International Worship Symposium

A little church in Pasadena has been doing this conference for something like 33 years. Taking it all over USA and to a few countries too, they now just stay at home and let the 700+ delegates come to them every year. This time around I got in on it. Went all by my lonesome to experience loads of dancing and flags and mime and banners and artists doing paintings during worship. My favourite quote from my notes is: "The main event of church is not the 'worship' or the 'sermon,' but is is the presence of God among his people." (Vivien Hibbert) and on John 4 regarding worshipping in Spirit AND truth, "Some 'prophets' are not much more than wandering fortune tellers in the name of Jesus. But on the other side, there are others who are so afraid of experience, and that they might do something wrong, that in their worship and life of faith, they've turned to stone." (Jim Gilbert)

I met Charlene Rice, a visual artist who was exhibiting her Worship Thru Art there. She was one of the highlights. After talking to her the first time she started calling me "Singapore Jazz." She has an interesting new ministry: she posts videos of her process in painting - with a fun a quirky message about following Jesus. Bought one of her posters and she threw in this one, "On a Mission," for free:

I went to sessions to learn Messianic folk/praise dancing. Loved the couple who were teaching! Bought a couple of their training videos and they threw in one for free. Met up with the couple who now run the school started by Todd & Marilyn Farley called Mimeistry. I've showed some of their pieces (via video) in classes I've taught before. Very disciplined and skilled in their craft, they have students who come study with them for 3 years full time!

All in all it was pretty amazing and refreshing and a little weird. Many of the participants were like hippies...free spirited types, if you know what I mean. Lots of people walking around in layers of flowing skirts or trailing vests with wreaths in their hair. Some of it was a little goofy for me to join in with them. But that's what's beautiful about it - they can just be like children before the Lord and not worry about looking foolish - so I admired it). Since i had gone on my own alone, and most of them seemed to know one another for years, or came with friends, I was still more of an outsider and observer. Many times I watched the flags and people down front dancing freely and it felt like heaven.

I went the last day to have some "healing prayer," which was really sweet. I was really ministered to by these strangers that would pray in the Spirit for my needs and specifically my request: to completely trust without doubting in God's goodness from the core of my heart. The themes that came out of their prayers were "Declaring the positive things God has done." "Labor to enter his rest." and "Sing to me, Dance with me."

Then another that was most amazing: "He will give you a nugget of Gold that will be the revelation or remembrance you need to surrender to knowing his love without a doubt."
The very same day I was choosing a song to sing for a missions event. I had decided to not sing a Christian song, but a showtune called GOLD, from "Camille Claudel." To me, "the Gold" is what we have when we know we are in God's will, and in doing it, we sense his great delight, are filled with joy and get a taste of "heaven on earth."

I've changed just a few words, but here are the lyrics I hope to sing in two weeks:

I wonder if when all is done
Anyone heard my voice
But from the start we have no choice
Our journeys just begin

Lord tell me did I do what's right?
Did I fight hard enough?
When the battles grew too rough
Should I have given in? (No)

So here I stand and swear to you
I did the best that I could do...

I know my voice was just a whisper
But someone may have heard
There were nights the moon above me stirred,
And let me grab a hold
My hands have touched the gold

My hearts been driven by extremes
Blind with dreams, tight with fear
But still God knows he put me here
And I've been so alive

And I can lay the past to rest
And in the end I'll do my best

You have to live the life you're given
And never close your eyes
You hold on, and stare into the sky,
And burn against the cold
For any moment, you might find the gold!

And there was joy
Through it all
And I am standing tall

I know my voice was just a whisper
But someone must have heard
There were nights the moon above me stirred,
And let my light take hold
I rode across that sky
And once I touched the gold

Here in my own two hands
I have held the gold

here's a YouTube promo video for Mimeistry:

Singing Soon...but what?

What an honor to be asked to sing for a women's tea! But what to sing? The topic of the morning is missions. GLOBAL WOMEN OF PURPOSE! Nevertheless, it's always a difficult choice for me. What's on my heart? Trying to assimilate into USA culture this year, I'm realizing how tough this American lifestyle is. So many demands! It's just one big guilt trip after another for not being able to keep up with it all. So, in empathy for the women of Orange County (O.C.), I've composed to the tune of "Part of Your World" from Disney's Little Mermaid. Press play below and you can sing along!


Look at this stuff. Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think that my world is complete?
I am the O.C. [PV] mom who has everything.

Look at this stuff, treasures untold.
How many credit cards can one wallet hold?
Just one payment away from bankruptcy.

I've got Brighton & cell phone jewelry.
Colored hair, I'll admit is a chore.
Collagen and Botox? I've shot plenty.
But who cares. No big deal. I need more!

I need to live where the best schools are
My children are busy with sports and dancin'
There’s so much to do
I’ve no time for reflection or friends.

Walkin' around you don't get too far.
SUV's are required for trips to COSTCO. (Sam’s Club)
Buying bulk is so cheap,
I don’t mind when I throw out the waste.

I'm up early to walk, and then on the run,
I must make sure to keep out of the sun
Here in OC [PV], wish I could be
Not quite so busy.

What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day just doing "Soul Care"?
Betcha my Land(rover), you understand,
We're the proud and perfectionistic Daughters.
Tired women, always grinnin’
What? You want me to “share?”

Yes! I want my life to have lasting value.
This stuff it will burn and I can’t take it with me…
But I want to fit in,
and really like super nice stuff. [groan]

Sometimes I just think
Wish I could just run.
Every week I don't need my nails done. [sigh]
Here in O.C
Wish I could be
A missionary....

Prayer of Consecration for the New Year

from Hannah Whithall Smith's, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life (1872).

This classic is just what I need to be reading at the beginning of this new year, at this point in my journey of realizing that there is still a part of my heart that is guarded against trusting implicitly in God's goodness. All around me is a world full of Christians she describes:

"You have found Jesus as your Saviour.... You have carefully studied the Holy Scriptures.... but in spite of it all, your souls are starving and dying within you, and you cry out in secret, again and again...." ch 1

But she insists this is not the way it has to be.

"...the Scriptures do set before the believer in the Lord Jesus a life of abiding rest and continual victory, which is very far beyond the ordinary run of Christian experience; and that in the Bible we have presented to us a Saviour able to save us from the power of our sins as really as he saves us from their guilt."

And here's what it boils down to:
1. Entire surrender to the Lord and
2. Perfect trust in him.

(so simple, and yet, so very difficult!)

"He made you, and therefore he understands you, and knows how to manage you; and you must trust Him to do it. Say to him,

'Here, Lord, I abandon myself to thee. I have tried in every way I could think of to manage myself, and to make myself what I know I ought to be, but have always failed. Now I give it up to thee. Do thou take entire possession of me. Work in me all the good pleasure of thy will. Mold and fashion me into such a vessel as seemeth good to thee. I leave myself in thy hands, and I believe thou wilt, according to thy promise, make me into a vessel unto thy own honor, 'sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared for every good work'

"Next, you must lay off every other burden....everything that concerns you, whether inward or outward....We know we are helpless as regards the future, but we feel the present wa in our own hands, and must be carried on our own shoulders.... Most people...take their burdens to Him, but they bring them away with them again, and are just as worried and unhappy as ever. But I take mine and leave them with Him, and come away and forget them. If the worry comes back, I take it to Him again; and I do this over and over, until at last I just forget I have any worries, and am at perfect rest."

Oh, this strikes me first as pollyanna. But I read on about what it means to become like a little child as Jesus spoke of and in my heart of hearts, and as a mother of two boys I adore and would do anything for, it makes sense!

"He is our Father, and He loves us, and He knows just what is best, and therefore, of course, His will is the very most blessed thing that can come to us under any circumstances. I do not understand how it is that the eyes of so many Christians have been blinded to this fact. But it really would seem ais if God's own children were more afraid of His will than of anything else in life, --His lovely, lovable will, which only means loving-kindness and tender mercies, and blessings unspeakable to their souls!....Heaven is a place of infinite bliss because His will is perfectly done there, and our lives share in this bliss just in proportion as His will is perfectly done in them. He loves us, --loves us I say, --and the will of love is always blessing for its loved one."

So, there it is, the secret: Entire Abandonment and Absolute Faith.

"No matter what may be the complications of your peculiar experience, no matter what your difficulties, or your surroundings, or your "peculiar temperament," these two steps, definitely taken and unwaveringly persevered in, will certainly bring you out sooner or later in the green pastures and still waters of this life hid with Christ in God. You may be perfectly sure of this."

She closes ch 4 with another prayer of consecration:

"Lord Jesus, I believe that thou art able and willing to deliver me from all the care and unrest and bondage of my Christian life. I believe thou didst die to set me free, not only in the future, but now and here. I believe thou art stronger than sin, and that thou canst keep me, in my extreme of weakness, from falling into its snares or yielding obedience to its commands. And, Lord, I am going to trust thee to keep me. I have tried keeping myself, and have failed, and failed, most grievously. I am absolutely helpless. So now I will trust thee. I give myself to thee. I keep back no reserves. Body, soul, and spirit, I present myself to thee as a piece of clay, to be fashioned into anything thy love and they wisdom shall choose...I trust thee utterly, and I trust thee now."

Can you pray this with me for 2008? WIll you? I dare you!

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Chinese with the Creasmans...and Chinese Pod from Shanghai

We've been saying for months that Thursday night is CHINESE NIGHT in our family. But we've been slow to put it into action.

Last week Jim invited a Fuller classmate from Taiwan over for dinner. He used Chinese mostly and we were all a bit glassy eyed by the end of the evening. We're in serious need of "revisions," as we call it in Singapore.

So, last night for the first time I used lessons off of the web @ http://chinesepod.com
For more than a year I've been listening to their podcasts of chinese lessons (from Shanghai)
but yesterday I finally went to check out their on-line resources to use with the family after dinner.

You can get the podcasts without signing up, but it's free to sign up to get the extras.
There are 4 levels and dialogues, words, expansion material for each lesson.
I told my kids (who've been reluctant to keep up with Chinese) that I'll give them 10 cents each time this week they use a sentence from the lesson!

Last May, while in Shanghai, we played a game that was the ultimate in bribery. While we were walking around town, anyone caught speaking English had to give the 'catcher' a kuai!

Tyler CAN Sing! Teacher Proves It.

Tyler and I discussed HELLO DOLLY auditions last Wednesday. He said,

"Absolutely not."

I said all my wise reasonable reasons why he should at least try, I said,

"You'll never have an opportunity to do it again. If you enjoy it, then you'll have it as a great memory of High School, and if you hate it, you never have to tell anyone later in life that you were in Hello Dolly. I've half a mind to MAKE YOU."

But I was reasonable. I finished by suggesting,

"Let's agree to both have an open mind and heart and pray about it between now and Friday."

on Saturday I brought it up again by saying, "Have you picked out what song you'll sing for audtions?"

He refused to speak to me for awhile.

But today, on Monday, he comes jabbering through the door after school. JABBERING non-stop about what happened in Drama Class. His drama teacher in asking students if they were going to audition. Tyler said, "NO. I don't sing." The teacher argued with him and said, "Yes you do." Tyler stood firm until the teacher sent the entire class out the door to force Tyler to sing. This resulted in bringing home a sheaf of audition information and an official audition at 8:30PM.

I threw my head back and laughed and then I threw my arms around Tyler, praising God and saying,

"The Lord heard my cries! Through Mr. Martinez your will, Oh LORD, has prevailed."

Tyler laughed at me, and went and had a good time at the audition tonight.

(It also helped that there were 3 other guys from the football team auditioning and that he used this picture from summer camp on his "resume." On the audition form asking "would you be able to help in other areas?" He checked "Other:" and wrote, "Willing to be a sniper, or the director's personal Ninja.")

1/2 way thru. Mid-January Reflections & Photo Highlights

During down time in December, between semesters,

it was a good time to organize a disorganized address list and send out 

loads of Christmas greetings.

I hope you got our "California Creasmans" little post card! 

If you haven't heard from us in awhile, Hello! 

Did you know we're back in USA this year? 

If that's a surprise to you, write me back, and I'll fill you in. 

If you'd rather not be on another mailing list, let me know,and I'll take you off.

Even though we're already to the middle of January, it's still not too late for reflecting on 2007, or making some resolutions. I usually stay in a reflective mood for all of January! Then by the time CHINESE New Year rolls around, I'm ready to dive into a new year! I've posted questions and ideas I like to use every year, and if you type yours up, post them as a comment. You'll inspire others (even if you post anonymously!) 

Our January HIGHLIGHTS

2- After watching the NEW YEAR'S Parade LIVE, we spent the next day at a large retirement center delivering left-over Rose Parade flowers to all the residents. A really wonderful and enriching family activity to visit and pray with many of the seniors we met going door to door.

6 - Cameron met his birthmother Crystal. We had a wonderful afternoon with his special extended family at a Chuck E. Cheese. Though he'd met his twin siblings, aunt, cousin and grandmother before, he'd never met Crystal. Both were really nervous! Thank you Lord for this son of all of ours. I pray you bless his birth-family as they follow you.

7 - The 3 boys were back to school, while Kimberly headed south for the first "Seasoned Sisters" gathering of female friends in LA's South Bay. We'll meet once a month to pray together, and discuss chapters from Fabulous After 40 by Pam Farrel. Next meeting: February 8th. Lord, thank you for the way you designed fellowship. We need one another! 

"As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight." -Psalm 16:3

8 - Kimberly is sore from her first dance class the day before. She's finally making good on a life-long New Year's resolution and dancing through interterm 2 hours a day! I've enjoyed taking theatre classes last term and being around younger students. I'm still undecided about what I'll take in the Spring. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to do this thing I've always dreamed of doing! It's really fun! Give me insight about which spring classes would benefit me most.

12 - Tyler turned 15 and for the first time since his 4th birthday, we celebrated with both sets of grandparents. We watched videos of early birthdays, including a couple in China and Singapore. How fast they grow! 

and still to come in January...

Both boys are excited about attending Winter Camps. Starting this weekend, between them, the boys will venture out of the nest for 5 weekends in a row! Tyler will join the kids from EV Free this weekend, has an outing to Joshua Tree with Adventure Club from school, and last the infamous Winter Camp for RHCC. Cameron plans to go with Preteens from Lake, and the RHCC Junior Camp after that. It will be Cameron's first time going to camp! Tyler has really loved going to Wednesday Impact Groups at RHCC. It's the highlight of his week! Thank you Lord for this full year of adventures for our boys, and thanks for some scholarships to help provide the funds! Thank you for the Impact Group of older guys who've drawn this Freshman missionary kid into their circle.

24-26 International Worship Symposium (in Pasadena). Kimberly got a digital voice recorder for Christmas. If you know me well, you know that some call me the "Queen of really useful gadgets." My inspiration for 2008 is to start podcasting interviews with influential Christians in Theatre. This past year I ardently followed the podcasts from Downstage Centre and American Theatre Wing (weekly interviews with an artist on Broadway). I knew God was stirring something in my heart besides the joy of having this "insider" sense of personal mentoring in the area of theatre arts. Lord thank you for this year in USA where I have a chance this year to meet up personally with some Christians I really respect in theatre. Thank you for the inspiration to start a kind of pod-mentoring for Christians who are passionate about performing arts. I pray that my first one during this conference will get me off to a good start. Isn't that exciting? 

Coming in February we do a little tag-team traveling: 

February 14-23

Jim travels to Singapore and Dale Burke, Senior Pastor of EV Free Fullerton joins him for 3 days of CRM events (an introduction to a weeklong visit planned in Feb 2009). EV Free is the church where Jim got saved and first began pastoring. Dale's passion beyond his great pulpit ministry and leading the church in Orange County, is to help pastors around the world "lead and still have a life." He will be a great encouragement to Christian leaders, will be a terrific boost to the visibility and credibility of CRM Singapore, and through his teaching will promote our core values spiritual and character growth. While there, Jim will have the opportunity to spend time with his CRM staff who have been advancing this mentoring ministry in his absence.  

February 25-March 6

Kimberly has been invited to teach in a Drama Conference in Cairo, Egypt! (AWEMA, Feb 25-March 

with 6). I'll be teaching alongside people I've known of and respected in CITA (Christians in Theatre Arts) Julisa Rowe the organizer teaches theatre at Daystar Univeristy in Kenya (pray for Kenya!), Chuck Neighbors who's made a career of using theatre as ministry, and Mark Eaton who has an MFA in scriptwriting). I'll be teaching a track on Acting, Playback Theatre and Enacted Prayer. PLUS, a dear Singaporean freind, Leezibet Heinz-Raiden (former Mslm and theatre practitioner) is now stationed in Dubai as tentmaker. She's going to hop over to Cairo to teach the technical theatre track! So I'll get to be with her too! Thank you Lord for this dear sister. I am humbled that she calls me a "spiritual mentor" when she has been such an inspiration to me. Thank you that when I was worried about the cost, this generous sister offered support for more than 1/2 my trip!

Until next month, we pray that you are joyfully jumping into the new year.

Kimberly, Jim, Tyler & Cameron

P.S. The article copied at the bottom of our November email "Meditation on Proverbs 3" really struck a chord with so many friends who were feeling in similar circumstances. An overwhelming 65 of you personally responded! With that kind of encouragement, it reminded me of 1 Peter 5:8,9 (NIV)  

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, 

because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 

EV Free Fullerton printed it in their December newsletter. If you missed it, here is the online version in a pdf file:

http://www.evfreefullerton.com/downloads/newsbreakarchive/NB_120907.pdf

Contact info:

 jim@worldcreasmans.com, 626 688 1578

tyler@worldcreasmans.com 626 584 9076

cameron@worldcreasmans.com

Kimberly@worldcreasmans.com: 626 688 1581

www.worldcreasmans.com

Address: 627 N. Mentor Ave. #205, Pasadena, 91106

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You can sign up for  Direct Deposit from your bank or credit card through CRM 

or send individual gifts by mail. 

Your tax-deductible checks should be made out to CRM, in the memo you can designate: 

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CRM-  1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

Five for Fighting

Five for Fighting

The End of Tyler's 15th Birthday

10PM
just sat on the floor of the living room and
played this song for tyler
i found it by "accident" tonight looking for something else.
we "made up" after our mean words before his first guitar lesson in california
it's been a long time
and it's not football.
he liked the teacher
was impressed
and then after a dinner of food he likes
he didn't have to help with dishes
which helped him out of his teenaged birthday funk.

100 Years
Five for Fighting
(same guy who sings the Superman theme song)

Im 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And Im just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

Im 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And were on fire
Making our way back from Mars

15 theres still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, theres never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

Im 33 for a moment
Still the man but you see
Im a They
Kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind...

Im 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And Im heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

15 theres still time for you
Time to buy, Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star

15 Im all right with you
15, theres never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

Half the time goes by
Suddenly youre wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
Were moving on...

Im 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And Im just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

15 theres still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 youre on your way
Every days a new day...

15 theres still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, theres never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

Hawker Center LA style. This old place has been a hangout for Angelinos since the 30's. Next to CBS studios. Tyler & I tried some Laksa and Mi Siam from a place called "THE BANANA LEAF: Singaporean Food" $20USD and Yuck! We've decided we're going to stick to Western while we're here and wait till we get back for the foods we love!