Seeing is the Sense of the Week!

Join our Awaken Your Senses contest and win a $25 gift card.  

Congratulations to last week's winners--Leah Sophia, winner of a $25 gift card for Harry and David's and Sherry Rediger, winner of an autographed copy of Awaken Your Senses!

Here are the details:

“Being able to see truly means that we have to pay attention with our body and soul. We know that when we don’t, it becomes too easy to miss the subtle influences of God’s Spirit around us. Yes, our eyes still function—along with our ears, nose, fingers and mouth. To see God present, however, we must learn to pay attention with all of ourselves. Too often, we pay attention with part of ourselves while the rest of us thinks about work that needs doing or any of the myriad other thoughts that crowd our minds. When that happens, as photographer David Vestal tells us, “You don’t have enough attention to see what’s around you.” If we want to see God present in the ordinary, in the daily gifts we’re given, we want to move beyond seeing and into perceiving. Learning to see using our bodies and souls teaches us to receive the presence of God that surrounds us—in whom we live and move and have our being.” Awaken Your Senses (p. 60, adapted)

Today (Feb. 13) is the start of week two of the “Awaken Your Senses Contest.” The contest is featured on:
• Awaken Your Senses Facebook Page
• Brent’s Blog
• Beth's Blog

Here’s how it works:
1. This week, you are invited to pay attention to your sense of SIGHT and see how it introduces you to the wonder of God.
2. If something cool happens, post a description about that experience on the Awaken Your Senses FB Page or Beth or Brent’s blogs. (All entries must be submitted by Sunday at noon.)
3. Brent and Beth will choose a winner on Sunday evening and that person will receive a $25 gift card for a gift related to taste.
4. Brent and Beth will also do a drawing from the names of everyone who participated each week and the weekly winner of the random drawing will receive an autographed copy of Awaken Your Senses.
5. The winners will be announced on Awaken Your Senses Facebook Page and Brent and Beth’s blogs on each Monday when a new sense begins!

The Contest Schedule!
February 6 – Taste
Winners: Leah Sophia -- $25 Harry and Davids Gift Certificate
Sherry Redinger – autographed copy of Awaken Your Senses
February 13 – See
February 20 – Touch
February 27 – Hear
March 5 -- Smell

Tell your friends about the contest. Tweet, tumblr and blog about it. Spread the word. We can’t wait to hear about your experiences as you awaken your senses to the wonder of God.

The Awaken Your Senses Contest begins today--with TASTE!

TASTE: The sense of the week!

“Have you ever thought about tasting God in what you put in your mouth? The idea that food can remind us of the different attributes, ways and stories of God is a novel thought for most of us. If we are open to letting God teach us the ways of faith through our bodies, though, then we can learn the ways of faith through our taste buds as well as our brain. The sweetness of a freshly baked cinnamon roll can remind us of the sweetness of God’s love in the same way that horseradish at Passover reminds Jews of the bitterness of slavery.” Awaken Your Senses, pg. 26 (adapted)

Today (Feb. 6) we begin the “Awaken Your Senses Contest.” (But you can join anytime!) The contest will be featured on:

·         The Awaken Your Senses Facebook Page

·         Brent’s Blog

·         Beth's Blog

Here’s how it works:

1.       This week, you are invited to pay attention to your sense of TASTE and see how it introduces you to the wonder of God.

2.       If something cool happens, post a description about that experience on the Awaken Your Senses FB Page or Beth or Brent’s blogs.  (All entries must be submitted by Sunday at noon.)

3.       Brent and Beth will choose a winner on Sunday evening and that person will receive a $25 gift card that will be sure to please his or her palate! Brent and Beth will also do a drawing from the names of everyone who participates and give away an autographed copy of Awaken Your Senses.

4.       The winners will be announced on the FB page and their blogs on Monday when a new sense begins!

Tell your friends about the contest. Tweet, tumblr and blog about it! Spread the word! We can’t wait to hear about your experiences as you awaken your senses to the wonder of God!

The Awaken Your Senses Contest is about to begin! On Monday, February 6th, Beth and Brent will host an “Awaken Your Senses Contest” featured on: ·     Awaken Your Senses Facebook Page ·     Brent’s Blog ·     Beth's Blog Here’s how it works: 1.       Each week, for five weeks, Beth and Brent will post a sense-of-the-week. You are invited to pay attention to that particular sense and see how it introduces you to the wonder of God. 2.        As you begin "listening" to that sense, we bet you'll have some stories to tell! Post a description about your experience on the Awaken Your Senses FB Page or Beth or Brent’s blogs. (All  entries must be submitted by Sunday at noon.) 3.       Brent and Beth will choose a winner on Sunday evening and that person will receive a $25 gift card for a gift related to that sense. They will also do a drawing from the names of everyone who participated and give away an autographed copy of Awaken Your Senses. 4.       The winners will be announced on the FB page and their blogs on Monday when a new sense begins! Tell your friends about the contest. Tweet, tumblr and blog about it! Spread the word! We can’t wait to hear about your experiences as you awaken your senses to the wonder of God!

Seeing, Tasting, Smelling, Hearing and Touching the Wonder of God Beyond Advent

Some people become depressed during the Christmas season. Some become depressed after. With the Christmas lights put away, the nativity pup back in the box, the multiple gathering of family and friends ceased, what now? How do we continue to engage wonder? That's what Jeff Crosby, Marketing Editor at Inter Varsity Press, has addressed in his review of Awaken Your Senses. Hope it helps you continue to look for Immanuel--God with us.

Confessions of a Flip-flopper: 2011 in Retrospect

As I reflect on this last year, I notice a pattern emerge that makes me sort of uncomfortable. It looks an awful lot like flip-flopping. I have changed my mind, gone back and forth, discovered and re-discovered what I believe to be God's path forward for me--particularly as it relates to starting Sustainable Faith Indy, an educational retreat center. Yet, as I reflect on how God is speaking to me through this year in retrospect, I see that this circuitous path is helping me discover God's will.

Through my 2011 journey, I've been reminded that:
Time is my friend.
The birthing process for SFI has taken much longer than I had hoped. It's kind of torturous for me to be in a waiting pattern--honestly. Yet, I find myself today so thankful that it has taken longer to discern where and when to begin this new venture. With each twist and turn, I've discovered new and important findings. The waiting hasn't been wasteful. My husband, David, and I have had shaping conversations that have forged a deeper solidarity in us related to this dream. I'm learning that time is my friend.

It's okay to change my mind.
When I first began to talk about starting SFI, I pictured it in an urban setting. But then, after visiting a beautiful retreat center in the mountains of Virginia, I began to wonder if a rural setting would be more conducive to help people discover a contemplative life. Yet, as time has passed (remember--time is my friend), moving further away from our family, community and work has felt concerning and ill-timed. I've had to work through the belief and subsequent guilt that there's something wrong with changing my mind.

God knows me better than I know myself.  
So, with each change in thinking, I've found myself considering conflicting, yet deeply held values within me. Not anything I didn't know was there--like my love of nature and my immense joy in nurturing strong relationships with my family; our dream of leaving land as a legacy for our kids and grand kids, as well as a strong desire to be accessible to people in our community. I'm reminded that "The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out (Proverbs 20:5)." As I reflect on this year, I sense that the Insightful One who has been drawing me out knows me better than I know myself.

I honestly can't say where things will end up or how long it will take before we start Sustainable Faith Indy. It looks like it could be a long and winding road. But with each flip and flop, there is more to discover about the ways of God and the his purposes for my life.

As you reflect on 2011, have you done any flip-flopping? Or do you need to do some flip-flopping--change some ways you have been thinking about yourself, your life or God? If so, take some time to reflect on what you learn about God and his purposes for your life.