Saturday, February 13, 2010

paint dancing, espresso-tasting and the love revolution

Praise God for 4-day weekends! Even when it rains, God brings us joy. Here are some snapshots of joy from this weekend:

Coffee with Mom. One of the best parts of living in Kitsap county is being able to meet Mom in town for coffee dates. Even when we don't end up drinking coffee. Having time to shop for books and birthday gifts with Mom is such a blessing. I am grateful every day for a family who loves Jesus!

Paint-dancing! Last night, I went to visit dear friends in Wallingford. We went paint dancing for the first time. Just like it sounds, you paint and dance at the same time. Check out www.paintdancing.com  for more info. We went to the Gasworks Gallery in Seattle, where owner Matt Jones started throwing the original paint-dancing parties.
An artist and hunger-activist, Matt has crazy-contagious enthusiasm about his two passions. His art revolution is inspiring: paint-dancing has spread through the US and is starting to gain momentum in other countries AND is responsible for donating 17 semi-trucks worth of food to Seattle area food banks.




Here are two samples of my "paint-dancing" artwork, doctored up a little and framed for my room.




Running in the rain. This morning, my dear friend Nicole and I tried to go running at Greenlake. But...there happened to be a Valentine's 5k race going on. So, we went to the UW Arboretum instead. We ran in the rain, following trails, roads, and well-manicured footpaths. Then, we created a shortcut by sliding down a steep, grassy, muddy hill. In a small miracle, neither of us ate it in the mud. We skidded to a stop in the parking lot. What a great adventure for such a wonderful weekend.

Espresso-tasting. Kristina Hammer is the best barista known to humankind. That should be enough...

For brunch, Kristina made the most delightful espresso drinks. Deep-tasting, powerful shots of Sumatra coffee. Rich, creamy foam made of half-and-half (I think my cappuccino standards may be ruined forever). Lattes sweetened with carmelized-brown sugar. My mouth is watering as I think about this coffee, even now...The caffeine high finally wore off around 8:30 tonight.

Talking Jesus with students. Best text of my life: "Wanna meet in town somewhere so i can ask you some questions about the bible i was reading today???"After Seattle, I got to hang out with some of the amazing students in our youth ministry. We talked about trusting God, about loving family, about fighting for purity. I love to see their faith expressed in their growing lives! I respect them SOOO much for the choices they are making, some with maturity far beyond their age.


Visiting people at work. At our youth gathering last Wednesday, we decided to have a group event this Saturday to visit one student while she worked at an ice cream shop. I love visiting people at work! Then, we went to the sandwich store next door to visit another friend. Yay for community! (and the accompanying conversations. :)

Winter Olympics. I just like watching people who are so talented at what they do. Thank you Michelle for buying an HD TV!

An evening with Mother Teresa. To finish out the night, I babysat for some friends so they could enjoy Valentine's Day. Their son was already asleep by the time I came over, so I sat by the baby monitor and read a book for the evening. Book shopping yesterday with Mom, I picked up Mother Teresa: Her essential wisdom, ed. Carol Kelly-Gangi.  It is changing my perspective on obedience to God's calling. My favorite quote so far:

"One by one, from 1949 on, my former students began to arrive. They wanted to give everything to God, right away. With that joy they put away their colorful saris in order to put on our cotton one. They came because they knew it would be hard. When a young woman of high caste comes and puts herself at the service of the poor, she is the protagonist of a revolution. It is the greatest, the most difficult revolution--the revolution of love." (quoted on p.5, Kelly-Gangi, 2006)

And yet, love is the greatest commandment. (Matt 22:39). It seems the revolution can be won, if only we are willing to begin it!

1 comment:

  1. Pom PomFebruary 14, 2010 at 9:48 AM

    Beautiful, holy post, Laura. YOU are a joy and an encouragement to my heart. Happy Valentine's Day!

    ReplyDelete

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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys