Mstone 6.10.06. Lemonade out of Lemons. or something like that. darn it.

today was one of those days.

One of those days when i felt the very highs and very lows of myself.

Was tired and hormonal -- so should have expected mood fluctuations.

Thought i was tired till i saw David Burbach backstage after end of Act 1 of 4th performance of Beauty and Beast.

ok -- D. Burbach, are you for real? i fall apart at the silliest of things --- you sitting there on floor of high school hallway with much younger equally tired looking Gaston fellow. and yet you are going to work tomorrow. VBS with us Wednesday and then Honduras next week. Good Grief man..how do you do it?

am worried about the Beast too. He must be tired. but think he did great job -- for i forgot he was Pastor -- until he was kind of killed. Then whispered to john that he might need to help out at 11 o'clock service as well.

This enormously large red bible is just what we were presented with in 6th grade at Orlando FUMC.

Witnessed Jake and all those amazingly cute confirmands in their official church ceremony today. They got really hip bibles with names on them. Alisa Angel when you called gathering all the names the other night -- thought it was just for a black pen on the inside script. But no, outside gold embossed. very nice.

It was such a great group of kids. When they all started out in kindergarten it was Jake, John Michael and -- the girls. Laura Margaret, Katlin, Jordan, Alyssa -- now there was such a crowd.

Bob Dickson and Katie Anderson -- you both have been so great. Just seemed like we started the 2005 -- 2006 school year a month ago.

Just seemed like they were in kindergarten a month ago.

it was one of those moments that kind of sneaks up on you. it didn't seem so long ago (at least in my strange existence) that i was one at rail. Now today was standing there with almost 13 year old -- surrounded by friends. Yes, this time we are the ones standing behind -- the ones in "the parent's" shoes.

the "parents" sitting in the audience with all the other "parents" watching the play.

just how did that happen? i ask that question so many times during the day lately -- kind of think God must be getting really tired of my thick juvenile disposition and be planning, plotting best strategy to help me grow up. if i were Him sometimes would just remove the problem -- the problem being -- me.

Milestone Class 6.10.06 10:06:010 am

Bob Dickson was in charge of our group today. And since this was indeed confirmation Sunday that is what we were discussing.

More specifically we started off class with a discussion of Baptism. just what does it mean in our Methodist belief?

Ok -- am going to make a disclaimer at this point.

Once again will remind readers that i am not a theologian -- and don't claim to be -- but in same breath i am trying to accurately convey the content of Bob's talk.

But, i do sometimes "space out", so hope i didn't do so at critical time in class -- but with all that said -- here goes.

Baptism:
1. not a point of salvation.
2. not an act on our part -- it is always initiated by God. Even with Jesus.

Mark 1:9 -- God was claiming His son.

From the day that we are born... God is calling us.

Now in the Methodist tradition, we believe in the validity of infant baptism. This is a symbol of how the child is then covered by God's grace till the time the child is of age to make a personal admission.

Baptism is either... a sprinkle, an immersion, or a pouring event.

When we make that decision --- we become justified in Christ.

Bob relayed how Kirk was instrumental in this journey of spending almost an entire year with this group -- meeting weekly -- to grow together, learn and figure out what Christ means to each individual student. The idea was to give each child enough information to make that decision.

About this time in class, Bob/KT left to go over to the sanctuary and Terry took over the discussion. Some asked questions about this whole idea of rededication. Stephanie Dickson asked if we all, "should be required to rededicate" ourselves sometimes between 12 -- 4o?

T. Massey offered that it really is your own assessment. Laree asked, "What if you miss your confirmation as a child?" Others said that they have known adults to go through class if they expressed desire.

Well, at this point i scooted out of class and across street --

yes, morning had started out usual -- waking up late -- hungry children, trying to get all dressed and out the door with John in less than 40 minutes. it was at this point had first parental failing realization. the note.

yes, Troy had called home and cell last week to request that we write a letter for Jake to be place in his bible. just leave it on the corner of Troy's desk. "John, did you write your letter?" i suddenly remembered.

"Yes." he replied. "Did you turn it into Troy?" this he possibly couldn't have remembered to do. "yes." he replied. hmm... major f-up! i'm thinking. i can't even get this right! oh yeah -- the "f" moment was referring another unbelievably "forgetful" one.

hopeless.

Well, got all off. and i sat down, took deep breath, prayed and penned note. i thought i could slip it to him later with sheepish grin -- that unfortunately, i feel he sees way too often from his mother.


11 a.m. Kirk gave great message. and before knew it we were called up to stand at rail with our babies.

Yes, here i was in the "mother's" shoes.. with all the other mothers. Ruth to my left. Alisa to my right.

and standing at the rail -- wondered what was going through Jake's mind. thinking was really glad John's hand was around my waist -- for could have gone weak in knees and keeled over causing son great mortification.

was very with God moment. looking at them all. All so grown up -- from those kindergarten days -- yet still so young and still so much of life ahead.

just where did i fit in? Felt like if i was getting a "heavenly review" at 42 -- really would come up short in so many areas. but at the same time it felt so good, to be up there with all the other parents. all my friends. yes, it was emotional, wonderful, weird and affirming all at same time.

the late afternoon VBS moment.....

am somewhat in charge of the mission segment for this year's VBS. poor Jamie Sarkin, has been assigned the dubious "clean up after Jamie M. -- me --" duty.

Actually kind of thought i had things under control. I had made couple of Honduran flags -- very VBS,made with felt and elmer's glue. and had john make few maps etc. Tomorrow, first VBS day, we were going to look at slide show from past Mad FUMC jaunts to La Ceiba. See, we have to fill 15 minutes for each class. john says 15 minutes, "no big deal."

hardened VBS camper that i am, i know 15 minutes with 30 rising 1st graders -- now, that is tough crowd.

So, that's when i had slight mental episode when i learned tonight that planned slide show -- was just that -- slides. No words, no music -- nothing but pictures that i had no personal reference. oh dear. total bust.

Couldn't call Jules. Would only confirm to her that i am dreadfully unable to handle what would be just a blip on the Jules or Margaret VBS radar.

yes. this is what happens in life. you make lemonade from lemons.

so i SCREAMED for approx. 15 secs.

felt somewhat better. then started to search on i-net re Honduras facts.

i learned main exports are bananas, coffee, shrimp. median household annual income $2050. now was really feeling bad that i was panicked by VBS blip. annual income $2050? Also was remembering how Scott Webb, said that people come up to them begging for bibles.

Begging for bibles. no wonder am in this fix. God must surely be telling me -- get your act together you spoiled brat -- so i was trying to get my "act together."

About that time -- phone rang -- it was John. He was at Tom Kerr's church tonight. He said that Tom had just returned from Honduras with group and that they had a DVD presentation they created that was all about the very church, pastor, the exact everything our mission team was going there to help on.

Tom was more than willing to drive John to this man's house -- copy the DVD -- so i could have it in the morning.

Ok -- just shook head. Evidently God will continue to work with me -- and he does care about this VBS mission project. guess He will use me to spite all my screwedup-ness. Don't know when i felt more humbled -- standing at the altar rail this morning or with phone in hand tonight.

all goes back to Grace. enough said.

Announcements

Talked with Terry this afternoon and this was the resulting dicussion about what to do with our massive Mstone treasury.

1. $2500 for cookbook.
2. sponsor 1 or 2 individuals for Honduras trip. $700 -- $ 1,400.
3. the Latino Athens VBS ministry. donate items when camp scheduled in July.
4. fans -- will do.
5. something to go in youth space in new building to celebrate confirmands. think idea was something like a large cross -- then to add plague with names for the sucessive confirmation classes. ballpark $1,000.
6. the class to match whatever VBS total raised for Honduran mission.

very good work Mstones!

jules birthday -- celebration wednesday. Valley Farm 7 pm.

Prayer Requests

Heather asked for continued prayers for the Browning family. They are still in middle of long, long recovery from car accident months ago. the 9-year-old Brian just left hospital.

God Bless, Good Week and
Good thing God also in the Honduran VBS loop.