Unfolding

I am not too hip on being surprised.
I kind of hate when things don't make sense.

So yeah, I will have a nice clear picture with a side order of predictability, thank you very  much.

You may not buy into this whole God thing...and to be honest, there are days that I get tired of the mystery that comes with all things christian.  There are times when I get tired of waiting on God and  just want to do my own thing.

The "problem" with that is, I just can't help myself!  I believe!

I believe in all of it-the whole thing.  Genesis to Revelation. From Creation to walking on water, from feeding the thousands with a little boy's lunch to parting dead sea.  I believe in the miraculous healing from making the blind see and the dead come to life.  All means all -all of it!

In my heart, at my very core, I just can't NOT believe that there are things about our lives that are bigger and better planned than what we could ever come up with on our own.

Out of the deepest, darkest, and most UNWANTED pain that we can endure grows wisdom.  Perspective that pieces the puzzle of our life together perfectly and dare I say beautifully!?

It's so annoying to almost all of us to hear "everything happens for a reason."

I don't like any of the reasons-especially when its painful.  There really is no reason or good that I want to learn from at the cost of losing someone I love or endure anything hurtful.

Betrayal.
Rejecetion.
Heartbreak
Injustice.
Failure.
Illness.
Depression.
Grief.


No thanks.  I would like to live in Pleasantville.

Growing up my dad would play Steven Curtis Chapman music in our van.  I grew up listening to his music and have always admired him from a distance.  6 years ago, one of his teenage sons was pulling into their driveway and in a horrific tragedy, accidentally ran over their youngest daughter, Maria, killing her.

.....I know, right?

I followed this story closely.  I watched  (and am still watching) as this family grieves.

I read the book,  "Choosing to See" that Mary Beth Chapman wrote about this and am inspired by her authenticity and strength...  She is wise.

I loved her response, in an interview, when she was asked about how she felt about others being changed and helped by their story.  In her raw mommy emotion she said:  I don't care about helping people-I just want Maria back.

She didn't try to candy coat it or over spiritualize her circumstances.. she was real.


Steven Curtis Chapman recently wrote a song called  Glorious Unfolding as a reflection of his grief journey and is quoted on his website as saying this:

“I’m very, very grateful to be given the opportunity to make music and share the things that I feel like God has entrusted to me,” Chapman says. “I don’t take it lightly. I pray: ‘God, I want to know You and I want to make You known.’ God has continued faithfully to reveal Himself through dark places and reveal His mysteriousness. I get the sense that He’s telling an amazing story. He’s not confused. He’s not biting his nails worrying if the plan is going to turn out okay the way I do. He’s fully confident of His plans and He’s in control. That’s been something that I’ve held onto.”




The gosh darn truth of the whole dang thing is that ....... things do happen that really suck.

It's easy to get mad at God or even decide that if following God means painful things happen, then we want no part of that.

Life is short.  You only live once. #yolo

Yes!  ....I just  can't...don't... won't.... believe that NOT believing in God is going to make our lives free of pain.


I guess what I am trying to say is that, when I look back on my lifetime, I want to know that there were low valleys and high mountain tops with windy unexpected blind curves of experiences and that every single one of them meant something.

Lessons were learned and are evident by our scars.  We earned those scars and lives were changed.

The picture became clearer the further forward we moved.

I like to believe that God gives us little clues and  with each experience, the picture keeps getting a little clearer.


...and that life is more than just living and dying, it is a glorious unfolding.

Restless Heart Syndrome

When I was pregnant with Cassity, I began experiencing a feeling as if my legs were trapped.  As it turned out, I was experiencing Restless Leg Syndrome . 

The only way I can explain it is when I was a kid and taking gymnastics, there was this "pit" of foam blocks that we could jump into for fun.  Once, I got trapped.  The pit was probably 6 feet deep and filled to the rim with foam and some how my legs got trapped so far down that I couldn't move.

I can remember feeling panicked and trapped.  It really felt like the walls were beginning to cave in on me.  If I could just move my legs I would be fine!

Back then, my RLS ususally came out of nowhere-but when it came, it usually came while I was in the car.

I can remember riding home one night from Adam's parents and making him pull over so that I could get out and pace until the trapped feeling that I was experiencing was gone.

Now a days, I experience RLS when I am the most tired and lay down to go to bed. 

I know, it makes no sense.

So I get up and pace back and forth and it goes away, and back to bed I go.

In the last few years, it has felt like I have had restless heart syndrome.

God has planted this unrest in my heart and has given me very little guidance outside of it.  I am antsy to get to work.  I want to do every thing.  I want to volunteer in every thing.  I want start programs and new ministries and dream about what could be.  I do not want to be a generation that missed it's opportunity!

I am restless.

I feel trapped by my circumstances.

I try to pace.  I try to stay busy and I also try to rest.  I try to tell myself that maybe if I would just be still, that God would reveal to me what this is all about.

My heart seems steady but the direction seems blurry.

I am trying to keep my hands open with a posture of trust...I don't need to be in charge. (At least that is what I am telling myself.)

I know that God has called me to something.. I just don't see it yet.

So I wait.

Do you ever have those times in your life?  When you just don't know what God is going to do with you? 

How do you wait?  I'd love to hear from you!

Currently Listening to: We are

This Is Today..

(This is not my picture, I do not own it.)

I have grown up watching The Today Show.  I remember Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumble, Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Ann Curry, Willard Scott, Al Roker, and the whole he-haw gang that have followed.  

Over the last year, I have been watching how The Today Show has been transforming how they do the news.  It is my understanding that ratings have been down and they are trying some new approaches to grow their audience.

I have noticed these 3 things.

1. ENVIRONMENT. They changed the entire set- what use to be a more library feel,is now a modern and colorful stage, with several elements.  The big  window, where fans stand out and wave at people back home.  The new "Orange Room" that is made especially to catch up on social media buzz with one time time host of MTV's TRL (Total Request Live) Carson Daly.  

2. AUTHENTICITY/CONNECTION. The broadcasters engage with each other, with the viewing audience, and with the crowd outside differently than they have in the past.  I have noticed that everyone seems to be less uptight and rehearsed.  Each person on the show seems to have a refreshing authenticity about them. Each, having their own personality and style.  They seem like real life people instead of robotic talking heads.
They laugh!  They are willing to do things that they aren't comfortable doing- they talk about their personal lives such as weddings, marriage, parenting, pregnancy, childhood memories, personal experiences that we, the viewer can relate with!

I trust them more knowing that they are everyday people like you and I.

3. FIRST IMPRESSION. 

 Listen, as I type this, I am wearing a sweatshirt that has survived at least 2 of my pregnancies.  Its old, stretched out and ugly.  I have no reason to judge how anyone dresses, but I can tell you that, I will connect to someone wearing fashionable trendy clothing over someone wearing a suit.  

Every single time.

As church leaders of the next generation, there is something that we can learn from watching how The Today Show is rebranding.  They are trying to reach a new generation.  They see that our generation has razor sharp "fake indicators."    We are craving authenticity.  We want to learn and grow from hearing other's stories.  We want to know that we are all just people and none of us actually know what we are doing.

Researchers show that somewhere between 60-80% of my generation has left the church.

I believe it.

....and I love the church.

We/they left because we/they are sick and tired of legalism and fake people.  This generation sees that the church is swarming with those kind of people.


The church is losing their audience.

But, hey! I think there is good news! Aren't WE the church?   The church isn't a building-the church  is people!  

Buildings can't make changes and pick up their crosses and carry it with them daily!  Buildings can't be  the hands and feet of Jesus...but people can!

Can we make church a place where un churched people like to come to?

Is it worth it? (the answer is yes.)

It is not about our personal preference.  It's about our hands and feet reaching out to those who haven't heard, haven't seen, haven't tasted the good news of Jesus!

To those of us who are already followers of Jesus: it's our responsibility to grow OURSELVES.
 Jesus didn't say
"Hey, those of you that are in this with me, all you need to do is go to church on Sunday, sing songs  that you prefer, drink coffee, eat cookies, dress up and only hang out with other Christians. It will be like a fun social club! Oh! ...and  make people who don't believe in me, feel really uncomfortable when they visit your church. Your only job is to be comfortable until you die."


Instead he said GO!  GO tell people!  He even showed us how!  Jesus  never sat around and waited for people to come to him, Jesus went to them! Jesus knew that people connect best with stories and so he told them RELEVANT stories that they could relate to.

If  He were here today, I believe Jesus would take a look around the community that he was in, and figure out the best way to relate to those people-then he would do it.

Case and point: THE WELL 

How do we do that? Well, it's not going to be by the way we did in the past.

(Insert the definition of insanity here.)

I think that we start by removing our preferences and creating a place that is not intimidating and doesn't feel like a funeral home.

Lastly, the one thing I notice the most about The Today Show transformation is that their message is still the same.  They are still giving us the news...  they have just packaged it differently.

We need to carry the next generation on our shoulders and cheer them on!  Make banners that say

"GO do whatever you need to do to tell others about Jesus!  We support you!"  

It's worth it.

It's not about me-or you.
Steal my show.

Tuesday Tip: Orange

Occasionally I will get a Facebook message or email from a friend in ministry asking my advice on how to implement ORANGE at their church.

I have had experience leading the Orange Strategy in small churches, church plants, and large churches.

Whether you have been at your church for years or weeks one thing seems to ring true in all scenarios-

I was once asked:

 "If you had all the money you ever dreamed of, in your budget, what would be the first thing you would do?"

For those who have never worked much in Children or Student ministry, you might think my answer is really boring....but the truth is...what we as leaders need the most is something that money can not buy...

What we need is passionate, equipped, empowered leaders and parents!


Listen, you could be sleeping  in a bed of money when it comes to your  ministry, but if you don't have leaders... you got nothin.

YOU CAN NOT DO IT ON YOUR OWN.

You  might say:  "But, Leslie...."

NOPE.

"But...."

 STILL NOPE.


If you want to be an ORANGE church...

You better be ready to put your money where your mouth is.

When you commit to being an ORANGE THINKER what you are saying is

WHAT HAPPENS AT HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HAPPENS AT CHURCH.

Think about it:

On average, the church, the light, YELLOW will see a child 40 hours a year

the parents, the heart, RED, will spend close to 3,000 hours with their children a year at home.

YELLOW & RED= ORANGE

What you are saying is 

2 COMBINED influences are greater than JUST TWO influences.

When you think ORANGE you are saying to parents:

 "Hey!  We got your back! We have a plan-are you in?"

How?

Well, the church can give a child a consistent small group leader, a small group of kids their own age to do life WITH, resources for parents to know what to ask their kids about during the week.

Thinking Orange will sound VERY scary to some parents...they'll be the ones that thought the church should influence their children's faith... that's why they were bringing their kids to church in the first place!  It's our job to usher parents into the assurance that they do not have to be a theologian parent and have all the answers.  NOPE.

Instead, you are elevating the parents influence by encouraging them to invite their kids to grab a seat in the front row of their life and allow them to watch them follow Jesus...

It's not scary!  It's refreshing!

Empower parents to invite their kids to  watch as God grows them.....  and in return, their kids will grow.

More is caught, than taught.


(This is true for you if you are new to faith or a life long follower of Christ.  We are ALL taking NEXT STEPS.)


Find out more about ORANGE here:  www.whatisorange.org

ALSO!

 I can not encourage you enough to get your tails up here to Indy for the ORANGE TOUR 

OCT 16-17

If you need a place to stay while you are in town... I might know a way to help with that.

Contact me at lesliegalema@me.com

p.s.s Tuesday's Jam:
Write Your Story

Interrupted: PHASE ONE

"I couldn't have been more floored if I'd come home to find Jesus Himself making salsa in my kitchen."

-Jen Hatmaker, Interrupted (page 39)

Week 1 of The Leslie Galema Unofficial Book Club 


Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker

Have you ever felt God ask you to do something that you felt like you were already doing?

In Phase One of this book Jen (and her husband, Brandon) write about her experience with God impressing on her heart to "feed his sheep."

We have all be there.

Those moments when we feel like there is more to what we are doing...Sometimes we get busy doing the WHAT we do and forget WHY we do it.

Can I get an amen?

Amen!

In her case, it was the church and how they were doing it.

I love what she writes on page 30:

"..I basically considered the church campus-Sunday morning the entry level-as the location and means to transform the average seeker into a believer.  In other words, if you need something spiritual, some help, some guidance, understanding, then come to us. We'll build it, and you come. Once you do, we will pour out our lives attempting to disciple you and build spiritual health into your life. My husband Brandon and I spend every waking moment with Christians.

We were servants of the weekend attendees."

Well dang.

She recalls praying for God to raise up in her a Holy Passion thinking that she meant "God, give me happy feelings" and not for an intervention that would require anything of her!

She felt drawn to John 21 when Peter declared his love for Jesus three times after His resurrection.

Like Peter, Jen was stunned by what Jesus was asking her.  Hadn't she been pouring herself into "Jesusy" things at church?  Hadn't she been planning small group discussions, sermons, and writing books about God's love?

Jen, if you love me, feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

It was then she realized what Jesus meant.  She saw her reflection in Peter: devoted but selfish, committed but misguided.

And deciding that's not going to be good enough.

"I meant well" is note going to cut it-not with God screaming, pleading, urging us to love mercy and justice and feed the poor and the orphaned, to care for the last and the least in nearly every book of the Bible.

  
TALK TANK:

What is the purpose of the local church?
 ...and what does that mean for YOU personally?

The Leslie Galema Unofficial Book Club

Join me, every Friday this September for my very first

Unofficial Book Club

Study of Jen Hatmaker's book:  Interrupted





Week 1: Friday, August 29    PHASE ONE
Week 2: Friday, September 5  PHASE TWO
Week 3: Friday, September 12  PHASE THREE
Week 4: Friday, September 19 PHASE FOUR
Week 5: Friday, September 26 PHASE FIVE

Time keeps on slippin...

Connecting, Devoting, Engaging OH MY! With all this talk of this  the go.love.life, I  think I am beginning to break a sweat! Don't get me wrong here, I believe in this mission...I am just baffled at when I am going to fit it all in my schedule!

My husband and I have been married for 10 years and have 3 small-ish children.  We moved into our new home  just 2 days before our oldest 2 kids started school in their new school!  Our life feels like it is running us instead of us running it!

There is nothing more discouraging after hearing the white hot vision for where God is leading us at Church at the Crossing to CONNECT with God and others, DEVOTE to The Word and to prayer and ENGAGE in our community and world, and think to yourself ..
"Ain't nobody got time for that!"

I. DON'T. HAVE. TIME.

I don't have time to meet new friends, I don't have time for the friends I do have!  I can't connect with God, I can't even connect with my husband! When will I have a second to devote to prayer and Bible Study?  The only thing I have time to read are the magazine covers in the checkout line at Kroger!  Engage?  WHEN?  When will I be able to serve in a ministry or go on a trip out of the country,  I haven't left my house in days!

Then it hit me.

While yes, it is true, I don't HAVE time to do much of anything, the real issue is that I have failed to MAKE time.

MY TIME IS MY TREASURE!
 In Matthew, chapter 6:21 (The Message) it says:
"The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."

I hoard my time..I hold it tight with clenched hands, instead, I need to open my hands, palms up and let God HAVE it!

I guess my NEXT STEP is to STOP making excuses and stop the glorification of BUSY and DEVOTE. I need to devote my time and my life to God and His Word!  I need to repriortize my TIME..and instead make it God's time!

I have not been a good steward of my time.

If I want my kids to know what it IS to BE the Church, then I must turn the mirror to look at myself.

In ministry and as Christians, we are in the people busines. 

Sometimes, people can't HEAR what we are saying because what we are DOING is too loud!

More is caught than taught. 

go.love.