Mini Expeditions : Little Links

There are some weeks where I stumble upon (literally, not via stumbleupon- though you should totally hook up with that site and be my friend) really great articles that I just want to write about like a beast. But having not much spare time lately has caused a back-up of such articles, and I need to put them somewhere!

So here we go, I'm just going to pile them maybe once a week or so in here so I can come back to them at another point in time. They are just too good to pass up.

End Marathon Mania by Beth Comery
I just wanted to go to the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, and you wouldn't think it was that hard. But there was a marathon going on in Providence that closed half the roads. It took 45 minutes to drive less than 10 miles. This is a typical situation. It sucks.

God and Nexus by Darryl Dash
"But every time I use my NEXUS card, I'm going to think about how God runs a tighter ship than NEXUS, but how grace has made a way for my approval."


Caring for your Introvert by Jonathan Rauch
Extroverts: please read.


The Bossy Pants Guide For Getting Ready on Sunday by Mike Cosper
"Sometimes the best thing a pastor can do is discourage creativity, calling people to simply focus on the ministries of Word and prayer."//Amen

Churches in Greater Providence

Using Google Analytics, I have seen activity on my blog from people searching for churches in Providence, and near Johnson & Wales specifically. So I figured I would compile a (non)exhaustive list, so that in the future, if someone were searching this out and they somehow arrive at my blog, there will be something helpful to offer!

Grace Harbor Community Church
www.graceharbor.net
Pastor Kevin McKay
Currently Meeting at the Courtyard Marriott, check website for details
Providence, RI
401-454-4673

Trinity Presbyterian

www.trinitypresri.org

Pastor: David Sherwood

72 Clifford St.

Providence, RI 02903

401.272.0766

DownCity Church

www.downcitychurch.com

Pastor: Ted Strickland

68 Kennedy Plaza

Providence, RI 02903

401.331.6384

The Sacred Journey

http://sjchurch.org/

Pastor: Todd Murphy

91 Fricker Street

Providence, RI 02903

These are churches that I find to be gospel centered, bible loving, caring congregations. Now I say this is not exhaustive because these only make up churches that I have attended or where I know the pastor. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.


*These websites have great "church search" reference guides by city and zipcode:
www.9marks.org
www.thegospelcoalition.org

*This is a great book about what makes a church a "healthy" church:
What is a Healthy Church by Mark Dever


Hope you find a great church!

Quick No Bakes!

Every year, (Since last year, haha) some people from my church get together for a Cookie Exchange! Everyone brings 2 dozen of their favorite cookies, and you end up coming home with about 3 dozen different and delicious cookies from everyone! Depending on the amount of people, you get about 3-10 of each different cookie!

This year I was a little short on time, and a friend had recommended these delicious Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake cookies. As soon as I heard no bake, I was all over that. With the help of my roommate and a friend, we whipped these bad boys up real quick. Here is the recipe and some pics from the cookie Exchange:
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bakes

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter

(coconut- optional)

Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a saucepan. On medium heat, bring to a boil for one full minute.Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter (optional), vanilla and oatmeal.
Drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Let cool for at least 30 minutes.

Lisa and I with some of our delectable selections!

So much fooooood! Our hostess definitely has the mostess! haha

Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie?

Experience New England: Latin Fa La La's

Saturday I went with some ladies from my church to our friend Diana's jewelry party. She and her husband have just recently joined Grace Harbor, and it was great to go support her and see some of her wonderful handmade accessories! I would totally recommend taking a glance at her page on Etsy! (and then buy some and give them as gifts!)

Last night my roommate Niki and I headed to the 62nd Annual Brown Latin Carol Celebration! It was held in the First Baptist Church in America and featured choir performances that were simply magical and readings that touched on the season, all in Latin! A woman from our church is studying classics at Brown, and I'm so glad she told us about the event! It was simply awesome to hear our favorite Christmas carols sung so beautifully and in Latin! I hope more people come with us next year, and man, we need to remember to get there EARLY, (starts at 8) because it was mad packed!

Celebrating Advent has been wonderful. I'm a few days behind because of the crazy weekend, but I'm absolutely looking forward to catching up today. It has been a great time of establishing a steady time to read my bible and think. It has also caused me to really think about the glory of the incarnation and what it means. The fact that the holy, perfect, and righteous God would send his son to the earth- the earth full of humans that repeatedly rebels against Him and slanders Him. So that we could then kill Him. But all for our salvation and his glory. Whew.

And lastly, Red Mountain Music has a new cd that is available to stream or download on their website. They have really wonderful, gospel centered hymns. Oh man, so good. Especially the song "All Things New," which I think is the first track. Perfectly fitting for Advent as well :)

Growth or a Sore Thumb

"In a healthy church, growth is the norm. In a not so healthy church, those who are growing stick out like a sore thumb."


I heard this quote recently, and I'm wondering how many of us would be able to say that growth is the norm in our churches? And its not talking about numbers, necessarily, but the growth of the individual Christians. Are more people    growing, or are more people just stagnantly hanging out at status quo? Are more people developing a love for theology and God's word, or only being spoon fed by the pastor once a week? 


I would say that a strong exposition of the word penetrates hearts. And when the word gets in your heart, the Holy Spirit definitely does some work.


What do you think?

Service Instead of Service

Lately there has been a bunch of churches swapping their Sunday morning services out for "service" in the community... involving a wide range of things from cleaning up a park to handing out water bottles to joggers.

A while back I was struggling with the biblical "idealness" of concept, (I think it is NOT ideal, or a even a great idea) and couldn't exactly organize my thoughts in the most effective manner, as you would probably be able to ask my sister. Haha.

Well, I love this new blog post from Kevin DeYoung, and think he communicates the topic in a clear and compelling light and have included the link below:

Should Churches Trade in Services for Serving? (link)

Here are the major points of the article, but I encourage you to read them in their entirety.

1. Consider practically if this is a good strategy. 

2. Consider if there is good (or any) historical precedence for routinely canceling your worship service

3. Consider that all of life is worship, but corporate worship is still unique.

4. Consider what it may communicate when you replace services with serving. 

5. Consider that corporate worship is a means of grace.

What do you think? Swapping service for serving?

A Wild, Romantic Undertaking

So, I am reading this book called "To the Golden Shore," a biography of Adoniram Judson. It's an intense 500 pages, but I would recommend it. He was one of the first missionaries sent out of America back in the 1700s. There is a lot of rich theology and interesting perspectives to be had in this book, and if I could quote the whole thing, surely that would happen, but lets not get crazy. 

I briefly wanted to share a letter that Adoniram Judson wrote to the father of a woman he is interested in, asking him for permission and favor regarding their hopeful relationship. Mind you, this is before Judson has left to go to Burma and in consideration of all the hardships that will be. The title of the chapter is "A Wild, Romantic Undertaking," and I thought it would be fitting. Read on.

"I have to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and he subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want a distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him to left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?" (pg 83)

Dang son. "To see her no more in this world."

This brings tears to my eyes as I think about the outlook Judson has about life, and how often I might not think this way, but hold onto this life like it's all I have. I love my family, I love my friends and my church, and there is nothing wrong with that. But to choose to see them no more in this world? This world is nothing compared to the next, and any sacrifice to share this news- it is worth it. Even if we arent personally considering overseas missions work, it is still a world view to be challenged by. How are we living this out? 

Im not typically a fan of taking one little verse out of its context, but I think Colossians 3:2, and its surrounding context really fit into this post. The whole chapter three is basically defined by verse two:


"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." 


I love how it goes on to say that we live this way by loving and forgiving. Missions work, or really any true, daily Christian living is nothing close to a romanticized picture, but it is indeed a wild undertaking, a worthwhile, wild undertaking that has to do with a love like no other. 


What do you think?

Just a few words... never really means a few

I realized that its been almost a week since anything was posted here. I actually have a few posts in the works, but I reallllly want to include the pictures with them. But its not possible with the dial-up here in the apartment. I thought I would get the chance to use Mike's DSL, but not lately. So expect some good posts sometime in the future.

This week has been busy, and after a month (IVE BEEN HERE A MONTH!!!) I am finally starting to get into a routine. I still have a little more self discipline to work on before it gets to be the routine that I want it to be- but I am working on it.

Visited with many church members this week: Galina, Cathrene, Olga. Its been delightful to see how God is working in their lives, and the work that He still has to do in some that do not have a clear understanding of salvation. We try to encourage them and just point them to Christ. Its hard to say who is more encouraged though.

Never knew that my body had such a strong aversion to dill until I got here. Sadly, basically every dish is prepared with dill in it. Loads of dill. So I just have to be strong -- and drink alot of juice or hot tea with the meal.  I am trying to psychologically pretend that I dont hate it- but thats not really working. To my confusion- I DOOO like dill pickles. Tonight, Anya's mother prepared some blini for us, which are Russian pancakes similar to crepes. They are tasty, and the first real food I've had since yesterday afternoon's extraspecial dill-filled meal. They thankfully are not made with dill. They taste good sweet or savory- with everything from sauteed mushrooms, to nutella and bananas or jam in them. You have to roll them up.  LOVE THEM.

I have been preparing the English Language Club meetings by myself these days. Mike is still here, but the transition is pretty much complete into my hands. I get help when needed of course from Mike, Sally, and Natasha- praise God for them. This weeks scripture topic is Jesus calming the waves and having faith (Matthew 8). We are also talking about gardens, telling time, and singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Regarding running this thing by myself- false thoughts have run through my head about my ability to do this- but... God definitely uses incapable people, and God is strong in my weakness, and He provides big faith when I have small faith- heck- he provides ALL faith.. Can I get an amen?

Tomorrow I am meeting with a 7th grader who I thought was 18. We are going to go for a walk and practice our English together. I met her tonight and "she really liked me."  I hope to share the gospel with her and encourage her. I have no idea about her life, but Im sure I will learn a lot tomorrow.

Ive been seeing Zavolzhye in a new light recently. This is mostly due to the fact that the snow and ice are melting- and I can actually see where roads are and have even discovered that Ive been walking across a lake to get to church! No more of that though- its all muddy.  I have a cinimatic experience coming your way towards the end of this trip if you can bear with me.

Today the weather was beautiful and as I glanced out the window I noticed so many people outside! What a joy I thought. The world is emerging from their dens, celebrating a spring day!  Well.. much to my dismay, upon returning from church and still seeing the same people outside my window- I realized that in the middle of all those people was a dead body. Now- In Russia they have special ways of remembrance. It is not uncommon to see open casket ceremonies happening in the most questionable places. Like-- outside an apartment building.

Ok ok enough from me. Time to go to bed. (and you know- work on that schedule and self discipline issue.)
If you have skype- feel free to chat: closingatnever
Love ya, miss ya, In Christ,
-Alissa

Conferences, Finals, and Membership!

Oh my goodness folks! Its been a busy trimester for me. Every day brings a new activity or meeting or who knows what that just has to be attended to. Dont think Im complaining, because Im not, its just a lot of things going on!

This week I was blessed by being able to attend a conference in Massachussetts at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. It was a day long talk given by David Paul Tripp, one of my favorite authors and Christian ministry leaders. The title of the conference was: "The Church: Too many unproductive people."  It was a really interesting conference and I got a lot from it.

The mobilization of the body of Christ is one of the chief problems facing the church today. Our churches are filled with people who do not understand the heart-motivating and life-transforming truth of their new potential in Christ. Because of this, they live with confusion in their personal lives and timidity in regard to ministry. How can we motivate people out of their passivity? How can we teach them the true nature of ministry? This one-day seminar is designed to help church members be involved in what God is doing in the lives of others. 

My friends Ben, Kim, Jon and I were able to go up with Kevin and get the cost covered. It fell under "leadership development" because we are all CSF leaders, it worked out! I will probably be posting some tidbits about it later on next week.

Wednesday evenning my pastor was speaking at a church in Seekonk that GHCC has a relationship with, because it was their annual missions conference and Pastor Kevin was kind of communicating that missions is local as well as international, and that we should puruse missions out of desire to see God glorified by all people, not just because we feel guilty. A bunch of us went from Grace Harbor and they gave us a tasty dinner, and alot of hospitality and welcoming arms. Hopefully in the future our churches will be able to partner in new ways in order to spread the gospel.

Last night, Kim, Hannah, and I went over to my pastors house for our membership interviews. Our church is trying to be a biblical church and have biblical membership. This isnt the kind of membership that you carry a little photo id card and can get special discounts at a gym or something, but more of a committment kind of thing that holds us all accountable and just shows the community our unity and love for one another. So the "interview" was more or less just share your testimony and the gospel and get to know people. It was really awesome to see how God has worked in so many people's lives, and brought them to Providence, brought them to Grace Harbor.


Other than that, just trying to get school work taken care of, christian student fellowship leadership stuff, etc etc... oh yeah.. and SLEEP! WHAT IS THAT? I dont even know. haha. Peace out until next time=)

Hmm..

Tip #79

When trying to improve the church, start with yourself.