Shawna R. B. Atteberry

Gifts and talents is the theme of todays Friday 5.

1. Personality tests; love them or hate them?

I’m ambivalent about them. Some of are good, some are not. For the record on the Myers Briggs, I am an INFP, and I am a 4 on the Ennegram.

2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture ?

I am a creative intellectual. Practical? What’s that?

3. It is said that everyone has their 15 minutes of fame; have you had yours yet? If so what was it, if not dream away what would you like it to be?

No, I haven’t had it. I would like it to be a bestselling book.

4. If you were given a 2 year sabatical ( oh the dream of it) to create something would it be music, literature, art…..something completely different…share your dream with us…

I’d definitely be writing, but I would want to be learning how to paint and do calligraphy as well. I’d love to write and illustrate a book.

5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.

I don’t know if it’s beyond me because I haven’t devoted a lot of time to it. I would love to learn calligraphy.

Bonus question: Back to the church- what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?

I believe every member has a ministry, and I think in small churches it is possible to encourage and implement members’ ministries. I also think at times our definition of ministry may need to be broadened.

I have found Philip Rizk’s blog, tabula gaza. Philip is an Egyptian-German Christian leader who lives in Gaza. He moved there in 2004. His blog gives an inside view of Gaza, the Palestinians who live there, and the politics and violence of the region. He gives us a view of Gaza and the Palestinians who live there that we do not get in the news here.

I first read Philip when he wrote a post for God’s Politics. Christianity Today’s Liveblog also uses his blog to keep their readers updated on what is happening in Gaza.

Life has been busy. I heard back from the editor on my book proposal, Spiritual Direction 101, and she liked it. She has passed it onto the review board. If they okay it, I will be writing the book. I should know in a couple of weeks. I’m working on finishing the first draft of my novel right now. I have found that mornings are better for writing and moving on to other things in the afternoon. I wrote ten pages this morning at Cafe Mediterra.

I feel that God is calling me to plant a Nazarene church in the Downtown/Loop area. I’ve talked with the District Superintendent, and the district has plans to plant a church here in the next year or two. It will probably be closer to two years, so I will continue to attend Northside and more than likely go on staff there for the time being.

After I finish the first draft of the novel, I would also like to get Career Women of the Bible worked into a book proposal and start looking for an agent. I’ve thought about trying to continue to research freelance markets and write short pieces, but I just don’t want to. It’s so much work, for so little return. If I think of an idea that would work for a publication, I’ll pitch it, but I’d rather spend time on the books. And now it’s time to exercise then get dinner on. I hope everyone has a good week. What are you up to?

or town, or suburb, or hamlet, or burg, or unincorporated zone, or rural area of your choice—pretty much anywhere but the southern hemisphere, it’s summer. (Australians and others, consider this an invitation to take a break from winter for a while.)

1. Favorite summer food(s) and beverage(s)

ICE CREAM!

2. Song that “says” summer to you. (Need not be about summer explicitly.)

Anything by the Beach Boys.
3. A childhood summer memory

Spending days at the ballpark. My dad was a softball pitcher.

4. An adult summer memory

Going to Starlight Theater (outdoor ampitheater in Kansas City at Swope Park). I saw Miss Saigon, Aida, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Les Miserables, and Aida there.

5. Describe a wonderful summer day you’d like to have in the near future. (weather, location, activities)

Going to the beach and swimming.

Optional: Does your place of worship do anything differently in the summer? (Fewer services, casual dress, etc.)

Not really. We already have casual dress. Although we are all getting together at a members house for a cookout after church Sunday.

This is a readers theater I put together from the gospel lesson for this Sunday. Please feel free to use it in own worship service.

Narrator 1: They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite Galilee. As he stepped out onto land, a madman from town met him; he was a victim of demons. He hadn’t worn clothes for a long time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell before him, and bellowed,

Demoniac: “What business do you have messing with me? You’re Jesus, Son of the High God, but don’t give me a hard time!”

Narrator 2: (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the unclean spirit out of him.) Time after time the demon threw the man into convulsions. He had been placed under constant guard and tied with chains and shackles, but crazed and driven wild by the demon, he would shatter the bonds. Jesus asked him,

Jesus: “What is your name?”

Demoniac “Mob. My name is Mob,”

Narrator 1: he said, because many demons afflicted him. And they begged Jesus desperately not to order them to the bottomless pit.

Narrator 2: A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged Jesus to order them into the pigs. He gave the order. It was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the lake and drowned.

Narrator 1: Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had been sent, sitting there at Jesus’ feet, wearing decent clothes and making sense.

Narrator 2: It was a holy moment, and for a short time they were more reverent than curious. Then those who had seen it happen told how the demoniac had been saved.

Narrator 1: Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back in the boat and set off.

Demoniac: [I] asked to go with him, but he sent [me] back, saying,

Jesus: “Go home and tell everything God did in you.”

Demoniac: So [I] went back and preached all over town everything Jesus had done in [me].

(Taken from The Message by Eugene Peterson.)

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kings 21:1-21; Galatians 2:15-21; Luke 7:36—8:3

Sinful Women and Pharisees
Luke 7:36-8:3

In the previous story in Luke Jesus had been commenting on the fact that you just can’t make some people happy–notably the Pharisees. Verses 33-34 of chapter 7 tells us that John didn’t drink wine and fasted all the time, and he was accused of being demon possessed. Then Jesus, the Son of Man, comes eating and drinking, and He’s called “a glutton and a drunkard and a friend to the worst kinds of sinners!” And in this story we see how Jesus is a friend to the worst kind of sinners.

A Pharisee is throwing a big, fancy dinner party, and he invites Jesus. I’m not sure that was a good move on his part, but he did it anyway. Normally when a big party like this was thrown the house was left open, and those who hadn’t been invited to the dinner itself could wander in through the courtyard and listen to the discussion going on. After the party the left-over food was given to those in the courtyard, so the poor were fed, the host didn’t have a lot of food spoiling, and everyone was happy. This is why the woman, the sinful woman, could get in. So all of this lively dinnertime discussion is going on when, all of the sudden, (I imagine a dead silence coming over the room at this point) this woman walks up to Jesus and kneels at His feet. Crying, she anoints His feet and wipes them with her hair. We’re never told what sins this woman committed that brand her as a sinful woman. I like that. It leaves it open-ended for us, and any kind of sin that we need to ask forgiveness for. May be that’s why Luke didn’t elaborate: that way his readers could fill in the blank with their sin and know that Jesus forgave them just as He forgave this woman.

(more…)

I’ve just returned from a meeting in Cambridge so I’m posting this late here in the UK (it is 3:45pm).. because I took the opportunity of a free afternoon in Cambridge’s wonderful book shops… I only bought a few- and they were on sale- very restrained for me!!!

So with my head full of books I’ve seen and a long wish list in my mind, I bring you a Friday Five on books!!!

1. Fiction what kind, detective novels, historical stuff, thrillers, romance????

Urban fantasy, mystery, thriller, classical fiction, fantasy, and historical

2. When you get a really good book do you read it all in one chunk or savour it slowly?

I devour books.

3. Is there a book you keep returning to and why?

Several: Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, Little Women, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time series, Neverwhere, and Sunshine.

4. Apart from the Bible which non-fiction book has influenced you the most?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship

5. Describe a perfect place to read. ( could be anywhere!!!)

Bed. Or sitting by the lake.