entwine

Thought of the Week 6-13-2008

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”

-Hans Hofmann

Fact of the Day:
Excess consumption is practically a modern-world religion. But as anyone with a filled-to-the-gills closet knows, the things we accumulate can become oppressive. With all this stuff piling up and never quite getting put away, we’re no longer huddled masses yearning to breathe free; we’re huddled masses yearning to free up space on a countertop. Which is why people are so intrigued by the 100 Thing Challenge, a grass-roots movement Time Magazine explores, in which otherwise seemingly normal folks are pledging to whittle down their possessions to a mere 100 items. [ more ]

Be The Change:
Unclutterer is a blog that offers tips for getting and staying organized. Its motto: simple living frees you to simply live. [ more ]

I saw this and had to pass it on. You know, I think SIMPLIFY is the word of the future! I believe that we have just exited an era of OVER-abundance, OVER-use, OVER-busy-ness, OVER-activity, OVER-weight, OVER-estimation, OVER-consumption, OVER-the-top thinking, and OVER-kill in everything. I think the next era will be one of simplicity, peace, life, nature, rest, slowing, focusing, and rest. I sense that we need a real sizing down in everything. You know, it’s not about the one who has the most toys or the best toys, it’s about the one that enjoys what toys or the lack of toys he or she has the MOST!

Now think on that one a while! HAHAHA!

Have a great weekend and an awesome week next week!

d

Dustin Hedrick

Pastor | Optimist | Peacemaker

ohdangit.com

Good Morning Tapestry Family,

I just wanted to take a moment and say, happy birthday Tapestry! You are now all of 4 years old!!!! Today is our true anniversary and this Sunday will be our celebration for our anniversary. I want to further say…

Thank you to all of you who have served in leadership in any way these last four years.

Thank you to our original members and supporters: Daeho Kim, Seung Shin, Pastor Fidelis & my lovely wife Lori.

Thank you to our original worship leader: Jason Kim.

Congratulations on all of the amazing work…

on all of the various international works: Cambodia, Mexico, India, Nepal, T-stan.

having dozens of cookouts, parties and eating events

on all of the many pictures taken at DC’s various monuments.

on more than 10,000 bottles of water given away during ministry and outreach.

on more than 52 Sundays of services in the mornings.

on almost 200 services in the evenings.

on the many worship leaders you have developed.

on food ministries, ministry to the poor, ministry to the orphan, ministry to the community, gifts you’ve given away during outreach, the relationships across the nation and world, service to our nation’s government, prayer, networking, small groups, changed lives, developed leaders, people who were helped to get jobs, houses, pay rent, build families, on the restored broken families and those who were disenfranchised from the church reconnected. Congratulations on bringing two other churches life and helping them in their times of transition so that they did not close their doors, but instead have grown and developed, on being kind to the inner-city children and throwing parties for those that don’t usually get celebrated. Congratulations on opening your heart to dozens of transient as they passed through our doors and took a part or piece of all of their hearts as they left to the various corners of the world where they now live. Congratulations on the almost 30 countries we have had represented as cultures have come through our door not to simply fade, but to merge and marry allowing something more beautiful and precious to emerge.

Congratulations on being you… Exactly who GOD has called you to be, exactly where GOD has called you to be, more than I could have ever hoped or dreamed you could be. It’s not really that we have done anything. It’s just that I am so happy that you have allowed our great King Jesus to use you, align you, change you, mold you, remake you and place you exactly where you need to be whether here with us or abroad in distant connection.

Congratulations Tapestry. All of you around the world that are receiving this, having been either a part of our local body in the past or a current member, seeker, watcher or on-looker of our community today, I want to say thank you. You all are what make us unique. You make me proud. And today, as a Pappa in this place, I just want you to know that I bless you for many more anniversaries.

YOU DID IT!

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Thank you Tapestry, not for your ability, but your availability. You have been and are going to continue to be what GOD is looking for in a very precious faith community.

In Jesus’ Name…

Blessings!

And Happy Anniversary!

pd

Dustin Hedrick

Pastor | Optimist | Peacemaker

Thought of the Week 6-4-2008

"Obstacles are those frightful things you
see when you take your eyes off your goal."

— Henry Ford

Do you know where to find the best fishing spots? You’ll usually find most fish where you find the most obstacles: rocks, roots, brush, wreckage, and near banks and dams. Novice fishermen can’t see past the obstacles and will spend their day battling the debris rather than fishing. The pro, on the other hand, never loses sight of the big catch and therefore skillfully maneuvers around any obstacles. No matter what big fish you wish to land — more income, a better career, a more accomplished life — never take your eyes off it. Or the "big one" might just get away.

I actually think obstacles are in our paths to make us better at what we do.

They…

1. Teach us about focus.
2. Pound our stated beliefs and values into us or encourage us to adjust to rest and re-evaluate our values. (Pruning the old to allow new growth).
3. Make us stronger.
4. Often times afford the very change in perspective needed to make us creative.
5. Are on every path.
6. Help us slow down.
7. Reframe the dream.

And just a note about pruning; my dad is a lifetime logger and one thing I learned from him about planting trees and new bushes is that you should plant a sapling or tree, then at the end of the season when it’s growing fairly well, cut it back and prune its old growth. When it comes back the next year, the new growth often is exponential. Pruning is a process that causes loss to afford gain and growth!

Putting it to Action this Month:

1. Allow ourselves to be pruned by our obstacles: If we aren’t pruning, then we can’t grow well.
2. Let’s reframe the dreams: Rethink it all.
3. Focus in on the values: The side note to this is to get rid of anything that’s not a value (Again pruning).
4. Slow Down: Get time with family. This is vacation season. REALLY TAKE ONE! Turn everything off, relax, de-tox, de-tech, de-stress.
5. Take a moment to do something creative. Cars, Painting, Drawing, Writing, Building, Singing, Playing Instruments, plan a getaway with you family, take photos, scrapbook, blog, or anything else outside the box.
6. Do something spontaneous. Live on the wild side and get a tattoo to commemorate it…

Ok, maybe not the tattoo, but everything else I said. HAHAHAHA!

So, Take Care! And have a great week.

And reset your eyes on the goal!

I believe in you!

dh

Dustin Hedrick

Optimist & Peacemaker