School is not Camp

I love camp.  I love it, I love it, I love it.  I love the way it is loud and messy and exuberant and full of music and Bible study small groups and kids who are dealing with a lot.  I love the community meal times, the counselor bonding, the fervent prayer and the tie dye and bandanas. 

I love school.  I love, love love it.  I love the way it is filled with children and freshly sharpened pencils and the smell of the laminator machine.  I love reading and math and science and social studies and the way kids pick up on your speech patterns.  [Every day at the end of read aloud, I say "and that, students, is where we will conclude for the day".  The other day one of my precious children beat me to the punch line and asked "Miss Sunshine, is that where we will conclude for the day?"] 

Sometimes I get confused and think that I'm at camp instead of work.  Just to set myself straight, I thought I should make a list of ways that school is not like camp.

1. Camp is all day and all night.  Miss Sunshine should not sleep at school, nor work there so much that people get the idea that she sleeps at school.

2. Tie dye/flannel/bandanas are allowed, but mostly just casual Fridays or on days that you're studying hippies, art/lumberjacks/rock climbing, cowboys.  In my class, those topics wouldn't be too unusual, but I've got to balance with the teacher cardigans and pearls. 

3. Don't eat the food.  I was spoiled staffing at Summit and Compass because at Summit we had Mrs. Mom's wonderful recipe book to work with and at Compass we just made our own food.  I'm not saying the cafeteria food is bad - as cafeteria food goes, but it's still a public elementary school cafeteria.

4. Yelling is not OK.  At camp, you can bellow and holler a great deal more than at school.  The crazier you are, the better.  There's some crazy idea about needing to be quiet because students are learning, or something.  Maybe it's just a rumor, I don't know.

5. Holy Spirit work.  At camp, you're always praying, singing, studying, encouraging, and having d&ms (deep n meaningfuls).  At school, the Holy Spirit is there and quite at work, but your terminology changes a little.  I can't just go around telling kids they're being bullied because of a sin problem or that their Father loves them way more than their imperfect parents.  I have to figure out how to use every teachable moment to declare the truth of the gospel implicitly. 

6. Camp is not a profession.  I know, some of you would consider yourselves professional camp counselors, but camp isn't a profession for most people.  Teaching is a profession, and sometimes you have to be, well, professional.  Bring on the power suit and heels, clip board and teacher lingo.

There are just a few reminders for yours truly to keep herself straight at school… this makes me miss camp.  I wonder, since teachers get summers off, if… well, it's too soon to tell.

Much love,

Little Miss Sunshine

Interviews on the Dance Floor: Neal Ozmun

Dear Blog Friends,Today, I have the pleasure of hosting an interview on iLoveMornings!  My special guest is Neal Ozmun, a friend from college.  He shares my love for dance, so I asked him to share a little about his personal experiences and dancing from a guy's perspective.  Thanks, Neal!
Little Miss Sunshine

- Name 
Neal Ozmun
- Age 
24
- Occupation 
Assistant Soccer Coach at OBU
- So when did you pick up dancing?
About this time last year.
- You're pretty active, right?  
I played soccer in high school and college. I love to go hiking, paddling, play any sport. I just want to stay active
- So why do you dance? 
It’s the best. I enjoy learning and there is a lot of learning to do when it comes to dancing. Country music is great. And call it stupid if you want, but I just like to put my boots on.
- Haha.  I feel the same way.  They're like the shoe version of a comfort food for me.  What kind of spectrum does your dance experience cover? 
I was in Tiger Tunes my senior year. I tried a little swing here and a little salsa there, but there aint nothing better then two-steppin. My experience is a little different then I’d say most people. I learned to dance at the Electric Cowboy in Fayetteville, AR. A group of friends wanted to go check it out. We always go together. We never go to that place by ourselves because its not exactly the place you go to find a cute dance partner. If you’ve ever been there, you understand. But we would always go right at 7:30 when it opened. It was free at that time, and they have dance lessons. So we would go for cheap and to learn more. We have gone to Caravan’s Cattle Company in Tulsa as well, but still as a group. I have never gone to a place without a dance partner, or group of guys and gals.
- Sounds like an impressive little posse you have there.  In general, would you say guys see dancing more as an athletic challenge, a tool for wooing women or an expression of fine art? 
I would think its mostly for being in a great social atmosphere. Yes it is a great way to hang out, and if you’re really good, woo. Plus country music is great. So its winning for sure.
- So if you happen to hypothetically be without your posse and you walk into a room full of strangers, how do you pick out a girl to ask to dance?
Like I said I have not been in this situation before, BUT I would be looking for a lady a) in boots b)modestly dressed and c)not in the center of a big group

- No kidding on b.  They should teach that in dance lessons.  You're just not going to want to stop and adjust your wardrobe while you're twirling and dipping.  What's something that drives you crazy when you're dancing with a girl?

Them trying to lead. I was not taught how to follow. It is really hard to move around the floor, let alone do anything fancy when there are two leaders.

- Absolutely.  So aside from following well, what's the best way to be the optimum dance partner?

Don’t care if you mess up. Laugh it off and keep going. Be polite. Smile. And be able to keep time.

- Confession time… have you ever dropped a girl?

Nope! I have however hit her in the forehead with my arm, stepped on her, and missed her hand on a move, but my towers/candlesticks have been successful.

- That's a pretty good record.  Do you have any particular future dancing aspirations?

I would like to know what else I can do. I am still learning move for two-step, triple-two, and waltz. I want to travel to different states and see how dancing is different there.

- Impressive.  Would you say dance as a social activity is growing or declining among young people?

In Arkansas it is hard to tell because about the only place you can go is the EC. And that is not super inviting to young people.
- Hmmm, yeah, venue can be an unfortunate challenge.  Anything you have that you'd like answered while we're here?

What do you/ladies look for in a partner? Either when picking a partner out or while dancing.  What are some common etiquettes that I may not know?

- Every girl's a little different, but there are some generalities that apply here.  All the things you listed - laugh off mistakes, smile, be polite, keep time, lead - are things we value too.  I rarely ask guys to dance, but while I wait, I watch and get an idea of who I'd like to ask me to dance.  Obviously being a good dancer is great.  Call us shallow, but we don't mind if you're good looking either.  We like guys who are gentle, who remember they're dancing with a girl, not playing sports.  Guys who hold girls tight are creepy unless they're dating you or something.  Be good at steering.  I realize it's hard to navigate and lead and figure out triple turn combinations, but it's nice if you can watch out where you're leading us.  

As far as etiquette, I appreciate it when a guy asks me my name and thanks me for the dance when it's over.  It's nice when a guy takes my hand and leads me onto the dance floor.  That is something little, but it shows me that he is confident in leading.  

Thanks so much for your input!  

LMS

Sin and Brownies

Let's play a little word association game. 

I say red…

You say wagon, barn, riding hood.

I say Mac…

You say apple.

I say existentialism…

You say elitist hipster, Dostoyevsky, etc.

I say sinful…

You say decadent brownies, bubble baths, heathens.

Sin is not something we talk about much, and in the course of the evolution of language, it's lost a little of its punch.  It has come to mean something overly luxurious, rich, decadent, sexy, said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.  You might hear a pastor talk about it once in a while as the "bad stuff we do", but you're more likely to hear Betty Crocker use it to describe her Ultimate Fudge Brownies.  (As if God wouldn't approve of brownies that good.. But that's another post.)

UM HELLO!?

No.  Sin is not really great dessert.  Sin is at the root of every evil, death, hurt, loss and pain.  It is not your occasional moral misstep.  It is an acid trying to eat your face off and wreck your life.  Sin in the beginning (in that garden) is the reason people die at all.  It is the reason we dread going to work on Mondays.  It is the reason kids bully each other, and adults get sucked into climbing the status ladder.  It is the source of people abusing people and substances and power. 

Sin should find no safe harbor with you, Christian.  There should be no resting place, safe space, relational comfort for sin in you.  It's the weapon the evil one uses to lull you away from Jesus, your shepherd.  As soon as we start treating sin like little unavoidable mistakes and a level of decadence, we deny the danger it poses and the damage it causes. 

Sin has consequences.  It wreaks havoc.  It's at the heart of every war that's ever been fought, in a kitchen or on a battlefield.  It fires missiles in the shape of words never meant to be spoken.  It sparks fear and feeds the flame.  It would have your life in flaming shambles.

Stop snoozing, Christian (including Little Miss Sunshine).  People don't sleep on railroad tracks.  They don't toss around canisters of anthrax.  They don't go sky diving over the middle of the ocean.  That would be imbecilic.  Stupid.  Dangerous.  Don't play with sin.  It bites.  Hard.  Don't confuse your enemies for neutral parties.  Sin wants you miserable, broken, dead. 

There is only one anecdote.  It's not moral muscle or spiritual savvy.  It's Jesus.  In Him is life, and that to the full.  There's no detoxing yourself of sin, no trying to do better, no 12 step plan to kick the habit.  There is only Jesus.  Only He can smash the evil in you.  Only He can pull off the rescue.  Only He loved you enough to try. 

So quit treating that rescue like it wasn't necessary, like it was no big deal.  Stop acting like Jesus saved you from a brownie instead of the full force of God's wrath directed at the sin in you. 

Little Miss Sunshine

How to Win at Church (but for real this time)

Well, church goer, my last post was scathingly sarcastic, and perhaps not great Sunday afternoon reading.  If might have made you bristle or scowl.  That's OK.  This post will be a little more positive, though whether it will also be easier to swallow, I don't know.  After all, it isn't written yet.

Just a reminder of two things.

1. I've got "church cred", AWANA to Youth Group.  (Sorry, I couldn't think of a Z). 

2. I love the church, and I want to see her grow.

This isn't just a post for really intensely passionate Jesus-loving people.  This isn't just for Bible thumpers or missionaries or goody two shoeses.  This is for anyone who says they believe Jesus is who He said. 

1. Show up.

To win at church, you kind of have to be there.  This should be self-explanatory.  I don't believe in "I can do Christianity on my own".  I get that church can be a hard place to be sometimes.  Christians don't always act and look like Christ.  They hurt people.  They reject people.  They can be snobs.  They need Jesus just as much as everyone else.  Don't let bad experiences or preconceived ideas keep you out of church.  It's like the gym.  Sometimes it's going to be a lot of work to be there, but it's worth going.

2. Get along. 

Let me tell you right now, church goer.  There will be people at church that you don't like.  They might cheer for LSU instead of Bama.  They might wear teal eye shadow.  They might even be cranky.  Get over it.  This is your family, and there are people in your real family who rub you the wrong way.  That's the beauty of family.  There's no getting out.  You're stuck with them.  You have the same DNA, so you're sort of relationally committed.  Did you think the church would be different? 

3. Do your homework.

Sure, come to church to hear God's Word and be with God's people, but land sakes alive, don't let that be the only time you get a dose of Jesus.  You wouldn't eat Sunday lunch and consider yourself done  for the week in the eating department.  Dive in during the week.  Read through whatever your pastor is teaching on Sundays.  Take notes.  Think about it.  Wrestle with it.  Come ready to study God's Word and have your heart inclined to your Father's. 

4. Get involved.

Yes, show up, but don't let that be the extent of your presence on a Sunday morning.  If church was a Christmas present, it'd say "Some participation required".  Get to know the people on the 5th pew.  Go to the potluck.  Find a life group.  God designed the church to be a living organism of His love, changing the people and the community around it.  Church is not a spectator sport.

5. Give.

Give.  I don't mean cheesy televangelist "if you give $50, you'll be blessed, but if you give $100, you'll be really blessed" rubbish.  Give because you've been given to.  Give generously.  Give cheerfully.  Give time, talent, money.  Take it as an antidote to selfishness.

6. Pray.

Church is hard.  It's hard to preach the Word boldly.  It's hard to counsel broken people.  It's hard to be the Church.  So pray.  Pray for your leadership team, your worship team, your Sunday school teachers, that they would be agents of grace, filled with the Spirit.  Pray for revival. 

That is how you win at church, and also how the church wins.

Go get in the game.

Little Miss Sunshine