Five Things Friday

Welcome to the first installment of “Five Things Friday,” where I share the five things that I am currently loving this week. On this list: a scarf, non-traditional bubble tea, books on science and women in ministry, and a general shout-out to my community.

In no particular order:

• Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf
  Okay, let’s be real… I am not a scarf person. About every six months, I’ll find an adorable scarf at a store, buy it, and promptly hang it in my closet where it will never see the light of day. Not too long ago, I was in the Lululemon outlet (specifying outlet, because I’m a poor grad student), and I stumbled across this Vinyasa scarf.

  I don’t do yoga (TBH, I don’t work out). I don’t usually buy Lulu (see previous sentences). And, like I said before, I don’t really do scarves. But I bought this. And I am obsessed. It’s versatile, cute, and comfortable. I keep it in my care and use it all the time. I’ve used it as a blanket when I travel, a vest (shawl?), and a huge, fashionable, lovely scarf. Get yourself one.

• Caribou Bubble Tea
  As a high schooler, I spent all of my time at Sencha tea. Partially because I loved it, but also because bubble tea was becoming so dang popular (hello, 2010). So, when I saw that Caribou was coming out with bubble tea, I was a little skeptical… Square bubbles that taste like caramel and coconut? Be still my tapioca ball heart.

  Since I am a frequent (understatement) customer of the joint Brueggers-Caribou that’s walking distance from my office, I decided to try it before youth group one Wednesday night. Dang. It’s good. I’d recommend the Raspberry Green Tea with bubbles (squares?). Get your inner 2010, bubble-tea-drinking, punk-rock-listening, Hollister-wearing self to Caribou.

• Adam and the Genome by Dennis R. Venema and Scot McKnight
  Our youth group has been in a series called “Press In,” where we’ve been pressing in to the major issues of our time – including holding power with Christ-centered integrity (thanks to the current leaders of our time for that prompting… Woof), addressing poverty in helpful ways, and loving people in our community who disagree with us well. This past week, we pressed in to science.

  Coming from a girl who barely passed eight grade science, Adam and the Genome was a great help in understanding genomic science and its relationship with Scripture (especially the creation story and the writings of Paul). It’s readable, it’s interesting, and it reminds me why we need to take science seriously as Christians. I’m grateful for Venema and McKnight’s voice and expertise, and I’m looking forward to reading more of their work as I continue to wrestle with this issue. You can buy it here.

• Emboldened by Tara Beth Leach
  Live look at me when I got this book at this past fall’s She Leads summit satellite at Bethel:

  
  And then I had to go back to the seminary grind and didn’t have a chance to read it until this month. A part of me is glad that I waited, because this was the right season for it, but another part of me wants to go back in time and force first-year seminary me to read it IMMEDIATELY (which would take some gymnastics, because it wasn’t released until this past fall). Reading it was like sitting down with a friend who loves and cares about me and my call.

  If you’re a guy who is trying to figure out who to empower the ladies in your life to chase down what God is calling them to, or a girl who needs some encouragement, truth, and reminders of your inherent image bearing (yes, even in your leadership), buy it here. Meanwhile, I’m going to order copies upon copies and give them to every woman in my life.

• My People
  I’m a semi-strong F on the Myers Briggs, so I love emotions and feeling sappy… and I have a lot to be sappy about when it comes to my community right now. Ministry can feel so lonely and draining if you let it. From the people I work with, who make me excited to go to the office (for real, can we just all hang out all the time?), to my family, to the friends, mentors, and co-ministers who encourage me and push me to better things, I couldn’t ask for better people to be by my side through it all. #blessed.

What are you loving right now? Drop a comment or send me and tweet and give me your five things!