Until he returns...

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For every time that you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he returns.

Every Sunday at Sojourn we celebrate the symbolic act of communion introduced by those words. This past Sunday, the whole service was a celebration---a baptism followed by the dedication of 24 babies followed by a reflection on Galations 2:20 and communion. And, for some reason, I was absolutely struck by the beauty and hope of the last words of the 1 Corinthians passage I hear every week: "...you are announcing the Lord's death until he returns."

The moment after the sermon when we, the church of Christ, file up to receive the bread and wine has long been my favorite part of our weekly gathering. There is something beautiful about the diversity represented in the two long lines---young and old, tattooed and clean cut, marrieds and singles, recovering addicts and seminary students. There is something even more beautiful about receiving the elements from fellow co-heirs with Christ and hearing those awe-inspiring and humbling words, "This is the body of Christ broken for you. This is the blood of Christ shed for you."

There are weeks when I practically want to run up to the front when the time comes, because I am fully aware of my total dependence on Christ for any semblance of righteousness. My good intentions, my feeble attempts, my valiant efforts---for a moment I see that they are truly filthy rags. There are weeks when I like to take my time and watch in joy as my brothers and sisters partake, reveling in the knowledge that I am a part of something much bigger than myself and warm with the knowledge that we are all connected in Christ.

But this week I was struck by the hope in the rememberance of Christ's death for us in a new and fresh way. For now---until he returns---we announce Christ's death because we are broken and needy and sick and it is our source of healing, our lifeline. It is our righteousness and the shadow under which we sit when we've come to the end of ourselves. We announce Christ's death because those who have not believed and repented of their sin need to know what has been done on their behalf and invited to enter in.

But WHEN he returns...oh, JOY! The work made possible by his death and resurrection will be completed in us! We won't announce his death as a means of reminding ourselves of what is true because we will fully know and experience its benefits---we will celebrate it eternally in our newfound wholeness.

And the HOPE in those words..."until he returns"! For now we labor and wrestle against our flesh and the powers of this earth. We cling to the cross for dear life because we feel our own wretchedness. But he is coming. He is coming. And when he comes, we will know freedom.

You can do it...

Katie posted this on her blog (go check it out---she's a great writer and I love her blog on truth) and I thought it was fun. So I'm posting it here with my answers and YOU can post it somewhere with YOUR answers.

Complete the Thought:

Never again in my life: will I attempt to change the color of my hair.

When I was five: I had a new baby brother and I was already missing front teeth.

High School was: all about having pizza picnics in the cemetery and late-night swims in my grandparents' pool.

I will never forget: my own name (hopefully, but at the rate I'm going, I can't bank on it).

I once met: the Brazilian national basketball team.

There’s this girl I know who: can go to bed without brushing her teeth.

By noon I’m usually: ravenously hungry and ready to clock out of the office for the day.

Last night I: met my homie H-to-the-Bump for dinner at a Mexican place, hung with some peeps at Cumberland and went for a walk-n-talk with my friend B.

Next time I go to church: my friend Dave will be with me.

What worries me most: is my own inconsistency.

When I turn my head right, I see: a bottle of lotion on top of a short bookshelf behind the little countertop that people stand at when they come into our office; oh, and a tape dispenser.

When I turn my head left, I see: the calendar on my bulletin board and my project-in-progress files.

You know I’m lying when: I act all nonchalant.

If I was a character written by Shakespeare, I’d be: Juliette.

By this time, next year: I will have a finished (or at least partially completed) cd project. (Here's hopin'...)

A better name for me would be: little k.

I have a hard time understanding: why people don't always understand me.

If I ever go back to school I’ll: let you know.

You know I like you if: I want to spend time with you, just doing whatever.

Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferarro are: foreign cars? Or musicians...

Take my advice, NEVER: say never.

My ideal breakfast is: something yummy.

A song I love, but do not have is: Missing You by John Waite.

If you visit my hometown, I suggest: telling me you're coming.

Why won’t anyone: establish free healthcare in this country?

If you spend the night at my house, DO: know that I have a crazy cat.

I’d stop my wedding for: only the most extreme of circumstances (c'mon---I've waited a LONG time...).

The world could do without: pornography.

I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: die.

My favorite blonde is: Reese Witherspoon.

Paperclips are more useful than: staples---you can use them to push those little recessed buttons on computer stuff, hang Christmas ornaments, get dirt out from under your fingernails, hold chip bags closed...

San Diego means: Saint James, por supuesto.

And by the way: this was harder than I thought it would be. Why do we all want to be so clever all the time?

What men really think...

I got this from Christine's blog, but it's a great article, so I wanted all you peeps-o-mine to be sure and see it. Read on, boys and girls. Especially all you Independent Women and Boys Who Love Them or Are Scared of Them. :)

What Men Really Think About Successful, Independent Women

And so it is...

That's the first line of an excellent Damien Rice song...FYI...

But, more to the point, here's what I'm up to these days:

Working on songs for a potential Sojourn cd project
So far we've got three demos laid down and I'm pretty pleased with what we're producing. J. and Bobby have been great about working with me and keeping me on task. (Plus, we're using their songs!) If left to my own devices, we'd still be talking about this project three years from now...but they are get-r-done kind of guys and that's exactly the kind of friends/collaborators I need. Next we're going to start working over some of my very own songs...we'll see what we can do with those.

Planning out my concert schedule for the fall
Okay, not MY concert schedule, but rather the schedule of concerts that yours truly will attend, since there are SO many great ones coming up! I'd love to go to the Americana Folk Festival in TN in October, but Bobby has reminded me that's the same day as our songwriters workshop...I'm thinking we should all take a $40 field trip... If you're nearby/interested, check out the website. I think that's the only place you can get tickets. And the lineup has some GREAT people, including Patty Griffin (the headliner), Mindy Smith and Sandra McCracken.

Among the shows I'm planning on seeing are: Calexico/Oakley Hall, Amos Lee, Chris Thile, and perhaps Wilco and Dave Barnes. Yippee!

More about me...

Well, kind of. Not sure about this first one:

Your Personality Cluster is Extraverted Sensing

You are: A true admirer of beauty and art Someone who seeks out variety and adventure Not interested in status or material wealth Able to act wisely without stopping to think

What's Your Personality Cluster?

Or this one...

Your Lucky Underwear is Blue

You are caring and extroverted. You've made relationships your number one focus, and your lucky blue underwear can bring some balance to them. You thrive in one-on-one situations. You are a good listener and a natural born therapist. Sometimes you let the concerns of others become too important in your life, leading to stress and worry. If you want more balance, put on your blue underpants. They'll help you take care of yourself first.

What Color Is Your Lucky Underwear?

Now THIS is true...(and I love Beagles!)

You Are a Beagle Puppy

Cheerful, energetic, and happy go lucky. And you're sense of smell is absolutely amazing!

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

Yep, it's true...

Today is my berfday. Yo! The big 3-2.

Apparently my ol' pal and sidekick has written something in my honor (I type with fear and trembling, because I have yet to actually read it...).

The good, the bad and the better...

Friday night I went out with some friends to hear a local cellist, Ben Sollee, break it down funky-style at Jennica's Cafe and Wine Bar. The ambience and locale were totally romantic and the music was, to use a friend's favorite word, "amazing." Good times.

Upon leaving, a few of us were hanging on the street corner waiting for some of our party to finish chatting with friends. A man walked up to us and greeted us with these words: "I'm homeless. And I ain't gonna lie. I'm an alcoholic. But I'm hungry. If you give me money, I'm gonna go get somethin' to eat. But I'm an alcoholic." He proceeded to give us a few more details about where he sleeps, etc. and, as one of the guys handed him a few bucks, asked us to pray for him as he prepared to take his leave. We offered to pray for him right there. He looked somewhat hesitant and admitted that he'd been drinking. We told him that didn't matter, gathered around him, and prayed.

We spent the next 20 minutes or so with Julius. He told us that he's orginally from NC. That he and his wife, who's in Indianapolis, are getting a divorce but that she'd asked him to come back home and he couldn't go back because he wasn't ready. He told us, with tears in his eyes, what a wonderful woman his wife is (like Rebekah in the Bible, he said), how she helps run a food pantry and can buy $300 worth of groceries for $60-70 for the pantry by using coupons. He told us about his grandmother and how she never left his grandfather inspite of his alcoholism and mistreatment of her and how, after years of his grandmother's faithful prayers, in the last 12 years of his life his grandfather became a man of God. He said she is now telling him that he needs to get his life together and praying for him. He told us about his little girl and how he wants to be with his family but he just can't give up his drinking. He said he's a Jonah.

And he told us that he didn't know what it was about us, but he just didn't want to leave. He said he keeps meeting people who are talking about Jesus. We suggested that perhaps Jesus was trying to tell him something. And, in a statement of honesty that has stuck with me, he said, "I don't want to leave. I'm scared to leave, because I know I'm just going to go do what I don't want to do." Then, after a few more minutes, he gave us a group hug and reluctantly walked off. Hopefully to get something to eat. I wish we could have done more.

I'm not a compassionate person---well, only in my rare good moments. But my heart went out to Julius. Given, I can be a sucker, but he seemed like a good-hearted man. In love with his sin and running from what he knew to be good and true. How often have I been there? I, too, find myself walking in Jonah's shoes far too often.

Meeting Julius made me grateful. Grateful for the community that God adopts us into---a family of brothers and sisters who love with bold love. Who are there when we know that, if left to our own devices, we'll just go off and do something bad again. We need each other. I need others. Julius needs others. And, right now, he doesn't feel like he has anyone. I can't imagine what that must feel like. Even when I don't WANT community, I have it.

Pray for Julius. Pray that his life will be preserved and that he will find true freedom. Pray for Rebecca, and for their little girl. Pray that this family will be restored. Pray for me. That I will love this city well.

35 years ago today...

Wee little Robert E. Lee Whetherford Gilles XI came into this world with a great shout and drew his first breath. So, today, we celebrate.

Bobby "B-Dawg" Gilles is the best sidekick a superhero could ask for, the best encourager a downtrodden soul could wish for, the best let's-go-get-something-yummy-to-eat companion a food lover could desire, the best get-r-done accountability partner a lazy person could hope for, the best email buddy a bored office worker might have. He is, in short, the best of friends.

And, although it's not a witty ditty outlining all of his virtues (even the ones best kept hidden), or an ode to shame Shakespeare, I offer this little tribute:

A Series of Quotes by Insane-O Man, Bob Dylan
for Kudzu Kid on his Special Day

“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.”

“Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them.”

“I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours.”

“People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.”

“Chaos is a friend of mine.”

“I am against nature. I don't dig nature at all. I think nature is very unnatural. I think the truly natural things are dreams, which nature can't touch with decay.”

“Well, the future for me is already a thing of the past.”

“Just because you like my stuff doesn't mean I owe you anything.”

“A poem is a naked person... Some people say that I am a poet.”

“What good are fans? You can't eat applause for breakfast. You can't sleep with it.”

“If I wasn't Bob Dylan, I'd probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.”

Happy Birthday, little buddy. :) I hope it's a GREAT one!

A word for today...

from Proverbs 7:

My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call understanding your kinsman;
they will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

A beautiful mind...

Look at these ads/promo pieces! The first one is actually from an ad campaign in Brazil...

Back to the grind...

Another holiday come and gone. How did you spend it?

My parents and I moseyed down to Shocco Springs, AL for a Brazil missionary reunion. Although I didn't know most of the (retired) folks there, it was a good time with my extended "family". The custom for missionary kids (at least/especially in Brazil) is to refer to other missionaries as "Aunt" and "Uncle". So I, for one, have about a gazillion aunts and uncles spread throughout the world! It was neat to hear 78-year old MKs (missionary kids) speaking flawless Portuguese, telling Brazilian jokes, singing songs that I learned and taught in Sunday School when I was there, remembering favorite and familiar foods and places... Good times.

One of my main motivations for going was the opportunity to see my MK friend Julia, her Brazilian husband and their 3-yr. old little boy, Gabriel, who happen to be visiting their family in the States for a month or two. We met up at the meet-n-greet on Friday and you wouldn't have known we hadn't seen each other since her wedding in Brazil in '98 (I think)! And Gabriel didn't take long to warm up to his "Tia Lorie". In fact, we were inseparable for the rest of the weekend! That cutie and his devotion to me was definitely a highlight.

As was seeing the glowing faces and sweet spirits of my "aunts" and "uncles" who represent years of devoted service to the mission field---they were such an inspiration to me, in the stories and laughter they shared, their obvious love for the country and people of Brazil and each other, the "special music" they belted from their hearts, the gratitude and faith they display in the midst of loss and growing older...

Like I said, good times.