Meet Me in St. Louis

It was a family road trip last weekend to southern Illinois to visit with our family friends--who had moved away earlier this summer (and I blogged about). The kids (and adults) picked up right where their friendships had left off. We survived 12 under one roof with friendship still in tact (I think anyways!) and had a lot of new fun memories to add to our growing collection.

We went to the arch (and I found out it was only completed in 1965--thought it was much older for some reason). It is so tall it is really quite difficult to take a picture of from the actual national park area, you just can't fit it all in. We were unable to go all the way to the top due to the fact it was a glorious fall day and half of St. Louis had the same idea as us.

Next, we visited the St. Louis zoo--a freebie--and so, so nice!

Below is my favorite picture from this weekend...Maddie playing "mommy and daddy" with her long lost prince. He is so patient and loving with her...all through the zoo he would put his hand on the small of her back and bend his head low to ask her questions...or usually just listen to her little musings. She talked and talked...a random stranger stopped to point out how cute it was that she was talking 90 mph while he just listened attentively...I immediately replied "he's the perfect male--great listening skills!" The stranger thought for a moment, then responded..."good point!"

Below is a picture of me with "Jillian" (her blogosphere name) I am incredibly thankful for this friendship. Thanks so much, guys, for a great weekend. Happy, happy b-day to you!!!!

We so enjoyed worshiping together at Greenville Free Methodist Church. Pastor Carl, from our church here, is now the pastor of discipleship and evangelism at this church. It was great to see him and his family. They graciously had us over for lunch even though their youngest was quite sick (a lesson in hospitality). We miss them a lot. Doug Newton's (senior pastor) message was very provocative and Tom and I enjoyed being able to discuss it on the drive home. He is casting a vision to his church to deal with local poverty by what he terms "substitutionary debt repayment." Meaning, you pay someone else's debt (consumer debts only) for 2 years with their promise to do the same thing for another family as a minimum. A certain percentage of those payments goes to already existing charities who are fighting poverty. The point is, too many Americans (yes Christian ones, too) can't give more, because their money is tied up in consumer debt. Pretty radical thinking, eh? It was really good for us, personally, to see the church taking up arms to fight social injustice...where have the Wesleyans and others from the holiness traditions gone when in the past this was one of our defining mandates? As Pastor Newton said, if you read Scripture in regards to feeding the poor it is deeply convicting...he doesn't have to say anything to exegete these passages...the Word stands alone...loudly.

My biggest critique is that this plan would only deal with local poverty and nothing on a global basis...I am assuming that this plan for debt repayment is to be in addition to your already planned mission giving, and help to foreign aid. It seems to me that is where the most help is needed. Especially after my eyes have been opened to the tragedy that is ongoing in Darfur.

Any thoughts?