Phillip is not of the no-shampoo-school.  He thinks it makes one's hair "slimy."  I will try his methods and see whether they produce results that I like.  He uses and recommends Curlfriends products and I did get a few so that I'd have a chance of recreating what he did today.



Right now it is much curlier (less wavy) than before.

• My hair was shortened a bit (just barely touches my shoulders now) and sliced.  That's the specific method that he uses for curly hair, learned at a curly-only salon in New York.   Slicing removes bulk in a very targeted way, which is supposed to be good for curls.
• Then gel was applied in a specific method, sectioning the hair and tugging it straight out from the head.  (completely opposite to Curly Girl's don't-disturb-your-curl-pattern advice)
• Next is the part I don't like: gotta blow-dry (with diffuser) to set the curls.
• Once they're completely dry, top with serum, applied as if you're pulling the hair back into a ponytail.

..."diversion" is one of the strategems the powers employ to maintain their power. When seen from this perspective, busy-ness takes on a more insidious appearance. It is one way the principalities divert us from seeing and responding to the realities of death in this world. It is one of the ways the powers demoralize human beings. When people become too busy to notice or care about anything beyond their daily routines, the powers have diverted one more potential challenge to their dominion in the world.
Such busy-ness is not simply an unfortunate aspect of contemporary life; it is rather one way middle-class folks... are held captive by the powers.

No amount of attractive programming is going to woo (the average Canadian) back (to church).

...places of relationship outside of the church were important.

Precisely.

How do we live "into the community"?

How do I have time and emotional energy for relationships outside of the church if I am too busy serving in the church?

pg. 6: Wreck the Roof

this entire church body could perish overnight, and the community wouldn't notice us missing. It was doubtful they would care.

Mark Buchanan writes about offering services to community members who need them, and he recognizes that there will be some people who abuse these services.

He also writes about giving people dignity, which I find to be a difficult thing. What's the best way to offer help to someone without degrading them? Dorothy talked about struggling with that in Nicaragua, and it is the same struggle here.

pg. 8 - that church is now seeing people from these groups that they've reached out to "come through the doors of our church." I'd just want to be careful about making that the goal. Sometimes we are just to plant, or to water, or to weed - it is okay if God continues His work in someone's life through someone else. What we've done (in obedience to God) isn't a failure if that person doesn't come to our church!! Of course, they are welcome, but that isn't the end goal. The end goal is that they come to God.

pg. 11 - Lost and Found: 15 Tips For A New You!

11. Be realistic. Match the number of programs to the number of available people. A church of 100 can't do what a church of 1,000 can. If the Lord doesn't raise up people to lead a program, He doesn't want the program provided.

I don't know if I agree that He doesn't want the program, since we don't always obey His leading. But I do agree that if there aren't enough volunteers to run a ministry, it should be dropped.

15. Know the rules. It requires as many lifeguards for a baptism as if everyone at poolside was in the water (city regulations)!

This one can be a struggle, and it especially irritates my boss because the rules can be so confining. But we destroy our witness when we flout the rules.

All these tips are good, but I'll refrain from commenting on each one.