At the Restoration House we deeply believe that at the Fall not only was our relationships broken with God but it was also broken, with self, others, and the rest of the creation. Today is Earth Day and my guess there are a lot of Christians out there that don't get it or they just think of tree hugging hippies. Well to catch me in a tree hugging video below is one for you viewing pleasure.
But regardless of what you think about hippies, tree hugging, or Earth Day, God calls us to care of and to be good stewards of his creation. I know I am continually wrestling with the practical realities of that. This has been a twist in my journey that I never expected but I know God is pleased when he sees us taking care of His creation.
Recently, I have been able to participate in and help teach a four week workshop called God is GREEN. We have been recording each session for pod-cast and all four will be posted next week. Also there is a great book by Matthew Sleeth, MD entitled Serve God Save the Planet.
Check back then and I will included a link from the blog. In the meantime go plant a tree or something...
Have you ever known someone who always complains about work? Not their job, but work in general. Have you ever seen good hearted people consistently prevent those they're helping from work because they end up doing it for them? Have you ever known someone who is just completely lazy and does everything they can to get out of work?
Well I've definitely known a person or two like that, but as a follower of Jesus I must remember that work is not a curse. God always intended that we work. In Genesis before the Fall ever occurred, Adam had a purpose; a job. It was only after the Fall that work became toilsome.
Today I had the pleasure of dropping and picking up our second mother at The Restoration House for her first day of work at her new job. She has only had a job one month out of her life and that was more than six months ago. Her new job is at a local kids consignment shop where you spend the whole day on your feet sorting clothes and putting things into its proper place.
You should have seen her incredibly joyous smile when I picked her after seven hours of being on her feet with nothing to drink or nothing to eat (by her own choice). She loved it. She felt needed and that she was able to provide for herself and her daughter. Don't get me wrong, its not the job she wants forever but she finds a new sense of dignity and worth in the work.
LUNAFEST is coming to Knoxville April 29, 2008, a national traveling film festival of short films made for, by, and about women. Award-winning films are pulled from the top festivals across the nation, and range from quirky animation to touching documentaries. All the films celebrate women in our local and global communities. LUNAFEST is a fun and inspiring way to connect with other women, raise awareness for women’s issues, and nationally support The Breast Cancer Fund. Stroller Strides, Knoxville is hosting the local LUNAFEST film screening to raise funds for The Restoration House of East Tennessee in addition to The Breast Cancer Fund. LUNAFEST will take place at the beautiful Two Rivers Pavilion in Louisville, TN. Tickets are $20 before the event and $25 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at all Stroller Strides classes, or online by visiting www.therestorationhouse.net. We are so excited about Stroller Strides and The Restoration House working together to help restore single mothers and their children. See you there!
Today I had the privilege of spending two hours at the Depart of Human Services (this is where people go to get food stamps and such) with one of our mother's at The Restoration House.
When you first enter it is a larger room with probably 80 to 100 chairs where people wait to be called (sometimes up to 3 hours, so I've heard). There is a very small unsupervised play area for smaller kids to play while their parents wait. Then there are clerical workers lining both sides to help check people in for their appointments and to answer basic questions. Once you are called back by your case manager you enter cubical world. They are very small and extremely packed it. There is enough room for the case manager, a computer, and the client. Because there was no room, I had to sit outside of the cubical in the hall. There are a few dirty toys lining the walls to help distract young kids.
It was amazing to sit there with her, her daughter, and two different case managers. The first one concerning food stamps didn't take any time. The second case manager handles her Families First (TANF) case. This was a whole other story.
As I chased her daughter up and down the hall (she is only one and this is to be expected) I was able to interject into the conversation and help unscramble some of the coded language being used.
I have to trust that the case manager's heart is good about what she does but it just seems that every explanation and every answer was so canned. There were times where there were grouse misunderstandings happening all because the case manager wasn't taking the time to really listen and process what the mother was saying to her. It really was all very sad.
I know the case manager sees all kinds of people come through there and has probably been working there for years. When she was hired she probably had incredible visions of helping to rescue people from their negative choices and desperate situations. Over time it seems she has lost most of that original passion and desire.
So here's my question, "How do we protect ourselves from that?" I mean Mandy and I currently have that original passion, drive, and vision for our families, but how do we keep it over the next year, five years, ten years???
I don't want to wake up one day and find that though I'm still doing the job, I really don't have the relationship...
We're a family of five, waiting to bring home our newest member, Silas! We cannot wait to begin this new adventure with our son and daughter and their new little brother! We are so overwhelmed by God's goodness and how He has shown His hand along the journey!
