Me and Charlie MacTavish. Thank you to Elizabeth Wiggs who took this photo for Christmas/New Years/Easter cards. (They never got mailed.)
I usually offer little unless you ask. I answer to most names resembling “Christy”, although I cringe at “Chrissy”. I’ll always be a country girl at heart but after living in Dallas for seven years I’ve been corrupted. 
I moved back to Memphis in August 2008 to work at Crichton College.
My position encompasses all things communication – internal, external, and in-between. I excel in activities that allow me a global vision, strategic leadership, and the ability to identify and leverage the strengths of team members. The position at Crichton offered me an opportunity to combine several things I love: education, marketing, missional living, ministry, and Memphis! However, a quick note … Leaving Normal Behind is a personal blog that typically focuses attention on outreach and theology issues, as well as “daily life”. Little attention is given to PR, communication, or marketing issues in this forum.
While in Dallas I completed a degree (Master of Arts in Biblical Studies) at Dallas Theological Seminary. Prior to, and after, seminary I have been privileged (sincerely) to coordinate local and urban outreach at two churches. Most of my work in Dallas was with the international refugee, hispanic, and homeless communities.
And so, my soapbox on the “local” church … The average church members has relinquished our responsibility to live and be the Church to church staff members or parachurch organizations. Too often, this has been done in an effort to focus on self (jobs, extracurricular activities, or other “busy” activities) or in an effort to control the quantity of time we give away to others. I want to see a balance between evangelism and social justice activities in the (broad) Church. The conversations are too few, political idealogy too ingrained, and biases too strong. But a faith that pursues the honor and glory of our triune God in a broken world is required to fully (and uniquely) participate in lives, in conversations, in change.
March 27, 2008 at 10:26 am
That makes me smile! She may stink, and be annoying at times, but she grows on you and you begin to treasure her presence, even if it is a surprising shock of joining you on the couch.
November 20, 2008 at 9:30 pm
ha! I just read Linda’s comment and realized that since I’ve changed the name of the blog and removed a photo from this page … it almost looks like Linda is speaking about me. I promise you she’s not!
The original title of this blog was “Shelby Louise’s Roommate”. Shelby Louise is the Bassett Hound of our roommate in Dallas. She loves to perch on the back of the couch and I had a photo that probably needs to be reposted!
Whew … glad I got that cleared up!