tonight

just a reminder that tonight we will be hanging out at McAllister - just off 20th and Schuyler - 6:45-8:00PM - hope to see you there!

A Return to Flo - Sometimes You Gotta Go

Hey everyone!

I wanted to take a little bit today and return to the stories about Flo and i running.  We have enjoyed our runs together so much - she spazzes out when i come into her room and get her harness and leash in the morning and i love the early morning air and listening to mp3's on my phone and talking to God!

You may recall that over the past couple months, we have talked about Flo and:

How she will be running along and easily get distracted - needing to be reminded of what's most important.

How she sets a fast pace and gets me going when i am tired.

And how she sometimes will get tired at the end of the run and need some gentle, or not so gentle, pulls to keep going.



Today, i want to mention a certain time a while back when Flo and i were just running along, about 2/3 of the way through our run.  I was into whatever i was listening to and probably having a conversation with God about life or some of you all's lives.

There we were zooming (relatively speaking of course, i am 41 years old!) along and i saw something that shocked and disgusted me!!

FLO POOPED IN THE ROAD!!!!!!!!

Yes!!  We were just going along, and she pooped in the road.  Now, as soon as i saw that little turd shoving emerging, i yelled, "Flo, NOOOOOOO!"

Well, she found some sphincter muscle power that she probably didn't realize she had (sorry Mike for the reference to anatomy, i know you are sick of studying nursing!!), and she cut off her "episode" in mid-log.  The problem is, the poop had another idea and i found some speed in my legs that i did not know i had and we rocketed to the vacant lot about 100 yards ahead, where she finished her "episode."  In case you are wondering, i did leave the poop in the street and i feel a little guilty about it still, but it was probably only 3inches long...

So, here's my point:

        At some places in our lives, we are just running along, minding our own business, journeying with each other and all, when suddenly things get really messy.  Sometimes the messy comes from something inside us that is broken and hurt and it just kinda gushes all over everything. Often times this kind of mess recurs over and over - we just keep finding this mess inside us periodically coming to the surface and bubbling out.  Other times the messy comes from outside us, like a diagnosis, a relationship gone bad, a job loss, a financial mess.  We may be the victim of any number of bad things, but before we know it, we are hip deep in poop.  Not good.

        So many times, we just wade thru the messy spots in our lives.  We are not sure what to do, so we respond the best we can.  We withdraw, we lash out, we become nervous and anxious, we get depressed and throw up our hands in despair, we protect ourselves and those we love and sometimes we destroy those we love.  We control those around us and our worlds the best we can by picking at ourselves and those we love.  And before we know it, the mess is bigger than it was in the first place, growing roots into our lives!!

        So, what should we do when a little doo-doo slips out on the run and we realize that we are about to be in for a major mess? 

         Well, there are many things but here are a few ideas:

 First, talk to God about it.  He cares so much about you and He will help you find some healing for the brokenness in your heart that keeps pooping all over your life. 

  Second, find a friend or two who speak the truth to you - not what you want to hear - but the truth, and that know God, for real.  Confess that you are pooping in the road and you really need some help.  Ask them to talk to God with you and for you.  Give them permission to continue to speak the truth to you, even if it is not what you want to hear.

  Third, begin looking for God and His answers in your life.  Notice.  Pat attention to what's really most important in this life.  Ask Him to join you in the moments of your life.  Refuse to go back to life as usual, where if you just set this whole thing aside, you will find yourself poopy again in the near future!

 
This is the kind of life we believe in at More than more.  We believe in a better life, one where we don't have to poop in the road over and over and over again.  One where the recurring pains in our lives can find healing.  One where we live for something More than just the usual everyday crap this American economy has to offer.

If you are looking for this kind of life, we would love to have you join us December 13th, 6:45-8:00 PM, at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette - as always there will be fantastic activities for all ages.  We will not be running, but it will be a great time, there are always tons of laughs and you never know, you just might find someone who might help you with some of your poop someday!!!!

tomorrow

Hi everyone!  Wanted to remind you that More than more will be hanging out tomorrow night - 11-29-12 - at McAllister Center - just off 20th and Schuyler ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00pm - great, free activities for all ages, as always

Just to Remind You

Hey everyone!  Don't forget More than more will be hanging out this Thursday night, November 15th, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00 - we hope to see you there!

All are welcome and there are free activities for all kids too.

Love Your Feet - That's not Fair!!

Wow! How many times have I heard that from my kiddos?? Oh wait how many times have I said that myself- eek. There is this huge misconception in life that everything should be fair. With many believing that fair means equal treatment- equal opportunities- equal gifts- equal pay- equal time- equal everything. Well its bologna. I mean really how realistic is that?? Now don’t get all worked up yet- listen to what I have to say please. I am not saying fairness is a bad thing. There are many areas where fairness is great. I just believe is often misunderstood.

My son’s teacher sends home a paper every week to keep parents in the loop. What’s coming up, ideas to help our children, learning activities, all kinds of great information. Well one paper had a little message about fairness and when I read it I immediately cut it out and hung on my bulletin board to always remember. Fair is not about everyone’s expectations being met- but about their needs being met.

Now when Matt and I met we agreed to strive for fairness between our kids. Silly us thought that meant doing everything the same for them. If Ella got special Daddy time- then Drew should get special Mommy time. If Drew got a gift so did Ella. If one needed shoes- the other should get some too. Stupid I know. See the thing is we were not focusing on their individual needs but their wants. We were so worried one would feel left out or less important that we were blind to the obvious truth. They are each uniquely special and have very different needs.

I notice this everywhere around me- not just at home. I’m sure you do too. But why? Why are we so consumed with equality? Shouldn’t we be more concerned with needs? Shouldn’t we rejoice when we see needs met? Yet we all have this selfish nature about us- If Eve gets an apple from the tree then I want one too. If my brother inherits the family fortune then I deserve some too. I was first in line. I deserve that. Life’s not fair.

Yesterday I helped at the More than More Love Your Feet shoe giveaway. Honestly my favorite day of the year. I just love the whole idea. So much generosity, so much love, so much gratitude, so much teamwork, so many smiles, just amazing. Yet can be emotionally and physically draining. This was only my second year participating in this outreach. I am still learning the ins and outs. Well I messed up by being unfair. There was a super nice gentleman that came in to sign up for shoes. He signed up early regardless of his last name and explained he needed to pick up at the early time because he had to go to work. No big deal, right? Well when this gentleman came back to get his shoes there was a long line and not all the shoes were ready. Our team was doing the best we could taking names and checking orders. I spotted my new friend pretty far back in the line and knew he would never make it to work on time if I did not help him. So I went and found his shoes and took them to him skipping others. Wow- you would think I gave away the last pair of shoes. People were not happy. “She skipped me” “I was here first” “I have been waiting” Grrrr. I had no intention to hurt anyone or of not helping those waiting. I just wanted to help. And ya know what he was so grateful he just had to hug me. Made his day that someone noticed him- remembered him- gave him free shoes- no judgment- just love. And that is what we were there for. So naturally I got a little annoyed at those complaining. I thought really- do you want the shoes- then hush and I will get them- I’m doing my best. I bit my tongue from snapping- told our fearless leader to step in and say something to calm the waves I so unfairly made. And of course he did in a gentle yet bold way. It was amazing how the atmosphere changed. See many of those in line had been wronged in there life. Many had experienced real unfairness. They were used to having to fight for everything. So when they we reassured that we cared and we would make sure their needs were met- things changed. I saw a verbally angry gal switch from spewing nasty comments to laughing and joking with me. I saw her feel important that I took the time to actually stop and talk to her and keep making contact with her- not avoiding her. I saw people I met at sign up smile when I welcomed them back and did my best to remember their names. And that is why I love the shoe outreach. We are not just giving shoes away. We are serving a need with love. Did we meet everyone’s expectations??? NO- not even close. But we did treat hundreds of strangers with real love- not something you can find in a shoe store.

More than More invites you to join us Thursday November 15^st at 6:45- 8:00 pm at McAllister Recreation Center just off 20^th and Schuyler Ave- Lafayette. As always awesome free child care/activities provided for all ages.

Time for Wednesday & Thursday

For those of you helping with Love Your Feet Shoe Outreach, setup will begin at 7PM in the Gym at McAllister Wednesday night and Thursday morning will begin at 8AM - we will have breakfast food and lunch food provided Thursday. 

Just a reminder.

Bullies & Justice

                We were walking a few nights ago along Ocean Avenue, the famous "strip" in South Beach, enjoying the evening, chuckling at the diversity of humanity one can see there after dark.  I have to admit it is a strange kind of laughter there - on one hand you can hardly help it - there are so many things happening that we just don't see much of in Indiana - but on the other hand there is a sadness to it, so many people trying to find happiness and failing...well maybe it isn't that far from Indiana after all, just in a louder and more wild direction...

                So, we were walking along and Melissa's face suddenly got pale and she said somewhat breathlessly, "Jason, look over there, two guys are hitting someone on the ground!"

                My eyes followed her pointing finger about 25 yards off the sidewalk we were walking on and about 25 yards ahead of us where i saw two large men taking turns one holding down someone who to me appeared to me to be much smaller than them in the dirt and kicking and hitting them.  I saw the weak one try to bring their head up and it looked to be an old person, male most likely, with short hair.  The two bullies laughed and talked to the weak one, but the sounds were not audible because of the fray across Ocean Drive.  There was a moment where time slowed and some decisions had to be made.  Melissa's first words then were, "Jason, don't go over there."  I saw her wisdom but felt torn, realizing that i probably would not be able to do much by myself against 2 big guys, so we ran across the street to a store, brought the worker out into the sidewalk to see the beating and asked her to call the Police.  She assured us that she would and we were relieved to see 2 bicycle police guys going that way in the next couple minutes.  We stopped and prayed for the victim and bullies and, feeling troubled, went back to our hotel where we prayed some more. 

                The next day, we had been at the beach and were heading to lunch when a guy on a Segway came by the people walking behind us.  He offered them a tour and when they said no he kept bugging them, trying to get them to buy his tour (like anyone would want a tour with a pushy Segway guy!).  Apparently he realized they weren't going to buy his pushy Segway tour and so he zoomed up next to us.  He asked us what we were doing and if we needed a tour.  My response?  "Just keep moving, we're not interested."  He slowed his Segway down (kinda comical trying to be a convincing bully on a Segway!) and said, "Are you telling me what to do?"  My response?  "We were just walkin' and you drove up."  Followed by his, "Walk faster."  Now, i will let those of you who know me think for just a second what kind of a response that brought from me (not that it was the best response considering my faith and all and what Melissa's response was. 

                In the background you could hear Melissa say, "Oh Jason," and in the take it easy, please don't hurt Segway guy and get thrown in jail because i really want to enjoy the rest of our trip together and it's really not that big of a deal anyway way.

                My response did not involve any talking.  I simply SLOWED DOWN MY WALKING.  He then sped off on his Segway, shaking his head and laughing. 

                Now, the take home point from all this is not to fight with native Miamians.  It is not to feel the need to defend your honor.  Honestly, that guy had nothing to say about me that could hurt me - the best thing to do would have been to say, "No, i was not meaning to tell you what to do, but we are not interested in your tour, have a good day," and really mean it.  But, i supposed there is still something in me of the beat down, bullied kid i used to be and i felt something in me raging at the injustice of it.  I was ready to fight back!!

                So, if that's not the point, what is?

                Well, most of my life from the ages of 5 until age 18, i was bullied.  Hit, picked on, cast out, beat down.  I would have been the one with my head pushed down in the dirt.  Every day was a day of fear.  Every hope was mostly about being not noticed enough to be hurt - i was way past the idea of anyone actually accepting me or caring about me for who i was.  It was such a part of my life that it seemed there would never be an end.  As i got older and bigger, there was a short period of time, although i hate to admit it, that i enjoyed finding people smaller than me and picking on them.  I had so much anger and hurt and rage in me i just could not seem to find what to do with all of it and somehow making someone else hurt like me seemed to help sometimes.  Then i found God, and He taught me that He could bring healing to the hurt and anger in me and then, after a lot of healing and time, that He could use all that anger and passion and hurt to make a difference  in the world.  So...I am sick of injustice!!  I am sick of the strong getting their way with the weak!!  I am sick of the rich taking advantage of the poor!!  I am sick of the big guys who beat up the little guys and the Segway guys who want to intimidate people who are minding their own business!!  I am sick of the people who have, continuing to have while those who have not, having even less!! I am sick of it!!  I am so angry at injustice i could just about scream!!!  There is part of me that wants to become part of Jason Blankenship's League of Masked Avengers (sorry if i got the name wrong Jas!) and i hope we go around together watching for guys like those guys in the park and together whoop the holy crap out of them!!!  Pick up the guy who was getting beat down and give him a few licks of his own on his attackers, then make them say they are sorry and maybe give him a foot massage or something like that!!!

                But as i have been thinking about it, beating up the bullies and knocking Segway guy into next week might be really nice in terms of getting out some rage, but i do not think it would do any justice at all.  It would simply be turning the tables on the "big" guys.  The problem with that is that i really do want to live a life that fights for justice.  I want to be a part of the world where as Switchfoot says, "Where the righteous right the wrongs."  But, what would be just?  That is after all the next question i should be asking.  If i want to have a life that fights for justice - What is Justice? (here my girls might say, "A store at the mall with cool girls only clothes.").  Clearly Segway guy and the bullies in the park are unjust, but does just whooping them do justice?  Now, i totally believe in taking responsibility for your actions - that consequences are important in life - just ask my kids - but do you think that those bullies in the park and Segway guy at some point in their lives decided, "I wanna have the kind of life where i need to go around and beat up small people in the park with my friends so that i can feel significant?" or "I think needing to intimidate people who aren't riding two-wheeled scooters is a good thing for me to do to prove that i am a man!"

                They're silly really questions.  Truth is, those guys no doubt have had lives full of doubt and pain and hurt - anger and resentment and betrayal.  This is the only way they know.  It's sad.  They are more pitiful than the people the prey on.  And when i think of them that way, it is hard to imagine that whooping the crap out of them will in some way right any wrongs, bring any justice.

                So, if justice is not what i always thought it was, what is it?  Well, to me, justice means that i would like to have a chance to bring to the beat down, the hurting, the people that no one cares about the things in life that really matter.  I would like to show them that they matter, not because they have proven something to me or someone else, but because they have been made as a human being, magnificent creations.  I would like to give them a chance to love and be loved.  After all, if everything else in life falls off - all the money and houses and toys and work and everything else - what really matters to you - what gives you joy and meaning and purpose and life to the fullest?  If you are like most of the people i know, it's those you love, loving them and being loved by them.  Truth?  The rest is fluff.  Yet, so many of those who are beat down...and so many of those who do the beating...won't ever get a chance to love and be loved, at least not for real.

                To me, it sounds kinda weird to have this whole line of thought.  Like i was gonna go up to the guys beating the other guy and hug them, announce to them that they are loved, and that was gonna solve the whole thing.  Obviously not.  But, maybe my crusade for justice is not to be conducted during the beatings most of the time, but during the everydays of my life.  What if every person i saw, i looked directly in their eyes?  What if i smiled, like they mattered?  What if i said hello?  What if my neighbors were not just people who lived next door, but people who knew i cared about them?  What if the checker at the grocery store and the co-worker in the next cubicle were not just people i accidentally bumped into, or who slowed me down when i was in a hurry?  What if i saw them?  If they mattered?  What if my agenda for the day was negotiable and people were not?  What if when i saw someone who did not believe that they mattered, i looked for ways to help them see their value?  What if i intentionally put myself in places where i would encounter lots of people who society does not value and i did not just fill their soup bowls, but learned their names, and cared about them as people? 

I think if i began to live like this...i would qualify for the League of Masked Avengers and then some!  I think over the years of my life i would bring justice into a millions places it usually is never seen.

And, let me tell you, More than more is all about this kind of justice.  We want to right the wrongs - not with policies and statements.  Not weapons and wars.  We want to right the wrongs of injustice with love - with relationships.  We want to tell as many people as possible in this world that they really do matter.  And furthermore, that they are welcome to journey with us, to come along side us.  We don't want to tell them of their value and leave them there...we want them to come and learn and grow with us.  This is the story of More than more.  We are people that life has cast out, broken down, thrown aside.  We are bruised and bloodied by our lives.  Our pain is massive.  But we find together value, beauty, wonder, peace, joy, hope, life, More.  It is a fantastic way to live life!  We would love to have you join us - we will be hanging out November 1st, 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette - as always there will be free, fantastic activities for people of all ages.  Hope you can make it!

Run or be dragged

So, as i previously said, Flo is a great pace dog - sometimes even to an annoying extent.  In that way she reminds me that it is good for all of us to have at least one person around, if not more, who are heading in a good direction and can set the pace for us.

But, there was one time not to long ago that things were quite a bit different than usual on my run with Flo.

It was a hot day, mid 90's and in the middle of the day - apparently i had shut off my alarm that morning and overslept too much to run.

So, Flo and i started out like gang busters as usual; Flo zooming and me following.  But about a mile and a half into the run, Flo started slowing down - now it was hot, i have to admit i was seriously sucking wind too, but Flo was really slowing down.  First, she stopped tugging at the leash.  Then she was barely in front of me.  Then, the unthinkable happened!!!  I passed Flo!!!!  Not only that, but i kept running, maybe even fast, hoping to get home before i collapsed (never looks good for a 40 something guy to collapse on the road - people freak out), and just a few yards later, my arm was yanked backwards, by a dog that was not keeping up with me.  For the rest of the run, i would have to either stop or yank at Flo about every 50 strides, seemingly dragging her home.  She did run a few steps when i yanked on her leash, but then she just slowed right down again, so yank...again.

When we got home, both of us breathing hard, and had some serious rehydrating to do, needless to say!

So, here's the point:

First, even the most consistent, strong, dedicated, fit, pace setters get tired sometimes.  Sometimes the one who is following needs to remind them that they still need to keep going and maybe even yank them along the way a few times.  We all need to have some people who help us along - even the leaders - even the people who are always busy - even the ones who are always involved and caring for someone else - in fact sometimes they don't even see they need a good yank...That's one of the great things about More than more - there are all kinds of people around the group - some are more followers and some more leaders, but none of us considers ourselves to be more important or more significant than anyone else (we always say we are all massively screwed up - makes you want to join us sometime doesn't it?) and we all know we are all responsible to help each other along.  It is a beautiful thing to see people care that much about each other - even if it means being dragged once in a while.

Second, there are times when you are keeping the pace, running hard, trying to get to the end of the run and the person you are running with slows down, dragging you slower in your pace.  At this point you have 3 options: 1) Stop, lay down with your tired co-runner and rest 2) drop the leash and leave them - forget you i'm outta here or 3) keep going, tug on them, remind them that they need to keep going too - know the direction you are going is right and that you can't stop and neither can they.  Slow down a little if you need to, to make sure they are coming, but do your best to keep them with you. 
Sometimes your Flo may even stop, may even turn around - they may give up  If you love them you must tell them of their mistake, but if they just will not come, you may have to go on the rest of the run without them - just make sure they know that they can come back running with you anytime they are ready!!!!

Well, me and my sore muscles are done with this session of Flo stories, but if you are interested in relationships where people are real, no one is more important than anyone else, and where we are all going on the same path toward a much better life than we find in everyday American life, we hope you'll consider joining us October 18th, from 6:45-8:00pm, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.

When People Love People

What an evening!  Some of us from Mtm just spent a great evening at the Lafayette YWCA serving folks who have had a hard time getting medical care in this crazy world we live in.

But more than medical care and some free medicines, we gave then a gift that was even more valuable!  We gave them hope. We shared the Truth that they matter.  The girls painted nails, Nate did balloon animals and we served and cared for people many of whom feel cast off by society because of the circumstances of their lives.  The Truth?  Circumstances do not give us value - we are all made marvelously!  Each of us is a precious gift - and this came through loud and clear today at the YWCA!!

If seeing the value of people in this way is something you are tired of not seeing in your world, we would love to have you join us Thursday night, the 4th of October, from 6:45-8:00PM at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Avenue, Lafayette.  As always there will be free, wonderful activities for all ages!

More than more is Thursday the 4th not Wednesday the 3rd!!!!

See the title of the post - sorry!!!

Flo sets the pace

                I don't know about how you start out your days, but i would wonder what a webcam placed in your home at 5:30AM would show to the world.  Some of clearly are jump out of bed kind of people and others of us are, shall we say, slow starters. 

                Well, it is for those slow starters of us that this particular quality of Flo as a running partner is notable. 

                Many times, i start out and my joints are stiff and my body is arguing with being awake, my 3 times operated on knee is yelling that it is too cold and too early and i should just go back to bed.  But, once the harness and leash come out, Flo will not hear of it.  She will whine and jump and dance, like a 3 year old who has held their potty too long.  And, once out on the road, she is even more excited it seems.  She immediately sets the pace at much faster than i would go without her.  She pulls and tugs and yanks me along the first 1/2 mile, until my older than i want it to be body is loosened up and ready to runs just as fast as she wants to take me.  It's a good thing she sets this pace, because i think there would be some times i might just be walking if it weren't for her - and where would my fitness and advancement and health get from not pushing forward?

                So, here's the point.  All of us need someones in our lives that help us keep up the pace.  Let's face it many of us are not ready to get up and get going into something More of life, we are just barely ready to get up and do all we can to pay the bills and take care of the bare essentials in each day.  It is good to have a "Flo" who is urging us on and helping us see that bare survival, like just barely shuffling our feet in our run, is not all there is.  But even those of us who wake ambitious and are ready to go into whatever our day and life holds, tackling all the problems that come our way in each moment, often go the wrong way.  We find ourselves running after every distracting problem that comes along, never really staying on pace in the things that matter - in these times it is nice to have a "Flo" who can drag us back to the correct path and keep the pace toward something More.

                If you are sick and tired of not knowing what to do with life, feeling as if there must be something More than just the "life as usual" of this life we lead...If you are looking for some "Flo's" who are heading toward something More...we would love to have you join us at More than more.  We will be hanging out this Thursday, October 4th, from 6:45-8:00PM at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.  Hope to run with you there!

Love Your Feet and Medical Outreach

Hey everyone!  We will be having a medical outreach next Tuesday, October 2nd, from 3-7pm, downtown Lafayette, at the YWCA - if you can think of anything that would be a good way to honor and help those waiting on the doctor see that they matter, let us know.


Also, October 25th, Thursday, will be our annual Love Your Feet outreach - this will be from 8am to 430PM and afterwards will be dinner and usually campfire at the Hendrick's.  This year will be at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler, Lafayette.  We will be setting up Wednesday evening the 24th, stay tuned for the time.  We will be giving away new shoes - tennis shoes for adults and boots or shoes for kids - 3 per family max.  If we have supply, we may be able to accommodate special requests, but in general, the goal is to help people who cannot afford decent shoes to get something on their feet that is new and durable.

Here are the times:


Shoe distribution will be conducted by last name
 A.M. SIGN UP:
• A-I sign up from 8:30-9:15 a.m. •
• J-R sign up from 9:30-10:15 a.m. •
 • S-Z sign up from 10:30-11:15 a.m. •

 P.M. PICK UP:
• A-I pick up from 1:15-2:00 p.m. •
• J-R pick up from 2:15-3:00 p.m. •
• S-Z pick up from 3:15-4:00 p.m. •

We need lots of help - last year we gave away 700 pairs of shoes and boots!!!  It is a blast to be able to provide help to those in our community who need it and even more to be able to communicate that real people, in their own town, care enough about them to spend their day and their own money doing something to help them out.  To many of them this means so much!!

If you plan to be there for all or part of the day, we need to know - please let Melissa know asap.  And if you do not have a Mtm outreach shirt, please let us know too, when you let us know you are coming, so we can get you one!!

Hope to see you there!

Flo's distractions...or my distractions

I have this dog - her name is Flo - overall she's a pretty good dog - except for the fact that she doesn't like to be bothered around her food, or her kennel - we figure that's her space, but we're trying to train her to trust everyone in her space too, but that is not really the point and i get i should get back on track...

So Flo and I run together - about every other day, we get out in the neighborhood and enjoy some fresh air.  Flo loves to go on runs together.  In fact, when i get her running leash out and her harness, she starts to freak out, whining and prancing around as if she were Cinderella heading to the ball.

We sort of have this ritual of the way it works, i get the leash and the harness, she whines and prances, then i try to train her to hold still enough to let me actually put it on her.  Out through the garage and into the drive, where she races to the edge of her invisible fence (which doesn't work even though she doesn't know it - as i have written about before).  There i have to pick her up and carry her 65#'s over the imaginary line of the nonfunctioning invisible fence so she doesn't think she can run across it and then sit her down, sometimes less than gracefully, on the driveway.  Thus beginning Flo's opportunity to drag me on the first 1/2 of the run. 

Now there are 4 things i would like to share with you about our runs - the first in this post and the second, third, and fourth to follow in the next posts...

As we run, her tugging the crap out of my arm, and me no doubt running faster than i would without her, we move thru the streets of my neighborhood, usually early in the morning before most of the people are awake.

This morning was a bit different though - i slept far later than usual - and that meant that the run was, let's say, different.

You see, there were at least 4 dogs in their yards, behind their invisible fences, that we encountered on our run. 

Here's the thing, as Flo comes up to another dog, they bark at her...loudly.  They follow along the boundaries of their invisible fences, saying something in dog language, not really sure what but it is forceful and intense.  And Flo listens, she is excited, she is dancing around and running toward them.  She wants to go into their yards and interact with these other dogs, to make friends, or to fight battles, i am not sure.  But this i do know:  we are on a run.  This is not a play date or a war opportunity.  This is a run and we are going a direction and we will continue to go on that direction.  You know what else?  Flo doesn't just run after dogs, she runs away from sprinklers and chases birds.  She hears every noise and sees every flit of movement.  She reminds me of the dogs in the Disney movie, Up, who are constantly being distracted by squirrels!  She seriously is like a kid on red bull.  Her attention is just all over the place - if she didn't have the leash on her, she would be off after another distraction every 2 seconds.

Now, before i go off on another one of Flo's running tangents, let me tell you the point:

    In my life, i feel like Flo a lot of the time.  I set out on my day and have all this focus (truthfully sometimes i don't even start out my day focused but at least sometimes i do) - i am gonna do what's right and not get sucked into the culture of get more stuff and buy more stuff and always be the best and compete with those around me and always make people happy and get more friends and look good and never show your weaknesses and then before i know it the barking dog is someone's rejection and i feel like crap and all my focus goes out the window as i either give all i have to win back their approval or feel like dookie for letting them down...or the barking dog of competitiveness runs out at me and i feel the pressure to be the best and so i dump the focus on the really important stuff and re-apply myself to perfection or i feel the impossibility of perfection and condemn myself for my imperfections - or there goes the bird of my past hurts and they seem huge and so i run inward, hiding...convinced that no one would really want to know me if they only knew this or that and that if i risk i will simply be hurt again, totally forgetting all the trust i have built up in those adopted family members that surround me...or i hear the call of my fatigue and know that in the past my fatigue had nearly destroyed me and so i run away from commitments and closeness and investment in the things and people that really matter in this life, inward and away, protecting myself from the harm i feel is coming soon...should i go on? 

In each case, i did not intend to be distracted from what is important anymore than Flo means to be distracted when we run.  But, the truth is, i do get distracted, and it messes with me, my family, my world, and all those who love me.  It so often destroys my ability to have joy and peace and hope and life the way that i really was meant to have it.

I want to tell you though about one of the ways i keep myself from getting distracted.  There's this really cool group of people that call themselves More than more.  They are all just as distractable as me.  But they all want to keep their focus just like i do.  We together are trying to run, together, some slower and some faster, but all of us in the same direction, toward a life that is so much More than our culture offers.  And you know what?  So many times when i start to get off on some funky distraction, following the culture or my pain and hurts, there is one of them right there to refocus me.  One of them there to remind me where i am heading and why.  One of them to bust my chops when i need it, or pick me up when i am broken hearted.

On our runs, i always remind Flo where we are going.  And when i remind her, she turns and runs the direction i am running.  She does this because she trusts me.  I am "her master and she loves me" (another quote from Up).  She knows that i will not steer her wrong and in the end, life is best following my lead.  I have been loving and taking care of her since she was about 8wks old after all.

If you are sick of getting distracted, if you feel as if there must be something More in this life but you have a hard time staying focused on it, i would love to introduce you to this fantastic group of people More than more - i will be hanging out with them this coming Thursday night, September 20th, from 6:45-8:00 PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.  As always there will be awesome stuff to do for kids of all ages.  Hope to see you there - if you're not sure which one i am, look for the one wandering off...and please remind me that it's time to head inside!

Tomorrow Night

Just wanted to remind you all that we will be hanging out, looking for ways to move past life as usual tomorrow night, September 6th, from 6:45-8:00pm at McAllister Recreation Center - just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.

We hope to see you there!!

Reminder

wanted to remind you that More than more will be hanging out tomorrow night - the 23rd of August - from 645-800pm at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette - hope to see you there!!

Math, Raspberries, Pineapples and the Milky Way

God is everywhere- from the Milky Way to raspberries!

At the last More Than More we had an awesomely brilliant mathematician share how incredibly amazing God is.  Now I cannot retell his story- too many numbers and big words for my tired mind today.  What I can tell you is God has designed everything beautifully- especially numbers.  And to listen to someone who understands numbers so well describe how creative God is was just fascinating.  But as much as I loved hearing how numbers are everywhere and connected to everything- just like God- the thing that got my attention the most his adorable little baby girl watching her Daddy talk in amazement.  Now maybe it's because I'm a mom that I cannot take my eyes of sweet little babies- but maybe it was because God was teaching me something.  (Funny part is my little munchkin is grabbing at the keys as I type...pressing numbers... and my buttons.  HA)  See again I cannot focus because I'm so distracted by how stinking cute a baby is.  But as her Daddy explained the amazingness of fibonacci numbers, the Milky Way tasting like raspberries, and pineapples she stared at him in awe.  My guess was she was thinking " Wow my Dad knows everything- he's so smart?!"  Which got me thinking that I bet all little kids think there dad knows everything (well up until a certain age- then dads are clueless)  Father knows best- right?  Well truth is our dads do not know everything but our Father in heaven does.  He sees all, knows all, creates all, He is everything.  And in everything.  Honestly look around- you can see Him everywhere!!  In numbers, words, nature, people, friendships, tragedies, food, animals, jobs, emergencies, babies, just EVERYTHING.  My sweet little step daughter asked me the other day how can God see everything at the same time.  She couldn't quite place how God could always be with her and see her, but also be with someone else who is not with her.  It was so sweet and well hard to explain to a 4 year old.  So what I decided is God is simply complex.  I do not have to explain or know how He is so smart or why He made things the way He did.  I just have to trust Him and notice Him.  Kind of like a little baby girl and her Daddy- she has no idea how her Dad knows everything- she just trusts him out of love.  So I challenge you to notice God in everyday life and trust him with your life.  Simple but complex.

Know what the best part is???  You do not have to do it alone.  Come notice with us Thursday 8-9-12 at 6:45pm at Mcallister Center (2351 N 20th Street).  Awesome childcare provided for all ages.

Roses From Ashes

What do we do when tragedy strikes, when our hearts break, when pain drives us to a state of numbness, when our fists are clenched with anger, when addictions takes over, when we feel isolated and alone, when we feel like giving up, when we find ourselves at the end of our rope and all we can do is survive the moment….????

I have been there.  Many times.  We have all experienced pain at some point in our lives- and each of us has handled it in different ways.  Some good.  Some bad.  In the past (still occasionally) I would lock the hurt up inside my heart so tight and run and hide.  I would try to protect myself through isolation.  I would keep friends and family at a distance and if I felt they were getting too close I would push them away.  I did not want to depend on anyone or most of all be hurt by anyone ever again.  Let me give you an example- which is not easy for me- it takes a lot for me to really open up to anyone.  But what I have learned is that as hard as it is for me to share- God calls us to.  I remember when others shared- I saw how God worked in their life.  I felt the realness and closeness of God.   I felt love that I never knew existed.  

I have been through a few extremely painful events in my life- death and divorce.  First I lost my Dad.  I felt like the only person in the world who understood me was ripped away right before my eyes.  Yet I held it together for quite awhile.  I had to be strong for my Mom and sisters.  I kept pushing the anger and hurt deep inside until I found myself so depressed I couldn’t function.  All I wanted to do was lock myself in my room and sleep.  Well somehow my doc saw through my “I’m fine” statement and broke open my vault.  Just a crack- but enough for the hurt to start pouring out and the healing to begin.  Then a year later I found myself smack dab in the middle of a separation that was headed towards a divorce.   Even after tons of forgiveness and attempts to save my broken marriage my husband chose the drugs and new girlfriend and left me and our son.  Hello pain- my name is Megan- are you ever going away?  It was just too much.  I was a MESS!!!  Doc cracked the vault a little more-  by continuing to pour examples of God’s greatness on me even though I rejected his invites to More than More.  I took baby steps through the grief as I still tried to block myself from any potential hurt.  I think God kind of gave me a shove once.  Long story short- just hours after I finally filled out my divorce papers- Matt found me.  With a simple glance back our lives changed.  He swept me off my feet and we fell in love.  I know sappy.  But it happened.  Matt asked- I said yes.  We set a date.  I got the flu- or so I thought.  Surprise- prego!  Our church frowned, people judged, hurt, hurt, and more hurt.  I wanted to run, did for awhile, but then I took a leap.  I went to More than More.  My wall was up- hope was low.  Yet, no one judged us or rejected us.  We kept going- not always easy and sometimes took lots of encouragement and reminders of my need to be there.  Then there was a turning point for me- these super sweet gals threw me a baby shower.  I thought really "Who does this??""  I mean who takes this divorced, engaged, knocked up chaotic mess and just loves her??  More than More did.  Huh.  Life changing.  Baby steps turned into learning to walk, then almost skips at times with joy, I ran- but not away from God- towards the group- towards God.  See God became real to me through these amazingly equally screwed up people.  I still have pain- who doesn't?  But I have hope now.  

Maybe you can relate.  Maybe you are numb.  Maybe so many people have burned you that you are just sick of giving out more chances.  Maybe you don't know where to go from here.  I don't have the answers. What I know is my past- I beat myself up with lies, I hid, I cried, I yelled, I ran away, I was consumed with emotions- anger, sadness, rage, numbness, shock, hurt, fear, but most of all I stockpiled everything in my vault.  And it did NOT help.  It was not until I took a risk and trusted one person that I found His way.  

He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.  God sent me to announce the year of grace- a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies- and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.  Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"  planted by God to display his glory.  They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage.  

If you are looking for this kind of different - a life that means more than just the average every day Americanism, we would love to have join us and hang out this Thursday, the 26th of July, 6:45-8:00PM at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.

As always there will be fantastic activities for all kids too!

The Growing Song

The other day i was pulling some weeds in my friend's yard - he is busy and does not have the time to and it was a great chance to invest in something relatively mindless, spacing out, trying to not think too much about all the stuff going on in my life.

It has been a heavy time for us, much too much to think about and i was seizing the chance to not be completely overwhelmed for a little bit.  Enjoying the heat of the day and the sweat on my skin - i know it's weird, but when you work in an air conditioned office all day, it always makes me feel somehow more alive to sweat and work hard with my hands.

As i pulled weed after prickly weed, feeling some release of the burdens in my heart, i heard some sounds coming from the house behind my friend's house in the subdivision.  Back and forth went the voices of a man and woman.  In heated tones they each tried with passion to express why they were right and the other was wrong.  They were arguing - back and forth in my head, it began to feel a little like being a ping pong tournament observer - and there was no sign that either was going to back down.  Their voices were loud and grating.

But, what was that?  There was a softer, melody sound that seemed to be struggling to be heard under the thrash of the ping ponging argument.  Tuning to the softer sing/song sound, it became clear what it was.  The man and woman who were fighting had a little girl - maybe 4 years old - and she was singing.  There in the middle of the argument, soft, but beautiful, was her song.  I could not make out the words to her song, but it was sung with the innocence of a 4 year old girl's voice - absolutely lovely.

Over the next 10 minutes or so, the fight raged back and forth, back and forth, but the song seemed to grow.  It might be that i was just selectively hearing the song, and blocking out the argument, but i don't think so.  I think the little girl was realizing that her song sounded much better to her than the heated argument and so she increased the volume little by little until her song rose above the fray of the argument.  I could still hear the argument and when the song paused for a breath, the contenders trying to prove their point were still there.  But the song began to resonate in my heart and there in my friend's flower beds, my heart softened and i wanted to sing with the girl, or maybe just take a seat and listen to her sing.

Here's the point:
                 Our world, my world, feels like an argument.  I feel/we feel so many times as if our very existence is an affront to someone, maybe even ourselves.  We rage at life and life rages at us.  Our habits push us to do things we don't want to do.  Our families and relationships are way too often battlegrounds where we feel as if it is a kill or be killed feeling.  Our jobs are frantic and we are expected to do more with less.  Our bills are bigger than we make.  Our hearts and minds want something better than the world we live in, but we cannot see what it might be - each time we think we've found it, it seems to slip from us.  Then there's More than more, where we find Truth and good friends, who become family-as-family-should-be, love and peace and joy - an island in the storms of life.  The thing is, we are anything but exempt from the pain and the argument of life - life continues to throw crap at us - like illness in those we love, like choices we make that we don't want to but can't seem to keep from, like job losses that come from thin air, like relational woes that seem like they should go away easier than they are but that continue to come.  It seems as if we are in the middle of an argument sometimes - voices raised, we scream at life and circumstances, and habits and our agony - wanting to give up but wanting to fight, we hear the words of the switchfoot song:

 Yah! It's where the fight begins
Yah! Underneath the skin
Beneath these hopes and where we've been
Every fight comes from the fight within

I am the war inside
I am the battle line
I am the rising tide
I am the more I fight

Yet, in More than more there is another voice.  From within and from those who dare to love us after knowing everything.  From those we have dared to trust.  From the God who would dare to love us, the most broken, the most pitiful, the most unfaithful.  We heard the voice the first time we met someone from More than more.  It sounded far off and honestly, too good to be true.  But the more we know, the more we invest, the more we Trust, the louder the voice becomes.  It sings with a melody that is pure and true and resonates to the depths of our souls.  Once you have listened to it for a while, there is no doubt it is true and that you want to hear more of it, all of it, for the rest of your life - there is peace in the song, there is meaning in the song, there is beauty in the song, there is life, real life, in the song.  There is More in the song.

I wish in these days that the argument would stop.  My heart aches for argument-free moments, much less days.  Unfortunately, i am still a very screwed up guy though and there is much in me to be healed, way too much still broken.  Those parts continue the argument - they wage the "war inside"


       But the song

             Once embedded in my mind, once ringing in my heart

                  Never will be quenched, never drowned out again
                     - it is the song of freedom.

                          Won't you come and listen to it with me?
                            Let us sing it to you.  Sing with us.

Not literally - i can't sing worth a hoot - but join in the song that can never be destroyed by the argument


                That's what we are all about at
                 More than more

We hope you can join us this Thursday July 12th 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.  As always, there will be wonderful activities for children of all ages.

Change - inevitable..good?

Last Thursday we talked about change. Change. Does that word make you cringe?? Shudder?? Spark excitement?? Intrigue you?? Change can create all kinds of emotions good or bad- sometimes so fast you feel like in a tornado of swirling thoughts and feelings. What we often forget is what a blessing the ability to change is. We chatted about what causes change, how change happens, what makes change possible, what does change bring and so much more. What I took from it- that change is possible even when we don't think there is anyway- with God there is always a way.




Read this song Chris August wrote-



Maybe it's a mind thing,

Maybe I'm a lost cause,

Either way I'm tired,

Gotta gather up a life lost.



I tell myself I'm okay,

To keep myself from crying,

How am I to make a change,

If I'm never trying?



[x2:]

If my world will never be the same,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.

Make a start in forever in the pain,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.



Swimmin in an ocean,

Trying just to find out,

Hatin what I'm knownin,

And knowin what I'm all about.

If I could change this,

If only this could change me,

Then I will be new man,

Back to when I believed.



[x2:]

If my world will never be the same,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.

Make a start in forever in the pain,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.



I walked away

But I'm crawling back,

Said I'm coming full circle.

It took some time,

So many years,

But I'm coming full circle.

I wanna be free,

But talk is cheap,

Said I'm coming full circle.

The blame is me

And now I see

That I ran,

I pushed away

But you stuck right by my side,

I'm changing.



[x3:]

If my world will never be the same,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.

Make a start in forever in the pain,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.



Turn this life around



If my world will never be the same,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.

Make a start in forever in the pain,

Maybe one of these days I'll change.







Now if you are a Chris August fan like me- you are thinking- wait I have never heard this- is this a new song??? Nope. This song was release in 2007. Before he was awarded the GMA Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year & Male Vocalist of the Year for 2011. Hmmm.... wait song was released in 2007- won NEW artist award in 2011. His hugely popular song "Starry Night" was released in 2010.... Timeline not adding up. Well here is why. Chris was in the music business for several years before he rededicated his music and life back to God. So what I noticed is Chris sang this song in 2007 about turning his life around and wanting to someday change. "I pushed away but you stuck right by my side." "If I could change this, if only this could change me, then I will be new man, back to when I believed." Okay quick timeline. So here is a guy who was a Christian- walked away, wanted to change- but clearly not easy, YET- rededicated his life to God and with God it was possible...HE CHANGED! He went from a average mainstream artist to NEW artist of the year and male vocalist of the year. See with God ALL things are possible.



Maybe that still seems impossible to you- trust me- IM WITH YOU! I don't hate change, I just doubt it. Maybe you are saying the same thing I would- "Ok but Chris August is famous- life is different- he's not just an average person like me." Well in a sense that is true- although he is about the most average musician you could find- actually at the last concert I saw him in at he was outside walking the line of ticket buyers- just chatting it up- even went in and got his guitar and played a few songs to entertain us. Stood right by me just like a normal guy. Anyway back to my point. Here is the amazing thing. God created each of us with the ability to change. Not just Chris. But you and me too. It's funny because as I sit here writing this I have been struggling all week with a change I feel God is directing me to. I have wrestled it around in my mind so much I feel like screaming about it- I honestly just want to yell at God- "Are you nuts???? There is no way that is possible!!!" My own words just smacked me in the face- dummy read what you are writing.



So maybe you are up against a big change in your life like I am, maybe yours is a change in relationship, behavior, addiction, job, housing, or anything- IT CAN HAPPEN! Here is my plan...and I can think of nothing better than to do it with a friend....



Romans 12



Place Your Life Before God



1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.



We will be meeting again Thursday June 28th at 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette. Love to see you there!





Megan

Coaching & Teams, More than more style!

So I'm not a sports smarty and honestly not really even a fan of well...any sport.  Yet I love the concept of a team led by a coach.  And here is what I noticed.  A good team is not created by the coach- but led by the coach.  A good team is not based on the number of wins, but by the attitude of the team.  A good team includes a wide variety of individuals with various skills.  A good coach not only teaches his team physically but emotionally.  A good team is not dependent upon their coach but supported by their coach.  A great team will not collapse in the absence of their leader.  Here is how I know.  Our More than More leader was unable to attend our last meeting due to an unexpected situation.  WOW was he missed, yet the group pulled together and made it happen.  Turns out we are a pretty good team with a darn great coach.  And in my opinion we shared a beautiful example of what More than More is to several newcomers.  A couple of times I heard some of the regulars encourage the newcomers that they would have to return for the full experience because it just was not the same without our leader.  Yet as different as it was from a normal (not sure I can use that word to describe us) Thursday at McAllister it was still us.  We shared the value of relationships that had been built through this group, shared the amazing wonder of how a bunch of strangers became a family, shared individual experiences, shared laughter- lots of laughter, shared some broken pieces of our lives, shared prayers and stories, shared our time just chatting and enjoying each other company.  Made me ask myself " What is More than More?"  And more importantly how do you fully yet simply describe something so amazing.  As I delayed writing this because I could not put it into words- something amazing happened.  Two people defined it for me.

 

First my pastor:  He told us to imagine a community of people know by these things-love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.  People who love, know peace, generous- just give freely...it would be like heaven.  What if we were known by how quick we are to extend compassion.  It would be a lifestyle people would naturally gravitate to.  It's odd-it's different than this life.  It's produced by extraordinary God- not us.  He asked... "What would this look like?"

I just grinned- MORE THAN MORE!!!

 

Second- one of our own wrote this:  The reason we reach out and love one another the way we do, is we are trying to "simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us."  When we do that, we won't treat people as remote and unimportant.  We will text, we will we call, we will cook, we will clean, we will baby-sit, we will dive into each other's lives, pain and all.  We don't want to be a Band-Aid to each other, we want to truly help each other heal, live in each other's pains and joys, just as Jesus did with his own disciples.

 

So what is More than More???  Well there is no exact definition.  To understand you really have to experience it.  Simply- to me- it is love.  Want to see for yourself??????  PLEASE join us Thursday 6-14-12 at 6:45 pm at McAllister Center- 2351 N 20th St.  Fantastic childcare provided for all ages!

Hope you can Join us Thursday Night!

Hey everyone!  We will be hanging out this Thursday night, 6/14, 6:45-8:00PM at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler ave, Lafayette.

It is always a great time to laugh and enjoy some time with some people who accept you for who you are and to begin to see some new ways of looking at life!!

hope to see you there!

Is Truth True?

So last night we talked about truth. To me it is such a simple word. The meaning seems pretty obvious. Yet somehow to most people it is extremely difficult to practice. We believe we are being honest because we are not telling lies. But when you really stop and think about it- Are you being true to who you are?? Are you compromising who you are to be who society wants you to be? Do you let others change who you are to fit in? Do you practice what you preach? Well I thought I did. My kids will tell you mommy hates lies. And I do-I just cannot stand lies. I cringe at fakeness- makes me angry. I’m a tell like is it kind of girl. I don’t see the point in sugar coating things. But what I learned last night is I might not lie to others- but I have been lying to myself for years. I tell myself I value time with my kiddos. But when I am with them I am constantly telling them no mommy does not have time to play, mommy has to do the laundry- mommy has to wash the bottles, mommy has to clean the house…. I have been so consumed with keeping up with things around the house and my kids are suffering the loss. It’s time I stop worrying if my house looks like a toy factory exploded and start playing with the escaped superheroes I find under my feet and dolls with tangled hair that need mommy’s help. I need to put the To Do list away and sit down and play candy land in the mess. Need to remember what my mom always says- people will know this house is lived in, not a display.








What I noticed is every single one of us struggles with truth in some way or another. Yet I know truth does exist. It is real! How do I know you might ask? Well we have a magnificent God that shows us the realness of truth. He says what he means and means what he says. I also see it in More than More. I see it in the actions of this amazing group of people. People who not only say they care- BUT ACTUALLY DO! I know it’s hard to believe a group of strangers from all different walks of life can become like a family. I didn’t believe it when I first joined More than More. Thought the idea of More sounded pretty exciting but was extremely doubtful. But then I sat down in a circle of strangers and immediately a super sweet gal sat down beside me and my fiancé and made us feel welcome- important- included- LOVED. Now about a year later this super sweet and super funny gal was mistaken to be my husband’s mom. You see this group is super cool. I mean it. Don’t let anything stop you from coming! You will be welcome as you are for who you are- and that is the TRUTH!







So if you are sick of the American society where lies are everywhere, politicians with beliefs not backed by actions, lies to our children, and dishonesty to get more money more stuff more success, and interested in a different way of living- a way where truth exists and people really matter…..Then come hang out with us on Thursday May 31st, from 6:45-8:00PM, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette. As always AMAZING childcare provided (really my kids beg to go back!)

Whar's the big deal about a birthday?

Last More than more we had a fantastic time on an outreach.  What is an outreach?  I'm glad you asked.  At More than more, we believe that life is about More than just the everyday stuff it seems like it is about.  There is much More.  We enjoy learning about this and looking for new ways to change our perspectives on this life every other Thursday night at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette, from 6:45-8:00.  In fact we will be there this Thursday night, May 3rd.  As always. there will be cool activities for all age kids.  
But, our usual Thursdays are only a small part of our lives.  We want this idea, this life, to be the way we live all the time, in our homes, in our workplaces, in our schools - we want to be different, wonderfully, joyfully different!
Part of what makes us different is that we just are not content to sit and enjoy our perspective and joy, we are determined to share it with as many people as possible - we are thrilled to be living life better, but we are sad at the fact that there are so many people in the world right around us who do not realize the wonder of life!!

All that to say, our outreach projects are designed to show other people the kind of perspective we are trying to live with every day and that we learn about every other Thursday night. 

So, back to the title of this post - what's the big deal?

Well, did you realize that on the day of your birth, you were a gift to the world?  The God who made you could have chosen any combination of your parents' genetic material and out of all the possibilities, He chose you!!!  You are a gift, to us, to your world!

So many times in our culture we attribute value to people by their financial statement, by the health, by their popularity, by their location, by their race, etc.  Once a person told me they truly believed that a person's actual value only existed if they made certain amounts of money and was "productive."  But that person was wrong (and they made me kinda sick i have to tell you).  You see, all of us have a birthday - all of us are a treasure to the One who created us, amazingly and intricately made, each part of us a masterpiece!  And so many times we miss it - our value comes in our birth - that is a lot to celebrate!

So, at More than more, we love birthdays - not just because we love an excuse to party (even though we do!) - but because we love to celebrate God's creativity and birthdays become an outreach when they become a way for us to share the joy in our lives with someone else and remind them of their value, to us, and to God, by celebrating their birthday!  

This last Thursday we celebrated the birthday of one of our friends, her name is Carla.  We all went over, had a fantastic lavender frosted spice cake (that's her favorite kind!) and the kids painted bird houses - she loves birds.  We gave her gifts, she blew out candles and a good time was had by all!!  

But the best by far was the peaceful joyful face Carla had as the realization sunk deeply into her heart that she mattered, that she was wonderful, that the real gift on her birthday was her, from God to us!  I hope she never forgets, and i hope you don't either.

If this kind of crazy fun sounds like it might be worth a try, please join us Thursday - we do have tons of fun!
Hope to see you there!

What's Coming Up!

Hi everyone!  We have been having a fantastic time at More than more.  Last Thursday night Dottie talked about some of the amazing experiences in her life - it was a great time to hear how amazing life and even death can be, in a different perspective than many of us have heard before.

Next Thursday night we are going to having a birthday party.  One of my friends, an older woman named Carla was not going to have any celebration for her birthday and so on the 19th, instead of our usual More than more time, we are going to go to her house and have a huge party!!!  The kids need to wear clothes that can get paint on them or bring something to cover up their clothes!!  We will be meeting at McAllister (just off 20th and Schuyler Ave) at the usual time (6:45PM) and then driving to Carla's place, leavnig ABOUT 6:55PM!! 

You see, we believe that it is an amazing thing that God gave the world the gift of Carla on her birthday and we want to be able to celebrate God's creativity expressed in her!!!

We hope you will be able to make it - it will be awesome!

Just a Tuesday

               It's Tuesday morning.  6AM.  As i look out at the landscape of my day, i see a crazy schedule.  If i just give it a glance, i see lots of people who will have all kinds of problems and schedule that is fast paced to say the least...i see 3 kids and a wife who have all kinds of things to do and accomplish and schedules to follow and keep...i see a multiple different groups that we lead and have things coming up and if i am not careful, the task list begins to spiral in my mind - getting bigger and bigger (or as Doctor Seuss would say, biggerer and biggerer), threatening to drown out all semblance of anything else and make me a slave to its domination.  I see all these things have their place in my life and there is a purpose in each of them.  I have chosen to place them in the day - but together they form this tornado that threatens to take me far away from what together in my life they were supposed to be, to wreak havoc on the very purpose of life!  You see, i feel this need to do it all well.  i want to succeed and thrive and work hard and not fail - and this drives me to do too many things sometimes...

               So, here i sit, talking to God in the beginning of my day, asking Him to bring His perspective to the moments of this day.  Asking Him to help me to not be dominated by my need to always do everything right and good and betterer.  Asking Him to help me to remember that it is not the schedule or the success that is the key to this being a wonderful day, but the people who are in the middle of it all.  In fact, if this is to be a wonderful day, i need to be ready to shirk the drive of the schedule and instead notice the broken hearts and lives around me.  I need to be willing to realize that all my pursuit of doing everything just right over the years, while successful in terms of what our culture would say, has never brought me joy.  The only thing that has brought me joy has been flying in the face of all the things in this crazy culture of ours that push me to always get more stuff, buy more stuff, achieve higher goals, make everyone happy, rise in the corporate ladder, have more positions, have more tasks and do them the best, and instead choosing to grasp these things as lightly as possible, choosing  to notice all the in between people and things that reorient my life to what life is really about.  As someone said, "It is the journey of life that makes it beautiful, not the destination" - which i would change slightly to "It is the joys of the journey of life that take us to a different, more wonderful destination."  The more i notice the amazingness of the world around me and the wonder of the people (and their brokenness) around me, the more life opens up and becomes wonderful and joyful and full of purpose and meaning and even awe.  The more i recognize the beauty of the God who made it all and who loves us so much and invite Him into the moments of my day, asking Him to be in the moments and help me to not to lose His perspective.  The more i realize that i will never be able to make myself happy and neither will my wife or kids or family or friends, only God can take all the things that already exist in my world and help me see them in a new way that will bring deep joy to my life.  The more i do all these things, the landscape of my day looks amazing, full of promise.  No longer do i feel a slave to my compulsions.  I am free.  There is More than more - and that is a beautiful thing!

               If you are sick and tired of the usual mores of our world, feel trapped by your schedule and just have lost your joy.  You might consider joining us Thursday night, the 5th of April, at McAllister Recreation Center, just off 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.  We spend our time talking about and working at living this way and sharing life together.  It is a great time and as always there is a group for kids and teens/tweens.  We hope you will be able to join us!!!