Luray Caverns

This weekend was an extremely interesting experience for me. I joined Trevan up at SVA for the Potomac Conference campmeeting. We stayed in the boys dorm in separate beds and communal showers...

On Sabbath afternoon we got together with Deidra and Otis to have lunch and hang out for a couple hours before the evening program. Someone had the thought to go check out Luray Caverns and off we went.

It is always amazing to see the wonders this world has to offer. Can't wait to see what heaven will be like!

True Evangelism

In our quest to prove that our biblical beliefs are solid, we sometimes come across as unbending, irrational fools! Personally, I am very convicted on my love for Christ and my acceptance of His sacrifice for me. This leads me to be passionate about helping others see my point of view, but that does not necessarily make sense to others.

This article by Mike Lowe expresses very logically, I think, the basic barrier to proper evangelism. It is not our jobs to pound others with the truth, but to build bridges that they can cross as they find meaning in the lives we live, and more importantly, and they see we understand and care for them just as they are.

It's been a long time!

Wow, I really have dropped the ball with this whole blogging business. Sorry about that. I am back!

For over two months now I have been working for an international NGO based in Switzerland. The name of the organization is Initiatives of Change, formerly Moral Re-Armament. This organization seeks to engage people of all races, religions, economic backgrounds, and cultural backgrounds, in ways which build trust accross the world.

The US offices are based in Richmond, and they have worked most specifically with race issues in this area. They are very well known in the metro Richmond area for their ability to train leaders to build strong, integrated communities that value and embrace each others differences.

In Washington D.C., there is another office that is working very closely with Muslim/Christian dialogs. Thrying to get these two religions to understand, respect, and trust each other. No easy feat.

Although I have only been here a little while, it has been crazy and I am definitely working hard for my pay check! Next week we have a big forum in Dayton, Ohio, and we have all been working hard to pull all the speakers and activities together. If you are in that area you should check it out.

If you are like me, you have felt alone in your quest to change the world. Through this job I have found that there are thousands of people all over the world that feel the same way. Part of my job is to help those people find us, and others that are trying to make a difference and help them "plug-in" to the movement. Although there is a long way to go before the world is a better place, I have now learned that I am a better person for trying to change it, and that makes the world better!

He's Gone

I blame myself for Sanjaya being voted off the show. This time I only voted six times and hoped that America would do the rest. Oh well, so much for the musically challenged making it!

Fanjaya

After failed attempts at voting for American Idol contestants during the second season, I gave up trying. Really I gave up on the show completely... Still love Kelly and Carrie though!

This season, however, has drawn me back in with the arrival of unlikely Sanjaya Malakar. If you had never heard Sanjaya sing, but saw the little girl that cried during his performance, you would have assumed he was a wonderful singer. For those of you that have heard him sing, you are thinking "What is wrong with her?".

I remember laughing the morning after the show aired when I saw the report on the Today show. God definitely did not imbue Sanjaya with the gift of singing like an angel. He has a wimpy, shaky voice and should have never gotten to where he is.

Why then did I find myself voting for him MULTIPLE times after last week's show? Because God did not imbue me with any singing or musical abilities either. If you think about it you will see how cruel life can be for a pastor's wife that does not play the piano, sing, or, well has no musical ability. I have actually had people ask me, "So what do you do?".

So, for all of us that consider it quite cruel that some have the gift of music while others just pray in vain for divine voices, Sanjaya stands as an example that having a great personality (and girls crying while you perform) is worth much more than actual talent. In honor of his effort I have become a Fanjaya too! Either his effort or the desire to get back at people that consider you worthless if you can't sing.

Our Den!

I know you have been patiently anticipating pictures of our den, so here they are!

The previous owner was a model train enthusiast...This is what the room looked like before our move.
When we moved in we first had to remove the railing on the top of the room. Then remove the wallpaper trimming. Then Spackle, sand paper, wash the walls, and finally paint.
Then we had to put back together our impossible entertainment center and put back all our heavy equipment! See Trevan staining?

Finally, Mrs. Osborn came and helped us put the finishing touches on the room. Viola! Here is our den today. A modern retreat in which to entertain guests and a place for Trevan to work on his sermons and anything else he deems worthy of his time.
Thank you for your patience. Coming soon...pictures of our bedroom!

Currently working on our bathroom...

Wild Life

The previous owners of our house told us that each spring a couple of owls nest in the woods behind our house. I have eagerly been anticipating their arrival.

A couple weeks ago I began to hear them at different intervals during the day. Since then they have been quite noisy during the night, but until today we still had not seen them. This afternoon however, we heard them and decided to go outside and check it out.

At first we noticed about three crows flying around the area. Then we saw one of the owls fighting the crows away from the hole in the trunk of the tree were the other owl was incubating the eggs! Very National Geographic! I tried taking pictures, but we don't have a camera with great zoom, so they are not great pics.We plan on purchasing binoculars and a better camera soon so we can get pictures of the baby owls. In a couple weeks they should be here and supposedly we will see them learning to fly right in our back yard! I'll keep you posted.

A Sweet Retreat!

Some of you might remember how excited I was about the possibility of converting one of the bedrooms in our new house into a craft room. Well, after many hours of labor and lots of red paint...I give you my craft room...Wait not yet. Here is what the room looked like before all the paint and furniture.
Now...Here it is! My craft room! A room in which I have crammed all my favorite things...
My trusty tiger friend Winter! I love this little tiger so much... I often imagine that in heaven I will have a real one as my trusty companion.
My TV, which I purchased in college after working my behind off for a couple weeks. It is very old, but it works. I usually watch my shows when Trevan is busy with work or at meetings in the evenings. I also treasure a painting that my friend Rosie painted for me! My sewing machine, which I have not learned how to use yet, but I will take classes soon!
Another touch I added are these framed butterflies from Costa Rica. Trevan things only grandmas have things like these hanging from their walls, but they remind me of my country and its luscious greenery and wild life, so they stay...
Even Trevan shares this special place with me...

I really love this room and the quiet times I spend here. It is a place where God and I can commune in perfect harmony even though the walls are Merlot red!

Crazy Life

It has been a long time since I have wrote anything at all. Between moving in, sprucing up, job hunting and getting sick for over a week, my life has been quite crazy.

This particular post however, is about a fabulously funny adventure of mine a couple weeks ago. As I mentioned I have been going on various job interviews trying to find the right place to work. On this particular day I was ready early and was sitting on the floor of our den enjoying my breakfast and the Today show.

Trevan walked in with his breakfast and sad on the sofa next to me. Wanting to cuddle with my husband before heading off, I got up off the floor and flopped onto the couch. The next thing I knew, Trevan was yelling "NO!". I quickly got up and looked at my behind...There it was, a half of Trevan's bagel on my backside.
I wanted to take a picture for you right then and there, but I had to rush to my room, throw another pair of pants on and head out to my interview. But as you can see, I did get a picture before washing my pants. Just another day in the life of Shari!

Adventures in the life of a Pastor's Wife (PW)

I have been debating whether to relate some of my experiences as a pastor's wife for quite some time now. Sometimes I think it would be therapeutic, and other times I think it will allow you to see how inadequate I can be! Catch 22

Well I have decided to do it anyway...

My first anecdote is actually quite mortifying. Last Sunday the church decided to have a party and show the Super Bowl while allowing the kids to come and have a grand-old-time playing games and hitting a piñata. As a good pastor, Trevan dragged me to the party! I was not terribly happy to be there because I do not like showing people my competitive, somewhat obnoxious side...especially when the Colts' are playing...Go Colts!!!!

Anyways, I opted for demure, almost bored-out-of-my-mind behavior to temper the more natural side of me. Unfortunately, by half-time I was itching to do something so I started throwing a football around with Trevan.

"Oh, I am feeling a lot better now, more loose, more happy. This is fun! I can be myself, no harm done...NO!" Imagine my horror as a pass came out of my hands too high and too hard and HIT a lady sitting like a mile behind Trevan. With the most contrite smile I could muster I waved at her and apologized to no avail. She gave me the most unforgiving look...almost as if saying "You little twit."

Needless to say, I spent the rest of the evening sitting at my seat with my hands clasped firmly in my lap, reprimanding myself for my actions..."Way to go pastor's wife, hitting the parishioners over the head with a football. Nice work there! That will really get them to warm-up to you..."

Oh well, one of the many mistakes I will make as a PW. Stay tune for more stories, because even though I don't want there to be more stories, I am sure there will be a lot more where this one came from!

The Sabbath

I've often thought about my reasons for yearning for the Sabbath's arrival. There are weeks I just can't wait for it to be Friday so I can start celebrating the Sabbath's return.

What do I find in this day that changes my life? I certainly appreciate being able to take a day off from work. I also get to put away my paint brush, hammer, and any other tools that I have been using throughout the week to do little jobs around the house.

When I was in high-school I looked forward to church because I got to dress-up and hang out with my friends. I loved singing and playing bible games. But why do I still yearn today?

Maybe its the quiet serenity of a night without television or grocery lists or meetings. I rather suspect that it is God's promise to meet us in this day and take those burdens that have weighed so heavily on our backs all week long. I know God promises to take our burdens regardless of what day of the week we bring our trials to Him. But there is something about the Sabbath rest that makes that promise more palpable and real...That is why I yearn.

Roger Wins!... Again

There are very few things in life that are givens. Deep down we know that miracles happen, but they are not very likely. Cancer can be cured, but not very likely. Not even tomorrow is certain for any of us. Life is just so unpredictable...

Wait! There are some things we can predict. Superman will escape near death twice in the same movie and still have enough time to save the world, Batman will disarm the bomb in time to save the girl, Spiderman will continue weaving his web regardless of who tries to stop him, and...of course, Roger Federer will win the big match!

Although he has his moments of weakness (French Open), you can always count on him to come back at the next Open and destroy anyone that stands in the path of him and that trophy.

I don't know about you, but I like having constants in my life. Thank you Roger!