Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

24 Feb

On Why I Feel Free to Question God

Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker in Community, Inspiration. Tagged: , , , , , , .

JenQuestions

I’ve written before about the importance that asking questions has had in my faith-development. That post, The Ministry of Accepting Questions, made the case that God’s spirit worked through the people of faith who have accepted my questions.

I wanted to expand on this a bit because asking questions is still a big part of how I live out my faith. So, I wrote up a post for Life & Liberty, 5 Reasons I Feel Free to Question God. Click my questiony face in the photo above to see my reasons.

18 Feb

What Does it Really Mean to be Brave?

Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker in Community, Leadership. Tagged: , , , .

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The big brave things—all rescue workers and such—those are what we often think of when we talk about being brave. And these folks deserve all the airtime they get on the 5 o’clock news!

But the unsung brave things deserve to at least be named…

I’m at Life & Liberty today expanding on what I think it means to be brave. The post is titled, The Home of the Brave. Click the title to read the post.

15 Feb

Just How Awesome is The Lego Movie?

Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker in Community, Family. Tagged: , , , .

TheLegoMovieMy opinion of The Lego Movie is that it got out of control in the very best way possible. I saw it on opening day with my guys because we’re big Lego fans in our house. We all three enjoyed it. You can read my full review of the movie over at Life & Liberty by clicking Emmet’s orange suit in the photo above.

14 Feb

So Far: 100 Posts -plus- Seven Things I Would Do 100 Times

Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker in Community, Vocation. Tagged: , , .

So, I’ve been sick this week and got to today and realized it’s blog day–Friday is my day that I post something original here whether I feel like it or not. But my head is so cloudy that I didn’t know what I was going to write about. But then, I noticed that I have published 99 posts and this would be my 100th!

So, In honor my 100th post, I’m going to share some other things I would do 100 (or more) times:

  1. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: This is my all-time favorite vacation place. I would go there 100 times if I could. My husband and I learned of a lovely cottage there by referral from my mother. We haven’t been there in years, but I’d love to go back time after time after time.
  2. Doodling my name: I love all forms of handwriting and handlettering. I could sit and doodle my name over and over 100 times in different styles and scripts.
  3. Carmine Park: There is a little park in the middle of my small town in Texas. It has natural interest, with a creek running through it and a lovely valley at one end, but it also has lots of great play equipment. I like to take my son there to blow off steam. Sometimes I play with him, but sometimes I take a notebook and sit and write. I could go there 100s of times.
  4. The library: I love to go to the library–sometimes to get books, but sometimes just as a quiet place to study or write. My son likes to go there too. It’s especially great to go there when the weather makes outdoor play unpleasant so we don’t go stir-crazy. I could go to a local library 100s of times and enjoy it every time.
  5. Pedicures: I haven’t had one in months, and I think I’ve only done it half a dozen times, but I would get a 100 pedicures if I had the chance! What’s really interesting too is that my favorite pedicurist told me that it was her favorite part of her job, I just loved going to her.
  6. Frozen: Okay, I have to say it. Frozen quickly became my all-time favorite movie. I know we joke about kids watching their Disney movies over and over and making us sick of them, but I personally could watch Frozen 100 times and not get sick of it. (To read more of my thoughts on the movie, try clicking these titles: Disney’s Frozen and the Misuse of Power, Disney’s Frozen and My Rant About the ‘Rents, and Disney’s Frozen and Using Power for Good.)
  7. How Great Thou Art: Somehow this one has become my favorite hymn and I love belting out all four verses (from memory) at the top of my voice. I could sing this one 100 times. I sometimes dream of recording myself singing it and then sharing it online, but I’m too chicken for that.

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Now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear from you: what are some things you would do 100 times if you could? Comment below or post to your own blog and be sure to give me a link. Or send me an e-mail at livingfaithjct (at) gmail (dot) com.

6 Feb

Musings about Joyful Giving

Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker in Community. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Giving

In the church, I have often heard discussion about whether we should teach what is called “tithing,” or the practice of giving 10% of one’s income to the church. I think it is valuable to teach about it as a spiritual discipline, but not in a heavy-handed way. I really feel that it is best when spiritual disciplines are practiced as a joyful responses to God’s love as opposed to stodgy rules that are imposed on us.

And if those who can tithe do tithe to the church, the church could do a whole lot more besides paying staff and maintaining a building. In fact, in the early church, offering was taken, not to pay the pastor or keep up facilities, but to help the poor. Many churches and religious organizations today are also great humanitarian agencies and generous giving to the church can make a big difference in the lives of others.

Still, it is possible that a tithe may be too little in some cases…

The rest of this essay, More to Give: Joyfully Sharing from Abundance, is over at Life & Liberty. Please click the photo above to read more of my thoughts on joyfully moving beyond a tithe.

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