Monthly Mondays: The Naturalist

Like Tweet Forward In less than 2 weeks we'll meet again to explore loving God through experiencing him in nature.  THE NATURALIST Monday, March 4th, 10AM-12:30 Wing on Life Garden, Function Room. 335 Bukit Timah Road To prepare: All you need to do is to bring yourself and a journal! In the section below are some notes about Bibles, the book Sacred Pathways and how we can connect and "chatter" through facebook. BUT you could... Consider carving out some time in the coming days to begin thinking about nature, ask God to help you begin to know him through creation. Below are a couple of passages from the Bible about Nature You can print this off and read them over, opening yourself to letting God speak in a meditative way. It might be helpful to read them more than once (perhaps even aloud!), and take some time to mull on it; to let it "sink in."  Jesus speaking in one of his most famous speeches: "The Sermon on the Mount" "Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" "And why do you worry about your clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith?" This is found in the first book in the New Testament: Matthew chapter 6 verses 26–30 An ancient poem from the Jewish Scriptures "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? .... You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm chapter 8 verse 3-9 Note: The Psalms are a book of Hebrew poetry from around 1000BC. They are just about in the middle of the Bible if that Bible includes both the "Old Testament" and "New Testament" (which are theJewish ancient Scriptures, and the story of Jesus/the beginning of the church.) Some Background on "Monthly Mondays" If you had to miss the introductory session, you can take the spiritual temperament inventory we explored here. This idea of Sacred Pathways/Spiritual Temperaments comes from the book by Gary Thomas, and the inventory is merely a tool to whet your appetite and get an idea of what this is about! There is no required reading to prepare, or required Bible knowledge. But if you are interested in reading more, you can pick up the book from Amazon (kindle), Fishpond(a local bookstore with free shipping) or any of the local Christian bookstores. There is a copy of this book at the AWAoffice (The American Club, 10 Claymore Hill, Hours: M-F (9.30am to 4pm). There is no charge for the events on Mondays, but we'd encourage you to become a member of AWA to support them and thank them for the platform of exploring the Christian faith under their umbrella. The team leading are all volunteers. Kimberly Creasman serves with Church Resource Ministries and Angel Corrigan is the Christian Connection Chairwoman. We'll have Bibles at the venue if you don't have one at home. Many of us enjoy the free mobile appYouVersion, which has many translations and versions available. Our desire is to create a place for individuals from different traditions (or none at all!) to explore drawing near to God and knowing him better. Feel free to invite others to join us each Month, or inbetween through the Facebook Group. Lord, we pray for the women receiving this email; that these Monthly Mondays will help them get to know and love you more! We also ask that you will form deep friendships among them, and that we would encourage one another. We all want to thrive as women living in Singapore in 2013;  and we can't do that without you and without each other!

Happy Valentines Day 2013

Cameron's missing his dog most, 
so we sent a card from JACK.

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Missing you today Judy K.

Missing you today Judy K., a photo by K!Mberly on Flickr.

An hour before she died, I started this improvisation on my iPad... and drew this during worship on Sunday. It was merely the cross and the roses by the end of the sermon. When when I read the news soon after church was over, I knew who I had drawn it for. Judy Karmelich. She was a wonderful woman. I finished it up by evening and sent it on to the family.

There's a Hole in Her Cup

If our souls were a cup
to hold
joy
to make us feel full
and satisfied
then there's a hole in the bottom of hers.

The people around her
The recipients of her love & care,
We all know she's given
A lifetime of giving to others
She's a model of self sacrifice
No one but Jesus can match.

So
we
want to reciprocate and
we
try to love her.

But as we pour out
aur attention
and gratitude
affection
and our praise
the cup stays full only momentarily
then it dribbles out the bottom.
A steady leak,
it's soon empty;
and we all sense her thirst returning
even as she pretends it's not there.

Soon we're all looking for something to pour back in,
or retreating elsewhere
tired of being
a whine bearer.

Se listen again
and again
to the same old story
of hurts
that put holes in her cup
(some half a century old).

Does anyone really buy it?

these 'injustices' seem inflicted
more because of a
lack of boundaries,
being a doormat,
or having had unrealistic expectations.

The holes in that cup are unforgiveness,
and she's spent a lifetime
addicted to quenching her thirst on a beverage
that can never wholly
satisfy.

Our souls are a cup
meant for only one
refreshing
beverage.

The cup of
our souls are made
to hold the living water.
Filled with the Holy Spirit
a promised comforter and friend
who doesn't mind having to keep
pouring in.

All of the other refreshments - 

satisfying relationships
creature comforts
recognition
(those things we so often are calling blessings)

- are extra unnecessary ingredients
to 
the
living water.
jesus claimed he was. 

(ref. John 4)

Fill my cup Lord.

I lift it up Lord.

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.

Bread of heaven feed me till i want no more

Take my cup

Fill it up

And make me whole

The story behind Monthly Mondays & Sacred Pathways for Artists

In November, my friends Victoria and Angel were arranging an event at the American Club. The Christianity Committee of the American Women's Association was hoping that perhaps in 2013 they could get a women's Bible Study going again.

Victoria suggested me.

So I met up with Angel and as we talked, I just knew what God was putting together. I told her, "I've been thinking that a group of my girlfriends should do some kind of service together. This next year we've been thinking of what we can do besides the weekly Bible Study we've had for a number of years now. What if we were to organize a monthly spiritual wellness mini-retreat kind of thing?" 

I've loved the concepts presented in Gary Thomas' book SACRED PATHWAYS. It made a huge impact on my understanding of how I best commune with God, spending time enjoying and worshipping him. I'd been raised in a Christian environment which primarily loved God cognitively - through our brains!

As a young believer, and well into adulthood, I worked hard at knowing the Word of God so that I could know and understand God. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm glad for a good foundation in knowing the Bible and being confident that it is an amazingly accurate ancient text that truly is "God-breathed" [2 Timothy 3:16] through writers inspired by the Spirit of God [2Peter 1:20-21]. And, I am still a big champion for Biblical literacy and knowing what we believe and why we can trust it! But, as beings created in the image of this God, we are so much more than a brain!

For as long as I can remember I felt perhaps I wasn't truly devoted to Christ. I confidently believed he was the Son of God, and I believed had become a human in order to become the "once and for all" sacrifice for sin. And yet, I honestly didn't find much joy in the methods I was taught for cultivating my inner life: through a regularly scheduled "quiet time" (preferably early morning!) that also consulted Bible Dictionaries, original languages, and the Thesaurus. All those years I thought something in me was lacking, and not something in the narrow experience of faith I was exposed to.

It wasn't until I was well into my 30's that I read this book and learned that God had made me a "Sensate" and a "Caregiver" and an "Activist." The "Intellectual" is only one of nine spiritual temperaments described!

Now through AWA, I'll have an opportunity to introduce others to these Sacred Pathways, and explore them more together.

After the invitation from Angel, a seasoned ex-pat in Singapore, I got on the phone with Donna, a successful Singaporean visual artist whom I adore.

"Donna, I've been starting to plan something with AWA that I'm excited about for next year...but I didn't come to Singapore to have ministry to American Women, I came for you."  I told her about the Spiritual Wellness/Retreat idea and she said,

"Use my studio! When can we start?"

A few months later now, we've started Sacred Pathways on Sunday afternoon with artists, AND this past Monday we had our second intro session with a room full of international women! I'm excited to see what God has planned in both groups!

Email better? Get on from here...

Arts Ministry Leaders & Mentors (SG)
AWA Christian Connection/Monthly Mondays
The Creasman's eNews Monthly Prayer Letter

Name:

Email:

Field:
Visual
Dance
Writer
Theatre
Music
Film
Ministry volunteer
Ministry leader
Retreat Core Team
Year you were born:
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January: December in USA & back to Asia

Home Sweet Home...on both sides of the globe. No sooner than we had returned to Singapore from our Christmas in California, we headed out to meet with our mentoring groups in Vietnam. In the new year, Jim will continue going to  nearby countries with Singaporean mentees to facilitate and reproduce the ministry of Building spirotual leaders. Kimberly is also excited about some new projects in Singapore she'll write about soon. But in this email, we just want to say, THANK YOU for your support and prayers and friendship and partnership in our lives and what God wants to do through us as we serve him. We missed out on connecting with many friends, which just means we'll have to come back again soon!  The details on December: This trip was primarily focused on our nuclear families, since our 2 children and four parents all live in the US and we are empty-nesters in Singapore.  We also spent time with Kimberly's brother and family, who came out from Atlanta for some "cousin time."  Through friends at Fullerton EV Free (where we were married and Jim was a pastoral intern so long ago), the Lord provided for all of our needs: A lovely house-sitting gig just between our two sets of grandparents, and a borrowed car (thank you Mc Bees and Walkers!). We went to concerts and church together a couple of times and sang in a Christmas Choir for Christmas Eve. We wore Pajamas to iHop for Christmas morning breakfast. We had a family entourage of 9 travel to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl to see Jim's beloved Bruins. The Living room of Kimberly's parents Chuck & Sue. How thankful we are of their sacrifices required by our obedience to God when he called us to overseas ministry! Theirs has been our USA home address for 16 years, and dad has managed our condo in San Pedro...rented to the same family since 1997! Reunited in Orange County Christmas pageants & concerts, like this one in our home church. Trips to visit the boys at school. Many friends have shown concern for Cameron's adjustment in Military school. On January 6th we traveled with him back to Missisippi to see his school and the small town of Port Gibson. We saw his dorm room, classrooms, and the large property used for adventures like paintball and other outdoor sports. We met teachers and administrators and his best friend & classmate. All were glowing about what a great asset he is to the school and positive influence on the other students. Cameron did a lot of complaining about the school over the holiday, but it was great to see that it boils down to his not liking the 24/7 discipline and structure (which is exactly why he's there, and what accounts for miraculous improvement in his grades!). It's true, he is very homesick, and he really doesn't want to be there. But, when he saw his friends on reporting day, he bound out of the car and into his second semester almost forgetting to say goodbye! The following weekend we took Jim's mom with us to see Tyler at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. She'd not seen the school before and we had a great couple of days driving around the quaint town, seeing his dorm room, dining with his roommates, and worshipping with him in his church, Calvary SLO. He is thriving, and driving. He got a car for his 20th birthday on the 12th. UCLA football @ the Holiday Bowl in San Diego was a disaster, but we were together and enjoyed the experience Both sets of parents join us for worship on Christmas Eve Cousin time over the Scrabble type game called "Take 2" After spending a day in Jackson with Chris Herring, Cameron's former principal in Singapore, we drove down to Chamberlain-Hunt and explored the town. Do you know who this famous UCLA & NBA basketball player is? Cameron was thrilled to meet him at the Holiday Bowl! Back to work! Building Spiritual leaders in Asia. Using the "Focusing Leaders" mentoring workbooks based on the concepts in Dr. Robert Clinton's The Making of a Leader, we facilitate small groups with Christian leaders.  Every couple of months they meet for a few days away to focus on what God has called them to, and how he is shaping them over a lifetime. We believe creating these communities and times of focus, spiritual renewal and hearing from God will safeguard these leaders who work where life is difficult and the harvest is plentiful. May God continue to keep their spiritual passion focused on; abiding in and serving him. Donating to the CRM and our ministry of building Spiritual leaders online: www.crmleaders.org

Ready to go home.

The other night in conversation,

I found myself tuning the person out.

I couldn't listen to the 4th story in a row talking about successful grown children of a friend or neighbor. About this or that person in Orange County who had made millions.

LIfe is so harsh for so many. 

And I'm not speaking of those who are jobless, or have had to walk away from their homes, as hard as that is in the American context. 

I'm thinking of the movie Les Miserables and that it's not a story from a time long ago. 

There are children who died this week from curable disease or starvation, or defending their homes against tyranny and oppressive governments or thugs...or girls who have had to sell their hair or teeth or bodies in the face of poverty, death and disease. 

Healthcare isn't even a part of their discussion.

I don't want to enter another conversation about politics
or Obamacare

or wine 

or how much money so and so has

or entertainment 
or sports

It's time to go back to our little government flat in Asia.
Where I feel a bit lavish for the relative plenty we have compared to my immediate neighbours, and especially our neighboring countries.

And I want to have different conversations.
Conversations with grateful people who know they are blessed beyond measure and want to share.

On the Movie: Les Miserables

I'm still ruminating over the movie version of Claude-Michel Schönberg's LES MISERABLES. I saw it this afternoon. I sat next to my mother-in-law who was seeing it for the first time and she wept through most of the 2 hours and 40 minutes. She was undone. 

I was reminded for the first time in a long while how much this story and these songs have shaped my life values and convictions. While we are living on this earth, the victims of temporal suffering and evil need hope that this isn't all there is. 

 "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?" 

 I told my 16 year old, who was thumbs down after the credits had begun to roll, that "this movie is a big reason why I chose a career of volunteer service in Christian ministry." (I also told him, as he complained about it just being 'wrong' that his favorite action actors were singing through an entire movie, to not say another word. Well, actually, I think what I really said was, "Shut up and stop proving how small minded and shallow you still are.") 

That Bishop welcomed the homeless to his table. The Bishop made his generous offer of the silver candlesticks and told the thief "I have bought your soul for God." Jean Valjean, the thief wrestles with how to continue in his stone hearted life. 

The heart of anger born of despair chooses the hope of God's ability to make him a better man. 

I want to be that Bishop. 

To be generous in forgiveness. To offer hope. To speak genuine positivity that breeds courage. Even in the face of hardness and opposition. I want to stand firm in my belief that affirming and serving others is a costly but worthwhile way to invest my life. 

Even when it's toward my 16 year old who dares to mock such inspiration.

Doodling in Worship....

Thanks to my friends at Church of Our Saviour, and the ipad gift I was given...I have a new practice. I call it doodle worship. Stupid name, I know. Got suggestions for a better one?

What's New(s) in November

Like Forward Singapore. Vietnam. Hong Kong. Philippines. We're having so much fun ministering and traveling together and exploring what God has for us to do while our boys are now both in USA, we skipped a month writing to you! Praying in November Thank you Lord for our 13 years in Singapore. For all that you've done in here through your church and continue to do. We pray for your CRMS volunteers and staff as we are seeking you for your will for them in mentoring leaders here. In November: 13-19th Egypt Kimberly will be teaching drama skills for ministry and outreach to Coptic Christian Youth drama teams. This will be her 3rd trip to Egypt since 2008. There is great camraderie and trust with the two other trainers (women she met through CITA-Christians in Theatre Arts, back when leading drama ministry at Rolling Hills Covenant Church). The excitement of the Egyptian students once she gets there is more ministry to her than she can hope to bring in serving them! Lord, with all the changes this past year in Egypt, give the local staff and these 3 foreign trainers discernment. Help us draw out of these passionate young people what will work in the future as they hope to share the Gospel in Arabic through drama. 25th Join us for a Thanksgiving Open House 6-10PM RSVP! In years past we've had between 12 and 60+ show up for a taste of American tradition. We've no idea what the numbers will be this year, but there's always just enough!  Our neighbors hear who the Pilgrims were and why they were thankful (and especially who they gave thanks to). It's been a great opportunity to build community in our neighborhood. We then invite the guests share what they are thankful for; and then James prays for them before we dig in. Do you see the fake fire on the TV screen! What a hoot! The best news of the Month: First quarter grades from Chamberlain-Hunt Academy have come back and confirmed Cameron's potential, and the strength of this Christian boarding school. There were wonderful comments from his teachers, citizenship and work ethics "outstanding," along with the best grades I've seen on any Creasman High School report card since 1975: Straight A's! We're thrilled. We will see both boys in December and are looking forward to being together. We miss them, but are so thrilled they are thriving in their schools. Lord, bless those saints at CHA who are committed to building Godly young men in this generation. Provide the needed staff and funding they are seeking. Thank you that you have preserved such a school in these times and we pray your blessing, favor and provision for them. May your November be blessed.