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!

Wonderful Worship

Worship was great this morning. While our minister was away, our youth minister brought us the lesson. It truly was a pleasure to hear Jimmy and the message that he wanted to share. It was also good to see more technology components in worship. I loved the way that he used recordings of the youth group. His lesson was entitled, LORD OF THE SABBATH. Jimmy motivated each of us to answer a couple important questions for ourselves: “Do we have the authority to change some things?” He went on to ask, “Are the needs of people more important than our traditions?” He wrapped up the whole lesson by saying that we need to make sure that we do everything in love. I felt encouraged and challenged at the same time. I didn’t have any trouble staying focused in worship today! It was great.

We were also blessed today to have Eric lead worship. He did a great job too! No one would ever say that it is easy to stand before 400 people and lead songs that you didn’t even choose, but Eric made it look easy. The song service was uplifting and encouraging. It was also nice to have a full praise team in spite of the fact that so many regulars are out of town.

It is always great to see new people in leadership roles, and I was very uplifted by today’s service. I heard many others say that they enjoyed it too, as they were also challenged to think differently and encouraged to think more like Christ.

What are your thoughts? Do you think that we have the authority to change some things? Do you believe that the needs of people should come before our traditions?

Horrible

In a St. Louis County courtroom, Darren Lindley was sentenced on Friday to 3 consecutive life sentences after he plead guilty to kidnapping, rape, and sodomy of a 2 year old girl. Yes, you read that correctly…a grown man raped and sodomized a 2 year old girl. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?

I don’t understand why anyone would purposely hurt someone else in any way. But this case is just over the top. Horrible doesn’t even begin to explain it. This 43-year-old man was charged with rape, sodomy, first-degree assault, child molestation, and tampering with evidence. He admitted that he did it, and he is in jail for the rest of his life. He will not be eligible for parole for 75 years. (For those of you aren’t great in math, that would make him 118 years-old.)

I suppose that this is another example of how we aren’t safe in the world that we live in. Furthermore, it is a clear example of how Satan still controls this world. It scares and saddens me to think about how much evil surrounds us.

Please take a minute today to pray for the little girl who was abused and for her family. This must be a terribly difficult time for them. Please pray specifically for physical and emotional healing. Also, please pray for Mr. Lindley. Please pray that he will take responsibility for his actions and that he will repent. Please pray that both families will find forgiveness and healing through a strong relationship with our Lord.

What's Your Passion?

We all have at least one thing in our lives that winds us up and keeps us going. We all have things that we love to do, or be a part of. Often we refer to this love as our “passion.” Webster defines passion as an “intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction.”

While I have many things that I am passionate about, my passion for music is among those right at the top. I bet you all thought that blogging was my first love! Surprise- as much as I love writing and sharing my opinions, music is my true passion! First and foremost I love to perform and sing, but I also love to play and write.

Music has been my passion for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I remember escaping into different genres of music, and loving all of it. I am not proud to tell you that I used to love Shawn Cassidy, Leif Garrett, and Boy George as much as I loved classic artists and composers, but I did. The incredible variety of music that I was exposed to helped to feed my passion. As an adult, my passion is mainly fed through worship and worship planning, and the occasional performance. Shawn Cassidy just doesn’t meet the need anymore! I thoroughly enjoy planning the musical part of worship, and working on special pieces. Music is a huge part of who I am.

What is your passion? What feeds it? (Let’s assume that everyone would put God, family and friends first…So tell us something that your passionate about that we don’t already know!)

This is Steve!

This is Steve. Many of you who read my blog regularly know him already. Three of you who read my blog know him VERY well since he is your husband or dad! The rest of us know him as a friend, an elder, an INCREDIBLE musician, a mentor, a leader, and a gentle spirited servant of God.

Over the last few years, Steve and I have gotten to know each other pretty well, and I have had the opportunity to work with him on a couple of pretty big projects. We've also been in a few meetings together (which have not been nearly as much fun as the projects!) He is wonderful to work with. He is patient, kind, humble and appreciative. He is a great example, and has taught me a lot about how to live. I suppose the most important thing I have learned from Steve is that there are some things worth worrying about, and there are some things that aren’t, and most fall into the latter category.

I am thankful that God blessed my family by allowing us to get to know Steve and his family. Thanks Steve, you are a good friend, and a great blessing! Thanks Ann for sharing your husband with us, and thanks to Jenny, Becky, and Stevie too for sharing your dad!

Not my problem...or is it?

I received this from a friend today, and I thought it was a great way to illustrate a great point. Thanks Nancy for sharing!

A MOUSE STORY. ..

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me...I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose." So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember --when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Answered Prayer- Part II

WOW! Let’s get a few things straight!

I am not pregnant.
We are not moving back to the south.
I am not completely physically healed YET!
We have not adopted a baby.
I have not accepted a new job!

Alright now that I have cleared all of that up, let me say thank you for all of your concern about my recent blog called “Answered Prayer.” (And boy, there have been a lot of comments and questions!)

EVERYTHING that God gives us is amazing. EVERY answered prayer is important, and big, and something we should be grateful for. Count your blessings, and remember, every blessing is a gift from God no matter how big or small it is. It may be that you have received a promotion, you might be having a baby, maybe you have experienced healing in your wounded heart, or it may be as simple as God helped you to arrive safely to work. Every good thing comes from God!

Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie!

A Whole New World

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?
I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride
A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you
Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky
A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where
I used to be
A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you
A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me

I love you Jason... and our WHOLE NEW WORLD!

Answered Prayer

I have been praying for about a year and a half for a very specific change. Today, I learned that things are happening that are necessary for the change to happen. God is answering my prayer, and I just wanted to share it with the whole blogging world! Praise God for the patience that He has granted me as I have continued to pray, and for His willingness to hear and answer my request. At this point, I can't share what the answered pray is, but trust me...It is a good one!

Praise be to God!

Safety

This morning in Bible Class, one of our shepherds said, “The womb is a very safe place, but it only allows you to grow to be about 8 or 9 pounds.” I sort of giggled to myself when he said it; it sounded very funny to me. But, all through church his statement just kept going through my head. Then, all through lunch the thought kept running through my head. Finally, I reached the conclusion that I had to write about it!

I believe that the womb is the safest place any of us have ever been. Until this morning, I had never given any thought to how safe we once were inside of our mothers, and upon our arrival into this world, we all of a sudden became very “unsafe.” I had also never given any thought to the idea that while we are safe in the womb, we were also extremely limited in our growth.

We are not safe. That is just the nature of the world that we live in. Unfortunately, this is a fallen and sick world. Satan prowls this earth like a hungry lion, and no one, especially the Christian is safe. But, at the same time we can rest assured that no one is as protected as the Christian. Do we believe that? Do we trust God? Do we believe in His plan and ability to keep us “safe” no matter what the situation is?

We all have a choice to make. We can choose to trust God and allow Him to work in our lives and help us to grow, or we can choose not to trust God and be confined to the box that we have placed ourselves in by not allowing Him to work in our lives. Being a Christian means taking risks and doing things we don’t understand. It means being placed on the anvil and allowing God to mold and shape us. We don’t have to like it or understand it, but we do have to do what God asks us to do. It may be painful and it may not seem to make any sense, but we always must remember that as Christians, we are working on God’s timetable and on His plan for us.

God provides us with opportunities for growth, and he keeps us safe through the process. He did it for David, Peter, Daniel, Moses, and so many others; and He does it for us.

Why do you think we have such a hard time trusting Him?

Thanks Alan, for reminding me to trust in Him, no matter what the situation!

It is over!

The stage is bare, the lights are dimmed, and the show is over! The McKnight Road Variety Show was awesome. The stars of the show were, Becky (she is awesome), Jenny (she is awesome too), their dad, STEVE THE AMAZING MUSICIAN, Willie Nelson, Elvis, Alex, and my sweet Bekah. They were great. In fact, everyone in the show was really good.

I am thankful to be part of such a wonderful church family that does such cool things together. Right now, I am exhausted, so that is all I am going to share tonight…maybe more tomorrow.

Blessings to all….Good night!

The Greatest Show on Earth

After several hours of preparation and rehearsal last night, the stage is set, the lights are hung, and the instruments and amps are in place. The back drop is hung and the table decorations are complete. The “talent” is prepared (well, at least for the most part), and the star of the show and master musician, Steve H. is excited and ready for the show to begin.

Tonight is the 22nd annual variety show at McKnight Road. Special appearances are expected by Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, the Dixie Hicks and Chicks, and a very wild and crazy group of girls. The show includes musical numbers from the Broadway shows Les Miserable, A Chorus Line and Wicked. We will be entertained by vocalists, instrumentalists, magicians, comedy acts, clown acts, and perhaps even a dance routine. I believe our youngest participant is 3 and the oldest is well over 70….maybe even 80.

I have only been part of planning and participating in this show for a few years, but it has become one of my favorite church family events. It is a great time of sharing talent (or variety in some cases), spending time with friends, and reaching out to the community.

If you miss this show, you will be missing a great (and probably long) evening. It may not prove to be the greatest show on earth, but it will absolutely be a fun night!

More Prayer Please

Please continue to pray for for Susan and her husband Glenn, and for Richard and his wife, Barb.

Susan remains in critical condition, and the doctors are having a hard time controlling her pain.

Richard has been scheduled for extensive surgery on Tuesday, and is continuing radiation treatments.

Please feel free to post messages and prayers here if you'd like, and I will pass them along.

The Other Side of the Coin

Yesterday I talked about musicians that are timeless. I commented that these individuals had talent that was head and shoulders above the rest. Today, I’d like to talk about the other side of the coin. Here is a list of musicians who I think didn’t quite measure up to the rest.

Brittney Spears
Debbie Gibson (aka Debra Gibson)
Tiffany
Men at Work
Kelly Osburne
The Village People
Devo
NSYNC
Vanilla Ice
LaToya Jackson

Who makes you want to change the radio dial?

2006 Grammy Awards

Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, and U2 were big winners last night at the Grammy Awards. Keith Urban looked great…no make that incredible!

Every year, the Grammy Awards make me think about some of the best musicians of all time. Some people immediately come to mind as having talent that stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Here are my picks for musicians who are timeless. (I will limit my list to 10…although I could probably come up with 50.)

Elvis
Beatles (mainly Paul McCartney)
Bon Jovi
Eric Clapton
Michael Jackson (in spite of the fact that he is a “bit” weird)
Ray Charles
Aerosmith
Madonna
Mariah Carey
Elton John

Who do you think of as timeless musicians?

Brighten Someone's Day!

Today, I’d like to challenge each of you to make a difference in someone’s life. It isn’t hard, it doesn’t take much time, and it doesn’t cost much (if any) money! Just imagine how much better the world would be if we all went out of our way to try to brighten someone else’s day. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Pray for someone, and then call and tell them you prayed for them.
2. Tell someone that you appreciate not only what he or she does, but also who he or she is.
3. Take a friend to lunch.
4. Say “thank you.”
5. Point out the positive in a situation where the negative seems so obvious.
6. Hug someone that needs to be hugged.
7. Send someone an e-card.
8. Visit someone who is in the hospital or confined to home.
9. Tell someone you work with that you think that they do a good job.
10. Let someone go ahead of you in traffic or the grocery store line even if you got there first.

There are countless ways that we can brighten someone else’s day! Take the time to make a difference!

To everyone reading this...

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, please stop and say a prayer for my friend Susan and her husband Glenn. Also, please pray for my friend Richard and his wife Barb. God knows what they need. Thank you.

Protein

Alright…I know that I have doctors, nurses and at least one dietician who read my blog regularly. Additionally, I know that I have at least a half a dozen or so readers who are very into healthy eating. Finally, I know that I have many mothers who read this blog, and I need your help!

My recent blood tests show that my protein and iron are both very, very low. The good news is that now I know why I am so tired all of the time. The bad news is that I hate meat, eggs, fish, cheese, peanut butter, and most other high protein foods that I know of. I like nuts okay, I guess…but do you know how much fat can be found in nuts? I have a few friends (and family members) who tell me to “Suck it up and just eat the meat and be done with it” but I am hoping that someone out there has a better suggestion for me?

So, can anyone tell me how to elevate my protein levels without having to eat a slab of beef coated with cheese?

Switching Gears...

Several of you have contacted me privately about the recent discussion about women and the church. Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I would like to encourage each of you to continue your study as I will continue mine. I am still looking for an elder or deacon who is willing to help me figure it all out.

On a much lighter note, I am taking a poll. Here is the question:

What was your favorite commercial during the Super Bowl?

Calling Elders and Deacons

One of my friends that reads my blog has suggested that I need to take my questions about communion and the women's role to the elders and deacons of the church for further study, if I am truly searching. Well, I am truly searching. Can an elder or deacon shed some light on this for me (either here or in a more private setting) please?

Not Gonna Blog Today

I am not going to blog anything new today. I am still hoping that people are reading and chewing on my last couple of posts and the comments; I know that I am. I really am hoping to learn from our dialogue about women and communion. Please keep the comments coming.

More Questions About Commnunion

Thanks to all who posted on my previous post about communion. In recent days I have been trying to study on this issue. As a result, I have come up with several questions, and I figure that this is as good of an avenue as any to try to get my questions answered.

1. How (and why) have we selected the pulpit area (a non-biblical term) as the domain of men only and the pew (another non-biblical term) for women?

2. What Scriptural basis do we have that proves that a woman serving communion is somehow exercising dominion over a man or usurping their “authority?”

3. Do servants (in any capacity) somehow create dominion over those that they serve?

4. As one of my anonymous guests pointed out, what difference is there in serving the communion trays from a standing position, and serving the communion tray in a seated position to the person next to us?

I have multiple questions about this issue, but for today, I will leave you with just these 4. I appreciate your insight, and your willingness to share your knowledge as I continue to study this issue. Blessings to all!

What do you think?

Is it wrong for a woman to serve communion?

Worship Songs

I read a lot of blogs; too many in fact. But that's not what my post is about today. I was recently on a blog site that asked it's readers for an opinion, and I would like to see what your opinion is. So, here we go:

"I want worship to be directed to God and to express the thoughts of the whole community of faith. BUT, if I got to pick my favorite three worship songs to sing this Sunday morning, they would be . . . ."

Finish the sentence. I'll give you mine later.

The State of the Union

If you know me at all, you know that I am not very into the whole political scene. But, like many of you, I did take 51 minutes of my time last night to watch the State of the Union Address. I was impressed with a few things that President Bush said:

"The United States of America will continue to lead."
"We will act boldly in freedom's cause."
"We love our freedom and we will keep it."
"We will never surrender to evil."
"We are winning."
"Hindsight is not wisdom and second guessing is not a strategy."
"We will not sit back and be attacked."
"Make the tax cuts permanent."
"We must confront the high cost of healthcare."
"I ask the congress to pass medical liability reform this year."
"We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity."

All of these statements are great in my opinion, but the greatest thing that our President said was this: "Our greatness is not measured in power or luxuries, but by who we are and how we treat one another. So we strive to be a compassionate, decent, hopeful society."

What more can you say after that? It is a Biblical concept, and our President just challenged all of America to do it! Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, I think that we can all agree that his challenge to all of us is a good one. If we all strive to understand this concept, and live by it, our country, and our world will be a much better place.