Today just begun and already I can tell it's going to be great. I woke up not tired this morning which hasn't happened in a while. When I went outside to get in my car there was a chill in the air! It actually feels like fall today - my favorite time of year. On my way to work I had a chai tea latte and a pumpkin cream cheese muffin and they tasted like fall. And, on my way in I was listening to Sara Groves. She always reminds me of the fall - her and the Counting Crows.

I tried figuring out why the fall is my favorite time of year. I think I wrote about it last year at this time. For me it has to do with reminiscing and loving what I remember. It makes me feel like going out and buying school supplies - a trapper keeper, cool pens, and a new backpack that matches my high top converse. I want to sit outside and watch the leaves change color.

As I looked for leaves that had changed color on the way in this morning, I thought about the process - why they're changing. All of nature is going into hybernation. Perhaps I should hybernate for a while - pull away, rest, learn from the Creator who has taught his creation what is important. There is a season - turn, turn, turn.

I hope you have a chance to buy some finger paints this season.

Our First Baby Pic!

Matt said that our baby looks a lot like Ella did at that age. Go figure!

Sometimes I wonder if other people make as many mistakes as I do. I'm not talking about the mistakes that don't matter like putting too much paprika in the chicken for dinner or forgetting a phone number. I mean mistakes that really make a difference like forgetting to add someone to a list that means whether or not they go on a trip. Pretty important stuff.

I'm learning the value of checking and double checking and copying people on emails. Perhaps someday I'll get it right. In between I'm wondering when the big mistakes will stop. Geez!

Hope your day is working out more mistake-free than mine!

On a whim...

Got a call yesterday from Kelly who announced that Dave Barnes was doing a concert at the Gwinnett Arena last night. $10 a ticket? Okay, I'll go. So, Marty and I headed out. It's strange to think that there was a time in my life where doing things in the middle of the week was normal now it's a rarity.

So, Dave was amusing. He played a great set for about an hour. The room wasn't packed - not even close - but he was still full of great stories and beautiful songs. I have a favorite that gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. Last night, hearing it live was breath-taking.

Just in case you haven't gotten a Dave Barnes CD yet, I suggest you do so.

Here's a little taste:

They tell me, this song's reserved for angels
Just sing me one a stranger just to prove your love
and you know they tell me
you've given poor men kingdoms
landed guilty freedom
taken on their stains
Your love will never change

They tell me, you dwell with good and evil
Alleys and Cathedrals
Shadows in our lives
and you know they tell me
You hold the world together
Not from guilt but pleasure
You somehow know my name
Your love will never change

So tell me there's nothing that you can't do
Love me though I've hurt you
You take all my blame
Your love will never change
Your love will never change

Have a great dave!
Joy

The Jet Lag Blues

So, I woke up this morning quite abruptly at 2 a.m. What? Go back to sleep, go back to sleep, go back to sleep. Not happening. I counted backwards from 300. I got to around 150 before I got bored. The thoughts of what lie ahead of me bombarded. Then I realized I was hungry. So, I quietly slid out of bed and dug through my backpack which still hasn't been unpacked (thankfully) and found the snacks I packed for the trip which went untouched. I grabbed a pack of Cheez-Its and hung out in the bathroom for about five minutes munching. I crawled back in bed and began the routine all over again. Ugh! I'm not quite sure when I fell back asleep again but I know I saw 3:30 and possibly something closer to 4. Needless to say, today I'm done. I feel like a zombie sitting here. So, I figured I'd write more about Australia. I promised I would while I was there but time just didn't allow.

Marty and I were asked while we were there what our Highs and Lows were of the conference. So I figured to give everyone a brief overview, I could stick to that. We really received a lot of great teaching. I guess that was the highlight. We got really deep stuff. For example, Danielle spoke one night about Gideon.
Notes:
If we're really going to be the people God called us to be - free and freeing others - something has to shift.
1. True Humility
2. True Dependency
True humility is agreeing with God about who you are. Gideon's been getting his definition about who he is from different places - the world, his family, his occupation.
False humility - the I suck mentality. Who's defining you?
Peace is not the absence of conflict it is the presence of war. (someone famous said that)
We are not fighting out of insecurity. We are fighting for righteousness and justice and because we agree with God about who we are.
True dependency is agreeing with God about who HE is. Gideon creates circumstances where only God can show up (the fleece). We settle for things that we can do. We need to believe God for more and create pockets in our lives where only God can show up.
We have to start coming into agreement about what God says regarding each other.

So, that was a little taste of what we got. That was just one of the speaks. My favorite meeting simply because it was fun was Saturday morning. Steve and Danielle led us in a time of worship called Harp and Bowl. Before the meeting Steve was hopping around like a kid in a candy shop because he was so excited to do it. That morning I felt like crap - cough, tired, nauseous. I didn't know if I could make it through the meeting. Danielle and Steve start to teach about Harp and Bowl - where the reference comes from Scripturally (Revelation). They explained to us that there are angels around the throne of God who hold a harp in one hand and a bowl of incense in the other which is the intercessory prayers of the saints. They said that the angels are worshipping while praying. That's what we were going to do. So, a scripture verse came up on the screen (Ephesians 3:16 - 21) and Danielle prayed a pray for The Salvation Army based on that scripture. The entire time the worship band was playing. After Danielle finished her prayer, one of the guys from the band sang a spontaneous prayer from that scripture for The Salvation Army for 30 seconds. Then Marty went. Then Kath went and then....oh, and then, THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION WENT!!! It was really cool to hear an entire room filled with intercessory prayers for The Salvation Army that were worshipful. I loved it!

So, that's just a little bit more about the conference. If you'd like to see the DVD of the Harp and Bowl experience, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll talk about the week after the conference during Marty and I's vacation but the highlight of the trip really was the conference. Does that make me a sad person? Nah.

True peace,
Joy

ACC06:Free

The theme for ACC06 is Free. The tag line that goes with it was written by an American journalist. "Average people don't want to be free. They just want to be safe." I'm learning a lot about just how average I am. It seems to be the theme I keep coming back to - inaction, resolve to do something but then never really doing it, laziness, excuses. It's quite sad really. When will the day come where dependence on God is really a part of my life and not just something I talk about. So, I have to choose to quit talking and complaining and move - with or without Marty or anyone else. I can't wait any longer for someone to walk beside me although that's what I desperately long for. Do what? I'm not sure. Start a cell group that I'm actually longing to go to instead of one that I just semi-commit to. Perhaps actually meet my neighbors and GET TO KNOW them. I've only lived there for six years - you'd think it was different. As an officer's kid perhaps it wasn't necessary to know my neighbors because I had built in friends at the corps and at school. I'm tired of being friends with just Christians. I'm ready to know non-Christians.

I'm sure that all of you who read my blog are probably tired of reading the same thing over and over again. I'm tired of writing it. I'm incredibly tired of living it. So, here goes. No more. It's time to leave the sub-living behind. I'm ready for full-living, full-trying, full-hoping and full-depending.

Anyway, it's been quite a good conference. I've had to take a mental break today from a few of the sessions. I was just starting to overload. Danielle Strickland, Campbell Roberts, Phil Wall have all been great. Hitting home for me - obviously.

Marty's been leading worship during the day sessions and everyone seems to really enjoy his style of worship. It's nice to see Salvos from another country appreciating what he has to offer.

The other thing I find quite refreshing is the amount of young adults around here who choose to own The Salvation Army as their own. They aren't ashamed of being Salvos. While I know that they must have some complaints or some constructive criticism along the way, it's been nice to be here and not have a diatribe of negative conversations regarding the Army. I'm just enjoying being a part of it this week. The young adults here wear pieces of their uniform with normal clothes. They put their epaluettes on non-uni shirts. I saw a girl last night wearing her uniform shirt with jeans and a cool big black belt and boots. It just looks like it's a part of who they are. I hope that they wear these things to places besides the Army corps. Some girl said to me this morning that I should start the trend in America. I told her that I don't really want to. I'm just not that commited to my uniform. Is that a sad thing? Probably. I'm just not ready to wrestle with that question yet. There are bigger concerns in my Christian walk and my Christian walk as a Salvo that I feel I should actually take apart and examine before the uniform issue. It's just a really cool and refreshing thing to see the uniform become relevant.

So, I'm out of time. Perhaps I'll have more tomorrow or Sunday. We'll see.

It's been worth the 21 hours on a plane and the week's not over.

Australia so far....

So, Marty and I arrived safely in Australia yesterday morning (Monday) around 9 a.m. which would have been 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. I think.

So far, our trip has been quite eventful. Before we left home, Marty's face started to swell up as a result of some dental work he had done last week. He had gotten some anti-inflammatory pills as well as an antibiotic but by the time we got off the plane yesterday, the swelling was worse. Welcome to Australia!

So, we spent our first day going to the dentist. We found out he'll have to have a root canal done when we return home. Yeah! The dentist here did give him more antibiotics and told him he should be okay until then.

I definitely hope so.

Aggressive Christianity Conference starts tomorrow. I'm really excited about what we'll learn. Hopefully I'll get a chance to update everyone throughout.

A Profane Faith

A co-worker left an article by Doug Giles in my mailbox this morning. It's called "A Profane Faith." She said I may not have written it but she could hear me saying it. Halfway through the article I thought - this is what I believe but I'm not so great at making it a reality. Here's the part I liked best:
"To help you take your Christianity out of the Christian ghetto where the secularists would love you to remain, here's a simple can do: start to see life as a whole. Begin to merge, as J.I. Packer says:
Your Christianity with culture,
Your contemplation with achievement,
Your worship with work,
Your labor with rest,
Your fasting with a Fosters,
Your love of God with love of neighbor and self,
Your personal identity with social identity,
Your wide spectrum of relational responsibilities with each other in a thoroughly conscientious and considered way.
Try that next week, next month and the next few years, and watch your influence spread like butter."

It's nothing new really. My favorite was the line about the Fosters. I think because if you're talking about beer - you're talking about bars. Why not go there?It seems I have segregated myself from non-Christians in an unconscious manner. I want to become a part of people's lives who don't get church, much less, The Salvation Army. Fado Fado, here I come. I think the early slum sisters did that.

What Owen Thinks of Us

Evidently, a month or so ago, Dawn and Matt were eating at a Mexican restaurant with Owen, their son, my incredible nephew. Well, there was this painting on the wall. Dawn sent it to Marty letting him know that when Owen saw this painting, he thought of Marty and I. I'm not sure what I think about that but it is quite amusing.

What do you think? Appropriate representation of the two of us?

Hmmmm....

I'm an Aunt again!

Yesterday was a miraculous day in the Cunningham family.

ELLA GRACE CUNNINGHAM was born! She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and is 20 inches long. She's got big feet and little ears and was a little bit stubborn on the way out. I just heard that part through the door.

I got to watch my brother walk into a new role as father and all that that entails. I watched him care for his adorable wife and cheer his daughter into the world. He's accomplished many things in his life but this has to be the pinnacle! How can you get a title more important than Daddy or Mommy? They are going to be fantastic parents. It's surreal to think she's finally here - the beautiful baby all of us have been waiting on and hoping for.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday. The first few are of us impatiently waiting it out in the delivery room. The last are of Ella and her family! Ella baby, we've been waiting on you a long time. Welcome to the world! We're going to have a great time together.

Jamie Cullum at Chastain Park

So, for Marty's birthday I bought him tickets to go see Jamie Cullum at Chastain Park. I never knew how absolutely cool the venue at Chastain Park is. Before Jamie ever came on stage, I had already vowed that Marty and I would be back - with a picnic next time! It was absolutely fabulous and even though I had already had dinner - I needed some food just to feel like I was getting everything out of the experience! Those chocolate strawberries were the best I have ever had - no kidding. Thank you Whole Foods.

Jamie's opening act was the Gabe Dixon Band. They are really incredible and you would do well to buy his CD. In fact, I would do well to buy his CD.

Then, Jamie Cullum came on stage and for the rest of the night I could not stop singing or smiling or clapping. He is dynamic on stage. He jumps off of his piano, steps on the keys with his foot yet all the time he's making incredible music. He began with "Ordinary Life" which is one of my favorites and then continued to play every single one of the songs I love. My favorite song that he performed was "These are the days." It was like there was magic in the air. You could feel it! I was mesmerized.

I'm not usually into just summarizing my evenings. I do usually have a point but not today. I just wanted to say that I had a great night last night singing and dancing and laughing to Jamie Cullum's rhythm.

If you haven't bought his CDs yet. Do it! You'll love his music, I know it!

Marty, thank you for a beautiful evening. I love spending my life with you.

My July 4th

Here's how Marty, my mom and I spent July 4th this year.

To the voice

Yesterday while at work, my friend told me about this excellent idea she had. She said she made brownies once and before she poured the batter in the pan, she broke up a milky way bar and put it in the bottom of the pan. Then she baked it. She also melted a milky way bar and poured it over the top of the brownies for icing.

By the time I left work yesterday, I needed a brownie. I didn't want a brownie. I needed it. On the drive home, I talked myself into waiting until after dinner. If I was still hungry and if I still wanted a brownie then, I could have one.

So, I ate dinner - and I was still hungry. But then I realized I'd have to put on shoes and that would require walking upstairs....so, I settled for a bowl of cereal.

BUT I WAS STILL HUNGRY! Maybe I just really wanted the brownie after all. So, I put on my shoes, went to Sonic, got my Hot Fudge Cake Sundae (not quite the same but it will work) and then I felt the need for tater tots too - so I order myself a small order. I raced home. Got myself situated on the couch - and chowed down.

Then the guilt came. I didn't need that sundae and I definitely didn't need the tater tots. Why oh why do I do that to myself? Perhaps an occasional splurge is worth it - and needed but if it's needed, why do I feel so bad about myself afterwards.

I have to face the scale today at Weight Watchers - duh duh duh. The horror.

So, to the voice within me that constantly cries out for chocolate - not just during PMS but all year long, I say....

"Shut up while I eat my salad."

Vacation and Graduation

Marty and I just got back from vacation two weeks ago. I know, I'm behind. Deal with it! We had such an incredible time! We went to his sister's graduation from Med School and then boarded a big boat and headed to Key West and the Bahamas. Woohoo! We ate lots and lots of ice cream. Bethany, Kim and I went kayaking and we all hung out on the BEACH!! People keep commenting on my tan but it will be gone in a minute. All that work for short-lived results.

We came home last Thursday and Marty graduated on Saturday! What a great day! We had a party to celebrate. Low Country Boil, Jake (Jason and Kelly's dog) taking a swim in the goldfish pond, funny t-shirts made by Bethany and an all-around good time.

We loved the Sushi Bar - especially Bethany!


Owen had a fancy trick. That boy could not make that spoon fall off his nose for anything.

It was nice having Kim there. Welcome to the family!


Dawn, Matt and Owen - we never get to spend enough time with them.



Marty was so good at math he took it 3 times!

There has been a lack of inspiration lately. I'm in a strange place these days and can't get past it to post. I'm not really wanting to or willing to share what I may not have given a second thought to 5 months ago. I can't now. I resort to pictures and fun things I've done just for the sake of posting. I rather like not allowing myself to feel pressured to come up with something brilliant to write about. Let's face it, so many others do that so much better than I do.

When I can figure out the ups and downs again, I'll return to meanderings and thought-provoking posts. In the meantime, I promise to post events and pictures. Both are many times less interesting but that's about all I've got right now. I hope you will enjoy them.

Bethany graduated today. She is now a doctor. All of the Mikles clan plus one Kim Touchton will board a boat on Saturday and cruise to Key West and the Bahamas. Yay! Then, next Saturday, my husband graduates from college. I'm so proud of both of them. I can't wait.

Enjoy your weekend - I know I will.

Global Night Commute

This Saturday night I'm hoping to be involved in Atlanta's Global Night Commute. What is that you ask? Thousands of men, women and children across the United States are lying down and closing their eyes to join the invisible children in Norther Uganda. By doing so, they will demand that our government put an end to the longest running war in Africa and one of the worst crises in the world today.

All this I stole from the Invisible Children website linked to the title. So often we want to do more and make a difference. Well, on Saturday night, April 29 you can. Find out where the Global Night Commute is happening in your city and take part. We have an opportunity to make the children of Uganda's plight known and heard by our government.

Here's to a sleepless night.

Joy

Yesterday afternoon Gabriela, Jason, Lucy and I went to the Hamptons at Lennox to spend time with some kids. We go every week. Usually we just play games with them, give them a snack, pray with them and then send them home. Yesterday Jason brought pictures back to them of his trip to China.

Before Jason left we told the kids that he was going because there were people in China selling children and that he needed to find out more so that he could help. (If you want to read the specifics about his trip, try three posts back.) Anyway, we told the kids at the apartment complex the children and women in China were being sold. We thought that answer was valid. The kids seemed to be okay with that.

Yesterday Jason begins to show his pictures. He gets through about 30 of them and gets to one about a boy who is 16 whose mother was sold a few years earlier. That wasn't enough for the children in the room. The questions began. Why are they sold? Do the people kill them? Are they used for work?

How do you tell children who are between the ages of seven and thirteen that there are women and children in the world who are being sold for sex? You don't I suppose. There will come a time when they know more than they need to about sex and can help combat the problem. What's sufficient for now though? How do you express to children the reason why Jason had to go to China? How do you impress upon them the severity of the issue?

I see the children that we spend time with every week and I see their naivety when it comes to such things and I realize that children just like them - their age, their size - are being used for sex. It makes the problem of sexual trafficking that much more real to me. Then I wonder if there is a chance that any of these children, sitting in this room, could be trafficked. My heart breaks because I know it could happen. Traffickers don't just live overseas anymore. They live in my city and they probably live on this street.

I've been wondering how much good we're doing spending time with a dozen children each week. We don't teach them Bible lessons or sing Sunday School choruses. We just pray with them and ask them to keep coming. We may not be able to save them from something so evil. I do know that spending two hours with them each week keeps them away from predators for that short amount of time. Meanwhile they are learning that talking to God isn't hard and that they can trust us. Two things that don't seem to come so easily.

I'm now just wondering what more we can do.

Lord, please give us that kind of wisdom to see justice prevail here.

Girl's Weekend Away

this past weekend i got to spend time in Savannah with my best friend - Lorelie! we had such an incredible time - eating at the Pink House, staying in the Marshall House, walking around the town until it felt like our feet might fall off, learning about Pulaski and Oglethorpe and how they shaped the town. we ate milky way cake for breakfast!

the souvenirs from the weekend come in the form of art. we bought sketch books on saturday and decided to walk around the town and draw what we saw. here's some of the beautiful works of Joy and Lorelie that i'm sure you will appreciate. beside them are the pictures of the actual scenery.

to chatham artillary!

The Fountain in Johnson Square




The Huge Fountain that Caused Some Drawing Difficulties



And this one is Lorelie with her brand new sketch book. Thanks for a great weekend! You're the best.

Jason in China

Hi Everyone! My friend Jason is going to China next week. Please read what he's written regarding what the Lord has called him to.

Thanks,
Joy

China - Touch Their Poverty!

I have been asked to be a part of a human trafficking assessment team to
Mainland China. I will be going with a team of Salvation Army leaders to
various project sites within poor communities in China which are at risk
for human trafficking. My role on the team will be to see the situation
through the eyes of a westerner and give my feedback as to how this problem
may best be communicated to the west. My goal for the trip is to "touch
their poverty." Or rather I want to be touched by their poverty! I want to
feel the discomfort of their living to the point of it breaking my heart.

This is something that The Salvation Army has always been called to do.
Last August I was able to read, "Good Morning China!" a book by Lt. Colonel
Check-Hung Yee which tells the history of The Salvation Army in China. In
an epilogue his daughter says, "As you step back in time and experience
God’s transforming work in this generation of brave soldiers, may your
heart also leap and be fanned to flame with the bond of love for China’'s
1.3 billion souls.’ As I read this book that is exactly what happened. I
found myself with a burning desire to go to China and see the Army at work
there.

I plan on coming back to the States with a renewed vision and passion for
God's calling on my life for the world. I will be leaving next Wednesday
and coming back on April 8th. I would love to ask you all to support me and
the team. Please pray for us even now as we prepare to go. On my return it
is my plan to provide a report of the trip on this blog.

One friend wrote to say the Lord had layed the following verse on his heart
regarding this trip:

'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap
their hands. Instead of the thorn-bush will grow a pine tree, and instead
of briers, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an
everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.'

Isaiah 55:12

I am raising support to cover the cost of this trip. If you feel that you
would like to help support this trip financially or would just like more
information please contact me at Jason_Pope@uss.salvationarmy.org.

Correction

Today I stand corrected. I should really consult the Word of God before I decide whether or not something is or is not Biblical. My good friend Anna pointed out to me that the saying "God is not a God of confusion" does indeed come from scripture and is not just some cute little saying that church people throw at us in the middle of a crises. I was wrong. I have been wrong in my life about a lot of things. I just wasn't ready for the simple that day - that's all.

I'm not quite sure I'm even where I was when I wrote last time. I think it was a pretty saying really - to ask God not to calm the storm but to show me his presence in all of it. I was too quick to criticize the disciples though. I always am.

Right about now I'm wishing the Lord would wake up and calm the storm.

In other news however, my beautiful cousin Leslie just had a gorgeous baby girl named Lindsey Nichole yesterday who weighed 4 pounds and 14 oz and was 19 inches long! God is the author of life.