Sunday, July 29, 2018

Who's Who at AC3--Shea Caperoon

In our mission to be a safe church for seekers, we sometimes hear those attending say that they don't know who someone is. We want you to get to know the faces you see around AC3. We are starting with the Triad, and last time we introduced you to Kellie Ade. Next up, we have Shea Caperoon, one of our Elders at AC3!

Questions -Spiritually Minded
Shea and his wife, Lori

  • How I clear my mind after a challenging day:
I like to take a walk and practice my tai chi forms to relax and re-position my perspective. Sometimes I just need a nap with some relaxing music.  David Modica is a favorite.

  • Advice to a person of faith dealing with a broken relationship with their church:
The first thing I want to say is that the banners we hang at AC3 - Love God, Love the Church, Love the World - are there for a solid reason. Paul says that Faith and Hope and Love are all awesome - but the mostest awesomest thing is Love. It may not be exactly obvious, but this means that relationship is a keystone for us and we ought to perceive it this way. Relationship has value above and beyond all the stuff and junk we typically fight over. I also want to say that not everyone is safe and this means there are surely times to walk away from particular relationships - but be careful this never happens in a moment of heated emotion. Sometimes we are the ones being walked away from... this does not always mean we are unsafe but it might be a good opportunity to consider the possibility. Of course, I now realize I have a lot more to say about relationships (and specifically broken relationships - and even about how to break them). 
Let me at least offer this advice (which if you have spent any time around me you have already gotten an earful of):
"Allow people to be who they are today."
Sometimes they can be jerks - you are always going to fail at trying to disallow this - you can only allow it or pretend to disallow, which boils down to a silly game not worth playing. (of course, this is not to say you should allow yourself to be abused at a chronic rate - see the above about the "walk away"). We must show the grace to others that was shown to us and prize the relationship as the precious thing it is - over and above stuff and junk. The last word in my advice - "today" - is important. You must also to allow them to be somebody different tomorrow - that is to say, do not label them a "forever jerk" just because they are a jerk today. 

  • When I declared I was going to walk along with God, instead of away from him:
It's a long story... but I was at a weekend Amway convention and Bill Britt delivered the gospel message during a Sunday service in the convention. I had been running a long time, and while I didn't fully understand what I was doing at the time... I completely understood in that moment that I had been literally running away and decided it was time to stop.

  • Change I’d like to see among Christians today:
I wish we would stop "fighting fire with fire"... I understand secular arrogance is difficult to avoid, but I see no place for religious arrogance in the church - and yet we are rife with it these days. We fight with the worldly but make peace with our own worldliness. We return injury with injury instead of with understanding and compassion. I can list the many excuses I have personally used for my own arrogance and yet I can also point you to Christ who says love your enemies.

  • Moment I saw significant change in my servant life:
I believe it was the moment I started seeing myself as a valuable part of the whole we call "church" - even if and when others did not recognize my value (it took them a while to catch up with Jesus don't cha know)

  • How I found my way to AC3:
So I started at an Amway convention... got baptized at Overlake... started attended at a foursquare (which got weirder than your average foursquare) and swung wide to a traditional First Baptist. In every environment, I felt like the misfit that I am. We discovered AC3 via the web and while I still feel like a misfit, I feel like I fit among the misfits now - like a family.

  • Advice I’d give to Younger Me:
Chill dude.

  • Gifting I most admire:
Would I sound arrogant if I suggested my own giftings - only more developed and matured? I admire and respect teachers who can communicate well and evoke thought and new perspectives - without manipulation and dirty emotional trickery - it is harder than it sounds. 

  • Favorite serving experience: 
Can't say I have a "favorite". There are some which I can say I'm glad I left behind - I learned good stuff while there but glad I didn't get stuck there. One of my favorite sayings is:  "Everything is an experiment." and that means I can learn from everything and I can explore freely. I don't have to be an expert - in fact, there is value in seeing myself as a perpetual beginner.

  • What I tell others about serving:
I've already said it... but maybe I'll say it this way also - serving is relationship-centric. All of the spiritual giftings are relational. Even if you are in a back corner somewhere chopping a donut or formatting a newsletter - you are developing relationship and dependent upon relationship.

  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to community:
Grouping
Grouping
Grouping
seriously... 
I don't attend a lot of different groups - I am an introvert after all... but I depend on small groups and classes. I personally do not get much "church" out of Sunday services. I enjoy the music and drama, and learn a bunch from Rick and Dan when they teach, but I don't connect hardly at all during services. Lobby-time after services is hard for me (I am a bit hard of hearing - all those metal concerts I attended when I was invincibly young). Most of the lobby chat is small talk anyway - nothing wrong with small talk, I'm not knocking it - it is just not much connecting for me. 

  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to God:
All the same stuff you've heard a hundred times. I would say that journaling is a big one for me personally. I might even go so far as to say that - for me - I feel like prayer only ever feels authentic and connected when it flows through my pencil. I don't treat my journal like a diary, it is more like a communication line.

Questions-Secular-minded

  • What book left a lasting impression on you?
Tolkien. Oh, and Heinlein. Tolkien and Heinlein and maybe some Le Guin... ok, definitely some Le Guin. Tolkien and Heinlein and Le Guin. There.

  • If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Fried Rice. But no onions or tomatoes (humans considered tomatoes poisonous for centuries... no idea who would want to change that.) Pineapple is always a good substitute. Peas and carrots are acceptable but I don't miss them when forgotten. But it's got to have some bbq pork and bits of egg, please.

  • There is a zombie apocalypse...What is your weapon of choice?
I feel like I would prefer to dual wield in such an event... in my left hand - something heavy and blunt like a framers hammer and in my right something sharp and not too short - perhaps a bayonet? I've put too much thought into this as you can see...

  • Marvel or DC?
I don't even associate with DC fans. I don't even associate with people who associate with DC fans. (in case it doesn't come across right... I am joking)
I have collected Daredevil since I was 10 years old - and in fact, I still do at 50. That reminds me, my box at the local comic store is probably overflowing with the last 6 months of Daredevil.

  • Beach or Mountains? Why?
If you plan things right, you can have both. My favorite getaways are river hikes. I go far enough up into the mountains to where I don't feel like the water is going to carry a bunch of industrial toxins. There is nothing quite so relaxing as a sandy river beach... sure it's gray instead of white but you can still stick your toes in it.

  • What is your favorite sport to watch? Team to follow?
I jumped on the Seahawks bandwagon because, well... because fomo probably, but I'm feeling over all that. I will probably go back to watching live music performances instead.

  • Favorite season? Why?
I grew up in Hawaii... what do you think?

  • You can only listen to the same song OR watch the same movie for the rest of your life. What do you choose?
I just made a playlist called "My Favorite Songs". It includes over 4000 mp3s. You want me to pick only one?
Let me at least share a few of my favorite artists here:
        Elephant Revival 
        Carolyn Wonderland- I prolly could listen to this song only forever on...
        Iron and Wine 

  • What is your idea of a dream vacation?
Exploration and Laughter in the sun

  • What are your top 3 hobbies?
1. Music (listening)
2. Reading (books / comics)
3. Tai Chi
        
  • You have a day with NOTHING planned and no responsibilities!  What do you do?
Probably my 3 hobbies. Maybe some exploration and laughter in the sun. Certainly some Elephant Revival / Carolyn Wonderland / Iron & Wine.

  • Something that your father said to you when you were little that you now say to your kids (or did when they were younger.)
"You make a great door but a lousy window." (in other words, get out of the way of the TV)

  • What is the last thing you binge-watched?
Longmire. And now that it is over, I miss Henry Standing Bear

  • Morning person or night owl? 
Morning. 

  • Best advice I’ve ever gotten:
 “Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear.” ~Pooh bear
and also ...
        'Never jump into a pile of Leaves with a Wet Sucker!' ~Charlie Brown 

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Who's Who at AC3--Kellie Ade



In our mission to be a safe church for seekers, we sometimes hear those attending say that they don't know who someone is. We want you to get to know the faces you see around AC3. We are starting with the Triad, and last time we introduced you to Lori Caperoon. Next up, we have Kellie Ade, Assistant to the Creative Teams Director at AC3!


Questions--Spiritually minded
  • How I clear my mind after a challenging day:
As much as I'd love to tell you that my very first impulse is to pray, it's usually more of "I wonder if there's any beer in the fridge" kind of thing. Then I'll play my guitar a little bit, and then maybe cry, and then I pray. And then I play Skyrim. Slaying virtual dragons is surprisingly relaxing.

  • Advice to a person of faith dealing with a broken relationship with their church:
We're Gospel people: we're in the business of reconciliation because God first reconciled Himself to us through Jesus. There is no person in God's estimation able to do anything bad enough to exit the realm of His grace. However, I also know that we ourselves are not God; we can't change or rescue people like He can, especially if they're not willing. All we can do is hold a posture of openness, vulnerability, and love without chasing down or pushing away. Also, some practical advice:

1. Seek wise counsel. No, really.

2. Keep your conversations about the person you're in conflict with to an absolute minimum (i.e. if they're not right there with you, don't talk about them).

3. Remember the Master's words in Matthew 7:1-5. It'll keep you humble in the heat of a conflict.

  • When I declared I was going to walk along with God, instead of away from him:
There wasn't one single moment that I've decided this. When I try to describe to people what my walk with God is like, I usually stick my finger in the air and turn it around in a series of loops, moving from left to right. At the apex of the loop, I'm a committed believer with complete faith and feeling absolutely certain about everything ever; at the bottom of the loop, I find myself in skeptic's shoes, having to test and retest. Sometimes I can get frustrated with the cycle, but I find that each time around things get a little clearer, a little deeper, a little more real. I am always being converted; intellectually, emotionally, on a daily, even moment-to-moment basis.

  • Change I’d like to see among Christians today:
1. Ask more questions. Manufacture curiosity if you have to, but with one caveat - questions are meant to be asked in the hopes of an answer, not to just sound edgy and profound.

2. Prioritize church attendance/involvement. Don't deprive the community of yourself.

3. Prioritize listening over speaking. If we make an emphasis on being a culture of better listeners, we will make a real difference in our world. 

  • Advice I’d give to Younger Me:
Basically, the lyrics to the song "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World. Also, you might want to wash your rasta hat.
Kellie and her husband, Tim

  • Gifting I most admire:
Hospitality, encouragement, and mercy. These are gifts I do not have, and I find them baffling, mysterious, and deeply, deeply necessary. The Christians I look up to the most have the greatest character, sense of compassion, and their openness to others is incredible and inspiring.

  • What I tell others about serving:
It's not about you ;) But it IS one of the best way to get connected if you're feeling disconnected from both others and God.

  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to community:
1. I try to come to church even if I'm not serving on anything. It makes me available to others and puts me in the path of my church family. It's something I have to do consciously since I tend to be woefully introverted.

2. Normally, I'm serving somewhere during the week or the weekend. Not to be a broken record, but service is a very strong community adhesive. If I'm serving, I'm connecting with others and I'm in tune with the needs of my community.

3. This might seem counter-intuitive, but I strictly limit my time on social media (Facebook, Twitter, whatever). I find that when I'm not as distracted by my virtual social life, I find more bandwidth for the actual flesh-and-blood people in front of me. The quantity of interactions goes down, but the quality goes way up. I find the internal resources to be more present to the people in front of me when I'm not free-falling down my newsfeed trying to keep up.

  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to God:
Honestly, just the boring ol' basic ones:

1. Daily Bible reading and meditation (my personal favorite devotional plans come out of Streams in the Desert, A Year with C.S. Lewis and Celtic Daily Prayer).

2. Prayer journaling (which is cool because it inevitably establishes a record of what God was doing in my life, which I often only see in hindsight).

3. A conscious effort to take things slower than I'm naturally inclined to. The gravity of being busy is often the biggest hindrance to intimacy with God. There's a specific temptation to do this in ministry work especially: to mistake working for God as being with God. It's as if I'm running around frantically doing Jesus' laundry and dishes, telling myself that's intimacy, while He awkwardly sits on the couch waiting for me to sit next to Him and just talk and hang out. I have to be more disciplined in slowing down, being present. Still not that great at it, though ;)

Questions--Secular-minded
  • What book left a lasting impression on you?
Mere Christianity is definitely a top one. I can't seem to stop re-reading it as I always find something new in there. A close second would be The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel.

  • If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Haggis. I'm not even kidding. It's delicious.

  • Beach or Mountains? Why?
It's Washington; why pick?

  • Favorite season? Why?
I'm gonna go with the basic-white-girl answer and say Fall because I can wear a hoodie and still go outside. Great hiking season.

  • You can only listen to the same song OR watch the same movie for the rest of your life. What do you choose?
"Dry the Rain" by the Beta Band

  • What is your idea of a dream vacation?
Backpacking in Europe somewhere; pretty much anywhere. I ain't picky.

  • What are your top 3 hobbies?
1. Playing/writing/recording music

2. Hiking/going for walks

3. Skyrim

  • What is the last thing you binge-watched?
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt".

  • Morning person or night owl?
Nope.

  • Best advice I’ve ever gotten:
"If you're making a decision primarily motivated by fear, it's probably not the right decision."

Or, a less esoteric favorite, "Measure twice, cut once".

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Who's Who at AC3--Lori Caperoon

In our mission to be a safe church for seekers, we sometimes hear those attending say that they don't know who someone is. We want you to get to know the faces you see around AC3.  We are starting with the Triad, and last time we introduced you to Deanna Braaten. Next up, we have Lori Caperoon, another one of our Elders at AC3!

Questions-Spiritually Minded


  • How I clear my mind after a challenging day:
If it’s been a frustrating day, even if I’ve gone to God about it, sometimes my mind just won’t clear. If I can laugh, it’s a great way to clear my head. For frustrating days, I will call a friend or family member and talk about it, and it usually turns to laughter. If it’s late at night and my head won’t stop thinking, I will watch something funny on tv and that will bring me to the present moment and stop the “mind stick”. Laughter feels like taking a clean shower on the inside of my mind and heart.

Lori and her husband of more than 20 years, Shea
  • Change I’d like to see among Christians today:
Oh man, I would love it so much if we were known more for what/who we stand FOR instead of what/who we stand AGAINST.  There is enough dissension in the world and enough hatred. If we can demonstrate the love of Christ in all circumstances, that would be a game changer for how Christians are viewed in this culture. Love is not weak! It’s amazingly strong along with its companion: forgiveness. That’s a big reason why Jesus was so revolutionary. He offered love and forgiveness instead of picking up stones.

  • Moment I saw significant change in my servant life:
When I decided to look at the reasons I was resisting serving, I realized most of them were based in fear. Fear of being committed to something I didn’t like, fear of it taking too much time, fear of not “clicking” with the people I would be serving with, fear of not being liked, fear I wouldn’t be good at it…you see the trend. When I read that the Bible states that perfect love casts out all fear, I realized this fear was a barrier to the love I’m called to. So, I just got brave and tried stuff. Some serving positions come and go, and some stick around for years. But I try very hard to bathe it all in love, being the hands and feet of Jesus whether I am rocking a foster child to sleep or helping to fold church flyers, or cleaning bathrooms. It’s all sacred work to me.

    Lori's sons: Aaron, Eamon, and Asher
  • How I found my way to AC3:
The internet!

  • Advice I’d give to Younger Me:
Let the small stuff go. Yes, you’re doing it right. No, shoulder pads are not your friends.

  • Gifting I most admire:
Faith. I admire people who never, ever doubt. Some people are gifted with this unshakable, immovable faith. Others have times where we sweat it out on our knees and have midnight existential crises. For us, the beautiful gift of faith always comes through, but I wish it came as easily for me as it does for the Faith people. Oh, and hospitality because I slog my way through that one too, tho it’s getting easier.

  • Favorite serving experience:
There have been many, but going to Africa was my favorite if I can call that a serving experience. There are one billion stories, laughs, cries, and faith-builders that came out of that trip. And I am forever changed by it. Go! You should!

  • What I tell others about serving:
What are you afraid of? What if that fear wasn’t even true? I advise people to jump in and try something. You don’t have to commit forever. And if you’re not sure, talk to the person in charge and let them know you’re just trying it out for a few times to see if it’s a good fit. Pray and ask God to open your eyes to opportunities, then step out. Don’t wait for something to knock on your door.

  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to community:
Going to church regularly, small group (I didn’t have one so I started one. You can too!) and just going to coffee with people. Coffee is a great way to get to know people. It has a limited time frame, in a public place and is least likely to be scary if people scare you. I love people, but I also love coffee, so it’s a win/win.

    Lori and her grandson, Finn
  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to God
The obvious ones: Prayer, scripture reading and memorizing. A prayer journal is a new practice I started again, and it’s awesome. Less obvious, I never miss a sunset if I can help it. I feel in touch with God’s presence, and it feels like a gift. Also, I write. I get deeply connected to God when I write because it is where I am most honest, authentic and spiritually aware. Everyone is different, so find the thing that feels most spiritual to you.


Questions-Secular-Minded

  • What book left a lasting impression on you?
I’m with Dea- To Kill a Mockingbird. Read it! Or see the movie. It’s good too.
  • There is a zombie apocalypse...What is your weapon of choice?
Is an invisibility cloak a weapon? Did that just make me seem nerdy?
  • Marvel or DC?
Marvel
  • Beach or Mountains? Why?
I love the smell at both places, but I will always choose water. It’s so life-affirming to me.
  • What is your favorite sport to watch? Team to follow?
Go Hawks!
  • Favorite season? Why?
Winter, but when it’s snowing not raining. Don’t be a hater! When it snows, the world goes quiet and people are forced to stop and be in the moment. I love it. It makes me feel like a kid again.
  • What is your idea of a dream vacation?
Sun and loved ones. And water. And a waiter. Perhaps a spa. But mostly sun and loved ones.
Lori, Shea, and their granddaughter, Tegan
  • Something that your mother/father said to you when you were little that you now say to your kids (or did when they were younger.)
“How would you feel if someone said/did that to you?”
  • What is the last thing you binge-watched?
Shetland
  • Morning person or night owl? 
Night owl
  • Best advice I’ve ever gotten:
You’ve only got one audience. God is the only person you should care about watching you.(From my husband.)

Monday, July 16, 2018

Constructive Connections-Part 3

Constructive Connections is a fiction series. They are beginning tales of how each person is crafted by God to fulfill a purpose, to enhance the narrative of life. By contributing unique talents to serve one another, a tower God calls us to construct begins to form for His joy.
Constructive Connections: Suffering Together

The image of a solitary wolf looking into a village of American Indians was my mother’s favorite theme to create on canvas. There was no menace among any wolf she crafted of thick black, grey, and white blended oils. They yearned to be part of the tribe, able to frolic with the children, a romping pup amongst austere teepees, rejoicing with dancers around the blaze of amber flames. When I was young, I saw my mother’s hungry eyes in those painted wolves.
“Mom, what’s that smmmmmmelllll?” Oh goodness, was that little boy right! My orange tabby cat, Liver, had chased a skunk into our camp kitchen-fly. The pungent aroma permeated every square inch of the campground, my clothing, tent camper, everything smelled. The hair I had washed and styled was askew from the chase and I smelled atrocious! I caused quite a stir as I sat waiting for my friend, Jackelyn at the cafe.
Being a photographer by trade, I’d spent many years behind the lens observing folks. People watching was my hobby, you could say. That day in the coffee shop, when Willard avoided eye contact with my smelly, grey-haired disheveled old woman self, was the day a new journey began to understanding perception.
I had left a lucrative job a few years prior at “The Air Out There” magazine, where Jackelyn still worked. After leaving the magazine, I became a freelance photographer. No, I did not do weddings-my work was strictly news articles, periodicals, and such. But as I worked from home, I realized how many possessions I had accumulated over the years. It was prohibiting me from truly stepping out where I felt God was nudging me to go.
Poverty piqued my interest from the time I was a high school student. What really was “poverty?” My family rarely had much money. I received used clothing, never owning a house, we rented a home on tribal lands, and we often depended on the church food bank. We survived on food stamps and government subsidy. Certainly not for lack of working-my mother held two jobs to support her aging parents and disabled uncle. I had learned about poverty, but never felt impoverished. Was poverty only a money or lack issue? Or was it a spirit issue? I knew plenty of people with spiritual poverty. They were the ones complaining about how life was never giving back to them and living perpetually in want; the ones who had the “American Dream”-2.5 kids, mortgage, and a world of available privilege. I felt the tug of God to delve deeper into perception of poverty; but needed to experience scarcity to really have compassion for persons living within it.
I began to minimize. The donation truck had me on a twice-weekly rotation pickup. I got rid of so many things! Then I looked around at the few essentials I had left. I took pictures of the space in between items I chose to keep. Within me, I heard: “Keep going.” I gave up all my furniture and eventually, the three-bedroom house. Then I bought a motorcycle trailer, the bike to tow it, and found a campground to set up my new life of lack. I wasn’t sure what to be looking for, I just knew there was something I was being called to experience. So, I waited. Then I got a call from Jackelyn.
“Tell me about how you decided to live so small?” she asked quickly after she sat down.
“I felt I was being pushed out by possessions. I needed to free myself from the bondage of things. I always wanted to travel but felt spiritually tied to home. Leaving the magazine with hopes to seek out new adventure, I thought my job was tethering me to place. Yet it has been 3 years since I left. No travel plans yet,” I spilled out to her as we sat visiting, sipping coffee.
She looked at me with a crooked smile, then made the pitch, “When the opportunity came up at our board meeting the other day, I immediately thought of you, Dell. We are planning to travel to Africa for a missions trip. Would you like to join our team?”
Admittedly, I was blindsided. “Africa? I…I am a photographer, not a medical professional and my well digging days are long past, my friend,” I said with a sigh, rubbing my damaged shoulder.
“This is a relationship mission. We don’t know what to expect other than we will be living among and helping within the villages. I don’t know why, but I think we may be part of a bigger story on this journey. A change of perspective might be just what God is calling both of us to experience.” She had me at ‘perspective change’.
I followed my friend, Jackelyn to the African continent and found myself outside of a village, looking in with those craving wolf eyes. My perspective transformed with every sick child I cradled, every malnourished woman I cooked for, every bowl of maize I ingested. I began to understand the meaning of compassion with new eyes: To suffer…together.
Ten years ago today, we made that life journey to the small village where we served and saw from a new perspective. We experienced how to live without excess of possessions, but to live in excess of relationship. While Jackelyn and I traveled side by side, we gleaned different experiences. Just as an adjustment of the lens can change perspective when setting up a photo, it also can change meaning within the focus of a snapshot.
I am still a Christian photographer, unable to dig a well or give medication. But because of following God’s prompts, I am now welcomed yearly to rejoice and dance around amber fires, frolic with the village children, and be youthful in the spaces in between the simple huts of the villages.
“But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.”
Job 36:15 NIV

-Written by Jennifer Love





Saturday, July 14, 2018

Who's Who at AC3--Deanna Braaten


In our mission to be a safe church for seekers, we sometimes hear those attending say that they don't know who someone is. We want you to get to know the faces you see around AC3.  We are starting with the Triad, and last time we introduced you to Christian Love. Next up, We have Deanna Braaten, one of our Elders at AC3!


Dea and husband of more than 20 years, Lee


Questions -Spiritually Minded

How I clear my mind after a challenging day: - After a difficult, challenging or emotionally charged day, I try to find a quiet place to pray, reflect and confess. I realize that I must force myself sometimes to sit and be still. I am finding that when I seek solitude and silence it helps me to find clarity in my emotions. When I sit in stillness and seek God’s instruction I find peace. I am by nature a problem solver so I work diligently to acknowledge what I must hand over to God and what the Holy Spirit is prompting me if anything to act on. Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God;

Advice to a person of faith dealing with a broken relationship with their church:  My advice is to first pray for wisdom, discern the root of the brokenness, seek reconciliation, confess where confession is needed and forgive as Jesus forgives.  Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

When I declared I was going to walk along with God, instead of away from him: I went under the waters of Baptism in November of 2000. The process of hearing, believing and accepting the Gospel changed the way I approached my marriage, my parenting and my friendships. My acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and Savior and the grace that followed that decision opened up for me not only eternal life but abundant life too. Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Change I’d like to see among Christians today:  I would like to see more Christians today take an active role in caring for widows and orphans. My passion for healthy families is illustrated in that one of my favorite events to witness is Baptism, it is such a celebration to welcome someone into God’s family. Family means so much to God and so it means so much to me. He grafted us in to belong to HIM. (My own childhood was consumed with alcoholism, substance abuse,  physical abuse, child sexual abuse and a myriad of other deeply troubling situations. I will forever be grateful to the family that took me and my sisters in when our whole world came crashing around our heads.)  James 1:27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
 
Moment I saw significant change in my servant life:   Years ago I read the Book The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. I do not recall all the details but one item resonated with me especially as a young mother and a new believer. Brother Lawrence found himself in the presence of God in the washing of the pots in the Monastery kitchen. In all that I do within the umbrella of my servant life it comes from my desire to Glorify God and edify others. From the very beginning of my walk in faith I have served, the change in my serving was so subtle that I can barely pinpoint it, I just wanted to make God smile upon me as His good and faithful servant more than I needed the accolades and gold stars from His people.  Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Dea and her family. From left to right, Karli, Chase, Baby Matthew,
Dea, Cadence, Rene', Caleb, Chyla, Lee, and Chloe.


How I found my way to AC3: In the spring of 2004 my son Chase brought home a flyer with details on a class called Time Out for Parents. It was a parenting forum with resources and testimonies about raising children. This was our first encounter at AC3, but because we already belonged to a church we were not interested in attending. It wasn’t until our own heartache within our church led us back to AC3.

Advice I’d give to Younger Me: Do not live in fear - even if something is scary do it anyway- let my faith be stronger than my fear. Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

Gifting I most admire:  Evangelists inspire me.  I admire the way they can share the Gospel with clarity, purpose and enthusiasm. I love watching boldness in faith balanced with love and grace.  

Favorite serving experience:  Over the years I have provided childcare during our offering of Dave Ramsey's FPU. In 2015 I met a little girl named Cadence.  I had no way of knowing then that our meeting would change my life. Years later, Cadence came into my life again and this time became a part of our family. God gave me the opportunity to be the person to her that I needed, but did not have when I was her age. At the time I had no idea that this would turn out to be my favorite serving experience, but today I know that God had a plan for us the moment we met. 1 John 4:7  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

What I tell others about serving:  Pray, when it comes to serving nothing will stop you from putting your life into your ministry. Getting our gifts in the game not only honors and glorifies God but enriches our lives. I am not saying there will not be challenges and frustrations but what you give in your serving can bring so much joy, why would you want to miss that? When we serve: we strengthen our communities; our families; our marriages; and our relationship with The Father. We begin a sanctification process, where we start to look more like Jesus. Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to community:  Community means a great deal to me yet I will admit to struggling with interpersonal relationships. Through some difficult self-reflection, I find that the habits of confession keep my relationships in my community transparent. When I not only seek out but also accept offers of fellowship I am strengthening my sense of community by truly knowing someone and being known. And finally, when I pray I draw near to my community through the activity of intercession.

3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to God: Reading my Bible even when I am tired, distracted or just plain lazy has become a priority in my life. I draw strength from reading the Scriptures. Praising and worshipping and even dancing keeps me connected to God and studying my Bible not only increases my head knowledge but my heart knowledge and this draws me closer to Yahweh.  James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded

Dea and daughter, Chloe


Questions--Secular-Minded


What book left a lasting impression on you? To Kill a Mockingbird

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Tacos

Marvel or DC? Marvel

Beach or Mountains? Why? Beach- for me there is nothing like watching the setting sun while sitting on a beach

Favorite season? Why? Spring- the promise of rebirth

You can only listen to the same song OR watch the same movie for the rest of your life. What do you choose? Zootopia

What is your idea of a dream vacation? Reading an Emily Giffin book by the poolside after walking the El Camino Santiago in Spain

What are your top 3 hobbies? Tap dancing, reading, and gardening

What is the last thing you binge-watched? Sherlock

Morning person or night owl? Night Owl




Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Who's Who at AC3-Christian Love

In our mission to be a safe church for seekers, we sometimes hear attenders say that they don't know who someone is. We want you to get to know the faces you see around AC3.  We will start with the Triad.  Be on the lookout for new interviews every week.  So, next time you see these people around, feel free to strike up a conversation!  First up, Christian Love, who is one the Elders at AC3.





Questions--Spiritually Minded

  • How I clear my mind after a challenging day: 
Honestly, after a challenging day I usually start with listening to heavier music like Metallica, Disturbed, or even Rob Zombie; this helps me with shouting out frustration.  Then as I drive home, or if I am at home alone, I will transition to milder music; Christian or secular.   Often, I will “phone a friend” if it has been an extra challenging day.  Then I will usually wrap up in a prayer, asking for forgiveness for my rage and frustration.
  • Advice to a person of faith dealing with a broken relationship with their church:
There are so many reasons we can come up with for not going to church or having a broken relationship with the church.  While it depends on the nature of the broken relationship, we must get to the core of the problem; is it THE church, A church, or God in general?  A very good friend of mine has been fighting with God for a long time now.   He knows God will win, but still is unable to let go of the hurt his most recent church caused.  This is not a problem with God or even THE church, it is specifically one church experience that tempers the whole.  There is one major flaw in all churches: They are all full of not just people, but broken people.  God loves us anyway and knows that broken people don’t always get it right, but what matters is they are aware of it are willing to make changes.
  • When I declared I was going to walk along with God, instead of away from him:
So often the question comes up in Christian circles “when were you saved” or “when did you accept Jesus as your Savior”?  The problem for me is there is not one pinpoint time where I can say “This is it, right here” or, “that was the moment”.  There are times when I have felt closer and more in tune with Jesus, and times when I was far from Him.  For as long as I can remember I have always held true that he is God and Jesus was His son who came to save us all.  There was no late-night crying on my knees moment, no altar call that brought me to the front; it has always just held true for me.  And yes, “Faith” is one of my giftings.
  • Change I’d like to see among Christians today:
Why can’t we be friends…I once heard an old married couple being interviewed on how they had stayed married for so long and what was their secret.  The woman, wise in her years, looked close at the interviewer and said, “I have always started my day knowing that have always loved him, not always liked him, but yes always loved him”.  There is so much quarreling from one church to another, which often filters down to one Christian to another.  The change needs to be made that we can accept our differences and glorify Him by remembering that we may not always like one another, but we should always love one another.
Christian and his wife of more
 20 years, Jennifer
  • Moment I saw significant change in my servant life:
I wasn’t the instigator of this change. I wanted to serve but nothing seemed to call me.  It was my wife, Jennifer, who helped me find the niche that worked and got my feet on the ground.  In my past life I had been a job developer and had a variety of skills from resume building, job counseling, interview preparation etcetera.  With God’s help, we created a resume/job service ministry.  It has met with great successes over the years and drawn volunteers to help in the process.  From one of the best interviewers I have ever met, to someone willing to sit and fill out applications; every volunteer has skills to bring to the table.  I am aware God did not gift me with every skill- just the ones I needed. 
  • How I found my way to AC3:
Let’s see I was invited at least six times by Kim Adcock, twice by Richard and Gemini Boas, a couple of times by Shirl Aube…and the list goes on.  My response was always the same, “It was too different from my Catholic upbringing”.  Now there’s a copout if I ever saw one.  Faith in God and Jesus never were a problem for me; faith in the church-now that was different.  The dogma of the Catholic church did not always align with my feeling of what Jesus wanted us to be.  Now this is not to bash the Catholic church; I love so much about it, the beautiful services and buildings and some great people on fire for God are all part of it.  It was just not right for me.   But when my children’s questions came that I did not have the answers to, the search began.  We seemed to walk into churches where the talk was predominantly about money and how they wanted ours.  The first sermon we ever heard at AC3 was Rick talking about, you guessed it, money.  Our friends assured us he never talked about money, but you know what…Jennifer and I heard something new that day. “God does not care about your money, it's just the conduit to your heart”.  Not only did we start attending, but we signed up for FPU, and shortly thereafter found ourselves called to tithe.
  • Advice I’d give to Younger Me:
Don’t be so sure!
  • Gifting I most admire:
The Servant Heart.  I wish I could say I look forward to every opportunity to serve, looking for every possible task large or small to serve God.  It is not my gifting, I love to serve, but just not all that keen on scrubbing toilets, gathering trash, or dealing with preteen children.
  • Favorite serving experience: 
Successful job searches, I love seeing others succeed.
  • What I tell others about serving:
Don’t let not fitting into the current ministries stop you from serving, we made our own, why can’t you?
  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to community:
Learning to talk lightly about topics I know little about and following the tangents that lead to areas I can better relate to.  Reading and group discussions about books and their topics.  HUGE Men of God; relating to other men walking similar paths as me has been… well HUGE.
  • 3 disciplines/habits that keep me connected to God:
Reading the Bible daily with devotional content, prayer journaling, discussion with family and friends about what I have read or heard.

 Questions--Secular Minded

  • What book left a lasting impression on you?  
The Book Thief.  It brings home the idea that so much of what we thought we knew about Nazi Germany was wrong,
  • If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
Pizza
  • There is a zombie apocalypse...What is your weapon of choice? 
Blades of some sort, removing heads seems to almost always work.  Oh, yeah and I only have to run faster than the slowest person, so trip, hop, or hobble you’re not getting in front of me.
Christian, Jennifer, and their children,
 Ellarie, Arawyn, and Tirian
  • Marvel or DC? 
Marvel, except for Batman, always be Batman.
  • Beach or Mountains? Why?  
Mountains, the views and the fresh air.  Love hiking too, not keen on walking in sand though.
  • What is your favorite sport to watch? Team to follow? 
Professional Pick-up Sticks.  It all the rage in the east.  My favorite team is “Stick it 2 ‘em” (Not a big sports fan but: Go Hawks!)
  • Favorite season? Why? 
Spring or Fall its close, not too hot or too cold, though I will take too cold over too hot any day.
  • You can only listen to the same song OR watch the same movie for the rest of your life. What do you choose? 
“Revive Me” by Jeremy Camp, and movie would be “Fiddler on the Roof” Tevye is one down to earth guy.
  • What is your idea of a dream vacation? 
 I have always wanted to tour the German Castles and travel other areas of Europe visiting these ancient fortresses.
  • What are your top 3 hobbies?  
Love Games of all types: Card games, board games, video they are all good.  Reading: Mixture of Fantasy writers from Terry Brooks to Jennifer Robinson.  Hiking-loving the nature seen, cannot deny God in the face of its majesty.
  • You have a day with NOTHING planned and no responsibilities!  What do you do? 
Oh, reading and playing games for a start.
  • Something that your mother/father said to you when you were little that you now say to your kids (or did when they were younger.)  
I am not buying that anymore you’re just going to eat it all.
  • What is the last thing you binge-watched? 
The Good Place
  • Morning person or night owl? 
Morning, but I have been known to burn the candle at both ends
  • Best advice I’ve ever gotten: 
“Look back at your old prayer journal, see what God has done!”