Go and Make Disciples

Pintrest Craft One

2012-01-28T19:17:00.000-06:00

So I found a craft on Pintrest that I wanted to try because I thought it was attractive and the Bible verse on it was my all-time favorite. I decided to try my hand at it. Here's a step-by-step if you'd like to try to make one of your own.

Step 1: Get your supplies together. I chose to use a plain canvas from Joanne's. If I was doing it again, I'd go with colored canvas but Joanne's didn't have it so white was my option.

Step 2: Pick your paint colors. I went with brown and light blue.

Step 3: Paint the canvas the base color you choose. I needed two coats on some spots on the canvas.

Step 4: In your alternate color, add footprints. I did mine in the kitchen, painting the bottom of each foot then washing it before painting the bottom of the other foot. Be careful, don't step too hard on the canvas.

Step 5: Add the heart in the middle above the footprints. If you are artistically challenged like I am, find a heart somewhere (I used Microsoft ClipArt) and trace it lightly onto the canvas. Then you can paint the heart without having to freehand it.

Step 6: Add the handprints, I painted one hand, put the handprint on the canvas, washed my hands, and then repeated the process.

Step 7: Write the chosen words on the canvas with a paint pen. I took the picture with it standing but I wrote it with the canvas laying flat. I went with an extrafine, silver paint pen. If I was doing it again, I'd go with a broader tipped pen. You can't see the words as well as I would have liked.

Step 8: Hang on the wall of your choice.

I am amazed at how this turned out considerig I have no artistic talent whatsoever. There are imperfections here and there but that's true about my life so it's a great reflection. :-) I also like the fact that it's my footprints and handprints that make up the artwork. This works with Micah 6:8 but I imagine there are other verses that could easily work in a similar fashion.

Week Four in Review

2012-01-28T15:44:00.000-06:00

So far in 2012, this was the toughest week I've encountered - quiet time wise and food/exercise wise. I was out of town for four days and not really able to select where we ended up for dinner. I also couldn't control lunch. Then our dinners ended up being Asian, Italian and Mexican. Strangely enough, the Mexican was probably the healthiest of all the choices. It just isn't easy to eat out and make healthy, WW friendly choices. I still ended the week with extra "bonus" points, I just wasn't able to keep up the weight loss. I also wasn't able to exercise. While the hotel had an exercise room, treadmills where the only option and those make my knees hurt too badly to exercise effectively. So, I ended up gaining a bit but I'm still down overall from where I started 2012. Now I'll get back to correct eating and exercising this week. Hopefully next week will be a better week.

Spiritually, I've moved into Job during my quiet times. It was hard staying on task when stuck in a hotel but I did manage to read each day and spent time considering what I was reading. Job is an interesting book to say the least. This week I've been reading the back and forth between Job and his so-called friends. Reading his friends' responses has challenged me to think about how I offer support to my friends when they are going through crisis. Job's friends all twisted theology to fit their understanding and offered what ended up being judgmental, unhelpful responses. I can't bring examples of where I've done something similar to mind but I'm sure it has happened. I am hoping and praying the next time I am confronted with this situation, I can respond more like Christ than like Job's friends.

I've been thinking a lot about racism this week too. We've been undertaking an undoing racism project at work and our monthly meeting was this past Monday. Often, these are tough conversations that leave me sitting with thoughts and feelings for a while. This was a very productive conversation but I still feel like we aren't really getting anywhere. Of course, we aren't going to get all that far because there's not been a heart change in any of my co-workers. They are still coming at this from a secular, world perspective. We are making steps to think about race and privilege in all of our work (hiring, policies, trainings, etc.) but as for deep, long-lasting change, I'm not convinced it comes about without the lens of the gospel. Obviously, I'm still processing my thoughts...

I have finished my first full week with my iPhone and if you could be in love with inanimate objects, I would be in love with my iPhone. Of course, not having my email accounts deleted is a help but the phone is just more functional than my Droid was. I got all my music transferred over and loaded onto the iPod app on my phone. I discovered it will work in a docking station (hotel had one) so that will be my next "techie" addition. :-) I have also discovered a new app that will change my world while traveling. I had a noisy neighbor at the hotel this week and my co-worker recommended I download a white noise app. Who knew these even existed? I quickly searched for one, found a free one and downloaded that bad boy. I spent the next two nights blissfully sleeping to the sounds of rainfall. Couldn't hear the noisy neighbor or noisy hotel doors banging closed. This has changed my travelling life forever! Yay for iPhone apps!

I have almost finished my first Pintrest craft project and hope to have a pictures and details post up later tonight or tomorrow. I also have the book review I promised last week coming. More next week.

Week Three in Review

2012-01-21T17:30:00.003-06:00

I somehow managed to not get the book review posted that I meant to post but oh well. That's what being out of town and teaching twice plus working will do to you. Speaking of teaching, I picked up a third round of Princeton Review student on Thursday night and these guys are going to give me a run for my money. All of my PR students are smart, they're mostly Emory and GA Tech students. This bunch though is another kind of smart. Problem is, they want to argue everything and I do mean EVERYTHING! Hopefully as the class progresses, they will see less need to argue and just accept that I know what I'm talking about.

Eating went really well this week. I planned ahead for my two nights out and that made all the difference. I was able to eat healthy and follow my Weight Watchers routine. I'm really doing more of a modified WW since I'm not paying them or going to meetings. I'm using my mom's knowledge of their system and the tools she is getting for me and making it work. I have had points left over most every night even having a cookie for dessert a couple of nights. This week is my first big test since I'm out of town three nights and not picking the restaurants. But, mom gave me some good eating out tips so hopefully I'll be able to make that work too. Not sure of weight change yet since I'm waiting on my scale to arrive. The scale on my Wii is a little wonky so I'm not relying on it. I know what I weighed at the doctor on 1/4 and what I weighed at my parent's house last week (6 pounds less) but I'll be glad when I have a consistent scale to use once a week.

Spiritually, it's been more learning about God's display of sovereignty in the lives of the patriarchs. I finished Genesis today and I'm really amazed at the way God's sovereignty is displayed over and over. He also works things to our benefit even when we are conniving to try and work things out on our own. I see so often how I mirror Abraham, Rebecca, and the sons of Jacob in trying to "fix" my situations on my own. Fortunately God is smarter than I am. This week we move into Job so there are bound to be lessons there.

Totally unrelated to anything spiritual, I got a new cellphone yesterday, upgrading to an iPhone. My phone freaked out this week. Again. This time I told Verizon I was done with the Android platform, what else could they offer me. Lo and behold, they came back with a FREE refurbished 16G iPhone4. Woo-hoo, sold! I got it all set up yesterday and have been downloading various apps for it since then. If you happen to know of any good ones, leave a comment. I'm open for suggestions. Free is best but I'm not averse to paying if it's worth it.

I've started two projects I saw on Pintrest. Both are initially for me but if one project works, I'll hopefully be able to do more and sell them as a fundraiser for my mission trip in November. I'm not the world's most crafty person so we'll see what happens. Pictures will come, I promise.

Book review to come, hopefully tomorrow or Monday.

Week Two in Review

2012-01-14T20:23:00.001-06:00

So week two of 2012 is in the books. Crazy week for me - working on a major project at work that is due Monday. Spent time creating and re-creating graphs when my boss and I decided to re-do things. We're both detail-oriented perfectionists so obsessing over the details is a given. Fortunately I finished my portion yesterday about 4:30 so I am off the hook until she sends me the draft to read and comment on. This week is another short week (yea for Monday holidays) but my to-do list is still a mile long so I'll be busy.

Food choices went well this week - switching lunches and dinners seems to be working. I also added exercise to the routine so that should help things along. I've seen small movements downward on the scale and that always adds inspiration. I've been really working towards planning ahead for nights I'm teaching and nights I'm just too tired so I make good food choices instead of falling into the habit of driving through a fast-food place. Should help the weight loss efforts and help the bottom line.

Spiritually, I've been thinking about a couple things this week. I've been reading through the middle sections of Genesis and have seen several instances of the patriarchs (and others) conniving to either get their way or "protect themselves." It really made me think about how I do the same thing repeatedly. I've seen God work in my life over and over but still find myself telling Him "I've got this." How foolish is that? I'm praying about being more aware of this and repenting of it when I encounter it instead of letting it languish. I also finished reading "Kisses from Katie" this week and came away feeling a strong desire to go back out on the mission field in a global context. I'm praying about signing on for a trip with One Way Ministries to Guatemala to serve alongside the Browns for a week. There is a significant cost involved but if God has laid this on my heart, He will make it happen. I'll keep you posted.

One update from last week...tried the homemade coffee creamer, it's wonderful and a fantastic money saver. I also tried the egg muffins. They need less time in the oven but otherwise, were a great way to get a serving of protein in the morning without having to spend the time scrambling the egg (and washing the dishes) in the morning.

At least one book review coming soon. Hopefully more than one. Stay tuned.

Daily Gifts of Grace - Book Review

2012-01-10T08:08:00.000-06:00

Daily Gifts of Grace is a little devotional book of writings from the women behind the "Women of Faith" tour. It includes devotionals from Patsy Clairmont, Lucy Swindoll, Lisa Whelchel, Joni Eareckson Tada and more. I haven't finished the book entirely since I want to use it throughout the year. But, I selected a few dates at random so I could get a sense of the "meatiness" of the devotions. What I found was an entirely mixed bag. Some, maybe even the majority of those I read, were "fluffy" and didn't do much for me. A few were deeper and gave me something to think about. I'll be interested to see how my opinion changes from day to day. One thing that concerns me a little is the price. Close to $20 for daily devotional is a little pricey in my opinion. I know from the way the outer cover is designed that it is being marketed as a gift book. It would be a great gift for a new female believer but because of the cost, that isn't really practical (at least for my budget). Maybe the publisher would consider a cheaper, paperback version.

All in all, it's a nice little devotional book for a new believer but it's not really going to do much for anyone looking for a deep, thought-provoking devotional. I am going to use it at work during 2012 but after that, will probably give it away.

Note: Thomas Nelson Publishers gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Score: 2.5 bookmarks out of 5.

To Serve or Not to Serve,That is the Question

2012-01-09T19:14:00.001-06:00

You may be thinking I've lost my mind. The title seems like a silly question to ask; of course we're supposed to serve, Jesus commanded it. But, what does serving really mean?

This stream of consciousness post is coming from some of the thoughts rattling around in my head during yesterday's sermon. Yesterday was week two of my church's series, Resolutions. In the sermon from Luke 22:24-27, Pastor Leonce talked about the disciples questioning of Jesus and their definition of greatness vs. His definition of greatness. In it, Leonce talked about the use of the word serve in verse 27. This isn't really the run of the mill serving; it's the down and dirty, thankless, behind the scenes, nobody sees, washing nasty feet serving. And that's what got me thinking.

How many times when I'm serving am I really doing it out of a desire to be more like Jesus and how many times do I want people to like me, think I'm a good Christian, win "jewels in my crown, etc."? Sadly, I think for me, serving has become more of the latter in my life. I've lost sight of WHY I'm supposed to be serving and am caught up in the task of serving. I also have been guilty of preventing others from serving because I think I know the best way to pack coffee supplies on Sundays after a service. Really?! I can't just show someone and step away and trust they can do it just as well as I can? What's really driving that? Yesterday during the sermon and in a conversation right after the service, I hit on the answer. It's pride. My sinful, prideful nature managed to rear it's ugly head and pervert something biblical into something worldly. We talked after the service that it's a function of being a church plant and having been around since the beginning but I think that was just a prideful excuse to avoid dealing with the issue. At least for me it was.

I am repenting of that sin of pride and resolving to focus on why I'm supposed to be serving - to show Christ to whomever walks in our doors on Sunday. It doesn't matter what people think of me, it matters that they see Christ in my actions.

Week One in Review

2012-01-07T18:28:00.002-06:00

We'll see how updating once per week on life in general goes for a while. I'll try to update each Saturday evening unless the unlikely (a date with a guy) happens. If that happens, you'll probably get a breaking blog update. :-)

Week one of my new eating system seemed to work pretty well. Of course, having leftovers from mom and dad's house helped but it was quite helpful to already know what was for dinner. I'm also following Weight Watchers points (not going to meetings cause it's pricey) and I've done very well with my choices this week. Hopefully tracking what I'm eating and planning ahead will help when life picks up the pace this week. I haven't weighed myself yet since I was weighed at the doctor on Wednesday. That weight was about where I was the last time I weighed so I have a pretty good idea where I'm starting. Fortunately, based on my blood work results and my blood pressure, I'm healthy except for my weight. Hopefully by this time next year, the weight will be significantly different too.

On another note, I found Pintrest and so far, it is definitely worth the time. I have found multiple recipes that are quite useful and I've tried three of them so far. One, the mug brownies, were wonderful and since it only makes one serving, can be made without feeling guilty. The second, homemade coffee creamer will be tried in the morning. The third, egg "muffins" will be tried on Monday. I'll definitely keep you posted. If you are interested in an invite and we're friends on FB, let me know and I'll invite you. Be warned though, you can lose track of time quite quickly. :-)

Week one was also a good week in terms of Bible reading. I'm constantly amazed how re-reading Scripture, even those well-known stories, almost always reveals something new. This week, while reading the account of the flood, I was amazed at the thought of how Noah got all the animals rounded up and onto the ark. I wonder how exactly it happened...did God bring them to Noah, did Noah and his sons have to go animal hunting, God prompt the animals to just show up at the appointed time? I know, you're probably thinking I'm nuts but on a certain level, it reminded me of God's sovereignty over the smallest details. Those animals HAD to get on the boat and God in His infinite wisdom had a plan. Scripture may not record it but you can count on the fact there was a plan. I think that's a parallel to our lives. We can't always see the recorded plan when life gets crazy but because God is God, we can be confident there is a plan. Great revelations to start out the new year.

I'll end with what I'm making my New Year's resolution: (1) God is God (2) I am not God (3) All my problems come from getting 1 & 2 reversed (4) All my solutions come from getting 1 & 2 back in the right order!

A Wedding Invitation - Book Review

2012-01-07T18:13:00.003-06:00

Book Description: After returning home from teaching English at a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother's clothing boutique in Falls Church, Virginia. When she receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart, and a young Amerasian refugee named Lien who needs Samantha and Carson's help to find her mother before Lien's own wedding. When the search for Lien's mother reveals surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.

Synopsis: Samantha Bravencourt is a thirty-something living in the D.C. area working at her mother's boutique. She gets a wedding invitation from who she thinks is a college friend and she makes plans to head to North Carolina for the wedding. In reality, the wedding invitation is for a complete stranger who happens to have the same name as Samantha's friend. The time at the wedding and reception isn't wasted as Samantha meets a guy, Taylor, who she is attracted to. Taylor continues to pop up throughout the novel and plays a significant role in the ending of the book. Her time in NC also leads to a reunion between Samantha and her former refugee students and a former co-teacher, Carson, who broke Samantha's heart. The book follow Samantha as she processes her feelings for Carson and tries to help a former student reunite with her mother.

Review: This was a quick, fun read with a fun main character. In fact, I got it read all in one day (gotta love vacations). The back-and-forth between Samantha's time in the Philippines and the main time period of the book is a little quirky but not too difficult to follow. I liked that Samantha had "issues" but wasn't a whiny character. She took risks, argued with God and then reveled when things worked out like the prayed they would. The quirky cast of characters Wisler included were an interesting lot but they seemed oddly placed. I wasn't really sure of the purpose behind them. Dovie, Samantha's aunt, could have played the same role by herself. I also thought the relationship development with Carson, while enjoyable, wasn't exactly realistic, even for a fiction novel. All in all, it was a fun read but not necessarily something to get overly excited about.

Score: 3.5 bookmarks out of 5.

Note: Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The Crossing - Book Review

2012-01-05T18:37:00.003-06:00

Product Description: Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free? On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus. Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart. Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

Synopsis: The Crossing is the story of Claudia Campbell, a young wife and mother who lived through a shooting on her school bus 10 years ago. She has a life anyone would envy, successful husband and cute daughter. Unfortunately, she's still dealing with the trauma of watching her friend and teacher die. Claudia's husband Victor, the local assistant district attorney, decides to re-open the case in hopes of erasing some of Claudia's demons. He's assisted by a local policeman, Casio Hightower who was also on the bus and fighting demons of his own. As the book progresses, Claudia's mental state continues to unravel leading her to separate from her husband and parents. Secrets are divulged that threaten to tear multiple families apart.

Review: I have to admit up-front that I had some preconceived notions I had to overcome while reading this book. I won't go into them in detail here (it's not the time or place) but they did impact my review of this book to a certain extent. As a book, it's not too bad - not my favorite but not the worst I've ever read by a long shot. The action is fast-paced and once I got started, I wanted to keep reading. A couple of things bothered me though. One, Casio is a jerk of a character, an abuser who is never forced to take responsibility for his actions. (Sidebar: The whole issue of domestic violence is never dealt with anywhere. Jakes misses an opportunity to do something powerful for domestic violence. She's a powerful voice, if only she'd used it.) Two, you read/hear the voice of the teacher who was shot as she was dying. Seeing as how she had been dead for10 years, it just seemed strange to me. I know it was how Jakes decided to tell the story of the shooting and the back story of the shooting, it just seemed strange to me. I did think Jakes did a good job developing believable characters and her dialogue was solid so that's a positive. Overall, it's not a horrible book by any stretch, it's just not one of my favorites.

Score: 3.0 bookmarks out of 5

Note: Waterbrook Multnomah gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

New Year, New Book Rating System

2012-01-02T12:52:00.000-06:00

After two years of book reviewing, I've decided I need some sort of ranking system to help keep my thoughts straight. Of course, these are subject to change when I feel the need but it might help keep my reviews consistent. So, here goes...

1 Bookmark - horrible book, couldn't/wouldn't finish, book was boring, poorly written, etc. (RARE)

2 Bookmarks - so-so book, not something worth a lot of praise but worth finishing, not a subject matter I enjoy, has characters I can't identify with, poor writing, etc.

3 Bookmarks - good book but hard to get into, slow/complicated plot, good but not great, doesn't keep me up at night

4 Bookmarks - really good book, solid character or subject development, quality plot development, pace moves quickly, keeps me wanting more, etc.

5 Bookmarks - truly fantastic book, would purchase the book myself, highly recommend to others, re-read worthy (RARE)

Notes About the System

1. This rating system is entirely subjective. These are my opinions only but since it's my blog, my opinions are the ones that matter.
2. Half-points are an option and will usually be used in relation to outside factors like price, availability, etc.
3. Suggested pricing listed on a book may impact the rating of a book. If it's a great book but isn't affordable, what good is it? As a Christian, I am cautious about how I spend my money and how I make referrals about products. I've seen several great books lately that are just too expensive to rate highly. For the record, this would probably only make a 4 book a 3.5.
4. Don't take my word for it - READ and THINK for yourself. The important thing is to read.

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T12:41:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it's already 2012! Where did 2011 go? I hope to be more consistent in my blogging this year. I often have thoughts I think are worth sharing, they just somehow end up not making their way into the blog. Hopefully, my plans for getting healthier in 2012 and blogging about that will help spur me into more blogging. My plans are to eat healthier and exercise consistently. Since I'm not travelling much early this year like I did last year, I hope I can get into good habits early in the year. I'm changing up the way I eat lunch and dinner to try and overcome the temptation to get cheap take out food when I'm tired. I'm planning to bring a meat/veggie plate to work instead of my sandwich and fruit and have the sandwich/fruit for dinner instead. Makes things quick and simple and gives me no excuses. Also helps to save money. :-) We shall see how that goes.

I also hope to blog more about what God shows me as I read through the Bible again this year. I'm using the same plan I used in 2010 when Brook Hills did it. This time though, I have the book that goes along with the plan we were trial running. I'm excited about all God will show me this time.

2011 was a good year from my perspective and I look forward to what 2012 will bring!

Behind the Veils of Yemen - Book Review

2011-12-17T10:43:00.000-06:00

Book Description: When Audra Grace Shelby and her husband felt God calling them to minister in the Middle East, she was fearful--how would she raise her children in the heart of conservative Islam? Armed with prayers and a faith that always seemed too small, the family made the move to Yemen, enduring deadly illness, uncertainty, and the unnerving experience of being Christians in an Islamic culture. Yet God was at work, and Audra was invited to see what few Christian women have seen: behind the veils of Muslim women. Here she shares about the friendships she forged, about the opportunities to minister when her new friends' hopes shriveled and their own religion faltered--and how the grace of God touched lives in the midst of an enemy stronghold. With humor, passion, and honesty, she shows readers glimpses of life deep in the heart of Islam and the yearning heart of our loving God.

Review: This book chronicles some of the time Audra Grace Shelby spent with her family in Yemen. She opens by discussing the difficult journey to the mission field, one that included a life-threatening illness for her husband. It moves into stories from their first weeks/months in Yemen. She chronicles how she built relationships with the women in her community, most importantly, Fatima, her Arabic tutor. Shelby details how these relationships continue to be built by detailing some of her encounters with the Muslim women and their personal, probing questions of her life. I could feel Shelby’s awkwardness in some of the situations she described. I loved the honesty Shelby portrayed throughout this book. She was honest about her struggles – with the culture, the heat and the inconveniences present when working in a developing country. She is also refreshingly honest in her conversations with God outlining her questions and doubts. These conversations happen repeatedly throughout the book, often accompanied by the lesson God has shown her. I really enjoyed this book and it was a remarkably quick read. The storytelling style in this book made me want to keep reading. My only lingering question is what happened after they returned to Yemen after the birth of their fourth child. The follow-up at the end doesn’t really address that and I was left wondering what happened to Fatima, did the seeds of the gospel ever see harvest? I felt the book was missing a couple of chapters. Even with that, I recommend this book to anyone interested in missions, life in the Middle East or both.

Baker Publishing gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The Baker's Wife - Book Review

2011-12-12T18:44:00.001-06:00

Book Description: Before Audrey was the baker's wife, she was the pastor's wife. Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side-by-side running a bakery, serving coffee, and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey. Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something-or someone-at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to a local teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body. Both the scooter and the blood belong to detective Jack Mansfield's wife, and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance. But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind-her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.

Synopsis: Audrey and her husband Geoff were leading a church in their small town when a lie-filled scandal took it from them. They decide to stay in town and make a living by turning a hobby into a successful business. They work together operating a bakery and use the bakery as a way to minister to the community. Unfortunately, an accident and disappearance shatters their life, putting Audrey under a cloud of suspicion. A wayward ex-con ends up in their lives and carries secrets of her own. Through a hostage-taking, Audrey is forced to solve the mystery of the disappearance in order to save her husband and son.

Review: This book was not at all what I was expecting. It started slow but I enjoyed the mystery aspect of it once I got into it. I liked the suspense in the book but I was somewhat disappointed in the ending. It didn’t really “fit” with the rest of the book. I can’t really put my finger on exactly what my complaint is, it just felt somewhat forced in parts. I’m not saying that makes it a bad book or even one I’m sorry I read, it just wasn’t my favorite. One thing to note… I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about Audrey’s “gift” of being able to feel other people’s pain/sickness. I know the author explains it as feeling extreme empathy/compassion for others but I’m still a little uncomfortable with it. It’s not enough for me to not recommend the book to others, it’s a good book, I’m just not sure how others may react to Audrey’s gift. All in all, it was a good book; not my favorite but a good book all the same.

Thomas Nelson Publishers gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Attracted to Fire - Book Review

2011-12-11T16:18:00.001-06:00

From the Back: Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

Synopsis: Meghan is a Secret Service agent assigned to a team who's job is to protect the Vice President's daughter. The job isn't easy since the daughter doesn't really want to be protected and someone is trying to kill her. Meghan's job is also complicated by the fact her boss, Agent Zinders is a sexist who doesn't think women belong in the Secret Service. As the book progresses, Ash sees how wrong he was and as he and Meghan work together to save the VP's daughter, their attraction for one another grows.

Review: This book took a while for me to get into but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I stayed up WAY too late a couple of nights reading. :-) I liked Meghan's character but then again, I'm partial to strong female characters. I thought Mills did a good job making Meghan's character strong but not so over-the-top she came across as borish or difficult. The story progressed quite well and there was enough intrigue and tension to keep you occupied and wanting more. There were times here and there that the story was a little far-fetched but not so bad I quit reading. It was pretty easy to figure out who was the "bad guy" but Mills kept you guessing as to how Ash and Meghan were going to resolve the situation. I like a book with likable characters and this one had that. I felt the ending was a bit contrived in parts but overall, it was a good book.

I'm not sure why I haven't read Diann Mills before but I plan to read more of her work soon. I'm glad to have found another new author.

Tyndale House Publishers gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

It's Not About Me - Book Review

2011-09-10T17:14:00.002-05:00

Synopsis: Pop culture and psychobabble tell us to make ourselves the center of the universe in order to be happy. Churches have communicated the false idea that God exists to give us all that we selfishly want. In this book, Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's all about God. It is through this shift in thinking that we can truly live an unburdened, happy life.

Review: I intially selected this little book because I thought it was a new Max Lucado book. Turns out it is a title I was unfamiliar with. Either way, I'm glad I requested it. This book is a great reminder from the title to the last page, that this life is not about us. Our lives are supposed to be about reflecting God's glory. Lucado repeatedly uses Scripture to make his points about how we are supposed to live our lives. We should be like Moses in Exodus 33, asking God to show us His glory. We should want God Himself more than the things of God. Lucado also consistently talks about God's character and characteristics, writing about His strength, His love, and His power. God has all the characteristics (and always has) and chooses to share them with us. According to Lucado (using Scripture as back-up), we as Christians are to reflect God's glory like a mirror. I love this imagery. This idea is so simple yet so profound.

While this book doesn't really reveal any great new theology, it's a great reminder of how we should live our lives. What I like about this book is the way Lucado imparts his wisdom without sounding preachy. When talking about habits/behaviors that prevent us from reflecting God's glory, Lucado uses himself for the examples. Overall I'm glad I requested this little book. I'm going to add it to my bookshelf so I can pull it out and re-read it from time to time.

Thomas Nelson Publishers gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Bloodlines - Book Review

2011-09-05T13:39:00.002-05:00

Note: This book does not come out until September 30th. You can pre-order it at your favorite online bookseller.

This is without a doubt one of the strongest books I've ever read. I'll say upfront that I will be purchasing a copy as soon as it is available! John Piper begins with somewhat of an autobiographical chapter, detailing is younger, racist days. He is very transparent about how he used to speak to and act towards and think about blacks. He openly states that the gospel changed his heart. After that opening, he begins to delve into the gospel and discusses point by point how the gospel message and really the whole of Scripture shatter any notion that one race is superior to the other. Piper repeatedly uses Scripture to draw parallels between how God views us and how we should view others.

While this is a book chock full of Scripture, it isn't just a biblical tome on race. Piper uses the last portion of the book to provide practical advice to people on how to address racism in their lives (and churches) and how to work to end segregation in our churches. Church members everywhere should be able to take Piper's suggestions, combine them with the Scripture presented and develop a plan to fit their church's unique situation.

Because of my situation at work as part of an undoing racism initiative and my current church's entire design, this book resonated with me on many levels. I was convicted of some of my own thought patterns and am prayerfully working through what those mean. I cannot wait until my hard copy comes and I am able to delve deeper into the spiritual truths presented in Bloodlines. If you've ever wondered about race/racism adn how to address it as a Christ-follower, this book will be an excellent tool.

I received a galley proof of Bloodlines from netgalley.com in exchange for my review of this book.

Never the Bride - Book Review

2011-09-01T18:34:00.003-05:00

Synopsis: Since she was just a little girl, Jessie Stone dreamed up hundreds of marriage proposals, doodled the romantic ideas in her journal with her treasured purple pen, and fantasized about wedding dresses and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid nearly a dozen times, waved numerous couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.

But shopping for one key component of these countless proposals hasn't been quite as productive–a future husband. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.

So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that the Almighty has a better plan than one she’s already cooked up in her journals? Can she turn over her pen and trust someone else to craft a love story beyond her wildest dreams?

Review: This book has an interesting storyline to say the least. In some ways it reminds me of "The Shack" with God taking on human form and interacting with Jessie. Even more than a week after finishing it, I'm not 100% sure of my opinion. As a book, it was okay - it was a slow-starting book but I kept with it. There were times that Jessie annoyed the mess out of me and had she been a friend of mine, we would have had words. After a while, the storyline picked up and I got to the point I really wanted to see where the book was going. As a fiction book, it served the purpose I want a book to, it entertained.

From a theological standpoint, I'm much more conflicted. While I know it is fiction, there were some comments God's character made that are completely outside His character. Several times, God appeared to be humored by the distress Jessie was feeling. I just don't see God being amused by the hurt of His children. There were parts of this novel that God used to convict me of some erroneous thought patterns in my own life so it's not all bad. But, like "The Shack", this book needs to be read by more mature Christians who can separate the fictional version of God with the Scriptural version. Overall, it was a decent book but I won't be quick to recommend it to others.

Waterbrook Multnomah gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Promises to Keep - Book Review

2011-08-28T17:17:00.003-05:00

The narrator of this story is nine year-old Roz who has recently moved to town from Minnesota to escape an abusive husband/father. One afternoon, the family finds their home's previous owner, Mrs. Tillie Monroe sitting on the front porch. She still views the house as hers regardless of the fact her sons sold the house and there is a new family living there. Over time, Roz's mom allows Tillie to move in as a housekeeper/nanny and she rightly becomes part of the family and somewhat of a mentor to Roz. Without the adults in her life knowing, Roz is sought out by her father and begins secretly meeting with him. About the same time, Roz makes a friend, Mara, who has secrets of her own about her father. As the story continues, Tillie becomes ingrained in the family and Roz's secret about her father becomes deeper and deeper. The story comes to a dramatic conclusion that I don't want to spoil. If you want the full story, read the book. :-)

This book gets off to a somewhat slow start but at a certain point, I had to keep reading and at one point, I stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish it. Tatlock wove an interesting tale using a nine-year old protagonist but it really worked for the book. There were multiple themes running throughout the book including race, family, lies vs. truth, fear, and friendship. Tillie's wisdom provided the spiritual influence for the book - there was a presence but it wasn't overdone. This book provided a solid, interesting storyline with a great ending. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Bethany House Publishers gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Courting Miss Amsel - Book Review

2011-08-07T17:02:00.002-05:00

Edythe Amsel ahs moved to Walnut Hill, Nebraska to teach in a one-room schoolhouse. She's headstrong and not at all what the townspeople expected when they hired her. Her teaching methods are called into question quite often by the parents of her students. One of those wondering about her methods is Joel Townsend, a local farmer raising his two nephews who just happen to be in Miss Amsel's class. Joel pretty quickly finds himself attracted to Miss Amsel. Unfortunately for him, Miss Amsel's not interested in dating. As the school year progresses, Miss Amsel finds herself wanting to take her students (especially the girls) to hear Susan B. Anthony speak on women's suffrage. The outcry from the town is predictably harsh. Will the townspeople run her out of town? I won't give you any more details so I don't spoil the book. :-)

This is a new author for me but I'm glad I found her work. While the book is a historical romance, it never falls into the sappy, sickenly sweet territory other historical romances can. I also like the fact that the main character isn't portrayed as a weakling in need of a man to save her. Sure, she has her flaws but I found myself wanting her to be successful both as the schoolteacher and in love.

I think the author did a good job crafting an enjoyable story. Once I got into the book, I found myself wanting to keep reading. The story kept moving and kept me interested. This is definitely a book I'm going to share with other people. I'm also happy that I found a new author! Gotta love that bonus...free book and a fun, new author for me.

Bethany House provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Now I Walk On Death Row - Book Review

2011-07-19T20:30:00.003-05:00

I have to say upfront that this is one of the most powerful and thought-provoking books I've read in a good while. Now I Walk on Death Row by Dale Recinella is part autobiography and part indictment on the death penalty. The book opens with the story of Dale's past as a high-powered lawyer who is on top of the world professionally but falling apart personally. His marriage falls apart and his brother confronts him and challenges him to get his life together. He has a conversion experience and begins to study the Word and turn his life around. He spends time studying Scripture and begins to seek his purpose in life.

The question that challenges him the most (and I relate to this challenge) is 'what if Jesus meant what He said?' Recinella is moved to action by this thought and looks for ways to serve within his community. There are arguments with Catholic Church leaders about who is supposed to be concerned with social justice issues.

Eventually, Recinella finds prison chaplaincy as his calling and befriends prisoners over time. As his ministry within the prison continues, he moves to state prison and death row prisoners. He begins to witness executions and begins to question how Christians can support the death penalty. The second half of the book chronicles his experiences with several executions and he highlights the possibility that the state of Florida has executed men who might have been innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted.

This is a powerful book; the writing style allowed me to feel the emotion and the struggle Recinella went through. If you are a staunch proponent of the death penalty, this book will make you think and should lead you to question that position. There were some issues I didn't agree with him on 100% but overall, this is a powerful testimony of how God changes people and gives them a passion for His glory. One of the points that sticks with me the most is the idea Recinella said a couple of times in the book...Jesus said it. You read it. Go do it. Sounds like a great way to live life.

Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Springtime in the Spirit - Book Review

2011-06-17T11:20:00.004-05:00

Springtime in the Spirit by Maureen Lang is part of the Great War series and is set in post-WWI Germany. I wasn't sure what to expect since I'm not a big fan of historical fiction but I came away pleasantly surprised.

Annaliese is a part of the Socialist movement in Germany working to rid herself of the links to the Capitalistic society of her youth. She is surrounded by other like-minded individuals who use her to gain the support of the women of Germany. Christophe, a childhood friend of Annaliese, is sent to the city to try and convince Annaliese to come back to her parents' home. Annaliese though wants no part of her history or of her family. She sees them and their capitalism as the problem with society. As the book progresses, you sense a shift in Annaliese. Her nicely restructured belief system begins to crack and as violent incidents occur throughout the city, she is forced to begin questioning her beliefs. I won't spoil the ending but rest assured, the book ends happily for the main characters.

I will admit this book was a little tough to get into. The story took a bit of developing and that seemed to cause the story to drag a little. But, I stuck with it and was glad I did. The level of intrigue picked up and I had to force myself on several occasions to put the book down and go to sleep. I appreciated that the author allowed Annaliese to question her beliefs in an honest way and even toward the end of the book, she was still questioning God and how He could have allowed things to happen the way they did. You could sense the struggle the character was going through.

I was definitely surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I think if you like history, the book will interest you on multiple levels. It really explores the political maneuverings of that time period but has a sweet story in it as well. I will be looking for the other books in the Great War Series.

Tyndale House provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. No other compensation was provided.

Deeper Into the Word - Book Review

2011-06-17T11:05:00.003-05:00

To continue with this month's theme of new authors, here's another one. Deeper Into the Word was written by Keri Wyatt who is a Bible-study author and speaker. I wasn't really sure what to expect by this book but I was pleasantly surprised. It really functions as a "souped up" New Testament Bible dictionary. Wyatt has taken the most common words in the NT and provided brief commentary or reflections for each word. With me being somewhat of a word nerd especially when it comes to Scripture, I would have liked the posts to be a little more detailed. BUT, having the shorter entries allows for the inclusion of more words. Wyatt has done an extensive amount of research on the words included in the book - I was impressed with the thoroughness of the entries. I will be adding this book to my study shelf to use when studying the New Testament.

Just an FYI, I saw online that an Old Testament version of Deeper Into the Word is due out in November of this year. Based on my experiences with this one, I'm hoping to procure the OT version too!

Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review. No other compensation was provided.

Double Shot - Book Review

2011-06-14T18:14:00.003-05:00

To stay consistent, here's another "new to me" author. Double Shot by Erynn Mangum was sent to me to review and I was thrilled to find this new author. This is the third in the "coffee" series but it is so easy to catch right up with where the story line is. In this book, Maya is engaged to be married and planning the wedding. But of course, the planning can't go off without a hitch. Throw in a new job offer for her, a new job offer for her fiancee (with a move) and a premature nephew and Maya is completely overwhelmed. Without spoiling too much of the storyline, I'll just say everything wrapped up quite nicely.

I really enjoyed this book. I can so relate to Maya and her need for planning and control. I could identify with her doubt and indecision. I liked that Mangum made the difficulties Maya faced seem realistic and not have an easy ending without a struggle. The author used other characters in the book to challenge Maya to trust in the Lord's timing but it never came across as preachy. I like that this is a great "chick lit" book without the nasty language and sex scenes found in other author's work. I will definitely find other work by this author. In fact, I've already downloaded another book in the "coffee" series to my nook.

I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Always True - Book Review

2011-06-04T15:51:00.002-05:00

This was a new author for me (again). Always True by James MacDonald was a little different than most of what I review. Rather than a straight Bible study book or a reference book, this one focuses on a particular topic, the promises of God. I did like the layout - it breaks down five principles on the promises of God: God is always with me, God is always in control, God is always good, God is always watching and God is always victorious. MacDonald works through the theology of each promise, laying out the Scripture references for each promise and embedding the Scripture in each chapter. I did appreciate the Scripture references throughout but several times while reading, I felt like the material presented came across as trite. Don't get me wrong, I believe every bit of it; I'm just not sure how I would have responded if I'd been struggling with something major in my life. I would be interested to see how some friends of mine who are struggling would/will respond.

One thing that concerned me slightly was the section in promise three about God being always good. Some of this section came across as prosperity gospel (ie, if you have faith, God will bless you). It may not have been the author's intention but that's how it came across to me.

Even with my reservations, I would recommend this book with the caveat that it be read while also spending dedicated time in the Scriptures listed and in discussion with another believer.

C Grant and Company provided me with a free copy of this book from Moody Publishing Company in exchange for my honest review.

Beyond Opinion - Book Review

2011-05-30T14:10:00.002-05:00

I've had this book for a LONG time and am just now getting around to posting the review. The time in between receipt and review should in no way imply that I didn't like the book. This is a hard-to-read book but in a good way. It is packed with well researched, well written material but takes a long time to digest completely. I found myself having to stop, re-read and then process what I'd read. I loved that the book is a compilation of writings of other authors including such scholars as Alister McGrath and John Lennox. It is without a doubt an excellent book on apologetics. I like the format Ravi Zacharias used to set the book up, using chapters based on questions from groups of challengers including youth, atheists and Islam. This format allows the reader to read through the entire book or to choose the topic based on a particular interest area. I think it would be especially helpful for those who may be building relationships with particular groups of people and want to further their ability to answer questions relating to theology and the gospel. Make no mistake, this is a hard book to read but it is worth it on so many levels. I can't recommend this book enough for believers who work to share their faith by building relationships with people.

Thomas Nelson Publishers gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Amy Inspired - Book Review

2011-05-29T19:29:00.003-05:00

This may be one of the worst named books out there. Inspired is not the word I would use to describe Amy. Annoying, whiny, or complacent would be better choices but those wouldn't make good book titles. I was just not pleased with this book. I actually got annoyed with the main character and the choices or lack of initiative Amy took throughout the book. She keeps wanting to change things about her life but through most of the book makes no attempts to do so. The end tried to wrap things up but it ended up being too trite and forced. I really attempted to like this book but even though I finished it, I had to force myself to.

I was also left wanting a little more in terms of inspiration for me as the reader. Most books I've reviewed for Christian publishing houses have a little more inspiration in terms of how the characters interact with church, their relationship with God, etc.. It doesn't have to be overt to satisfy me but in this particular novel, it seems forced and doesn't come across as "real."

In short, I was disappointed in the book overall. It is not going in my recommend pile.

Bethany House gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Tandem - Book Review

2011-04-03T17:13:00.002-05:00

I've been putting off this review because I don't really have that much to say. Here goes...

Tandem by Tracey Bateman has been my least favorite book of 2011 so far. This is a new author for me so I tried my hardest to give it my best shot. I even put it down and came back to it to try again. I just couldn't get into it. For one thing, I'm just not into the vampire genre and that's what this book was (unbeknownst to me). I don't have anything against the genre so my review isn't based on that premise, I just didn't "click" with the book. I kept hoping I would get more interested but the characters all seemed somewhat flat and the conversations were stilted. The plot line jumped around a bit and I found myself confused. I don't mind a twisted storyline, I just found this one more confusing that I wanted to put up with.

All in all, I was disappointed but it wasn't so bad that I would never pick up anything of Bateman's ever again. I just didn't click with this novel.

Waterbrook Press provided me with a free copy in exchange for my fair and honest review of this book.

City on Our Knees - Book Review

2011-02-06T21:04:00.002-06:00

I had "City on Our Knees" sitting around for a while as other books got moved to the top of the pile. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. Even as short as it is, there is a lot of power packed into this little book. I've read lots of these "inspirational" books before and come away disappointed. That was not the case here. Toby Mac chose stories of real people and heroes of the faith to illustrate the importance of prayer in our lives. All too often we as Christians cheapen prayer or treat our prayer lives like a cosmic "wish list." Ever since I read this little book, I've been convicted to examine my own prayer life and spend time really focusing on how I'm praying and why I'm praying. There is a particular passage from the chapter on John Hyde (starts on pg. 113) that has stuck with me...questions Hyde asked...I've continued to struggle with these questions.

I wonder if Toby Mac thought about the impact this little book would have on the prayer lives of readers. I know I walked away different. Sure, there are inspirational stories throughout but what I walked away with was the underlying concept that prayer has and will continue to change the world.

Bethany House Publishers provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. No other compensation was provided.

Book Review - Code Triage

2010-12-04T17:17:00.003-06:00

This was a new author for me but one of my favorite genres...medical fiction. I eagerly looked forward to this book. I wasn't disappointed. The main character, Dr. Leigh Stathos works as an ER doc in San Francisco. She is recovering from a broken heart and wants to focus entirely on her work. What complicates her plans are the prescence of her husband, police officer Nick Stathos. Their marriage is in trouble and Leigh is ready to file for divorce but Nick wants to try to work things out. Violence breaks out at the hospital where Leigh works and Nick is right in the middle of the resolution. There is also a "villian" who wants to have Nick for herself and see the breakup of Leigh and Nick's marriage. A subplot of the book is how Leigh negotiates encounters with this woman.

I appreciated the medical background in the book - the cases were authentic and came across as "real". I also appreciated the character flaws the author took time to write into the book. These felt like real characters instead of flat characters in a novel. I alternated being mad at Leigh and Nick and spent the book mad at the "other woman". I think it's the mark of a good book when I react to the characters. All in all, this was a good novel and I plan to look for more books by Candace Calvert.

Tyndale House provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review. I received no additional compensation.

Book Review - Love's First Bloom

2010-12-04T17:10:00.002-06:00

This was a new one for me...historical fiction. I'm not normally a fan of historical fiction, I find them boring. This book was a pleasant surprise. The main character, Ruth Livingston is the daughter of a preacher who spends his time working with prostitutes. During his work, he is accused of and tried for murder of one of the women he worked with. To protect his daughter, he sends her off to live in another town. Enter a newspaperman trying to resurrect his newswriting career. Ruth is determined to keep her secret, Jake is determined to find out if she is the missing daughter.

I won't spoil the rest of the book, but suffice to say, it is a sweet story with characters that are genuinely likeable. The author, Delia Parr, spent time developing both main characters and you came to understand why each react they way they do to the twists and turns in the novel. Being a hopeless romantic, I loved the way Jake worked behind the scenes to protect Ruth.

The ending was a bit contrived but not totally unrealistic. I definitely enjoyed this book and will be looking for more of Delia Parr's work. I'm willing to give more historical fiction a try.

Bethany House Publishers provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review. I received no other compensation.

Book Review...Outlive Your Life

2010-09-10T07:01:00.001-05:00

I was eagerly awaiting this new book from Max Lucado. I was thrilled to see an author with a following like Lucado tackle the issue of the Church’s responsibility to those in poverty. The book opens with several stories to set the pace and then by Chapter 4, Lucado is presenting the Gospel. I was glad to see he took the time to present the Gospel in this book. All too often, authors focus on the issue but forget WHY the issue is important. Without a foundation in the Gospel, addressing poverty just seems like something else on the “to-do” list. When you view poverty the way God does, addressing it becomes a passion. I loved his description in Chapter 7 of the definition of compassion. Compassion means a “kick in the gut.” Lucado hypothesizes that because the emotions poverty stirs up are so difficult, we have problems figuring out what we can do about it. His premise is that we did to get beyond that paralyzing fear and do something.

Throughout the book, Lucado uses Scripture to prove repeatedly that God cares about the poor, the orphan and the widow and that God expects us as believers to care about them too. In combination with biblical presentation, Lucado highlights practical examples of ordinary people using their lives to care for the poor. He also forces a deep examination of our thoughts and preconceived notions of people who aren’t like us. I was convicted on several occasions of how I have viewed someone on the side of the road or standing in line for food stamps. I was challenged to reframe my thoughts and view all people as how God sees them, someone worthy of His attention and MY attention.

This is definitely not a difficult read. In fact, it could easily be read in a few hours. If you are used to Max Lucado’s deep, thought-provoking works, you might be disappointed. However, if you allow yourself to read this book with an open mind and allow the Holy Spirit to work on your life, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised. If everyone who reads it takes it to heart, we could change the world. My only small complaint is that there is not a listing of places or organizations where people could immediately find a place to serve. It would be helpful to give people a game plan to put what they’ve learned into action. All-in-all though, this is a wonderful book! I plan to share my copy widely!

Thomas Nelson Publishers Booksneeze program gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Book Review - Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told

2010-09-09T18:32:00.003-05:00

I was intrigued by the title of this book and any title like that was begging to be read. I was unfamiliar with the author but willing to give it a try. Bradley R.E. Wright, PhD opens his book with his premise that statistics have been used by the media, Christian pastors and others incorrectly to make Christians look bad. He then sets out to examine a variety of topics using his sociological skills to debunk current theories about Christians and their behaviors.

Wright bravely chooses to tackle some of the more common issues facing Christians and the Church as a whole. He delves into Christian behaviors (drinking, sex, giving, etc.) as well as commonly held beliefs regarding Christians such as how Christians are viewed by non-Christians and trends within the Church. Surprisingly, we as Christians aren't as bad off as people would have you believe. Wright's interpretation of the data shows that Christians actually divorce at rates lower than non-Christians, church attendance is holding at similar levels to past generations and non-Christians don't view us as negatively as the media would have you believe.

While Wright's overall premise is very interesting and he thoroughly explains how he arrives at his conclusions, it's a tough book to read. The subject matter is thought-provoking but if you don't have someone to discuss it with (and I didn't), it's a book full of statistics. This was an enjoyable book but I'm not planning to read it again.

Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of this book.

The Last Operative Book Review

2010-08-16T19:35:00.002-05:00

Okay so it was more like a few weeks rather than a few days but here goes...

I received a copy of Jerry Jenkins' book The Last Operative from Tyndale House for me to review. I have to admit, I was a little leary going into this book because I wasn't a fan of the Left Behind series. I'm glad though that I stuck it out and read the book.

The novel opens with a spy waiting to meet his wife for a vacation. Before the first chapter ends, his wife has been killed and Jordan Kirkwood's life is changed forever. He discovers a plot to inflict serious damage to the United States. Kirkwood becomes obsessed with identifying who the threat is and how he can neutralize the threat. Complicating the story is that Jordan has no idea who within his agency he can trust.

I was impressed with the writing style and this book kept me on the edge of my seat. The conversational structure of the book kept it flowing and avoided the choppy "he said/she said" transitions. I finished it very quickly and was disappointed when it ended. I read a lot of spy novels each year (it's one of my favorite genres) and this book was as good as others I've read. All in all, this was a good book and I was pleasantly surprised.

Tyndale House provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Not So Deep Thoughts

2010-07-24T16:29:00.003-05:00

So, I've been in the ATL almost 2 months now and I'm beginning to feel like I'm going to find my way around this silly town after all. I've pretty much learned my way around the Decatur area and just today found another intersection that I wasn't expecting. Fortunately, traffic in my area isn't too bad - slow drivers but those are everywhere. Each morning while listening to the traffic reports on the radio, I am more and more grateful that I chose to live near my workplace.

I sucessfully navigated MARTA earlier in the week as well. Had to go downtown for a meeting and my ED drove. But, she stayed downtown to have lunch with her husband so I took MARTA back to my office. Very easy, the train was surprisingly clean and the audio was understandable. Can't wait to navigate it to other places. I think I'm going to buy two plastic cards - one for me to use regularly and one to have when people come to visit. That way my guest can put $$ on the card and not waste the effort with a paper card. People at work have done that and found it useful. It would be nice if MARTA had better coverage but I'm going to use it when I can. If I worked downtown, I'd use it every dadgum day.

I am trying a new church tomorrow. It's a branch of Grace Fellowship that I visited two weeks ago. I really liked Grace Fellowship so if the midtown branch is a bust, I can always go back. This one just seems like a younger crowd and is a little closer to home. I'm just excited about the possibility of meeting people my own age who have a similar worldview. My coworkers are great people who believe in what we're doing but our worldviews don't exactly match. :-)

Book review should come tomorrow or the next day...

Thoughts on PCC

2010-06-29T07:58:00.003-05:00

So, last Sunday evening I drove myself over to Greater Atlanta Christian School for the service of Passion City Church. I was excited and a little nervous about what the experience would be like. I enjoy Louie Giglio's talks and love Chris Tomlin so I didn't want to be disappointed. Right now, PCC is meeting in various locations around ATL until their facilities are renovated. GACS has a nice gym facility they are letting PCC rent. So, that was the environment for Sunday night's service. Because of the large numbers of people fighting to get into the parking lot, the service started about 20 minutes late. The musical worship was incredible, though a bit like a concert. Not Tomlin's fault by any stretch of the imagination, just the result of 2000 people in a gym praising the Lord. :-) I've since discovered that one of the songs we were singing that was new to me was straight out of II Corinthians. I want to find the song again because it was a really cool song.

Louie's message was out of Psalm 121. While it was a great message, it wasn't exactly the "meaty" message I'm used to. There was nothing wrong with it and there were parts that really touched my heart but there just wasn't the depth I've grown accustomed to with David Platt's teaching. Again, not Louie's fault that I've been exposed to a level of preaching few others can attain to. :-)

All that being said, I wasn't exactly disappointed, I just wasn't overly thrilled. As I told a friend Sunday night on the way home, I can't put my finger exactly on why I am unsettled, I just know I am. Since PCC doesn't meet this coming weekend (another problem in my book), I've decided to try out another place here in town. I'll keep you posted on that one.

Please understand, I am NOT slamming PCC - it is a great ministry and will reach many people in this city and around the world. It just isn't what I'm looking for.

Book Review - The Hole in Our Gospel

2010-06-25T17:26:00.003-05:00

I've been meaning to write this review for a few weeks now...I finished Richard Stearns The Hole in Our Gospel and can easily say it is one of the most powerful, thought-provoking books I've read recently. Stearns is the current head of World Vision, a child sponsorship organization known worldwide for their work with children in poverty and disaster. I had heard great things about this book so I was worried it wouldn't live up to my expectations. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.

The book opens with Stearns outlining how he came to be the head of World Vision. Needless to say, heading up a large faith-based organization wasn't on his list of "must have" jobs. He resisted and resisted God's call until it became so obvious he couldn't deny it. Stearns gave up an incredibly lucrative position in the secular world, uprooted his family and moved across the country to follow God's call.

The remainder of the book - really the bulk of the book - is Stearns making the case through Scripture that we are called to help the poor. Through personal stories and experiences, Stearns provides a sometimes heartbreaking look at the realities of poverty in much of the world. He very pointedly takes the western Church to task about our lack of concern for people we cannot see on a daily basis.

One thing I really appreciate in this book that is sometimes lacking in other venues is that Stearns provides multiple options on how Christians can get involved in working with the poor. He also doesn't advocate only his organization - he provides tips and encouragement on how ANYONE can get involved.

Bottom line, this was a wonderful book that I would highly recommend to anyone.

Thomas Nelson publishers provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Fully moved in...sort of

2010-06-13T16:18:00.002-05:00

I finished the last of the "moving in" stuff this weekend. I wanted to wash both my comforters before putting them on my beds so I hauled them in to the local laundromat today. That was an interesting experience to say the least. But, got that done and I am more thankful than ever for my washer and dryer! Can't imagine the weekly expense of the laundromat or the hassle of hauling laundry in and out each week.

I also got the second bedroom cleaned out and partially organized. I still have some additional sorting to do but that can happen over time. I also got my smaller pictures hung so the apartment really feels like home. I feel a true sense of accomplishment this evening.

Had an interesting experience yesterday. I needed to go get my GA drivers license so I headed out to the Decatur branch of the Georgia Department of Drivers' Services. The mall this branch is located in is somewhat sketchy to say the least. Lots of closed storefronts and the other stores were ones I hadn't ever heard of (outside of Macy's). I wanted to get in and out quickly. Well, the crowd in front of me put an end to those thoughts. There were at least 50 people ahead of me in line. But, surprisingly, the system worked rather well. It called people by assigned number so there was no line cutting to be had. From entrance to new license only took about an hour so I was pleasantly surprised. My picture makes me look like a criminal but oh well, no one looks good in their DMV photo. :-)

After the license was obtained, I headed to try and find a new Publix. Found one that appears to be closer to my apt. than the one I tried last week. Still had my coupons scrutinized but I'm beginning to think that's a Decatur-area Publix thing. As long as they continue to take my coupons, I don't really give a flyin' flip how long they scrutinize them. I know Publix's coupon policy so I'm prepared to argue for my savings if I have to. :-)

All-in-all, it was a good week. I have lots of meetings (mostly by phone) this week and then heading home to Macon for Father's Day and Sarah's birthday. Get to spend some extended time with Sarah to give my mom a break from taking care of the patient. Sarah had surgery this week on her knee so she still needs a little help getting around and handling Barney. It'll be nice to spend some one-on-one sister time.

The only thing I haven't found is a new church to visit. There are literally hundreds of churches in the area but so many of them are traditional churches and so far, I just haven't seen one close to me (within a 30 minute drive) that seem like a "good fit." I'm still praying God will show me the place. Passion City Church meets June 27th so I have that one on my calendar. We shall see.

First Week In Review

2010-06-06T14:32:00.004-05:00

So, I've officially finished my first week in my new city. It was really a smooth transition into my new job, new home and new city, other than locking the cat in the linen closet by accident of course. (That's another post for another day.)

Tuesday was my official first day of work and like any good organization, Tuesdays are for staff meeting. There was major food at this meeting. I'm not sure if this is the normal approach to staff meetings but I like it! Apparently there is a major approach underway to radically alter the make-up of the board of directors for my organization. So, most of the meeting was spent trying to figure out ways to circumvent this attempted coup de tat and make plans for the major board meeting and vote scheduled to take place on Monday. This office also does secret pals and this past Tuesday was their "reveal." Each of them had presents for their secret pal and to make sure I didn't feel left out, they got me a Starbucks gift card. Major score!

The rest of the week was pretty mundane. Get up, go to work, work hard all day trying to make heads or tails of my project, go home, crash and then repeat the next day. Friday night after work, I decided to change it up a bit. I got directions and headed out to Buckhead to find Lenox Mall. Well, I missed Lenox but ended up at Phipps. Same difference since the store I wanted was in both places. Phipps is one nice place. I plan to go back and explore the stores at both Phipps and Lennox...Nordstrom, Filene's Basement, Williams-Sonoma and more. My GPS lady and I managed to find our way home quite nicely.

Yesterday I slept in and then headed out to run errands. I am thoroughly enjoying having more than one grocery store. I have a whole new appreciation for southernsavers.com now that I have Kroger and Publix close by. Ran to Kroger yesterday morning for those staples they had on sale. Brought those home and headed back out to one of my favorite stores on earth...IKEA. If you've never been, plan a trip to visit me and we'll go. I had a list of things I wanted to find and outside of a replacement CD tower, they didn't disappoint. I also came home with an additional item, a set of recycling bags to use at my local recycling place (more on that in a bit). After IKEA, I headed to my local Target. It's in a place kind of like Patton Creek (for those Bham people) only more crowded and not as well laid out. Have to try and find a different Target. This one is too crowded and the in/out system is NUTS. After Target, I headed to what Publix.com says is my local Publix. Have to find a different Publix. This one is small and horribly laid out. I had only a few items but the cashier insisted on scrutinizing each coupon I had. You'd have thought the money was coming directly from her paycheck. Then, the bagger used one of my cloth bags put started putting other stuff in plastic. I was thinking, um...I brought canvas bags and I expect you to USE them. I made him take the stuff out of the plastic bags and put it in canvas. To me, it's not an environmental thing, it's an ease of getting everything into the apartment thing. Canvas is better for that hands-down.

Today brought another first. Dekalb County, the county where I live has a well-known international farmers' market. It is 144,000 square feet of fruits, veggies, spices, crackers, cookies, breads, meats, seafood, cheese, etc. They had fruits and veggies from all over the world some of which I'd never even heard of. They even have pure sugar cane still in the stalks. Can't get much fresher than that! There is a large section of spices from all over and packaged much like a co-op would do it. VERY large section of organic grains and regular grains. I wandered through their bakery area to see what they offer and decided to check out their wares by bringing home some chocolate cream cheese croissants and a half a loaf of raisin bread. I figure it's pretty hard to screw up chocolate and cream cheese. :-) They also have a huge cheese selection, again with varieties I've never heard of. I got a small block of colby and monterey jack to try and it is delicious. Definitely better than anything I've had from a grocery or specialty store. If you like fresh fruits, veggies, etc. come visit and we'll make a trip over.

The farmers' market is also the site for local recycling. They take newspapers, plastic, steel cans, glass, phone books, etc. It is incredibly convenient and I can't wait to make use of it!

All-in-all, I've had a great first week. Still haven't found churches to visit but I'm still searching. Passion City Church doesn't meet again until 6/27 so I'm having to wait on that one. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery would be greatly appreciated.

Til next time...

The Big Move

2010-05-31T16:15:00.002-05:00

Well, I did it. I am completely moved in to my new place. There is only one box left packed that isn't staying packed and it has scrapbooking stuff in it that will stay where it is until I have time to sort. I am amazed at how quickly the move went. My moving company, New Latitude, did an amazing job! The driver called me at 7:00 Friday morning asking if they could come early. I said "heck yeah! We'll see you when you get here." They got the truck loaded in less than 2 hours and about an hour after that we were on the road. The two of them got everything unloaded in about 2 hours again. Mom and I then were able to get our cars unloaded and everything inside. Then it started raining. Praise the Lord everything was already inside and dry. We spent part of the evening unpacking some boxes but pretty much crashed.

Saturday dawned and we were up and at it pretty quickly. We were focused on the kitchen primarily to get everything unpacked, washed and put away. I swear the kitchen gadgets were multiplying! After the kitchen, I moved into the bedroom and put away all my clothes and rearranged my closet. We ended Saturday pretty early too so we could rest. But, the kitchen was pretty much settled as was the bedroom. Progress was being made!!

Sunday we focused on linens and books. Right now the linens are where they belong and the books are on bookshelves but that's about it. The books will probably move from room to room for a while until I decide where I want them to live. One thing I do know; the textbooks will be staying in the office/spare bedroom. Don't want those things visible everyday! :-) Dad and Sarah came up Sunday afternoon to see the place. Daddy also helped get the washer leak repaired and reattached the dryer hose. He also helped me hang my bigger pictures. Love having a daddy who can take care of those things for me. Last evening the family and I went into downtown Decatur and went to Ted's Montana Grill to have some bison for dinner (yummy!). That trip would have been easier without an arts festival blocking the only way I knew how to get to Ted's. Grrr!

Today I've gotten the last of things put away and my bathroom organized. Mom was able to leave at noon. I look around at this apartment and I am amazed that I just moved in last Friday. I am so thankful for the friends who helped me pack and the mom that helped me finish packing and then unpacking. I could not have completed this move and retained my sanity without you!!

Tomorrow starts the new job. I imagine there will be all sorts of stories/posts coming from that adventure.

Book Review - Shattered

2010-05-19T21:30:00.002-05:00

Finished my latest book last night and I can honestly say it was very different than what I expected. Autobiography/memoirs are not really my cup of tea but since this one was written by a former baseball player and I'm a huge baseball fan, I figured why not? I'm glad I took the chance. Frank Pastore has written a compact book that impressed me with his open, honest assessment of his life growing up, his baseball history and his conversion and life since his conversion.

Pastore came from a tough childhood, no doubt about it. He chronicled a distant relationship with his dad, his mom's uncaring, reckless parenting and his athiest approach at life. Baseball was his way out and he made the most of it, working hard and chasing his dream. His stories of his antics in the minors and life as a professional baseball player gave me a little more insight into how difficult a time young baseball players (especially 30 years ago) could have.

I think though, what most impressed me about his story was his honest assessment of his life coming to faith in Christ and his life post-conversion. He doesn't sugar-coat the issues he's faced - a spouse who didn't understand fully the change in his life, being "overly eager" to share with friends and relatives and the ups and downs life brings. Pastore honestly and openly talks of time spent in counseling, hurtful experiences at the hands of Christian men he looked up to and struggles with his mom's death. He wrapped the book up with a nice chapter or two detailing how God has worked in his life and how he is now doing what he knows God called him to do.

The only negative I have about the book is that there are several paragraphs interspersed throughout the book that really don't fit. They are great stories and anecdotes but don't fit the chapter they're in. Almost made me wonder how the editor missed them. Just kind of weird in my opinion. That being said, this was a good read and I'm glad to have had the opportunity.

Now for the legal stuff...to comply with Federal Trade Commission rules, I must tell you Tyndale House provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of this book.

Book Review

2010-04-19T21:13:00.002-05:00

I got Max Lucado's You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be in the mail from Thomas Nelson. It's a small little book, perfect to give as a gift to someone graduating from high school or someone who needs a little self-esteem pick-me-up. Lucado uses excerpts from one of his other books (Cure for the Common Life) to comprise this book. It is a great summary of the unique qualities God gave each of us and how we are to use those qualities in His kingdom. He reminds the reader several times that God gave each of us skills, talents and passions and He expects us to use them. I think it's a great little book to help young people trying to figure out who they are in the world. I think a lot of times we get caught up in trying to be who our parents or teachers or friends want us to be and miss using our God-given gifts to be who God wants us to be. This book was a neat little reminder to stop and remember that what we do is supposed to be for Him, not someone else.

While this is a great little book for graduates, it's not overly helpful for those of us past high school or college. As a 30-something adult, it came across as a little cheesy. But, I had the good fortune to learn many of the lessons in this book years ago. If you know people struggling with who they are or whose they are, this book could be helpful.

I am a member of Thomas Nelson Publishers Booksneeze program. As such, Thomas Nelson provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review of the book.

One of Those Days...

2010-04-10T21:50:00.002-05:00

Ever have one of those days? No, not that kind; a pefectly good day. Today was one of those for me. I was able to sleep late, lounge around and generally do just what I wanted to do. I managed to find and save a few jobs to apply for off usajobs.gov and the APHA career site and re-did my resume on their site. Input from a friend of my parents was especially helpful.

I also managed to plan my meals for the week and cook some meat for the upcoming week. I have some chicken and fish to cook up tomorrow afternoon but the plans are made. I am trying to eat healthier meals and eat at home as opposed to opting for the easy (but really expensive) option of eating out. I'm also trying to get out of my dissertation rut of eating sandwiches instead of real meals.

I think what made the day so relaxing is that I could watch TV and read without feeling guilty about it. I watched some episodes of 24 and NCIS this afternoon and spent part of the evening reading two fascinating books: Forgotten God by Francis Chan and Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Fascinating for entirely different reasons but fascinating nonetheless. The one by Chan is on the Holy Spirit and the one by Kidder is a biography of Paul Farmer. Expect book reviews of both when I finish.

I just realized I have really, really eclectic tastes. Or weird tastes, take your pick. :-) I am currently reading four books that are wildly different and am enjoying every one of them. I know some people wonder how you can read four at one time and usually I don't. But, these four are so different I can manage. I actually think I am going to curl up in bed with the Braves game on low and go back to reading.

A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Book Review

2010-04-07T17:49:00.004-05:00

So, I have gotten through my latest Thomas Nelson book "Chronological Guide to the Bible." I was excited about getting this one because I'm a Bible-geek. While I am impressed with the overall layout of the book and think it will be a useful tool, it is a somewhat difficult read. A lot of the introductory material is stilted in some of its language and I found myself having to re-read paragraphs to fully grasp their meaning. I did appreciate how the authors laid out the argument about what books were included in the canon and which were not and how the order came to be.

One thing I did like is the introductions for each Epoch and the answers to historical questions that are embedded throughout the book. The examples of how biblical history lines up with secular history are also interesting. The maps, graphs, charts, etc. throughout the book also add to its appeal.

I do question a couple of things regarding the book. First and foremost, any other chronological guide I've ever seen moves Job. That's part of what makes it chronological. This guide doesn't really do that. I'm not sure if the authors want to be different or what but their reasoning doesn't make full sense. Secondly, it would be nice to see the whole guide listed out somewhere that you could use as a reference. It's broken up by Epochs and some are only one line long. You could easily miss them.

The biggest hang-up for me was the price of this book. It is a pretty book full of glossy pictures but I would balk at paying $25 for a paperback study guide especially if I was buying the Chronological Study Bible at the same time. While it's a nice book and a good reference piece, it's not a must-have for me.

Frustrated...

2010-04-06T20:49:00.002-05:00

So I'm looking all over the internet for job possibilities and am coming up pretty empty. I know there is a position out there and God is teaching me patience and reliance on His provision and timing but man I so want to find a job in my field and find it quickly.

He birthed in me a passion for moms and children. Heck I've known since I was eight I wanted to work with them - the job focus has changed but never the age range. Don't mind men or older people, they just aren't the group God gave me a passion for. Why is finding positions to apply for so difficult? It isn't even finding a job per se that's difficult, I'm not even seeing jobs to apply for. I know what I would love to do but there aren't really positions built around that either. Guess I'm proof the whole "name it and claim it" idea is a big stinkin' pile of crapola! :-)

I so want to just blindly trust that God will work something out but it's hard to say it and mean it. I know deep down that God will provide but my flesh wants it now. I'm sitting here typing this post while crying, partly out of frustration at the lack of positions and partly out of a lack of trust in my Provider and frustration at myself for that lack of trust. He's shown Himself over and over and over as provider. Why do I so easily doubt His provision in this instance? Why can't I just rest in His promises?

Saturday Meandering Thoughts

2010-04-03T21:23:00.003-05:00

I'm very tired tonight so I can't promise this won't ramble. Why is it that short weeks always seem so long? I guess it's because there is always a week's worth of work but fewer days to get it accomplished in. This week was a classic example of that. I had Monday and Tuesday off and spent it in the North GA mountains with the family. So relaxing but since this was Easter week, there were many things to get accomplished at Brook Hills this week. Since there was a wedding at BH today, we couldn't set the lobby until today. At 5:30. Took until after 7:00 to get everything done that needed to get done. But, it's all ready to go and tomorrow should be a great day of Worship, celebrating our risen King.

Speaking of Easter, this is one of my favorite times of year. Beautiful weather for the most part, no need for heat or air, sandals come out of hiding, blooming trees, etc. And, it's my favorite sports time of year. NCAA tournament closely followed by the opening of major league baseball. I love the underdog stories of March Madness (Butler anyone) and the new promise of a brand-new baseball season. Hopefully the Braves can put something together this season.

I am enjoying my time to myself. I am reading a variety of books which should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. I may start putting some random book reviews on here since I read pretty prolifically and like to share my opinions. I am working my way through the Harry Potter series right now. I am currently in book two and these are books that I would have loved when I was younger. They are good to me as an adult and they are the type of book I liked as a kid, lots of imagery, lots of imagination and twists and turns until the end. I am staying out of the controversy around them.

I think that's enough meandering for now. I am hoping to post a little more often now that my nights are not taken up with dissertation work. I'll keep updating about the job search and other things that stir my interest.

It's Been a While...

2010-04-02T12:09:00.003-05:00

but, I have a good excuse. I have finished my doctorate and am officially "Dr.". Of course, the only ones who use the title are my parents and sister. I've always thought it a bit pretentious to use a title all the time so I doubt I'll use it much. But, it is a huge accomplishment that I could not have done without my family's support. Now, the "fun" part...finding a job in my field. I have a couple of possibilities, it's just a matter of waiting and seeing how God will provide. Until then, I'm trusting in His divine provision.

I am filling my time reading a bunch and watching episodes of 24. I never watched it when it began because I was travelling a lot with my job and DVR's weren't commonplace. I can see why it was such a compelling show. It's easy to get hooked in and waste hours and hours watching. In fact, that's my plan for tomorrow until the final four games start (Go Butler!!).

I'm off to finish working and then off to reading.

Healing Sands Book Review

2010-02-20T16:11:00.003-06:00

I finally finished my latest BookSneeze book review, Healing Sands by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn. It was different than what I usually read and took a little bit of time getting into. The book starts very slowly and it took getting to about halfway through before the action picked up and I really wanted to keep reading. But, the twists and turns in the novel made it worth the perseverance. I liked the character development the authors gave to the main female character, Ryan Coe but I would have liked more back story. There's a lot more to this character and I feel like things were brought out but not explored. I was left wanting to know more. Same with Dr. Crisp, the main male lead. However, there are two previous books I haven't read so the backstory could be in those.

While it did start slow, the book redeemed itself and in the end was a very entertaining read. There were enough twists and turns, some I didn't see coming, that made it worth the time invested. I actually want to find the two earlier books. I also hope the authors are continuing to write. A monumental event happens at the end and I want to learn how he's going to deal with it. All in all, this was a good read and I plan to share it with several people in my life.

Questions

2010-01-29T19:24:00.003-06:00

My heart is so heavy tonight and I'll admit freely that I am questioning the sovereignty of God. I know He is all-knowing and is working everything for the good of those who love Him but man, it's hard to trust that tonight. I have been praying earnestly for a while now for a friend of mine who was fighting for custody of her children in another state. She had the stronger case and by all accounts, her children should be on their way home to her in AL. Instead, a judge ruled against her today. She was in the right all the way and had experts on her side; her son desperately needs care he can get more efficiently here. I can't remember a time I have prayed more on behalf of someone else and not seen the situation resolved positively. It just seems like the ex is being rewarded for bad behavior. Right now, other than peace for my friend, I'm not sure how to pray. I just don't get it.

Retraction/Correction and Good News from Haiti

2010-01-17T22:23:00.002-06:00

I always want my blog to be a place of truth and as such, I need to make a correction to yesterday's post. After talking to mom today, I understand that I should not have taken Limbaugh to task yesterday for saying people shouldn't give. According to Rush, he DID NOT say that, his words were misconstrued (is anyone surprised the media would misquote Rush?) and he was not saying people shouldn't give. In this instance, I am glad I was wrong and I'm glad I can come back on and correct that. Still don't think it's a time to pick sides but that's beside the point.

Now for the good news: according to Compassion International founder Wess Stafford (who's also one of the coolest guys around), Dan Wooley, the Compassion staff member who was trapped and rescued from the Hotel Montana rubble was able to lead the bellhop he was communicating with to Christ while they were trapped. Praise the Lord!! God WILL use extreme devastation to prove His glory! More good news, again according to Compassion. They are still hearing sounds in the hotel wreckage and Dan's videographer had protein bars and water with him. Please continue to pray that David can be found alive and continue to pray for the workers who are struggling to meet the overwhelming need in Haiti. This is an impossible situation to comprehend but we serve an awesome God who is in the miracle business. He WILL be glorified in this situation.

Haiti Thoughts

2010-01-15T17:54:00.002-06:00

My heart is still aching for the nation of Haiti. Before the earthquake, Haiti was in a sad state of affairs. They are an impoverished nation with a governmental structure that leaves little chance for meaningful change with a heart-change from the top down. BUT, that in NO WAY justifies the comments of Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson. Both have made statements in the last few days that are just downright stupid and insensitive. Now I'm not usually one that jumps on the insensitive bandwagon but in Robertson's case especially, the comments got under my skin.

Pat Robertson is supposed to be an example for Christians. How are statements saying the Haitians deserved the earthquake as God's punishment for a deal with the devil certain Haitians supposedly made years ago? Seriously?! When did God decided to explain his sovereign will to Pat Robertson? Throughout Scripture we are reminded that suffering will happen in this world but our job as Christians is to minister to the "least of these" as Christ would. I don't remember Christ using a litmus test to decide who was worthy of His help. He offered help and forgiveness to all who asked. How are the Haitians to know of Christ's love if we don't go and share while meeting needs? Aren't we supposed to be the hands and feet of Christ? Guess Pat's momma didn't teach him the phrase "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." What was the point of his comments anyway? Why not pray for the people of Haiti, pray for the rescuers, pray for the parents in the US waiting desperately for adoptions from Haiti? He has a HUGE platform, use it to send out a call for prayer.

Then comes Rush Limbaugh. He of course is using this to jump on Obama claiming Obama is using this to look compassionate and play to minorities? Seriously Rush?! Now I can't stand Obama and think his administration is bad for America but ANY president in his position would be doing the same darn thing. Remember the tsunami? George Bush handled that one. And then he went off saying we shouldn't donate to Haiti because we already give our tax dollars to them. So much for compassionate conservatism.

Sadly, all these two have done is hurt their respective causes. Robertson unfortunately is viewed as a spokesman for Christianity by the media. His asinine comments allowed all Christians to be painted with a somewhat broad brush. Fortunately, some news outlets were interviewing others like Franklin Graham and got vastly different responses. Unfortunately, everyone won't hear those other responses. And Limbaugh just hurts the conservative movement when he opens his blow-hole and starts talking like he did earlier this week. Stick to debating the political topics and leave disaster response to the professionals.

Sorry for the vent, I'd just had my fill of stupid people. I keep being reminded of the Mark Twain quote "better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Maybe someone should embroider that on two pillows and express ship them to Robertson and Limbaugh.

Snow?

2010-01-07T17:21:00.007-06:00

Here are my pictures from the snow today:

If you look really closely and use your imagination, you can see the snowman I spent all day making.

Deep Thoughts

2010-01-04T18:01:00.003-06:00

Well maybe not so deep but interesting to me and maybe to someone else so I'll share.

Today was officially Day 1 of the Radical Experiment read through the Bible portion. Today's passage was Gen. 1 and 2. Now I've read the creation story probably hundreds of times but I've never noticed a particular section of Gen. 1, verses 11 and 12. In it, Moses is outlining the creation of the plants. And he was specific about seed bearing plants. He didn't just say plants, he said seed-bearing and he said it a couple of times. It struck me this morning that this little piece of Scripture is so evident of God and His providence. He KNEW reproduction of plants would be necessary and animals to eat those plants hadn't been created yet. God foreknew and His plan built reproduction into the creation plans. How awesome is it that the God we serve cared enough about His creation that He made those plans ahead of time? And I forget time and time again that the same God who took care of plant reproduction before it was necessary cares more for me! Lord, forgive my unbelief.

Then later I found a quote in a new devotional book I'm reading (thanks Mom!). It said we cannot fool God by going through the motions of giving. That really hit me. There have been lots of times I've given God less than my best or begrudingly gave my tithe or didn't give at all because I needed the money more. Talk about conviction. I think this whole concept applies to way more than just monetary giving though. How often have I given less than my best at work or at school or in a friend relationship. I was too tired, the task was beneath me, etc., etc., etc. God doesn't want our excuses - He wants our best. Sure we'll fail but our goal should always be our best because ultimately what we do is supposed to be for His glory.

To top all that off, I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Now, if you don't want to be convicted, leave this book off your reading list. But, if you want to be blown away by how awesome our Creator is, go to Amazon, buy it (or download it on iTunes), and begin reading. Just be warned, it is slow going. Not slow like Tozer where every sentence is heavy and hard to understand, just slow because you'll want to ruminate over passages. This afternoon's 3.5 pages (seriously, only 3.5) were no exception. Look up Phil 4:4. Go ahead, I'll wait...it's a command to rejoice in the Lord always - it's a command - not a suggestion. Then verse 6, do not be anxious about anything. What Chan says next is what really got me thinking..."when I am consumed by my problems - stressed out about my life, my family and my job - I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice." Oops, Houston, we have a problem...

Then Chan goes on to say that worry implies we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives and stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control. He finishes out the section reminding the reader that the story isn't about us at all, God is the center of the story. This is really a hard concept for me to wrap my head around because I am an A #1 control-freak. I freely admit that I fall short all the time in letting go and letting God. When I put that passage together with the creation story from this morning, I can't help but marvel at God. In His sovereignty, He knew I needed to hear a reminder about His providence and His being in control and He gave it to me today in two totally different ways. Taken alone, each are amazing displays of God's unique position in my life. Taken together, they are seen as absolute writing in the sky that He is reminding me he's got everything under control.

Reminds me of a cheesy quote that is quite appropriate...I don't know what tomorrow may hold but I know who holds tomorrow.

2009 in Review and Looking Forward

2009-12-31T10:19:00.003-06:00

2009 has been an interesting year. I've grown a lot personally and spiritually. I've seen new places, met new people and experienced things words can't adequately describe.

I made a commitment at the close of 2008 to spend 2009 reading through the entire Bible. As of this morning, I finished. It's been an amazing process to see God's sovereign hand throughout Scripture. From the first of creation to His promised return, He is supreme! It is amazing to see how He brought the Israelites (sometimes kicking and screaming) to the exact place He wanted them to be. Regardless of their disobedience, He never left them without a plan of redemption. I think it is incredibly thought-provoking to see how He still guides us, His fallen people in the same manner. While we don't have the burning bushes of Genesis, He does still provide us with people like the prophets who help guide us back to the path of righteousness when we wander off to try and make it on our own.

God also guided me to my life verses early in 2009. Psalm 62:5-8 speak to me in such a strong, powerful way. "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." These verses just speak to me where I am right now. He and He alone is my refuge, I can find rest in Him. What power lies in those verses...He knows the future, He knows where my next job is, He knows the deepest desires of my heart. I don't have to worry or struggle. Not easy by any stretch but powerful nonetheless.
(I also have the benefit that Aaron Keyes put it to music so I can sing my life verses too. :-))

Summer brought probably the biggest stretching experience of my life. I got on a plane and spent 15.5 hours in it flying to South Africa. Me, the person who doesn't like flying and hates not being in control, willingly got on a plane for that long. I had an amazing time seeing God move in powerful ways in the slums of South Africa. I saw poverty like I've never seen before but saw a joy in people's hearts that I haven't experienced often in the US. I actually hope to go back to Africa at some point - there is so much work to be done there and I want to be a part of it at least on a small scale.

God also taught me a lot about His provision. I had numerous monetary needs pop up throughout 2009 from routine bills to trips to medical expenses and through God's sovereign hand, the money was always there. I had tutoring jobs come up, my department "found" money to pay a small stipend through the summer, a training session came up, and a Christmas bonus came along. God is good!!

Looking forward, I am excited about 2010. My church is embarking on the Radical Experiment as a faith family. We will all read through the Bible (chronologically this time), hear David preach through the Bible from start to finish (bonus!!), we will be saving together as a church and as individuals, praying for the whole world and focus on spending at least 2% of our time in another context spreading the Gospel. I can't wait to see who God will change us as individuals and as a faith family. I'm praying revival will break out in Birmingham and around the world as a result of our prayers. May God be glorified in what we do!!

I'm also excited about a few spreadsheets I'm using in 2010. One will simply keep track of my savings when buying groceries, household items, etc. Another will keep track of my spending. This one should help me eliminate wasteful spending. Having to write it all down leads to accountability. Hopefully I can use these two together and at the end of each quarter, can use the savings and cutbacks in spending
to make donations to organizations like Compassion International.

The final spreadsheet will just simply be for my interest and I may use it for blog posts here and there. I've decided to keep track of the books I read this year. I am a voracious reader who usually has two or three books going at a time. Someone once asked me how many books I read in a year and I honestly didn't know. So, for 2010, I'm going to keep track and I'll probably review a few on here every now and then.

Most excitedly for 2010, I am finishing my dissertation. This will hopefully happen in the early part of 2010. Woo-hoo!!!

That's all for now. I'm off to work on that dissertation so I can spend tomorrow watching football!

What I Want for Christmas

2009-12-05T20:35:00.003-06:00

Had one more thought to share...I have an unadopted Compassion child that desperately needs a sponsor family. Her name is Julia; she is 7 and lives in Guatemala. Sponsorship through Compassion costs $38/month and provides life-changing care for Julia and other children like her. We spend more than $38 a month eating out. Compassion makes their money go as far as humanly possible and is completely above-board as charities go.

If you are interested in sponsoring Julia, please let me know and I'll get you her info.

Life Update

2009-12-05T20:11:00.002-06:00

It's been a while. Life has been very busy and I haven't had time to do much more than work, work on my dissertation and keep my apartment from becoming a health hazard. There have been several times I've been ready to update and something popped up to prevent it.

I am around 2 months or so from being finished with a seven-year journey. That thought still seems surreal. I have submitted a draft of my dissertation and gotten feedback. Mom read it to in order to check for "what were you thinking" mistakes and I've got hear feedback as well. I'll submit another draft in two weeks and then we'll meet as a committee on 1/5/10 to go over that draft and set a date for the final defense. Wow, can't believe I'm to that point.

It finally feels like Christmas around Birmingham. We even had snow this morning. Now it wasn't anything worth writing home about but it's WAY early in the season for us to have even threats of snow. Hopefully this won't be the last snow appearance of the year.

I spent today cleaning like a mad woman. I have felt for the last few weeks that my apartment was closing in on me. There was so much paper around, I felt like a library threw up. I also wanted to clean out some "stuff" that has just been laying around collecting dust. I'm trying to simplify, thin out my stuff and avoid buying more stuff. I want a cleaner apartment but I also want to respond in obedience to God's call to share with those less fortunate than I am. My stuff could benefit someone else so I'm giving it up. There will be more to come because I didn't finish the kitchen or some of the living room.

My plan for 2010 is to evaluate every purchase except those that are absolute emergencies or are necessary for staying healthy. I've really started trying to remember to ask myself "how many children could this money feed?" Asking that has helped me decide on some nights to come home and have a sandwich instead of taking the easy, eat-out option. David Platt encouraged us all to develop a "Radical Experiment" plan for our lives. This is the first part of mine. I know God is going to do radical things with the money and time Brook Hillians sacrifice for His glory in 2010. Can't wait to see it!!

Off to buy chickens and such for Christmas presents...

Learning To Be Content

2009-10-27T20:08:00.003-05:00

I've been ruminating on this post for a few weeks now but I think I have down what I want to say...

I am constantly amazed at the way the Father teaches me and reveals Himself to me. I found a new verse in my quiet time that I'd read probably dozens of times in the past but never really thought about. Look up Phil. 4:11. Now, we're all familiar with Phil. 4:13 but I'd skipped right over verse 11. Paul writes that he's learned to be content in whatever circumstances he's in. Catch that phrasing - LEARNED to be content. It's not something that magically happened, God didn't grant him contentment after he'd been thrown in jail for the upteenth time. Paul learned it. God brought him into circumstances where he had the opportunity to learn to be content. Paul goes on in verse 12 to say he knows how to live in humble means, in prosperity, being filled and going hungry, and in having abundance and suffering need.

I've been thinking about how this applies to me. I can honestly say I've never had to go hungry out of necessity and I've never really been in need. For goodness sake, when picking out shoes today, it was a multiple-choice test. I have more than enough to make ends meet each month. Sure, more would be nice but what would I really do with it? I honestly think God is using this time to show me that He is my provider and I need to be content and trust in His timing. This doesn't mean I can be complacent and not follow His commands but my attitude should be one of thankfulness not worry or complaining. I think back to South Africa and the complete poverty I saw. But I also saw joy and contentment.

I think the concept of learning to be content also applies to my personal life. As a single woman who desires to be a wife and mother, I know discontent. But, Phil. 4:11 doesn't say content whenever you feel like it. It says in whatever circumstances. That means that right now, God has me single for a reason and I need to be content with that. And I think I am. Sure, I have my moments but I'm praying God will bring this verse to mind in those moments and I'll focus on the positives about being single.

Book Review - Kabul 24

2009-10-17T17:13:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, I finished reading the book Kabul 24 by Henry O. Arnold and Ben Pearson. This book chronicles the story of the 24 Shelter Now International (SNI) workers kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2001. The story outlined in these pages is nothing short of amazing.

As the book opens, the arrests of the two American workers start the saga. More arrests follow with ultimately 8 SNI workers being taken along with 16 Afghani nationals. Conditions in the prisons were horrible to say the least. Lack of food, lack of adequate toileting facilities, illness and beatings by guards were endured by both male and female prisoners. I was amazed at the love and concern shown by the 8 prisoners the book focuses on. Over and over, the book chronicles how Georg (the SNI leader), Peter and the six women prayed for, conversed with and showed Christ's love to their captors. The authors also spend time detailing the miracles God orchestrated to allow this story to have a successful outcome.

While the storytelling is stilted at times, the book itself is riveting. As you get further into the book, you will get to a point you can't put it down. The authors did an excellent job of portraying why the SNI workers did what they did. You could so see the call of God on their lives. I would recommend this book highly to anyone who asked.

Two Months!

2009-10-05T18:06:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I've been back from South Africa for 2 months! It seems like only yesterday I was dreading the long flight(s). It was such an amazing time and God moved on our team in such a mighty way. I think in some ways I am still processing all I saw and experienced there. The poverty we saw was extreme in a way that words cannot fully describe. Yet, the joy we saw in so many lives was greater than the joy I see in many American's eyes on a daily basis. I think we all (me included) take for granted all we are blessed with in this country. We get so caught up in politics, who despises who, how our football team did and when lunch is to realize there are over 30,000 children who will die today from diseases we can prevent or malnutrition. What are we doing about that? I have been convicted lately through a series at Brook Hills on James to really re-evaluate my spending and try and cut out anything that isn't truly needed in order to free up money to send to the nations. We're undertaking a Radical Experiment at Brook Hills to save every penny we can to send it to Compassion International to fund 21 Child Survival Projects in India. It's a partnership designed to save lives both physically and spiritually. Talk about living out the Great Commission and James 2:14-26!

I've also started praying about where God will have me go on mission in 2010. There are numerous opportunities open to me anywhere from Uganda to China to Indonesia to areas I don't even know about. Considering there are over 1.5 billion people who have never heard the Gospel, I want to go where God wants me to go. I know He has the place picked out, I just have to seek and see where that is. There are so many other issues that complicate the selection like dissertation completion, new job, moving, etc.; I'd covet other prayers as I continue down this road.

I'm going to try and be more faithful about blogging, I just don't always feel like I have anything to say. :-)

Africa Day Eight...Animal Park

2009-08-28T19:32:00.010-05:00

On Saturday, we awoke to rain. What?! It NEVER rains in South Africa at this time of year. My sources had told me I didn't need to worry about a rain jacket since rain was highly unlikely. I went against my own advice - I usually always take rain gear when travelling. I won't make that mistake again. :-)

Steve told us instead of open-air safari vehicles as planned, we would just go through the park in our vans. It would be much drier and warmer that way. Considering it hailed and sleeted throughout or visit, it was a wise move. The park we went through was nice drive from Alabanza so we were treated to some South African scenery. The rest of the post will be heavy on the pictures. Most of the animals were very accomodating to our visit...except for the zebras. No pics of zebras - we didn't see a one.

Gazelle/Deer? Not sure...

Lions

Close-up of the Lion

Male Lion

Ostrich

Rhinos

Wildebeests

Giraffe

Both Giraffes

Swine Flu Sheeple

2009-08-25T20:02:00.002-05:00

I'll get back to my Africa travels soon but first I have to vent. I am so sick and tired of the stupidity of the American public when it comes to the swine flu. I understand it's a highly contagious illness but seriously, unless you have a pre-existing condition, you have a 99.9999999999% chance of getting better after a few days. People, it is NOT time to panic. If you get sick, keep your butt at home, push the fluids, eat chicken soup and veg for a few days. Unless you are in the high-risk category STAY HOME unless you start having trouble breathing, coughing up blood or spike a fever higher than 103 degrees. Then and ONLY THEN should you worry your doctor. Your doctor's office (and the ER) will be full of other people who are REALLY sick and the Tamiflu you get prescribed (if it's in stock) probably won't do more than cut your symptom by a day or two. Following your mom's age-old advice won't hurt either: cover your mouth when you cough, throw your tissues away and wash your hands (WITH SOAP PEOPLE). It's not rocket science.

This all reminds me of 2000-2001 when West Nile came on the scene. I was in MA working for a public health non-profit and I remember the "sky is falling" scenarios we ran into. The government actually had plans in place to convert hockey rinks to mass morgues. What happened then...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Several people got sick, a few people died and the world moved on to the next health "crisis." Guess what? Random people die from seemingly new and novel illnesses every day. It's part of the way God designed things.

I think my mom probably has it right...it's all a ploy to make people believe in Obamacare. Rohm Emmanuel has never met a crisis he didn't love. Stupid sheep!

Africa Day Seven...To Market To Market

2009-08-17T19:52:00.005-05:00

Today is our last day in Joe Slovo. We started the day by visiting with Christina. No one else in this little row of homes is at home. We think that means mom and kids are at the doc getting the little one's sore looked at (at least we pray that's where they are). I have finagled permission to give Christina some acetaminophen for her arthritis so hopefully she can get some pain relief. We visit for a few minutes and then move on. We head off in a different direction than we've been going and end up in a place called "Black Magic." It appears that this is where Wilma and her baby actually live. It definitely lives up to its name; it is dark and just feels very oppressed. Rachel was praying and speaking the name of Jesus the whole time we were in this little village. I personally was glad to get out of there.

We made our rounds and visited with Susan and her family one last time. Keri was taking pictures and Susan's teenage daughters begged us to give the pictures to Chris Brown. We told them he beats his women and they deserve better. They agreed and asked us to give them to R. Kelly (no comment) or Usher. We didn't disavow them of the idea that we see Usher on a regular basis. The stereotypes that persist amaze me. We also visited with Yvonne and Baby Likey one more time. I would have given anything to bring both of them home to the US with me. As we visited and hugged and shared, my heart was breaking for all that I had to leave behind.

We did get to visit with Elyse at her store while we were eating lunch. She gave us a Fanta out of her store (she refused to let us pay) and when we got back to Refilwe, the three of us split it. Elyse's little store does a booming business in Joe Slovo. It is a prayer request though. She often walks home by herself after dark and sometimes with money. This is a vulnerable situation for a woman. Please pray God's hedge of protection around her. Owning this little store is one step toward a dream she shared with me. Elyse wants to be a first-class store owner one day. I have no doubt she can accomplish that goal.

After our morning in the village was completed, Steve took us to the market. The market is basically set up like a flea market but runs like a flea market on steroids. You walk in and are immediately acosted by salesmen begging you to check out their wares. The first table I spied had the nativity scenes I was looking for. He had the three I wanted but somehow, he wouldn't stop there. I was taken three stalls over and shown coasters, artwork, carvings, the kitchen sink, you name it. I finally walked away with the nativities, coasters, two pieces of art and a "free" carving of Africa. Fortunately, all that only cost me about $100 US. I wandered around a little more and tried earnestly to avoid eye contact. I did make one more purchase on side one of the market; a mother/child statue. I've always wanted one and I got mine for less than $8.00 US. I then happened upon the lone guy on our trip, Bill. He had the same dazed look that I know I had. He and I teamed up to get the heck out of the market. We went across the street and I happened upon to necklace/bracelet combos in perfect color combos for mom and Sarah (blue/gold for mom, multi-colored for Sarah). Score!! I bought those, Bill finished his transaction and we got out of there as soon as we could. There is only one word for the market experience in South Africa, CRAZY. It was an overwhelming array of sound and toward the end, I was willing to pay people to leave me alone.

Here are a few pictures from the market:

Outside of Market

Sign for Market

Another Shot

Africa Day Six...Sister Jeanne

2009-08-15T12:45:00.008-05:00

Thursday dawned a bit warmer for us. I couldn't see my breath when I woke up. That was a great way to start the day. Today was a little different from Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursdays, our healthcare workers have a morning Bible Study, training and then an afternoon of paperwork. So, we went right along with them. We started our day singing with the healthcare workers, them in their language and us in ours. We were both singing praises to our King. What a great picture of Heaven.

Sister Jeanne then took over and began teaching out of Mark 2. It was neat to watch this woman of God interact with the healthcare workers she loves so much. You can so see that she has a desire to see them grow in their faith. We broke into groups with the healthcare workers and began to process through the passage. When the workers got up to answer the questions, Sister Jeanne probed and prodded to get more than the "Sunday School" answer out of her students. I was amazed at way of using simple probing questions to force all of us to think but not allow for discouragement because the "right answer" wasn't given immediately.

After Bible Study ended, we transitioned into a time of study on a particular health issue. Today's was mental health. Jeanne spoke at length about mental health issues and how the healthcare workers could identify them and encourage their clients to protect their mental health. We only think our lives are stressful. We as Americans have no clue the stress it causes to be hungry, have a sick child, an absentee boyfriend/husband, no job prospects, etc. We may deal with one or two of these at a time but most of the families we encountered were dealing with all of them at the same time. Most situations were like giant onions, address one layer and under it there's another layer and another and another. It was so apparent there is a need for Godly men and women rise up and walk alongside these healthcare workers, meeting needs and sharing the Gospel.

After the mental health lesson, we broke for lunch and then reconvened in the afternoon for a time with Sister Jeanne. She told us the amazing story of how Refilwe got started. She began her work out of the trunk of her car, dispensing donated drugs to people in need. (In 17 years, she has never had to pay for medications, God has always provided.) Over the years, God moved in other people to provide land, labor, buildings, and supplies to build Refilwe into a community organization that provides foster care, schooling, skills training, home health care and more. It is simply amazing to see how God has provided in this community. You can check them out at www.refilwe.org.

After Sister Jeanne spoke, we headed back to Alabanza for showers before our dinner engagement. None of us had any clue where we were going for dinner. It was all a big surprise as we piled into the vans and started out. We drove for quite a while and then turned down a bumpy dirt road. I asked Steve is this was the Alabanza hazing ritual. :-) He promised us it was worth the bumps. Boy was he right! We pulled up next to a building with a path leading to the front door. The path was lined with tea light candles and led us into a giant room (pictures below) that had a huge fireplace with fire roaring, a long table set up and new friends waiting to serve us. As we all found seats, Steve explained that the staff of Alabanza was serving us tonight by cooking up some traditional South African dishes for us to enjoy. Talk about wonderful food!! We had a beef soup, cheesy bread, bacon-wrapped cherries (don't knock it til you try it), grilled beef, cauliflower and pumpkin fritters (OMG!). All of this was topped off by one of the top three desserts of all time, malva pudding. Let's just say it was divine!! It was such a pleasure to sit and fellowship with our new friends.

Here are some pictures of the day:

Sister Jeanne

Prepping for Bible Study

Backpackers Lounge

Appetizer

Main Course

Dessert!

More later...

Africa Day Five...The Power of Prayer

2009-08-11T19:13:00.008-05:00

Wednesday morning dawns and we're headed back into Joe Slovo. Wonder what today will bring? The three of us on the Joe Slovo team spent time Tuesday evening praying for the people we had encountered and would encounter. We headed back out through the fields and the children were much friendlier today, smiling, waving and saying "hello" as we passed by. Already bodes well for the day.

As we rounded the corner into the first area we visited, we were met with smiles from the kids and families. Christina even managed a small grin. What a difference a day (and lots of prayer) makes. The sweet little boys (see picture) were smiling and played with us. Keri broke out the books and we had fun sitting and reading. While we were doing that, Rachel offered Christina a full bath. We had a brought some warm water from home and Christina was open to the idea. After the bath, we got a big smile from her.

Kids having fun with Latex Gloves

We took books to read with the kids

We did have good news from our first stop. Esther (the community busy-body) told us the little boy we "treated" on Tuesday was running and playing much more than he had before we came by. And darn if his sore didn't look better. I still encouraged a clinic visit and the mom promised a Friday visit. Before we left, we prayed over the families and shared the Gospel. I know seeds were planted in this community.

Our next stop took us back to the nicer part of Joe Slovo. Elyse opened a file on Wilma and Beyonce to start the process to get them help. Wilma listened politely but I think she was overwhelmed. Not sure how much we got through to her. After we finished with Wilma, Elizabeth and Elyse introduced us to Chas. Seems Chas is positive and doesn't want to take ARVs. Elizabeth and Elyse thought maybe we could convince him. We talked to him but he refused to open up about his status or much of his health. Our team encouraged healthy eating, following doctors' advice, etc. but there wasn't much more we could do. Finished again with prayer and Gospel-sharing with Chas.

After we finished here, we walked back to Refilwe and had lunch with Elyse outside her room. It was nice to get to sit and visit with Elizabeth. She is a registered nurse from the Congo and is studying for the registration exams in South Africa. Please pray for her. We finished lunch and meandered back to Joe Slovo to see patients in the afternoon. My favorite was a precious baby girl, Likey and her mom Yvonne. Another teen mom, another positive baby. This sweet one (pictured with Keri below) has been sick since birth and mom won't (probably can't) navigate the system to get the baby the drugs she needs to survive. If I could have put her in my carry-on and taken her home, I would have.

Today was such a different day than Tuesday. The children were so much more interactive and happy to see us. We passed out stickers, took pictures, read and just enjoyed loving on kids. Here are a few pictures from our visit in Joe Slovo:

We closed today out by hearing Steve and Teresa's story about how they came to South Africa. It is much too long to post here but suffice to say, this is a couple touched by God and making a huge impact on the people of South Africa. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to spend a week alongside these two. I did go to bed tonight sad and frustrated I couldn't do more. I also wondered about God blessing me with a birthright in the US as opposed to the continent of Africa. Not sure I've completely answered those questions yet.

More later...

Africa Day Four...Joe Slovo

2009-08-09T16:32:00.002-05:00

Today was our first day into the community of Joe Slovo. We left our cameras behind today at the request of our hosts. They wanted us to experience the full effect of the communities without cameras distracting us. Elyse was sick today so it was just Keri, Rachel, me and Elizabeth.

We met up at Refilwe and then began our walk to Joe Slovo (we were the only group within walking distance). We started out walking along a path next to the fields where the schoolkids have recess. We were definitely the novelty item of the day with the kids watching us walk by and a few bravely waved hello. We also dodged a few cows and cow patties. :-) Our first homes were about a five-minute walk from Refilwe. We went around a bend, came through some tall grass and emerged just outside a long concrete looking building divided into four homes. Our first "patient" of the day lived here. Christina is a 79 year-old go-go (grandmother). She was less than thrilled to see us - if we weren't doctors, we weren't useful in her opinion. She suffers from arthritis and the after-effects of an auto accident that left a rod in her leg. Her son rarely visits and her home has no electricity, no stove and very little food. Elizabeth says she has her "moods." We cleaned out her home, swept, mopped and beat the dust out of her piece of carpet. Rachel then volunteered to help her clean herself a little bit. Christina allowed Rachel to wipe her legs down with wet-wipes and then apply lotion to her legs and feet. We also gave her part of one of our sandwiches we had for lunch and an orange. Probably the first food she'd had in a day. After we finished, we got a tiny smile out of Christina.

Another sweet lady who lived in this little area was Esther. She was a sweetheart who seemed to be the community busy-body. She knew EVERYONE'S business and alerted us to a problem with one of the little guys who lived next door. Seems he had a sore on his lower abdomen (near the groin) and she wanted us to look at it. Well, of course, I had to. Didn't know what I could do but I wanted to try. It was one of the worst infections I had seen in a while. There was a small sore that was oozing pus and the whole area was red and inflammed. I felt awful but all I could do was put antibiotic cream on it and encourage the mom to take the little one to the clinic. She was less than committed to the idea.

After we moved on from this little area, we came to the "nice" part of Joe Slovo. These houses are basically the size and shape of American tool-sheds. In fact, the one in my dad's backyard might be a little bigger. They had electricity but no running water. Seems these were built by Gary Player (PGA golfer). I don't remember the whole story but it was a nice gesture on his part. Here we met Francina and Baby Erin. Francina was one of the happiest people I've met in a long time. She was so happy to see us, visit with us and show off her precious Erin. Of course, the three of us passed Erin around and loved on her. Those who know me well know I could do that all day. After Francina, we met Wilma and baby Beyonce. Yes, Beyonce. American influence anyone? Wilma is a teenage mom who seems a bit overwhelmed. We prayed with her and the baby and kept moving. We met Andres and his son Junior next. Andres claimed he was falsely imprisoned for two years and just let out in April. (Steve told me later this story probably isn't 100% true.) Junior was a precious little guy and Andres was very willing to share his story and concerns with us.

We broke for lunch, sharing our lunches with Elizabeth and listening to American music blaring from the stereo next door. After lunch, we headed out of the nicer area of Joe Slovo and into the true community of Joe Slovo. As we crested the hill, we could see the streets of shacks laid out before us. We started down the hill and I felt like I was in a "World Vision" or "Compassion" commercial. There was very little activity, the kids we saw had very flat affects to them. There was very little response, very few smiles and a general questioning of who we were and what we were doing. Keri, Rachel and I did the only thing we knew to do, we prayed over this community. We did meet Susan and her family and Susan was a character. I'm not sure if she is a believer but she was the first person who was openly friendly with us. We were able to coo over her grandkids and admire her garden and then prayed over her family before moving on. The three of us Americans kept commenting on how "dark" the area felt and how we could feel the oppression. We continued to pray as we walked, praying for God's work to be seen in the area, God's power to be displayed, and people to see His love.

We finished our visits for the day and headed back to Refilwe so Elizabeth could complete paperwork with her supervisor. Claire (the head of the home-based program)saw us as we got back and asked about what we had taught that day. What?! I didn't know we were supposed to be teaching people anything. Oh well, miscommunication. We'll do better tomorrow. Claire wanted us to talk about keeping water clean, breast-feeding, safe foods for baby, food gardens and anything else we could think of. She also opened the Refilwe library so we could take books out into the communities the rest of the week and read to kids, model good behavior for parents and our healthcare workers. Sounds like we have our work cut out for us tomorrow.

As the groups started trickling back in, we excitedly told stories about our day and the people we'd met and interacted with. I think the vans probably had constant chatter all the way back to Alabanza. After dinner, we sat around the warm fire and shared about our day. Everyone was so thrilled to share about the day and how we had seen God move. We were also able to share our frustrations that we couldn't "fix" the problems we'd seen. Our American mindsets were still see the problem, find a solution, fix the problem. Issue was, that mindset doesn't work in these communities. We had to settle with making notes of problems, sharing it with Refilwe and letting Refilwe fill the need as they could. That was a tough issue for most of us to face.

The day drew to a close with us praying over our communities and our work the next day. We all went to bed excited to see how God was going to move.

More later...

Africa Day Three...Refilwe

2009-08-08T16:56:00.009-05:00

After waking up cold and wondering how to get dressed for the day without getting out of my sleeping bag, I finally got moving. We had plans for an early departure (8:15ish) and with jet lag setting in, none of us were moving very quickly. We were excited though, today was our first "real" day of work on the field!

We all piled into two vans for the roughly 30 minute drive to Refilwe. It was the first chance we'd had to see the landscape of South Africa (it was way dark on our ride in from the airport). I can honestly say I was surprised. I don't really know what I was expecting but other than driving on the other side of the road, South Africa looked just like the US. There are homes off to either side, beautiful mountain views and crazy drivers. I was definitely glad I wasn't driving. Right hand turns are freaky!!

We pulled into Refilwe not really sure what to expect. We all pile out and look to Steve and Teresa for directions. They indicate we should follow them and we head out. Their son Alfie (the cutest kid EVER) was quick to yell "poop!" so we could avoid stepping in chicken poop. Yes, there were chickens roaming (ducks too!). We crossed this beautiful brook

and began to hear singing in African voices. Little did we know the voices were from our healthcare workers that we would be spending the week with. Their voices were lifted in praise to our King! What a way to start the morning. We helped pull chairs out and sat in the sunshine. We made basic introductions and then separated out into groups of three to five. It was here that Keri Mason, Rachel Linderman and I met Elizabeth and Elyse. These are two of the most precious women, they have a love and concern for their families and work in the most primitive of conditions to care for the residents of Joe Slovo. Here is a picture of our two workers:

After we had an hour or so to meet, Steve took us on a tour of Refilwe. I am truly amazed at all this organization accomplishes. In addition to the home healthcare program, they offer schooling, foster care, daycare, skilled work training and more. Here are some pictures from the tour:

Creche at Refilwe

Refilwe headquarters

Children at Refilwe daycare

Skills Development Center

During our tour, Steve explained that the Skills Development Center taught marketable skills for community members so they can obtain employment. He also introduced us to the Refilwe sustainability project, earthworm farming! It appears that earthworms are a relatively cheap source of high-quality compost that can be sold to outside nurseries. Earthworm farms run about $8000 to start and the farm will reproduce itself everyone 48 days, making it a great investment opportunity. What an ingenious way to use God's creation to sustain community work.

The tour ended and as we were headed to lunch, Steve took us past one of the informal settlements (squatter's camps), Malachi. Here is what our first look at the extreme poverty showed:

What struck me so about Malachi is that literally across the street from this no running water, limited electricity, poverty-stricken area there was an airport with flights taking off multiple times daily. This dichotomy struck me over and over throughout the week. How does the government explain it? Why do people agree to it? Where is the Church in South Africa?

As we drove away from Malachi, we headed to lunch at the "chicken pie place." It was not like our chicken pie, it was basically a calzone type outside with chicken and mushrooms inside. I don't really care what they called it, it was wonderful!! We were able to sit and visit as a team and enjoy the scenery outside. We kept commenting that it looked like Ohio or TN outside, not like what we expected South Africa to look. Who knows what our American stereotypical minds thought we would see?!

After lunch, we headed back to Alabanza and separated out for showers, dinner and debriefing. We had a wonderful first day meeting new friends and getting a glimpse of the work we would do. Tomorrow would promise to be interesting as we would be turned out into the informal settlements to work.

More later...

Africa Day Two...Baby It's Cold Outside!

2009-08-07T20:29:00.003-05:00

I awoke today colder than I think I've ever been in my life. I woke up about 3 am shivering and looking for more covers. Fortunately, our hosts had left duvet covers on the bed so I snuggled further down in my sleeping bag and under the duvet cover. I got warm enough to fall back asleep for a few more hours. When I woke up, I could see my breath indoors. BRRR!!

We all stumbled to breakfast and then the first week's group left to go to Refilwe for church. Our group stayed behind at Alabanza since there wasn't enough room in the vans for all of us. We worshipped as a group with our hosts and a few new friends from Zimbabwe. It was neat to share worship songs, Scripture and stories with our new friends. God was glorified as we sat outside in His creation and worshipped together.

After the group came back, we had a good hearty cook-out with beef and some sort of sausage. It was neat to visit with the first week's group and hear the stories of what they had seen and experienced. It was truly evident that God had moved in amazing ways during the first week. Our team got excited hearing about what God had done. As we prayed the first team off to the airport, reality began to sink in that we were really in Africa and our plans had COMPLETELY changed, again. We weren't really sure what we had gotten into but God knew and was already preparing our hearts.

We topped off the day by seeing the Milky Way (my second experience with this) and heading to bed to try and warm up. Man, when the sun goes down, the temperature plummets.

More later...

Africa Day One...Travel, Travel, Travel

2009-08-06T17:19:00.003-05:00

I am going to take the updating nice and slow, mainly because I'm still jet-lagged and feel pretty lousy.

Day One was mostly travel. We left Bham around 3:00 on the ASA flight to ATL. Our flight attendant yelled at us (yes, yelled at us) to be quiet and listen to her announcements so we could get moving. Seriously, does anyone listen to those safety announcements? Giving her the benefit of the doubt, she was probably on her fourth flight of the day and was tired. We were noisy and excited about leaving. Not a good combo.

After changing concourses in ATL, we sat for a while before boarding. The plane we were travelling on was delayed coming in from China so we started out an hour late. Not cool for my nerves. :-) We all get boarded and go through the motions of leaving. We taxi to the runway and then the pilot comes on and says our radio is broken and we have to go back to the terminal so the mechanics can repair it. Then we'll refuel and be on our way. Refuel? We went all of half a mile. Are you sure this plane will fly 8000 miles without refueling???

So anyway, after the drama, we are finally underway. For the first couple of hours, I'm doing good. Not too crazy, dinner was okay and I tried a movie. Couldn't get into "Confessions of a Shopaholic" but "Beverly Hills Chihauha" was okay. I tried to sleep some with a little success. After 12 hours or so, I was starting to get antsy. Our flight attendants had disappeared and didn't reappear until it was time to serve some sort of nasty pizza around with beverage service. After 15 hours or so, we landed in Jo-burg.

After landing, we had to go through passport control and temperature scan. Everyone is worried about swine flu. We all passed through and made it to baggage control. Thank the Lord and Delta, all our bags made it. :-) Our rag-tag crew made it to the lobby and found Steve and Susie Lawley there waiting. We got everyone in a vehicle and started the journey to our home for the next nine days, Alabanza. We topped our LONG day of travel with a wonderful bowl of warm chili and headed to bed.

More later...

Out to Africa

2009-07-23T22:35:00.002-05:00

Well, the time is finally here. I'm off to South Africa tomorrow for a ten-day mission trip. Our plans have changed slightly, we'll be doing more community education than originally planned but it means we will be interacting with more people. God knows exactly what will happen and is already preparing the way for us. We just have to go and trust that He will equip us.

I would appreciate prayers while this white-knuckle flyer spends 15+ hours on a plane tomorrow night/Saturday morning. I'm nervous about the plane, trying not to think about it and trusting God (is that multi-tasking?) to be my strong tower. I would also appreciate prayers for my team as we regroup and alter our plans as we travel. We could also use prayers for the unrest that is apparently going on in South Africa. Pray God's hedge of protection around our team.

Thanks so much for all the prayers already offered up and those that you will continue to offer up on my behalf while I'm gone. I will update when I return...

Points to Ponder

2009-07-19T22:27:00.003-05:00

I've been pondering a post for a few days now and just haven't had time to post. I do have a small trip to Africa coming up on Friday and I'm just a little busy. :-)

My quiet time has been in Jeremiah lately and I found a passage a few days ago (13:11) that blew me away. I've read this passage before but never seen it from this perspective. The chapter is labeled "the ruined waistband." It starts by the Lord telling Jeremiah to buy a linen waistband and not put it in water. Then the Lord told him to put it in water, in a crevice. After the waistband was removed, it was ruined. The Lord equates the ruined waistband with the pride of Jerusalem and how He will destroy it. Then it gets really good...here is the text of verse 11:

"For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me, declares the Lord. 'that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise, and for glory;'... He makes it so we would cling to Him like a waistband clings to the waist. Think about that for a minute. Let that soak in. We are supposed to cling to him as tightly as a waistband fits around our waists. He wants us to cling to Him. By clinging to Him, He will be glorified. It actually fits along nicely with a verse my mom pointed out to me last time I was home: II Cor. 12:9 "...I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." My weaknesses force me to cling to Christ and by clinging to Him, His glory is seen in me. That's just cool beyond words to me.

Prayer and praise report before I sign off:

Praises:
1. All the necessary supplies for my trip have come in and are packed. We even have extra room in most of our suitcases. Thank you Lord.
2. I am finding daily other people who are praying for my trip, people I don't even know. It is so cool seeing how God works in huge ways.

Requests:
1. Diligence as I work on Monday to get a preliminary results section written on my dissertation - I need to get it to my committee before I leave.
2. Flight on Friday 7/24 - I don't like to fly (one of my weaknesses) but this is a stretching trip and flying is part of it.
3. My team as we continue the last-minute preparations - most of us are leaving jobs for 7 working days and that takes some prep. Others are leaving children behind for 10 days and that will be a stretch, for the team member and their families.
4. The people we will encounter - pray that they will see God through us and God will be glorified in all we do. Pray for boldness for the team as we share the Gospel.

Thanks so much for the prayers, words of encouragement, and love you have shown as I have prepared. I will try and post one more time before I leave. I won't have internet access but I'll be keeping a blog journal. I will post day-by-day accounts and pictures when I get back.

Jon & Kate and other marriage thoughts...

2009-06-24T20:05:00.002-05:00

I know, I know, I'm not married so my first-hand knowledge on this topic is limited. But, I am a Christ-follower and there are several Biblical points that will follow my opinions.

Unless you've been under a rock for the last six months, you know who Jon and Kate are. Sadly, as of Monday, their 10-year, 8 kid marriage is over. I don't even begin to think I know who is at fault or what the whole story is. But, I know from watching their specials and then "Jon & Kate plus 8" that they are not the same couple who started the specials. It really appears on TV that the money, fame and hassle of TV changed them. It would be so nice if they had told TLC at the very beginning of the trouble that they were taking a break from the show to work out their marriage difficulties. Instead, they let it play out on national TV and the marriage suffered fatally. It's doubly sad because they professed to be Christians and couldn't make it work. It's just so sad.

And then today comes the bombshell that the idiot governor of SC, Mark Sanford, a Republican darling, disappeared to Argentina to consummate an affair with a mistress. Seriously!? What the heck was he thinking? He violated his wife, his children and his mistress. Hopefully the family can work this out and this marriage can be saved.

This all leads to interesting thoughts on marriage. Satan is wily and knows full well how to attack a marriage. What I don't understand is how people can put themselves in situations like the governor of SC did. Isn't marriage sacred? Again, I'm not married so I can't speak fully but I know plenty of men and women who care enough about their marriage that they protect themselves in a variety of ways. They have internet filters to protect against porn,are never alone with a person of the opposite sex, avoid questionable movies/shows, etc. and have open, accountability partners to help keep them in line. Why don't more marriage counselors recommend this sort of thing, especially Christian counselors?

I know there are times when divorce is inevitable but I also know that all too many couples, Christians included, get out of a marriage the minute things get tough. Umm, excuse me, but don't the vows say "for better or for worse?" I lost a friend because I couldn't support her decision to divorce her husband. There was no cheating, no abuse, just a desire on her part to not be married. I just couldn't support that. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through but I know it was the right stand to take.

All in all, it's just sad to me that so many couples are struggling with divorce. God hates divorce for a reason. As the whole world is seeing through Jon and Kate, no one "wins" in divorce. I think the best course of action for Christians is to pray for each other, pray for marriages (your own and others) and pray that we as Christians would learn to support those struggling in marriage to help prevent more statistics.

Prayer Requests

2009-06-15T21:18:00.002-05:00

I have a couple of prayer requests for the prayer warriors out there:

1. Diligence for completing my dissertation - I am so tired of the project and SO ready to be finished that it is difficult to focus most nights. Please pray that God will give me the clear, focused mind to work diligently each day to complete this process.

2. A new job - please pray God will provide a clear, obvious job in my field for me. I still haven't heard from the reservation (is that an answer in and of itself?) but with the end of school, an additional large bill will start being due each month so I need a job that pays more than I make now. If something doesn't come through, a second job will be necessary.

3. I found out today that I may be maxed out on financial aid so bills could get really tight for fall if a new job doesn't materialize. Please pray that God will provide in some manner only He can.

I know God will provide and has a plan that is more awesome than I can imagine. I have to be diligent to find the position that God has for me to best use the gifts and abilities that He has given me. I want to be in the place where He can best use me for His glory. My human side just wants to know where that is. Now. :-)

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

2009-06-12T19:35:00.002-05:00

I have started trying to save as much money while grocery shopping as humanly possible. With gas prices up (again!) and limited financial resources, saving pennies is a good habit to get into. It also goes back to the concept of "enough." How little can I live on regardless of what my salary is?

That being the case, I have been turned on to a wonderful website: www.southernsavers.com. This is an AWESOME site, even more so if you live in a city with multiple grocery store chains (Publix, Kroger, Bi-Lo, etc.). Even just having Publix, the site is a huge blessing. They have the full Publix ad uploaded fresh each Wednesday and they list the penny item on Sundays. The site also has links to manufacturer's coupons that might or might not have been in the previous Sunday's paper. I spent 15 minutes at the end of the workday today looking at the site, printed a few coupons for stuff I needed and ended up saving $2.50 on items I would have purchased anyway. Since Publix doubles some coupons, I had another manufacturer's coupon and they matched a competitor's coupon I had, I saved $11.00 on my bill. Add in Publix's buy one/get one savings and I saved $16.26 on a total bill of $36.72. That got my pantry restocked on the essentials and saved money to boot.

Just a note: Publix is a GREAT chain when it comes to savings and coupons. They will stack coupons (buy one/get one and a manufacturer's coupon and competitor coupon), offer one of a buy one/get one at half-off, and honor competitor's coupons. It is worth finding their ads each week and utilizing the savings.

The funny thing about this whole concept is that some of my friends are doing this too and it's become a game: see how much you can save by clipping coupons and watching for specials. It changes the way you shop and plan because you end up eating what's on sale and what you have coupons for but it works. I'm not quite to where some of my friends are (one bought $151 worth of groceries for $65!) but I figure every little bit helps. I thought it might be a drag but when you make it a game and see the savings, it's worth the little bit of extra time.

This and That

2009-06-01T19:36:00.003-05:00

Just have a stream of random thoughts that I don't have time to elaborate on in a full-on post. If you don't want a bunch of randomness, stop reading now. You've been warned. :-)

*We serve an awesome God! All of my support for my South Africa trip is in! God has provided so many different sources of funding for this trip; it is truly amazing to see God's provision in action. Most of my team has raised all the support they need and we have extra money that has been donated to use for supplies, medications and Bibles. I can't wait to see what God will do on this trip.

*Helped move Sarah over Memorial Day weekend. She has the cutest little house in Macon. I'm jealous of my little sis. She chose great colors for her house and she and my mom did all the painting themselves. It is a great house and she should be very happy.

*Deuteronomy is such an awesome book. It centers around God telling the Israelites "remember, don't forget." There are lots of times that I find myself in the same place the Israelites were, in a condundrum of my own making, having forgotten (again!) that God is the ultimate provider and sustainer. Hopefully while reading this go-around (I'm only on chapter 5), I can put the idea of remember, don't forget on my heart instead of just in my head.

*Still haven't heard from the indian reservation regarding a job. I'm having to trust God big-time on this one. My lease is up in a few months (August 7 to be exact) and I'm planning to extend by a month. There are very few jobs out there right now and I have to be patient and find what God has in store for me. That's the hardest part because you know me, I'd like to have known the answers yesterday.

I think that's all for now. I have another post coming once I figure out exactly what to say and how to nicely say it regarding the killer of the abortion provider.

Movie Review: 17 Again

2009-05-16T22:17:00.002-05:00

I just got home from seeing 17 Again with my friend Jane. It's a cute movie overall. Probably not worth $9.25 but it was clean and Zac Efron is easy on the eyes. :-) It's all about how Matthew Perry's character has screwed up his life and gets a chance to have a "do-over." and reconnect with his wife. It was definitely a comedy and very predictable but since it was clean, that makes it a good movie in my book.

It did get me thinking that I would not do high school over again for all the gold in Fort Knox. This movie reminded me of why. High school is a growing experience, sure, but I didn't like my high school years. I was the geek, goody-goody, overweight girl who never got invited to things. Doesn't really bother me now but then it was miserable. All I wanted was to graduate and move on to college. I imagine things are only tougher today. I admire kids, girls especially, who are able to avoid the pitfalls that are high school. So many of the girls I've met lately are comfortable with who they are and whose they are and that's all that matters. Maybe my bad experience with high school is why I have such a burden for discipling girls and young women.

Done with the reliving of high school. Bottom line on the movie, if you want a cute, clean movie, catch this one in a matinee. Hollywood needs more people to support clean movies.

Time to Get Busy!!

2009-05-11T15:04:00.001-05:00

We had staff retreat this week and it was a wonderful time of review, prayer, renewal and vision-casting. One of the overwhelming things I came away with was a hurting for the rest of the world.

Jonathan B., our new Pastor of Global Disciple-Making spoke on Friday and gave some amazingly sobering statistics and stories. One of his stories hit me so deeply that I had to share it. He spoke of a trip he took to remote Vietnam several years back. They travelled into areas seldom seen by anyone, missionaries or otherwise. They were doing some ethnographic work and as part of it, were asking one extremely group of extremely remote villagers what they believed...did they believe in spirits in the forest...nope; did they believe in ancestor worship...nope. Then they asked how the crops grew - the villagers responded that the rain made the crops grow. He then asked about the sun coming up. The villagers said they just hoped. Hoped in what they were asked? We don't know they responded, no one has told us that yet. The next day, Jonathan and his team went to a little shack that served as a store that sold soap and other sundries. The first thing they were asked was whether or not they would like a Coke. Yep, in the middle of the remote village, some suits from Atlanta had introduced their product. What an indictment of the western Church! Suits selling sugar water found this remote village but we're too busy arguing about carpet colors, preaching styles, worship styles, etc. to bother sharing the life-saving message of the Gospel with a lost and dying world.

Consider please these facts and see if it doesn't prick your heart and change your perspective:

*There are over 12,000 people groups in the world today. 6,475 of them are unreached (less than 2% evangelical believers). Approximately 5,845 are unreached and unengaged (no one working to reach that people group). That 5,845 represents 1.6 BILLION people.

*Greater than 90% of the personnel and resources (time, people, money) of North American missions agencies goes to ministry among the reached.

*One child dies every SIX seconds from hunger-related causes.

*Almost 1 BILLION people regularly suffer from hunger, most are women and children.

*65% of the world's hungry live in only 7 countries: India, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethopia.

Watch this video (done by Gene Mason from BH) for even more statistics:

Lord, help us, help me remember James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep onself from being polluted by the world." Remind me that "stuff" is fleeting and doesn't matter. Give me a desperation for the poor and the lost around the world.

Random Thoughts

2009-05-04T18:05:00.002-05:00

Just a few random thoughts for a Monday evening...

I had a wonderful team meeting last night with my AIDS Hospice Team. God has brought together such an interesting mix of people for this team and I absolutely cannot wait to see how He is going to move through these people. We had a great training session with a local infectious disease doc to learn more about HIV/AIDS. What's so neat about this guy is that he is a veteran of medical mission trips and could give more than just AIDS info. He gave some great spiritual prep. information and is more than willing to share his knowledge with anyone that asks. My team is also great about adapting and going with the flow. Delta added a $50 fee for the second bag on international flights (grr!) and that was really putting a crimp in my supplies budget. My team's response? "Why can't we just leave our second bag over there? That cuts the cost in half." That's a servant heart for you. :-)

I also found a great prayer today. It's from a book by Lynn Hybels called "Nice Girls Don't Change the World." (Side note: sounds like my kind of book.) This is such a great prayer and so powerful. Process this prayer, internalize it, act on it.

Dear God,
please make us dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledge our power
to change and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and
speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly,
and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us,
conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust
and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God
and by the power of Jesus.
And in that name and by that power,
may we change the world.
Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
AMEN.

That's all for now...time for dinner.

Swine Flu Stupidity

2009-04-30T19:49:00.003-05:00

Being in public health, I have an interest in infectious diseases. I love medical thrillers, books like "The Hot Zone" and others that profile scientists that fight the worst of the worst. I imagine the scientists who work on viruses like Ebola, hantavirus and the like have to be so frustrated at the stupidity surrounding swine flu. True it seems to be attacking previously healthy younger people but the overwhelming majority GET WELL.

The all-out hysteria surrounding swine flu would be comical if it weren't so sad. We seem to have become a nation of dorks who can't think for themselves. Come on people, it's swine flu not the plague. If you feel bad, stay home and take care of yourself. Use common freakin' sense and cover your mouth when you cough, throw away your used tissues, and wash your hands. I didn't need a CDC public service announcement to know that, my momma taught me that.

Around here, the powers that be are closing schools, cancelling outdoor athletic events and the like. I can understand closing A school where a confirmed case is for a day (maybe two) to come in and sanitize but to close entire systems is overkill. What do those parents who rely on schools and daycares do? Skip work? Sure, that'll help the economy.

What about all the diseases that contribute to the 30,000 deaths of children under 2that occurred TODAY??? Where's the hysteria for those?

Different Strokes for Different Folks

2009-04-21T19:32:00.002-05:00

It's been a long two days in my world. I went to Montgomery last night for visitation for my friend Lisa's mom. My friend Jane drove (thanks so much Jane). Visitation was very nice if you can say that about a visitation. There were a number of people there from Birmingham to support Lisa so that was good. She is handling the whole situation so amazingly well.

I drove down today for the funeral. I know Lisa was glad to have the support. The first part was really neat, hearing stories about Lisa's mom. She sounds like a lady I would like to have known. From the stories the pastor told, she had a great sense of humor and loved her family. After his stories, Lisa read Psalm 116. That Psalm had lots of history for Lisa and she managed to read it without tearing up at all.

After the Scripture reading, the pastor presented his sermon. That's when it got a little weird. He got into pre and post-millenial theology and then talked about the sacraments of salvation. I was kind of shocked that his message got that deep and off topic. I'm not even getting into the theological inaccuracies. I'm going on record right now that when my time comes, I want the Gospel presented in clear and uncompromising language and leave out the 23rd Psalm. It's not my favorite by any stretch and is horribly cliche. But, it might have been a favorite of Mrs. Coker, I don't know.

I did get to hear a hymn I haven't heard in a long time. The singer sang "Because He Lives." It's been one of my favorites since I was little. It is a great hymn and full of such simple truths. Everything we have is because He lives. We can face all of life's uncertainties because He lives. Such a simple yet profound statement.

I'm glad I went down and supported Lisa. I know she appreciated it and was shocked last night when I told her I was coming back for the funeral. I told her that doing life was what a discipling relationship was about. The good and the bad. We've had the good and now we had to deal with the bad. We'll have more to deal with in the weeks and months to come and that's what life is about. I'm thankful God put Lisa in my life and we have developed such a neat relationship.

Third Day Concert

2009-04-17T21:36:00.002-05:00

First off I have to say a special Thank You! to my mom. This ticket tonight was part of my birthday present back in January. I have been looking forward to this concert since they announced the tickets on Jan. 11th. It definitely lived up to the expectations! I will post pictures once I get back to my computer.

Revive opened for Brandon Heath who opened for Third Day. They are a new Aussie band that Third Day discovered while they were on tour Down Under. Their lead singer is hot! Too bad he's married. :-) They have a great rock sound and some amazing guitar numbers. They will get real big real quick. Their story is pretty neat too. They stepped out on faith and sold almost everything they owned and moved to the US. They state that their band is God's and they are doing what He commands.

Brandon Heath was Brandon Heath. He's a cutie too and he's single. :-) I love listening to that guy sing. His lyrics are just amazing. So simple yet so profound. I was able to make a recording of "Give Me Your Eyes" on my Blackberry and as soon as I figure out how to get it out of my Blackberry, I'll post it. I can't wait to see how God is going to use Brandon and his lyrics to touch lives.

After an intermission, Third Day came on. They truly know how to put on a show. I can't even remember all the songs they did. They started with some of their older stuff and sprinkled in new songs. In the middle of their set, Mac walked off stage and then reappeared in the middle of the worship room where the concert was held. The rest of the band joined him and they did their request portion from the middle of the room. Really cool!! The eventually "closed" with Revelation. I put closed in quotes because they did four songs as encores. They closed the show with Creed (which I recorded). I love Creed and I love that they still do this song as a tribute to the late great Rich Mullins (man, I miss that guy!).

All in all, it was a WONDERFUL night of "getting my praise on." It is always so neat to see a room full of people praising God together. This is two Friday nights in a row I've been with over 1,500 Christians who are unashamed of their faith and want to be together to praise Him!

Thanks again mom!!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T20:56:00.004-05:00

I am home from a wonderful Easter celebration at Brook Hills. I got my praise on (to quote a friend) a couple of times and heard David's message of the Gospel. As usual, his message was powerful and laid the Gospel out in clear and convincing fashion. Between Friday at Secret Church and today's message, people heard the Gospel. It is my prayer that hearts were opened and responded to make a decision to make Christ Lord and Savior and see their lives transformed.

I also have to take a moment to thank our volunteers. My ministry area has the most awesome volunteers at Brook Hills. We moved over 6800 people in and out of our campus today with very few issues. It took a while to get into the parking lot but our parking team worked with everyone and there were no crashes or major issues. Without our volunteers, our visitors and members would not have had such a wonderful experience. Thank you doesn't seem like enough.

I do plan to enjoy my day off tomorrow. Sleep in and then have lunch with an long-time family friend who has just moved to Bham. After lunch, I'll spend some time with my dissertation research. Perfect plan for a day off.

As we move past Easter, remember the tomb is empty and the throne is occupied!!

Burdened

2009-04-07T20:19:00.004-05:00

I have such a heavy feeling tonight for a friend of mine. I got a text message at 2:30 this morning that I somehow slept through and then a phone call this morning a little after 7. My friend Lisa's mother is critically ill in Montgomery and the situation is somewhat bleak. Right here at Easter, this terrible illness called cancer rears up again and complicates life. Lisa is such a wonderful Christ-follower and I am honored to be discipling her. She is comfortable with what God's sovereign will is and I admire her for that. I'm not 100% sure I'd be so comfortable.

I'm a fixer, I admit that freely. I chalk it up to having both the gifts of mercy and exhortation. That's a "dangerous" combo when friends are hurting. I feel so burdened because with her mom in Montgomery, I can't BE there to love on her. Phone calls and text messages seem so impersonal but I know she doesn't see them that way. Prayer is the most important thing I can do, both for Lisa and her family and I know it is important but it still leaves me feeling like I'm not doing enough.

Palm Sunday

2009-04-05T21:43:00.003-05:00

We had an amazing worship gathering tonight at the Brook. Before tonight, I had never had the opportunity to participate in a Palm Sunday service. I think pieces of David's sermon were written especially for me. He is such a communicator of God's Word and the strength of today's message was huge. I'm not even sure I can completely do it justice. Just the reminder that the God of the universe gave His Son for my sins and that Jesus can handle any worry, problem, grief, issue etc. that I can throw just blows my mind. In this huge season of uncertainty for me, I know where my assurance lies. Talk about a peaceful thought.

As for the palms, our worship staff ordered thousands of palm branches and we had a time of contemplative prayer and then were asked to get a palm branch of our own. Once everyone had their palm, we sang Chris Tomlin's "Glory in the Highest" and then another one who's name escapes me. We also had a responsive reading from Psalm 118. It was so cool to see people worshipping and praising with palm branches lifted high. It was a small glimpse of what it must have been like 2,000 years ago when Jesus entered the city. Such a cool time of worship!!

Easter at My Church

2009-04-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

Randomness

2009-04-01T21:43:00.002-05:00

Had a good day today; busy but good. Got some more stuff done on my data analysis so my good experiences from yesterday are holding. It's nice to have stuff working and my committee member who helps me on my stats said my program looked good.

I am frustrated with the federal government (surprise, surprise). I'm still waiting on word about my extension and they don't seem to give a rip that this is THEIR screw-up, not mine. Now they are claiming they have to examine and approve any incentives over $1000. Um, that's the old budget, not the new one. Stupid government bueurocrats!

And, while the IRS found a mistake in my taxes (in my favor), my sister is fighting silliness with the IRS. This would all go away if we would do the smart thing and institute the Fair Tax. If everyone who is sending red envelopes to the White House protesting abortion would get behind the Fair Tax and would send tea bags to Congress, we might could get somewhere.

Some Success

2009-03-31T20:52:00.002-05:00

Okay, so God has showed off big time. I spent part of my quiet time this evening praying about my dissertation and data analysis. I have been struggling mightily with it and wasn't getting anywhere. I gave it up to Him and prayed for diligence in study and work. He answered quickly.

After fighting with a lack of knowledge and a brain that didn't want to recall what it had learned at some point, I broke down this afternoon and searched barnesandnoble.com for a self-help manual. They had one in stock in Hoover so I drove over there after work and picked it up. It has made a tremendous difference! I have a dataset that is read by my analysis program and got two small analysis features run. I still have LOTS to do in this phase but I don't feel so stupid anymore. I will keep plugging away at it and by Monday, should have a program that is well on its way to finishing the simple analysis. Thank you Lord for quickly answered prayers!!!

Long Week and A Busted Bracket

2009-03-27T18:22:00.002-05:00

This was an amazingly long week and I don't know why. Weird in a sense. Lots of stuff going on at work - prepping for Easter and all. We need lots of volunteers to make Easter run smoothly and we've changed the way we recruit volunteers. Problem is, we waited too late to make a wholesale change so we're having to play catch-up. I have no doubt we'll have enough volunteers to make it work (we have awesome volunteers) but it'll be a crazy couple of weeks in the meantime. We haven't even begun to think about Secret Church on Good Friday. We're pretending it isn't happening. :-)

Lots of prep work for my Hospice trip has also been going on this week. Lots of reading and getting amazingly frustrated about the lack of action on the problem in so many countries. Not for a lack of a desire to do something - it's a problem created by Western governments and drug companies. Not sure what the answer is, I just know how things are handled right now ain't the answer. I'm also saddened that it's taken the Western Church this long to get mobilized to address HIV/AIDS. For so long we let it be a moral issue and we neglected the parts of Scripture that tell us to serve not judge. I'm convinced that we Christians (me included) in the developed will have to answer before God regarding our inaction in the developing world. We're making progress but things are so bad in so many areas that more effort is needed.

I'm also tired because my data analysis isn't working like I want it to and that frustrates the crap out of me. I can't get past one step and I got help from one of my committee members but it still isn't working. The really frustrating part is that I'm so close and it's one measly step that is holding everything up. I've found some online help so hopefully tomorrow morning when I'm not so tired, I can get over this hump.

As for the busted bracket, I'm referring to mine. I had Memphis winning it all and dang if they didn't go and lose and lose badly last night. It was UGLY. I quit watching. I didn't really like Memphis all that much and now I have even more reason not to like them. I knew I should've gone with a Big East team. Oh well, there's always next year.

Off to make dinner...

Ever Have One of "Those" Days?

2009-03-24T20:40:00.002-05:00

I had a yucky day at work today. Nothing major happened, I just got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and the feeling lasted all freakin' day. I was just in a foul mood. Didn't snap at anyone so that's good, I just had no desire to be there, no desire to work and didn't really care. I did get stuff done so that's a plus and tomorrow is a new day so that's another plus.

I did have a great evening. I got to spend it with my best friend (other than Sarah) Wendy. We have been friends since college and have been through thick and thin together. She is a relatively new mom so I got to see her little one too. He's definitely a cutie. It was great to go to dinner and get to visit and catch up. We're also going to get together again on Saturday to spend more time together than we can on a work night. We have so much in common that we can be apart for months and get together and it's like we never separated. It was a nice way to end an otherwise crappy day.

Fun With Government Bueracrats

2009-03-23T21:33:00.002-05:00

I can honestly say that I have never had an experience with government ineptness like I'm having right now. I am trying to get a no-cost (key phrase, NO COST) extension on my grant to finish up my project. The original letter was sent to the agency in charge on October 30th by UPS next-day air. We have the proof it was delivered and signed for. There is some evidence a government bueracrat read it and then sat on it. For months. I called in early December and they promised it by Dec. 19th. That day came and went and no approval letter. I then went to the next person on my list. She assured me it was approved and we should be getting the letter soon. Well, still no letter.

Fast forward to last week. We've been assigned to a new government bueracrat and she says "this is a highly irregular request and we'll see." She's also promising a "complete investigation" of what happened. Yeah, right.

We have a full e-mail to send to her tomorrow that has documentation of all our steps and hopefully they will see the light and just freakin' approve the extension. I could understand a little better if we didn't have a good excuse or we had waited until now to request it. But no, this was requested in OCTOBER (original contact was early Sept.). That's five months ago. Only in government could you be so inept at your job and actually get paid for it. What really burns me is that this is my (and your) tax dollars at work.

And this is the group you want managing health care? Seriously!?

Update...

2009-03-20T23:23:00.002-05:00

Who knew!? After such a bad day, I went to check my standing in the Yahoo! pool I'm in and I'm in first (thanks to Siena's 2OT win). Of course, it won't last but it is fun while it lasts. :-)

March Madness & Badness

2009-03-20T23:03:00.002-05:00

This is one of my favorite times of year but man it can be frustrating. My brackets are a mess after today's sessions. I had a good day yesterday, picking 14 of 16 games right. Today, not so good. I didn't miss a ton more games but the games I did miss have next round and beyond implications. I've already lost two sweet sixteen teams and may lose an elite eight team if FSU manages to lose. It has absolutely no bearing on anything important but I still like to see more green on my bracket than red. Plus, I like beating the guys in my bracket pool on Yahoo! :-)

I love watching basketball and CBS is making life great tonight. They are going back and forth between Siena/OSU and WI/FSU. Both are in OT; Siena/OSU is in double OT. Every time there is a break in one game, CBS switches to the other. Since I don't have a dog in either fight, it's cool as a fan. Almost feels like a sports bar. :-) I remember watching March Madness with friends at a place called PT's in Homewood. It was wonderful; big screens everywhere, friends to enjoy the games with and games from noon to close to midnight. It was worth the lack of sleep. Man, college life was better than the working world in that respect.

I think next year, I'll pick all 12 seeds. I was so happy yesterday to have finally picked a 12/5 upset and darn if the 12 seeds I DIDN'T pick have managed to win today. With FSU losing, three of the four 12 seeds have won. If I'd gone with 12 seeds, I'd only have lost one game rather than three. UGH!

Well, FSU just lost so I've lost three sweet 16's and one elite eight. The only silver lining is that I don't have money riding on my brackets.

Signing off for now to see if Siena can pull it out...

Long Day (Prayer Request)

2009-03-19T20:53:00.003-05:00

We had a long day on staff today. One of our children's ministry faith trainers, Chris Greene, died this morning of a massive heart attack. He was only 39 and leaves behind a widow and three young children. While I didn't know Chris personally, I do know the children's ministry staff and tried to be supportive to them today. Needless to say, none of us understand God's timing in this. Chris was a man who loved the Lord, his family and sharing God's Word with children. He will be sorely missed.

Please be in prayer for his family as they adjust to life without him. Please be in prayer for our pastor as he preaches the funeral on Saturday and our children's ministry staff as they tell the children on Sunday and try to answer the unanswerable questions. Many of the children are out of town on Spring Break trips with their families and Sunday will be a long, hard day. Pray that God will be glorified in our response to this situation as a church.

Biloxi '09

2009-03-19T14:26:00.002-05:00

I'm back from Biloxi and we had a great time. I'm tired but it's a good tired. We have been blessed with an awesome set of kids in our student ministry. They love the Lord and sharing their faith. They are also incredibly hard workers. I heard no complaining out of this group even though it wasn't the most organized of trips and the Worship was much different than they were used to.

I am thrilled that God has given me the opportunity to work with these kids and see the growth as they mature and continue to give their lives to Christ. As one of our student ministers put it "For our kids, it's not a question of if they'll go or when. For them, it's a question of should I go to Asia or Latin America this summer." Such a different viewpoint from many kids.

I'll put pictures out there when I get them downloaded and then uploaded to the site.

Random Thoughts

2009-03-13T12:53:00.002-05:00

A little randomness for your Friday afteroon enjoyment...

I'm off to Biloxi on Sunday for a few days of mission work with our youth. I'm super excited because 1) I love mission work and 2) I have a GREAT group. I'm sure all the groups are awesome but I have a really good group of kids. We should have a fun time in Biloxi. I can give a few status updates because I downloaded the Facebook app on my Blackberry.

This is such a fun time of year for this rabid sports fan. It's championship week on ESPN so it's all basketball almost all the time. SEC tourney, ACC tourney, Pac-10 tourney, Big East tourney, they are ALL playing right now. Then next Thursday starts the absolute best weekend in sports, the opening weekend of March Madness. I remember in college we would go to our earliest classes and then head to PT's sports bar in Homewood to watch the rest of the action, staying until well into the night. I wish I had a group of friends that liked basketball as much as I do. Oh well, I'll enjoy it by myself. :-)

To add to the sports enjoyment, by the time March Madness ends in early April, baseball season will be starting. I doubt the Braves will have a stellar, playoff type year but hey, it's still baseball. Have I mentioned lately I'm a sports nut?

Back to work...

Too Funny Not to Share

2009-03-05T15:35:00.006-06:00

I stole this from another blog (www.pulpit-pimps.org). It's just too good not to share:

Heresy Hillbillies
(Sung to the tune of Beverly Hillbillies)

Come and listen to a story ’bout a boy named Joel
Keepin’ sheeple happy was his one and only goal
Didn’t need no trainin’ from no fancy Bible school,
To build a congregation of unScriptural fools
(Sheeple that is, darkened souls, Bible free )

Well the first thing you know old Joel’s a millionaire
With just a winning smile and a crop of wavy hair
Don’t know if a Moslem goes to Heaven or to Hell
But he sure do know his way around shampoo and gel.
(Whitening gels, glistening teeth )

Well now it’s time to say goodbye to Joel’s trophy wife
Time to let them get on back to living their best life,
You’re all invited back again to their locality
To have a heaping helpin’ of their happy heresy
(Heresy Hillbillies, that’s what they call ‘em now, nice folks.)

Y’all come back now, ya hear?

For those who feel like I do, that Joel Osteen is a charlatan who is leading people down a dangerous path, they will see the humor in this. But, we should as Christ-followers, fall to our knees and pray for Joel and those like him who are making the Gospel say what they want it to in order to appeal to a mass audience. It saddens me that the simple concept of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone can be so screwed up by man.

Facebook

2009-03-02T21:23:00.003-06:00

Well, I finally broke down and did it...I joined Facebook. Of course it look me lots longer than most people because of my interesting last name. Facebook denied me the first time I tried and when I e-mailed them and asked for permission, I got some long e-mail back asking for every bit of info. under the sun. Well, I don't have time for that. So, I waited for a few months and tried again. Got rejected again but this time got a helpful person who opened the account and sent me a username and password. Now, I'm in the "club."

Of course, I don't promise to be the most avid Facebook person and I'll have to get my 7th grade girls to show me how to best use the stinkin' site but at least I have a spot. I like my blog better but I do think Facebook will help keep me connected if I end up moving in a few months.

On that note, be praying for me. I e-mailed today for more information on two jobs with the TO Nation. As most of you know, I'd move there tomorrow if a job was available. I know that doesn't make everyone happy but God has drawn my heart there and I am praying He leads me out there.

Now I'm off to bed to read because I'm cold and my bed is warm. Of course, I'll have to fight the cat...

SNOW!!!

2009-03-01T19:16:00.011-06:00

It finally snowed in Alabama in amounts that could be measured in inches! It's been ages since we got snow that actually amounted to anything. While I didn't get out and play in it, it was absolutely beautiful. We had to call the kids inside so we could start large group time this morning. They were having a ball throwing snowballs at each other, the windows, brave teachers and anyone else who happened by. It's amazing how snow can make even the most "mature" teachers frolic like little kids. The only thing that would have made the day better is if it had lasted into the evening and we could get a snow day out of it. Oh well, maybe next year...

Here are some of the pictures from today:

Back Patio:

Cars Covered in Snow:

View off Back Patio:

Breezeway View:

Some From Church:

This poor tree must be so confused. Don't know if it shows up but it was fully bloomed...

Rain, Rain, Rain

2009-02-27T21:34:00.003-06:00

I took a sick day today because I felt like I had been hit by a bus, twice. I was still so incredibly tired from last weekend that when I left yesterday, I had a headache, ached all over and the computer screen was fuzzy. My body was screaming for a day off. While I did take Monday off, I spent a couple of hours running errands so I didn't get total rest. Today was different, I stayed indoors, out of the rain and storms.

Speaking of rain, I'm really thinking about going to Home Depot tomorrow and checking to see if they got a shipment of gopher wood. It has rained like crazy today and is supposed to rain/storm all night and into tomorrow. We needed the rain, I just don't think anyone wanted it all at once. And they're talking snow for tomorrow night. Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it. This is AL after all.

I did enjoy my day today. I slept in, had my quiet time and then lounged on the couch all day. It was quite nice to just rest and not think about anything in particular. Tomorrow may be much of the same although I'll probably do a little cleaning and then work some on my South Africa AIDS stuff.

Now, I'm off to surf the 'net for a few minutes and then go to bed.

It's a Good Tired...

2009-02-24T20:12:00.002-06:00

I am still a little tired from the weekend but it's a good tired and a contentment that the main crunch is over. We had a amazing turn out Sunday for our membership finale. There were somewhere near 300 people in attendance at three events and most of them are completing the membership process. Praise the Lord!

We had such a great volunteer/support system to pull this off. Without them, we could not have successfully funneled 300 people through our Student Building. We had people helping out beforehand, filing paperwork, sticking stickers on folders, alphabetizing, putting out tablecloths, cutting out circles, spreading napkins, etc., etc., etc. God really blessed me and Debby with some truly AWESOME people. Our new members commented about how welcomed they felt and how smoothly everything ran.

I also got to watch God work. I was tasked with assigning potential new members to table hosts. For the most part, I was matching people by age, life stage, interests, etc. There was only one table where the host had requested people. Everything else was based on where I put them. I had a number of people ask me "I knew the people at my table, did you do that on purpose?" I was thinking to myself, um, how would I KNOW that? It was a God-thing pure and simple. He knew where the people needed to be and guided my decision making. It's so cool that we have such a big God yet He cares about the simple things like table assignments. It was just one more way people felt invited and loved on.

Now my life is back to a semblance of normalcy. I am planning a meeting with committee members next week to get started on data collection and hopefully get to a point in very short order where I'll have some good results to comment on and write up to defend. I am so ready to be finished.

I am also starting the job search process. I covet your prayers as I begin this journey. I know where I would like to end up but I want to make sure my will aligns with God's in this situation. I want to stay in ministry but be able to use my public health knowledge at the same time. I am just growing so much while being in a ministry role, I would like to see that continue. I know He has the perfect place already decided, I just have to be diligent and pray through my decisions. Thanks in advance for those prayers. :-)

Now I'm off to watch some TV before bed. More to come when I feel inspired again.

Go God!

2009-02-16T21:00:00.003-06:00

I picked the title because that's how I feel after yesterday. I had such an interesting time teaching my 7th grade girls yesterday. I have one girl, H. who is a processor. She thinks out loud and it's so neat to watch her process what God is teaching her. H. is also quick to say "yay God!" for her successes and share those with her classmates. For example, she was nervous about doing well in track tryouts and she said she prayed all day "God take away my fear." and He did. Track tryouts weren't a problem. I love the way she's willing to take God at his word and trust Him for her needs. It's neat when Beth (my co-teacher) and I can see growth in the girls' walks with the Lord.

I'm also excited about getting to chaperone the Spring Break missions trip to Biloxi. I have no idea what we're doing but I know we'll be working with World Changers so I imagine they'll keep us busy. Last year's trip to New Orleans was pretty powerful for the students that went so I imagine this year will be the same.

My most exciting part of yesterday was the AIDS Hospice team meeting. God has brought together the most amazing people. Kristi and I could NEVER have put together a team like this if we'd tried. We have three women who've been to SA before and have a heart for the people, one hospice social worker and one member who has lost a relative to AIDS. Everyone is so excited about the possibilities for the trip and the opportunity we will have to share Christ's love with a desperate people. What greater urgency for the Gospel than among those who are staring eternity in the face? My fervent prayer now is that God will knit us together as a team and that we will work together for His glory and be Christ to those we encounter.

I'm also excited that God is working the membership process details out. While I am still incredibly busy, ever since reading that Chambers' quote last Monday, I've had such a different outlook and I think God is blessing my efforts. We have a system in place to handle almost every contingency that people can throw at us so now it's just a matter of working the system.

Now I'm off to go watch another "House Hunters" episode and then head to bed.

Thoughts on Romans

2009-02-14T17:19:00.002-06:00

I finished reading the book of Romans yesterday and I have decided it is one of the best books in the entire Bible if not the best. This isn't the first time I've read all the way through it but I had some new insights from it this go around. Romans really is a perfect book to use with sharing the Gospel. You could easily tell a questioning person to read through Romans and then sit down and talk through it. From Chapter 1 to Chapter 16, it is full of great wisdom and guidance for the whole Christian walk, from beginning to end. It begins with a great outline in 1:16-17 - I AM NOT ASHAMED of the Gospel...what great words! Salvation for EVERYONE who believes. Not acts, not tries hard enough, not is good enough, not prays enough, everyone who believes. What other religion offers that kind of promise. Then there is the beauty of Chapter 3. While it starts out very heavy, the transition in verse 21 with the word "but" should make everyone shout praise the Lord from the rooftops. The majesty continues into Chapter 8:1-2 when Paul says there is now NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and on to vs. 14-15, we have not received a spirit of fear but a spirit of adoption. (Can I get an amen?) Verses 28-32 are an awesome promise to the Christ-follower. He is continuing to work in us. The instructions continue as the rest of the chapters outline how we as Christ followers are to act. This whole book is an instruction manual for how to live a Christ-like life and how to glorify Christ with our lives.

I would highly encourage anyone who hasn't read Romans all the way through to give it a try and see what God will show to you. It is such an amazing 16 chapters of truth! And speaking of glorifying God, I want to close with a John Piper quote that I thought was cool when I came across it a little while ago in my quiet time:

"Salvation is not a ground for boasting of our worth to God. It is an occasion for self-abasement and joy in the glorious grace of God on our behalf - a grace that never depends on our distinctives, but flows from God's overwhelming concern to mangify His own glory on behalf of His people." -John Piper, Desiring God