Aj Schwanz

Iím on the Board of Evangelism - itís my second year. Iím one of three girls, one of *one* young adults (the next closest person in age was 38ish), and Iím the only person related to Joe Gerick - three strikes, Iím out. I can pretty much say anything, because I canít get any lower.
The clerk does a fantastic job of clarifying the sense of the meeting with a laugh and positive words. The time doesnít always feel productive: it seems like a lot of ìcatching upî rather than moving ahead, but thatís what you get when you only meet two-three times a year.

Weíre looking at how to strengthen our Hispanic/Multi-cultural ministries: itís looking an awful lot like our English-speaking churches about fifty years ago. It seems like many folks who donít feel comfortable with the post-modern type churches flock to this ministry - a familiar model to them?

We heard a report from our New Works pastors WHO I LOVE!! They are some of my most favoritist people ever - *amazing* examples of living out Godís love and submitting to His will and following His direction to live in the abundance of Godís Kingdom. Two Mid-Year Boards ago Karen mentioned that we are called to live in freedom as bondservants: rather than having to ìfigure it all out,î we get to leave that up to God! All we have to do (yeah, all - heh heh) is ask God what we are to do right now: what does he have planned for us this moment.

John brought some interesting words to us today, something along the lines of ìanything we may come up with pales in comparison to seeing the Spirit; we live in the dimension of time - while we walk in time, weíre called to live in eternity - which is now.î I started to have some trippy thoughts regarding time and infinity ñ couldíve been the non-drowsy decongestant talking, but was fun nonetheless.

I love hearing about the new works going out around the yearly meeting, but itís also hard: it seems that many folks have a hard time dealing with new works because they donít ìfit in the box.î They are based on relationships, and relationships take time to foster, to grow, to cultivate. New Works canít easily be measured in terms of success - and that really bothers some folks. I wish it wasnít such a point of contention, that it could be blessed and allowed to grow without everyone needing to stick their oar in . . . but such is institutional church life.

[Bad blogger: I skipped the evening session. One of us had a long day of work, the other a substantial headache, the other experiencing nursery-overload].