Sunday, July 31, 2011

Follow

If you visit Israel today, you can follow "The Gospel Trail"...

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Thoughts on Beauty

Approval Ratings...

Just thought you should know:
Public Policy Polling released the results of their latest polls on the 21st and in amongst all the questions about congress and various elected officials are questions 7 through 10:

7. If God exists, do you approve or disapprove of "it's" performance:
Approve-------------52%
Disapprove---------- 9%
Not Sure------------40%

8. If God exists, do you approve or disapprove of "it's" handling of natural disasters:
Approve-------------50%
Disapprove----------13%
Not Sure------------37%

9. If God exists, do you approve or disapprove of "it's" handling of animals:
Approve-------------56%
Disapprove----------11%
Not Sure------------33%

10. If God exists, do you approve or disapprove of "it's" handling of creating the universe:
Approve-------------71%
Disapprove---------- 5%
Not Sure------------24%

Well, I don't suppose God is worried about getting re-elected!

Friday, July 29, 2011

A woman and a well

A modern take on John 4:3 - 30...read first the story of the Samaritan woman with the tarnished reputation (she came to the well at noon to avoid the other women)...then listen to the speakers version...

John 4:3-30 (New International Version)


3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

The face of evil

There are days when there are just no words, when the specter of evil overshadows us all, and we feel feeble and dwarfed by its presence. Witnessing an unprovoked attack on innocent people—be it a bombing, a shooting rampage, or some other atrocity—often renders us speechless. Yet speak we must. There must be words not only denouncing such evil, but also prayers unto heaven that cry out for justice and succor in the aftermath.

It may seem that evil has the upper hand.

But Pat Gohn reminds us of Divine Providence...read her words here...

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Neighbors


This is one of the commandments I don't feel we spend enough time following...it's just too easy to ridicule others, to judge them, to turn our backs. All those things God hates...

So what exactly does He mean when He says "Love your neighbor as yourself"? Think of those you do love...family and friends who mean the absolute most to you. Now think of all the wonderful things you wish for them...think of what you would give them if it were in your power. Now, think of the person you like the least...those who are hateful to you, or ignore you completely...we are called to want to give them as much as we would those we love.

Matthew 22:37-40 tells us: 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The best part of this commandment is the learning...He gives us all the tools we need if we but submit to His desire...When we love God with all our heart soul, mind and strength, we will eventually grow to recognize that every single person is part of His creation. As we learn to live the "greatest" commandment, we will find that all the others fall into place for after all..."All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments".

Stories to tell..

I love words...love to hear them, love to read them, love to use them.

As therapy, I journal. No one else reads it...after I have left this world, my children may take the time to see what came tumbling out of their Mom's mind but I have not formally written anything. I do post here regularly and I do write an article for our church's weekly newsletter but that's it. My hubby seems to think that I have more than a few paragraphs a day in me and that I could be an author, but it is such a daunting task. And once you've poured yourself into your manuscript to have it rejected would be heartbreaking to me. I would see it as a personal rejection...not one of my work. Maybe I'll grow up some day and take pen in hand but for now, I am satisfied with this blog, my newsletter article and my journal.

Just in case you think my fears of submitting my work to a publisher are far fetched, check this out:
1. John Grisham’s first novel was rejected 25 times.
2. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul) received 134 rejections.
3. Beatrix Potter had so much trouble publishing The Tale of Peter Rabbit, she initially had to self-publish it.
4. Robert Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) received 121 rejections before it was published and went on to become a best seller.
5. Gertrude Stein spent 22 years submitting before getting a single poem accepted.
6. Judy Blume, beloved by children everywhere, received rejections for two straight years.
7. Madeline L’Engle received 26 rejections before getting A Wrinkle in Time published—which went on to win the Newberry Medal and become one of the best-selling children’s books of all time.
8. Frank Herbert’s Dune was rejected 20 times before being published and becoming a cult classic.
9. Margaret Mitchell (Gone With The Wind) was rejected over 30 times before her book was published.
10. JK Rowlings first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was rejected 12 times before being given the green light.

These people are / were talented, persistent and felt they had a story to tell. And they did. Do you ever wonder how many stories are out there that never see the light of day except in the notebooks of the authors? Check this out:

Author Dick Wimmer passed away on May 18, 2011, at 74 years old. He received 160+ rejections over 25 years! He spent a quarter of a century being told “no.”
He could have quit after 20 years, or 150 rejections, and no one would have blamed him. But he kept at it (maybe he had his own list of famous author rejection letters to keep him going!). Finally, his novel Irish Wine (Mercury House, 1989) was published to positive reviews. The New York Times called it a “taut, finely written, exhaustingly exuberant first novel.” Assuming the author’s submissions were well-targeted, how could 160+ people have passed over Wimmer’s book? And what does that mean for YOUR writing career? Wimmer’s self-proclaimed legacy is of being the “most rejected novelist,” but we think his legacy is hope and persistence.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Church Canceled

Church Canceled Due to Lack of God

The South—Parishioners of Pastor Theo Leobald’s First Congregational Church of Holy Christ In Heaven will not meet next Sunday morning for a coffee social and morning Bible study as they do every week, gathering in fellowship and offering thanks and praise to God on high. The reason for the cancellation? Simply the fact that, according to Leobald, God does not now, has never, and will never exist.

“They made it all up, and they were ignorant, unwashed, half-naked pre-historic barbarians,” Leobald said. “So who are you gonna believe: Carl Sagan, and the pantheon of the world’s greatest scientific and intellectual minds, or some guy who measured wealth by how many goats he had?”

Now before you get all excited and wonder if I've lost my mind posting this on a church blog, I found the article at "The Onion" . It's not really a factual article...very tongue in cheek...just wanted to show how news can travel. Even if it is totally wrong. The Onion makes it clear that these are not "real" stories...how many of our news agencies post the same type of false information under the premise of truth?

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Can they prove it?

If you read Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" or saw the movie by the same name, then you are familiar with the terms "God Particle" and Cern.

An article in the The Telegraph states that scientists may be close to proving it exists...or at least seeing it. According to theory, the "God Particle" will explain how the universe works or at least what holds it together at the sub-atomic level.

And we should know by next year...not to belittle science, I'm sure it's would be an extraordinarily important piece of information, but why the name? Come to find out, it's a media invention and many scientists dislike it, since it overstates the particle's importance. Not least since its discovery would still leave too many questions unanswered...first and foremost in many scientists minds, the ultimate origin of the universe. Perhaps we could shed a little light on how that happened...

Monday, July 25, 2011

The clothes on their back...

I read this article today and thought it was worth reprinting...

A church building is a special place calling for special behavior. While the church is our home and we should feel comfortable there – indeed, the church (small “c”) is a gathering place for the Church, the people of God (capital “C”) – that doesn’t mean that anything goes. Your actions in church show respect for God and for the community that gathers there. If you are stopping by the church to pray, even just for a moment, your actions should respect the place and its purpose. check Busted Halo for the rest of it.

What you wear to worship doesn't really bother me...as long as it is appropriate...by that I mean not too short, you can't see through it, undergarments are covered, no inappropriate slogans. It doesn't have to be inordinately expensive, or too conservative (as in covered from neck to ankles).

Working with young people, our main focus is to get them to come to worship. Their clothing speaks volumes about each individual. After all, as teenagers, they have very few ways of making a statement about themselves. Showing their own personal style allows them to do this.

When I was a child, you wore what you were told...or at least I did. I grew up at the end of the tradition when you always wore a dress or skirt, usually wore a hat and sometimes those little white gloves. While I thought it was pretty cool to be able to put it all on...and actually felt it was part of my preparation for worship...I can see why young people today wouldn't feel the same. After all, the hat and gloves did nothing to make me a better person or Christian...they just meant that I dressed the way my grandmother wanted. Not like I wanted. It's important to help our youth feel a part, to take ownership of their faith and membership in their church. To do so, they need to feel they have a voice. Even if it starts with the clothes on their back.

Terror in Norway...




He was dressed as a policeman and told the children he was part of the security detail. He was there to protect them...

Witnesses say the suspect called on the children on the island, aged between 14 and 18, to gather around him. Then he opened fire. Police said he used automatic weapons and a handgun.

The Pope's message:

Pope Benedict expressed sympathy on Saturday for the victims of a suspected right-wing zealot who killed up to 98 people in a shooting spree and bomb attack and urged Norwegians to reject hatred and violence.

In a message to Norway's King Harald, the Vatican said the pontiff had been "profoundly saddened" by the attacks in the government district of Oslo and on Utoeya island northwest of the capital.

"His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI offers fervent prayers for the victims and their families, invoking God's peace upon the dead and divine consolation upon those who suffer," a statement said.

"At this time of national grief he prays that all Norwegians will be spiritually united in a determined resolve to reject the ways of hatred and conflict and to work together fearlessly in shaping a future of mutual respect, solidarity and freedom for coming generations."


Having worked with young people for 15+ years now, I don't know how to speak to this...it hurts my heart to think of the death of those innocents...May God have mercy and send His comfort to those who mourn...

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Come, all who are thirsty...

Isaiah 55 (New International Version)

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

What a beautiful chapter! Full of promise and joy! I recently read an article that stated that the word Bible scholars interpret as "purpose" can also be translated as "delight". Now read verse 11 again and use the word "delight".

Isaiah is speaking these words to the Israelites while they are captive in Babylon. At this point in time they felt lonely, lost and abandoned. Was he wrong to speak this way? A prophet is meant to be the voice of God to the people. He guides and shows them the error of their ways. But why wouldn't God want to remind His people that He delights in them? Even in exile, He loves them.

Perhaps it's a mistake to put ourselves into the stories we read but it is a habit of mine. To try and feel what they feel...to see and taste and experience the story. To me Isaiah 55 is like a breath of fresh air...amidst all the toil, all the tribulation, all the sorrow, God wants them to know that He hasn't forgotten them, He wants to show them what is in store for those who turn and follow Him.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Life in a Day...

What a concept for a film! Kevin McDonald and Ridley Scott asked people to submit a You Tube video about their life. Thousands from around the globe (140 countries) submitted videos (80,000 to be exact) which ended up producing 4,500 hours of footage. McDonald and Scott condensed the material to 94 minutes and 57 seconds (a feat in itself!) and it is due to be released July 29th. All the reviews have been positive. This may well be a film worth watching...

Here's the preview:

Fruit


Fruit must nourish. Fruit must strengthen. Fruit contains that which is essential for health. And the fruit that we produce as the church is not to be hoarded and enjoyed by us. We produce this fruit and bear it to a starving, malnourished world, bringing sweetness and succulence to an all-too-often dry and bitter existence.

Fruit Loops (the cereal) bears no resemblance to any fruit grown in nature. It’s fake. It’s chemical. And it offers virtually no nutritional value. But the fruits of the Spirit — the fruit that will last — is real. It’s organic. It’s good for you. The world doesn’t need more Fruit Loops, but it can use all the real, delicious, sweet, juicy, nutritious fruit it can get.

The author has a good point...read the rest here...

Friday, July 22, 2011

Summertime

Don't know how it is in your part of the world but where I am it is hot and humid and did I mention hot?

I know that the seasons are appointed by God and each has it's own reason for being but I really don't understand how people ever survived without air conditioning...I guess it's the old rule of "you can't miss what you don't have". I am amazed it took so long for the A/C to be invented.

As we struggle through these days of summer...a funny!


Bet you can't guess which ear of corn I feel like!

Feeling Good!

Hey Kids...if (or when) I have to go to a retirement home...THIS is the place! You gotta love people who refuse to grow old!

Just check out their Lip Sync!

To lighten your day...

Spend a few moments with Jim Meskimen quoting Richard III by Shakespeare with a whole host of famous people...

Thursday, July 21, 2011

from Space:

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968. That evening, the astronauts; Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders did a live television broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and Moon seen from Apollo 8. Lovell said, "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth."



The Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down safely this morning: Commander Chris Ferguson eased Atlantis onto the runway at 5:57 a.m. EDT, ending a 5.2 million-mile (8.4 million-km) journey and closing a key chapter in human space flight history. "Mission complete, Houston," Ferguson radioed to Mission Control. Thus ending manned space travel for the foreseeable future.

In honor of all the brave souls who have dared to leave their earthly confines and travel in the great beyond, a tribute:

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Graffiti

At some point during our childhoods, most of us have written our name somewhere it probably shouldn't have been...and there are people in some of the larger cities of the world who feel it is their call in life to decorate buildings, sidewalks and such with their own personal graffiti. But this is a first...graffiti that can be seen from space!

Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Ahyan paid workers for weeks while they completed the task of writing his name in the sand. It measures 1/2 mile high and 2 miles long and yes, it can be seen from space.

While it won't wash away immediately, it won't last forever either. Right now the letters are deep enough to form waterways but eventually nature will reclaim the area. I'm sure the astronauts on the Atlantis were surprised!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Starting the day

I have never been a morning person. No matter how desperately I want to be and regardless of the fact that for the last 20+ years I've had to arrive at my "real job" before 7am, I just cannot get in the habit of rising early on my days off.

St. Francis de Sale gives us guidance for starting the day the right way and thankfully, he doesn't say what time you day has to begin:

1. Give Thanks
Adore God profoundly and thank Him for the grace of preserving you during the preceding night, and implore His pardon if you committed any sin during the course of it.

2. Recall the goal

Remember that the present day is given to you in order to gain the future day of eternity, and make a firm purpose to employ the day well for this intention.

3. Make a plan
Anticipate what tasks, transactions and occasions for serving God you may meet on this day and to what temptations of offending Him you will be exposed, whether by anger, vanity or some other irregularity. By a holy resolution prepare yourself to make the best use of the means that will be offered to you to serve God and advance in devotion. On the other hand, carefully prepare to avoid, resist and overcome whatever may be encountered that is opposed to your salvation and God's glory. It is not sufficient simply to make this resolution; you must also prepare means of putting it into practice.

4. Ask God for help
This done, humble yourself in the presence of God and acknowledge that by yourself you can do none of the things you have decided on, whether of avoiding evil or of doing good. As though holding your heart in your hands, offer it along with all your good purposes to His Divine Majesty, beseeching Him to take it under His protection and strengthen it so that it may turn out successfully in His service. Do this by such unspoken words as the following or their like: "Lord, here is this wretched heart of mine, which through your goodness has conceived of many good affections. Alas, it is too weak and miserable to do the good that it desires to do unless You impart your heavenly blessing. For this purpose I humbly beg your blessing, O merciful Father, through the merits of the passion of your Son, in whose honor I consecrate this day and all the remaining days of my life."

As a footnote, St. Francis writes the following:
All these spiritual acts must be made briefly and fervently and if possible before leaving your room, so that by means of this exercise, whatever you do throughout the day may be watered by God's blessing. I beg you never to omit this exercise.

Love Wins


In this summer's Wednesday night Bible Study we are reviewing Rob Bell's book "Love Wins". I must say I have found it fascinating and the conversation most intriguing so far. As I'm only reading each weeks relevant chapter, I am withholding comment until the end...

Have you read it yet?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Hidden talents...

Celebrate your talents, whatever they are!



As a side note...Mel does a "peacock", which brought back memories. As a young bride, I moved to the family farm with my husband. As we were the only members of the family living here, it fell to us to take care of everything. Having been raised as a city girl, it was a wondrous adventure for me and I fell in love with everything to do with farm life. Unfortunately, most families cannot support themselves on the small rural farm so hubby and I both had "real" jobs.

I worked the evening shift and got off at 11pm. One night as I locked the car and walked to the house I heard strange noises from the barn lot. Not being brave enough to walk to the barn in the dark, I listened for a moment and then went on inside. When I saw hubby early the next morning, I told him that I had heard noises coming from the barn. His natural reaction was, "What did it sound like?"...How do you describe the noise of a peacock when you don't know what it is? I told him it sounded like something from the jungle...not a big cat, but something. His immediate response was, "It's a peafowl" (a term used in this area).

Low and behold we made our way to the barn and found that a male and female peacock had taken up residence. And they were beautiful! We kept these and others around for many years and enjoyed their sounds and the sight of tail feathers fully spread. Even today I cannot hear the sound of one without thinking of my first encounter.

Information...


about Jesus:
1. He turned water into wine (chemistry)
2. He was born without the act of "normal" conception (biology)
3. He disproved the law of gravity by ascending into Heaven (physics)
4. He disproved the law of diminishing return by feeding the 5,000 (economics)
5. He cured the sick and the blind and raised the dead with medication (medicine)
6. He is the Prince of Peace (government)
7. He had no servants yet they called Him Master.
8. He had no degree yet they called Him Teacher.
9. He had no medicine yet they called Him Healer.
10. He had no army yet kings feared Him.
11. He won no battles yet He conquered the world!

The Father has called Him Worthy, so should we.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Harry Potter, The Last...

The Vatican approves...

As for the content, evil is never presented as fascinating or attractive in the saga, but the values of friendship and of sacrifice are highlighted. In a unique and long story of formation, through painful passages of dealing with death and loss, the hero and his companions mature from the lightheartedness of infancy to the complex reality of adulthood.

A conversation...

Sherwood Schwartz was a success even by Hollywood's standards...

The Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch creator penned the goodbye as an account of what he expected to encounter upon reaching “the Pearly Gates” of heaven. In it, Schwartz recalls the day he met wife Mildred, the goals achieved by each of his four children, as well as his own long and rewarding career.

Read the rest here...

Given

Being Given

Jesus is given to the world. He was chosen, blessed, and broken to be given. Jesus' life and death were a life and death for others. The Beloved Son of God, chosen from all eternity, was broken on the cross so that this one life could multiply and become food for people of all places and all times.

As God's beloved children we have to believe that our little lives, when lived as God's chosen and blessed children, are broken to be given to others. We too have to become bread for the world. When we live our brokenness under the blessing, our lives will continue to bear fruit from generation to generation. That is the story of the saints - they died, but they continue to be alive in the hearts of those who live after them - and it can be our story too.
Henri Nouwen

Friday, July 15, 2011

Harry Potter

Thousands of people everywhere went to the first day showing of the final of the Harry Potter Movies..."The Deathly Hallows Part II"...Some attending our youth conference couldn't resist and skipped a workshop or two in order to find out how the director ends this highly successful series (no, I wasn't one of them...I'll wait and go with hubby when I get home).

The Busted Halo has an article asking, "Is Harry Potter Christian?" They've touched on aspects such as...is Harry the Christ figure?...“Finally, the truth. Lying with his face pressed into the dusty carpet of the office where he had once thought he was learning the secrets of victory, Harry understood at last that he was not supposed to survive. His job was to walk calmly into Death’s welcoming arms. Along the way, he was to dispose of Voldemort’s remaining links to life, so that when at last he flung himself, the end would be clean, and the job that ought to have been done in Godric’s Hollow would be finished: Neither would live, neither could survive.” (Deathly Hallows, page 691)

The series also shows a magnificent affinity for tolerance.... "Rowling wanted to take a different route and express more of the ambiguous and plural nature of religion immersed in a world of suffering — to probe questions of meaning rather than doctrine. For instance, one of the greatest themes of the series is tolerance (or social justice to use a Christian term). Harry’s relationship with inferior house elf, Dobby, is a good example and could be interpreted to be an allegory for immigration. Moreover, Dumbledore’s acceptance of the muggles symbolizes the difference and complexity that exist today."

Visit the article to read their take on other parts of the story...but all in all, I have always felt the books are a good example of right and wrong, love and friendship, those leading and those following and sacrifice. Can't wait to see the movie!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thursday....

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. We arrived at Purdue University yesterday afternoon just in time to hit the ground running. So far Youth 2011 has lived up to everything they told us it would be...

Being the great computer guru I am (NOT!)...I've been struggling with connecting via my grandson's IPad. Still unsuccessful but fortunately the University has provided a couple of PC's for general use. As you've probably figured out, that's how you're hearing from me...

Now that I know where they are, I promise to post more and more often!

Keep checking back...

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Patron Saint of the year....


For the last 3 years, I have visited this website right after New Years to be linked with a different patron saint for each year. Take a few moments to visit as it is just full of information for those of us who are part of denominations that do not focus on the Saints.

This year my saint is St. Benedict. My first thought was "Oh my, this year they've pulled out the big guns! I must really need help!" But as I read about him it became more evident why this was a good pairing.

In the last couple of years I have become more interested, or perhaps I should say called, to be more "inward" with my spirituality. The practices of the Divine Hours, a retreat, time spent in meditation and prayer. Lo and behold, St. Benedict is the patron saint of Western Monasticism! His "Holy Rule" is a basic "how to" guide for monasteries and those who live there...The Rule of Benedict (RB) constitutes the basic guide for thousands of Christians who are committed to the monastic movement.

According to the Order of St. Benedict website Many disciples of Jesus followed the Rule in the past and many still do so today. Written in the sixth century the Rule was followed in thousands of monasteries in Europe, so much so that the Church of the early Middle Ages, beginning especially in the ninth century, was characterized as monastic.

Yesterday was the Feast Day of St. Benedict...

Bible

by Rich Oster...The Story of Everything, in less than 5 minutes...Bravo Rich!

Monday, July 11, 2011

FWD:

I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended by the word crap but this song addresses on of my pet peeves...Keep in mind it is Weird Al Yankovic...but he does have something to say...

Youth 2011

From Wednesday to Sunday this week, our group will be attending Youth 2011 at Purdue University and unless I have issues with Grandson's IPad, I'll be posting from there during our stay...

In the meantime, this is a website telling what it's all about: Youth 2011

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Tour de France

Normally crop circles bring an element of mystery perhaps even fear but not this time!
The local farmers are using an unusual method to congratulate the riders in the Tour de France...

A life apart...


She has been a cloistered Nun for 84 years...she entered the convent the day the current Pope was born. After a lifetime of living "away" from the world...her thoughts.

"I know that many won’t understand my way of living, but I don’t understand any other."

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Football...

I'm not a huge pro football fan (prefer college games myself) but couldn't help getting a laugh from this video from the guys at "Funny or Die"...of course, to understand it you need to have watched the movie "Field of Dreams"...but who hasn't, right?

I'm posting this in honor of the thousands of fans who are now on pins and needles wondering whether or not the NFL will play this year...

A bridge too far?

A little something amazing for your Saturday morning...



According to the BBC
China has opened the world's longest sea bridge to general traffic.

The bridge spans 42.4km (26.3 miles) to connect the eastern coastal city of Qingdao to the suburb of Huangdao, in Jiaozhou Bay. It is expected to carry more than 30,000 cars a day, and will reportedly cut the commuting time between Qingdao and Huangdao by up to 30 minutes.

The bridge would easily cross the English Channel, which is 32km wide at its narrowest point.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Lashing out...

How do you react when you feel overwhelmed, afraid, frustrated, stressed out or angry? Do you want to lash out? Make someone hurt as much as you do? Does it matter who "they" are? Friend, stranger, relative, loved one?

Just one of the emotions described above can make you uncomfortable. But add two or three together and it can be agonizing. The only way we know to get it "out of our system" is to direct these feelings toward someone else. While it is human nature that our emotions will get the better of us from time to time, many times it is the "innocent bystander" who bears the brunt.

Naturally, lashing out is often followed by guilt...for berating someone else who probably doesn't deserve to be our victim. And that is what they are...a victim. Of emotions that run wild and out of control. We all know that hurtful words spoken can never be taken back. They are always there and can serve as a barrier between us. It will be oh so hard for the other person to believe that we care and have their best interests at heart if we use them this way.

Controlling our emotions takes strength...I cannot tell you the best way to control yours...I just know what works for me. Walking away...to place where I am alone and cannot send out my hurtful words to another. The energy used while walking takes energy away from my anger and frustration. After a while, I can look at the situation that caused my outburst with clear eyes and without leaving scars on a relationship. Perhaps it will work for you too.

Yes, you can...

Adam was a gymnast...before he lost his leg to cancer in 2009...looks like he's still a gymnast. Hurray for Adam and his indomitable spirit!


Reckless...


Just doing my part to keep the story alive...for all you history buffs and horse lovers...



She even has her own website

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Always a soldier...


The Army believes that after 39 years of service, Command Sargent Major Jeff Mellinger is the last draftee to retire.

Take a moment to read his story here...

All I can say is Thank you for your service!

Life...

According to Aubrey De Grey, the first person to live to 150 has already been born.

A biomedical gerontologist and chief scientist of a foundation dedicated to longevity research, de Grey reckons that within his own lifetime doctors could have all the tools they need to "cure" aging -- banishing diseases that come with it and extending life indefinitely.

He says,""But there really shouldn't be any limit imposed by how long ago you were born." You can read the rest of the article here

My question is, do you want to live this life forever?

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Saints...

Stop and consider that the real saints are hidden. They follow the little way. If you were to tell them they were a saint they would laugh and tell you to keep searching. If you even had the sense and discernment to see the saint next to you--the ordinary person who perseveres--the little person who serves others--the plain Jane who takes life easily and simply loves people, then you would learn again what true holiness really is. If we only had eyes to see the simplicity of the saints, the extraordinary ordinariness of holiness, the practical good humor and humility of the truly grace filled ones.

It is the little way that leads to salvation. Not the way of pride and pleasure and power. Not the way of wealth and the world. Not the way of ego and ambition.

Only the way of the cross.

When are we going to learn this?

Read the whole piece here...

More Babies...

I can't help it...just back from vacation...trying to get back into the routine of things...and up pops more laughing babies...
They are babies
They are twins
they laugh
in sync

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Our book study...

For the next several Wednesday nights, we won't be doing a "Bible" study at church...we're doing a book study. The chosen book is "Love Wins" by Rob Bell...


As part of our first discussion we spoke about the Bible and those who are considered to be the authors...Before you get upset, "God Inspired"...I get it...but who actually took pen in hand? While we will never have their names, and really the names are not necessary in the long run, it's long been debated that there were (4) types of author and well, I found it interesting that just after we had that discussion, I ran across this article.

Our book study is not to try and prove or disprove the Bible, it's not to question the Bible...our book study is to question how we read, understand and live the Words written there...and I, for one, can't wait for next week!

Sacred Space

I've mentioned this website before, but it's been a while.

As time passes, we see people spending more and more time immersed in technology. Believers know that God is everywhere...even in / on your computer / iPad! I just read an article that the Pope now has an iPad and is Tweeting!


For those who just don't seem to have the time for prayer on a regular work day...Sacred Space is just what you need...10 minutes of peace, quiet and prayer.

It is the work of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus. It originated in the offices of the Jesuit Communication Centre in Ireland in 1999. Being a ministry of the Irish Jesuits, it is inspired by the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (Ignatian spirituality).

I have visited often since I first discovered the site 5 years ago, why not give it a go?

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Baseball...

If you've ever had the opportunity to watch a performance by Cirque de Soleil, you know these are some amazing people with amazing abilities! What I didn't realize was their ability to disguise a pitch!



I spent a lot of years behind home plate while my daughter practiced pitching for her fast pitch softball teams...if she had pulled this wind up, I probably would NOT have caught it!

The Internet...




The last part of the video asks, "How has it changed your business?"...The church as a whole seems to have fought becoming a presence on the internet. Don't get me wrong...there are now thousands of blogs and web-sites dedicated to Christianity and the Church but we have been slow to utilize it's capabilities. I don't ever want it to replace attending church on Sunday morning or Bible Study on Wednesday night...but what about the other days of the week? And if we want to reach out to the younger generations, we MUST speak to them in ways that interest them...

We must communicate our message in every way possible...and if we do, people will listen!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Whales

I believe whales are one of God's most magnificent creatures and they have always fascinated me. Once in my life, I went "whale" watching and got to see them in their natural habitat...a 20 foot baby and 40 foot mama...it was one of the most awe inspiring events I have ever been a part of...

Just because it's Friday, I love them, it's the beginning of a holiday weekend and I'm off on a short vacation...

Humpback Whales Breeching...

Off to the races...

Nothing like a good "horse" race to start a holiday weekend!

Elephants!

Elephants are magnificent creatures. They are unique in the animal kingdom and even the youngest of children can recognize them. I never realized just how intelligent they really are...Matter of fact, they are intelligent enough to even be manipulative...watch the video and you'll see what I mean...