Friday, January 30, 2004

I'm Psyched!

Wooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo!



I got 'em! I got 'em!



Third Day & Tobymac tickets! YAY!



It wasn't easy either. First, I made sure to arrive in plenty of time to be first in line! I wanted to get good seats, not only for me, but for the person who entrusted me to get her tickets too.



I arrived at the Oman Arena box office at 9:15am. I had never been there before, so I drove around trying to find what appeared to be the main entrance. I found one and parked Jeepers. I walked up and tried to go in, but found the doors locked. I thought I'll hang around until they open at 9:30 and it looks promising because I am the only one here! Cool! (Although I am hoping that Jackson will support this concert because we don't see a lot of "big names" here. If we show support, hopefully we will start to see more.) 9:30am came and went. I noticed one woman approach the locked doors and then she quickly left when she couldn't get in.



Well, I waited until 9:45am and was getting a bit irritated because there were no signs of life. I thought to try Davis Kidd Booksellers who is responsible for selling tickets to local events. When I walked in I noticed that about midway through the store was an Information Desk. I made my way around the store and in the process attempted to take off my clip-on sunglasses because as I just came in from the bright sun, I couldn't see a thing! I struggled with those clip-ons until I got one side off, but the other side was really stuck. Then one of the lenses popped out. I must have looked awful foolish fiddling with my glasses that was, turning my head this way and that and just trying to see where I was going! LOL I picked up the wayward lens and and snapped it back into place. I walked to the back Information Desk and realized I now only had one glove. So, I immediately began retracing my steps and lo and behold, my glove was front and center in the middle of the floor at the main entrance. Right about where I was fooling with my sunglasses. So, I asked the first employee I saw..."Do you sell tickets to local events here?" and the woman said "If you need Third Day tickets we won't have them in until around noon." I replied "Oh, ok, I was at the Oman Arena box office and they weren't open." She said rather disgustedly "oh, they don't sell until the day of the event. You can get tickets now at the Civic Center." With a "thank you" I was off! I also think that it was a good sign that she answered my Third Day question without me having to ask...when I do that for my customers it often indicates that it is the "question of the day", that I have been asked the same question so many times that the answer is "at the ready". I took it as a good sign that Jackson is supporting this concert! YES!



So, I backtracked past the Oman, to the Civic Center. Jackson just doesn't look the same on that part of town since the tornadoes last year. All my landmarks are gone, but it was encouraging to see new building going on.



At the Civic Center I entered the front door and again had to pry my sunglasses off to see my way around. Man, those things just aren't easy to deal with!



I GOT THE TICKETS! Not bad seats either! Row 3, Section GG!



I hope my friend Nikki is pleased with those! (We opted to avoid the floor seats because that is standing only and I need a chair!) I'm sure I'll be standing through most of the concert anyway, but I can't imagine not having a seat if I wanted one. I think these are excellent seats and I'M SO EXCITED!



Wooooohooooooooooooooooo!!!!! IT'S GONNA RAAAAAAAAAWK!

Avoiding Evil: Comment on What's love got to do with it?

I saw this awesome post over at Avoiding Evil. It's about love and marriage. It is also an opportunity for you to leave a comment about what you think love is. Check it out! Avoiding Evil: What's Love Got to do WIth It?

Thursday, January 29, 2004

The Friday Five

the friday five:



You have just won one million dollars: (I'm dreaming right!?!"



1. Who do you call first? Mom and Dad!



2. What is the first thing you buy for yourself? a joystick! I want a joystick!



3. What is the first thing you buy for someone else? A kitchen remodel!



4. Do you give any away? If yes, to whom? I would end up giving most of it away...it's what I do now!



5. Do you invest any? If so, how? I'd invest for sure, I'd call Smitty! He does my investment portfolio.



(Wow, my investment portfolio. I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about!)

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Sisters' Button

I just don't understand computers sometiimes.



One day I had a Sisters' Weblog button over there in the left menu margin under the word "Button". It is the .gif as shown below in that post.



Today, I see no button in the menu at all.



Do you?



Jennifer says she sees one no problem.



I changed nothing in the template. However, when I view the source code, the image code is absent. It shows in my template, I publish, visit the page and view source, nothing. I don't understand.



The only thing different might be the uninstallation/reinstall of Norton Internet Security yesterday. Some settings changed possibly?



Anyone have any ideas? I'm obsessed!

Where's my Gif?





Why isn't this showing in my template over there in the left margin?

Tuesday, January 27, 2004

Monday, January 26, 2004

From Long and Lush to Stubby Nubby

I am very critical about myself. I often complain about different things that I don't like about my physical appearance. I know some people will be tempted to tell me how terrible it is to criticize God's creation. But, I let His creation get out of shape (I'm currently working on that though and having some success finally). Anyhow, one thing I love about me is my eyelashes. ( I also like the part of my arm between my elbow and wrist.) I have always had long thick eyelashes. Well, not anymore!



Those hair remover pens need to have a warning label! "Warning! Do not trim eyebrows when holding pen in vertical position!" Yes, I accidentally shaved my eyelashes while attempting to trim my eyebrows. At first I had this little space right in the middle of my eyelid where there were stubby nubbs surrounded by long, thick eyelashes. And of course, the other eye had all long lashes. So, I had to do the inevitable...I had to trimm all of my long, lush lashes down to stubby nubby lashes. At least they all go togehter now. :(



Oh, well, I am thankful to God that He made lashes to grow back. So, I will be patient and deal with my stubby nubs for the next month or so. I looked it up...they should grow 1 cm within the next month. So, they should be back to normal before my next birthday.....man, I'm going to be closer to 40 than 30 this year. That is creepy!

Sunday, January 25, 2004

I'm Sooooooooooooo Excited!

Third Day is coming to Jackson, TN!



Since my store is a Ticketmaster Outlet, I have many people coming to me asking if we are selling tickets to such and such show. We will sell to most shows in Memphis or Nashville, but unfortunately Jackson, TN is not affiliated in anyway with Ticketmaster, so I don't even sell tickets to events in this "home" town. A customer asked the other day if we were selling tickets to the Third Day concert? I said "Third Day is coming to Jackson?" It was the first I heard of it, and I'm usually on top of this stuff. I said no, and in some way I was thinking riiiiiiiiiiiiiight, like Third Day would play Jackson.



Third Day did play Jackson years ago, but it was before they hit "bigtime". This is a major event for Jackson and I hope the people here support this tour and come out for the show. I'd like to see more shows like this one!



On tour with them will be another favorite of mine...Tobymac and a new artist that I actually link to in my music links, Warren Barfield. What a great lineup! Woohoooo! It's gonna be great!



We are living in Extreme Days!

The Love of My Parents

My parents take "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" seriously.



I recently asked my parents for a loan. I've had a recent unexpected and very expensive utility bill. Because the bill was triple the norm, I called in an expert to check my heating unit to find out what is going on. That added to the expense of the situation, but my hope is to solve whatever the problem is so my utility bill will be under control.



I hate asking for help. It's a pride thing. I struggle anytime I need help, because I would rather "do it myself". If I do ask for help, my intent is to pay it back, whether in time, talent or money. In this case, my parents immediately sent me some financial assistance. I am so blessed to know that I have them to fall back on.



Yesterday I received more "help" from my parents. I did not expect this. It was a surprise to me. Mom even created a note on the computer that has music and trumpets on it. It's very personalized. She said:



"Hey Sue,



I hope you are having a good day. Hope this will help make things a little easier.



You are a very special person, very giving and caring of others. We are very proud of the person you have become and want to try to make you day a little brighter, and your house a little warmer. LOL"





In the note they also forgave my financial debt to them.



I said to Katie..."I plan to pay them back". She said "if you pay them back, then I have to pay you back!"



I have helped Katie and her kids financially, but the thought of her paying me back has not ever entered my mind. That was her point. She went on to say that "your parents want to do this for you! They are your parents...they didn't stop being your parents when you turned 18 and moved out of their house. They will always be your parents and parents help their children when they need help!"



I don't love my parents because they have helped my financially. I love my parents because they are my parents. They have loved me since the moment they saw me and I have NEVER had reason to doubt that. They don't just love me either, they love the whole family and even those friends I have introduced to them. I remember my college roommate wanting to call my mom when school got rough. My mom has a way to soothe a situation and make it not seem so bad. I remember my friend T wanting to chat with my dad about things because she never had "a dad" and needed advice about some different stuff. Dad is knowledgeable about a lot of different things and has much wisdom to share. That's why I call him when I have questions about things around the house!



Currently my parents are doing their best to care for my Gram who broke her arm on Christmas Eve. It is a very slow healing process, but my parents do what they can for her. My other Grandma is in an assisted living apartment type thing and my parents make it a point to visit her every day. They don't always make it out there because sometimes visitors are discouraged from coming, for example during the recent flu epidemic, and/or they need to stay home with Gram. I am so thankful to know that my parents are handling things the best they know how and everyday they are an example to me of what love is. It's sacrifice.



I told my mom once that "when I grow up, I want to be like you." I am sure that was surprising for her to hear, because I think most of the time teenagers are screaming at their parents "I NEVER WANT TO BE LIKE YOU!" It is true though...when I grow up, I want to be like my parents. I want my love for others to be obvious, like the love of my parents.

Is Christ God?

Jason, the teacher of my "intro" to Christology class at NBU, brought up something very interesting at class last Wednesday. He was sharing a story about his time at college. He explained that he had a Southern Baptist roommate and another roommate who was a Muslim. Jason said that he and his roommates often had those wonderful talks into the wee hours of the morning where the young explore the mysteries of the universe, life and ideologies. I'm sure those discussions were quite interesting between a couple of Southern Baptist boys and a Muslim who was in the US from another part of the world.



Jason told us of a question he was asked one night and said that it really stumped him at the time, because he was not as well versed in the Word as he is now. I was curious to know what this question was, and if I'd be able to answer. During one of those late night conversations in college, Jason was surprised to learn that his Muslim friend believed in Jesus Christ. This puzzled those two Baptist boys and they were even more surprised to learn that their Muslim friend even believed in the virgin birth. Jason wondered "What kind of Muslim are you? A Southern Baptist Muslim?" LOL



Then he shared the question his Muslim roommate asked, "Where in the bible did Jesus call himself God?"



I tossed the question around in my head and assumed everyone else in the class was doing the same. No one spoke up, so I'm figuring that we were all stumped by it to some degree. I thought to myself hmmmmmmmmmm, I remember that story about Jesus forgiving sins and people being quite upset about it, but He didn't call himself God. I also thought, well...I KNOW Jesus is God, so I guess he must have said it, but I honestly can't, even after reading the bible through in its entirety two times, pinpoint Jesus saying "I am God". Then my mind started going off on all these rabbit trails wondering about Jesus saying he was God. The whole point of this class is to determine who I say that Jesus is, and if I can't even tell you what Jesus said about himself, who am I to say who Jesus was?



Jason even shared that when he has gone to different "interviews" for positions as a pastor at different churches, that he has never once been asked who he says Jesus is. I think Christians assume that if someone calls himself a Christian, that that person must believe that Jesus is God. It does seem rather important that a church call someone to its leadership role that knows Who Jesus is!



Jason pointed out that saying you believe in Jesus, does not mean you understand Him to be God. Think about the Mormons...do they not call themselves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? "Jesus Christ" is in their "title", but who do they say Christ is? (topic for another post someday!)



So, where in the bible does Jesus call Himself God? Jason had us read a passage in John 10. Jesus says in verse 30 that "I and the Father are one." I say big deal, I've said something to the same effect about God and me. I've said "God and I are like this!" or "I'm one with God!" when I am referring to a spiritual high that I am experiencing. Jesus could have been saying something similar, but was He? NO! The Jews of the day knew what He was saying. They knew that he was saying He was God because in verse 33, they picked up stones to stone Jesus with. Jesus asked them why they were going to stone him and they said "for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."



Christ is God. Jesus is one with the Father. I can't explain it. My mind can't comprehend it. His Word tells it. I believe it.

Friday, January 23, 2004

Crossroads

After 3 years of torture, I will finally have my associate's degree when I graduate this spring. Yay! Now, the problem(s) is (are).....



I am going for a degree in social work and anything less than a bachelor's degree in that field is useless. So, if I don't go on to school, I have basically wasted my time thus far. Since I haven't received child support in over a year, the financial situation ...it isn't...ummm well....it just isn't. I have had lots of help from my Christian family and government assistance but I don't intend to have a career as a professional beggar for the next several years. I definitely have to go to work. This would not be a problem if I didn't have the kids, or if I had family they could stay with. Not only that, but, I would have to change to a 4 yr. institution that will be much more expensive than community college and the grant I get would be just a drop in the bucket compared to the tuition. Since I have to think about my kids going to college, I don't need to get myself into hock paying for my own student loans. Also if I go to work, I stand a good chance on losing the health coverage I get (and need) from the state while I'm a broke student because chances are good that the job I get will not have the greatest health coverage..if any at all. (Some choice huh?)



Another issue I have to deal with is that I have 2 children in a very BAD school system and I need to move them someplace else. When I do look for a job, I need to think about a place that is close to where I'm going to transfer my kids to so that it's not way out of the way. On the other hand, I could think about sending them to private school but that would be even more expense. I'd probably have to work two jobs to cover it. Then who is going to be the parent? And...since I have no clue where I'm going to send the kids, I have no clue about where to look for work or vice versa.



When I think about just putting off the degree for a few more years and going to work instead, it's not because of the same reasons I put it off the first time. I feel like my kids shouldn't have to sacrifice because of a stupid decision I made earlier in life. It was my mistake...so why should they have to pay for it? They are already paying enough for my poor choice about marriage.



If I go to school and work, then when will I have time to be a good parent? The kids are involved in extracurricular activities after school..(band, soccer, plays). It wouldn't be right for me to deprive them of that while I am working and finishing my degree. I just don't think it would be fair to them. If I do get my degree, my kids will be 14 and 17 when I graduate. I can't expect them to spend their entire childhood sacrificing like that. Since my divorce, I believe these are the most difficult and complicated decisions I have had to make and I am at a loss as of now. If I was getting child support, then the kids wouldn't have to sacrifice so much while I go to school. At least it would be something to help with the bills and the kid's personal needs until I finish and am able to fully support them myself. Unfortunately red tape and poorly enforced laws work against us... but, let's not open up that can of worms!



I'm obviously not going to get child support so I need to adjust my life accordingly. I want to be a good servant to God and mother to the children He has blessed me with, but I'm not sure which choice(es) would help me attain that goal.



Everything was going smooth until this year. Graduation should be a celebration but instead, I am at a MAJOR crossroads and so far I'm not getting much direction...well, except the ever famous...."Don't worry" and "Be still". I know I should do these things...I should practice what I'm always preaching, but, it's a bit difficult this time. I really need to be bathed in prayer about this.



I have made many poor choices in life and had to suffer severe consequences as a result. So have my children. One of those poor choices was waiting to go to college. Another one was getting married out of God's will. I don't want to make choices like that anymore. I don't want to hurt my kids from poor, selfish choices either. I want to make the right decisions. (Funny, I have a trophy for good decision making that I won at a career conference in highschool. It should have been a trophy for poor decision making). I need some open doors...and/or maybe even some closed ones.



I need direction from the Father. I need wisdom and discernment. I need the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Monday, January 19, 2004

Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing Baby!

Since last summer I have been volunteering with a local support group for victims of domestic violence. One thing I keep hearing women say over and over is that "He loved me in his own selfish way". I have a major problem with this statement. I even heard this from my mother when speaking of my ex-husband while trying to see things from a "Christian" point of view. I see this statement as a form of hypocracy. It is unrealistic and deceptive. After all, here is what God's word says about love:



Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor 13: 4-7, NIV)



So, saying that somebody loves "in their own selfish way" from a Biblical perspective is a contradiction of terms. Love isn't selfish. A person can not love somebody in their own selfish way. It is not possible to love selfishly. Love and selfishness are opposites. If a person loves...truly loves...it is a selfless act and self sacrificing in many ways.



God showed us love...when He sent His Son as a living "sacrifice" to redeem a people bound for Hell (see John 5:7-9). Love is not selfish. Therefore, if one is said to "love in his/her own selfish way", then perhaps they need to reflect and see if that statement measures up to God's plan for love. "Selfish" love is not true love, in fact it is quite the opposite. "Selfish" love is a secular idea. It is nothing more than a cheap immitation of the real thing.



John 15:12

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.



Sunday, January 18, 2004

A Sprinkle and a Dunk

We had an interesting discussion at SaLT Group last week. When I saw my brothers and sisters and church today, people expressed that this was something on their minds throughout the past week. The subject was something we all had on our minds and I was hoping to delve more into it tonight, but it wasn't to be.



Here's the thing. Larry was baptized as an infant by sprinkling. As was I, however, when I declared Jesus Christ as my savior, I got dunked! I made a decision to be baptized by immersion to show my obedience to my God and to make my declaration to the world that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.



Larry came to know the Lord as an adult as well, but he considers his infant baptism his baptism, his one and only baptism. Larry does not feel he needs to be rebaptised. The SaLT group had discussion and most agreed that Larry should consider a new baptism. Larry asked for our input in light of the fact that we know his belief, or feeling, that he has already been baptized.



One man in the group, wise in the word, shared some wisdom he has once heard from another person that asked "What side of the cross are you baptized on?" I didn't get it, but he went on to explain. Does a person get baptized "after the cross" or "before the cross"? Does a person get baptized after they come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior, or before they know Christ?



Once I received the gift of salvation, it was a few months later that I made the decision to be baptized. I can't imagine not making that declaration that day...In fact, in the weeks prior to the baptism celebration, I approached pastor during an invitation at the end of a service and looked him in the eye and said "BAPTIZE ME!". I wanted to be baptized, even though I had already been once as an infant. It only seemed right.



The bible teaches that we should proclaim the Good News and baptize in the name of Christ. It also shares the story of a certain thief hanging on the cross that was going to see Christ in paradise, even though he would never be baptized.



Baptism has nothing to do with Larry's salvation. If he gets baptized again it will not affect his salvation. If he chooses not to get baptized again, it will not affect his salvation. Does it effect his obedience to Christ?



It has us all pondering for sure. What are your thoughts?



Another ponderable, why is there an "s" in baptism, but a "z" in baptized?

Saturday, January 17, 2004

Hmmmmmmm, What Class Shall I Take?

It's a new "semester" at NBU and I'm deciding what class I might enjoy.



I did go to "Who is Jesus? The Doctrine of Christ" course last Wednesday. We had some interesting discussion about who Jesus is and by the end of the course, the instructor would like for us to be able to have a ready answer to the question "Who do you say that I Am?". I'm pondering that as I read scripture and discover new Truths about Him. I know Who Jesus is, but I want to be able to not just "know", but state to anyone who may ask me. It was interesting to hear the different names we have for Him: Redeemer, Suffering Servant, Son of God, Son of Man, Second Person of the Trinity,etc.... I want to have a concise answer that encompasses all that He is to me. I think that is what will make it difficult to do! He is sooooooooooooooo much!



Come Spring "Semester" I have a lot of available choices but I am probably going with the study Men and Women in Biblical Perspective. It should be interesting to study what the Bible says roles for women and men are in the home, church and society. I do not fit the "normal" role for most women...hmmmmmm, maybe I'm not biblical! Guess I'll find out! So I ordered a copy of When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James.



I am blessed that God put me in a church where I have so many educational options! Wooohoooooooooo! \o/

Friday, January 16, 2004

The Friday Five

The Friday Five:



1. What does it say in the signature line of your emails? I don't have a signature line.



2. Did you have a senior quote in your high school yearbook? What was it? If you haven't graduated yet, what would you like your quote to be? No quote from me!



3. If you had vanity plates on your car, what would they read? If you already have them, what do they say? No vanity plates, but in TN, since we only need tags on the rear of the vehicle, I have a plate that says "Jeepers" (the name my aunt gave this jeep before I inherited it) and "In memory of Pat" on the front.



4. Have you received any gifts with messages engraved upon them? What did the inscription say? It wasn't engraved, but Katie and the kids gave me a Bible a few Christmases ago that she wrote "Dearest Susan, There is more love in these pages than you can fathom. The same goes for the love for you in the hearts of the ones who gave this gift...God's love. May He bless you and grow you every time you read from His book." I love that! Sometimes when I feel down and wonder where God is, I open my bible up to that page and it helps to encourage and remind me about God's love for me.



5. What would you like your epitaph to be? Woohooo! \o/ I'm dancing with Jesus!

Thursday, January 15, 2004

RSS

Ok, I think I got it now! Wow, it just seems like there should be an easier way to produce an RSS feed. C'mon Blogger...I'm waiting...



For those of you with an RSS Aggregator, could you check to see if this works please?:



Subscribe

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Some New Tunes

I finally got some new music to listen to, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts about some CDs.



* Tait - LOVE IT! GET IT! I like this CD better than the first offering from Michael Tait of DC Talk. It seems to have more continuity as a complete album and the tunes are very melodic with some great beats coming from the bass and drummer. It's tough right now to get me to take it out of the in-store player at work!



* Casting Crowns - LOVE IT! GET IT! This CD contains the CCM hit song "If We Are the Body", which I would call one of the weaker songs on the album. This CD is filled with wonderful, worshipful lyrics that really make the listener think and ponder the awe of God. I find many lyrics to be quite convicting. This is a great CD to add to your collection as a good adult pop/rock CD as well as great praise and worship music.



* Todd Agnew - "Grace Like Rain" is a beautiful poetic song and Agnew has a very full voice to carry off the rocker "This Fragile Breathe". I enjoy these two songs, but the rest of the CD is "egh". Not too impressive to me. There is potential for Agnew, but I found this CD to be one that is kind of stale and has not too much here to jump out and catch the listener.



* Warren Barfield - Now this guy caught my attention with "My Heart Goes Out", a song about noticing the pain in another person's eyes, a stranger's, and not being real sure about what to do. You want to share God's love, but you fear their reaction. I also enjoy Barfield singing about "wanting to be mistaken"...be mistaken for Jesus Christ. I am constantly concerned with people seeing Jesus in me, and this song just really speaks volumes. You can listen to Barfield explain the story behind the song here (you'll have to hit "play", it won't start automatically), and I found it to be rather moving. I encourage you to give it a listen if you have about 2 minutes. This is a good CD for you to check out if you like softer adult rock music.



So that's it for now!



Saturday, January 10, 2004

Uplanned Battles During War Games

I had a few humorous moments while playing Battlefield 1942 recently.



The first pic shows my jeep after an unfortunate meeting with a tree. It was messy.









The judge took away my drivers' license so I decided to go for my pilot's license, and as you can tell things didn't go well. This was about 20 feet outside of the hanger. I never even got airborne!





Thursday, January 08, 2004

Interesting Conversation

"If someone is that depressed and wants to kill himself because there is no hope of life getting better, I don't see any reason he shouldn't do it. Many times there is no hope of life improving." I paraphrased that from an interesting conversation from a few weeks ago.



The person, who I will call Lydia, said the above and also says that she has an easy time accepting people for who or what they are, whatever race, color, creed, sexual orientation...it's easy to accept people. This, I think, is very noble. She also sees no problem letting people do whatever they want, even if it is bad behaviors that allows them to destroy themselves, like drugs and/or suicide and figures they get what they deserve. If a bad behavior such as smoking kills people, yet someone still chooses to smoke, then no one should say anything to that person. Even if someone cares enough about them to ask them to stop. (This post only mentions smoking because it is the "catalyst" of the conversation point I will make below. It in no way excludes other life threatening behaviors including bad nutrition and gluttony of which I struggle myself!)



Then Lydia told me that a friend of hers said that it probably is easy to do because she has no moral standard by which she lives. She agreed.



The whole "no moral standard" is interesting to me, but that's a topic for another post.



Then Lydia told me she was going outside to smoke. I said "I knew you would wimp out and not quit this New Years." She said "I'm not wimping out!" and I reminded her "remember what you said about having no moral standards makes it easy to accept people however they are? Well, what is the opposite of that?" and she expressed at first a quizzical but thoughtful look and pondered it a moment before she confessed "I see your point".



I believe it is right to accept people how they are, and lovingly help to restore them to a healthy life when they are in a destructive pattern. Whether that lifestyle they have chosen is alcohol, gambling, gluttony, sexual promiscuity, etc., we should not blindly "accept" this.



Christians are commanded to love. We are commanded to love fellow believers, but Jesus explained that this isn't anything special. It's easy to love people who are loveable. Jesus commands us to love our enemies. If an enemy is depressed and suicidal, we should not think like Scrooge in the Christmas Carol "good! Let them do it, less mouths to feed and it will help decrease the surplus population!", we should react with love and sometimes love is tough. Sometimes love means removing the drink, taking away the cigarettes, coaching someone through a nutritional dietary change, and maybe even closing the doors on a destructive relationship.



So, having no moral standard I guess can make it easy to take a person however they are and accept it, no matter how destructive their behaviors may be to themselves and those around them. It's also a lot less responsibility.



Tuesday, January 06, 2004

RSS

Ok, for those of you into the RSS aggregator stuff, would you be so kind to check if any of the feeds I have actually work? I just don't understand this stuff and will be pleased when Blogger makes it free for those of us who choose not to pay to blog.



My feeds are linked at the very bottom of the page.



Thanks!

Routine

I got the Christmas decorations put away for the most part yesterday. Funny, it only takes a few hours to decorate, but it takes all day to put the stuff away! The house seems kind of bland today but it's nice to have that job out of the way. The decor seems to lose it's flavor with each passing day after Christmas and once the New Year celebration is over, well, it just loses it's magic...weird. I feel better though. I was feeling melancholy looking at the remnants of Christmas every day but, now, the kids are having their first day back to school and I feel a bit of routine bringing order back to life again.



I enjoyed the days off and the sleeping in. It was nice. Like Dave said on Sunday, "The mornings were beginning later and later." It was time for things to get back in order again. I didn't mind getting up this morning (except for crawling out from my nice warm electric blanket). Man it has gotten cold!



So, this is a week for me to unwind. I will enjoy my last few days at home without the kids here before I have to head back to the chaos and stress of school myself. I really hope this semester is easy on me. Last semester was tough due to the surgery and migraine complications I had. However, by God's grace I got through and still made the honor roll. I wasn't happy about my C in Spanish though. It was mainly due to the fact that I maintained a B the entire semester but it dropped to a C by one question on the final...a half a point on my final average. ARrrrggghhh! This is my last semester before I get my first degree and then I have to figure out where to go from there. That will be up to God...I'm really at a crossroads in life but, that's another blog.



So, next week it's really back to the grind. I will be attending a night class and a late afternoon class which is a switch and complicates life a bit since the kids are in school and will be participating in soccer this semester. However, I'll manage around it as usual. I'm looking forward to a class in painting that I am taking (just to get in the hours I need to fulfill the requirement). I also have to take music appreciation...blah blah. I appreciate music! So that should qualify me for an automatic A and I shouldn't have to fulfill that requirment right? Wrong. Anyhow, I'm hoping that this semester will be less stressful than the ones in the past.



Okay, I've jabbered on long enough. I'm going to go and veg for awhile.



Believers, live so that others will see Christ in you today.



Shine



Father, I pray for all who visit this site, for those who know you, that you would draw them into a deeper relationship with You. For those who don't, I pray that you would bestow that blessing upon them.

Interesting Thoughts

Church



It's not a club filled with saints exclusive only to them...but a community of sinners inclusive to all. I heard something along those lines on the radio this morning.



Dating



When you are on a date you should treat that person honorable because you are either dating your future spouse....or somebody else's (in most cases). I read that in a book called "Parenting Today's Adolescent" by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.



Just a couple thoughts to ponder for the day. Happy January 6th!

Monday, January 05, 2004

The Christian Cliche'

When I am down and out and God feels far away, I do in fact remember that I can't depend on "feelings". I may feel like God is far away, but I know that He is not. He is here with me.



When I am depressed because of the circumstances of my life, whether in regard to finances, life changes, or hormones, I know that God will sustain me.



What I know and what I feel are different things, and I know that I can not rely on my feelings.



I also have heard all the words of encouragement I can possibly hear from other believers, all those Christian "cliches".



When you feel down, does it help you to have someone tell you "always remember that God loves you", or "rejoice in your salvation", or "you can do all things through Christ who strenghtens you"?



We've heard them. We've offered them when we have had no other words to speak.



I listened to a friend at SaLT Group last night share about her depression and her longing to go back to her home town in another state. She has been miserable for a long time and shared with us all last night that she hasn't felt joy from God in a long time. She has been wandering in the desert and sees no light at the end of the tunnel. This has been going on for a very long time, many years in fact.



I know that distance from God, although not to the extent that this woman is suffering, but I can relate to not wanting to hear people say "I'll pray for you" or "God didn't move, you did". Blah blah blah. When Katie and I discuss things about my spiritual walk, I will often toss out something like "Oh, don't give me that typical Christian response! Those Christian cliches!" and she will undoubtably respond:



"They aren't Christian cliches, they are Truth!"



How can you argue with that?



I think I am going to send a card to my sister who is suffering.

Friday, January 02, 2004

Boredom????

I'm sitting here trying to think of something to do. There are things I could do...there are always things I could be doing that need to be done like laundry, sweeping, dusting, etc.. But, today there is nothing that is mandatory for a change. I don't have to do anything and I'm choosing not to. So, I'm sitting here experiencing this feeling that I knew once long ago...is this what people call boredom???? Am I actually bored??? I AM!! I AM BORED!!! I'M BOOOOORRREEED!!! THIS IS BORRRINGG!!!!! Wooohooooo!!!!!! I've been wanting this experience for a long time! (Phone ringing)



Well, that was a short lived experience. I now have to go and pick up my daughter at her friend's house. She was planning to spend the night but there has been a change in plans. So goes my experience in boredom. Wow, that was short lived. It was just enough of a taste to make me want more! Bummer! Oh well, back to life.

Melancholy

I have the "After the holiday rush let down I couldn't wait for resting time blues." I love the holiday season. I love to celebrate my Savior. I love to watch Christmas specials and drink hot cocoa and sit by warm firplaces with friends. I love going to Christmas parties, pageants, and services. I love Christmas shopping and wrapping presents. I wish I could imagine my house all decorated and "poof" it would be done. I wish I could do all my shopping and wrapping in one day and just enjoy looking at the decorations and participating in festivities without all the hustle and bustle. Every day is filled with so much demand on time that before you know it, Christmas day has come and gone...the day that you've looked forward to and prepared for for so long is over and it all seems like a blur. There's nothing left but decorations gathering dust waiting to be packed away for the next year.



So, the time has come at last......the rush is over. Things have quieted down and the parties are finished. The mess is cleaned up and there are no commitments. I sit here with a choice of things to do. I could read, watch a movie, blog, write a letter...pray...whatever I want. I should be overjoyed but for some reason there this feeling of melancholy because the rush is over and the holiday is through...and it almost seems that I've missed it. Humans are strange. We're never satisfied are we?



I know I didn't miss the holiday. I spent time with my family. I got wonderful gifts and God blessed me in so many ways that I could blog for a week and never get it all in. But, it was the rush and the constant mad whilrwind I seemed to be in that made it appear that somehow Christmas got by without me. I keep hoping for the time when it becomes simple...but then, being the human I am, I will probably complain about how I miss the days when I would be rushing around for the kids and parties and blah blah whine whine complain complain...right?



Anyhow, I always get this way between Christmas and the first week of the New Year. Once I get Christmas packed away I will be fine. I'm not motivated to do that right now because I just need a couple days of no commitments and I have them so I am not committing to cleaning up Christmas decorations. I'll just sit here with my melancholy self and love every minute of it!

Thursday, January 01, 2004

Keyboard Update

Travis was right! I put this thing in the dishwasher and let it dry for a few days and it's working like it's new! Woohooo! Travis was so sure this would work, he offered to send me a keyboard if it didn't. Fortunately all is well and I won't need to replace this one. YAY!



Amazing.

What I Left Behind

Every year since I had my first baby I have had a goal to lose weight. Up until 2003 I have been unsuccessful. Now, I am celebrating the fact that I began 2004 by leaving 25 pounds of me in 2003! I hope to do the same in 2004! Wooohooo! I am really celebrating this awesome victory and it is truly answered prayer! I plan to do a recap and a projection like everyone else probably is but that will more than likely not be for a few days. Hopefully it will be with the keyboard that we put through the dishwasher! LOL! Until then........HAPPY NEW YEAR!