The Swandive

How do you like me now?

So, it's been a few days in the typepad world. How do you , the reader, like it? Let me know.

In other news...
Went to worship last night. You know when you go to someplace, alone, and think to yourself "I wish so-and-so was here!" I had one of those moments again last night. I love the worship so much there. I just wish I felt like I was 1) connected and knew people there 2) able to invite friends and have them come.

I have lots of not so church-i-fied friends. This is totally the kind of place I think they would dig. The music is awesome, bluegrass, inspiring - and not in that happy clappy kind of way. But half the battle is getting people to get beyond their comfort zones about what church can be/should be. The other half is getting the church out of its comfort zone. Thankfully there are quite a few churches who are doing this. So I guess I'll just shut up, pray, and keep inviting.

knitting fool

So for a very long time, I have wanted to learn to knit. I am not sure really why, I don't think it is because it's popular or cool. I have never been any sort of hip trendy mc trendster. I think I just love to make pretty things. So yesterday, I went to this little joint that my step-mom works at called Clickity Sticks. They are having a sale, 20% off until the 31st. So Karen and I made our way there, and lo and behold, learned how to knit.

We walked out with this fabulous book, called Stitch-n-Bitch. It's by this woman, Debbie Stoller. She is the founder/editor of the feminist magazine BUST.  Karen is a self proclaimed "book learner", I however, AM NOT. Except , so it seems with this book. There are just so many fantastic things I have to say about this book. The stories about her family, knitting socks, sticky knitting needles, and really helful pictures to get a total novice started.

Her headings to sections include the following...  knitting takes balls (and skeins and hanks),  you ain't shit if you don't knit, and  purl, interrupted (how to tell when to knit or purl). I heart her. She has opened a whole new world to me.

I think when I get better I might be looking to start a stitch and bitch fellowship night. Email me if you are interested.
Peace (and cast) off.

what's in a name

an interesting find as I sit and wait for my sweetie...
found via gink world and then went to "irish stuff", cause I like all things irish and celtic.

family name Swan
Found mainly in Antrim and other Ulster counties. MacLysaght claims it is not synonymous with Swayne which in its English incarnation is derived from the Norse word swein meaning servant.

fitting.

a picture worth a thousand words

It's from a blog post by Dan Kimball.
Are you listening church nerds?
(sorry the graphic is not as clear as I hoped. Click on it to get the full effect.)

The dawning of the age of...

There is a new moon coming around the corner that I just had to write about. On January 29th, 2006 there will be a new moon in Aquarius. Aquarius (ruled by Uranus) is all about change; real change.
This is the perfect time to start fresh, from the inside out. Aquarius asks us to challenge the old and give chance to the new. It also works for the many, not the one.

Have you ever known someone who seems to be emotionally aloof? Someone who has big ideas and challenges the norm? Chances are that person is an Aquarius. With Aquarius/Moon together, this is the perfect time to look deep within ourselves, down to our gut of emotions and start that big change from wthin. Throw out the old way of thinking. File through your thoughts and feelings about things, as lasting and effective change begins within. This is it my friends, now's the time.

It is the age of aquarius...let's make it happen.

The nature of genius

Happy 250th birthday, Mozart, born this day, Jan. 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. I'm a lover of his music, so I was pleased to find--with all the Mozart lauding out on the Web today--this quote from him with which I agree:

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together make genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.

Love your neighbor, friends. You just might tap into your genius!

the church NEEDS frank

Who is Frank? And why does the church need him/it? A good friend and person I admire, is an advertising ex-pat run amuck. She and some of her cohorts have started FRANK, and here are a few quotes from the frank blog to get us thinking...

The WOMMA Philosophy: (word of mouth marketing association)
Honesty Matters
Consumers Come First
UR the UE (You Are the User Experience)
You Do Well By Doing Good

and now a word from yours truly:

Marketing our God? Our communities of faith? Shutter shutter... the church world sometimes wants to live in its own world, and not look for new and authentic (dare I say ancient and future) ways to communicate. The "E" word. Evangleism. If we can agree that the church is not a building, but its people. If we can agree that we are called to make disciples NOT members. If we can agree it is not about who's in the church, but who isn't. If we can agree it is NOT about the 99 sheep but the ONE!

Gasp.

More from Frank..

_{where are you?}

Quick, before you can think too hard about it: Where are you on your journey of authenticity?

What do you tell your friends? Your sisters? Your partners? Your lovers? What do you talk about? Do you reminisce about lost conquests? Do you long for the future? Do you count your money, while you're sitting at the table? And the biggie: do you put yourself in boxes? What are your limits?

Here's to authenticity. Today and every day.

 

And some closing thoughts from me... 

Why do we need Frank? Because at our best - it is what we are called to do.

1. Listen
2. Engage
3. Co-create
4. Harmonize
5. Optimize

So won't you consider joining me for this event? check it out. 

Quick, before you can think too hard about it: Where are you on your journey of authenticity?

What do you tell your friends? Your sisters? Your partners? Your lovers? What do you talk about? Do you reminisce about lost conquests? Do you long for the future? Do you count your money, while you're sitting at the table? And the biggie: do you put yourself in boxes? What are your limits?

Here's to authenticity. Today and every day.