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    theresa


    Theresa Lode or, simply “T”, had her world turned upside down and inside out when her son was diagnosed with ADHD and a few other goodies. Her choice- follow the doctor's orders....or trust her heart and delve into the world of Free Range Education. She chose the latter...

    Curious? Want to know more? Read on ...

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Potluck with Wayne and Brad on April 18

Posted on April 2, 2010 by therealmotherlode

Here’s all the details:

  • What: Potluck- Please bring a main dish (Family sized covered dish) plus a salad or dessert. Out of towners- If it’s tough to bring a dish, email me and I’ll have you bring paper plates or chips,  etc.. Bring serving utensils, please. We will provide plates, drinks, utensils, etc….
  • Where: Dan and Joanne Miller have graciously opened their home at “The Sanctuary.”  (This is a lovely outbuilding on the back of their property that they use for their business.)  Please email me for the address There’s plenty of parking.  Come anytime after 5:00…we’ll shoot to eat between 5:30 and 6:00.
  • Out of towners: There are several motels in close proximity.  Ramanda Limited, La Quinta are a few names that are in Franklin.  Cool Springs offer a Hyatt Limited, The Loft, and other more upscale places.

Concerning Monday—Are you interested in more conversation with Wayne on Monday?  Please let me know. If it’s not a huge group, we can meet in our home for rolls and coffee.  Otherwise, we can converge on a local restaurant, coffee shop, whatever!  We’ll have fun!

I see that hand… What are we going to “Do”? We’re going to eat, fellowship, and talk about living a life loved.  If you have some questions for Brad and Wayne, this is the place to ask them.  If you’ve recently grown disenchanted with church or wondering if there’s more to this Christian life thing….this is a great place to come and be encouraged.

We’ll be a gathering of brothers and sisters on this journey and I’m confident there will be plenty of laughter and the beginning of some new friendships.

What we’re NOT doing is a quasi church service.  There’s no agenda here to start a new work and nope, you don’t need to bring guitars. ;)   And yes, children are welcome but there is no childcare provided. Please make certain your kids are appropriately supervised if so needed. (I’m being very frank here since we will be guests at the Millers. ;) )

If you have any questions, please email me.  (theresalode81 {at} Yahoo {dot} com)

We are looking forward seeing old friends and to meeting you, our new friends!

Filed under: The God Journey | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Rethink the cross this Easter

Posted on April 10, 2009 by therealmotherlode

In light of the Easter weekend, I thought I’d post the link to today’s God Journey podcast.  This teaching has forever changed my view of what it means to follow Christ.  The description:

On this Good Friday Brad and Wayne talk about a growing doctrinal feud over the crucifixion of Jesus. Those who advocate for the view often called penal substitution, see the cross as God expending his wrath on the Son as a stand-in for the punishment we deserved and by doing so satisfying his demand for holiness. Many of them are now claiming that this view is so central to the Christian faith that those who do not embrace it are not truly Christian. But there is a growing voice that sees the cross as God expending his wrath on our sin and shame that Jesus held in his being, to effect a cure for broken and fallen humanity, and by doing so satisfies his love and holiness to bring us back into a valuable relationship with him. That view doesn’t negate substitutionary atonement but embraces it in its fullest meaning.

What really happened at the cross?

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

Filed under: church, church life, Spirituality, The God Journey | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

Living by rule or principle?

Posted on December 31, 2008 by therealmotherlode

Better eat up the last of that Christmas fudge!  At the stroke of midnight it’s time to break out the celery sticks and toast in the New Year with a Diet Coke.  Oh- scratch that, if you’re like me, Diet Coke triggers hunger….make that a nice glass of selzer water.

Oh bleck.  Count me out.   Not because I find selzer water disgusting (which I do) or celery revolting (which I don’t)…but rather because I’m tired of life by the rule book.

And let the record show…for the most part, resolutions and accountability groups simply don’t work for most people.  Why?  Because they make us little law keepers.   Learning to live loved and by its principals will yield true, lasting  change.

Instead of a list of diet rules—adopting a love for self that naturally causes you to yield to a healthier lifestyle.

Instead of hauling out the ole ball and chain curriculum box for your kid—allowing your kids time to explore who he is. (The true basis for education.)

Need to quit gossiping this year?  How about asking God to transform your heart so your love for people reels in disgust at the thought of speaking badly of another.

Our human tendancy is to run to the law.  Modern Jews, God bless ‘em, have assembled a dizzying-list of laws, much longer than was ever laid out in the Torah.  And we Christians aren’t any better—most of our Christian life is validated by a performance driven culture which leaves us perpetually plodding one tired foot in front of the other.

And here–I’ll step on some toes–Accountability groups merely become another stage for the performance trap.

Do you suppose Ghandi and Mother Teresa kicked their year off with resolutions?  Do you suppose Paul and the other Apostles kicked off their year with a planning pow wow?  (“Hey boys!  Open your daytimers to the month of January!”)  It challenges my goal-driven heart.

Am I against goals?  Absolutely not!  But we need to remember that goals, vis a-vi laws,  have their limitations.   At their deepest level, they should point us to grace.  You know…the stuff Paul wrote to the Galatians.

I hope this is the year that I…and you,  tap deeper into the amazing riches of God’s love for you and enjoy the rest  it provides.

PS.  Join in the grace discussion at The God Journey.

Filed under: church, church life, Goal Setting, Personal development, Spirituality, The God Journey | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Is that a spider bite or a church service?

Posted on December 11, 2008 by therealmotherlode

Class is always in session at the Lode house.  Even before I’m fully caffeinated.  This morning it started with Caleb’s query, “Are Tarantula’s poisonous?”

My usual answer: Get the encyclopedia!  So he did.  And he read.  We both learned that once upon a time folks thought that a bite from a tarantula caused a disease called tarantism and it said:

The victims supposedly leaped in the air and ran about making strange noises.

Sounds like a charismatic church service, I told Jay.   We continued reading.

The “treatment” was to perform a lively Italian folk dance known as the Tarantella.

Ah!  I think I observed this the other day on “The Church Channel”.  (That TV digital converter box has opened up whole new worlds to us.)  On the stage were a couple of young men break dancing on the stage while the color coordinated worship performers/leaders gyrated and flailed about in the background.  The lighting alone was quite spectacular.

I’m all for expression in worshiping God but when this kind of stuff is considered an experience with God it’s no wonder to me that so many church goers are disillusioned.  People want something REAL that’s going to outlast the last the light show.  I know for me, I am gratefully disillusioned as my friends at The God Journey would say.

In the meanwhile, if you find yourself in a church setting like the one I described….I’d watch my step if I were you.  Just saying…..

Filed under: church life, Spirituality, The God Journey | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

A few people who bless me

Posted on November 18, 2008 by therealmotherlode

I tell ya with all the negative stuff going on, I thought it would be nice to toot the horn of some people that I’m thankful for.

Do you like my “do” in my headshot here?  Well, that’s thanks to the skillful eye and hands of Scarlett Pierce.  Scarlett is a dear friend and an exceptional hairdresser.  She’s one of the most transparent people I’ve met here in the south.  And I may be stereotyping but I’ve found the south is very hospitable but there’s also a lot of “Show Pony” living.  So when I find one like Scarlett, I find her honesty and realness to be a long cool drink on a hot day.   And who knows, being a hairdresser, she may just solve a few problems for you (besides your hair that is.)  If you’re in the Franklin area—check her out!  Here’s her website.  And while Scarlett can turn a gal from frumpy into fabulous, she shows me that beauty truly starts on the inside.

You’ve heard me talk about Jared Miller before.  He’s the amazing son of Dan and Joanne Miller.  He is living in Rwanda working to better the lives of the poorest of the poor.  This young man knows what it is to meet challenge head on and plow right into it with determination and optimism.  Check out http://www.keza.com and order some beautiful necklaces for the holidays.  And if you want a glimpse into the heart and mind of Jared check out his blog.  Jared challenges me to look beyond the walls of my own little world.

And speaking of the Millers.  Be sure and check out their latest: http://www.48days.net  Think of it as Facebook for entrepreneurial minds.  I can tell you that anything the Millers do will have a wonderful flavor because that is the type of people they are.  We are blessed to call them friends.  They teach me that overnight successs usually take a good 15 or more years.

Finally, here’s two of my favorite websites in the world.  If you’re a homeschooler or considering homeschooling, you simply must check out HOMEschool Fellowship. There’s so much help and encouragement there and I refer a lot of people here.  It’s one of the friendliest forums on the planet.  The moderators are seasoned, loving homeschool moms with a great sense of humor to boot.  (A few of them are from Australia!)  This loving internet family shows me the value of encouragement and community. (My, how the internet has changed things.)

The God Journey offers a weekly podcast that always encourages and gives food for thought.  Brad and Wayne “A couple of real guys talking about life” is worth listening to.  (Psssst, btw, these are the fellows behind publishing The Shack.)  These guys remind me that God is far nicer than I’ve imagined and that church is PEOPLE. Hey guys—I’m really fond of you!

Zig Ziglar talks about keeping a “Wall of Gratitude” to help remind us of all the people that have helped us in our journey.  These are just a few of the people you’ll find on my Wall.

Who are some of the people on your Wall?

Filed under: church life, homeschooling, Personal development, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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