And click here.
I thought this was very well done. The statistics are staggering.
Seriously, 81% of 10 year olds, that brings me to tears.
Identity.
People Pleasing.
Control.
Stewardship.
Truth.
Creation or Creator.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Desiring a Dose of Dickens
"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!" ~ C.D.
I love that quote.
So, last year Jeannie and I took Becki (German Becki, HI BECKI!! We'll miss you this year) to this production because I in all my earthly wisdom decided it was a very American Christmas thing to do - take the German girl to see an English play, ya ok so my earthly wisdom doesn't amount to much. We're all surprised. It only got better when the very friendly guy sitting next to us starting talking to us at intermission. He was trying to talk to Becki as well at which time I intervened for her as she was so shy in her ability to speak English with folks.
Upon finding out Becki was from Germany he went about telling us how his grandfather fought against the Germans in WW II. That was a bit on the awkward side, but nothing as you all well know that I've not grown accustomed to. Oh Becki, it won't be the same with out you!!!! Wish we could fly you over, what a bunch of laughs that was.
Oh and don't forget how Jeannie more/less sorta got schmoosed into getting un-violently mugged. We'd all just been washed of our cynicism, our hope in man-kind rekindled, de-scrooged if you will. It was a very vulnerable moment. I think that guy specifically cased out the theater knowing we'd all be easy targets. By the time I starting scratching my head and figured out what had happened and got the full story there wasn't much that could be done but laugh, embracing my 35 seconds of bliss prior to the firm reestablishment of my cynicism.
So, if you haven't checked facebook, I'm buying tickets for the 3 p.m. show on Nov. 22nd. Last year was SO GREAT. The theater was great the production was great, oh my. I can't say enough how great it was. So come go with me! I guarantee enjoyment will be found.
Bring 40 bucks with you to class on Sunday. I'll order tickets soon!
I love that quote.
So, last year Jeannie and I took Becki (German Becki, HI BECKI!! We'll miss you this year) to this production because I in all my earthly wisdom decided it was a very American Christmas thing to do - take the German girl to see an English play, ya ok so my earthly wisdom doesn't amount to much. We're all surprised. It only got better when the very friendly guy sitting next to us starting talking to us at intermission. He was trying to talk to Becki as well at which time I intervened for her as she was so shy in her ability to speak English with folks.
Upon finding out Becki was from Germany he went about telling us how his grandfather fought against the Germans in WW II. That was a bit on the awkward side, but nothing as you all well know that I've not grown accustomed to. Oh Becki, it won't be the same with out you!!!! Wish we could fly you over, what a bunch of laughs that was.
Oh and don't forget how Jeannie more/less sorta got schmoosed into getting un-violently mugged. We'd all just been washed of our cynicism, our hope in man-kind rekindled, de-scrooged if you will. It was a very vulnerable moment. I think that guy specifically cased out the theater knowing we'd all be easy targets. By the time I starting scratching my head and figured out what had happened and got the full story there wasn't much that could be done but laugh, embracing my 35 seconds of bliss prior to the firm reestablishment of my cynicism.
So, if you haven't checked facebook, I'm buying tickets for the 3 p.m. show on Nov. 22nd. Last year was SO GREAT. The theater was great the production was great, oh my. I can't say enough how great it was. So come go with me! I guarantee enjoyment will be found.
Bring 40 bucks with you to class on Sunday. I'll order tickets soon!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
From behind the bar and back
It's been an item of conversation somewhat regularly it seems. And, if you missed out on all those I was once a "bar-maid." At a time in my life when Jesus was about the furthest thing from my mind it was but one of my occupations of choice while finishing my B.S. *I do not advise this course of action, the bar-maid part, feel free to pursue higher education, it comes highly recommended*
It's funny how things run together sometimes. I'm teaching a serious to the Jr. High ladies for the last two and the next two weeks: "Leaders Serve." Tonight we discussed the power behind our service: The Holy Spirit. I have a book from RBP (regular Baptist Press) that I use to help me build lessons. It brought me to some texts I thought peculiar for the topic, namely the verse I've come to know as one of the "no drinking" texts.
Ephesians 5:18
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
Now, I'm not here to open the "should we drink or not" can of worms and I'd ask we don't. This post is not a public forum for airing your thoughts about it. The point is this: I've always read the first sentence which leads me to the stance that many take: we should abstain from alcohol. I think that notion has overshadowed my coupling the first sentence with the second.
I wonder if I've been missing the big picture from this text forever, it sure seems like I have. The former bar-maid has seen her share of folks under the influence of alcohol. It's often not difficult to spot them. They walk different, talk different, act different etc, because they have alcohol in large quantities residing in their bodies. Their poor liver can't possibly metabolize it at the speed they're consuming and the alcohol starts influencing their ability to function.
So this verse says don't be under the influence of alcohol in that way, but instead be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Yes?
Are my actions as such that someone could pick me out as under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the way I once picked out those under the influence of alcohol?
Can I pick out Christians the way I can pick out those that have had too much to drink? Maybe I've got this all screwed up, maybe I've totally missed the target. I'm not a Bible scholar, we all know that, but it's given me enough pause to think it over.
I learn so much more studying for those lessons than those poor girls that have to listen to be stumble through presenting it. I'm quite certain.
I hope maybe some days someone might see something and think she's clearly under some sort of positive influence, but I'm thinking it may not be as often as I'd like. It continues to amaze me how the Word of God works. How many times I've read that verse and never had a thought in this direction. The Word is alive. I'm thankful to have come to understand what that really means since coming out from behind the bar.
It's funny how things run together sometimes. I'm teaching a serious to the Jr. High ladies for the last two and the next two weeks: "Leaders Serve." Tonight we discussed the power behind our service: The Holy Spirit. I have a book from RBP (regular Baptist Press) that I use to help me build lessons. It brought me to some texts I thought peculiar for the topic, namely the verse I've come to know as one of the "no drinking" texts.
Ephesians 5:18
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
Now, I'm not here to open the "should we drink or not" can of worms and I'd ask we don't. This post is not a public forum for airing your thoughts about it. The point is this: I've always read the first sentence which leads me to the stance that many take: we should abstain from alcohol. I think that notion has overshadowed my coupling the first sentence with the second.
I wonder if I've been missing the big picture from this text forever, it sure seems like I have. The former bar-maid has seen her share of folks under the influence of alcohol. It's often not difficult to spot them. They walk different, talk different, act different etc, because they have alcohol in large quantities residing in their bodies. Their poor liver can't possibly metabolize it at the speed they're consuming and the alcohol starts influencing their ability to function.
So this verse says don't be under the influence of alcohol in that way, but instead be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Yes?
Are my actions as such that someone could pick me out as under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the way I once picked out those under the influence of alcohol?
Can I pick out Christians the way I can pick out those that have had too much to drink? Maybe I've got this all screwed up, maybe I've totally missed the target. I'm not a Bible scholar, we all know that, but it's given me enough pause to think it over.
I learn so much more studying for those lessons than those poor girls that have to listen to be stumble through presenting it. I'm quite certain.
I hope maybe some days someone might see something and think she's clearly under some sort of positive influence, but I'm thinking it may not be as often as I'd like. It continues to amaze me how the Word of God works. How many times I've read that verse and never had a thought in this direction. The Word is alive. I'm thankful to have come to understand what that really means since coming out from behind the bar.
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