Thoughts from Bike Movement

One of the questions that comes up is: "Can any of us find within our traditions something unique to offer anyone else?" We are part of a growing and changing community - our ethical traditions and cultural worship styles are important, but they are hardly timeless or culturally transcendent manifestations that encapsulates Jesus' way for the world. But that doesn't mean that our traditions and cultures should be blank-slated (even if they could be) and that we should imagine, somehow from scratch, what Jesus would be up to today. On the contrary, it means that we come out of particular and important stories. And we have a responsibility to those stories.

For Christians it's the scriptures, traditions, reasonings, and experiences that make us who we are. The question then becomes..."How, in conversation, do we constructively engage the stories of others, and without forgetting our own experiences, carefully entangle ourselves in the divine mess of regenerating a mutually Created truth?"

...I have been speaking only in the context of U.S.-American Mennonites - and that dialogue, at least for me, is intimidating enough. Bike Movement is about something more though. Bike Movement is asking me and you to consider broadening our understanding of the church to the world outside of U.S. borders - outside of North America. The broader the conversation, the more complicated it becomes. Sure. But to truly realize the Creative reign of our God - we must demarnd of one another at least an attempt at this imagined, truly representative, dialogue - a microcosm of the true global church.

- Tim Showalter on bikemovement.com
Harrisonburg, Va., native

A Quick Note

As most of you have noticed I have two new pictures up on my blog. The first is of a country view (mostly a fence and bridge in the background) of my families' farm. The second photo is a self portrait taken on the family farm.

You might have also noticed that I entitled the first photo All Roads Lead Home. Let me take a moment to add a disclaimer here; the previous comment was NOT (and I repeat, was NOT) a doctrinal message, meaning that all ways lead to Christ.

My comment was more or less referencing the fact that I'm a country girl at heart, and I'm bound to come back to that place I call home.

I hope that sets us straight now : )

The New and Improved...

...BLOG!!!

That's right I've updated. Can't you tell?

And with my new image I'm going to try and make a new effort. I'll be putting more effort into updating regularly and about subjects of interest (interest to me not necessarily you...sorry).

I've also told myself that pictures are colorful things (unless they are black and white) and I should post more of them.

So get ready, hold on tight, and prepare yourself, for the new and improved Blog of Jenwinker!

Family Heritage

Two weeks ago today I was in Virginia celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. Two weeks from today I will be in an airport again on my way back to Virginia. Two trips to see my family in less than a month...I'm a very lucky girl.

I'm enjoying this time I have to spend with my family and friends. I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family and I'm already looking forward to Christmas.

One of the best things (besides seeing family and friends) about being back in Virginia for Thanksgiving was some interesting information I learned. Most of this new information was concerning a deceased grandparent of mine. My Granddaddy Heatwole.

Granddaddy Heatwole (as I always called him) was part of my life as long as I can remember. Out of all my grandparents I probably felt closests to him. I'm sure that mostly had to do with the fact that Granddaddy Heatwole came down to the farm every day but Sunday, and lived only a mile from the farm (well they did move later in life - but he still came to the farm every day).

When I was a child, Granddaddy would come out to the farm early in the mornings and be there when I was waiting for the school bus. It was always for me to get in his pick-up truck at the end of the lane and wait for the school bus there. We would talk about different things, or I would search through his open glove box and play with the tire guage I found there, and sometimes he even had candy for me. Just spending that time with Granddaddy was special.

I have other memories of Granddaddy Heatwole, from him taking me to the livestock sales, going for ice cream, or playing croquet. I also remember the times when I'd be up at his house (being watched by my grandparents) and he'd be sitting in his chair reading his Bible or listen to some gospel record.

Granddaddy always impressed me as a quiet man, who enjoyed life, lived for God daily, loved his family greatly and was passionate about many things (from music to gardening). You know, as I sit here thinking of what I remember most about this man, I'm impressed with the knowledge that I knew he loved his family greatly. As I said my Granddaddy always struck me as a quiet man, in all my vaguest memories I can't remember one instance when Granddaddy ever said he loved me. And even though he might never have said the words to me I've never once doubted that he did love me. In fact I know it with absolute certainty. Granddaddy was always one to show his love through his actions, and I was a receiptient of those acts of love many a time.

Now that I've wandered a ways down this path of childhood memories let me get back on track with the purpose for me writing today. I was speaking earlier that I learned something new of my Granddaddy Heatwole while I was in Virginia for Thanksgiving. As it turns out my Granddaddy was quite the missionary in the years before I was born. I learned that he was involved with Cattle Boats to Italy, proposed church planting in Austrailia, time spent church planting in West Virginia, and even a trip to Russia.

The fact that my Granddaddy was passionate about missions isn't a surprise to me. I knew growing up that he supported missions, but I thought it was more of a financial support. He certainly did support missions financially, but in the years before my arrival into this world he was a missionary who went into the world.

For me there is a great significance to this new discovery. I finally feel as if there is someone in my family (or a family heritage) that I share a passion and desire with. For years I've known a desire to share God's love in the world, both where I was born/raised and other places. It's a desire that's torn me apart at times. At times I've wanted to stay close to my family and friends and everything familiar. Then there have been other times when I knew that peace wouldn't come until I ventured out of my comfort zone and went where God wanted me.

I'm encouraged to know that my Granddaddy (someone I've loved and who has loved me deeply) felt and experienced the same trials and joys. I know that my Granddaddy's faithful service to God continues in a legacy that I carry today. What a joy to have that knowledge.

Long Time...no write

Sorry guys it's been awhile. And there's really no excuse for me not writing all these long weeks. I guess if I was to come up with something it would be to say that I got out of the blogging groove for awhile.

I can definitely say as someone who has blogged now for the last year and a half there is such a thing as a blogging groove. There are times when blogging comes easy and I have plenty to say, those are the days when I view everything as blog material. Then weeks like these past few weeks are like a barren desert of blogging material.

Sure, things have been going on in my life. Great things in fact. I just haven't felt motivated to write any of it down. So, shame on me!!!

Now, for all that stuff I haven't shared. Mostly it revolves around a surprise trip I made back to Virginia. Last week I went home for Thanksgiving with my family. It was a surprise to my family and a great time for me. And now after several days of good eating and visiting with family and friends, I'm back in Utah.

I have three more weeks here in Utah and then it's back to Virginia for some Christmas family and friend time. During those three weeks I have plans to go to a hockey game (maybe two), spend some time with friends, fix lots of good foods and work some : )

And as this blog isn't getting any more exciting as I write I think it would be best to draw it to a close. So until next time...adios!

About Time...

Okay, so it's about time I wrote a post on here. I can't have too many voice blogs. You guys might get confused with all this little boxes and give up on coming to my blog at all. And I simply need all your attention on me and my blog or I can't function in life : )

Well, now I'm just being silly! And this isn't the kind of silly that's produced by large doses of sugar or caffeine; it's more of a natural high by simply having a good day. That's right you heard me I'm having a great day.

My question today is what makes a great day great, and a bad day bad? I mean it...this is a legitimate question, so don't roll your eyes at me.

My day to today isn't that much different from my day yesterday, and yet today I find myself full of life and ready to tackle the world, much unlike yesterday. Funny thing is that yesterday by all rights should have been the better day.

Take the weather for example, yesterday we reached an unseasonable high here in Utah with 71 degrees warm and sunny. Today on the otherhand the temperature has drastically dropped, it's overcast and rainy, they're even calling for some snow later. Now if mood was dependent upon weather then I should have been jumping with joy yesterday and ready to crawl back in bed today, but as I said earlier it's just the opposite.

Another factor in determining mood is (or should be) work load. Yesterday was an easy going day, not much going on, yet I kept steadily busy. Today on the otherhand, all the crazies and their mothers keep calling in. By all rights, yesterday was the more productive day, with the sort of work flow that I love. Today has been disruptive and random, just the sort of thing I usually hate. But as I said earlier I'm much more happy today, despite the working conditions.

So I guess what it all comes down to is your state of mind. Ha! Try and figure that one out. I'm not so sure a person's state of mind is reliable enough enjoy day upon day of good moods. I guess all that means for me is that I need to enjoy my good mood now while it lasts.

I should also apologize for the randomness of writing topic. I simply didn't have anything else I felt compelled to write about, and yet I felt compelled to write. You'll just have to bear with me just this once.

Taking Quizzes

Okay, so it's a slow day at work. Between breaks in phone calls I've taken a quiz or two online. I've posted the results of my favorite two quizzes.

The first quiz shows the results to where my European city would be. It says that my European city is Amsterdam. Though I've never been to Amersterdam personally I think I'm going to have to take issue with that quiz result. Come on, I've heard about the naughty things that are allowed in Amersterdam. I'm not to sure I'd feel comfortable there. Then again I don't want to be prejudice against the city, because of the actions of some residents. Maybe I will have to visit Amersterdam sometime during my life time.

The second quiz was one to take to see if you could pass 8th grade math. HA! I CAN PASS!!! and with flying colors. I got 10 out of 10 correct. Take that everyone. And this is from someone who was placed in a lower level math class in 8th grade.

A little more housekeeping here, I wanted to say I hope you all are enjoying my reading of J.A.C. Redford's book, Welcome All Wonders. I'm sorry that my reading of his book is so full of mispronunciations. I can't seem to wrap my tongue around some of his vocabulary. I do love his story though, and I hope each of you are enjoying it as well.

Yippie...

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could'>http://www.blogthings.com/couldyoupasseighthgrademathquiz/">Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Interesting...

You Belong in Amsterdam

A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam.Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).

What European City Do You Belong In?

Something Profound...

Again, my sister sent me this email (a forward). I found it deserving of publishing, I hope you agree.

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."

"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."