Never Assume

I am one of those people who stay away from definitive words like "never", "always", "all people", "every time", etc. but I am learning the importance of never assuming.

Evelyn, the international student from China who is living in our home this school year, is reminding me the importance of never assuming. I take many things for granted, especially related to my faith. I just assume that most people have a baseline of knowing who Jesus is; the importance of Scripture; etc., all things Christianese. She reminds me every day that not "every one" has a general understanding of who Jesus is. She has reminded me how much I use terminology that is very Christianly but not very culturally relevant.

We are blessed to have her in our home. She is truly delightful and very smart. The language barrier in communication audibly is getting so much better in our home, but English terms that I think are pretty easy and simple, are really very difficult. Earlier this week, Evelyn and I were working on some Chemistry terms and trying to memorize the Ion chart. Those that know me well this is pretty scary to start with, but English is hard; and it is my native language!

I am learning to slow down, think through what I say before saying anything, and using words that are more simple and concrete. I have a lot to learn. How is it that at almost 48 I am having to learn my own native language?

Same goes for my Christianese. It does not communicate if the one hearing does not understand. I have much to learn.

The 8 "Nations" of Innovation

A co-worker shared this with our team recently. I found this to be very good. It is not a real short watch, but a very good one.

Moving Days

This has been a pretty busy week. Sunday started with church and then I did a training session for our student leaders at Hermitage Hills. Big fun to invest in training the leaders at the church we are members. I am usually out training/encouraging others but lots of fun to do that at home.

Joyce, world's best mother in law, left on Tuesday and went to visit her sister, Nola and her husband in Atlanta. What a delight to have her with us for a week. On Wednesday, we loaded up a borrowed Yukon with Morgan's stuff and moved her back to Union. She has a nice room and three wonderful roommates. We are thankful for the influences in her life and the way she influences others too.

Thursday was videotaping day at work. Four of us were in the studio working on some of our student ministry messages and shooting a bunch of student ministry tips. Hard work for sure but also a lot of fun. We are trying to be very strategic in the way we are doing training.

Today was another moving day. I drove to Jackson with Shelbi's stuff and helped her get sort of moved in for her final year of college. Crazy to think that as well. The time goes so quickly.

Lots of moving going on. Sondra, Evelyn, and I are the only ones not moving right now. We kind of like home. Speaking of Evelyn, she is just a real delight to have in our home. She seems to be settling in to school, making our house her home, and even tonight is with a friend from school at the Wilson County Fair. That should be a pretty eye opening experience for her.

Too Busy/Lazy to Blog?

It has been an entire month since I last posted. I have no real good excuse for not posting. Just have not done it. It has been a busy month and one of change for us, so here goes.

Our biggest news is Evelyn. Evelyn is an international student studying at DCA this school year. She is 16, very bright, and her English is getting better every day. She arrived a week ago Wednesday and has fit right in. Her first week consisted of Shelbi and Morgan coming home from a long summer of camp and a short week of fun at friends. She was immersed in western culture with getting a phone, international calling cards, attending a wedding I officiated on Sunday; church (a whole new experience for her) and school starting on Tuesday. We have ordered a computer for her, she is conversing with her family and friends via the computer and all together fitting in well. We have eaten chinese food twice in the last 7 days. We are fitting in too.

Shelbi and Morgan had a great summer with each working at different camps. It is great to have them home and Shelbi went to visit Mark, her beau, and they have arrived at our house now. All three of them (Mark, Shelbi and Morgan) head back to Union mid-to-late next week.

Sondra has been back at school for a month and doing great. She loves her job and I love her. Works great. I am pretty sure she loves me too. Sondra's mom is with us this week too! What a delight to have her around the house. She continues to do pretty well with some aches and pains but overall she is in very good health.

My work has been good and I have not traveled much the last few weeks which is good. I am in FL tonight, will lead a training session tomorrow and be back home tomorrow night. I am also helping in our college aged class at church and love being with those students. They are teaching me a lot. What a blessing to get to do what I get to do.