Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Kickstart the New CHRIS & JENNA Album!
Well, everyone, here's our life right now! We are amazed at how much support the project has drawn in such a short amount of time. If you're down with what we're doing, spread the word to those you know - help us make this album happen!!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/696318513/new-chris-and-jenna-album
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The illusion (maybe?) of "balance" in the battle for our days.
Readers, I come to you pretty undecided about this one. So, I'm asking for your input.
We have seasons of life that demand different things of us, and seasons where we take different nuggets that we apply to the way we live.
In college, I learned what it means to overextend yourself to the point where you can do everything "well enough," but not really excelling or thriving. To do everything simply because you can, and thus compromise sleep and relationships. In the last semester of college, I gained freedom by finally saying "no" and quitting some things (gasp). I was able to pour into people in ways I had not, and I felt more alive than when I was constantly doing work, hitting the pillow so late I couldn't even tell what time it was, and cramming more into my days than most would think possible. I finally learned that "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
I am a nightowl by nature. It has taken me a while to get to a point where I can acknowledge that my mornings and days at my job are better when I go to bed sooner. Sounds obvious, but it's totally opposite to my instincts. So, at 29, I was finally going to bed at a slightly more reasonable hour in order to wake up and get to my job on time (ish).
But now, we are in album mode. And for several weeks straight, we have gone to our day jobs, then straight to our recording site or home, eaten a quick (unhealthy) dinner, and plugged away until midnight-ish. And then we wake up and do it all over again.
The going-to-bed-more-reasonably-and-pretending-I'm-a-responsible-adult part of me wants to die a little. Ok, maybe more than a little.
But it's only part of me. Because the other part of me that knows what our studio engineer/guitarist lives like, doing these crazy hours just about all the time, and how when he's questioned about his stamina/fatigue only points back to the Lord - that part of me is using him as a muse to get through it and questioning my approach to life.
I'm caught between the idea of rest, which God created, and "pressing on toward the goal" by going to bed when everything is done, not when I'm tired.
I definitely can examine what is unnecessary, what is wasteful, what fills my time but does nothing for the Kingdom, what someone else could do just as well if not better than me. So, I know it's not helpful to fill time with superfluous things.
But what about when it's not superfluous? What about when it's all related to things you feel called to do and things you don't feel like you have a choice about?
I think "balance" is a common word in Christian circles. We don't want people burned out on ministry, we get overwhelmed with our schedules, and we ask for prayer to help us get a better balance of quality time with our spouses, with children, with friends, with God, with ministries, with chores..... etc.
I feel like this is an art I have tried to learn through the past 5 years or so... and yet, Jesus doesn't talk about balance. Ever. Jesus talks about selling ALL you have and giving it to the poor, of a widow who gave all she had to the church, of a man who finds a treasure and sells all of his belongings to buy the field it's hidden in... Jesus does go away from the crowds to pray, to be restored by his Father. But those accounts are outnumbered by all of his healings, teachings, and traveling from place to place to love people and show them the way to Life.
And Paul?! I'm fairly certain Paul wasn't refraining from traveling, writing his letters, speaking our in his jail cell because he needed some "me time." And countless people are working tiring hours both here and overseas to reach people with the good news of Jesus and to fight for justice. But we're told that we need to stay healthy with how we spend our time. We're told "you can't be all things to all people." Yet Paul says, "I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some." Which is it?!
So, where do we come to rest in this? This divide between creating limits to care for ourselves so that we can care for others in the name of the gospel, and "keeping on" through our exhaustion for the sake of the gospel?
I know I can think of a few central principles:
-Relying on God for strength and sustenance
-Having time with the Lord for refreshment
-Doing all things for the sake of the gospel, and no other motivations (selfishness, approval...)
Yet I'm falling short in some of the way these are lived out. Is constantly pushing beyond limits a foolish practice that will leave us ragged and spent and keep us from our full potential? Or is conserving and protecting simply an American approach to our lives and our faith?
What do you think? Where are you in this??
My brain right now. In work + album mode. Never. Off.
We have seasons of life that demand different things of us, and seasons where we take different nuggets that we apply to the way we live.
In college, I learned what it means to overextend yourself to the point where you can do everything "well enough," but not really excelling or thriving. To do everything simply because you can, and thus compromise sleep and relationships. In the last semester of college, I gained freedom by finally saying "no" and quitting some things (gasp). I was able to pour into people in ways I had not, and I felt more alive than when I was constantly doing work, hitting the pillow so late I couldn't even tell what time it was, and cramming more into my days than most would think possible. I finally learned that "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
I am a nightowl by nature. It has taken me a while to get to a point where I can acknowledge that my mornings and days at my job are better when I go to bed sooner. Sounds obvious, but it's totally opposite to my instincts. So, at 29, I was finally going to bed at a slightly more reasonable hour in order to wake up and get to my job on time (ish).
But now, we are in album mode. And for several weeks straight, we have gone to our day jobs, then straight to our recording site or home, eaten a quick (unhealthy) dinner, and plugged away until midnight-ish. And then we wake up and do it all over again.
This is me when I think about my impending 1 am bedtime. But less of the athleticness. Also less of the sculpted thighs.
(This is also me each morning when I show one of my kindergarteners an M and he enthusiastically says "T!" No. This is an M. It is the first letter in your name. Just like it was yesterday. And three weeks ago. For the love. I could write a whole separate blog... kindergarten teachers everywhere, you have my undying respect and loyalty. This stuff is nuts.)
But it's only part of me. Because the other part of me that knows what our studio engineer/guitarist lives like, doing these crazy hours just about all the time, and how when he's questioned about his stamina/fatigue only points back to the Lord - that part of me is using him as a muse to get through it and questioning my approach to life.
I'm caught between the idea of rest, which God created, and "pressing on toward the goal" by going to bed when everything is done, not when I'm tired.
I definitely can examine what is unnecessary, what is wasteful, what fills my time but does nothing for the Kingdom, what someone else could do just as well if not better than me. So, I know it's not helpful to fill time with superfluous things.
But what about when it's not superfluous? What about when it's all related to things you feel called to do and things you don't feel like you have a choice about?
Dude. Gravity sculpture - no glue, no cement, no nothing. I'm impressed.
I think "balance" is a common word in Christian circles. We don't want people burned out on ministry, we get overwhelmed with our schedules, and we ask for prayer to help us get a better balance of quality time with our spouses, with children, with friends, with God, with ministries, with chores..... etc.
I feel like this is an art I have tried to learn through the past 5 years or so... and yet, Jesus doesn't talk about balance. Ever. Jesus talks about selling ALL you have and giving it to the poor, of a widow who gave all she had to the church, of a man who finds a treasure and sells all of his belongings to buy the field it's hidden in... Jesus does go away from the crowds to pray, to be restored by his Father. But those accounts are outnumbered by all of his healings, teachings, and traveling from place to place to love people and show them the way to Life.
And Paul?! I'm fairly certain Paul wasn't refraining from traveling, writing his letters, speaking our in his jail cell because he needed some "me time." And countless people are working tiring hours both here and overseas to reach people with the good news of Jesus and to fight for justice. But we're told that we need to stay healthy with how we spend our time. We're told "you can't be all things to all people." Yet Paul says, "I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some." Which is it?!
So, where do we come to rest in this? This divide between creating limits to care for ourselves so that we can care for others in the name of the gospel, and "keeping on" through our exhaustion for the sake of the gospel?
I know I can think of a few central principles:
-Relying on God for strength and sustenance
-Having time with the Lord for refreshment
-Doing all things for the sake of the gospel, and no other motivations (selfishness, approval...)
Yet I'm falling short in some of the way these are lived out. Is constantly pushing beyond limits a foolish practice that will leave us ragged and spent and keep us from our full potential? Or is conserving and protecting simply an American approach to our lives and our faith?
What do you think? Where are you in this??
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