Question 13 (submitted by Allison): Where did Cain and Abel’s wives come from?

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Last night, after attending the best Oscar’s party I’ve ever been to, I couldn’t help but think about how talented you all are. It’s amazing (and exciting) that so many people, with so much talent, gather together each week.

We have a nurse, a physical therapist and a massage therapist. A few of you are good at crunching numbers, a few are great with children and a couple of you who intend to save the world. We have a photographer, videographer, graphic designer and a couple of technological experts, not to mention singers, musicians, poets, artists and a jewelry maker. Some of you teach, write, encourage, even speak foreign languages. We have amazing chefs, a couple of comedians, makeup artists and at least two outdoor survivalists. I’ve seen you play volleyball, softball, run races, hike and twirl fire. You play football, mountain bike, snowboard, juggle and row. You’ve remodeled a home, starred in a movie, led worship, designed costumes, repaired furniture and ministered to the homeless.

We are proud of each one of you and the ways you use your talents. We are so thankful that we get to sing this song with you:

One heart one spirit
One voice to praise You
We are the body of Christ
One goal one vision
To see You exalted
We are the body of Christ

I am so clumsy. One of my coworkers teases me about being lucky to make it through the day without seriously injuring myself.  For example, when I packed my lunch on Wednesday morning I realized I’d be finishing off a bag of pita chips.  So instead of using a zip lock bag (go green!) I just put the whole chip bag into my lunch box.  At lunch I rolled the top of the bag down to be able to reach the chip crumbs.  When they were gone I tried to straighten out the bag so I could fold it up and throw it away.  The remaining crumbs came shooting out of the bag – landing in my hair and on the floor across the room.  Everyone in the lunch room, including me, got a good laugh out of this.  Seconds later, I managed to step on the only wet surface in the entire room and nearly fell.  Yesterday I ran into the refrigerator.  I’m  not sure how this happened – I’ve walked past that same refrigerator every day for the last 4.5 years.  Nothing to report yet today, but give it time…

Unfortunately my clumsy spells aren’t limited to issues with personal space.  I am so clumsy with words.  It’s ironic because a lot of what I’m paid to do at work has to do with communication: drafting articles, facilitating training, editing.  In the corporate world every key message undergoes multiple levels of review and is reworked and reworded until it sounds just right.  All of this refinement takes a lot of time and a lot of work.  In normal, real life no one provides me with an edited draft of my thoughts.  It’s just up to me.  I have to choose the words, ensure they’re arranged logically and then say them at the right speed, in the right tone, with the right facial expressions.

There are a couple of horrible moments that stand out in my mind.  The “threat level red” situations that I’m embarrassed about, no matter how much time has passed.  Like junior year of high school in AP History.  When I meant to express that my friend, whose family is from India, has a broader world view than me.  Instead it came out that she’s different from everyone else in the class.  Like last year at a family lunch, when I meant to say I’m jealous for your attention.  Instead it came out like I don’t trust your judgment. 

The Bible is crystal clear on this topic.  I particularly like these “common sense” passages in the old testament:

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 34:13

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Proverbs 21:23

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Psalm 141:3

Feeling inspired by Wednesday’s lesson, I have ramped up my prayer life in the last few days.  I feel so clumsy.  Words don’t seem big enough to cover how thankful I am or how much forgiveness I need.  This morning, I came to the happy conclusion that for once, it doesn’t matter if I’m clumsy.  I can stumble along, choosing the wrong words and forgetting to say the key points.  Unlike anyone else, God knows the heart.  He knows my intentions, desires, weaknesses and fears. 

Why don’t we turn to God more?  Why don’t we turn to Him first?  Too many of us, including me, want to solve things on our own.  I can’t solve my word problem on my own – I’ve tried.  Maybe what I need is more practice with prayer.  Practice speaking to God like He would have me speak.  Practice using words to build up, not to destroy.  Practice recognizing that I’m clumsy, and it is only with His help that I’ll say what I mean.

I’ve never had a green thumb, or been good with plants at all.  I can’t seem to find the magic line between too much water and not enough.  Add in the complications of an extremely hot summer, frost during the winter and dogs that bite the leaves and I’m pretty much doomed. 

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Many things in this life are fleeting. You hold moments for short periods of time. Once you consider something, it's in the past. It takes hard work for something to have longevity.

This past weekend, during our first-ever Retreat, 4Sixteen hit its anniversary. That's right, one year ago this week we didn't exist as a ministry.

One year anniversaries are important as a source of encouragement, they aren't big and impressive like ten years, twenty-five years, fifty years, etc. However, they serve to demonstrate just how much work was placed on an endeavor and how much dedication it took to take it through this year. I must admit that we have come a long way in this year. Looking back at the calendar, there are literally dozens of activities, weeks of classes, and thousands of memories. We have hundreds of photos, some videos, many friends, and quite the positive and optimistic outlook. One year took us from uncertain promise to thoughtful perseverance.

There aren't many ways to commemorate an anniversary, I mean, we've really seen it all. However, this one is one of my most favorites. I put together a photographic slide show of the major events we've experienced throughout the year, set to music. It is embedded at the bottom of the article and the direct link is here.

When you put about a hundred or so photos together to three and a half minutes of music, you do see the year in a new perspective. The immense amount of events, the incredible dedication and perseverance of our group, and the love we share for God and each other is palpable. What's equally interesting is the amount of material that didn't make it in. The New Year's Eve Party, the various locations we held Family Circles, bits of classes like Worship Wednesdays, service projects, and many more events serve as testament of our vitality and success.

4Sixteen was founded on the principle that everyone in God's church has a purpose. Everyone has a talent they can share and everyone can use edification through fellowship and outreach. We take our name from Ephesians 4:16. Go ahead, look it up. Here's the link. Our purpose is outlined in our mission statement: Praise, Service, Fellowship. Three simple statements that guide what we do. I truly believe we have been successful this year of accomplishing that, and more.

So what now? Being around for a year is pretty good, but knowing us, we can do better. Let's make this ministry last five years, ten years, forever! Let's take the lessons we've learned and take them to the next level. We've been learning about martyrs, let's be martyrs. Let's serve our community, our brothers and sisters, in ways we've never done before. Let's enjoy each other and love each other more and more. Let's continue to be the amazing ministry that we are!

So, from the bottom of my heart, I praise God and thank him for the marvelous blessing he has given me and this ministry, for letting me be a part of something so great. I equally thank my colleagues in the leadership team, and our elders for supporting us and letting us exist. But I especially want to thank all of you, our members. Without your conscious decision to follow the Lord and be in this ministry and make it what it is and share your unique talents, we wouldn't survive this year, let alone celebrate it. I'm sure I also speak for the rest of the leadership team when I say these things, for they praise and thank the Lord just the same.

I look forward to the next year and others after that to see what amazing experiences God has in store for us. I look forward to sharing in each other's talents, stories, and love. I look forward to growing our relationships among each other and with our new friends, brothers, and sisters. Thank you for being so amazing, I love you all.

-Gaby

I really like this video:

It gets quoted at our house a lot.  “I’m her mom.”  “No she’s not!” Besides the fact that this little girl is hilarious, I like how we get a tiny insight into how her mind works.  She has studied each of the pictures in the Kittens book and found something unique about each one.  Sometimes she focuses on the scenery in the picture ("I'm a secret agent!"), the props (“I’m at work!”), or sometimes it’s the facial expressions on the kittens (“Ahhhhhh!”). Kittens are cute, but anyone who knows me knows that I am a dog person.  That being said, because of her funny descriptions I can recall details about each of those photos.  In a way life is kind of like the “Inspired by Kittens” girl.  Until you start to learn the details about a person’s life he/she may just blend into the crowd.  Every person we come in contact with has details to share.  How often do we ask them to? If you are anything like me, this isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do.  So, I’ll take my cue from the “Inspired by Kittens” girl and use the following questions:

• Where are you from?  “We’re in Hawaii!”
• What do you do?  “I’m a magician!”  “I’m a rabbit!”
• What kind of food do you like?  “We’re eating pepper and chips!”

This week, I’m making a point to learn “the details” about someone new.  I hope you will too!

A is to B as C is to D. That’s an analogy.

An example: Pen is to Paper as Keyboard is to Computer. Analogies are useful in helping you understand the world around you. For me, it’s one of the easiest ways to understand something I don’t know. I simply compare it to something I do know.

For instance, let’s say I know what pancakes are, but not waffles. So I ask, “What are waffles?”

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Matthew 7:12 ” In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the law and the prophets.”  Some people know this as the “Golden Rule”, an amazing practice to live by.  Sometimes our expectations of what should happen in return can undermine and sabotage that practice.  Think of a time that you treated someone the way you would like to be treated, only to be disappointed on the “return on your investment”.  Some people would view this as a waste of time and effort.  What’s in it for me? When we expect equal or better treatment in return, or anything in return for that matter , we’ve missed: the point, the lesson, and the blessings that only Jesus can provide.  It is no mistake that Jesus precedes this lesson with a more difficult one two chapters earlier when he says , “Love your enemies.”  The key is that we practice righteousness so we can please God; and as Jesus says, “be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”  The only thing that we should expect in return for living the Golden Rule is the change that Jesus will make in our own lives, and that it pleases God.

This Sunday is the biggest night in Hollywood! Oscar night!

This is what every self-respecting actor, actress, director, etc. aspires to receive: the recognition of their peers in the form of that golden statuette. Every year, dozens of movies are released. Most of them come from the united States, some come from other parts of the world. Some are serious, some are sad, others are happy, and even still others are animated. Then, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences narrows down the best of the best, nominating them as candidates to be voted on, scrutinized, and judged.

Everything worth doing (and many others not worth much) has a way of determining who or what is the best.

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Sometimes, you may be very fond of something, a TV show, book, concept, or belief. You may accumulate a vast knowledge about and invest much enjoyment in these things. However, when someone new comes to ask you about that which you enjoy, a simple explanation that boils it down to the basic premise, you realize something…

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