tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270250499216900992024-02-06T21:25:55.336-08:00Blended Souls Networkblendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-23955346036062636542015-03-06T09:37:00.002-08:002015-03-06T10:41:43.186-08:00Interfaith Conversation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHknh34s9C7KqbEEUPmHOeKKKKQwtTyIcxKAccs03lau7tVwaejDQhOHuNVca5To1TNE48b5EQMuqhffnjn0-yNjBEHchbpLKERAttM_TwxcB8aTcPMhy8kJsiDfwZ1JfNx8agX9BVa8/s1600/IMGP8025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHknh34s9C7KqbEEUPmHOeKKKKQwtTyIcxKAccs03lau7tVwaejDQhOHuNVca5To1TNE48b5EQMuqhffnjn0-yNjBEHchbpLKERAttM_TwxcB8aTcPMhy8kJsiDfwZ1JfNx8agX9BVa8/s1600/IMGP8025.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Interfaith Conversation class with Dr. Lynn Caldwell</div>
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Last fall I had the privilege of sitting in on one of my husbands seminary classes. If you don't know Marc will graduate this May with a Masters in Divinity from Virginia Union University. What intrigued me about the class was the opportunity to speak and listen to people from different faiths, denominations and backgrounds.<br />
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When first creating Blended Souls my goal was to get leaders from Christian organizations and churches together to not only discuss the difficulties of racial relationships, but to work out those differences so that we could better live out that mission...of going ye therefore and teaching men and women about the good news of the gospel. What this class did for me was open up my eyes to hard that can be if your reaching out to others of different faiths. How can we share the gospel of Jesus Christ when they don't believe in our Jesus? Can we even carry on a conversation if they believe in their God and not the God we talk and preach about.<br />
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Professor Lyn (center back row in the red top who not only graciously allowed me to sit in on the week long session but she also encouraged me to participate) asked us some very tough questions at the start of the course. Why are there so many different religions? How do we look at people who are non Christians? And how does God view others who are not Christian? I have to admit this is not something I had thought a lot about and even though I did not leave with all the answers I'm grateful for the chance to have dialogued and listened to people with varying viewpoints.<br />
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The one lesson I definitely learned from this experience is we are much more similar then we are different. Maybe not in our beliefs but in our hopes and dreams for our families and for our countries. The Muslim, or Jewish mother wants the same for her children and family that I do. And that is something that can act as a way to bring us together as people rather then divide us. If we would just listen to one another and hear each others hearts. We show others Jesus by how we love one another. All humans crave relationship. If you want to be an ambassador for Jesus how are you showing that? Are we spending time building bridges with those who are different from us or are we building up walls? Imagine if we not only came together along racial lines, but we actually built community with those of a different faith, shared services and worked on community projects with one another? How better to show the Jesus in us then by first showing that we care for one another!<br />
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One of the "take away's" I believe Professor Lyn wanted us to truly get was that we can't necessarily change a persons beliefs. We have to let God handle that. And we have to ask him to help us with our own biases and prejudices. If we want others to see the Christ in us we have to be willing to see what Christ see's in them! And then care for them in the way we wish to be cared for! Just imagine how we could change the world if we truly walked and talked and loved the way that Jesus loved?<br />
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I want to thank Professor Caldwell as well as the classmates for being so gracious and warm towards me and for allowing me to be a part of the class. Its an experience I know will stay with me for many years to come. <br />
<br />blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-67907254447371457542014-12-07T04:41:00.001-08:002014-12-07T04:41:48.977-08:00We are each others keeper!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxtgddCmpPJISj6cAMyFEWkIzrGgOxZnIV7x0nFzcU2U2BBs68_bCmZr89varwmyRSuAW9Jcya_R5Rkjf8DCcs-8xXVpDsK0lc-1EXChfZNonTiG2zUDhRotezUK7utzD0VWCS8vUhXM/s640/blogger-image-8107463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxtgddCmpPJISj6cAMyFEWkIzrGgOxZnIV7x0nFzcU2U2BBs68_bCmZr89varwmyRSuAW9Jcya_R5Rkjf8DCcs-8xXVpDsK0lc-1EXChfZNonTiG2zUDhRotezUK7utzD0VWCS8vUhXM/s640/blogger-image-8107463.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">This is my response to the events in the news the last few months!" We must learn to live together as brothers (and sistas) or perish together as fools". Martin Luther King Jr</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">When I first started this group my goal was to bring ministry couples together to learn and work with one another to solve issues of race and bigotry in our communities. My thought was that if we the leaders/pastors of churches could not learn to dialogue and work together how could we ask our church members or our community or our government to do so. Looking back now I didn't have a clue of how much of a divide there was among Christians when it comes to race. It pains me to see the hate spewed on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram from "good" Christian brothas and sistas towards each other. It pains me even more to see such little regard for life, or compassion for those who have lost a loved one no matter the circumstances! Even if you do not agree with the way the events occurred I don't know how in the world you cannot grieve for the mothers, fathers, siblings, friends and family who have lost their love one. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">This smacks in the face of everything I believe our Abba Father stands for! Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly! If one of my brothas and sistas is in pain and I can't feel compassion for them then how can I stand before Christ one day and say I lived out my purpose? If your black brothas and sistas say the events happening right now are hurting us to the core then believe them. You don't have to bleed to understand when you see blood that it hurts. And right now our communities are not just hurting they are bleeding (profusely)! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> And lastly to my black sistas and brothas in The Lord....don't lump every white sista and brotha with the same brush as all. I know too many who love us and want to comfort us during this time of grief. But many are afraid or are not sure what to say or do for fear of being misinterpreted . This is why BlendedSouls was created in the first place....because if we don't learn to communicate with one another, if we don't learn to work together for good then we most assuredly will fall!! </span></div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-85088555170140060122012-11-09T18:35:00.000-08:002012-11-09T18:37:14.961-08:00I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself!For months I have had difficulty putting into words the pain I have felt as I listened to, read and watched many of my friends on both sides of the political divide talk. Make no bones about it this election year has clearly proven just how divided our country has been and still is! I think the most disappointing part of this whole process has been the division I have seen in the church among "Christians"! I wonder sometimes if we even consider our words before we speak them......or if in fact the words we speak are truly a reflection of our heart?<br />
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I had decided that would not write a post until after the elections were over. But days after the election I was still conflicted as to how to even broach the subject. Thank goodness that God equipped me with a compassionate and thoughtful team who think the same as I do. No words are needed from me when my friend and BSN team member Alida has said it so well! <br />
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Thought for Today...Respecting our leaders
and praying for them! </h3>
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Congratulations to President Barack Obama!</div>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://yahoo.com/"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Yahoo.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<b>Let everyone be
subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which
God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God
has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves. Romans
13:1-2 NIV</b></div>
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I pray that all who
claim the name of Christ will choose not to denigrate our president any longer
but will instead commit to praying for him. God has appointed him for a second
time as the President of the United States. All throughout this election
process the things I have read and heard Christians say about the president have
truly hurt my heart. I grew up in a military home. The Commander in Chief was
always respected by my father and mother no matter which party he was from. I
cannot even remember my father talking down President Nixon when everyone else
around him was doing so. His signature is on my dad's honorary discharge papers
proudly on display in my parents home to this day. </div>
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<b>President Obama
needs our prayers not our insults or condemnation. </b>I know that as I write
this there are those who are celebrating and those who are grieving. It is
important to remember that God was in control these past four years and He will
continue to be in control for the next four years and beyond. There are
devoted, Bible believing, Christians in both parties. Christ is not fully
represented by either party. </div>
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One party
focuses on protecting the unborn and preserving the Biblical view of marriage.
The other party focuses on caring for the least of these...educating, feeding
and providing medical care for the poor and disenfranchised. <b>All of which
are godly values. </b> There is a great article I read entitled 7 Things
Christians Need to Remember About Politics. You can read it by <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/politics/7-things-christians-need-remember-about-politics"><span style="color: #3778cd;">clicking
here</span></a>. As I read through it this quote stood out for me:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The political process is dirty and broken and far
from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride
of Christ. Rather than engage in the political process, Christians have a duty
to elevate it. Like any other sin, we are called to stand above the partisan
dissension and demonstrate a better way. Should we have an opinion? Yes. Should
we care about our country? Yes. Should we vote? Yes. But it’s time we talk
politics in a way that models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks
them.</i></blockquote>
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<div>
So whether you celebrate or grieve today...let's all pray together for the
hearts of our government leaders on the national, state, and city levels.
<b>And as believers let's remember to be loving, kind, and compassionate toward
others no matter how we or they voted. </b></div>
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<br />
Thank you <a href="http://blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com/">Alida </a>for being a beacon of light in a dark place! <br />
<br />
I also suggest you also read an <a href="http://www.carlaadairhendricks.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-election-results-im-just-saying.html">article</a> from fellow BSN "sista" Carla Adair Hendricks. My question to each of you is where do we go from here? How can we as the church bring about awareness of the evil that is Racism? We are quick to broach the subject of abortion, gay rights and even the downfall of the USA under our present administration. When do we as a Chiristians come together and broach the one subject everyone in the room refuses to discuss? Until we as a people learn to cross the "Red Sea" together we will continue to be a divided city, country, and nation. I would ask that we each consider the consequences of inaction! Better yet.....what would Jesus command us to do?<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Charis SIL", charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="text Rev-7-9"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">Revolation 7:9 </sup>After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, <strong>from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30821N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>every nation and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>all<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>tribes and peoples and tongues,</strong> standing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30821O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>before the throne and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30821P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup>before the Lamb, clothed in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30821Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>white robes, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30821R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>palm brancheswere<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in their hands;</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text Rev-7-10" id="en-NASB-30822"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,</span></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="text Rev-7-10">“<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30822S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>Salvation to our God<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30822T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text Rev-7-11" id="en-NASB-30823"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>And all the angels were standing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30823U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup>around the throne and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>around<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30823V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>the elders and the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30823W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup>four living creatures; and they<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30823X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup>fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,</span><span class="text Rev-7-12" id="en-NASB-30824"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>saying,</span></span></em><br />
<span class="text Rev-7-12"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30824Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup>Amen,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30824Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup>blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>be<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to our God forever and ever.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30824AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup>Amen.”</span></em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="text Rev-7-13" id="en-NASB-30825"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>Then one of the elders<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30825AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup>answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30825AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup>white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text Rev-7-14" id="en-NASB-30826"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">14 </sup>I<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30826a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=627025049921690099#fen-NASB-30826a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup>said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30826AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup>great tribulation, and they have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30826AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup>washed their robes and made them<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30826AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup>white in the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30826AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)"></sup>blood of the Lamb.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text Rev-7-15" id="en-NASB-30827"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">15 </sup>For this reason, they are<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30827AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)"></sup>before the throne of God; and they<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30827AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup>serve Him day and night in His<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30827b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=627025049921690099#fen-NASB-30827b" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30827AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></sup>temple; and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30827AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)"></sup>He who sits on the throne will spread His<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30827AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)"></sup>tabernacle over them.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text Rev-7-16" id="en-NASB-30828"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">16 </sup><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30828AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></sup>They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30828c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=627025049921690099#fen-NASB-30828c" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup>beat down on them, nor any heat;</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text Rev-7-17" id="en-NASB-30829"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">17 </sup>for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30829AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)"></sup>shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30829d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=627025049921690099#fen-NASB-30829d" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30829AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)"></sup>water of life; and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30829AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)"></sup>God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”</span></span></em></span></span>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-26087652282950281362012-05-30T09:59:00.001-07:002012-05-30T09:59:20.539-07:00Summer Break!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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Sometimes in ministry you need to take a break and spend a little time with family. With summer approaching the BSN team will be taking a mini break from our blog during the months of June, July and August to spend time with family and friends. You can still connect with us on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlendedSoulsNetwork">facebook</a> page. We had hoped to do some travel this summer to promote BSN, but we are still available for local gatherings if you are interested. You can contact us at <a href="mailto:blendedsoulsnetwork@gmail.com">blendedsoulsnetwork@gmail.com</a> , or via <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/BlendedSoulsNet">twitter</a> . Pastor and ministry wives are encouraged to join our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/119324581500556/">private facebook</a> community page. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course if any of you attend or hold an event with other churches and would like us to promote or write about it please let me know. We should be back up and running in the fall. Enjoy the summer!</span></span></span></div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-9661305041331280342012-05-15T08:44:00.000-07:002012-05-15T08:48:15.431-07:00Let's Get Together!!!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI", Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
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This weekend my family and I attended an annual community picnic in my hometown of Gloucester, VA hosted by several churches in the Ware Neck area of <a href="http://www.gloucesterva.info/Tourism/tabid/1046/Default.aspx">Gloucester County</a>. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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This includes my family's church, <a href="http://unionzionbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/">Union Zion Baptist Church</a>, <a href="http://www.vbmb.org/apps/Churches/maps.cfm?ChurchID=22002">Buelah Baptist Church</a>, and <a href="http://www.gbgm-umc.org/Singleton/">Singleton United Methodist Church</a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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The pastors of these churches all belong to the Gloucester Ministerial Association, which is non denominal organization comprised of various church leaders in the community.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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In the four years that the three churches have met for fellowship they have held the annual picnic, conducted a unity service, and this weekend even sponsored a 5k Walk to raise money for the <a href="http://www.gmfreeclinic.com/">Gloucester/Mathews</a> Free Clinic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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Pastor Cohick from Beulah Baptist and Pastor Dickerson from Union Zion have even switched pulpits on Sunday morning to demonstrate their committment to unity within their community and the church!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space">Although the turn out this year was smaller than usual (probably do to the fact that it was Mother's Day weekend) I'm very proud of my hometown, especially my home church for being so open to partnering with other churches in their community.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space">The theme for this years walk was "Connecting Our Community Together Thru Faith and Fellowship". I don't know about you but I get goose bumps when I see God's people not just living, & working with one another...but showing genuine "L-O-V-E for one another. How can we as a community of believers get together; not so that we can shine, but so that the LOVE of Christ that is in us can S-H-I-N-E ? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">2 Chronicles 7:14</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Charis SIL", charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">14</sup>if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Charis SIL", charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Charis SIL", charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">their land.</span></span></span></span></div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-13190399519802066962012-05-08T11:53:00.001-07:002012-05-08T11:53:29.985-07:00You're Not Welcome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em>Pastor Tubs wife Melissa and I connected via twitter and eventually through Facebook. Melissa is a big part of our BSN community and after several conversations we realized our husbands had a few things in common, including the fact that they are both bi-vocational. I can tell you from my own experience that you have to be a very special man to not only hold down a full time day job but act as a full time pastor as well(are there really any part time pastors?). After hearing about Pastor Tubs (did I mention I love saying that name...lol?) bible study with other men from varying denominations and backgrounds I knew he would be a great contributor to BSN.</em> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">At Acts2 Church we meet on Sunday
mornings and you are not invited. Yes, I am the pastor. Yes, I have said this
to people. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Anyone who stopped reading at those
three sentences is now switching over to their Twitter pages to write about a
pastor who doesn't want people at his church. I am sure the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tweets would range anywhere from
"doesn't love his people and stay away" to "clearly this guy
doesn't understand the Gospel" (sorry not good at twitter abbreviation).
However, like many things in life that people don't want to wait to find out
about before speaking, there is an explanation.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">On Saturday mornings we meet at the
church for men's Bible study. We do a verse by verse study of Scripture and
often discuss how the particular verses help us be better husbands, boyfriends,
fathers, and most importantly Christians. (Yes, most importantly Christians, if
everything in my life is taken away today I still have God.) Although the group
is not always large there is something still very special about it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This group of varying size is usually
always made up of men from different churches. Even in a small group it is not
uncommon to have anywhere from three to five different churches represented.
What makes this even more uncommon is that the churches range from Independent
Baptist to Pentecostal to non-denominational. (And as we study the Book of Acts
you can imagine some of the conversations.) Furthermore, this group has been
known to have various ethnic backgrounds represented.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">For all the men involved we simply
see this as an opportunity to grow and improve in our walks with God. We tend
to celebrate the different viewpoints that are offered. In fact, I believe it
has shown many of us the places where we have allowed division to enter our own
thinking. We have learned that it makes no difference how you
"perform" church as long as Christ is always the center of all that
is done.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Now, back to my initial statement. At
the end of our time together on Saturday mornings I thank all the men for
coming and tell many of them that they are not allowed to come back the
following morning. Why? Because our church is not interested in merely moving
sheep from one church to another but instead on bringing the unchurched to
Christ. Perhaps, this concept may not allow us to ever have a church of
thousands or maybe even hundreds but we can rest in the fact that we were not
simply concerned with growing our little portion of God's Kingdom.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> I </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">pray often that our church will
always remain focused on bringing people to and growing them in Christ even if
it means we never grow over a hundred people (and I stay bi-vocational). How
nice would it be if we had more churches simply looking to grow people in
Christ instead of growing attendance numbers and campuses?</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: #0400;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/PastorTub">Pastor Tub </a>Rorabaugh is a devoted Christian, husband and father. He is the senior pastor of <a href="http://www.acts2church.net/">Acts2</a> Church in Jacksonville, FL. Acts2 is a church plant<span style="line-height: 17px;"> based on the concept of making better Christians through disciplining and community (Acts 2:42-44). Tub has been involved in Christian education at Temple Christian Academy for five years. </span></em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>He is a graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Religion. His desire to remain in God’s will leads and directs his daily walk. <span style="line-height: 17px;">Tub is married to <a href="http://mylife-tubswife.tumblr.com/">Melissa</a> and they have two teen aged sons, Danny and Hunter.</span></em></span></div>
</span></span>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-60914246530173559372012-04-30T21:09:00.002-07:002012-04-30T21:09:16.294-07:00Are We All Getting Along?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em>I came into contact with Carla via her blog. In the short time that we have "known" each other I have found her to be encouraging, supportive and a great communicator. I consider it a privilege that she would even consider doing a blog post for BSN! Thank you in advance Carla!</em></div>
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I <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94xQDDzIOj6vJOodKPO-vW1yYTh8R1NFrt7kWaHOt9bgiloTJMvlVbBVEPnMgr_noxvMHZnnquYrn9aM_BnRWP7N0qWXboWk8agGG0QhhgbkgWhYwEsSnmoqseeZe23xHsnDsOXCQf5I/s1600/560438_454497374565655_100000161880467_1964535_955609580_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94xQDDzIOj6vJOodKPO-vW1yYTh8R1NFrt7kWaHOt9bgiloTJMvlVbBVEPnMgr_noxvMHZnnquYrn9aM_BnRWP7N0qWXboWk8agGG0QhhgbkgWhYwEsSnmoqseeZe23xHsnDsOXCQf5I/s400/560438_454497374565655_100000161880467_1964535_955609580_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">“Can we all get along?”</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Five words. Spoken by an assaulted man. Repeated countless
times since that day twenty years ago.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Last week marked the twentieth anniversary of the Los
Angeles riots incited by citizens furious over the acquittal of four L.A.
police officers that had brutally beaten L.A. resident Rodney King.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Rodney King happened to be African American. The officers
happened to be Caucasian. And while Rodney King was no saint (he was a 25-year-old
convicted robber on parole at the time), his speeding violation and
intoxication didn’t warrant the inhumane beating he received at the hands of
the men commissioned to “protect and serve.”</span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">And when those overzealous officers received an acquittal, the
city of L.A. turned upside down. The upheaval from those riots led to more than
50 deaths and $1 billion in property damage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">After three days of riots, King emerged from seclusion to
speak those infamous five words, “People I just want to say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">can we all get along</b>?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">People around America have been asking that same question
for the last twenty years: Can we all get along? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This past decade, I think most U.S. citizens would have answered
this question positively in regards to race relations. Many of us would have
probably stated something along these lines: Well, we’re not getting along as
well as we could, but we’re getting along a lot better than we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">But then, something happens in our country to shake us up.
We are tested. Sifted. A flashlight beams a light right between our eyes. And
we notice our reflection in the mirror is not as lovely as we once thought.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It’s actually quite flawed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">February 26, 2012. A day in our country that tested us,
sifted us, beamed a light between our eyes. When neighborhood watchman George
Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, we realized we hadn’t come
as far as we thought we had.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Almost immediately Trayvon Martin’s tragic death became a
racial battle. The African American community shouted outrage over this unarmed
teenage boy’s murder in his father’s neighborhood. We posed in hoodies, shot
pics in them and posted those pics on our Facebook profiles. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">While Zimmerman awaits trial, I’ll choose not to speculate
on the specific events of that fateful night. I cannot say for sure that
Trayvon fell victim to racial profiling. And the question that will never be
answered – if Trayvon had been Caucasian, would he be alive today?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">One thing’s for sure. Our country is a long way from healed
in the area of race relations. We’re not as far as we think we are.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We work together and live together, but few of us play
together. And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> few of us worship
together.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">In 1958, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote these words:
“Unfortunately, most of the major denominations still practice segregation in
local churches, hospitals, schools and other church institutions. It is
appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock
on Sunday morning, the same hour when many are standing to sing: “In Christ
There is No East or West.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">That was 1958. Unfortunately, despite a few exceptions, not
much has changed regarding eleven o’clock Sunday morning in the U.S.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">But I’m grateful for the exceptions. My husband happens to
pastor one of them. And I’m grateful for ministries like <a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/">Blended Souls Network</a>.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">May we always support the exceptions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">May we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be </i>the
exception.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">* Carla is a pastor’s wife, writer and advocate for justice.
Her husband Anthony is a teaching pastor at <a href="http://www.mosaicchurch.net/">Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas</a>
and campus pastor to Mosaic’s Conway campus. They are raising four precious
children, Kalin, Christian, Joelle and Jada. You can follow Carla’s life and
ponderings at her blog “Deep Waters” @ </span><a href="http://www.carlaadairhendricks.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria;">www.carlaadairhendricks.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria;">.
</span><br />blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-29690584158422086222012-04-17T08:02:00.000-07:002012-04-17T08:02:19.328-07:00Are You Afraid of The Dark?<em>Pastor David and I met via the blog world! I believe our first conversation started over the issue of diversity. Through his blog I came into contact with <a href="http://www.shauninthecity.com/">Pastor Shaun</a>, <a href="http://www.marvinlwilliams.org/">Pastor Marvin</a> and <a href="http://www.bigisthenewsmall.com/">Pastor Scott</a> and eventually connected with them and others via twitter and facebook. I don't believe any of these men realize how much their conversations about diversity in the church effected the path I have now taken, or the fact they were willing to discuss ministry and leadership with me gave me the courage to speak out on the subject of unity. <a href="http://dturn.net/">Pastor David</a> is frank and upfront about his passion for a church for "all" people. Out of his love for people far from God he will soon launch "<a href="http://www.soulpurpose.tv/">Soul Purpose Church</a>". You can connect with David on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/turnedout">twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/DTurn66">facebook</a>.</em> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLhyphenhyphenL3OXgqvz6Dgc1mKvCyKAZreGlDZfMrK78Zi744tbJqTL8L2MZbK4X_9sVzk2F1zzLGZtIaRTOVWtBmab90127er_lB7-GUnnmk9Oh0GNQVhcriYIYW07CqmNVIQxuI0z4TkEyx5o/s1600/36033_10150194358845043_637585042_13127121_446071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLhyphenhyphenL3OXgqvz6Dgc1mKvCyKAZreGlDZfMrK78Zi744tbJqTL8L2MZbK4X_9sVzk2F1zzLGZtIaRTOVWtBmab90127er_lB7-GUnnmk9Oh0GNQVhcriYIYW07CqmNVIQxuI0z4TkEyx5o/s320/36033_10150194358845043_637585042_13127121_446071_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">We need to look head-on into race and Christianity.<br />
The church shouldn’t go around saying that we should be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">colorblind</i>.<br />
If God was colorblind, we would all be the same color!!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">We should learn to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">value</b> one another.<br />
Just because a person’s Black/White/Hispanic doesn’t mean that they are some sort of lower class Christian.<br />
We have to make strides in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">understanding</b> each other and learning how to effectively <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">communicate</b>.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Too many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">walls</i> have been built in the name of the Lord that keep Black/White/Asian/Hispanic Christians away from each other.<br />
Fear and mistrust must be replaced by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love and compassion</i>.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">The world around us is steadily changing.<br />
It’s becoming more diverse.<br />
We must take the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">LEAD</b> in building stronger communities.<br />
We have to build relationships outside our zones of influence.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Inside the church walls we still have camps of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">segregation</b>.<br />
We have to throw out the old mindsets.<br />
We have to refuse to be bound by old stereotypes.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Styles may differ, but your substance is forever.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Up until I was<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 20</b> years old, I never had the opportunity to be in any church experience with someone of a different color.<br />
Now let me tell you that I lived almost my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">entire</i> life up to that point in church (choir, usher, youth leader, Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday).<br />
I had been to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">school</b> with other nationalities and races.<br />
I participated in sports and other activities also, but I never went to church with anyone other than <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">African-Americans</b>.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">This all changed with I went one year to our local <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Six Flags</b> for their annual Christian concert weekend ( I forgot what they called it).<br />
During this weekend they had the Black Christian artists perform on Saturday and the White artists perform on Sunday (huh??).</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Since my friend and I had a 2-day pass we decided to go back Sunday and hear <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carmen</b> who was scheduled to appear.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">During Carmen's ministry time, there was a strong movement into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worship</i>.<br />
The whole crowd was on their feet praising God.<br />
I had my eyes closed and was immersing myself in the presence of God.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">When I opened my eyes, everything changed.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Next to me was a young Caucasian guy.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">He was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worshiping</i> God also.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Right then I realized that although we may not look the same or come from the same neighborhood.<br />
Or like the same food, music, clothes, etc.<br />
Despite that, this guy loves God.<br />
And God loves him too.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">In that moment all my fears and concerns about “how white people do church” were gone.<br />
Never again could I be afraid of what I never really knew.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">I’m not afraid of the dark.<br />
Are you?</span></div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-37583241241756264612012-04-10T09:06:00.001-07:002012-04-10T19:57:00.880-07:00A Case For Diversity!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Nn9YWV46s35nDpgTiHBXqc6OmI3Ytj1dlcaCKwkCStWJtvSoSHCLbJTK86sKN4BX02BoSXbjpiUx6I8r4mMVCOIDEDsLVep4qYnT3kpS0S94wUTkBSkB4fP3wSPtY9JqTtYtOMqGMTk/s1600/547438_3494969574457_1278094833_3370341_2065576991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Nn9YWV46s35nDpgTiHBXqc6OmI3Ytj1dlcaCKwkCStWJtvSoSHCLbJTK86sKN4BX02BoSXbjpiUx6I8r4mMVCOIDEDsLVep4qYnT3kpS0S94wUTkBSkB4fP3wSPtY9JqTtYtOMqGMTk/s400/547438_3494969574457_1278094833_3370341_2065576991_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I hope you have enjoyed the articles posted here at BSN. In the coming weeks we will hear from more of our BSN friends as they share with you their heart for unity and diversity. First and foremost we hope to encourage ministry leaders to come together, step outside of their comfort zone and establish relationships with someone you might not normally connect with unless you are intentional.<br />
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A few weeks ago Marc and I met up with our favorite pastor friends David and Cheryl for lunch. We actually met over twenty years ago while Marc was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. We were the only black couple in the community in need of a church home. Cheryl and David took us under their wing and treated us like family. While Marc served his country away at Dessert Storm, Cheryl, David and our small community took care of me and my three small kids. In the grand scheme of things we really should never have come into contact with one another. It would have been far more routine for Marc and I to seek out a church that looked like "us". Instead we stepped outside of our comfort zone and joined a small rural church in Riley Kansas where no one looked like us! This could have easily turned into an uncomfortable situation had the members of Crossroads Baptist Church not chosen to welcome us into their fold. Instead they embraced us without question, loved on us and treated us like one of God's children. In other words....they showed us the hands and feet of Jesus!<br />
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It was in fact at <a href="http://www.smokyhillbaptist.com/church.php?assoc_churchID=1773">Crossroads Baptist Church </a>where Marc did his first sermon, and it was Pastor David who licensed him for the ministry! To this day because of the welcome extended towards us by the church, its members, and the community of Riley that Kansas holds such a special place in my family's heart. Years later our friendship continues and we are very thankful, grateful and honored to call them our spiritual parents in the faith!<br />
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Never underestimate the power of being intentional in your relationships with others! It has the possibility to form great friendships, community love, and in our case....a heart to serve in ministry!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-55072508652004978772012-04-03T09:23:00.002-07:002012-04-03T09:26:37.759-07:00The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail (Unity and Diversity Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24xzWNhhT2HkdC7F6ePxp3R6aDA9qtw4K1fEKeWndEkhOKcVTX13m5cCdunNBfCc8J2rDTqyfVF6rXEcGqzmEB24psP-QpwIV-mh-B9lDdK1Z602emjA1JMIUsWQVfLosyTrUNIfGdls/s1600/Copy+of+24148_381207941253_104610681253_4265514_6340926_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24xzWNhhT2HkdC7F6ePxp3R6aDA9qtw4K1fEKeWndEkhOKcVTX13m5cCdunNBfCc8J2rDTqyfVF6rXEcGqzmEB24psP-QpwIV-mh-B9lDdK1Z602emjA1JMIUsWQVfLosyTrUNIfGdls/s400/Copy+of+24148_381207941253_104610681253_4265514_6340926_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<em>Part two of Stephanie's <a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/2012/03/littletaste-of-heaven.html">2 part</a> post continues today with ways we can</em> <em>come together as the "CHURCH" in a way that the gates of hell cannot prevail! As we prepare for Easter Sunday, lets not forget that we are all part of God's Team!!!! </em><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You know how when you build a campfire it's important to keep all the logs grouped together? (I don't actually know this from firsthand experience since I am not a camper... but it seems to be true based on what I've seen on TV...) When campers or firemen or Smokey the Bear wants to extinguish a fire, they make sure to spread the fuel out, to separate the burning logs so that the fire goes out more quickly.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When God established the Church he grew it from a tiny spark that spread into a magnificent fire, transforming lives from every nation! But from that very first day, the enemy has been trying to separate us and divide us so that our fire will be extinguished. God created us each different and unique but we have allowed our differences to become walls that divide us.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Worshiping with unity and diversity does not come easy. But it's definitely worth the effort for that little taste of heaven! So, I thought I'd share some practical tips based on what we've learned about doing worship together based on our almost 4 years of experience. These are in no particular order and may or may not be true for every situation... but these principles have worked for us and may be helpful for you as well.</span></div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unified and diverse worship works best when based on personal relationships. In our situation, the pastors or leaders of each church represented meet together to plan the service. The actually spend about 10 minutes planning and the rest of the time sharing their own personal struggles and praying for one another. The leaders who have built personal relationships with one another tend to work better together and are more committed to making the services happen in spite of the difficulties.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No egos allowed. Some people are natural speakers and others work better behind the scenes. My husband MC's each worship service by introducing each church group and helping the program to flow smoothly. But even though he is the one on stage the most, he always includes the other pastors during the prayers or time of response. All the churches have equal time and importance. No one church should dominate or take over the service. The churches even take turns hosting the service each quarter so that no one has more work than they can handle or more credit than they need.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Focus on unity. Emphasize the things that we all have in common: we all love God, we all want to serve Him, we all have been forgiven. That is why in our services there is no preaching. Yes, you heard that right. An entire church service with NO PREACHING! That is a rule my husband (a preacher) has stood firm on. We want to focus on what unites us, not what divides us. Since our events are made up of churches from a wide variety of denominations, preaching would highlight our differences. Some believe in laying hands & healing, some do not. Some believe in speaking in tongues, some do not. Some believe in eternal security, some do not. Some believe in only using the King James Bible, others use modern translations. Some believe in a verse by verse interpretation of Scripture and others use the Bible to support their topics. Some don't mind getting political, others avoid it. Some prefer a calm and educational sermon presented in outline form while others prefer lots of sweatin' & shoutin'. See what I mean? Those are the things that we disagree on. That's one of the reasons we all attend different churches... But when we get together, we can all agree that God loves us and the world, that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and that the Holy Spirit is the source of our strength. That is a good foundation for worship!<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Celebrate the differences. Don't expect each church to worship the same way you do. Do your members raise their hands or clap during the music? Great! But don't expect everyone to do that. Do you feel more comfortable with quiet songs played on piano? That's fine! But don't walk out when the band starts beating the drums. In my opinion, the most fun thing about these services is that I get to do things that I wouldn't normally do at my own church. Honestly, if I were to sway and clap or shout during the singing on most Sundays, I would feel out of place. But surrounded by people who worship in many different ways, I can freely worship from my heart without fear of standing out in the crowd! I love hearing songs I've never heard before, worshiping along with instruments I don't normally use, and lifting my voice in a language that is not familiar (at least I'm hoping to do so soon...there is a Hispanic worship band planning to join us at our next service! How fun!)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give a lot of GRACE. Jeff says all the time that maintaining a relationship is more important than being right. What he means by that is that we all have our own opinions of the right way to do things. But sometimes we have to put aside our idea of the "right way" in order to show grace to the people we love. When we love one another and worship together it doesn't matter if someone is off-key or the music is too loud. If someone starts speaking in tongues or gets "slain in the Spirit" my Baptist buddies get a little nervous, but we give grace because it is more important that we worship together in unity than argue about what we think is the right way to worship. In these services we emphasize that there is something for everyone...but that probably means that there's also something that you won't enjoy. But that shouldn't stop us from worshiping together! "Love covers a multitude of offenses." 1 Peter 4:8</span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I sure do wish I had some pictures to post here. But I'm usually so busy worshiping during these services that I don't even think to take any! So here is a word-picture description of a typical worship celebration:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every 5th Sunday approximately 200 people cram into a sanctuary that's not used to holding more than 50 on any a normal Sunday (all of our participating churches are small: averaging 20-80 people each).There are normally 8-12 churches represented. Everyone mixes and mingles as best we can in such a tight space as Jeff puts the order of service together and the different groups give instructions to the sound guys. At 5:00pm Jeff gets everyone settled down and asks the host church pastor to open in prayer. Some churches occasionally arrive late, but we're learning to be flexible. Jeff introduces the groups as they step up to give their presentations. Each church does 2-3 songs or skits. (See yesterday's post for a sample of what you might see) Sometimes you sit and watch as God uses their talents for His glory, and other times you get to get up and participate in the singing & clapping. Either way, it's worshipful and God-focused... and FUN!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometime during the evening, we will take up an offering. This should not surprise anyone, because I don't care what your background is... you can't have a church service without an offering. Amen? :) Each service our offering goes towards a specific cause. We have given to support disaster relief in Haiti, provide food for one of the participating church's food banks, to help local families whose homes were destroyed by floods, and to buy supplies to renovate the home of a young man in one of the youth groups who had been in a terrible accident and become paralyzed. The purpose of each offering was something close to the hearts of the pastors and that love trickled down into the hearts of their people. How great to not only worship but also to do ministry together with one another!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After two hours the service comes to a close. Some wish it would keep going and others wish it would stop sooner... that's where grace comes in. But two hours is the best compromise we've been able to do to keep as many people continuing to participate as possible. We always end with a call to respond. Usually it's a brief presentation of the Gospel with Scripture, a drama, or a personal testimony. Then all the pastors from all the churches move to the front so that if people need to make a spiritual decision, they have plenty of people they can talk to. This not only allows every pastor to minister in the way he knows best, and also presents a wall of unity for all to see. I love it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to my daughter, the best part is last. After the service we all gather in the gym or fellowship hall for food! Sometimes it's a full meal but usually it's just drinks and desserts. Everyone brings something to share and then sits around getting to know one another outside the service. The first time we did this, Jeff had to remind everyone to mix and mingle... everyone had drifted into what felt comfortable and were only sitting with their own church people! He joked and cajoled until he made everyone get up and sit by someone they didn't know! It was the funniest thing...but also the best thing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unity and diversity does not come naturally. Leading these services is not easy. Each and every church that has been a part of this movement has come under spiritual attack. Some have stopped participating. Others are still hanging on in the midst of their own battles. But this is God's plan: to show the world a little taste of heaven here on earth. This is the kind of CHURCH that the gates of hell will not prevail against!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 28.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PS... Our next Community Worship Celebration is scheduled for April 29. I will try to take some pictures. Please pray that God would continue to strengthen our churches as we worship together!</span></div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-24092639731556890052012-03-29T14:24:00.001-07:002012-03-29T14:25:41.015-07:00A LittleTaste of Heaven!<em>I should have known when </em><a href="http://notsoperfectpw.wordpress.com/"><em>Stephanie Shouse</em></a><em> and I connected last year through <a href="http://leadingandlovingit.com/">Leading and Loving It</a> that it wouldn't be the last time. Stephanie actually won a copy of "<a href="http://churchdiversity.com/the-book">Church Diversity</a>" after I did a <a href="http://cyndiakadisneyqueen.blogspot.com/2011/05/church-diversity.html">review</a> and gave away a book on my blog. Then this month she joined our BSN <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlendedSoulsNetwork?sk=wall">community</a> after a conversation we had about the future of Blended Souls Network and the goals for this ministry. Apparently Stephanie and her husband have been hosting "BSN like" events for a few years without even knowing it! In Part 1 of a 2 Part blog post you will see how her and her husbands heart for ministry lead them to start a Little Taste of Heaven in Kentucky!</em> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Hgf2juudIh0HwqfMalqXShyphenhyphenSypmXQl7asX9_g3-5C29-YS7pzDjsyyBUHWTrDPjRrfdUT74p1lxNWo97p0xXL5TO3xZAQWi44kz6Gmi4cVf83NUb_dviDNPahy_lg684XBH22I86uJs/s1600/315881_2362392306213_1442509915_32769554_682135_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Hgf2juudIh0HwqfMalqXShyphenhyphenSypmXQl7asX9_g3-5C29-YS7pzDjsyyBUHWTrDPjRrfdUT74p1lxNWo97p0xXL5TO3xZAQWi44kz6Gmi4cVf83NUb_dviDNPahy_lg684XBH22I86uJs/s320/315881_2362392306213_1442509915_32769554_682135_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a student at</span></span><a href="http://www.ciu.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"> Columbia International University</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I got to experience a little taste of heaven every single day. At 10:40 am we would gather all the students and faculty together for chapel services. And every morning I stood to worship side by side with fellow believers from all over the world. Whether we were singing hymns, contemporary praise songs or listening to an international choir singing in other languages, we were all worshiping the same God, the same Savior, in the same Spirit. That's what I imagine heaven is gonna be like...except that we'll probably all be in tune... :)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then came graduation and we all went our separate ways. We moved to churches where we were comfortable. We congregated with our friends and families. We settled into our routines of worshiping with people who were just like us in every way. Until one day we looked up and realized that our worship was so very one-dimensional. What happened? Why did we exchange diversity for monotony? And why doesn't anyone seem to mind?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Jeff & I lived in New Orleans we began to see the problem. During the week we would be surrounded by people of various races, cultures, and socio-economic status. But on Sunday when we attended church, we were surrounded with people who were all the same. One church was all white, one church was all black, one church was all middle-class suburbanites, one church was all college educated, one church was all working class, one church was all "old-money" southerners... Whether the separation was intentional or not, it was definitely obvious. Isn't there somewhere that we can all worship together like we did back in college?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But we were not in charge of any of those churches back then. We didn't have any say in how things were done. Then God moved us to Kentucky. He gave us a church and a vision of doing great things for Him. We longed for authentic worship, practical ministry and the co-existence of both unity and diversity. Do you know how hard it is to be intentional about diversity when your community is 90% white? Hmmm...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then about three years ago God began to move in the hearts of various pastors and church leaders. The desire to gather their churches to worship together in a show of unity began to form. And suddenly we found ourselves leading the first ever worship gathering of Henderson Area Churches. At first the emphasis was on unity. Two of the churches choosing to participate had split from one body a mere three years before. Getting the people from both churches to sit in the same room together, much less worship, was a seemingly impossible task. But God wanted to show His great power by allowing pride to be broken, hearts softened and bitterness ended. What followed has been an amazing testimony to His grace!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Henderson Area Churches now meet every 5th Sunday for a joint worship celebration. Our celebrations include 8-12 churches from all over our county, and are some of the most fun times I've ever experienced in ministry! A typical celebration includes many forms of worship such as:</span></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A white, middle-class praise team sings contemporary Christian music (usually Chris Tomlin) with a CD track<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A blue-grass band complete with steel guitar and honky-tonk piano sing "I'll Fly Away"<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A black choir of pentecostal persuasion claps and sways as they sing a traditional call & response accompanied by piano and drums<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A tattooed former biker couple blast out classic rock tunes with a spiritual twist<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A pastor and his wife in traditional Baptist clothing (i.e. suit & dress) sing an old hymn as their son plays piano<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A group of ladies from a small country church sing a Nicole C. Mullins song with hands lifted high<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A group of young people from a well-to-do African America church perform a worship dance wearing white gloves and praise dresses<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A youth group of mostly poor, white kids from difficult family backgrounds performs a dramatic interpretation of Christ rescuing them from the power of Satan<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A group of teens and women stretch out of their Baptist comfort zones to dance to a Mandisa song, hoping they won't get laughed at or kicked out of their church...(That was my creative ministry team... :) )<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of these expressions come together to form a toe-tapping, unpredictable symphony of heart-felt worship that once again gives us just a little taste of heaven.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"<b>By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35</b></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of this does not come without a struggle. The enemy does not want us to be unified. He wants us to remain divided. It takes a lot of work to make worship like this possible... why do you think we only attempt it once a quarter? In the next post I will tell you some of the practical things we have learned in order to make intentionally worshiping in unity and diversity happen in our area.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do you think about unity & diversity in worship? What has been your experience</span>?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em>Come back next week to read Part 2 "Gates Of Hell"!</em></div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-35236265664047358352012-03-24T18:14:00.000-07:002012-03-24T18:14:28.822-07:00Breaking Ground on a Multi-Ethnic Ministry in BelizeLast week Bethel Disciples International Church in Belmopan, Belize broke ground for a new ministry building. It was an incredible experience that we are still excited from. This church began many years ago but the building is part of a new phase for this congregation. <br />
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Pastor Lim Han came from South Korea as an 18 year old and has been serving the Lord and planting churches for over 20 years in the Cayo area of Belize. His heart for the Lord and for discipling His people no matter what their ethnic background are evident throughout the 15 churches he has planted. Some are Spanish speaking, some are English speaking and the church we attend, Bethel Disciples, includes the founding members who are Chinese speaking believers so the service is translated into Mandarin for them.<br />
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The service was attended by over 400 people and here are some of the memories from that day... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfxDwM9uuHmaQom92Va733cygTIbHO8NwnNsB_bYPDUrHLzZCkGHvxotOsUtQr-rvXdaniqw_DN_XmIz7GteCCPtGjpbadf7zaxZgf6Nhpxw3sxtZAZV4FaQS30M8WostwVp7C2z2YQM/s1600/P1110894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfxDwM9uuHmaQom92Va733cygTIbHO8NwnNsB_bYPDUrHLzZCkGHvxotOsUtQr-rvXdaniqw_DN_XmIz7GteCCPtGjpbadf7zaxZgf6Nhpxw3sxtZAZV4FaQS30M8WostwVp7C2z2YQM/s400/P1110894.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pastor Dan and Johnny (worship leader)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbfxZswuQgEcgorGQdesjIZjUkxgIYwASoVexA04np9lPQ9XDw7bk2mRjDVUApJlN2dLx-ePdlU3r90GNdRybcT7Bk7Mf3Y-rqMqI156aXTOhuPsF80QohB2oFFAqKqoJlUa65OwknxA/s1600/P1110901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbfxZswuQgEcgorGQdesjIZjUkxgIYwASoVexA04np9lPQ9XDw7bk2mRjDVUApJlN2dLx-ePdlU3r90GNdRybcT7Bk7Mf3Y-rqMqI156aXTOhuPsF80QohB2oFFAqKqoJlUa65OwknxA/s400/P1110901.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">members of the worship team including a few people from one of the sister churches</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb17ySOyiW90ppefjYy_j7tdXGLFCSXt3ciGibhCcp0j4PpdIOpcbkcR6c2eBrudN1_sdOZa1locJ1ulfXd7davhqVHpXS_d8haDLLlezhzPvnyP7TmoAaS3oqX8APH63H3V3KDbCmqb8/s1600/P1110915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb17ySOyiW90ppefjYy_j7tdXGLFCSXt3ciGibhCcp0j4PpdIOpcbkcR6c2eBrudN1_sdOZa1locJ1ulfXd7davhqVHpXS_d8haDLLlezhzPvnyP7TmoAaS3oqX8APH63H3V3KDbCmqb8/s400/P1110915.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">the children's choir was too large to fit in one photo... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRx9G1pEky82IZuiw9Y-y61VgSzlON5CJ99uwual8GM_7srcN5ew-ldRc7G87wkb0W3fzfmGK0CoI2Kq2CTTcmlNqCmvpJvJ41PO1F5HKfeCApBW0py2lCFAZiTCmu44Mkl3kVmkwdg8/s1600/P1120011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRx9G1pEky82IZuiw9Y-y61VgSzlON5CJ99uwual8GM_7srcN5ew-ldRc7G87wkb0W3fzfmGK0CoI2Kq2CTTcmlNqCmvpJvJ41PO1F5HKfeCApBW0py2lCFAZiTCmu44Mkl3kVmkwdg8/s400/P1120011.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Pastor Han, speaking while Phillip translates into Spanish </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRnA2FWyPCcnZFN-fHOvgbMSAUfr8QxhmbIifdzslsZk6bHlkkLrWein_YgN6xACCGcjyc7rKzuFRhbUtsPzyqN-77Dd2l3nH76qUe3YXVK05XU5r5gpC77WlV6_oehHPSrBCW-2gRAo/s1600/P1120043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRnA2FWyPCcnZFN-fHOvgbMSAUfr8QxhmbIifdzslsZk6bHlkkLrWein_YgN6xACCGcjyc7rKzuFRhbUtsPzyqN-77Dd2l3nH76qUe3YXVK05XU5r5gpC77WlV6_oehHPSrBCW-2gRAo/s400/P1120043.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNAmaiXzLGXw18A4FncHuAVf-o8M8hp56bt3K3MNzF6S-o4lbjuI2d8awkJFUZ8kIST4yDnbbo7yLGos5TXWZzvC7dCYvGt5dKSpHp-_ASmSHxr7Tqr-G4frcutYUKtZ0U6APa80oU0g/s1600/P1120051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNAmaiXzLGXw18A4FncHuAVf-o8M8hp56bt3K3MNzF6S-o4lbjuI2d8awkJFUZ8kIST4yDnbbo7yLGos5TXWZzvC7dCYvGt5dKSpHp-_ASmSHxr7Tqr-G4frcutYUKtZ0U6APa80oU0g/s400/P1120051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">everyone at the service had an opportunity to write out prayers for the new building... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_SHpld4jVbuyrIux23DveQKTHk5wOeCqb2nb8bzuHo92ApFoD0AouX2nexb6DiNkE7K-0ntTV-_VbtQGcCtodPkhtcVjjDZ9LXwpCsVi_oWWj25VNjtfMhr6nYsqBAPVzlKBbGbkqdo/s1600/P1120057-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_SHpld4jVbuyrIux23DveQKTHk5wOeCqb2nb8bzuHo92ApFoD0AouX2nexb6DiNkE7K-0ntTV-_VbtQGcCtodPkhtcVjjDZ9LXwpCsVi_oWWj25VNjtfMhr6nYsqBAPVzlKBbGbkqdo/s400/P1120057-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">leaders from the various sister churches launched them into the sky... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBaY-TV5_nWQfbXpswST6_KDbf5kFsvPPgzetFeF7Txam0PmU19CDYKISwryMAr8b9ZHzNjjO20pgmvKMI23n_9e1k6TAoVRwzqIxv2ZDigRHob_jl1coOvsLK4U1L2NXJMY0M9Z0GHA/s1600/P1120065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBaY-TV5_nWQfbXpswST6_KDbf5kFsvPPgzetFeF7Txam0PmU19CDYKISwryMAr8b9ZHzNjjO20pgmvKMI23n_9e1k6TAoVRwzqIxv2ZDigRHob_jl1coOvsLK4U1L2NXJMY0M9Z0GHA/s400/P1120065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">finally breaking the ground! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SdkiJh1glUijcHPIpNSdpUxYvVlEFgSPbgPXZvwY3Aw-N2Pt_ZIWC5hzQtA3BXmaN9RWcCy62Uyb_ZFdY_0VycV-jIPLtyEQ2T1Tac0_x3DzAxBl2kozo6bLrU7MO7c_XLBn_z57qu8/s1600/P1120084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SdkiJh1glUijcHPIpNSdpUxYvVlEFgSPbgPXZvwY3Aw-N2Pt_ZIWC5hzQtA3BXmaN9RWcCy62Uyb_ZFdY_0VycV-jIPLtyEQ2T1Tac0_x3DzAxBl2kozo6bLrU7MO7c_XLBn_z57qu8/s400/P1120084.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Jill and her team serving snacks when the service ended... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_7zg3-gV0labK8g1BKGJbeZ__LN5ehIMdFSeEsrpO9jSAR0wX26mcKtErUSpjTCHLCDXQTLDJOdnzmpgZ7UcJBBvT6euKHz_imyTiLhDetMIE5vIZcz6V9qd7WtDs2vyoXU3hFJa_QA/s1600/P1120104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_7zg3-gV0labK8g1BKGJbeZ__LN5ehIMdFSeEsrpO9jSAR0wX26mcKtErUSpjTCHLCDXQTLDJOdnzmpgZ7UcJBBvT6euKHz_imyTiLhDetMIE5vIZcz6V9qd7WtDs2vyoXU3hFJa_QA/s400/P1120104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Bethel's plans for the ten acres are to have a Meeting Place, a Medical Center, a Media Center and a Multi-Purpose Building. Tom and I are excited to be a part of the ministry at Bethel and we love that the church personifies what Blended Souls is all about. It is truly a place where everyone can feel welcome. And we felt that the ground breaking service...with all of the sister churches included...was a slice of what heaven will be like!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0Belmopan, Belize17.2513889 -88.766944417.2222004 -88.7905049 17.2805774 -88.7433839tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-4399092553490866812012-03-16T20:51:00.003-07:002012-03-17T20:51:26.441-07:00ALL Nations!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgcqZuxUEB0KKfp-8g8Dm3w5UZveArGLcEhzDhgXxjjVKv6mc2W3TByP7XUQ-fss3aUq_XVlu4hg6Qm3mLfMN5zUYLtjZ7bbNe5dELYUhg_QiEh5JcAdQpywqk-o1xl0K39sRN0hfB9I/s1600/419102_3456274727110_1278094833_3351955_1687336620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgcqZuxUEB0KKfp-8g8Dm3w5UZveArGLcEhzDhgXxjjVKv6mc2W3TByP7XUQ-fss3aUq_XVlu4hg6Qm3mLfMN5zUYLtjZ7bbNe5dELYUhg_QiEh5JcAdQpywqk-o1xl0K39sRN0hfB9I/s400/419102_3456274727110_1278094833_3351955_1687336620_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Tonight I got a chance to witness what heaven will look like! A coming together of churches from every denomination, race, and age! Small churches, side by side with large churches all under one roof praising and worshipping together! All for one cause! We were there in support of my friend Pam (who just happens to be a Pastors wife) and the ministry <a href="http://www.loveandhopeministries.org/">Love and Hope Ministries</a>. As I sat there I kept seeing the vision God had placed in our hearts for Blended Souls! <br />
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Then I did something I never imagined I would have the nerve to do four or five years ago. I got up the courage to approach several pastors, introduce myself and share the vision that is BSN! I don't know if any of the connections I made this evening will go anywhere but what I gained in confidence will take me forward for the weeks and months to come. One couple said this was something they had actually just been talking about. One man told me how happy he was that we were starting this ministry because he knew ministry leaders who would benefit from the connection! It was just the confirmation we needed. <br />
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If you have a passion for diversity, a heart for pastor and pastor wives, a want to connect with other churches in your community and a willingness to network and share ideas with one another to further the Kingdom then BSN may be just what you are looking for! You can connect with us on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/BlendedSoulsNet">twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlendedSoulsNetwork?sk=wall">facebook</a>. We also have a<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/119324581500556/"> private page</a> for pastor and ministry wives. We look forward to fellowshipping with you in the near future!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-578233921599716072012-02-21T19:31:00.001-08:002012-02-27T16:44:08.803-08:00Blended Souls Network Meet-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYOOgd5-yhZGpus7nxCg_rYP_STaktI6iF2nxz6o5WPKlgQ2i91cMvB2MMiWd8iy5HrsoR5MCDqt6kS-X5xpm5EaYOxYPHSURkyqK6s47HSxa4jM-JXoZGggdd7t9xuINoORINxjPY3U/s1600/DSC03877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYOOgd5-yhZGpus7nxCg_rYP_STaktI6iF2nxz6o5WPKlgQ2i91cMvB2MMiWd8iy5HrsoR5MCDqt6kS-X5xpm5EaYOxYPHSURkyqK6s47HSxa4jM-JXoZGggdd7t9xuINoORINxjPY3U/s320/DSC03877.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br />
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There will be an introduction meeting for Blended Souls on April 28th at 9 AM at <a href="http://woodlandavebaptistchurch.blogspot.com/">Woodland Ave Baptist </a>Church in Norfolk, VA . It will include a free continental breakfast and a time of fellowship and fun for any Pastors' Wife or Ministers' Wife in the Hamptonroads area. Husbands are invited to attend for a time of fellowship with my husband Pastor Marcus Jennings. If you would like to learn more about the ministry this is your opportunity. Please rsvp at blendedsoulsnetwork (@)gmail (dot) com . I look forward to meeting you! Blended Souls Network is a non denominational ministry that seeks to unite Christian pastors and ministers couples from various ages, and ethnic backgrounds together to encourage, network and partner with one another.blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-36609481974500905212012-01-30T16:37:00.002-08:002012-03-05T16:38:03.676-08:00What will our gatherings look like?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8XuEjG88_6PzAem4EnNPoWbdT1vO7nE7qZUyB-YZxr-xTlaJCLfflTVPS2oEeKDr_SzTA1AKNESzI8YUP-0XfWVZgkR08DjUzuQZtY3igQdUaoUXBl4TzG1toWgdynEk4IGmuCrXfpk/s1600/373957_10150346099436254_104610681253_8507674_1872135402_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8XuEjG88_6PzAem4EnNPoWbdT1vO7nE7qZUyB-YZxr-xTlaJCLfflTVPS2oEeKDr_SzTA1AKNESzI8YUP-0XfWVZgkR08DjUzuQZtY3igQdUaoUXBl4TzG1toWgdynEk4IGmuCrXfpk/s320/373957_10150346099436254_104610681253_8507674_1872135402_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm sure you are wondering what to expect at a Blended Souls Gathering? Our goal is to <strong>Unite </strong>with other pastor wives and their husbands in the community, to <strong>Network</strong> with one another, and <strong>Partner</strong> together in ministry. What better way to get to know one another then to spend a little time together! Plans are in the works for our first gathering which will take place in the Hamptonraods area (future gatherings will take place in the areas in which our team members reside). We will be inviting pastor and ministry couples in the area to get together for a few hours (we know your time is valuable). This gathering would include a time of worship, words of encouragement from another local pastor or pastors wife and or a panel discussion with other pastor and ministry couples from the area. Of course no gathering would be complete without good food, cool prizes, some fun icebreakers and meaningful discussion time with other men and women who know what it's like to be in your shoes. If you are interested, and would like to help plan this event please contact me (Cyndi Jennings at blendedsoulsnetwork (@) gmail (.) com so that we can connect. We are looking for churches who would be willing to host an event, couples who would be interested in speaking at an event or participating on the panel, and churches who wouldn't mind helping with worship or some of the behind the scenes planning. God placed us in ministry together! Our team looks forward to connecting with you in the future.blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-56771875932755145072012-01-24T10:21:00.000-08:002012-01-24T11:51:13.910-08:00Time to Unite!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4QOB-8iB8YlaALkV4ofW29827c_rgul3EyiBfRHhA_avX_XUO1RRgs7CMNbTA0tm1jCFqjd-F6Os2eJgTOYzgtdWKCQo6ss142SWeszzB-ERarJ73lua4FrPk8K2mVe9lmfkx-iMSsw/s1600/387321_10150357586811254_104610681253_8558292_377035664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4QOB-8iB8YlaALkV4ofW29827c_rgul3EyiBfRHhA_avX_XUO1RRgs7CMNbTA0tm1jCFqjd-F6Os2eJgTOYzgtdWKCQo6ss142SWeszzB-ERarJ73lua4FrPk8K2mVe9lmfkx-iMSsw/s320/387321_10150357586811254_104610681253_8558292_377035664_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>At the start of the year I stated that the theme for Blended Souls would be Unity. Over the last few weeks I have spent time fasting and praying in part because I needed to work through some things and in big part because I wanted guidance from God on where to take us with this ministry.<br />
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When I first started Blended Souls I was looking for a way to connect with other pastor wives in my community. But even then I knew I wanted to be intentional about connecting with women of different denominations, ages, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Since I know the importance of prayer I asked some of my friends who had a heart for this ministry if they would come on board as prayer partners. I never want to do anything related to Blended Souls without praying first nor do I want to do this ministry alone. I'm grateful for a team of women who are willing to step out on faith and not just pray for me but who are willing to stand beside me.<br />
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What I didn't know was that God had a bigger and better plan (isn't that always the case). After Alida and Celina met up we saw a need for a community in which our husbands could come together and share, and connect with other pastors and ministers. I had seen this same need on a few occasions when my husband was able to get together with other ministers......So here it goes......Blended Souls main mission will still be to bring together pastor and ministry wives. But we also want to provide a community for pastor and ministry couples to come together (unite), to network (share) and partner together in our perspective communities. This statement hasn't changed much from my original statement....the only difference is that we have added the word couples. We will continue to have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/groups/119324581500556/">private page</a> for our pastor and ministry wives to come together to pray for one another, connect with each other and discuss issues of concern. But God has placed on my heart the importance of providing a place for husband and wives who are in ministry together to gather with others in ministry (say it with me) to unite, network and partner together (lol)! <br />
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Over the coming month our team will be working on ways to move this vision from paper to print. Please pray for us and with us as we seek to do God's will. We will be holding a Meet-Up in June in Kansas to promote the ministry. If you and your spouse are interested in being a part of this ministry please let us know by emailing us at blendedsoulsnetwork (@) gmail (.) com . As soon as we have worked out the details we will post additional info. We also want couples to connect locally so as soon as a host church has been located we will hold our first local gathering in the Hamptonroads area. Our hope is that one day there will be Blended Soul gatherings across the USA, Canada, Belize, Mexico and beyond. I am excited at the possibilities of this ministry and I look forward to meeting many of you in the future. If you would like to connect with this ministry you can follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/blendedsoulsnet">twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlendedSoulsNetwork?sk=wall">facebook</a> .blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-7622169582209752712012-01-11T10:44:00.000-08:002012-01-11T10:44:50.146-08:00Blended Souls Welcomes our newest team member!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Recently BS prayer partner Alida, and her husband Tom <a href="http://blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com/2012/01/continuing-to-count-gifts-in-2012.html">traveled</a> across the border to Mexico to meet Celina and her husband Paulino . Along with Tara the four of us have been online friends for some time. The moment I saw the pictures from their meet up Alida and I started talking about how Celina would so fit into the sisterhood of Blended Souls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMQBywwufe_owxxrxB0RISuS9kzR3GJRBPaYSzM477jOKwvPJWMrfvzkJae_dVC0JWQWwaSnkw7R49m40lGSitqfqlNQYsEJDIDf45N7P_pjMaNVMmqy8S5SCok-VCvZ5mxGmeMKyvK0/s1600/405260_10150562030619187_539864186_10711757_987099516_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMQBywwufe_owxxrxB0RISuS9kzR3GJRBPaYSzM477jOKwvPJWMrfvzkJae_dVC0JWQWwaSnkw7R49m40lGSitqfqlNQYsEJDIDf45N7P_pjMaNVMmqy8S5SCok-VCvZ5mxGmeMKyvK0/s320/405260_10150562030619187_539864186_10711757_987099516_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRmk1HWnVts466na2GaZ8uHwBIVfEqNrOO91qpqjFjR_Nyd70mH5eDBUI0QTqNuuFd6oMdGLaRvI350Hu-lupFQ1WdQvnxX16I6J-OzH_TKgEPIwK3Q9_6fSw1fMJLmmRk78YTPsgkjc/s1600/403304_10150562031444187_539864186_10711761_1470948179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRmk1HWnVts466na2GaZ8uHwBIVfEqNrOO91qpqjFjR_Nyd70mH5eDBUI0QTqNuuFd6oMdGLaRvI350Hu-lupFQ1WdQvnxX16I6J-OzH_TKgEPIwK3Q9_6fSw1fMJLmmRk78YTPsgkjc/s320/403304_10150562031444187_539864186_10711761_1470948179_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And its also how we decided that it would be important to have one gathering a year that included our husbands (I mean...look at those smiles). Our men need a community of support as much if not more then we do. So we are proud to announce that Celina is now a member of our prayer team!!!!! When Celina and I chatted I knew it was God ordained because from the moment this ministry was created I have asked the Lord to send women with a heart for diversity and a love for pastor and ministry wives. In each case he has answered that call and Celina confirmed it by saying she had been praying for a way to become a part of the ministry from the moment we announced it!!! This ministry continues to astound me with the direction it has taken since we launched and I know in my heart it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God. I believe in my heart that God is looking down at this community of "sistas" and is smiling! In the words of a friend....God is glorified when all of his children come together!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-85552847338448132012012-01-03T06:22:00.000-08:002012-01-03T06:22:16.930-08:00Its a New Season!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxojlHoRUpCR5UlU2N_IJq5N37FErIQpSzu3L7BilxZmjgnc_XNLr8Slj_d35Tr3zHGq-vOxGVtv_0BjuyRN66ttYo3wSyaxNvUQo9KYh_o_LWfXX96oMcTAH8vjAGILH9JWlylXcp1A/s1600/227689_2011558090097_1278094833_2361029_194350_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxojlHoRUpCR5UlU2N_IJq5N37FErIQpSzu3L7BilxZmjgnc_XNLr8Slj_d35Tr3zHGq-vOxGVtv_0BjuyRN66ttYo3wSyaxNvUQo9KYh_o_LWfXX96oMcTAH8vjAGILH9JWlylXcp1A/s320/227689_2011558090097_1278094833_2361029_194350_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I can't believe its 2012! The last few months seem like a blur. When we started Blended Souls back in <a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome.html">September</a> I didn't have a clue that it would take the direction that it has. In my mind I saw a chance to meet local PW's in my area for some fellowship and a chance to bring women from varying denominations, ethnic backgrounds and ages together to have fun (and connect). The key was to be intentional about diversity, but in my head it wasn't about being overly serious or spiritually deep (it still isn't)! <br />
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But, since that time God has laid it on my heart (and especially the heart of our team) the importance of being real, and transparent. And so even though we may come together for food, fellowship and fun...the underlining message will always be to "intentionally" bring together a grouping of people from every tribe, tongue and nation under one roof! <br />
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Our theme for this year is "Unity". The dictionary describes Unity as "oneness of mind, feeling, etc. , as among a number of persons; concord, harmony, or agreement". Our hope is that Blended Souls will provide a community of oneness, of unity and of hope for a future together as one body in Christ. Sometimes that means talking about some <a href="http://churchdiversity.com/">difficult topics</a>, bringing attention to a worthwhile <a href="http://www.thea21campaign.org/">cause</a>, or asking some difficult <a href="http://clutchtalk.blogspot.com/">questions</a>. What we never want to be about is a catalyst for strife or dissension. But we do want to be a catalyst for change!!!!<br />
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Over the next <a href="http://awake21.org/">21 days</a> we will be fasting and praying for this ministry and we invite you to join us. First and foremost we are praying that God will provide the avenues needed for our teams to connect with pastor and ministry wives in our local areas. Second we are asking for clear vision for the path that God wants this ministry to take concerning unity. Third we are looking for other pastor wives or ministries that would be interested in partnering with us and finally we are praying for favor over the two gatherings we have planned for 2012. Our first gathering will take place late spring in the Hamptoroads area and the other will take place this summer in Kansas (June). We are especially excited about our gathering in Kansas because we are inviting your husbands to join in! More details on these two events to come. <br />
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We don't know what path Blended Souls will take in 2012 but we look forward to getting to know many of you (hopefully in person) along the journey. If you would like to become more involved in this ministry please join us on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/BlendedSoulsNet">twitter</a> and or request to become a part of our private <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/119324581500556/">facebook</a> group. Happy New Year from our <a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-prayer-team.html">team</a> to you!!!!!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-61648083553927661492011-12-20T11:23:00.000-08:002011-12-20T11:24:09.079-08:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsxOg5G5tmD8cbf06tGo4egA_CkH79J7mD1CZd2i6Nwvygl9u1_f-ZHNpULc7JwT3P0v-6QsEXlUmfBTy7ZrSyEzxF2dDx8fPQy2S5rr3g3aJwA3-A_-kqpo9EruH6-GyxFxSWd0DwrI/s1600/Copy+of+69751_1719382425888_1278094833_1868995_2593028_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsxOg5G5tmD8cbf06tGo4egA_CkH79J7mD1CZd2i6Nwvygl9u1_f-ZHNpULc7JwT3P0v-6QsEXlUmfBTy7ZrSyEzxF2dDx8fPQy2S5rr3g3aJwA3-A_-kqpo9EruH6-GyxFxSWd0DwrI/s400/Copy+of+69751_1719382425888_1278094833_1868995_2593028_n.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">We here at Blended Souls Network would like to wish all of you lovely ladies a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Blended Souls team will be back at it at the first of the year. For now we are going to take a break and spend time with our family. Looking forward to meeting many of you next year at our first ever Blended Souls Gathering!</span>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-4066597393539880182011-12-08T07:51:00.000-08:002011-12-08T07:51:15.452-08:00The Blending of Souls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArSSwqMO0HS1nhqgxc3ZrpynzQEJfyaxryPAbfhe4q3ytHvX64hQxI2ZrfFlmVQaiEnSaJiy8hyEHOvvfKFz2lqRHmLQX2ewQ08AqX2Tnt2zpOSgcVR5a9f_tCXU3YxZCkxEk55n2jU0/s1600/7335_162384949186_539864186_3630003_7722714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArSSwqMO0HS1nhqgxc3ZrpynzQEJfyaxryPAbfhe4q3ytHvX64hQxI2ZrfFlmVQaiEnSaJiy8hyEHOvvfKFz2lqRHmLQX2ewQ08AqX2Tnt2zpOSgcVR5a9f_tCXU3YxZCkxEk55n2jU0/s320/7335_162384949186_539864186_3630003_7722714_n.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Last week <a href="http://blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com/2011/12/shocked-outraged-and-bitterly.html"><span style="color: #3778cd;">I wrote about my reaction</span></a> to the church in Kentucky deciding to ban interracial couples from membership. That was on Thursday. <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/05/1983416/pike-county-church-reverses-course.html"><span style="color: #3778cd;">On Sunday the church held another vote</span></a> to affirm that they welcome people of all races in their fellowship.<br />
<br />
One of the things I didn't talk about last week was the cost of staying silent. There were 40 people at the church that night. Only 15 people chose to put their opinion out there. Perhaps there were <br />
people on the opposing side who stayed silent. It takes courage to speak up. I know that...I understand that. My post was not an easy one to write. I risked people telling me negative things about my marriage or my children. But, I spoke up because I felt compelled. Because this issue touched the core of my heart...my family. That post went on to be featured on <a href="http://wothwritersblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/read-my-writing-courage.html"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Women of the Harvest's Writing Blog</span></a>. And for that I am humbled. <br />
<br />
However, for those church members in Kentucky, their silence was costly. This tiny little church in Pike County made international news. Blogs, news stories, Facebook and Twitter posts all commenting and expressing their opinions on the actions of the church. <br />
<br />
News of this vote to ban interracial couples from membership <a href="http://www.nafwb.org/statement"><span style="color: #3778cd;">caused the National <br />
Association of Free Will Baptists to put out a statement regarding their position</span></a>. It caused the <a href="http://www.randallhouse.com/root/system/content/files/Racism-Study-Press-Release.pdf"><span style="color: #3778cd;">publishing arm of the denomination</span></a> to put out<a href="http://www.accessbiblestudies.com/aB6GgSl76v52B9c3F6_ACCESS/racism/Racism_Bible_Church.pdf"><span style="color: #3778cd;"> a downloadable Bible study</span></a> on racism. And for that I am grateful.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">Here is an excerpt from the study:</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<b>How are we supposed to treat people that are <br />
different from us?</b></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Treat them as someone created in the image of God <br />
(Genesis 1:27). Treat them as someone for whom Christ died (John 3:16). Treat <br />
them like you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). God also expects His people to <br />
seek justice and confront oppression (Deuteronomy 16:19; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah <br />
22:3). Anything less is sin.</b></blockquote></blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"> In the conclusion of the study I found this <br />
statement:</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br />
<b>In many ways our time on earth is a rehearsal for our <br />
time in Heaven. God has given each of us time to prepare for the eternity that <br />
lies ahead. Revelation 7:9-10 makes it very clear that Heaven will be filled <br />
with people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Do we live like we believe <br />
that? Is our rehearsal on earth reflecting what will happen on the grand <br />
stage? </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/11/who-i-am.html"><span style="color: #3778cd;">My friend, Cynd</span></a>i, recently began a network called <a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3778cd;">Blended Souls</span></a>. It is a network of Pastors' Wives and Ministry Wives... a gathering of "sistas" from various Christian denominations and ethnic backgrounds. Blended Souls Network was created to support women in their role as the wife of a pastor or ministry <br />
leader, so that they can worship and pray together, network with one another, and embrace cultural differences for the “soul” purpose of giving honor to God. The network's desire is to reach out to wives from every tongue, tribe and nation.<br />
<br />
I am excited to be <a href="http://blendedsoulsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-prayer-team.html"><span style="color: #3778cd;">one of the prayer partners</span></a> for Blended Souls and I would love to invite you to <br />
join the network. Just think as this grows it will be a slice of what heaven will look like! If you would like to be added to our Facebook group you can leave me a note or send me an email. <br />
<br />
If there is an issue that burns in your heart my prayer is that you will not keep silent. May that burning propel you into action. To bring light where there is only darkness, to bring justice where injustice is found or to bring healing where healing is needed. And above all... to bring honor and glory to God. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Alida is a member of the Blended Souls Team. If you would like to connect with Alida you can read her <a href="http://blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, connect on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Alida-Wright-Sharp/539864186">facebook</a> and on <a href="http://twitter.com/alidasturn">twitter</a>.</em> </div>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-14338472628788660372011-11-21T09:15:00.000-08:002011-11-21T09:16:50.713-08:00What's Age Got To Do With It?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGhcGeUuZ0yfHCjzlJgU2qCmnQzU_DNjhnCSXjBiZq8bQ59yvlb16iW_mAT6oMZNBMPoZQPnPe7YWNjoxNDOb_PaF-eEp7nnOae_nL-irMNuax8CiAwir1GtiH2_9absbUYeA_wEKQk0/s1600/383258_10150357648746254_104610681253_8558683_896821692_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGhcGeUuZ0yfHCjzlJgU2qCmnQzU_DNjhnCSXjBiZq8bQ59yvlb16iW_mAT6oMZNBMPoZQPnPe7YWNjoxNDOb_PaF-eEp7nnOae_nL-irMNuax8CiAwir1GtiH2_9absbUYeA_wEKQk0/s320/383258_10150357648746254_104610681253_8558683_896821692_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Next spring I will turn 48! That's so close to 50 its not even funny! Have to say in the last few years I have learned your age really is only a number. Its how you feel about yourself that makes the difference. Some days I look in the mirror and I see that nineteen year old girl that just got married, then some days I look in the mirror and see my mom, some days I even see my grandmother in the mirror! Now I know to most people I don't look my age, let alone like the mother of three adult children..but this old girl can feel it in her bones, in the nighttime bouts of insomnia, the sudden onslaught of a hot flash or now more then ever in the fact that I have to tip my glasses down to the bottom of my nose to see the words on the page (granted that may be caused by a need to go get the eyes checked). Recently I realized I have been in ministry for close to 18 years. We have seen generations of youths that we worked with grow up, and have babies of their own. If you look at the media today you would think ministry is only for the young (not the young at heart). </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">The wording has changed, the wardrobe has changed. Everywhere I look I see young leaders conferences, young leaders magazines, young leaders small groups, and the list goes on and on. Now I'm not knocking young leaders or the people who follow them....but there are a great group of "older" leaders out there who still have something to offer. It disturbs me that we continue to separate ourselves down generational, economic, racial and denominational lines (and don't get me started on the need for more women leaders). Thanks to the Internet we have an opportunity to learn from some of the best leaders around. Don't confine yourself to listening to just one voice! I'm looking forward to the day I can attend a conference that speaks to every generation, race and economic background. </div></span>blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-33926914721294055112011-11-15T16:11:00.000-08:002011-11-15T16:17:42.848-08:00Planning Meeting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK6bryck52J_6fkna76kaC80gFiOYVWAJBcZmaf-3a3qWJrb7h_19jHUkUZVKBPKGIUT8w-25ccDxO7xWG_4LfoE-C9LXH3xzIQ6uZIs6Hfml0-vmSyGaDOCjbDY8VWQhhgnaRtissYo/s1600/230736_2034509863877_1278094833_2387032_1355138_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK6bryck52J_6fkna76kaC80gFiOYVWAJBcZmaf-3a3qWJrb7h_19jHUkUZVKBPKGIUT8w-25ccDxO7xWG_4LfoE-C9LXH3xzIQ6uZIs6Hfml0-vmSyGaDOCjbDY8VWQhhgnaRtissYo/s320/230736_2034509863877_1278094833_2387032_1355138_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
We are looking for a few local pws in the Hamptonroads area willing to help plan our first Blended Souls gathering. Would like to get together sometime in January for a planning session. The event is scheduled to take place this summer (date to be announced). If your interested please email us at blendedsoulsnetwork@gmail (.) com . Our goal is to host two events each year that will bring local pastor and ministry wives from different denominations and ethnic backgrounds together for food, fellowship, fun and words of encouragement.blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-88578947886880593392011-11-02T10:17:00.000-07:002011-11-02T10:20:37.819-07:00Our Prayer TeamFrom the moment I considered starting Blended Souls I knew it would require prayer. I also knew it was not something I could do alone. I've always had women in my life who prayed for me, offered advice and support....a group of "sistas" who had my back! Several women came to mind when I thought about creating a prayer team, but a few stood out when it came to the subject of racial diversity. It was important to me that this ministry was intentional when it came to the "faces" you see represented here. It was also important to me that these women have a heart for pastor wives, but more importantly that they shared in the vision that is Blended Souls. In the years to come I hope and pray that other women will step up to the plate and be willing to contribute to the ministry, but I'm very grateful for the women who make up our team. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQ3wWAfBMtlXD5WehMccXY2GQGXI-74y0eKk4TM0H-nU7KoeVD_YNrtj8WGLOqWirDaW-nBTZmPlsWs42Jta6E9bs6aOK6c59-idQPKKQ_1bUKN-nrE3BrREYXNTeJ_XfT7e1B_0gOlo/s1600/Copy+of+189929_1899106558879_1278094833_2212489_6007046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQ3wWAfBMtlXD5WehMccXY2GQGXI-74y0eKk4TM0H-nU7KoeVD_YNrtj8WGLOqWirDaW-nBTZmPlsWs42Jta6E9bs6aOK6c59-idQPKKQ_1bUKN-nrE3BrREYXNTeJ_XfT7e1B_0gOlo/s320/Copy+of+189929_1899106558879_1278094833_2212489_6007046_n.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />
Cheryl VanBebber is a Pastors wife from Kansas. She and her husband Pastor David have been a lifeline for Marc and I for many years (we have been friends for over 21 years). It was at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crossroads-Baptist-Church-Riley-Kansas/160027387356626">Crossroads</a> Baptist Church, in Riley Kansas that my husband first begin his journey as a minister. Cheryl is the most down to earth, non-nonsense, humble PW that I know. She was one of the first PW's that I met that didn't fit into the typical stereotypical mold of a pastor wife. I love this women to life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6Mo9Qnc5AnXy4vWdXx_WBYwcZOHOj4uUc-9XjeoOLE_DEDvHjzCEHYmHvFcSCq-bVtmxPmm6V_OSmAt9sHoNpp8xYZE8GOTYXqMUIoP9HjuW1iFgwL_JA_ioJqRfXRTbm7yfYfmZ7g4/s1600/Copy+of+7335_162384949186_539864186_3630003_7722714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6Mo9Qnc5AnXy4vWdXx_WBYwcZOHOj4uUc-9XjeoOLE_DEDvHjzCEHYmHvFcSCq-bVtmxPmm6V_OSmAt9sHoNpp8xYZE8GOTYXqMUIoP9HjuW1iFgwL_JA_ioJqRfXRTbm7yfYfmZ7g4/s320/Copy+of+7335_162384949186_539864186_3630003_7722714_n.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com/">Alida Sharp</a> and her husband Tom are missionaries working in Belize! We have been "virtual" friends for nearly four years (wow, I had not realized it had been that long). I happen to think Alida is amazing! Her and Tom are high school sweethearts, and world travelers. They recently moved from Russia to Belize where Tom and Alida work in the area of Christian Recovery. Alida has been a prayer partner, a confidant, a true "sista" friend. Thanks to Alida and Tom I have gained a new respect for missionaries and the life of a missionary family.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ADy4e-4QEMleQp-xB7elHctVxsOPR3BQfG39Hq4HOsqBmbF_Ke1VWdSlbzjTgTRabeUr9-dTXMoiC2xPH07BQewz8kIg2VOIziAV9wpLRMMnEH2q41XZG2Rp3ykte7hMVjeUvqWFG7o/s1600/149126_452365448882_86161078882_5551260_1885955_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ADy4e-4QEMleQp-xB7elHctVxsOPR3BQfG39Hq4HOsqBmbF_Ke1VWdSlbzjTgTRabeUr9-dTXMoiC2xPH07BQewz8kIg2VOIziAV9wpLRMMnEH2q41XZG2Rp3ykte7hMVjeUvqWFG7o/s320/149126_452365448882_86161078882_5551260_1885955_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
Last but certainly not least...there is Miss.Tara Robertson! <a href="http://www.tarasviewoftheworld.com/">Tara</a> and I "met" through a PW group that I connected with the first year that Marc and I started at WABC. Tara is a SAHM of three beautiful children, a blogger, PW and is a virtual assistant and social media manager. Tara and I have had some intense conversations about race and racism today. She keeps us on track with our mission and she has a heart for hurting women and children. I have loved getting to know this extraordinary, and brave woman.<br />
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I find it no accident that God placed these women from varying backgrounds, ministry's and locations into my life. I am soo grateful for their support, their prayer and their commitment to this ministry. We are looking for more women to add to our team, both locally and abroad. This ministry is not about any one person. Our hope is that these connections will provoke conversations, friendships, awareness and unity. If you are interested in contributing to this ministry in any way please contact us @blendedsoulsnetwork@gmail(.)net .blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-89820166508597252042011-11-01T13:34:00.000-07:002011-11-01T13:39:41.806-07:00Who I Am!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZSrlm9qfud15l1ZrHRUqhqC-VHv1q7Gwe6MpaTb60kjPjAYjCgJJN7VEFMhG_W6yeeguPK_VVTcW9zYgd8oq_V5j4coWdckRr4eSZOZYhUhHh1wQNG5gP_pIBtcqLdxB6X3IOfrqmHo/s1600/222644_1970331779465_1278094833_2300271_1580013_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZSrlm9qfud15l1ZrHRUqhqC-VHv1q7Gwe6MpaTb60kjPjAYjCgJJN7VEFMhG_W6yeeguPK_VVTcW9zYgd8oq_V5j4coWdckRr4eSZOZYhUhHh1wQNG5gP_pIBtcqLdxB6X3IOfrqmHo/s400/222644_1970331779465_1278094833_2300271_1580013_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
I thought now would be a good time to introduce myself. My name is Cyndi Jennings, I'm a retired SAHM of three adult children. My husband is the senior pastor at <a href="http://woodlandavebaptistchurch.blogspot.com/">Woodland Ave Baptist Church</a>, in Norfolk VA. I am the Director of our Women's Ministry and an advisor to our Youth Ministry. Marc and I have been in ministry for nearly 17 years (most of which was youth ministry). When I became a "PW" people warned me about the isolation, about the change and toll it could take on your life. And for some reason I thought I was prepared after being in ministry for soo long. Boy was I ever wrong! In the last few years I have started to truly understand the importance of connecting with women who know what its like to be in my shoes.<br />
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If you had told me a few years ago that I would be starting a network for pastors wives I would have told you that you were crazy. But its always been a dream in my heart to some day connect pastor wives from different backgrounds with one another. At the time it was just a dream. I even <a href="http://cyndiakadisneyqueen.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-love-this-man.html">blogged</a> about this back in 2008. Since that time I have formed friendships with some amazing PW's and women in ministry. Yet, for me there was something missing. Within my own backyard there seemed to be a divide between the local church. And I'm not talking just about race. That divide also exist among denomination, among churches of different sizes and churches within the same city. Something deep inside of me says this is not ok with God. We are not in this to compete with one another.<br />
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If we can't come together as the church, how do we expect to truly impact the world? For years I have asked the question......what would happen if churches started to come together and partner for the Kingdom? How much more could we accomplish? And what if women could be that catalyst for change?<br />
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I'm not saying this is going to easy, I'm not saying its always going to be fun (but just soo you know....we will be doing fun also). I'm not sure where it will go, how big it will be (my goal was never about numbers anyway), how much of an influence it will be but whether it impacts the few or the many to come together then it will be more then I ever imagined. And if I get to connect locally with some new friends then that will be the icing on the cake. I do know this....God has placed this ministry in my heart for a reason and we are going to let him determine its destiny!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627025049921690099.post-13045801034920229832011-10-04T08:55:00.000-07:002011-10-04T08:55:49.698-07:00Our Mission!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoM-xf560NbCB3uFx1acdf379Cu6vG5jhnpu2xLIateyVzk1kEQVZgqgYTjZawC_pRBixom2GZNchD9trLyfoki1aHv7dArtdZ6f4gQWpr0V_vWicM4a-P3ybQ5boglKaOAkvE0OpcMg/s1600/189929_1899106558879_1278094833_2212489_6007046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoM-xf560NbCB3uFx1acdf379Cu6vG5jhnpu2xLIateyVzk1kEQVZgqgYTjZawC_pRBixom2GZNchD9trLyfoki1aHv7dArtdZ6f4gQWpr0V_vWicM4a-P3ybQ5boglKaOAkvE0OpcMg/s320/189929_1899106558879_1278094833_2212489_6007046_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My inspiration for creating Blended Souls in part came out of my passion for bringing attention to the importance of unity among churches in our area. Not just along racial, social and economic lines, but also among Christian denominations. My heart for women and especially for pastor wives has lead me to form a network where we can come together and not only discuss the importance of these issues but hopefully foster long term friendships (a community of "sista's) among Pastor and Ministry wives as we go about our daily lives. We are women of influence..... in our homes, in our work place, in our church and more importantly in our community and potentially around the world!<br />
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I truly believe in my soul that if we can come together as one body in Christ we can be a major instrument of change. That will take being open to listening and learning from one another. Learning to partner together and most of all learning to get along with one another! Let's embrace our cultural differences and celebrate together. I believe deep down in my spirit that racism will only change when churches began to change and start to have a real conversation about this subject. Ladies let it began with us!blendedsoulsnetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695926229825699835noreply@blogger.com1