Mindy's Non-Adventures

Okay friends. So I just finished writing up a delightful little thing about our past week, but we all know how the week went. Our lives came to a screeching halt, and we've tried to keep ourselves busy until this massive and slow as ketchup coming out of a Heinz bottle storm did its thing. You all get it. I don't have to rehash it. We are all so over Florence. Instead, I'll tell you about this other thing that happened! First, I need to explain something to you about myself. When I'm thinking through an issue, I have to look at it from every possible angle. I will read a position on said issue and internally argue against every point I read. Then I'll read something else coming from the opposite angle and argue every point they make. I will argue all the points in my head and sometimes out loud until I either get to a point that I cannot refute OR I realize there's no way to definitively know the answer. At that point, I'm okay with making a choice and hol...

Happy September everyone! Summer is in its final throes and fighting back hard against autumn. It's a valiant effort, but I think we're all done with 90+ weather in September. In my heart, I am pulling on my cozy socks, sliding my cocooned feet into my boots, wrapping myself in scarves, and twirling in the blowing leaves with a hot apply cider drink in my hand. Alas, today will be in the 90s again so I will put my sandals and tank top on with bitterness. Hot, sweaty bitterness. But anyway. I have settled into a happy place. After rereading some of my posts from earlier this year, I can tell how far I've come. The beginning of this year was chaotic and sad. I've since eased into a nice season of calm and boring. I can take a deep breath without the tightness that accompanies the anxiety of too many commitments and worry over whether or not we're already behind with our school work.  Unfortunately, some of my people have stepped into a more difficult season of...

***DISCLAIMER***      Okay, I'll go ahead and tell you that you might find the beginning of this a little boring. I don't think it's boring, but I can be nerdy so I'm not always a good judge. So in my continuing personal study on what the church is supposed to look like, I thought it only made sense to go back to the source and look at the first description of the church in Acts 2:42-47.                "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship,to the breaking of bread                 and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being                 done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.           ...

    Some of you might know that I've been questioning a lot of things about church and what it means to really follow Christ. I've especially been questioning the way the church looks and acts in America. So for part of my search, I've started reading the book The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. At the end of each chapter, the authors give questions for reflection, and I'm going to answer those questions here. I am a little hesitant because I'm making my experience public to people that never knew the struggles I was having at the time, and I'm going to give my point of view on things that a few people might not agree with. What can I say except that I probably should have said this years ago! So here it goes... Q.1 "Describe some times in your life when you've wanted to tap out on God and the activities of the church."  This question is easy for me. I instantly remember the time when I wanted to "tap out." Right after...