Archive for July, 2008

Theology Thursday: Needing the Body of Christ

July 31st, 2008

I have been feeling very needy lately and honestly I don’t like it. I don’t like feeling needy. I like feeling in control (as I have mentioned before). I like feeling capable and able and independent and have a difficult time admitting that I need other people’s help. In fact I have a hard time even asking people to pray for me even though I know that I need their prayer.

Basically, though lately I’ve realized how desperately I need other people in every area of my life. I need help. I admit that I can’t do life on my own – any part of it really. So, there’s my confession. I know that I need people. The problem is that I have a very hard time actually acting like I need other people and letting that knowledge really sink into how I live my life. So, I need help. I need help needing people. I need help becoming needy. I need help letting people into my life and my heart. I need help needing.

I need help with that because, I am convinced that it is only in community, only through active involvement and dependence on the body of Christ, that we really grow and experience healing and life. I am convinced that the life God calls us to live is a communal life. We need each other. I need you. It’s hard for me to admit and live like that but I know that it is the truth. It is through the body of Christ that Christ reveals himself to us. It is through the Body of Christ that Christ often chooses to meet our daily needs. Christ often chooses to use his body to challenge, instruct, convict, and encourage us. But, if I don’t let others into my life, don’t let them know my needs or struggles or questions then how can they help me? How can they be Christ’s hands and feet to me? If I choose not to share my triumphs and victories and encouragements with them how can they rejoice with me? If I choose not to let them into my life why would they choose to let me into theirs? How can we really be the Body of Christ if we hold each other (and thus hold Christ) at arm’s length and don’t really let each other into our lives?

Those are my thoughts today… I think them, but I have a much harder time living them.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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Wednesday Reviews: Bryan Stedman

July 30th, 2008

Ok, so today is Wednesday and according to the blog schedule I am currently trying out today is the day when I review something – a book, movie, CD, restaurant, etc. Basically it’s a day to write about something I’ve experienced and tell you if I liked it or didn’t like it.

As I thought about what to write about a few ideas came to mind… I could write about the band, Bell X1, that I was listening to this morning. I could write about the semi-Czech restaurant a block from our place that we have eaten at twice this week. I could write about my new favorite magazine, Yoga Journal, and what I like about it. I could write about the Woody Allen movie that Bryan and I watched the other night. But, I didn’t really feel like reviewing or writing about any of these today. There’s a good chance that I will write about these things eventually, but not this week. So, I was sitting having a late breakfast with Bryan chatting about work and the coming change in work status and it dawned on me what I wanted to write about: Bryan. That’s right, today I’m going to review my husband. I know sort of strange and maybe more appropriate for an Admiration Monday post but, hey, it’s my blog right so if I want to review my husband then I can J

So, let me tell you a little about Bryan Stedman…

For starters he’s the smartest man I know. I mean literally a genius. He’s scored at a genius/mensa level on pretty much all the intelligence tests he’s ever taken – literally! He has a way of looking at problems and solving them that has always impressed me. Seriously, he is brilliant at solving problems and looking at things analytically!

He loves to learn and is constantly teaching himself new things. In just the last year he’s TAUGHT HIMSELF a variety of cooking methods, how to use Linux, a basic knowledge of a few computer languages, a basic understanding of Czech, and a handful of other interesting things. I will often catch him listening to lectures online or watching how-to videos on a wide variety of subjects. He just loves to learn and expand his knowledge. He also has a wonderful memory and can recall a vast amount of information on a variety of topics.

Bryan also loves trying new things. He loves trying new foods (he recently decided that he wants to try cricket and has been researching how to prepare crickets and all that – I’m a little grossed out but kind of proud of him for it too). He also loves going new places and just generally having new experiences. He really desires to be a well rounded person who’s been a lot of places and tried a lot of things – the kind of person who is interesting to be around and has lots of interesting experiences and stories. I think there are a lot of people out there who would like to be that kind of person but not many of them actually follow through with that and continuously make decisions to stretch themselves and try new things. My husband does though, which leads me to the next quality I’d like to tell you about…

Bryan does what he says he’s going to do. He follows through. He doesn’t just talk about the kind of person that he wants to be, he actually takes steps towards becoming that person. If he says he’s going to be some place or do something he does it. He’s extremely trustworthy.  

Bryan is also incredibly loyal to his friends and the people he cares about. When he likes someone he really gets excited about them. He loves seeing and helping his friends succeed, even when it doesn’t benefit him. When a friend of his has a need that Bryan can meet he’ll be the first in line to meet it, or sometimes when a friend just has a desire/want that Bryan can help make happen he’ll be the first to jump at the opportunity. If you tell Bryan about a need or desire you have you are likely to end up finding it on your doorstep in the near future. He’s just that kind of guy. He loves taking care of people and loves helping out his friends. He’s incredibly loyal and caring towards his friends and family and those people that he admires.

I could say a lot more about my husband but I think that’s a good start as a general review of the wonderful man I am blessed to be married to. Maybe I’m biased but, Bryan get’s 5 stars in my review book! If you don’t know him, get to know him. If you know him a little bit, get to know him better. If you know him well, count yourself blessed.

Oh, and did I mention that Thursday’s his last day of work? So… (warning shameless plug ahead) if you have any problems that you need solved or jobs that you need a brilliant analytical problem solver for look him up J You won’t regret it! J

Rejoicing in the journey –
Beth Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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Tuesday Prayer: A prayer from the Celtic Daily Prayer Book

July 29th, 2008

Take me often from the tumult of things
into Thy presence.
There show me what I am,
and what Thou hast purposed me to be.
Then hide me from Thy tears.

O King and Savior,
what is Thy gift to me?
And do I use it to Thy pleasing?

Now we must praise the guardian of heaven,
the might of the Lord
and His purpose of mind,
the glorious all Father,
for He, God eternal, is kind.

Christ, You are the Truth;
You are the light.

You are the Keeper of the treasure
we seek so blindly.

Dear Lord, You alone know
what my soul truly desires,
and You along
can satisfy those desires.

I have prepared a place for you,
says the Lord, a place that is for you,
and only you, to fill.
Approach My table,
asking first that you might serve.
Look even for the lowest tasks.
Then, the work of service done,
you may look for your own place at table.
But do not seek the most important seat
which may be reserved for someone else.
In the place of My appointing will be your joy.

Lord, show me the right seat;
find me the fitting task;
give me the willing heart.

May I be equal to Your hope of me.
If I am weak,
I ask that You send only what I can bear.
If I am strong,
may I shrink from no testing
that shall yield increase of strength
or win security for my spirit.

I trust in Thee, O Lord.
I say, ‘Thou art my God.
My times are in Thy hand,
my times are in Thy hand.’

Amen.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

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Admiration Mondays: Tamara Stedman

July 28th, 2008

On Wednesday Bryan’s sister Tamara arrives in Prague for a visit. She will be traveling around Europe with a friend for the next month and spending about 2 weeks in Prague. I am sooo excited to see her!!

I’ve known Tamara since she was a little girl. We used to play at the beach together and play dress up together. She is about 5 years younger than me so there is enough of an age difference that I could feel like I had to take care of her but she is close enough to my own age that we could still play similar games and she could keep up with my sister and I. The first thoughts I remember having about Tamara were that she was so cute and sweet, but she had a little mischievousness behind her smile that I remember liking.

When I was little I always wanted a really LITTLE sister. My sister, Brie, and I were so close in age (13 months apart) that she never felt like a “little” sister – in many ways we were more like twins growing up. When I would picture what I would want my little sister to be like I always pictured Tamara. Then we grew up and I was blessed to have Tam become my sister-in-law.

Now that we are older I can recognize and appreciate much more in Tam then just cuteness and a mischievous smile. She has grown up to be a truly beautiful woman, inside and out. She is incredibly loyal to her friends and family. She is one of the wittiest (and most sarcastic) people I know. She is very intelligent and has a way of noticing and calling out truth in people and situations that I really admire. Like a girl after my own heart, she loves literature and photography and I love that I can share those things with her. She also has a deep love for Europe and has set a goal for herself that she would come to Europe at least once a year. Oh, and did I mention she loves God with her whole heart, soul, mind and strength? Yeah, Tam pretty much rocks!!

I’m really looking forward to having Tamara here to visit. She is such an amazing woman and a truly awesome sister-in-law! If you don’t know her yet then you should! So, if you’re in Prague then you should make it a point to stop by in the next few weeks and meet my wonderful sister-in-law! J

I love you Tamara!!!

May God circle you and sustain you.
May you find His rest even amidst the craziness of packing.
May you feel his presence amidst your travels and may He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
 
 
 
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photographs Bryan Stedman

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Sunday Church Talks: Not today

July 27th, 2008

So, today I’m supposed to write about church. So throughout the day I was thinking of what to write and I had this post in my head about the territorial attitudes that can exist in churches and how much I dislike that. I was going to talk about unity in the body of Christ and some other thoughts along those lines. But, now it’s late and I don’t feel much like writing. We stayed up late playing cards with some friends and generally just enjoying being with other believers and laughing and enjoying life together. So, now I’m just going to go to bed. So, no real blog for today – sorry.

Lord, thank you for all the different and beautiful people of you created. Thank you especially for our friends, David and Sarah.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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