Eight Months

I know that more often than not this blog has been a place for me to blow off steam, moan about the hard things, or throw out my questions regarding the past, present, and future. But today, today, I have some glorious news. News that has taken me eight months, eight freaking months, to announce: two of our partner churches are finally coming together for ministry!

Big deal, you say. Oh, if only you knew the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into pulling this off, you'd understand how truly fantastic this news is. Delays on their end, my end, everybody's end, nearly succeeded in keeping me in the very pit of despair regarding this partnership. But praise be to God who orders all things according to His glorious counsel, finally, finally, we'll all be coming together for training and ministry.

Do you hear it? It's the angels singing. No, don't say I'm blowing it out of proportion, because when you've been waiting eight months (eight freaking months) for something which seemed at the time so very easy to orchestrate, and which looked as if it might never take place -- in other words, something truly impossible -- this is nothing short of a miracle. In fact, I think it might be. And I wanted to record it because I think it just might be a harbinger of things to come.

Lazarus the Chicken Man

I was standing in the hallway of one of CEF's partner churches waiting for a meeting to start when I spotted him - Lazarus the Chicken Man. All around me on the walls were lovely murals of Jesus' life and ministry. I wasn't really interested in them, although the colors did strike me as vivid and the art work as something particularly adept, not your normal church fare at all.

Directly in front of me was a mural depicting Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I studied Jesus, moved onto Mary, but was arrested by the get-up newly-alive Lazarus sported. Was it just me, or did Lazarus look like he was wearing a giant chicken suit?

What do you think? As you study this work, observe how fightened that sheep looks. Mary too.

It's almost as if Lazarus dressed up for some out-of-control frat party, but died before he could get to it. Just imagine: Jesus commands the men to unbind him, when all of a sudden Lazarus steps forth in all of his chicken glory and shouts "par-tay!" Then they all go down to his house and have some good wine. Yeah, this is the Gospel as it should be - lots of rejoicing, and redeemed frat boys, and good wine. Let me tell you, it made my day.

Update from Little Rock

I've been working with CEF of Central Arkansas for two months now, and I know it sounds so cliche, but it's hard to believe. Honestly, it feels like I've been here for a much longer period of time, and yet I feel like I'm just now getting the hang of things. Really, just ten more months? I don't think I'll be done with Little Rock by then. Possibly it will be done with me, though. I don't know what that means exactly, but it sounds cryptic, doesn't it?

I love this job. At times I feel guilty for drawing a salary for doing this thing I love so much. I hope no one finds out! There have been frustrations, yes, and lots of them. One them is connecting with contacts from each church in order to get their Good News Club started. Today, after many ignored phone messages, one of the churches finally got back to me and told me the bad news: they decided they didn't want to hold a club after all. This is totally fine with me.

I know I'm supposed to feel indignant that they are revoking the commitment they made to CEF in the spring. Possibly I should fall to the floor screaming "NOOOOOOO!", but honestly what makes me the most peeved is that they don't just tell me. They knew, probably right after Little Rock '09, that they had no intention of holding a Good News Club this fall. Why drag out the inevitable? I have so many other churches who actually want to hold a club that it frustrates me to expend so much effort in trying to contact a church that isn't really into CEF when I could be pouring that time and effort into a church that really is into CEF.

Like one of the children's pastors here who heads up our first ever After-school Good News Club. He and his team have been working for over a year to start this club, and when I go to visit I just smile. First of all, the kids love him and his team. Secondly, he is super organized - he color-codes AND alphabetizes. I'm so in love! And today a member of the team called me to tell me that he had talked with a principal from Bald Knob (I have no idea where that is) this weekend who wants a Good News Club in her school. They're doing my work for me! I'm not offended by churches with no heart for this ministry, certainly God doesn't call everyone to it, and that's okay, but they could at least stop wasting my time. Augh!

Tomorrow is, Lord willing, going to be another full day as I meet with three different churches to discuss clubs. I love these meetings because I'm able to sit down and hear other people's stories, and they are always so interesting, both the people and the stories. One of the meetings is with one of my favorite ministers from a local Methodist church. I talked with him today, and after I had identified myself ("hello, this is Jeanne Hulme with CEF...") he exclaimed "hello my friend!", like we were best pals, even though I have only met him once, and only talked with him a few times since then. Gotta love these Southerners...

Yes, it's been a good few months all in all, and from all appearances it will only get better. God is so faithful and kind, that I have experienced, well, all of my life really, but certainly during these last few months especially. What His Word says is true: there is no want when you follow Him.

Goodnight, y'all.