More quotes for the collection...

Many know how I love to collect quotes...I have done this since I was a middle school teacher. I realize the danger of taking things out of context, but sometimes the seed in a line or two is just too good. Also, I think that some of these seeds lead folks to reading the full piece to see a grander picture. So with that in mind, here are some new ones:

...Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is a message about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men's lives. --Soren Kierkegaard


Sometimes we don't need another chance to express how we feel or to ask someone to understand our situation. Sometimes we just need a firm kick in the pants. An unsmiling expectation that if we mean all these wonderful things we talk about and sing about, then lets see something to prove it. --Dietrich Bonhoeffer


To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul. --Simone Weil

Oh, I forgot...

Check out an article that I recently had published - Buffy on Vocation. It is pretty much the blog I created on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and vocation in the winter, but was happy when I was asked to compile it into an article format for www.theooze.com. Let me know what you think.

The Next Step

Things are moving quickly now. Last night I went with the Call Committee chairperson and met with the church council members at a special meeting, during which they met me, the chair recommended me for the open call, and they asked a few questions of their own. It was a wonderful time of open conversation and dialogue, and I have learned some new things about this community that I didn't know before.

After the conversation the chair and I left and she was to call me today to let me know of the council's decision. I received that phone call this morning and am happy to say that the church council voted unanimously to put my name to the congregation for a vote. Yeah.

So now, all is not done yet...I will join the congregation for worship and a meet-n-greet on September 9th, and then on September 16th I will preach. Immediately following that worship service a congregational meeting will be held to vote on whether to call me as their pastor, and on my compensation package.

I am quite excited about this, and have learned a lot in this process. It hasn't been all smiles and giggles, but even amidst the straining and troubling parts I trusted that God was present and speaking to all of us. I pray that we will continue to be open to hearing God's will for my ministry, and the community with which I am in conversation with right now.

Call Process Update

Tonight was the third interview with the call committee, one that I requested following some questions after the second interview. It went rather well and I think all saw some assumptions wiped away, and heard each other fully.

Shortly after I left the meeting, I received a call from the call committee chairperson who relayed to me that the committee voted to send my name to council. So now the next steps: prayer, council meeting (I have been asked to attend), prayer, visit with the congregation on Sept. 9, prayer, preach for the congregation soon there after, prayer, that same day a congregational meeting and vote, prayer, and then pending that vote potentially an ordination date soon in process.

I have learned a lot through this and have to say that I am relieved that this part is 'done.' I have a lot to discern and think through in the next few days, but I trust that God is present in the midst of all this. I will withhold congregation name, etc...until it is public to the congregation itself. Thank you for your continued prayers, I will keep you posted as things progress.

Just a brief word of update...

My notes/thoughts/reflections have been quite scant of late, and I wish to apologize. But the events in my life right now require a bit of quiet. Most of you know I am in the call process right now with a congregation, and I can not reveal to you the location, etc...but it is in process. A LONG process, but a process. I hope within the next few days there will be some decisions made by all involved as to the "next step." Once that has taken place, I will update here as I can.

I also ask for prayer for my family as we are facing some issues with a loved one, and just pray that they know they are loved and not alone in what they are struggling with/in, as we try to reach out to this loved one and remind them who they are and the promise that we all live in.

It is during the dark times, and the desert times that family, friends, and community reveal the fullness of who they are. God is ever present amidst all of this, and there is a strange peace found in God's hands. Not a sit-back and take-it kind of peace, but a peace that in Christ we are strengthened, and we seek to discern God's word for us in this situation/circumstance and all of life. I thank you for your love and care, and prayers. God has blessed me with folks near and far who are partners in my life and faith, and for that I am most grateful.

I am learning well...

learning to wait patiently.

Today I worked 5 hours at the grocery store. Nothing overly exciting or strenuous or difficult, but each minute ticked by so slowly. The dream of being a cashier has been lived, and I am ready to not be doing it anymore. So ready.

I just received word that the Call Committee will be meeting next week to discuss the possibility of putting my name forward to the congregation for a call or not. I assume (although we all know what that does) that I will 'know' something (either way really) next week then. Please continue to pray for this process, the Call Committee, the congregation, and myself.

I am also learning well that being a pastor (or soon-to-be anyway) somehow takes away a piece of myself - whether as a daughter, a sister, a friend, etc... I am no longer "Kim" when discussing heavy stuff, emotional issues, crises - but rather I am expected to be bigger, and better, to be duhdadaduh...super Pastor Kim - you know the one who ALWAYS forgives instantly, ALWAYS gives the benefit of the doubt, is NEVER angry with someone, or is NEVER able to express fear, hurt, or questions that come from my heart without being told, "As a pastor I would think you would..."

Now, don't get me wrong, I had already experienced this to one degree or another from the day I announced I was going to seminary...but I thought it would wear off, at least with my closest friends and family. However, I am realizing that when others are hurt, in pain, scared, whatever...they will want to see the super Pastor Kim, before they see me, simply Kim.

New learnings and old learnings each and every day...that's what we call life, yes?