Good News

This morning, Brian brought us an excellent lesson entitled, "Now, for some really good news." He talked about how our media is saturated with bad news, and talked about how people in the world can get good news. As Christians, we know that Good News is found in Jesus. Brian made the point that our communities should be looking at us, and saying, "I am so down, but you are up- how do you do it?" We have the opportunity to share Jesus with these people.

As we are all aware, Christianity only makes the news or the headlines when something really bad happens. We can't necessarily change what is on the news or the front page of the paper, but we can share the GOOD NEWS, and give testimony to how God is working in our lives.

So, I am opening this forum for us all to share something, even if just one thing, that God is blessing you with in your daily life. We all have been blessed with His sacrifice. Let's also tell the world the GOOD NEWS that is happening in our lives today!

God's Bridge

I'll just come right out and tell you that I have had sort of a bad week. Okay, well it was more than sort of a bad week. It was a terrible week. Well, we all have them- it's just part of life. Yesterday I was talking with a friend who reminded me that the cross is where my focus needs to be. Later in the day, I was reminded by another friend of the song that I so often share with those who are struggling in one way or another. The song is "Love Will Build a Bridge" by Becca Jackson. Check this out:

Love Will Build a Bridge (Music and Lyrics by Becca Jackson)

You feel like your life is running away from you
And you’ve lost touch of the childlike faith that you held onto
And there seems to be this canyon
Dividing you from God
And you can barely see Him on the other side
And he gets farther away as each day goes by
You wonder who will help you through
He will build a bridge
To get to you.

You think that redemption is so distant
And how could God after all that you’ve done show forgiveness?
His arms of love are long enough
To reach you even now
But you can barely see Him on the other side
And He gets farther away as each day goes by
You wonder who will help you through
He will build a bridge
From your heart to His
He will build a bridge,
To get to you.

Wow, what a powerful song. (I wish you could all hear it, it is beautiful.) I am thankful for the friends that remind me that God is always there and that He has already built a bridge to get to me, and that even when I can't seem to see Him, He is there waiting with His arms out waiting for me. The bridge is the cross that Jesus died on, and He died on it for you and for me.

God is good...all the time.

To the Chocolate Fairies

Dear Chocolate Fairies,

I just wanted to thank you for your gift, and your desire to make me smile! Thanks for the prayers that I know you also offer on my behalf. There are few things that make me smile more than chocolate and knowing prayers are being lifted up before the Father for me!

You are good folks, and are wonderful, humble servants. It is my prayer that I may someday have to opportunity to bless you as much as you have blessed me.

(But, I am NOT sharing the chocolate! Just kidding!...sort of)

Nancy Grace and our 12 year old

Our daughter (who is 12) sent this to me at work today and I thought I'd share! (by the way dear daughter of ours...MIDNIGHT is a little late to be on the internet, even if it is Spring Break!)

So after I got kicked of the internet at midnight last night I turned on the TV. There was NOTHING on. I flipped passed MTV and VH1 (which is not the usual me) and didn’t even watch Rosanne on Nick at Night (I’m my mother’s daughter!) So I turned on the Nancy Grace Show. I saw that on CNN they had the story of the preacher at 4th street who was shot by his wife. My hometown is Henderson, which is like 15 minutes from Selmer where all this happened, and also being a member of the Church of Christ I kept it on. They started out with all of the stuff we’ve heard before, affairs, abuse etc, etc, etc. Then they went into why they think she snapped. The moderator replied, “Well many people believe that the Church of Christ is a cult, the have many cult like qualities.” I WAS FURIOUS! This is why CNN says that the Church of Christ is a Cult:

We have a single Leader- HELLO, we have ELDERS and DEACONS! And we don’t have an over all leader outside of individual churches, are you going to call the catholic church a cult because they have the Pope?

We try to isolate members- We do? Last time I checked I go to a public school…..

Members happy and enthusiastic- YAH! IS THAT A BAD THING???

We’re experimental rather than logical- Uh… Every thing we say comes out of the BIBLE!

We hide what we teach- Yeah since the Bible is just kept so hidden

We say we’re the only true group- I’ll be honest there are Churches of Christ out there that say that say that, not all of them do but you’ll find churches in any denomination that say they’re the only ones.

So suddenly the whole show was turned around from debating about the Preachers wife to debating whether or not the Church of Christ was a cult! They called numerous Rabbis, Priests, Ministers and Hindu Leaders on there to debate. Nancy said, “Well I’m just a Methodist Girl!” Well here’s my question to you Nancy Grace; if a Methodist minister’s wife committed a crime, would you want people to badmouth your denomination on national television? I don’t think so….

Are These Moving?

ARE THESE PICTURES MOVING?

The pictures above are used to test
the level of stress a person can handle.
The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress.Alleged criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly;
however, senior citizens and kids see them standing still.

None of these images are animated - they are perfectly still.

ARE YOU STRESSED OUT?

If I Had a Dollar

(Rules- you can’t give it away, you can’t pay bills with it, and you must spend it on something that you personally would enjoy! You can share…but it can’t be totally for someone else.)

If I had a dollar to spend on myself, I would buy:

42 oz. Diet Coke from Burger King (on sale for 89 cents)

If I had 10 dollars to spend on myself, I would buy:

A bagel and a coffee for myself and those in my prayer group.

If I had 100 dollars to spend on myself, I would buy:

A manicure, pedicure, and a massage!

If I had 1,000 dollars to spend on myself, I would buy:

3 sweaters, 2 pair of jeans, and a whole bunch of shoes from DSW

If I had 10,000 dollars to spend on myself, I would buy:

Vacation for me and my family and a few really close friends. (Anyone interested?)

If I had 100,000 dollars to spend on myself, I would buy:

All new furniture including an amazing sound system

If I had 1,000,000 dollars to spend on myself, I would buy:

The house that I want off of Clayton Road

What would you buy if you had a dollar…just to spend on yourself?

Put on a Happy Face

For most of my life, I have taken great pride in my ability to put on a smile no matter what was going on in my life. I learned to walk the walk and talk the talk, trying hard never to give away if I was having a down day, or if I didn’t feel very well. People often say things to me like, “You always have a smile on your face” or “Even when we all know how much pain you are in, you still have a great attitude.” I believe a lot in the “fake it until you make it” attitude, and I have become a great actress with all of the practice I have had! Or at least that is what I thought.

I was sitting at my desk today, and one of my coworkers walked in and said, “You look very sad.” I haven’t heard those words in a long time, and they struck a nerve with me. It also made me question if I have lost my ability to “smile no matter what.” I thanked him for noticing that I wasn’t quite myself today, and went back to my work.

I felt bad for not smiling. I felt bad for allowing it to be so obvious that my coworker felt the need to share his concern. After all, I am supposed to be the smiling face that people see when they walk into the office!

Why do you suppose we all feel the need to “put on a happy face?” Do we really think that the world will come crashing down if people know that we are sad or that we are having a bad day? Do you think Jesus tried to hide when He wept?

Interesting Question

As you know, Jason and I knew Winkler family when we were in college. As this case has been in the news, a lot of people are talking. As you can imagine, many of our college friends have made contact with us about the case. Over the weekend I received an email that asked the following question:

Within the traditional churches of Christ, is murder more acceptable than divorce?

What do you think?

Bring it on!

Another Busy Day!

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Well, today was another busy day! The pictures above were taken at Jessica's wedding shower. It was a lot of fun and she got a lot of really great things! The food was great too- KUDOS to Carol T. for making the best chicken salad I have ever tasted! YUM!

After the shower, I headed up to church to join Jason. He was putting in my new computer! HOORAY! It is much faster and the flat screen is great. Jason also installed the Control Room computer, but we didn't have time to get to Brian's yet. That is on the agenda for tomorrow.

Bekah spent the night with Grandma last night. Jason and I stayed home and watched March Madness (GO UCLA!), and played Phase 10. I beat him, not once, but twice! (hehe)

Anyway, tonight we will relax and watch more basketball before another very full day tomorrow.

What did you do today and who is going all the way in the NCAA Tournament?

More Sad News

Mary has confessed to the murder of her husband.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/24/minister.slain/index.html

SHOCKED!

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The headline on MSNBC this morning reads:

Police say wife suspect in pastor's death

Jason and I attended Freed-Hardeman University with Matt and Mary (the parents in this photograph).
Please pray for the Winkler family and for the family at the 4th Street Church of Christ in Selmer, Tennessee.

You can read the entire article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11992497/

We have received the news this morning that Mary will be charged with 1st Degree Murder later today.

Please pray.

Christian Portrayal on “Unanimous”

Last night I had just finished watching American Idol, and I left the TV on for noise. I turned my attention away from the TV and started working on things that needed to be done. Well, much to my surprise, within minutes of when I turned away, I was sucked back into FOX’s programming. A new show was about to air, and the show is called “Unanimous.” The basic premise of the show is this:

Nine people are locked in a secret underground location.
They have no contact with the outside world.
Their task is to UNANIMOUSLY decide who among the group gets the grand prize of 1.5 million dollars.
With every second that passes the prize decreases.

As you can imagine, the biggest part of this new show was getting to know the players. I was immediately struck by one of the players in particular. This 49 year old woman claims to be a minister of the Gospel. She immediately starts handing out judgments about what the Bible says, and what God demands, and who is going to Hell and who isn’t. I was appalled! I couldn’t believe this woman’s statements. Not only was she harsh and rude, she was misrepresenting Scripture (in my opinion).

To be honest, I was angered by her actions and statements. I was angered because she had the perfect opportunity to show MILLIONS of people what Christianity looks like, and she blew it! She had a chance that most of us will never have to show the world the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ, and all she could do was judge!

Most of us will never be on TV to model Christianity. What can we do in our own little communities to portray the love of Christ? What can we do to stop the media from highlighting the extremist, judgmental, over the top religious fanatics? What can we do to pull people toward Jesus instead of pushing them away from Him?

Story of My Life

Random Pics

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I have had a bunch of pictures that I have wanted to post for a while, but I was waiting. Today I asked myself the question, "What are you waiting for?" I suppose I was waiting until I had a great story to share for each one. What I failed to recognize is that each one is a great story in and of itself...well at least to the people who were there when the pictures were taken! So, today I just want to share a picture collage with you.

Happy Spring!

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Today is the first day of spring. Of course if you live in St. Louis, that doesn’t necessarily mean showers and flowers. When I was a child, I heard my grandfather say, “St. Louis is the coldest, hottest, wettest, driest, windiest place you will ever visit…if you don’t like the weather here, wait 5 minutes, and it will change.” Well, my dear old grandfather was right.

Last week, we enjoyed temperatures in the 60’s and the smell of spring was in the air. Today it is raining and cold. Tonight the rain will turn to sleet and then into snow. Most of us in the St. Louis area will wake up tomorrow morning with about 4 inches of snow on the ground! (If the predictions are correct.) Some counties to our north are expected to get up to 9 inches! I thought spring was supposed to be warm and the only thing to worry about was allergies. Tomorrow, many of us will be worried about how to get out of our driveways.

Well, anyway…Happy Spring everyone…Enjoy the snow!

Trivia Champs!

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Saturday night was the 7th annual Trivia Night at McKnight Road. We had a great time and that isn't just because we won. That's right....WE WON! The pictures above were taken at the big event.

One: Eric trying prove that he could eat 10 saltines at one time!
Two: Front row... JD, Conni, and Eric. Back Row: Erin, Brandon, Jenny (with Mason), Randy, Jason and Robin. (THE TRIVIA CHAMPS!)
Three: The music man himself- Steve
Four: Mason holding our team balloon

We had a lot of fun, ate a lot of great food, and laughed A LOT! We missed the rest of our group, but hope that they can join us tonight when we enjoy our celebration dinner!

Invitation Time

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This is my very good friend Jodi. Jodi is engaged to Paul Mitchell and they will be married at McKnight in July. Last night Jodi, Karen (Jodi’s mom), Robin and I started working on the invitations to the wedding. We enjoyed dinner together first and then got busy printing envelopes and invitations. The night was full of a lot of laughs and there were only a few “problems.” The printer was a little testy, Karen couldn’t keep our names straight (in spite of the fact that she spends time with all of us regularly), and I nipped my hand with scissors cutting 400 pieces of ribbon. We made a lot of progress but still have a lot of work to do. I am looking forward to phase 2 of the process.

I couldn’t be more excited for Jodi. She is a sweetheart and she is marrying a wonderful Christian man.

Really Rosie

After months of practice, and 5 performances in 2 days, Really Rosie came to an end tonight at Ladue Middle School. It was a great show, and I am not just saying that because our sweet Bekah was in it!

I'll admit, I was impressed with this production. Everything about the show was excellent, including the set, costumes, staging, vocals, and dancing. It was evident that the directors and cast of this show worked very hard.

The kids finished this run of Really Rosie with a standing ovation from the crowd, and a cast party at Baskin Robins. Once again, before this show had even ended, Bekah was talking about the next one that she will be in!

Congratulations to Bekah and the entire cast and crew of Really Rosie. It was great!

OCU CHORALE

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Last night, the OCU Chorale performed for us at McKnight Road. They did a great job, and as I sat and listened to them a lot of old memories resurfaced for me. I traveled with the Freed-Hardeman Choir for a while and had a blast, but my best choir memories are from my days at Oakville High School, and Christian Academy. For those of you who have never traveled with a singing group, you may be surprised to find out how much one person can learn on a tour bus with 60 of her "closest" friends. Here are a few things that I learned:

1. It is possible to sleep in an upright position.
2. There are exactly 63,247 ways to play "Goin' on a Trip."
3. It is possible to sing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" in your sleep.
4. There is NOTHING like sleeping in your own bed.
5. Not all southern women are good cooks and great house keepers.
6. Guys on tour busses have little more to do than flirt.
7. Girls on tour busses have little more to do than flirt.
8. "Packing Partners" often wind up being some of your greatest life-long friends.
9. Some amazing spiritual discussions can occur when you are stuck on a bus for 16 hours.
10. There are few better feelings in the world than singing praises with all of your heart to help encourage others who are seeking God.

What did you learn while touring with your choir, ball team, or squad?

Congrats to the OCU Chorale- it was outstanding!

Living in a Fish Bowl

Most of us have heard the statement, "I feel like I live in a fish bowl." Some of us have even felt that way. It is a hard place to be. When you have nothing protecting you from the rest of world's view, no place to really let loose, and no place to be anonymous, things can get very tiring. I am not referring to hiding from society, but instead just taking a break from it.

Some jobs come with unfortunate circumstance of being forced to live in a fishbowl. This fishbowl allows the world to scrutinize the way you keep house, how great (or poor) your relationships with your spouse and children are, how rude you are to the telemarketer that calls every night during dinner, your finances, your medical reports, and whether or not you have wine (or vodka) in your refrigerator. After the world sees everything that you are doing, or not doing, through your little aquarium, you get to hear everyone's opinion about it...whether you want to or not.

What jobs do you think force you to live in fish bowls?

Fun Questions

Why do people who know the least know it the loudest?
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
Can you cry under water?
Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?
Can atheists get insurance for acts of God?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called "rush hour"?
Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?
Are people more violently opposed to fur rather than leather because it's much easier to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs?
Why do we sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" when we are already there?
Do chickens think rubber humans are funny?
Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it sounds ?
Why are there flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes?
If a cow laughed, would milk come out her nose?
If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan?
Why is it that when you transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?
You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes, why can't they make the whole plane out of the same substance?
Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?
Why is it that when someone tells you that there are over billion stars in the universe, you believe them, but if they tell you there is wet paint somewhere, you have to touch it to make sure?
Is there another word for synonym? ... or thesaurus for that matter ?
If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?

Anyone else have any good questions?

You Will be Missed

Most of you who read my blog already know that our minister Brian resigned yesterday. Brian has been at McKnight Road Church of Christ for 11 years and has been instrumental in starting and maintaining several great ministries. The family at McKnight will miss him very much.

I have had the pleasure, and sometimes the challenge, of working with Brian over the past 2-½ years. (He’d probably say that I was more of a challenge and less of a pleasure to work with!) Anyway, as church secretary, I had a lot of interaction with Brian that most were not privileged enough to have. I was able to see him day in and day out as he ministered to this church and this community. I often felt like a partner with him.

I am a better Christian because of Brian. I understand the Word of God better because of him. My prayer life is different, my faith is stronger, and I am more convinced of the power of God in my life because of Brian and his influence. He has taught me a lot, in a lot of different ways, and for that I am thankful.

Brian and I didn’t always agree, nor did we see eye to eye about some things. But, I have told him, and now share with you, that I respect him very much for his convictions and his walk with the Lord.

McKnight Road Church of Christ is losing its minister. I am losing my friend, my co-worker, and my fellow El-Indio addict. Our loss will be Westgate Church of Christ’s gain. I pray that God will allow Brian’s transition to be easy, and that he and Heather and the kids will be welcomed with open arms and loved like they have never been loved before.

Brian, we love you very much and you will be missed greatly.

Sunday Happenings

Today was a very busy day!







Today has been a very busy day! We started the day off with Bible class and worship. It was an excellent lesson, and the service was very emotional. Then it was off to the RATI meeting/luncheon. YUM! Diane did an awesome job with lunch; it was great. Then we had to get Bekah to play practice and I was off to Sarah's baby shower. It was a great shower even though Charlie slept through the whole thing, and the police came (really)! You know, the women of the church are quite the party animals. The above pictures were taken at the shower. After the shower it was off to small group, and then to dinner with a bunch of great friends. Now, it is a little after nine, and I am exhausted and ready for bed! I thought weekends were for rest and relaxation!

What did you do this weekend?

Popcorn

I love popcorn. I like the kind that you make on top of the stove the best. Of course microwave popcorn will do in a pinch, but I prefer popping it on the stovetop. Anyway, popcorn is my favorite. I eat it when I am happy; I eat it when I am sad. I eat it when I am not feeling well, when I’ve had a bad day, or when I have had a great day! I LOVE POPCORN. (Please, no butter, cheese or caramel…Just plain old popcorn with salt for me!) Popcorn not only tastes great, but it is not too bad for you either. It is also great to share with a friend while chillin’ out in front of the TV. Now, I must end this post…It’s popcorn time!

What snack foods do you love?

Kindergarten Reminders

Most of us have heard the poem, "All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulgham. This extremely popular poem tells us everything that we ever need to know about “how to live, and what to do, and how to be.” Here are a few of his lessons:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life.
Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

Some of these are easy to remember and easy to do. Most of us can remember to flush when we are finished. We know that it is not okay to hit people. We know that warm cookies and milk are good for us, and we know that we should return things to their proper places when are finished using them. Look back up at the list. Do you see any of Fulgham’s lessons that aren’t so easy to remember or to do? Generally speaking, do you think that most people are willing to share everything, play fair, or say that they are sorry when they hurt someone?

The author’s last lesson is “When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.” Is this possible if we don’t follow the earlier lessons? After all, who wants to hold hands, and stick together with someone who refuses to say they are sorry, or is selfish or unfair?

God wants us to do everything in love, even to those who refuse to adhere to basic common courtesies. Yes, that is right; God calls us to love the person who refuses to say, “I am sorry.” He calls us to love the person who hits, steals, and refuses to flush!” I find some of the above “offenses” harder to forgive than others. (But I am working on it…………STILL!)

I just try to keep reminding myself that I don’t always carry out all of these lessons either. I need God’s grace, and I need to extend grace to others. What about you? How do you focus on the love of Christ instead of focusing on who isn’t cleaning up their own mess?

Add-On to Abortion Post

I am already getting lots of private comments about my post entitled "Abortion."

Maybe what I should have said was, "If we are against abortion, what are we for? Are we for providing homes for these babies? Are we for providing education about sexuality, pregnancy, and parenting? Are we for fiancially supporting agencies designed to help? If we are against something, we must be for something else."

Abortion

I was recently involved in a discussion that REALLY made me think. It challenged me a great deal, and I’d like to get your opinion about it. The conversation was about abortion, and about the babies that would be saved if it were outlawed.

If abortion were illegal, many more babies would be born (duh). Granted some women/girls would choose to have back ally abortions, but I think we can assume that there would be many more babies born into our world if abortions were not so readily available. Obviously, since the mothers we are talking about in this case are women who don’t really want their babies anyway, what makes us think that they would care for them if they were forced into having them? What might happen to these babies if their mothers (and fathers) were forced into keeping them? Do we really believe that they would all of a sudden become loving, caring parents just because they are forced into keeping their baby? Or, is it more likely that the parents will become resentful toward the child and he or she will be abused and/or neglected?

Now, I know what you are thinking. There are thousands of couples that want to adopt babies; they will care for the “unwanted” babies. Really? Our country doesn’t have enough adoptive and foster families now. Agencies all over our nation are begging for families who are willing to adopt these precious little ones. Sure, there are many families looking for a healthy, Caucasian baby whose birth-mother never smoked, drank, did drugs or had any disease to speak of. But how many families are willing to take a minority, medically fragile infant whose mother passed on her crack addiction? Who is taking care of these kids, and who would have taken care of the 1.2 million babies that were aborted last year in America if abortion were illegal?

Let me make myself VERY clear. I AM NOT ADVOCATING ABORTION. I am pro-life…even in cases of rape and incest.

I think the answer to all of this is clear, and it is the same now as it has always been. We need to focus less on the unborn baby and more on the mother and father. Until we educate people on safe sex, pregnancy and parenting, this problem will go on and on and on.

I am digressing. Sorry. Let me just ask you this. If abortion became illegal, who would care for the unwanted babies? And second, what can we do to help educate people to make better choices about their sexuality, and help them to be better parents to a child that they hadn’t planned on having?

Hidden Books of the Bible

Someone sent this to me, and I thought that it was pretty cool. It wasn't nearly as easy as I thought it would be!

The following paragraph has 16 books of the Bible hidden within it. Can you find them?

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible (merely by a fluke). It kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the name of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now. There really are sixteen names of books in this story.

Let me know what you think...was it easy or hard to find 16?

American Idol

Alright, who else is watching? I'll admit it....I am a true American Idol fan. I look forward to watching every week, and already have my favorites picked. I could do without Simon, although I usually agree with his opinions. I just wish that he would be a little bit kinder! Paula and Randy are alright, but I could do without all of the drama among the judges. The show isn't about them. It is about the singers!

Here are my favorites: Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee. I am impressed with their vocal talents, but even more than that, they are just normal, down to earth people.

I believe the winner of this competition is already obvious. Chris Daughtry will be the next American Idol and will bring us music that we can "rock out" to. He is amazing. What do you think?

Who will be the next American Idol?

A Lesson from Noah's Ark

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark

One: Don't miss the boat.

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Unworthy

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27-28)

What is an “unworthy manner?” When we examine ourselves, we will find sin. What should keep one from partaking in the Lord's Supper?

I have been diagnosed with…

A few friends and I spent the night at the church at last night. We had a blast playing games, planning worship and serving others. In the course of the evening, we learned several things about each other. Some of us even have psychological disorders. You’re not likely to find these disorders in any medical text, but they still need immediate attention if you have been diagnosed with them! Here are a few that we ran across:

Carmania - the exaggerated love of one’s vehicle.

Skip to My Lou Disorder- the disorder which causes one to sing (in a rather annoying tone) when one is skipped in a card game repeatedly.

Rafter Shaking Syndrome- this syndrome is characterized by very loud snoring!

Excessive Talking Disorder- this disorder is characterized by talking in one’s sleep; sometimes about cereal boxes.

Bragging Syndrome- this syndrome causes one to brag about how many games she can win in one evening!

Apple to Apple Disorder- this disorder is characterized by the sudden onset of abundant laughter based on simple words or phrases such as whipped cream, carnival worker, Martha Stewart or small animals (which opens another whole new dialogue causing more laughter).

Risky Dental Disorder…this disorder is characterized by the sudden and unusual need to eat unpopped popcorn kernels!

International Baseball Disorder… this disorder is characterized by the strong need to watch Korean baseball games at 3 o’clock in the morning.


Well, we all might have psychological disorders, but we had a great time, and had a licensed therapist among us…

Anybody else been diagnosed with any strange disorders?

More Words of Wisdom

Today in the office we had a very interesting discussion about this quote:

"A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae from a kick in the pants, but the results are much better."

I say.....AMEN!

Anyone else like this one?

Wonderful Words of Wisdom

Someone sent this to me today. I guess they knew that I needed to hear it.

"People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway." - Mother Teresa

This is a tough principle for me to fully embrace, because I like for things to make sense, be very logical, and to be about what is good for the group instead of what is good for just one person. Loving people in spite of how unreasonable, illogical and self-centered they are is certainally a good Christian value. I find that showing that kind of love to be very difficult sometimes.

I am unreasonable, illogical and self-centered sometimes. I am glad that God loves me in spite of it, and I am thankful that I have people in my life who love me in spite of all of my failures.

I am praying that God will put His hand on my heart and help me to love some of those around me who I find to be very unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Anyone else struggle with this?

Zoe Worship

In July, it will be 2 years since McKnight Road Church of Christ hosted the Zoe Conference. Wow. I can’t believe that it has been that long. In spite of the fact that the conference was over long ago, I am often reminded of many aspects of that wonderful weekend. Of course the praise team was AWESOME which made singing for all of us a wonderful worship experience. Mike Cope and Ruebel Shelley were both excellent speakers, leading each of us to think about our walk with the Lord, and challenging us to do better. But, to be honest, what stood out to me the most was the Worship Class that I attended with one of my best buddies!

Most of you already know that I have a passion for worship planning. Prior to the conference I liked planning worship, but it was during the conference that I felt that God was calling me to be part of this ministry. The class leaders did a phenomenal job encouraging the participants to search the Bible for answers about worship, and then to not be too afraid to start trying to implement new things into our worship services. They didn’t paint a perfect picture for us. They told us that we would be faced with adversity and opposition. They told us that we would struggle to see change, and that we should expect to see baby steps. They told us that things like gender, position, and age would all play roles in how our ideas and plans would be viewed. They laid it all on the line, and ultimately told us to put our own needs and wants aside, and let God’s voice be heard, and to let Him guide our worship services.

In the past several months, I have had the opportunity to correspond with some of the teachers and leaders of the conference. Even after almost 2 years, these brothers and sisters are still encouraging me, still answering questions, and still telling me what I can expect as I try to be part of this ministry. I am thankful for their influence and encouragement.

As I helped to prepare for the Zoe Conference, I prayed long and hard that God would use it to help this church grow, and to help me personally grow. God is so good, and He answered my prayer and heard my heart’s desire for true, passionate worship. I believe that we have a lot of room for growth in our worship and we all have to decide how we want to live our lives in worship to Him. I can't speak for everyone, but God changed my heart’s view, my thoughts and my beliefs about worship through this conference.

I am so thankful that I was part of the Zoe Conference and for the changes that it provoked (and continues to provoke) in the church and in my life. I am also thankful for the participants in the conference that continue to teach, encourage, guide and direct…even after almost 2 years.

I was (and still am) looking!

To all of those who have made a difference in my life by leading & teaching by example. Thank you; I appreciate you.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking ,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me
and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing
and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it
and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good
and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes
and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

Beaches and Baseball

Two of my favorite things in the world are Cardinals baseball and the beach…any beach. I am so excited that this spring, I will get to enjoy them together. The plane tickets are bought, the hotel on the beach is booked, and the tickets for the Cardinals vs. Marlins games are purchased. HOORAY! I am going to Miami! I am SO excited.

How about you? We know where Nate and Becky are going…but what about the rest of you? Where are you headed on vacation this spring or summer?

NOTHING!

A very close friend shared this thought with me today, and although it seems pretty basic, it was a great to hear, as sometimes I think life gets in the way of our walk with God. I think it is a reminder that we all can stand to hear from time to time.

“Nothing, and by that I mean nothing, and to put it another way, NOTHING, is more important than your relationship with the Father.”

I was going to offer commentary on this statement, but I decided not to. It speaks for itself.

I hope you are as encouraged by this as I was!

A New Week

As I look forward to starting a new week, I have chosen the following Scripture to focus on. I think these wonderful words will provide a great basis to help me to have a great week!

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (New International Version)

What Scripture is on your heart and mind?

Letting Go

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization I can't control another.

To "let go" is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for,
but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix,
but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to be protective,
it's to permit another to face reality.

To "let go" is not to deny,
but to accept.

To "let go" it not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings, and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires
but to take each day as it comes,and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to criticize and regulate anybody
but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To "let go" is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less,
and love more.

--Author unknown

Negativity in the United States

Is it just our culture? Is it just the way we are? What is wrong with us?

Last night, Sasha Cohen won the silver medal in the Olympic games for figure skating. This morning, I turned on the news, and my computer only to hear how she succumbed to the pressure, allowing her immaturity to “ruin her Olympic dreams.” WHAT? Yeah, she fell…twice, so what? She is still the second best figure skater in the world! Get a grip people! Applaud what she accomplished; she earned a SILVER MEDAL for crying out loud! Why minimize the amazing feat that she has accomplished?

I also talked with a friend yesterday who grounded her daughter for 2 weeks because she scored a 91 (which in Ladue is an “A” by the way) on a history exam. WHAT? Now, I’ll admit, maybe there are some variables that I don’t know about, but give me a break! She got an “A.” She always gets an “A.” She has never gotten anything less than an “A.” What is the issue? No, she did not receive a perfect score, but she did her best, and she scored well. I have to wonder what will happen to this child if she ever brings home a “B.” (Oh the terror of it all!) Why point out that she missed 9 percentage points when there are 91 other reasons to applaud and encourage her?

Once again, I will share with you that I am guilty. I have a hard time seeing the positive sometimes. I am going to make an effort to focus more on the positive things happening around me rather than the negative. I would venture to say that at one time or another, we have all heard the phrase, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I am thankful for that reminder as I hear those words from my grandmother ring through my head. I’d like to encourage all of you to remember this basic concept as well.

I think Philippians 4:8 may have something to say about this subject too!

I Need to Do Better

In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to work with some people at our church that I hadn’t had much experience with before. It was good to be with these friends who want nothing more than to serve the Lord, and give Him all glory and honor.

With that being said, I feel moved to share something with you. I sometimes take people for granted. I try really hard not to do it, but sometimes I fail. I am guilty. You know the old saying, “You don’t know what ya got until it is gone?” I can’t help but think that there is some amazing truth to that statement. I want to learn to better appreciate people before they are gone.

In my daily life, I see people who go WAY beyond what is necessary to help meet the needs of others. From time to time, I look around and I see the sacrifices that people make for the good of their families, the church, and the community and I am totally impressed with their contributions. I am also reminded regularly that it is the same people who meet so many needs over and over and over again. I am so thankful for these people.

As I watch the service that this specific group offers, I also have concerns about how we collectively seem to view and treat them. I have noticed an increasing amount of statements and attitudes like, “Don’t worry about it, Joe will do it” and “That’s not my job; give it to Mary.” I have also noticed a HUGE rise in the amount of negative comments made about the people who are giving their best, and doing great things for the glory of God.

While these folks are not seeking their own glory and honor, they do like to be appreciated for what they do. We never seem to be willing to applaud, thank, or even recognize the effort and passions of those who serve, but we are always willing to say something condescending, belittling or just flat out rude. For example, we are willing to make a HUGE issue out of a misspelling of a name, but we make no effort to spell their name correctly. We are willing to question why 1% has not been completed, but never recognize the 99% that was done effectively and efficiently. We always want bigger, better, and more from anyone that we can get to give us more. Additionally, it seems that we not only want more, but we expect more, and when we don’t get it we get mad, hurt, or upset.

I recently read a blog about burnout in the church. I think that taking people for granted, not showing appreciation, and doing nothing more than gripe, would be enough to burn anyone out. I am making the promise today to pray for hard working people who give so much and so willingly. I also promise to make a conscious effort to say, “Thank you” and “I appreciate you” to more people, more often.

Little Women

Last night one of my best friends and I went to see Little Women at the Fox Theatre. I'd like to share my thoughts about the show with you.

1. Save your money- you can sleep at home for free!

2. If you must go- Bring a copy of "Written Etiquette for Theatre Goers" for the people next to you who are passing M&Ms up and down the aisle and are doing disgusting things because of their apparent winter colds.

3. While you are likely to get whistled and/or honked at, please be sure to walk directly to and from the theatre with a "buddy" for safety's sake.

4. I recommend that you tune out about 85 % of the show, as most of it is mediocre at best. There were a few vocals that were exceptionally good, but over-all the acting was way over done and the vocals and dancing were fair.

5. If you are forced into going, have a friend call you during intermission with an "emergency" so you can go home. Don't worry about your cell phone going off in the middle of the show, no one else worries about it.

So, the show was not so good. Jodi and I both give it 2 thumbs down, and while we enjoyed getting to spend time together, we agree that the night would have been better spent watching the movie "Little Women" in the comfort of our own homes, with a big bucket of popcorn and a diet coke by our sides!

Life Lessons

My sister in law shared this with me, and I thought it was worth sharing. Thanks Lisa!

1. The best way to get even is to forget...
2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death...
3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts...
4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight...
5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth....
6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 6 days, then perhaps giving "advice" to God isn't such a good idea!
7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up...
8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.
9. Words are windows to the heart.
10. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.
11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt.
12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person; it's being the right person.
13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.
14. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
15. The tongue must be heavy, indeed, because so few people can hold it.
16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner was you.
17. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive!
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck...
20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.

Which of these life lessons is your favorite?

Now, Now, Let's not Argue!

It has been brought to my attention that two of my blog readers (you know who you are) are having a little disagreement over who is my “favorite!” (Just so you know, this makes me laugh hysterically!) Anyway…you both are my favorite. One of you is my favorite deacon, and the other is my favorite board member of an organization that I love! See, you can both be my favorite, but you will have to share the "favorite title" with another deacon and board member! Please also keep in mind that if you want to become my absolute favorite (outside of my family, of course), gifts of chocolate may be required! Also please note that I have a favorite elder (or 2, or 3), a favorite fellow praise team member (or 5 or 6), a favorite minister, a favorite friend (or 4 or 5), and a favorite church member (or 100 or 150). YOU ARE ALL SPECIAL TO ME!

Please keep in mind that being my favorite has no tangible benefits, there is no monetary reward, and there will be no Christmas or birthday gifts! However, if you are my “favorite” (which you are), I promise to pray for you, and provide you with a good laugh or two from time to time. (I hope that this blog counts as one of those times!)

I will leave you with this thought… “It is a beautiful thing to know that we are all God’s children, and we all are HIS favorite!”

Have a fabulous and blessed day!

Why So Shy?

Alright, why are you acting so shy? I know that among my blog readers there is a beauty queen, a Summa Cum Laude graduate, and a person who is partially responsible for some pretty amazing things for young Christians in St. Louis. One of you also is part of a team that broke a world record in the late 70’s! I also know that there are those among us who are fabulous dancers, chefs, and men who are great with sewing machines! Don't be shy... share something with us! Give God the glory for what He has done in your life.

You May Be Surprised to Know...

On Friday, my friend Shawn called me at the office. He called to ask me a church related question, but in our conversation mentioned that he had been reading my blog and was enjoying getting to know me better. I didn’t even know he and his wife Sherri knew that I had a blog, much less that they were reading it!

I started thinking about what he said on the phone. He said that he was learning a lot about me. I guess I do share a lot out here on the World Wide Web. Through this blog, you all have learned that I love the Wizard of Oz, music is my passion, I ABSOLUTELY believe in the power of prayer, I have lots of questions about Scripture, I love my family and friends more than words can express, I love the activities I am involved in, and a whole host of other things. After Shawn and I spoke, I asked myself the question, “What could I blog about that I wouldn’t mind people knowing about me that may surprise them?” A few things came to mind that I don't think most of you know about me. So here are 5 things about me that might surprise you!

1. I have a degree in Social Work from a VERY conservative Church of Christ University.
2. A good friend of mine and I are in the process of writing a book entitled “When you are Ready.”
3. I was offered a recording contract in the mid 90’s.
4. My favorite food (by far) is popcorn!
5. I love to write and won a poetry contest for writing “Psalm 151.”

Now it is your turn. Tell us something about you that we don’t already know. Remember, it is okay to share good things in your life, and things that you have achieved…All good things come from God… Give Him the glory!

Addition to Wonderful Worship...

By the way...
If any of you are stuck in a big hole (without a ladder) and are surrounded by lions, snakes, and polar bears, on the Sabbath, you can count on me to help you out!

Lions, and snakes, and bears, OH MY!