Fellowship @ MindSay 
church
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 15, 2008 - Frequent military relocations can take a toll on spouses' careers unless they have a portable skill, which is exactly what one foundation has set out to provide them. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation has partnered with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education to offer military spouses a chance to earn the "accredited financial counselor" credential.
The credential gives spouses the ability to work in financial counseling, nationwide, either on or off military installations, said Gerri Walsh, associate vice president of authority's office of investor education. "It is a well regarded, nationally known credential," she said, "and it could be such a benefit."
The Military Spouse Fellowship Program, as it is known, is open to spouses of active duty servicemembers, reservists or retirees, with a couple of exceptions.
"We have an application that asks you to describe your previous counseling experience and your previous experience in finance," Walsh said. "We do checks to see whether or not people have had run-ins with regulators if they were in the industry before."
Someone who has had problems with a regulator would not be eligible, she said. The same is true of anyone who holds a securities license.
Since the program was launched in 2006, more than 4,800 applications have been fielded for the no-cost, 18-month program. A rigorous selection process, however, has narrowed that field down to just 200 fellows each year.
Representatives from the two partnering organizations, along with those from the National Military Family Association, another partner in the program, carefully review each application. Each applicant is evaluated on several points, including the drive to succeed, Walsh said.
"Then (we consider) how realistic is it that they'll be able to earn the credential?" she said. "We don't want to put people in this situation where they've gotten this fellowship but then they've got no real good way to earn the practicum hours that will allow them to get it."
Time spent working in financial counseling settings equates to practical experience, or the practicum hours to which Walsh referred. Fellows with experience get credit toward this portion of the program. The more experience, the fewer practicum hours are needed.
In fact, of the 2,000 practicum hours required to complete the program, most spouses have some credit and only end up needing to complete another 400 to 800 hours, Walsh said.
"Only single digit percentages – 6, 7, 8 percent – are required to go for the full 2,000," she said, adding that experience is not a significant determining factor in the selection process.
So far, 39 fellows in the 2006 class have completed the entire program, including the Web-based seminars and the practicum requirements. That group is scheduled to finish in August, and several more fellows are expected to earn their credential, Walsh said.
National Military Family Association will start accepting applications for the 2008 Military Spouse Fellowship Program in late March with a deadline of late Aril, Walsh said.
The new slate of fellows is scheduled to be announced in late June or early July.
When I found the picture of the campfire, it brought back a flood of memories, or close, intimate gatherings around a campfire. It got me thinking about community, acceptance, & belonging.
We have a basic human need for acceptance. It can be satisfied in a multitude of ways, but it must be met or the individual will suffer.
We can think of community in any number of ways, but my definition is very simply – the people we interact with routinely.
One example is our local Amish community. They live, work and worship together under a common and shared belief system that voluntarily binds them together for their mutual benefit. Their faith is woven through everything they do. Each member contributes to the whole, even children, and similarly, each member benefits. If one needs home repairs, the community gathers together at an appointed time and makes the necessary repairs – each member helping, from the youngest to the oldest. No effort is too minute to be appreciated or too grande to absorb all the attention over the others.
In our modern Western culture, this principle is no longer as evident as it once was, and it is missed. As humans, we need to feel accepted, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is to contribute something to the whole. We each have natural & unique talents and abilities, but in today's society, many of these gifts are not generally appreciated, and yet we know that theoretically, the whole is only as valuable as the sum of its parts. If some of the “parts” are not considered valuable, then the whole will suffer. When we under-appreciate the gifts and abilities of others, we depreciate the value of the whole.
I realize this is a difficult concept, and that I am just slightly idealistic, but as an educator – parent – citizen who frequents “disadvantaged” neighborhoods, it simply breaks my heart to see so many people existing without hope. Hopelessness is a fruit of a breakdown in community.
Who says the bank president is more valuable to the community than the toilet scrubber? Who says attorneys are worth more to the whole than the farmer? Who says men are still a better investment than women? Who says different means one is better than the other? Is the singer less valuable than the painter? Both have a gift to share.
We each have a part to play, gifts to give, talents to share, skills to contribute to the whole to make ours a better place. Whether it is within a community of faith, business, or leisure, at some point, we have to get over ourselves and learn to appreciate one another for who we are – not who we want them to be, or who we think they should be – but who we are! Guess what? Avery baby born isn't a genius ... and that's OK!!! Competition has its place, but it should not cause us to value mathematicians over a skilled auto mechanic. Do you appreciate the gifts you have? How about the gifts of your kids, friends, or neighbors? We need more “atta-girls” and “atta-boys!” More positive life-giving words spoken to dispel the harsh negative ones. More words of acceptance to embrace our children in their world of cliques and judgment. Maybe, just maybe we can actually learn to appreciate our differences, hmmm? Maybe?
Rom 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
~ B
It can also be viewed at the website of the Thunder Bay Deanery Youth Unit: tbdyu.spaces.live.com.
Interestingly enough I came home today to two phone messages: one from Round Lake wondering if I could play guitar for a retreat this weekend (but I'm already playing for St. Thomas' "Parish Mission") and another from Dean Schaaf of the Dorion Bible Fellowship (not the Camp, but his kids go) asking me to participate in their 30 Hour Musicathon, raising funds for their building. I think I should perform "Zargons Invade Dorion Bible Camp", the unplugged version.
10 years of illness. Pressing in. Trusting. Listening. Watching. Waiting. Pain. Being Still. Resting. Convelessing...how do you spell that:..oh bother! ...more Trusting. Standing in Faith, even when I couldn't move. It's been an amazing journey and Lord, I thank you for your continued faithfulness towards me, your daughter. I love you and know you love me.
...and now, I am here.
What an awesome day the other, when friends came over to have "coffee". I was so pleased at their enthusiasm to experience, for the first time, "healthy coffee". We watched "Happy Mornin" and laughed! Thanks Folgers
. We watched "Myth or Reality" and became informed. We talked. We prayed. We hugged. Yes, our coffee time turned to a God time and I'm confient it will continue to do so. Thanks Gano! You've brought to us an unexpected blessing...opportunity for gathering with friends and "health in a cup".
I can hardly wait for the addition of the new site, Justin
...Oooooo, it's like waiting for Christmas. My Lily-girl will be up soon. It's a brand new day. Bless you all, in it.
aCruse.
Maybe it's time for me to put some cards on the table. I tend to avoid conflict simply because we each have enough conflict in our "real" lives, so who needs more here, right? But ... I can't always avoid conflict.
By way of background, I do not call myself a "christian" simply because along with that connotation comes a whole set of expectations that are, in my opinion, unrealistic and incorrect ... but that's another story. In general, my beliefs line up with those of other believers here at Mindsay. The places where we differ have more to do with the "church" than with the actual beliefs.
I want to make a rather radical (in some sense) observation and see where it goes. As I read the New Testament, regardless of which translation, there are some places where today's Church differs from the early church.
- "Preaching" was done to the unsaved, the secular, world, not fellow believers, and it was for the purpose of conversion. Today, the vast majority of "preaching" is within church walls to members and supposed believers. Why? This practice is both harmful to the church, as evidenced by a huge number of believers who cannot "feed" themselves, and deprives those outside the walls the opportunity to hear the "word" fittly spoken.
- Teaching is a separate issue. I do not see much evidence of teaching within the early church except the twelve at Jesus' feet. Believers were responsible for their own growth, and today we have the additional aid of the written word. So many Christians today have a vague understanding of the gospel, but are content to be spoonfed by those who claim to know better.
- The "assembling" together of believers, as I see it in the Biblical context, was primarily social, which is precisely what it's main function is today, though many may disagree. There is nothing wrong with social fellowship of like-minded people. Friends are a necessary part of this life, and if you think about it, healthy friendship is built upon a mutual give and take. This is how Christian fellowship works. Needs are taken care of and prayed for, the grieving and wounded are embraced and encouraged, the "older" give of their wisdom and faith to the "younger", etc. This is separate, however, from those occasions when we present "Jesus" to those outside the faith.
Some may argue that this is just semantics, but ... it represents a part of a great compromise that has occurred over the centuries to make Christianity more palatable. Jesus was/is a radical person with ideas that are contrary our nature, so with the slightest misunderstanding, we opt for the more comfortable way. All this to say I see a trend beginning within the Church back toward the New Testament Church we read about in the book of Acts.
Revcathian, for whom I have great respect and affection, posted an article today on the topic of "Church Discipline." It's a touchy subject and she has done an excellent job outlining the Biblical basis for it. The questions that arise, however, include things like ... Did Jesus require church membership? How is church membership defined? To whom is church leadership accountable? Are there right ways and wrongs ways to leave a local congregation? Governmental issues within the church, just like any other organization, vary from denomination to denomination. Why are so many churches run like secular businesses?
Do you see where I'm coming from? There is a difference. People of faith, any faith, very naturally congregate and share their lives. Ministry is something that either is who we are 24/7/365 or at the very least, when we are apart from friends.
OK ... well ... enough thinking for one day! :)
~ B
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