Sharing My Faith

I'm in a small group on Monday nights led by Jim and Susan Rigano We've had a break because of the holidays and I'm looking forward to meeting again next week We've decided to do a study "Share Jesus Without Fear" It seems to be something that is hard for alot of us to do on a consistent basis It takes us out of our comfort zones
I read a book called "Coffehouse Gospel" which did an excellent job in showing how important this is and even showed examples of how Matthew Paul Turner shared his faith I'm curious to see how this study will compare I'm not a believer in Step 1,2,3 approach which it has but I found some things when I was looking through the study that are right on target

"There are two kinds of people in our churches
Those who talk about the lost
Those who talk to the lost
A lost friends life depends on knowing the truth"

"Success is living the Christian life day by day, sharing the gospel, and trusting God for the results. Success is not bringing someone to Christ"


Why are we so afraid to reach out to those who need to know the truth ? Why do we stay silent? Why do some of us isolate ourselves in our Christian groups and never reach out past those walls of the church or our homes?
Something to think about as you go through your week

"If you love"

"If you love something set it free
If it comes back it's yours..If it doesn't it never was"

Do you believe this?

I learned this the hard way with many of my relationships when I was younger It's not an easy thing to let someone go There's always that chance they won't come back and your heart is broken

I think God knows what this feels like
He loved us enough to set us free and allowed us to choose to accept Him or not If we come back we are one of His children for eternity If not..we are separated from Him for eternity and His heart is broken for us

Good article

Have you ever read something where it just clicked with you? That's what happened when I read this article this morning It's called "Looking for Answers In An Ask-Assertive World" by Spencer Burke He is the creator of a web site called THE OOZE
This guy knows what he's talking about :)

The Art of Encouragement

"An encourager is able to stand beside someone else to give hope and the motivation to persevere through difficult times....In order to experience comfort and have it flow through us, we must suffer some heartache. There is power in the touch of a person who has been in the valley. A person who experiences pain does not offer empty words, but hope"

I think that's what makes my friends so special They know what I'm going through because many times they've been there They've had those fears,worries, doubts, You're more likely to listen to someone who has been through it and survived :)

"If we can view our heartache as a class in God's university that will yield us a degree in encouragement, much of the sting will dissipate. The Lord teaches us to place our trust in Him alone, and then we can pass that wisdom on to others."

"The most effective encouragers are those who say, "There was nothing I could do but cry out to God. Let me tell you what the Lord did in response to my cry" If we try to escape pain, we will miss out on the principles that can be learned only from suffering; then we cannot be useful to others. God builds encouragers from the material of a life willing to be broken"

I pray that God continues to use me as an encouragement to my friends even if it's painful to go through some of the experiences , it's worth it to be able to reach out to those who are hurting.. christian or non christian

Light vs Darkness

He Reigns
By Newsboys

'Cuz all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word

"Which is stronger, darkness or light? Some would say darkness is stronger because it is so prevalent in our universe. But darkness has yet to stop the sun from shining. Darkness is what comes when the light is gone, but darkness itself has to flee whenever the light shines.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the light that gives life and that this "light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."John 1:5, NLT"

God=light
Satan=darkness
God always wins :)
A good thing to remember if you are in a dark place spiritually

Blessing of the Hands

At work today they offered a service in the interfaith chapel called "Blessing of the Hands"
It sounded Catholic based but it was nothing like that
It was a very beautiful ceremony When you walked in there were candles lit and a circle of chairs
In the middle were about 20 various carvings,statues and pictures of hands of all kinds and colors
2 of the chaplains read all the different ways that various hands of everyone in the hospital work to minister to those who are in need from housekeeping to the surgeon
One of the chaplains reminded me of Maya Angelou
At the end you formed 2 lines and they held our hands and prayed for us
It was a touch of hands that reached the heart It was very intimate and very spiritual

"No other hands can touch in quite the same way as yours
Blessed are your hands to be instruments of healing,hope, and peace"

Tyler and Dylan "Are you?" Happy 18th Birthday

The big 18! I hope you have a great day At least you get off of school early to celebrate even if you do have to work Lucky!(in Napolean voice)
Tyler I haven't forgotten about making your present
Make sure you give your mom an extra big hug today She'll be a little sad to see her "babies" turn 18 :)

Friendship

I am blessed with very special friendships I had a bad day Sunday I was angry and hurt I feel much better and that's because of my friends They were concerned about me, they prayed for me , they gave me advice , and they made me laugh when I didn't feel like laughing I tend to let things bother me when I just need to let it go It's something that is hard for me and I need to work on Thank you to all of my special friends who let me know they cared

"When others are happy be happy with them. If they are sad share their sorrow" Romans 12:15

A Better Day?

I spent alot of yesterday doing nothing but sleeping and spending time with my family watching football I feel better this morning There's a small glimmer of light shining through my dark cloud
I found my verses for the week to follow

"Do not let any unwhoesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen And do not grieve the Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness,rage,and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:29-32

So I guess I need to forgive the person who pissed me off yesterday:)

One comment

I wasn't going to post anything because I'm in such a crappy mood but I thought maybe it would make me feel better
Why is that 1 comment from 1 person can change a mood from good to bad? The funny thing is this person has no clue that what they said did that nor will I tell them
Anyway tomorrow is another day

Love the Sinner

“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30 Luke 10:27

I love the writings of Matthew Paul Turner I've read both of his books and he usually has an article once a week in Relevant Magazine
I read his article in Relevant Magazine this morning How many times have you been at church and heard complaints about kids in the youth group..how they're dressed,their hair, their earrings, their music,their language I know I have been guilty with the language I get on my own kids for using the word "sucks" alot I'm not saying you have to agree or support use of bad language but if you're constantly criticizing what they do wrong and not giving encouragement and love.. you will have no impact on them.. they won't listen to you or respect you.. in fact they'll avoid you and possibly even the church

"Christians today spend too much time analyzing and judging the lifestyles of people rather than looking for a way to love them. What Dennis said to me made sense then—and it’s a part of my lifestyle now. I was putting too much time and effort into seeking out the “sin” of those kids instead of looking for an opportunity to show them the unconditional love of Christ.

All of us need to lighten up with those who don’t know Jesus. How can we expect people who are not Christian to act like or take on the characteristics of Christians? We can’t enforce that. But we can seek out opportunities to love them. And the need for love is all around us. All we must do is ask Jesus to open our eyes and give us the ability to see humanity as He sees it.

However, asking God to open your eyes may be overwhelming at first. So, beware. When humans begin to truly see the world around us with the eyes of Christ, the simple things in life look differently. You’ll find yourself aching over situations you once ignored. Your heart will reach out to those who would have once walked by. You’ll begin to see people not as strangers, but as men and women who might need you to engage them. A simple elevator ride to the fourteenth floor becomes an opportunity to meet people and create relationships. Remember, you might be the only representation of Christ that person sees for the next 24 hours—learn to love them. Ask God for the ability to truly love them."

Matthew Paul Turner is the author of The Coffeehouse Gospel and The Christian Culture Survival Guide. You can contact him at matthew@matthewpaulturner.com .]








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You just need to know how to love

I love what this article says Develop friendships,relationships and just love the person God will take care of their heart I believe that with all my heart


Jesus Saves
by John Fischer



Having a mission in life is what being purpose-driven is all about; being someone’s mission in life is something else entirely. It’s an important distinction.


Have you ever been someone’s mission in life? Maybe it was to get you to do something or go somewhere, or make some change in your life. The only way you can accept something like this is if you know, deep down, the person on a mission really loves you and wants the best for you even though you think they might be wrong about what that is. If you are uncertain about how the person on a mission feels about you, you will undoubtedly be devalued by this experience. You will feel that it isn’t you they care about as much as their mission for you that is paramount. You will feel like an agenda on their “to do” list or a target of their hunt.


I know of good relationships between believers and unbelievers, and I know of bad. The good ones are the result of a genuine loving and accepting of each other that goes both ways. These relationships can last a long time (a lifetime, for that matter) without any change in either one’s position. For that to happen, does the believer have to keep his or her beliefs secret or in the background? Not at all. The deciding factor will be not that these two are working towards agreement, but that they love and respect each other regardless. If the love and respect is strong, the believer can relate anything about personal faith to the other.


This is the model Christians need to follow for relationships with those who are not Christians—even those who are strongly anti-Christian. This is especially true for long term relationships with neighbors, co-workers and family members who share differing beliefs. Sometimes I wonder if our primary motive for evangelism is to get people on our side, or to love them into the kingdom of eternal life.


This is when a sense of mission for Christians sometimes has a tendency to go somewhat awry. When it becomes our mission to save people, people can easily become targets, projects, assignments, or serve a host of other utilitarian purposes. The problem with this is that people become a means to an end. The end is to save everyone, to preach to everyone, to warn everyone, or in some way fulfill an obligation.


Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: we don’t save anyone. Only Jesus saves. Our calling is to love God and our neighbors. In the process of loving our neighbors, we will inevitably introduce them to Jesus. (There’s no way you can love someone and not tell them about the most important thing in your life.) What happens then is God’s business, but we will be a witness to what we know of God to those who are compelled to ask. In the meantime, our mission is to keep on loving our neighbors, regardless.


Love is truly our highest calling. It relates to all people saved or unsaved, regardless of religion, race or gender. Love as God loves and you will not go wrong. When love is the goal, everything else gets done in the process.


John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.

Cancer : a scary word

Cancer Now Top Killer of Americans
Thursday, January 20, 2005
By Daniel J. DeNoon



Cancer has surpassed heart disease to become the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to new statistics released today by the American Cancer Society

The group predicts that 1,372,910 Americans this year will hear the words "you've got cancer." And, the group says, in 2005 cancer will kill 570,280 Americans — more than 1,500 a day.

Despite cancer's spot as America's No. 1 cause of death, the overall U.S. cancer death rate actually has been going down. Why? More widespread cancer screening and better cancer treatment, says Elizabeth Ward, PhD, director of surveillance research for the American Cancer Society.

"We can say with confidence that both are occurring," Ward tells WebMD. "The declines in the cancer mortality rate are due to earlier detection and to improvements in treatment."

Breast cancer causes a third of all cancers in women. It's their second leading cause of cancer death. But here, too, death rates are going down — again largely due to more women getting screening mammograms and to advances in treatment.

I can tell you from personal experience that when you hear those words "You've got cancer" it takes your breath away Those who know me know that a year ago Feb 18 I was told that I had breast cancer(over the phone while I was at work) I basically went into shock and became hysterical After meeting with my surgeon and lots of prayer I found out that there was a good chance that it wasn't a "true" cancer I had an open biopsy procedure and he removed a golf ball size area which came back benign I feel blessed but also anxious as my next mammogram is scheduled in 2 weeks

Today at work I talked with a coworker who had her 1st mammogram because of what happened with me Her mammogram also came back abnormal and she will be having a biopsy to determine if it is a tumor I sat and talked with her about her feelings and fears and the procedure I know how she feels I've been there I hope I gave her some comfort and I will be praying for her this next week as she goes through what I did last year
I pray her results are as positive as mine were Even though it makes me nervous to go through this again in February I know how important it is

Early detection is the key and prayer is powerful

What we say and do

"The greatest single cause of atheirsm in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable" dc talk

Your biggest testimony for Christ is your relationships with others and your own attitude toward the world What you say and do affects those around you.. sometimes without you realizing it

Last night I babysat for a friend who had preemie twins in September If you want to see what complete trust looks like hold and feed a 4 month old baby ..I realized that's the kind of trust God wants from me.. I need to work harder at it to get the peace I'm searching for and to become that person thats "believable"

Peaks and Valleys

We all have peaks and valleys in life Sometimes it's tough to see the light when you're in that low point(valley) I didn't sleep well last night God seems to be working on my heart but I'm not sure where he's leading me I have a gnawing anxiety As I was lying in bed the line "Why so downcast O my soul" kept going through my head I got up this morning and there it was in my devotional so here it is

"Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God
Psalm 42

Prayer for Danielle and Kathy

Darrell and I went to eat lunch today at Original Pancake House(on 725 next to the new Chick Fil A) We like to eat there when we're in the mood for breakfast food They have the best pancakes/crepes and fried potatoes All the bad things but they're good Anyway there is a waitress Barbara whom we met a couple of montbs ago who is a Christian We always pray before we eat and that's how she came to ask us about our faith We always try to sit in her station if we can Today she asked if we would pray for her 11 yr old niece Danielle She will be having back surgery on Feb 15th at Children's Hospital for scoliosis so please keep her in prayer
Also, our secretary, Kathy Wallace, is having the exact same surgery this Friday at Miami Valley Hospital so please keep her in prayer as well They usually spend a minimum of 2 days in ICU and will be in alot of pain Recovery is months as well

Aloneness

This was in my email this morning How many times have we all seen someone like this I always wonder what happened to that person to make them the way they are Alot of rejection and pain I would guess God never meant for us to be alone but there are alot of people walking around like this man without a friend ..not even God ..how sad It makes you think and hopefully reach out to that person the next time you see them



One-sided Relationship
by John Fischer



I’m one of those people who believe that relationships wouldn’t be any problem if they didn’t have to involve other people. I get along real well with myself. Myself and I rarely have any conflicts. We always seem to agree on what we want to do, and we are definitely in total harmony about our favorite subject: me. The minute you throw another person into this, you introduce conflict. That other person might as well be another universe of ideas, feelings, opinions, and ways of doing things.


Ironically I’m writing this in a Starbucks in Riverside, California and the whole time I’ve been playing with these thoughts there has been a man right outside the window with a backpack, bed roll and small tote bag, staring at the ground, pacing back and forth by my window muttering constantly to himself. He is a slight man, unshaven, and most likely homeless. He had been pacing for about ten minutes. Finally he puts his stuff down and comes in the door and stands to the side still muttering. He’s not in line; he’s just there. After only a minute or so, he barks something unintelligible to no one in particular—a kind of concluding statement to whatever it was he was saying or doing there—and goes back outside, picks up his stuff and walks away continuing his own animated conversation with himself.


I watched this whole scenario as I wrote the former paragraph, not realizing that I was viewing a sad expression in real life of the exaggeration I just presented. To be sure, this one-man relationship was an overstatement, but it still rings a kind of morbid truth inside me about who I am without God’s redemption, and if left alone, who I might even choose to be. It is a sobering reality that I think the Holy Spirit put in front of me to see this person. Want to be totally into yourself? This is what it looks like. I watched him walk away with a great deal of sadness. I understand.


I will keep this in my mind as the end of my attempts at solving anything through isolation. I can go on my way muttering, or I can engage with those around me. I can set aside my stuff and enter into someone else’s universe. Who knows, maybe that’s where he was headed. I hope so. It’s awful being that alone.


John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.






© 2004 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

A strong christian man shot down in the prime of his life We are a better nation because of him and I for one am glad we are celebrating his life today with a national holiday...he deserves it


Martin Luther King, Jr. Quick Facts

American clergyman and civil rights leader
Birth January 15, 1929
Death April 4, 1968
Place of Birth Atlanta, Georgia
Known for Leading the civil rights movement in the United States
Advocating nonviolent protest against segregation and racial discrimination
Milestones 1954 Selected as pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama
1955 Received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University
1955-1956 Led a successful effort to desegregate Montgomery, Alabama, buses
1957 Helped found and served as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
1958 Published Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
1963 Wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail," arguing that it was his moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws
1963 Delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech to civil rights marchers at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
1964 Won the Nobel Peace Prize
1965 Organized a mass march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, that created national support for federal voting-rights legislation
1968 Was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
Quote "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." August, 1963, in a speech to civil rights supporters at the March on Washington.
Did You Know King's nonviolent doctrine was strongly influenced by the teachings of Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi.
In 1964, King became the first black American to be honored as Time magazine's Man of the Year.
King's efforts were not limited to securing civil rights; he also spoke out against poverty and the Vietnam War.

Reaching the lost

"Are we being faithful to God's Word if we keep communicating it in an out-dated style that fails to reach people?
We must be willing to say with unreserved commitment, "We'll do whatever it takes to reach people for Christ
Too many of us are othodox in our beliefs, but unfaithful to Christ because we refuse to change programs, methods,styles of worship,or even locations in order to reach a lost world for Him."

I think alot of the time God needs you out of that comfort zone in order to reach the lost

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" Matthew 18:12

New Bed....New heart

It's 4:00 am and I can't sleep We got a new bed yesterday which is part of the reason When you sleep in a waterbed for 20 yrs, i think my new bed will take some time even though it's way more comfortable and I can't feel every position change Darrell makes He's still a bed/cover hog though :) and yes, he still snored Tyler ;0

The main reason I can't sleep though is because God woke me up to pray There are alot of things on my heart..actually people....most of them I know and love very much but there is one little boy that I do not know He is 9 yrs old and he is in a very difficult family situation Please pray for this little boy Pray that God intervenes quickly and especially that this little boy knows how much God loves and cares for him

"The Outsider"

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday rejected a challenge brought by atheist Michael Newdow to stop the invocation prayer at President Bush's second inauguration.
On Thursday, Newdow told U.S. District Judge John Bates that having a minister invoke God in the Jan. 20 ceremony would violate the Constitution by forcing him to accept unwanted religious beliefs.

Newdow became famous in 2002 for his unsuccessful attempt to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. Two years earlier, he also tried to stop the prayer in Bush's first inauguration, but lost in two federal courts.

The government had asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (search) to dismiss the current lawsuit, saying the invocation had been widely accepted for more than 200 years old.

Two ministers delivered Christian invocations at Bush's inaugural ceremony in 2001, and plans call for a minister to do the same before Bush takes the oath of office again next week.

In court, Newdow argued that the prayers violate the constitutional ban on the establishment of religion.

I am going to be standing there having this imposed on me," Newdow told the court by phone on Thursday. "They will be telling me I'm an outsider at that particular moment."


This is a very very sad man seeking attention How do you reach someone like this?
He needs prayer.. the very thing he fights against

Fatherhood

I found a book not too long ago that I thought did an excellent job in explaining the important role of being a dad It's called "You have what it takes What every father needs to know" by John Eldredge
It's only 52 pages and very small but it has priceless advice in it It talks about the 2 important questions a father needs to answer ....
If you have a son the question is "Do I have what it takes?" The answer:" You have what it takes you are a man"
For a daughter the question is "Am I lovely?" The answer:"Yes you are lovely"
It's not to say that a mother's role isn't important and that her answer to those questions isn't important but it's their dad who their truly looking for that answer and how you answer that shapes the rest of their lives
Many men have broken relationships with their own fathers and that's when they need to go to God to heal those wounds and to hear that answer that they didn't hear from their fathers "You have what it takes you are a man"

I have 2 children a girl and a boy and I can tell you from my experience that this is sooooo true and I'm blessed to have a husband who knew how to answer those questions without a book
My son, Zach looks to Darrell for that affirmation and love that he is a man When he was on sports teams it was always important to him that Darrell was there cheering him on ,letting him know what a great job he did
My daughter,Kristen is the ultimate "Daddy's girl" His approval on what she looks like , her clothes, her hair, etc are always important and he goes over and beyond to make her feel special to buy that special dress or that pair of shoes(Kristen has a shoe addiction :)

I found his insight on women getting flowers to be right on target

"Why are flowers such a big deal for women? I have been sent flowers once in my life,, and I thought it was weird. But my wife loves to get flowers. Have you ever wondered why? Because of what it says. I'm thinking of you ...I delight in you. "
God answered this question when Christ was baptized "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" Matthew 3:17
It's never too late to let your kids know "they have what it takes" and that "they are lovely"

Mother Teresa's words of wisdom

When our alarm goes off Darrell has it set on 1410 Espn radio There is a guy who pays to be able to get on there for 30 minutes and rant about his faith Not too long ago he got on there and basically slammed Mother Teresa for being "works oriented" It made me sick I feel he's doing more harm to christianity than good with his comments
Mother Teresa didn't do "works" to earn her way to heaven She had a true heart for God's love which led her to love those who were in need
She "got it" This man doesn't
There is no doubt in my mind that Mother Teresa is in heaven

Mother Teresa once said, “If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not that God didn't care for them, but because you and I didn't give, were not an instrument of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing; because we did not recognize Him, when once more Christ came in distressing disguise, in the hungry man, in the lonely man, in the homeless child, and seeking for shelter.”

The end of my work week and a new bed

I have a different schedule than most people I job share and we switch on Wednesdays I will work from Wed to Wed (with weekends off) and then I'm off Thursday to Wednesday It makes it nice if I want to go somewhere because I don't have to use my vacation time I'm planning a trip in March to see my sister who lives in Vermont(the home of Ben and Jerry's ice cream!)
This has been a long week I think its the weather and I've had alot of difficult situations at work with my patients no family support, no finances,etc Depression is a huge factor with diabetes because its something you have to live with sometimes with huge lifestyle changes and it doesn't go away Alot of times I'm a counselor as well as an educator
I always try to find something to look forward to and this week its a new bed I have slept on a waterbed for 20 yrs and on Friday I'm getting a new "real bed" I'm excited It's also king size Darrell is a huge bed hog! I seem to always end up in the rail there is no rail on this bed so it will be the floor Zach gets to inherit the waterbed so he's thrilled Poor thing sleeps on this tiny twin size bed right now that he's had since he was out of a crib
So we're all looking forward to our new beds on Friday and some time off to regroup

A Raw Deal

I've started reading a book by Chip Ingram called " I Am With You Always Experiencing God in Times of Need" Each chapter gives a description of a situation that Christians struggle with and uses the book of Psalms to help with the answer to those struggles
The first chapter deals with when you get a raw deal when something happens to you that you don't feel you deserved "Who betrayed you? Who gossiped about you? Who did something unfair to you at work? Who has talked behind your back at church? Who said things that weren't even true, but others believed them, which hurt you deeply?"

I think we've all been here at one time some of us more than we would like He uses the Psalm 73 to help comfort those feelings

"Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:23-26

A Choice in letting go

Roger told a story about a mother who was holding on to her two small children, one 2 and one 5, during the Tsuanami and realized to survive she would have to let go of one He related that to the decision God had to make to let go of Christ to save us,his lost children
The story really pierced my heart I couldn't stop thinking about it yesterday and this morning
I have 2 children..how would I react?
It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it

I can't imagine having to make that decision as a mother and God making that decision as our Father.
It just makes it so real the sacrifice that was made for us
I'm glad there was a happy ending in both cases Her little boy,Lucky,survived and Christ lives today

Breathe in God.. Breathe out self
Let God fill you and work through you today

"The Perks of being a wallflower"

I read a book yesterday at the suggestion of my friend Mike called "The Perks of being a wallflower It is one of the best written books I've read for a while It's not a christian book It's a book about the struggles of being a teenager and the issues and friendships that are dealt with There are several main characters in the book and I'm sure that anyone reading this can relate to one or all of the characters espcecially the main character Charlie It's written in diary form which makes it even more personal

My favorite line out of the book describes a wallflower
"He's a wallflower..."You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand."
I think there are times we all need to be a wallflower

You'll always be loved

"Don't cry tonight my baby don't cry tonight you're not alone Don't cry tonight you'll always be loved Don't cry sweet baby Don't cry Cause you'll still be loved"

"Don't Cry" Seal




"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38-39

Fat vs Fit Move to Seattle

I can't believe that Columbus,Ohio and Indianapolis are on the fat list That definitely means Dayton is right up there I'm ready to move to Honolulu Espcially with the ugly weather we're having here There is hope though Cleveland is #24 on the fit list This is like the 5th year Houston has been #1 on the fat list There's definitely a problem there Too many chips and salsa


America's Fittest and Fattest Cities
Thursday, January 06, 2005


SEATTLE — Seattle has been named the fittest city in the United States in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine, leaping past the buff competition from Honolulu, Colorado Springs, San Francisco and Denver.

Exercising faithfully and shunning fast food boosted Seattle (search) to the top from No. 6 last year, Men's Fitness Editor in Chief Neal Boulton said.

"Eighty-five percent of Seattle residents get some exercise every month, and that's a really significant thing," Boulton said. The city's jittery love affair with espresso might fuel some of that activity, he noted: "There's not only a lot of it, it's pretty darn strong."

In its nonscientific Seventh Annual Fattest and Fittest Cities Report, the magazine compares 50 cities by weighing 14 factors, including fast food restaurants per capita, TV watching, air quality, and parks. In Seattle, for example, sporting goods stores and gyms outnumber fast food joints — a key statistic.

Houston (search) was named the fattest city for the fourth time in five years, followed by Philadelphia, Detroit, Memphis and Chicago.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels praised the city's many walking trails and called the fitness of his fellow residents "inspirational."




Lists of Fittest, Fattest Cities
Thursday, January 06, 2005

The fittest and fattest cities in the United States, according to a survey in the February issue of Men's Fitness magazine:

FITTEST CITIES

1. Seattle

2. Honolulu

3. Colorado Springs, Colo.

4. San Francisco

5. Denver

6. Portland, Ore.

7. Sacramento, Calif.

8. Tucson, Ariz.

9. San Diego

10. Albuquerque, N.M.

11. Boston

12. Virginia Beach, Va.

13. Minneapolis

14. Fresno, Calif.


15. Milwaukee

16. Omaha, Neb.

17. San Jose, Calif.

18. Jacksonville, Fla.

19. Austin, Texas

20. Oakland, Calif.

21. Los Angeles

22. Arlington, Texas

23. Washington, D.C.

24. Cleveland, Ohio

25. Nashville-Davidson, Tenn.

FATTEST CITIES

1. Houston

2. Philadelphia

3. Detroit

4. Memphis, Tenn.

5. Chicago

6. Dallas

7. New Orleans

8. New York

9. Las Vegas

10. San Antonio

11. El Paso, Texas

12. Phoenix

13. Indianapolis

14. Fort Worth, Texas

15. Mesa, Ariz.

16. Columbus, Ohio

17. Wichita, Kan.

18. Kansas City, Mo.

19. Miami

20. Long Beach, Calif.

21. Oklahoma City, Okla.

22. Tulsa, Okla.

23. Atlanta

24. Charlotte, N.C.

25. Baltimore

A Simpler Life

Our lives get so busy that we forget why we're actually here sometimes My grandparents both grew up on farms and sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to live in those times where you're not always in a hurry to get somewhere
My dishwasher is broken and isn't repairable right now so I'm washing dishes by hand ..back to a simpler way Honestly right now I don't mind it ... It gives me time to slow down and think

Rain

Continuous grey skies and rain I'm really hoping for a break I have a hard time keeping a positive attitude with this kind of weather January is a long grey month and I need some sun! "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
I'm praying for some sun right now

Reading the Bible

I am reading a book called "Searching For God Knows What"by Donald Miller He just seems to know how to get to the heart of faith I really liked this section on reading the bible The tendency always seems to be that we overanalyze every verse and argue about its meaning instead of reading it and absorbing it as you would a poem and realizing that God is talking to you ..take time to really listen

"While having dinner with a friend recently she commented that the primary concern for Christians today is to translate the precepts of Scripture for a postmodern audience. And I don't know what postmodern means, but I kindly disagreed with her and wondered out loud if we didn't need to stop translating the Bible for a modern audience, an audience endeared to the simplification of reality, an audience that likes to memorize lists in an attempt to understand God. Perhaps if we stop reducing the text to formulas for personal growth, we can read it as stories of imperfect humans having relations with a perfect God and come to understand the obvious message He is communicating to mankind.....
I wonder what it would have been like to have studied the Bible and not been tainted by lists and charts and formulas that cause you to look for ideas and infer notions that may or may not be in the text, all the while ignoring the poetry, the blood and pain of the narrative, and the depth of emotion with which God communicates His truth.....
It wouldn't bother me at all to read the Bible without the charts and lists because a person could read the Bible, not to become smart, but rather to feel that they are not alone, that somebody understands them and loves them enought to speak to them--on purpose--in a way that makes a person feel human."

Setting goals

Back to the routines of life
My kids are getting ready for school I made their lunches(they're spoiled) and this is my quiet day of prayer and study
Yesterday Roger talked about setting faith goals and I realized that even though I am one of the ones he talked about that hates to set New Year Resolutions, setting faith goals is important
It makes you accountable to yourself and to God
God has a plan for us but he never meant that we slide through life with no purpose or plan..we need to be a passionate active participant in that plan
So this morning I will be doing alot of praying and soul searching...a routine I'm looking forward to getting back into

Super Size Me

I love McDonalds french fries Ask anyone in my family If you gave me a choice of where to eat fast food I pick McDonalds every time because of the fries...but I've eaten my last fry
I watched the documentary "Super Size Me" by Morgan Spulock What an eye opener! For 30 days Morgan eats McDonalds 3 times a day as an experiment to see the effect it has on your body This guy was the specimen of health before he started. His weight and BMI were excellent;Lab work,EKG and physical exam were all excellent. He was followed by 3 physicians, a cardiologist,an internal/family practice , and a gastroenterologist plus a dietician Within 12 days he gained 17 lbs and his lab work started to become concerning. By the end they were practically begging the guy to stop because of the physical effects and changes in his cholesterol and liver function tests. He makes it entertaining with all the interviews and "odd characters" he meets. There is a guy who honestly eats 2 big macs a day and proposed to his wife in McDonalds Sick!
It was shortly after this came out at Sundance that McDonalds stopped "supersizing" It took this guy 1 year to lose the 25 lbs he gained in 30 days
I'm a junk food junkie but I will be avoiding fast food after watching this !

2005

I can remember thinking about this year in 1986 I had just had Kristen in November and I remember figuring out the year she would graduate..2005 It seemed so far away then and now here it is ...in 5 months she will graduate and go off to college I have mixed emotions It will be a tough year emotionally for me
Darrell andI went to a movie and to dinner with Kristen and her boyfriend Tyler last night If you go to see "Meet the Fockers" don't take young kids or you'll have alot of explaining to do :) Barbara Streisand is a sex therapist for senior citizens and Robert DeNiro develops something to "breastfeed" his grandson and I'll just leave it at that
We ate at Encore Cafe and Kristen wasn't feeling well so she went to lie in the car for awhile Darrell and I chatted with Tyler about going off to college and it sounds like his mom and I are having the same emotions You're excited for them but at the same time you know how much you'll miss them Darrell and I have already planned our 1st trip to visit on Sept 11th Brennan Manning is speaking in Knoxville,Tennessee. He is an amazing writer and speaker He wrote a book called the Ragamuffin Gospel . Knoxville is only about 40 minutes from Lee :)
I'm looking forward to this year I know this will be a big year of change and growth
I read something this morning that said "Unless you try something beyond what you've already mastered, you won't grow Some days it'll feel like 2 steps forward and 3 back but don't give up"
"I keep working towards that day when I will finally be all that Christ wants me to be" Philippians 3:12
Kristen needs to go off to college I know that in my heart God is leading her to great things at Lee and I have to let her work toward that day when she develops into the woman Christ wants her to be..but it's hard to let go
2005 will be a growing year for all of us