April 2008 Archives
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
We're Back!
Amazing! It is time to start up the Deeper Still Blog again! Only ten short weeks until Deeper Still: The Event in Atlanta, Georgia June 27-28! Then we are going to roll right into Deeper Still: The Event in Las Vegas, Nevada September 5-6! Join us daily on this event blog as we connect and capture the Deeper Still experience! Who is ready to join me on this journey?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A Day at the Zoo!
Literally…I just spent the day at the Nashville Zoo on a field trip with my daughter's first grade class. There is nothing like a first grade boy yelling "Hey! Mrs. Kaia's Mom, come see this lizard!" And then feeling your heart jump in your throat when you turn and face a HUGE iguana! He had to be 75 pounds! (The iguana, not the boy) Anyway, lizard, iguana, whatever the animal…the wonder is still there when you are with first graders at the zoo and it was truly a beautiful day.
The day at the zoo with hundreds of first graders running around did start me thinking about the experience of attending a women's event like Deeper Still. Yes, really…zoo…women's event! I'm sure your mind can go there too. It is what my friends with LifeWay's CentriKid Camps call "OMC" a.k.a. Organized Mass Chaos (this is a game they play at camp). For me, OMC is hundreds and/or thousands of people in the same place, for the same reason, with the same purpose…but going in different directions. It looks like mass chaos, but it is actually organized.
As you join us in this Deeper Still blogosphere, we want to help one another prepare to maneuver the OMC of a women's event. We want to provide helpful hints for getting around the arena or share things we've learned through our experiences. And we want to connect our lives and hearts to one another and with God.
So, let the OMC begin! What are your tips for others attending a large women's event for the first time? And if you've never been to a women's event like Deeper Still , let's hear some great field trip or zoo stories! There may be a few things we can learn from those experiences!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Did You Feel the Earthquake?
"Did you feel the earthquake early this morning?" This was the question of the day in the office. Everyone I work with had something to say about the earthquake. "It was a 5.2!" "The pictures on my walls were rattling and it woke me up!" "The lamp starting shaking!"
We don't usually have any noticeable earthquakes in Tennessee and I can't believe I missed it! It was around 4:30 am and I slept through the entire event. I had nothing to say except, "Really?" (How boring is that!)
Anyway, back to the earthquake. It was reported that deep in the earth, about six miles deep, is where the rumbling began. Betsy, the Event Coordinator for Deeper Still Atlanta said, "Things that move, things that shake, start deep."
Well, you know a statement like that is something you chew on and ponder. So I started thinking about us-the Deeper Still Sisters. Do you feel the rumblings deep inside your heart, mind, and soul as you prepare for Deeper Still?
Then I read this great quote about the earthquake in USA Today. "This was widely felt, all the way to Atlanta, a little bit in Michigan," said USGS geophysicist Carrieann Bedwell.
Did you hear that? They felt the earthquake all the way to Atlanta! Atlanta, of all places! As we approach Deeper Still: The Event in Atlanta let's seek and recognize the rumblings deep in the epicenter of our souls. Let's prepare to be rattled, shaken, and moved as we go deeper still with God. Did you feel the earthquake this morning? Are you ready for an earthquake?
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Big Give
Who caught the finale of the Big Give last night? I only caught the last 20 minutes, but it did give me reason to pause and reflect. In the end every contestant was a winner. The “losers” received $30,000! What would I do with an extra thirty thousand dollars? The possibilities are endless! What if I won the million dollar grand prize and had an extra $500,000 to spend and another $500,000 to give away? What would you do?
Sadly, I don’t have an extra $30,000 lying around. Actually, it is a good day if I have thirty dollars in my purse. So, how do I give big?
After watching my twenty minutes of the Big Give, I was reminded of Peter and John in Acts 3 where they share Jesus and heal a lame beggar. The beggar was expecting to get something from Peter and John. (And he was probably expecting some cash) Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have, I give to you….”
Like Peter, I don’t have the silver or gold to share with others. But what I do have is Jesus…WOW! I have an incredible Savior to share with others. He is the best I have to give to anyone.
I think this is one of the reasons I love women’s events like Deeper Still. It is a place where women can experience what it means to be passionate about Jesus and be challenged to go deeper still in their relationship with Him.
Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Travis Cottrell and the Praise team may not pass out silver and gold at Deeper Still: The Event. But they all give what they have—a deep, growing relationship with Jesus. Deeper Still: The Event is the Big Give of Christian women’s events!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Calling All Atlanta Deeper Still Ministry Partners!
Thank you for praying diligently and promoting Deeper Still: The Event to the women in your church and communities! We want to send a quick reminder to our ministry partners about the leader’s luncheon in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
At the luncheon you will join with others who are actively praying, participating and sharing with women across the area the exciting news about this Christian women’s event. The purpose for the luncheon is to provide you with important information about the event, let you know how you can continue to pray for the event, and provide valuable information about volunteer opportunities during the event weekend.
Again we appreciate your support and prayers! We can hardly wait for Deeper Still: The Event on June 27-28 in Atlanta and hope to see you May 6th at the luncheon!
Grace and Peace,
Betsy Langmade
Event Coordinator
If you would like to know more about being a ministry partner or about this luncheon, please let us know by posting a comment on the Deeper Still Blog. We will not post your personal information.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The BIG Race
When my Father died eleven years ago I began to run. For as long as I could remember, he ran three miles a day. I think I felt that if he weren't going to run anymore, that I would run for him. So I mustered the strength to hit the pavement for a block or two initially, then a mile, then three and I've been running ever since.
And this coming Saturday, April 26th at 7:00 a.m., I will run a race that will be my longest distance to date...13.1 miles-Nashville's own Music City Half marathon. The farthest I have run during training is ten miles. I still can't believe my body has gone from a couple of miles in November, with lungs heaving in the cold, to ten 'not-too-slow' miles in April. It didn't happen overnight. Preparation required lots of cold early mornings and more than one pair of ultra expensive-shoes. If you think running is an inexpensive sport…think again. But that's another blog entry.
Running….its what we are told to do. To run the race well, to finish strong. To fight the good fight. Paul tells us this in 2 Tim 4:5-8. Good advice.
What I've learned over the past 5 months is that in order to run well, in order to finish the race set before you, you need something that you don't just have, or are born with….but something that you have to build and grow. It requires determination, perseverance, patience, dealing with pain, and the endurance of obstacles, icy weather, puddles, cramps and headwinds. And most of all, it just took time.
I know why Paul compared running a race to our journey with Christ on the roads of this life. They can be rough and painful. Ahh…but the finish. It may not be easy but that's what makes the reward so much sweeter.
The great joy and draw to this marathon business, I believe, is not having to run alone. So many feet going in the same direction, pounding away toward the same goal. My two feet in my pristine white cushy shoes will be among the masses on Saturday.
If you are coming to Deeper Still in Atlanta, you may be dreading the crowds and masses of moving women. But what joy to all to be heading in the same direction? Even if you plan to attend alone, you won't be. Run to Christ with us. You won't run alone. But remember to wear comfy shoes!
*****How many of you have ever run in a race or marathon? Just wondering!p.s.
I'll send in a post race report on how it all went once my shiny shoes have crossed the finish line. And I plan to finish, with the Lord and my aching right hip willing.
In Him,
Paige C. Greene
Director of Women's Ministry Training and Events
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Who is Your American Idol?
How many AI (the hip term for the TV show American Idol) fans do we have out there? Who are you cheering for? I know our guy Travis is a fan of American Idol, but was bored with this week's show even though he is a fan of Broadway musicals (check out Trav's blog).
Anyway, this week was a huge surprise according to the critics and bloggers. Everyone expected Brooke "the start over girl" or Jason "the train wreak" to be voted off, but it didn't happen. Somehow their fans pulled enough votes even when Brooke and Jason were not able to give their best performances. Yes, I know, you are thinking, "Why is she rambling on about American Idol? And what does this have to do with Deeper Still?"
It seems the older I get the more I see and hear God in even the simplest things. The deeper I go in my relationship with Jesus, the more connections I see between the cross of Christ and our culture. Like the fans of American Idol, how many times does the body of Christ cheer me on even when I am not at my best? How often do people believe in me when I don't believe in myself?
It appears Brooke and Jason both experienced grace this week. They didn't measure up according to most people. They probably believed along with everyone else that they would be the ones voted off the show and sent home. However, they were given unmerited favor. Their fans stuck by them even on an off week.
How much greater is the grace of God? Think about it. No matter what our past or how much we mess up, God is pulling for us. Jesus wants us to be reconciled to God and then share that reconciliation with others (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Jesus wants us to be ambassadors for Him. People who set an example for others, sharing with them Christ's love and grace and forgiveness. Jesus wants us to lift up His name in a way that He becomes the American Idol-the only one we worship and idolize. Deeper Still: The Event is one of those experiences where we lift up Jesus and the power of God's Word in such a way that we break down the false idols in our lives and instead put Jesus in His rightful place.
Now back to my original questions: How many AI fans do we have out there and who are you cheering for this season?
Here is one of my favorites from the fifth season of AI.....Mandisa!
![MG 0211[1]](http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/deeperstill/images/_mg_0211[1]-20080424131835.jpg)
This is Mandisa at Deeper Still in Nashville last September! Isn't she beautiful!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
BIG NEWS!
WOW! I don't know about you, but I've had some busy days! And do I have some great news to share with you related to Deeper Still!
But before we get to the BIG news I HAVE to tell you where I was this past weekend! I got to be on the event team for Going Beyond with Priscilla Shirer in Charlotte, North Carolina! Priscilla is on the platform with Deeper Still, but also does a number of Going Beyond Christian women's events with LifeWay during the year. Amazing! Incredible! Priscilla is truly a BIBLE teacher! However, that is not the BIG news.
My favorite part of the weekend is the numerous opportunities for prayer. Priscilla desires that the women attending Going Beyond get right with God from the start. That means spending some time in personal prayer from the beginning. There are other opportunities during the weekend for corporate prayer, small group prayer, and time spent at the altar. There were so many women at the Charlotte Going Beyond who needed this time to stop, drop, and pray! But this is not my BIG news.
All this talk about Going Beyond and Priscilla…have you guessed it? Do you know what the BIG news is? Priscilla shared at Going Beyond Charlotte that she and Jerry are expecting their third child! What is a little lump right now will be a bump by Atlanta Deeper Still! And the ladies attending Las Vegas Deeper Still will get to see Priscilla during her third trimester!
We are so excited for Jerry and Priscilla! Join me in sending congrats and many blessings upon the Shirer family!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Traveling Dreams
I have the great privilege and fun of planning and coordinating LifeWay's women's events . Most of you can figure out that it amounts to lots of details, lots of fun people and lots of travel! For me, a regular part of the traveling portion of my work is what I call "traveling dreams". Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about because you share my odd thought process prior to taking a trip. My thought process (and yours, I suspect) flow through a list of questions…do I have all my personal items? Am I prepared for my meetings? Do I know where I am supposed to be and what time? Will my contact person be there to pick me up?
So anyway, back to my dreams. Inevitably, the night before the day I travel I have weird dreams related to all of the issues mentioned above. I dream that I have forgotten my undergarments. Or, that I am not in the place I need to be and am trying to get there. Sometimes, I am in front of the group I am supposed to be speaking to and I can't find my notes. You get the idea…anxious dreams about all the things that could go wrong. I had all of these scenes run through my "night media" last Wednesday before I headed to Charlotte.
The thing that makes all this so strange is that I love my event planning work and I love traveling. I don't dread it. It doesn't make me nervous. None of that. I have concluded that the dreams can only be attributed to the fact that I may be a bit of a control freak (smile).
I've been wondering lately if there's any cross over to my spiritual life. I love my relationship with God. I don't dread spending time with Him, pursuing the life He's called me to. It doesn't make me nervous to trust Him because He is worthy of my trust.
But some days, spiritual traveling dreams take over. Am I doing all that I can to not miss any assignments that are mine? Is there something that other people see in me that I cannot see in myself? Am I going miss a moment that God has planned especially for me?
So many questions….searching for answers….how about you!
Betsy