nothing without these two." Essentially, if you get these two right, the others will begin to take shape in your life. Its not that the 'shall nots' are unimportant, its that they have no backbone without being motivated by love for God and others. If I don't kill you because its a rule,thats good. If I hold back from even being angry with you because my heart breaks for you, thats waaaaay better.
And Jesus is all about the better.

A day of work from home

Due to a nasty computer infection at work, I got to work from home today, and learned of the craziness that goes on while I am away.

*Leslie and Kenna like to wave at the garbage man as he picks up the trash. They also like to wear fancy princess dresses and wedding dresses. Today those two combined, and the garbage man apparently got a very good laugh out of it.

*In our neighborhood, there is a nice man that brings everyone's trash bin back off the street. Everyone apparently races to beat him to it. Its like a neighborhood game, but he is very good.

* When Kenna is in her Snow White dress, she picks it up to run, just like in the movies. Unlike the movies, she lifts it up above the belly button and occasionally blocks her sight. She also loves to wear heeled shoes that make noise as she runs.

*Kristin really does work all day. She's not just saying that.

*Around lunch time, Leslie decided she and Kenna were switching names. So we went along with it. Kenna informed us that, "I not Leslie, I Kenna." with a scowl. Leslie then changed the rules that they were both now Kenna. For the next ten years.

* As I was working on the computer, Leslie was playing behind me. I said 'Boo!' No response. "Did that scare you at all?" "Yes. I'm going to scream like a little girl in a minute, but quietly."

I love my family.

Coming Together

Like many thousands (millions?) of households, we hosted a Super Bowl Party this past weekend. Ours was, of course, for the Gate.
Since it was for the church, we used the church's sound equipment and projector for the ultimate game experience. After a full day of cleaning, and another full afternoon of rearranging furniture, people started to come in. We ended up with a good crowd, and way too much food.
Since no one was vested in any one team, for the most part, no fights broke out. There were good natured threats of course. And one person was calling the score, but no one else wanted the prize of all the left over food.
The Denny's "Nannerpus" commercial was the big hit, and I have enjoyed watching facebook friends add pictures of this strange breakfast food. The commercial apparently failed its mission, because rather than turn folks off of the ridiculous food, several of us were wanting to consume the nannerpus.
In the midst of all this, something great happened. People talked. College students and young adults interacted with small kids, and everyone spent the evening catching up and getting to know each other better. It was great for building community, and it was great to be a part of.
We also learned a valuable parenting lesson. When your preschool daughter wants to take her shirt off, like the 2 year old boy (he had spilled alot on his shirt) the difusing of this potential bad habit is to inform the girl that the cool factor of a girl in a princess dress is equal to or greater than the cool factor of a shirtless boy.
On many levels.