Art Competition-- VOTING begins Monday, April 23rd

Art students at Hixson High School worked long hours on two pairs of shoes for a recent Vans shoes competition.  They were one group of 500 competitors.  Just this week we learned that they are in the top 50! This is super news.  Beginning April 23rd, the public has the opportunity to vote for their favorite shoes.  The top 5 winners get some pretty cool stuff.

In the words of Katie Claiborne, one of the art teachers at Hixson High School, from her Facebook post on April 18:

"My art students at Hixson High made it into the top 50 in the Vans Custom Culture Competition. This means that they are in the running to win $75,000 for the art department plus a visit from Vans and a cookout and concert for the whole school! What we need now is your help voting for our project. Our only hope of winning is if you and EVERYONE YOU KNOW vote for us!!!! Voting is open from April 23 to May 4. You are allowed to cast ONE VOTE PER DAY at vans.com/customculture until voting ends at 5pm PST/8pm EST on May 4. The only catch is you can not offer anyone anything in exchange for their vote. Please please please share this. Please vote every day. We are a public high school and there is never enough funding for the arts, but this would open a ton of doors for these students. Please vote and help these students get the recognition they deserve for their hard work! #VansCustomCulture"

You may wonder why I am super excited to promote Hixson High School and their art program.

My teenager, Charlie, is a junior there this year and had a significant role in this project.  Charlie loves art, is active in the art club at the high school, and plans to pursue art and design in higher education.

The art students worked super hard on both pairs of shoes and their work paid off to get them in the top 50.  It is our turn to get them in the top 5.

The pictures below were taken by one of the art students, Addison Flanigan.  The photography itself is art and Addison did a great job.  

Remember, you can vote DAILY from April 23rd to May 4th.

Here are the pictures of the shoes from Hixson High school: (cave shoes and Chattanooga scenes shoes)

Thanks for checking out these shoes!  I hope you'll remember to vote.

I don't know if Vans will be making any of the shoes, but I would sure like a pair of the Chattanooga shoes.  They are cool.  I adore the cave shoes too, but I don't think they are made to walk around in.  However, they would make for a super nightlight feature in a room.

I am also looking forward to seeing what the other 49 competitors came up with because I imagine there are some pretty cool looking shoes out there.  My vote is going to Hixson High School!

Go Wildcats!

Debra
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Update:

An article in the Chattanoogan.com on April 21 offers a great description of the shoes: Hixson High Competes To Win $75,000 For Its Art Department

An article in Times Free Press.com on April 23-- Hixson High team advances in Vans competition for $75,000

Vote here!

Another resource for Courageous Conversations in The Way Forward

Last week I wrote a blog post entitled "The Way Forward" that came out of Thursday's clergy meeting.  I included links to resources that had been mentioned in the meeting and others that I found.  It doesn't include everything, but maybe some of the resources will lead to dialogues.  In the post I admitted that I hadn't read any of the United Methodist books on the topics.  Over the weekend I ordered Wil Cantrell's book, Unafraid and Unashamed: Facing the Future of United Methodism.  I figured that would be a good place to start.

If you haven't seen my blogpost "The Way Forward" from 4/13/18, you can read it by clicking here.

Here is a link to Wil Cantrell's book site to check out his book: Unafraid and Unashamed.

This morning I thought about a resource I read and wanted to share it.  However, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back and add it to an already long post or start a new one.  Obviously, I chose the latter.

The resource I want to share is David Gushee's Changing Our Mind.  I read the 2nd edition a few months back, but I understand there is a 3rd edition out. I recommend this later edition because it includes a 5 week study guide, which is great for any group wishing to use it or even an individual desiring to use the questions to dig deeper.  Now I need to look into the 3rd edition myself.

2nd edition

I first heard of David Gushee when I read his book, Still Christian: Following Jesus out of American Evangelicalism (2017).  As an evangelical ethicist, I found his views on things worth the reflection.  When I learned he had written Changing Our Mind, I decided to check it out.  [All references below will be to the 2nd edition.]

What I found refreshing was that Gushee wasn't attempting to change anyone's mind.  His mind had changed over time.  He shared from his experience, from Scripture, from study.  He brought the facts to the table for discussion.  Much like the courageous conversations I learned about this past week at the clergy meeting where we come together to listen to one another.

In reading Gushee's book, the phrase "the way forward" or "a way forward" was used several times and though it isn't a United Methodist resource, it struck me that his book could be used as part of the studies for the way forward.

The first time the phrase stood out to me was in the introduction by Matthew Vines: "By addressing the core concerns of conservative Christians with respect and reasoned argument, Gushee points the way forward beyond the church's current impasse." (xxv, italics mine)

The second time I noticed this phrase, it was Gushee speaking in Chapter 3: "I hope my explorations can be helpful to individuals and churches seeking a way forward." (23, italics mine)  It was here that I wondered to myself, jotting down this question in the margin: "Is the UMC "way forward" group using his book?"  From what I have seen on the few website links I have found, I don't think his book has been used in the process, but it seems like it would be a good one to add to the mix, as he deals with the topic in a very clear and thorough manner.

At the end of Chapter 6, Gushee notes: "But regardless of your stance on the sexual ethics issues, if you have stayed with me so far, I hope you will agree that all Christians ought to be eager to offer well-informed understanding and hospitality to people of non-heterosexual orientation and identity in our families and churches.  Anything short of that is not consistent with the requirements of the Gospel." (360)

That caught my attention.  Aren't we supposed to offer hospitality to all?  Isn't that who we are, what we do as the body of Christ?

A couple of years back I had the opportunity and privilege to participate in a Conference training for Welcoming the Immigrant.  We planned for two training sessions in our Conference.  Though the focus for that training was the "other" in terms of language, culture, and country, as the church, we have the opportunity and responsibility to show the love of Christ to all that come through our doors.  And, because we don't wait for people to come through the doors, we are to go into community and show love and offer hospitality, meeting people where they are.

[PDF for Immigrant Welcoming Communities]

Yet, have you heard of Christian churches and/or families rejecting people because they were different in some way?  It isn't just a "gay" issue, though that seems to be an easier focus/target.  We have a hard time accepting and extending hospitality to any "other".

If you think you'd be willing to check out Gushee's book, you will be encouraged to note his stance on the culture: "my goal is not to accommodate culture, but to meet my responsibilities before God as a Christian leader." (16)

Gushee wants people to converse.  I believe his book is a courageous conversation starter.

In Chapter 7 he offers six options for churches in dealing with gay people.

In Chapter 8 he recognizes that this might be the point where some people get off the bus, so to speak.  Yet, before they quit reading, he gives everyone some homework to do.  After listing the seven items of homework he writes, "If this is where you get off the bus, please go with a new sense of resolve and love to serve LGBT people and to make your family, friendship group, and church a safe and loving place for everyone--and to resist the easier path of silence or indifference." (47)

For those that are willing to keep reading, he dives into the Scriptures next.

As with the information I shared the other day in my post "The Way Forward", I share this from David Gushee's book in hopes that it might jump start conversations.

I don't know where the United Methodist church is heading.  It doesn't know where it is heading.  What I do know is that I am called to love God and to love others as myself.

In order to love others, I need to be willing to get to know them, to spend time listening to them, to hear their stories.  I need to continue spending time listening to the One Voice who knows and loves me best.  I need to be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to teach me anew.

In addition to attempting to live into the greatest commandment to love God and the second one like it, to love others as myself, Micah 6:8 plays a big role for me as I seek to show hospitality to others:

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (NIV)

May it be so.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

The Way Forward

Last night I heard one of the best and most encouraging talks I have heard on the United Methodist Church's "The Way Forward" and how we, as United Methodists, can be engaged at this time.

Truthfully, outside of colleague discussions and reading some things in the news, this is the first talk I've heard from our Conference and District, in an official way.  It was a breath of fresh air to get the conversation going.  Reverend Al Bowles did an excellent job.

He began with a quote from Bishop Ough who is on the committee for the way forward.  In that quote, the Bishop's focus was that we have a commitment to stay at the table.  That resonates with me.  It is easier to leave the table when we are frustrated and discouraged.  It is much more difficult to do the work of listening to those with whom we disagree at the table.  It reminds me of John Pavlovitz's book A Bigger Table, in that there is always room for others at the table and when we make room to listen to one another, we may often be surprised that we have more in common than we first thought.  I recommend Pavlovitz's book as part of this discussion and as part of what it means to enlarge the table.  But that wasn't part of last night's discussion.

Rev. Al Bowles posed this question, but I don't remember if it was his or from Bishop Ough: "Are we doing enough at our local churches to stay at the table and own the struggle?"

Let that question sink in.  It's a good one.

He spoke to us about a "courageous conversation project" that was being done in another conference.  It sounded like something I had read on the South Georgia Conference when I was looking for a "spring forward" meme a few weeks back and ran across the South Georgia Conference website that was full of resources for the way forward for their people.  I asked after the meeting. It wasn't that conference.

For your perusal, here is the link to the South Georgia Conference and their resources: South Georgia Conference-- Commission on a Way Forward

Rev. Al Bowles share with us that the conference he referred to was using courageous conversations to engage folks.  There were 27 conversations in all throughout the conference where folks could come out and learn from one another, grow in their own view, and yet not attempt to change others.  This is about respectfully listening to one another, regardless of views.

Today, I looked up these Courageous Conversations and found that it is a "thing".  It caught my attention when Rev. Bowles mentioned that part of the conversations' goals were to share the facts and help people move from skepticism to curiosity to openness.  We need less skepticism and more curiosity and openness.

On the link for Courageous Conversations, I saw those words and information about how to get those types of conversations going.  There is even a booklet in PDF form that is there for downloading.

Here is the link for the Courageous Conversations information on Discipleship Ministries.

Here is the link for the booklet for the Courageous Conversations.

Rev. Bowles shared that these conversations are not a time for debate because debate has winners and losers, but rather they are grace filled conversations that offer a space of safe grace.

It is a tool for folks to be able to stay at the table.

He shared the opening questions from a meeting included ice breakers such as "What brought you here?", "Do you prefer small groups or Sunday School?", "Do you attend a traditional worship service or contemporary?"  Then, as people began to get to know one another, the questions began to include the LGBTQ conversation.

It would be great to see the questions and to offer these courageous conversations locally.

There is a link that has Courageous Conversation sample outlines for Gun Violence, Climate Change, Human Sexuality, etc.  Since the focus of the way forward is the latter, I'm including that below.  The general link can be found here.

Here is the sample outline for Courageous Conversations on Human Sexuality.  On this link you will find other resources needed, such as a prayer guide.

I found the conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction that has initiated these conversations.  It is the Alabama-West Florida Conference.  That's cool.  Here is a link to a news article about their Courageous Conversations. All laity and clergy are encouraged to attend one of these sessions.  The cabinet met to do one as well.  What also made me happy is to see that they offered on in Spanish.  Thank you, Alabama-West Florida for doing this!  I hope and pray that we will learn from this example.

The Western North Carolina Conference has Healthy Conversation resources, along with a timeline, videos, reading resources.  Their main link can be found here. On their "A Way Forward" resource list, they include conservative and progressive resources.  You can find it on the previous link or click here for direct access.

There were two handouts last night.

One was a list of books, "Way Forward Resources for the Local Church" and also a link for "Finding the Way Forward".

The list of books can be found on some of the other sites I've mentioned, but I will list them here.

• Unafraid and Unashamed: Facing the Future of United Methodism by Wil Cantrell (leader's guide at unafraidandunashamed.com/leadersguide)
• God Unbound by Elaine Heath
• Bid Our Jarring Conflicts Cease: A Wesleyan Theology and Praxis of Church Unity by David Field
• Unity of the Church and Human Sexuality (Study Guide) by GBHEM
• Unity of the Church and Human Sexuality by GBHEM
• Living Faith: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church by David Barnhart and Rebekah Jordan
• Is It Time?: Helping Laity and Clergy Discuss Homosexuality One Question at a Time by Adolf Hansen
• Finding Our Way by Neil Alexander (etc.)

Click here to go to the link for "Finding the Way Forward".  From there you can see resource links and a document.

I haven't read any of the books listed on the handout we got last night.  I have read some of the books I saw on the Western North Carolina list and have seen a couple of movies.  I have read other books as well.

I will keep reading.  I will keep studying Scripture.  I will keep praying.  I will keep listening to the Holy Spirit.

I want to sit at the table and listen and converse with others.

Ultimately, I want to stay at the table.  The table may change how it looks.  I hope it gets bigger, like the dining room table at a big holiday.

Regardless, my heart's desire is to continue loving God, loving others, and loving self.

That was the second message from last night.  Bishop Looney gave a wonderful message too.  He spoke on the question of "how is it with your soul?" and answering with 'do I love God?', 'do I love neighbor?', 'do I love self?'  Bishop Looney shared of himself and it dove-tailed perfectly with the previous message, at least for me. What a blessing last night to hear from both those guys.

As I went forward for communion, tears filled my eyes.  I truly believe there is going to be a way forward.

May it be so.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

Smile! Give It Away-- lessons from the comics

In yesterday's "The Family Circus" we see Dolly going up to someone; standing in front of her, not saying a word, but smiling at her; and then proclaiming, "You can' give a smile away. It always comes back."

Life's lessons and truth from the comics strips.

It is true, normally, that when you smile at someone, it will be returned. And if it isn't, it is still worth the gift of giving. We never know howmuch the gift of a smile can mean to someone.

Smile!

I am taken back to the camp song, "Smile! Don't you know God loves you?"

Here is the chorus:

Smile! Don't you know God loves you?
Come to think of it, I love you too.
Take the time to smile at someone
And before you're through
Someone will be smiling back at you.

What about the verses?

Did you ever think that you were alone?
Did you ever think that you were all alone?
If you ever thought you were alone, you didn't realize that he was home
If you ever thought that you were alone.

Are you afraid of the dark?
Does darkness give you a fright?
If you're afraid you don't realize
you're always in his sight 
If you're afraid of the dark.

Did you ever think you'd lost your last friend?  
Did you ever think you'd lost your last friend?
If you ever thought you'd lost your last friend, 
Just look up there and think again.
If you've ever thought you'd lost your last friend.

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At camp, we added a "bm, bm, bm" before each chorus.  However one might best represent that that... "bum", maybe?

camp song sheet

In doing some research, it appears that Sarah Sterling wrote this song and is also know as "Smile".  (See information.)

This song always made me smile at camp.  And, as we sang it across the campfire, we made each other smile too.  It might be a little cheesy (or corny), simplistic, and maybe not 100% realistic theologically if you've experienced a dark night of the soul.

As I reflect on this song now, it has held up for me over the years, even when I have gone through (and go through) dark and difficult times and have not felt the presence of God,  I suppose it's because I have learned that it is okay when I'm afraid and there is often a peace that calms my fears.  Not always, but many times. I have learned that it is normal to go through the valley of darkness and that it is normal to feel alone.  These are just a few things I have learned over the years.  I am still learning.  Learning is a life-long process.

As we are in the 2nd week after the Resurrection, I am reminded that even Christ felt forsaken by God and cried out in anguish.  If Christ felt this separation from his father, then it is normal that we will feel it too.

As I reflect, I recognize that just as the darkness of the dark earth isn't forever for the seed, there is a time to press onward and upward, breaking through the barrier toward light that leads to growth. As the plant pushes forth through the soil and reaches toward the light, we too can press on.  We can continue to be and do.

Even in the dark times we can find a way to smile and to give away a smile.  I believe we can smile without forcing, faking, or wearing a mask.  However, if it isn't there, it's okay. Let's be honest and real enough with ourselves and others to realize that we aren't in a place to give.

If we aren't able to give a smile, then maybe we are meant to receive a smile from someone else.  In that receiving, then maybe, just maybe, like Dolly teaches us in the comic strips, we will be able to give it back.

I'm willing to try.... are you?

Bm, bm, bm..... Smile!

Blessings on your journey!

Debra



[NOTE: I also found a blog post "Sunday Joy: Smile! Don't You Know God Loves You/?' with the chorus in it, but it attributed the song to someone else and had a verse I never learned.  For a different verse and an interesting read, you can check out that blog post here.]