songs that speak deep: final week

Tomorrow night, Thursday, we gather for our final look at songs that speak deep.  Its one last double feature….  hosting this week are Ross Opert and Kelly Shaw who will bring the music and the meaning.  Below you can check out these songs in advance.  (past the videos are lyrics) “The Weight” by Thrice challenges us to look at our definitions of love; moving beyond feelings to a deeper place of expression.  “White Flag” by The Lakes takes us through the themes of pressure, control, and surrender.  Come join tomorrow night, 7pm in the GP Underground!

 lyrics here: THE WEIGHT WHITE FLAG

love, relationships & the church? PART 4

We continue our series based on a recent RELEVANT article, which among other things, gave one man’s reflection on the scene of love and relationships in the context of the church.  Every day, we’re going to feature your responses to a set of questions on this topic.  The questions will remain the same, but each day we’ll have a different person respond.  Single, Married, and everything in between…. we’re hoping to create some meaningful dialogue and share some varied wisdom out of our community in this area! TODAY, Kelly Shaw weighs in:

1. Describe for us generally your “status” (single, dating, engaged,

married) and maybe your relationship story in a sentence or phrase

(in a long term relationship, don’t date much, have gone out with

lots of people, married your HS sweetheart, etc.)

KELLY: dating, in a long-term relationship

2. What was your general reaction to Tim Holland’s experience in his

relevant article, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Where Did it Go?”?

KELLY: i feel like i could relate to Tim when he talks about his self-righteous phase and wanting to get away from drinking and dating. i understand where he is coming from, i did the same in high school.

3. In the article, Holland describes himself as “just another slow-

moving evangelical dude.”  Whether you’re a guy or a girl—does this

description of Christians (guys or girls) as non-committing, non risk-

venturing, and even regressive in relationships seem accurate or

exaggerated?  Explain…

KELLY: it seems accurate, but his case is exaggerated too far.  i once heard, from a couple in the church, that the only reason you date is

lauren mcleary is more educated and artistic than you

It’s good to know people who are artistic and have a masters in something cool.  Our good friend Lauren McLeary now fulfills both of those criteria.  Most of you know she’s been developing her art skills while completing grad school at Washington State University— but this month she’s done!  (other graduation shout-outs to Jenny Mudlo and Kelly Shaw!)  Lauren is allowing us to share photos from her thesis project, titled “Between Being” this weekend.  We are committed to making Lauren a local artist hero. So…. read her artist statement, and check out her grand design after that…      

ArtistStatement/lauren mccleary/www.ponybird.com              My work is a nod to the imagination, propaganda for wonder. People are consistently absent from my imagery, but the work speaks to our humanity. For thousands of years the land and the animals have been our greatest teachers. It is the silence of each that says so much.  The land constantly gifts visual surprises and stirs a curiosity that can’t be found within closed walls. Places I have seen, been, and imagined layer my mind.  The work is made to share with others these things in which I take delight.  I want the audience to recall a time when they looked at the world with wonder, I ask them to ponder the mystery of reality, hoping for it to sink in and stir.

Beginning Anew and Again

In this week’s Seasonal Feature, Kelly Shaw reflects on the search for a new definition of faith and worship in a world where we’re told what to feel and think.  In a series of personal journal entries, she challenges us to embrace our new selves in Christ.

New Beginnings, A New Dawn, Machu Picchu

This weeks NEW BEGINNINGS feature is a series of original works out of the group recalling the sunrise many of us took in at Machu Picchu in Peru last year.  We remember the power of new beginning that God allows us each morning as we look back at pictures, reflections, and a poem recalling this event!

by Craig Nason

                                                                                                    

From the Heart of Kelly Shaw…

Kelly Shaw, one of our own, will be “venturing out” in the true sense of the phrase – she’s packing up and heading to Spain to study for a semester abroad.  In this continuing feature, read Kelly’s thoughts on fear, excitement, faith and the true notion of community.  This is the first of several installments of her journaling.