fact – Page 4 – Lisa Colón DeLay | Spiritual Formation and the Way of the Desert Elders

UPDATE: All the volumes are now in 1 digital book!

<figure id="attachment_8948" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8948" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/butterflies.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-8948" title="butterflies" alt="" src="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/butterflies-300x218.jpg" width="300" height="218" srcset="https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/butterflies-300x218.jpg 300w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/butterflies-350x255.jpg 350w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/butterflies.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8948" class="wp-caption-text">We need each other!</figcaption></figure> 95 pages of goodness! VOLUMES 1-3 This collection reads fast…like tv…and covers the topics: • “What is the Soul? & What is Soul Care?” This premise-building volume gets us to track from the same point onward. That fact is you and I need Soul Care, and we need it now. I’ll explain why. • Identity and Belonging We deal with core needs. This targets how to find your place in this world and in your calling of creating and message-bearing. Without our bearings we’ll get off-track and discouraged. This important message is one you don’t want to miss. • The 8 Paths of Learning • Utilize the paths for your own growth. Progress faster and better. • Guide others in a well-rounded process of knowledge and development • Fresh insights and information on the learning paths you already use • A potent approach to synthesizing and assimilating learning to produce transformation Written in a way to amuse and designed in a visual format that reads as fast as tv. You won’t get bogged down and it’s all. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Lisa%20Colón%20DeLay&search-alias=digital-text ">Find it at AMAZON here.</a> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> Posted on <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/for-creators-and-communicators-volumes-1-3/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2012-05-04T02:50:23-04:00">4 May, 2012</time><time class="updated" datetime="2014-03-17T07:52:24-04:00">17 March, 2014</time></a>Categories <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/category/authors/" rel="category tag">Authors</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/category/books/" rel="category tag">Books</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/category/creativity/" rel="category tag">Creativity</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/category/spark-my-muse/" rel="category tag">Podcast</a>Tags <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/4bloggers/" rel="tag">#4Bloggers</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/amazon/" rel="tag">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/amuse/" rel="tag">amuse</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/authors/" rel="tag">Authors</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/books/" rel="tag">Books</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/calling/" rel="tag">calling</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/christianity/" rel="tag">Christianity</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/christians/" rel="tag">Christians</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/community/" rel="tag">Community</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/creating/" rel="tag">creating</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/creativity/" rel="tag">creativity</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/creators/" rel="tag">creators</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/digital/" rel="tag">digital</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/down/" rel="tag">down</a>, <a 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rel="tag">ministry</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/spark-my-muse/" rel="tag">Podcast</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/process/" rel="tag">process</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/progress/" rel="tag">progress</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/recommendations-2/" rel="tag">recommendations</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/resource/" rel="tag">resource</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/soul/" rel="tag">soul</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/spiritual-formation/" rel="tag">spiritual formation</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/spiritual-growth/" rel="tag">Spiritual growth</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/spiritual-practices/" rel="tag">Spiritual practices</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/support/" rel="tag">support</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/visual/" rel="tag">visual</a> </footer> </article> <article id="post-6511" class="post-6511 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-spark-my-muse tag-acuff tag-american tag-audience tag-casting-crowns tag-change tag-character tag-christ tag-church tag-comments tag-cup tag-david tag-do tag-experience tag-fact tag-fine tag-fragrance tag-funny tag-heart tag-hillsong tag-hope tag-humor tag-if tag-in tag-intimacy tag-jon-acuff tag-just tag-kari-jobe tag-king tag-king-david tag-language tag-love tag-mess tag-mind tag-music tag-path tag-patience tag-personal tag-plain tag-poem tag-praying tag-psalms tag-readers tag-rhythm tag-risque tag-secret tag-sex tag-sexual tag-sexualized tag-sexy tag-show tag-sing tag-singing tag-song tag-songs tag-spiritual tag-stories tag-sweet tag-thats-what-she-said tag-the-office tag-things tag-time tag-tv tag-words tag-worship tag-worship-songs tag-writing"> <header class="entry-header"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/on-being-embarrassed-when-worship-songs-seem-sexual/" rel="bookmark">On Being Embarrassed When Worship Songs Seem Sexual</a></h2> </header> <div class="entry-content"> [CAUTION: This post is satirical. Calm down.] Over-sexualized. Worship songs? No. Everything. I’ve been both a victim and a participant in the American cultural norm…Scope out opportunities to rejoin comments with, “That’s what she said.” (To be sure, the phrase was around long before the TV show “The Office”, but a certain Michael Scott character seemed to usher the phrase into a broad and sweeping cultural vernacular. Am I right?) So now, it seems thousands of words and phrases are hijacked, and church gatherings are not immune to it either. Or, maybe it’s just me. It can be hilarious, dreadful, or just plain embarrassing. Recently, a few worship songs have sort of had their way with me on this, so to speak. <figure id="attachment_6519" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6519" style="width: 249px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/brideofchrist.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-6519" title="brideofchrist" src="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/brideofchrist-249x300.jpg" alt="" width="249" height="300" srcset="https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/brideofchrist-249x300.jpg 249w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/brideofchrist-300x360.jpg 300w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/brideofchrist.jpg 333w" sizes="(max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6519" class="wp-caption-text">“Bride of Christ” by Marion Coltman (I thought it was entitled: “Jesus, keep your hands where we can see ’em”) …and it’s all just a bit too much for me.</figcaption></figure> I didn’t want to think it at the time, but the Casting Crowns song “Your Love is Extravagant” sounded just a little too much like a “friends with benefits” song. Golly, all you have to do is take the “t” off Christ, and you have a fine mess (in my head): <blockquote>Your Love is Extravagant Your love is extravagant Your friendship, it is intimate I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place Your love is extravagant Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend Capture my heart again Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend Capture my heart again Your love is extravagant Your friendship, it is intimate</blockquote> Don’t get me wrong, Casting Crowns does so many great worship songs I really enjoy. This may be one your favorites, which is fine. I hope it creates a worshipful experience for you, and for everyone, but I get derailed. Basically, if a worship song talks about touching, my mind wanders. Such as Kari Jobe song: <blockquote>I wanna sit at your feet. Drink from the cup in your hand. Lay back against you and breathe, here your heart beat This love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming.</blockquote>   The fact is love is risky. God is risky…Obviously risky and risqué has sort of been a fine line in songwriting. But, to be honest, I realize that love can often feel awkward as it gets emotionally deeper. When it starts to change and effect us–and affect us. The awkwardness is part of the path to greater spiritual maturity. (In this case, I’ll let you know for sure when I get there.) Admittedly, the psalms that King David wrote got quite amatory, and for some it feels embarrassing. I can handle David getting up close and personal with God. I’m fine with Song of Solomon’s sexy talk, and David’s passionate poem songs, but maybe in singing those things corporately, we confront those issues of intimacy differently than we do in our times of personal devotions, songs, or prayers. What do you think about it? I think the challenge, for me, is a renewing of my mind a bit more, and praying for better ears to hear. Thank you for your patience with me, Lord. Lastly, for all you songwriters out there, if you’re writing something sweet to sing for Jesus, please–for me–don’t put the words “intimate,” “secret place,” and “rhythm” too close together. (It can be a “worship hijack” for some of us, okay, for me.) When was the last time you felt embarrassed/awkward at the worst time? [sq_pop_shortcode popup_id=”6704552″ appear_position=”pop_top_right” appear_behavior=”pop_on_exit” appear_behavior=”pop_on_exit” background_color=”pop_bg_transparent” display_area=”pop_display_particular” background_cover=”pop_cover_no” frequency=”once” delay=”0″ ] </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> Posted on <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/on-being-embarrassed-when-worship-songs-seem-sexual/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2011-10-19T07:44:32-04:00">19 October, 2011</time><time class="updated" datetime="2015-09-04T20:18:19-04:00">4 September, 2015</time></a>Categories <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/category/spark-my-muse/" rel="category tag">Podcast</a>Tags <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/acuff/" rel="tag">Acuff</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/american/" rel="tag">American</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/audience/" rel="tag">audience</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/casting-crowns/" rel="tag">casting 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rel="tag">heart</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/hillsong/" rel="tag">hillsong</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/hope/" rel="tag">hope</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/if/" rel="tag">if</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/in/" rel="tag">in</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/intimacy/" rel="tag">intimacy</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/jon-acuff/" rel="tag">Jon Acuff</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/just/" rel="tag">just</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/kari-jobe/" rel="tag">kari jobe</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/king/" rel="tag">King</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/king-david/" rel="tag">king david</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/language/" rel="tag">language</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/love/" rel="tag">love</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/mess/" 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rel="tag">sex</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sexual/" rel="tag">sexual</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sexualized/" rel="tag">sexualized</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sexy/" rel="tag">sexy</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/show/" rel="tag">show</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sing/" rel="tag">sing</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/singing/" rel="tag">singing</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/song/" rel="tag">song</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/songs/" rel="tag">songs</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/spiritual/" rel="tag">spiritual</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/stories/" rel="tag">stories</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sweet/" rel="tag">sweet</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/thats-what-she-said/" rel="tag">That's what she said</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/the-office/" rel="tag">The Office</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/things/" rel="tag">things</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/time/" rel="tag">time</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/tv/" rel="tag">tv</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/words/" rel="tag">words</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/worship/" rel="tag">Worship</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/worship-songs/" rel="tag">worship songs</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/writing/" rel="tag">writing</a><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/on-being-embarrassed-when-worship-songs-seem-sexual/#comments">24 Comments on On Being Embarrassed When Worship Songs Seem Sexual</a> </footer> </article> <article id="post-6290" class="post-6290 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-spirituality tag-5349 tag-afraid tag-asking tag-autism tag-awesome tag-baggage tag-birthday tag-blood tag-broken tag-care tag-challenge tag-change tag-child tag-children tag-christians tag-church tag-comfort tag-community tag-cool tag-cozy tag-crying tag-desires tag-disabilities tag-disability tag-disabled tag-do tag-doubt tag-down tag-embrace tag-encourage tag-energy tag-enough tag-everything tag-excellent tag-experience tag-fact tag-failure tag-family tag-fear tag-feeling tag-foolish tag-force tag-friends tag-friendship tag-fun tag-gift tag-god tag-gods-love tag-government tag-grace tag-gross tag-hell tag-help tag-hope tag-hospitality tag-humor tag-hurt tag-ideas tag-if tag-in tag-influence tag-interaction tag-invite tag-jesus tag-just tag-kid tag-kids tag-kind tag-kitchen tag-learn tag-listening tag-looks tag-love tag-love-of-god tag-man tag-marginalized tag-ministry tag-mom tag-movie tag-nathan tag-naughty tag-needs tag-neighborhood tag-normal tag-opportunity tag-parent tag-parenting tag-parents tag-people tag-play tag-public tag-question tag-questions tag-real tag-reason tag-relationships tag-respite tag-retarded tag-ride tag-right tag-school tag-schools tag-secular tag-share tag-sharing tag-short-bus tag-show tag-sleep tag-son tag-special tag-start tag-stuff tag-sunday tag-sunday-school tag-taking tag-talking tag-tard tag-teach tag-the-church tag-theology tag-thinking tag-time tag-top tag-true tag-truth tag-unknown tag-videos tag-walk tag-wants tag-watch tag-weakness tag-weird tag-will tag-worth tag-writing"> <header class="entry-header"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/what-parents-of-disabled-children-wish-you-knew-part-1/" rel="bookmark">What Parents of Disabled Children Wish You Knew (PART 1)</a></h2> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <figure id="attachment_6293" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6293" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/249548_1988818674545_1065670171_32303191_6015741_n.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6325" title="Nathan" alt="" src="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/249548_1988818674545_1065670171_32303191_6015741_n-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/249548_1988818674545_1065670171_32303191_6015741_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/249548_1988818674545_1065670171_32303191_6015741_n-350x263.jpg 350w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/249548_1988818674545_1065670171_32303191_6015741_n-600x450.jpg 600w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/249548_1988818674545_1065670171_32303191_6015741_n.jpg 720w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6293" class="wp-caption-text">Nathan is weird. Embrace it! (Pssssst. You’re weird too.)</figcaption></figure> I’m taking a Theology of Disabilities course right now. I have to admit that some baggage that I didn’t realize I was carrying has gotten heavy. I’m putting it down, starting now. The truth is, I realize I have felt disappointed by the church, and by my church. I’m hurt that the church has failed so badly in helping the disabled (specifically my disabled child) feel like they really belong. It’s not just about allowing the disabled to be there near us, it’s about really knowing them, and really appreciating who they are, because God made them, and they are valuable. Ya see, times have changed. When I grew up in the 1980s, we’d all make fun of kids that “rode the short bus”…maybe not to their face, but imitating “Tards” was something I excelled at. I was hilarious. I was the disabled one, if we’re telling the truth here. I was spiritually retarded. God gave me a precious gift in my son to show me God’s true heart. To show me my true humanity. The disabled personify the weakness we avoid. Nathan helps me get over my human/secular and foolish ideas about what it means to belong and be successful in God’s worldview. Here’s the other cool thing. God gave me Nathan to share with you, too! I think, my generation still fears the disabled. I doubt many will dare admit it. (It’s not politically correct, and we can’t look like uncaring jerks, right?) To most of us, the disabled are still a stigmatized and strange group; and we don’t know what to do with them…we don’t know what to do around them…we aren’t sure what they need. It’s all quite uncomfortable. Gosh, we are so glad we are not them. And we’re afraid. Afraid of the unknown and the unfamiliar, and the “other”. Here’s the surprising twist. Our (non disabled) kids don’t have the same mentality. They don’t. Over the last 10-20 years, those with disabilities haven’t been sent away to special schools. They have been included, or in far closer proximity to typically developing children. The secular, public schools have outdone, and surpassed the church in this area of grace. They have honored and accepted disabled kids more than the church. Please. Read those 2 previous sentences again…Slowly. Okay, never mind. I’ll just state it again: They (secular institutions and those who are a part of them) have honored and accepted disabled kids more than the church has. (Yes. You should feel convicted right now. Even crying wouldn’t be over-the-top.) As a Parent: As the mom of a disabled child, I find that typically developing children, with just the a little bit of prompting or advice, adjust very well to interacting with my son, as if he’s a real human being who desires friendship. They even enjoy him! (It’s not just charity. It’s reciprocal friendship. It’s the kind of relating where everyone wins.) On the other hand, I find that it is the parents of these (non disabled) children who are fearful, and unwilling to engage with my son, beyond the superficial. They are fearful enough to not help their child build friendships, or regularly interact with a disabled peer, or near-peer. They don’t create an easy opportunity for their child to grow, learn and become more compassionate. They don’t make it priority. As a child’s primary guide, this is a gross failure. Church: But this is different at church, right? It’s a place of acceptance, and hospitality, and belonging, right? God’s love is shown in tangible ways, right? WRONG. My son has more meaningful relationships and friendships, and more grace shown to him with non Christians, in secular (even godless) environments, and with neighborhood children. (See, the government schools have been telling these kids that atypical kids were worth interacting with.) KIDS @ PLAY Once upon a time, I bemoaned to a woman at church the fact that Nathan had no friends at church, no meaningful interactions with any church children, no invitations extended to him to play with them, go to their birthday parties, or even watch a movie together (even after we had make a lot of efforts to create those situations and occasions). Her reply, “Well, I can’t force my kids to play with certain kids, and to like certain friends.” I listened to her statement, and I didn’t really know what to say. This mom was prominent in the church. I didn’t challenge it. Upon reflection, I should have said, “LIKE HELL YOU CAN’T!” As parents, we do it all the time. We curb or we encourage friendships for our kids regularly. Do we let our kids hang out with teenagers on the corner who are smoking? Uh, no. Does a naughty and petulant child get to sleep over? No. What about the children who bite, hit, or cuss? Do they get to make cookies in our kitchen with us? Nope. We influence our kids all the time. The fact is fear stops our hospitality. We stick with our comfort level, and pick our favorites. I’m here to tell you that God has given us these different sounding and acting people as gifts, to teach us so much, but we don’t choose to interact, learn and be gracious. “But I can’t find a disabled kid… What am I supposed to do?” Well, try harder. Open your eyes. Ask around. Do you want the truth? The facts? Here they are: Do you live near 5 other homes? If you walk down your street, and pass 5 homes, 1 of those homes will be effected by disability. 1/5 of families are effected by disability everyday. Do you know more than 6 children? If you know 6 children, 1 of them is likely to have a form of autism, or developmental issue. Sometimes, I hear this: “Is it my job? How can I be responsible for knowing other people’s needs. I’m just not in their shoes.” Yes. It’s your job. A frequent reason (or cop out) is saying that the parents of disabled children should just say what they need, and make the efforts to get their kids included. BULL CRAP! Just thinking up a list of wants and needs would sound exhausting to a parent of a disabled child. Some days, they are just trying to make it through the day without losing their minds. Over 85% percent of marriages don’t survive when a child has a disability. It’s tougher than you think it is. Listen. These parents have enough to deal with. Wake up! They have enough to do than to also make sure typical children are accepting and relating to their disabled kid/s. Mostly, they are tired. It doesn’t feel worth the effort. Failure seems sure. They are surrounded by frequent disappointments, the broken dream of not having a normal kid, and lots of scheduling issues and therapeutic measures in school, community, and other locations that help their kid or their family. They don’t have enough energy to get people on board with that type of stuff on top of everything else. (Ask them what a typical week is like, go ahead.) YOUTH GROUP My son went from being very excited to be old enough to be included in the middle school Sunday School section (See, in 5th grade…you get to sit on cozy couches!!) to now, about a year later, in 6th grade, detesting Sunday School, feeling like an outcast (even more than he had before), and now he doesn’t even believe in God. He says, “God is an unbelievable story.” It must seem like a fairy tell because he doesn’t see the love of God displayed toward him. Based on the way many Christians behave toward him, he has an excellent point. Like plenty of other children with autism or developmental disabilities (BTW…”developmental disabilities ” is nicest term for “retards” or the “mentally retarded”), Nathan doesn’t get abstract ideas like, “Is Jesus in your heart?” (He hears, “Is a bearded man in your chest cavity?” Utter nonsense!) Nathan can’t see or touch Jesus; we have to be Jesus for him. He has to experience love-in-action, benefit from it, and be allowed to return this love as an equal. I don’t know if it’s too late for my church to be hospitable in the way that he’ll to want to be a part of it. I will keep that hope. I’m writing this now to start a change in how we respond and interact, so other kids with disabilities can feel like they belong, and are loved and accepted. TIPS to get you started (for kids and adults) • Interaction doesn’t have to be hours of incredibly awesome friendship per day or week. A blood brother bond is not necessary. But, the interaction should be authentic, not out of duty or pity. Something simple like making something for them, sharing something, or just chatting pleasantly with them is plenty for starters. • Asking about their interests (direct questions are best, maybe even just asking “yes or no” questions, at first), and then actually listening to them (even when you may not always understand them or know what to say) is helpful. They WILL understand when you care about them. Just take a bit of time to be gracious. It’ll do you good. • Inviting them over for a snack, to watch a movie, take a walk, ride bikes, play with your pet, or play videos games may be enjoyable for them, and of course invite the family if possible. Ask if you can visit them. Create times that are specially for them, even if they are brief periods. 30-45 minutes is fine. (But realize they will love you for it, and want to do it again soon. My son never seems to stop talking about the boy we invited over to play, about 2 months ago.) • Offer them yourself. Nothing fancy. Invest in them for real, emotionally, and with some of your time and efforts. When you offer authentic friendship it looks different than just a saying or doing the “right thing”. You take a risk.) • Help them make a craft, picture, or a simple snack, play a game, look at a book, build with legos, and take the time to talk to them, or just be close by and attentive, etc. and show them you like them. • Offer the parents of disabled kids respite time. Give them an hour or two break, and get the help, information, and extra helpers you may need to care for the child. (Only 10% of churches do this. Change this statistic.) • Be inviting. What’s the worst that could happen if you invite a family over to your house? Maybe the child will do something unpredictable, and you won’t know what to do? Maybe you will feel uncomfortable? Get Over it. MOVING FORWARD: Where and how have you seen the disabled as full-fledged participants in your community or ministry? (How was it done rightly?) AND– How can I help you? If you want to show kindness, or God’s love to a family of a disabled person, or to a disabled person, What are your questions or concerns? What about including or interacting with the disabled would you like to know? What are your fears? Share them. Let’s get this ball rolling. No question is off limits. Your comments, or experiences can be shared as well. Thanks for reading. Thanks for changing for the better. -Lisa </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> Posted on <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/what-parents-of-disabled-children-wish-you-knew-part-1/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2011-09-14T10:45:21-04:00">14 September, 2011</time><time class="updated" datetime="2013-11-07T14:17:48-04:00">7 November, 2013</time></a>Categories <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/category/spirituality/" rel="category tag">Spirituality</a>Tags <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/10/" rel="tag">10%</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/afraid/" rel="tag">afraid</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/asking/" rel="tag">asking</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/autism/" rel="tag">autism</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/awesome/" rel="tag">awesome</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/baggage/" rel="tag">baggage</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/birthday/" rel="tag">Birthday</a>, <a 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<a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/desires/" rel="tag">desires</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/disabilities/" rel="tag">disabilities</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/disability/" rel="tag">Disability</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/disabled/" rel="tag">disabled</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/do/" rel="tag">do</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/doubt/" rel="tag">doubt</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/down/" rel="tag">down</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/embrace/" rel="tag">embrace</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/encourage/" rel="tag">encourage</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/energy/" rel="tag">energy</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/enough/" rel="tag">enough</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/everything/" rel="tag">Everything</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/excellent/" rel="tag">excellent</a>, <a 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href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/government/" rel="tag">government</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/grace/" rel="tag">grace</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/gross/" rel="tag">gross</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/hell/" rel="tag">hell</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/help/" rel="tag">help</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/hope/" rel="tag">hope</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/hospitality/" rel="tag">hospitality</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/hurt/" rel="tag">hurt</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/ideas/" rel="tag">ideas</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/if/" rel="tag">if</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/in/" rel="tag">in</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/influence/" rel="tag">influence</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/interaction/" rel="tag">interaction</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/invite/" rel="tag">invite</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/jesus/" rel="tag">Jesus</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/just/" rel="tag">just</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/kid/" rel="tag">kid</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/kids/" rel="tag">kids</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/kind/" rel="tag">kind</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/kitchen/" rel="tag">Kitchen</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/learn/" rel="tag">learn</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/listening/" rel="tag">listening</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/looks/" rel="tag">looks</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/love/" rel="tag">love</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/love-of-god/" rel="tag">Love of God</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/man/" rel="tag">man</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/marginalized/" rel="tag">marginalized</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/ministry/" rel="tag">ministry</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/mom/" rel="tag">mom</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/movie/" rel="tag">movie</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/nathan/" rel="tag">Nathan</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/naughty/" rel="tag">naughty</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/needs/" rel="tag">needs</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/neighborhood/" rel="tag">neighborhood</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/normal/" rel="tag">normal</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/opportunity/" rel="tag">opportunity</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/parent/" rel="tag">parent</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/parenting/" rel="tag">parenting</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/parents/" rel="tag">parents</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/people/" rel="tag">people</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/play/" rel="tag">play</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/public/" rel="tag">public</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/question/" rel="tag">question</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/questions/" rel="tag">questions</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/real/" rel="tag">Real</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/reason/" rel="tag">reason</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/relationships/" rel="tag">relationships</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/respite/" rel="tag">respite</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/retarded/" rel="tag">retarded</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/ride/" rel="tag">ride</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/right/" rel="tag">right</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/school/" rel="tag">school</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/schools/" rel="tag">schools</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/secular/" rel="tag">secular</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/share/" rel="tag">share</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sharing/" rel="tag">sharing</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/short-bus/" rel="tag">short bus</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/show/" rel="tag">show</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sleep/" rel="tag">sleep</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/son/" rel="tag">Son</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/special/" rel="tag">special</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/start/" rel="tag">start</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/stuff/" rel="tag">stuff</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sunday/" rel="tag">sunday</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/sunday-school/" rel="tag">sunday school</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/taking/" rel="tag">taking</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/talking/" rel="tag">talking</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/tard/" rel="tag">tard</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/teach/" rel="tag">teach</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/the-church/" rel="tag">the Church</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/theology/" rel="tag">Theology</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/thinking/" rel="tag">thinking</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/time/" rel="tag">time</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/top/" rel="tag">top</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/true/" rel="tag">true</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/truth/" rel="tag">Truth</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/unknown/" rel="tag">unknown</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/videos/" rel="tag">videos</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/walk/" rel="tag">walk</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/wants/" rel="tag">wants</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/watch/" rel="tag">watch</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/weakness/" rel="tag">weakness</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/weird/" rel="tag">weird</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/will/" rel="tag">will</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/worth/" rel="tag">worth</a>, <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/tag/writing/" rel="tag">writing</a><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/what-parents-of-disabled-children-wish-you-knew-part-1/#comments">9 Comments on What Parents of Disabled Children Wish You Knew (PART 1)</a> </footer> </article> <article id="post-5957" class="post-5957 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-art category-authors category-spirituality tag-aesthetics tag-art tag-artwork tag-beauty tag-commentary tag-disney tag-do tag-down tag-fact tag-god tag-in tag-just tag-life tag-nt-wright tag-personal tag-philosophy tag-questions tag-reason tag-thomas-kinkade tag-thoughts tag-truth tag-truth-assertions tag-truth-happens tag-video tag-why tag-wisdom"> <header class="entry-header"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/truth-happens-the-intersection-of-accuracy-and-beauty/" rel="bookmark">Truth Happens (The intersection of accuracy and beauty)</a></h2> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <figure id="attachment_5964" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5964" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Beauty_and_the_beast.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-5964" title="Beauty_and_the_beast" alt="" src="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Beauty_and_the_beast-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Beauty_and_the_beast-300x200.jpg 300w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Beauty_and_the_beast-350x234.jpg 350w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Beauty_and_the_beast.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5964" class="wp-caption-text">“Art tells the truth.” -me</figcaption></figure> I haven’t been able to put my finger solidly down on the reason why I haven’t enjoyed the artwork of Thomas <a href="http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.catalog.web.tk.CatalogServlet?catalogAction=ArtHome" target="_blank">Kinkade</a>, the self-described “painter of light.” Until now. <a href="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Screen-shot-2011-07-28-at-8.00.20-PM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5958" title="Screen shot 2011-07-28 at 8.00.20 PM" alt="Kinkade + Disney" src="https://lisadelay.com/blog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Screen-shot-2011-07-28-at-8.00.20-PM-300x199.png" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Screen-shot-2011-07-28-at-8.00.20-PM-300x199.png 300w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Screen-shot-2011-07-28-at-8.00.20-PM-350x233.png 350w, https://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Screen-shot-2011-07-28-at-8.00.20-PM.png 507w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a> If you like his work, please accept my apology. It could just be a matter of personal taste, but my dislike centers on something that maybe he has created very unintentionally. Yet, on inspection of his many works, I find something very untrue about it. Something saccharine. Something short of Truth. Do you? This brings me to a great commentary on truth. As NT Wright says, “Truth happens”. It is not a matter of whether I speak correctly of something factual. “The table is made of wood,” for instance. In the case of corresponding evidence, for an authentic reality, we may speak what is true. But most of life doesn’t flesh out that way. Really, none of the biggest questions do. So, perhaps, Truth is a verb. I appreciated N. T. Wright’s thoughts on beauty and truth (see short video). I’d like to hear your thoughts about it. <iframe loading="lazy" width="585" height="325" src="http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/embed/truth-happens" frameborder="0">

Tag: fact

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