"Everyone wants Christmas to be meaningful...but instead it becomes shop, shop, shop! Credit Cards, Traffic Jams, To Do Lists, Useless Gifts. Then off to church...Noel, Noel, Noel. Sometimes we're just glad just to survive it. Did you know Americans spend 450 Billion dollars on Christmas every year...EVERY YEAR! So, I ask...How did Jesus celebrate? Jesus game himself...relationally, incarnation, time, space, presense. Do you see where this is going? What if you bought fewer gifts (that sweater she won't like, that random gift certificate, that toy he doesn't need), and instead of buying that gift, give something valuable...like your time! Talk, Eat, Sled, Bake, Bike, Read, Play, Create, Craft ~ TOGETHER! Make gifts like when you were a kid. And remember...that money you didn't spend? What if you gave some of it away??? To the poor, the hurting, the lonely, the hungry, the sick, the thirsty."
For more information on making this Christmas different, please visit www.adventconspiracy.org It's an awesome website who's moto is WORSHIP FULLY~SPEND LESS~GIVE MORE~LOVE ALL
Make this Christmas the most memorable ever!
J
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Jailbait
So if you happened to be hanging at Toys R' Us Friday night you might have observed the following scene:
S: (Squatting down by the exit with her coat pulled tightly around her waist trying to hide the candy bars she has tucked under both arms) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I WANT DEM!!!
Me: You cannot have this candy- we haven't paid for it!!!!!
S: BUT MY TEETH WILL NOT FALL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
L
S: (Squatting down by the exit with her coat pulled tightly around her waist trying to hide the candy bars she has tucked under both arms) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I WANT DEM!!!
Me: You cannot have this candy- we haven't paid for it!!!!!
S: BUT MY TEETH WILL NOT FALL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
L
Monday, November 17, 2008
3 or 13?
My three-year-old daughter's list for Santa:
1. A firetruck
2. Pink and black pajamas
3. Chocolate chip cookies
4. Ice Cream
I like a girl who knows what she wants.
L
1. A firetruck
2. Pink and black pajamas
3. Chocolate chip cookies
4. Ice Cream
I like a girl who knows what she wants.
L
Sunday, November 16, 2008
How About This One?
I promise I will get back to writing about the drama of ordinary life soon, but I do think it is good for us to go deeper on occasion. Thank you to all of you for your comments on the Focus Action letter from a hypothetical Christian in 2012. I just can't leave the subject without commenting that if Christian leaders do not help bring political matters to the public square, who will? Most of us see a ruling on the news and have forgotten about it by the next day because it doesn't directly affect us. We don't see the scope and sequence of court decisions being made left and right that will span generations. If we didn't have passionate Christian leaders who feel CALLED to speak out on political issues, we would be left scratching our heads and wondering how it all happened. Now granted, not everyone is called. But I believe some are and for them I am thankful. If you have known me for any length of time, you know that one of my greatest passions is that I must PAY ATTENTION to what is going on around me and not grow complacent. That does not mean I do not understand or relish in God's sovereignty. I do, oh I SO do. It just means that I want to be aware socially, politically AND spiritually so I can know how to pray. If I don't stay current on the issues, how can I have a conversation with someone who is keeping up? I have been called to this time and this place and I am here for a purpose. I want to glorify God with what He's given me and I don't want to gloss over truth because it is politically incorrect. Some of you may like the following words from James Robison better than the stronger wording in the Focus Action letter. I personally think they can coexist. I believe Christians should be involved in ALL aspects of politics and should speak the truth even when it is painful. But at the same time, we have to recognize that we are dealing with issues of the heart. And stay on our knees.
L
Let The Church Be The Church
by James Robison
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
People often ask questions when difficult circumstances overcome our world. With the crumbling economy, multiple wars and new direction in political leadership, Christians must understand the proper role of the church to impact our world.
Though Christians can and should be involved in the political process, the church was never meant to be a partisan power base. Our role transcends earthly structures. We are to lift up the light of the world, Jesus Christ, not the hatchet of the political party. When the church attempts to play the role of the government, it tends to corrupt one or both of the institutions. Even Israel failed as a theocracy. Modern theocratic regimes are actually controlled by mullahs and similar men who claim the divine mantle, but frequently abuse it for personal gain. Likewise, when the government attempts to supplant the role of the church, it becomes a perverse imitation of the real thing, mocking prosperity, peace and the principles of God.
For example, the Christian concept of charity involves a sacrificial giving in order to help meet the needs of someone else. But when the government forces you to take what you’ve earned and give it to the poor, it is vastly different. God loves a cheerful giver, not a cheerful taxer! Without a connection of love and concern between the giver and the recipient, the meaning of charity is lost. Instead, it is man’s counterfeit, which we call socialism. The church must demonstrate to the world how God’s principles work, so that they can witness the power of His ways.
Christians should seek to penetrate society, not polarize it. There will be a level of polarization when we stand up for what we believe those who were not “for” Jesus were “against” him and crucified Him for it but if you receive the love that Jesus offers, your life has the power to transform the world. Light penetrates darkness. When the church is a light, it dispels darkness. Changed people change the world, so we must first allow God’s light to drive the darkness out of our own lives before we can shine His love into the lives of those around us.
Our country will only change when the people change. Government does not legislate morality so much as it reflects the morality of the people. Right now, our government desperately needs change. So does the media, Wall Street, Hollywood and everywhere in between. But practices and policies will only change when people change. That is the role of the church.
I am not suggesting that Christians stay out of political matters, but understand that politics are meaningless without a transformation of the heart, mind and spirit. We can make every form of abortion illegal, but it won’t go away until every pregnant woman values the life of her child. Government focuses on people’s actions, but God focuses on people’s hearts. In the same way, the church should move beyond legislating people’s actions and strive to transform their hearts and inspire them to respect and value all life.
The model for the modern church is found in the book of Acts. When Jesus appeared after his death and resurrection, he appeared to His followers in Jerusalem. They asked, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Isn’t this typical of people in the church? After everything they had heard and seen, they wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. If Jesus lived in the flesh today, we’d probably want Him to run for president! But we could have a perfect president and as long as we still have rotten, rebellious people, we will have problems. Jesus’ purpose was and is beyond such earthly things. Instead, he told them to wait until the Holy Spirit empowered them so that they could be witnesses all over the world. They wanted to conquer Jerusalem with force, but Jesus wants to envelop the earth with love, joy and peace.
This is still His desire. Our world will never be perfect until He comes, but he can perfect His will in our individual lives, if we will allow it. So ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to care about others, reach out, be involved and pray…in essence, be the church.
Be the church. Set aside political battles and engage in spiritual warfare. Focus not on others, but on yourself. A light does not have to be forced to shine; simply allow yourself to be filled with God’s light, then release it.
“Father, fill me with your spirit so that I can be your witness on this earth.”
L
Let The Church Be The Church
by James Robison
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
People often ask questions when difficult circumstances overcome our world. With the crumbling economy, multiple wars and new direction in political leadership, Christians must understand the proper role of the church to impact our world.
Though Christians can and should be involved in the political process, the church was never meant to be a partisan power base. Our role transcends earthly structures. We are to lift up the light of the world, Jesus Christ, not the hatchet of the political party. When the church attempts to play the role of the government, it tends to corrupt one or both of the institutions. Even Israel failed as a theocracy. Modern theocratic regimes are actually controlled by mullahs and similar men who claim the divine mantle, but frequently abuse it for personal gain. Likewise, when the government attempts to supplant the role of the church, it becomes a perverse imitation of the real thing, mocking prosperity, peace and the principles of God.
For example, the Christian concept of charity involves a sacrificial giving in order to help meet the needs of someone else. But when the government forces you to take what you’ve earned and give it to the poor, it is vastly different. God loves a cheerful giver, not a cheerful taxer! Without a connection of love and concern between the giver and the recipient, the meaning of charity is lost. Instead, it is man’s counterfeit, which we call socialism. The church must demonstrate to the world how God’s principles work, so that they can witness the power of His ways.
Christians should seek to penetrate society, not polarize it. There will be a level of polarization when we stand up for what we believe those who were not “for” Jesus were “against” him and crucified Him for it but if you receive the love that Jesus offers, your life has the power to transform the world. Light penetrates darkness. When the church is a light, it dispels darkness. Changed people change the world, so we must first allow God’s light to drive the darkness out of our own lives before we can shine His love into the lives of those around us.
Our country will only change when the people change. Government does not legislate morality so much as it reflects the morality of the people. Right now, our government desperately needs change. So does the media, Wall Street, Hollywood and everywhere in between. But practices and policies will only change when people change. That is the role of the church.
I am not suggesting that Christians stay out of political matters, but understand that politics are meaningless without a transformation of the heart, mind and spirit. We can make every form of abortion illegal, but it won’t go away until every pregnant woman values the life of her child. Government focuses on people’s actions, but God focuses on people’s hearts. In the same way, the church should move beyond legislating people’s actions and strive to transform their hearts and inspire them to respect and value all life.
The model for the modern church is found in the book of Acts. When Jesus appeared after his death and resurrection, he appeared to His followers in Jerusalem. They asked, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Isn’t this typical of people in the church? After everything they had heard and seen, they wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. If Jesus lived in the flesh today, we’d probably want Him to run for president! But we could have a perfect president and as long as we still have rotten, rebellious people, we will have problems. Jesus’ purpose was and is beyond such earthly things. Instead, he told them to wait until the Holy Spirit empowered them so that they could be witnesses all over the world. They wanted to conquer Jerusalem with force, but Jesus wants to envelop the earth with love, joy and peace.
This is still His desire. Our world will never be perfect until He comes, but he can perfect His will in our individual lives, if we will allow it. So ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to care about others, reach out, be involved and pray…in essence, be the church.
Be the church. Set aside political battles and engage in spiritual warfare. Focus not on others, but on yourself. A light does not have to be forced to shine; simply allow yourself to be filled with God’s light, then release it.
“Father, fill me with your spirit so that I can be your witness on this earth.”
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Black and White or Gray?
Have you heard about the letter that Focus on the Family's Action Committee released? It is a HYPOTHETICAL look back at four years of an Obama presidency. It discusses legislation that could potentially be passed based on Obama's current voting records.
I read it and it is scary.
Many people are calling it outrageous and are criticizing Focus on the Family for using scare tactics.
I would really like to know what you think. Are we so desensitized to absolute truth that we criticize an honest assessment of what our future could look like? Or have we gone too far in our criticism and abandoned moral decency? Is it scare tactics or is it a fair projection? Are we as Christians to boldly venture this far out into the political arena, or are we to quietly watch and pray for our leadership?
As of this morning, there is a Facebook group 5500 strong and counting (after only being in existence for three days) of bipartisan Christians against the Focus letter.
I have many thoughts, but am anxious to hear yours. Read it and let us know what you think. (Couldn't figure out the link- just copy and paste the url) http://focusfamaction.edgeboss.net/download/focusfamaction/pdfs/10-22-08_2012letter.pdf
L
I read it and it is scary.
Many people are calling it outrageous and are criticizing Focus on the Family for using scare tactics.
I would really like to know what you think. Are we so desensitized to absolute truth that we criticize an honest assessment of what our future could look like? Or have we gone too far in our criticism and abandoned moral decency? Is it scare tactics or is it a fair projection? Are we as Christians to boldly venture this far out into the political arena, or are we to quietly watch and pray for our leadership?
As of this morning, there is a Facebook group 5500 strong and counting (after only being in existence for three days) of bipartisan Christians against the Focus letter.
I have many thoughts, but am anxious to hear yours. Read it and let us know what you think. (Couldn't figure out the link- just copy and paste the url) http://focusfamaction.edgeboss.net/download/focusfamaction/pdfs/10-22-08_2012letter.pdf
L
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Hmm
Ok, I really feel it necessary because of L's latest blog to tell you what I found in my new, frontload, HE washing machine...
23 white socks! Where did I find them? Caught inside the rubber part of the spinner. Whatever that really means!
Of course I think they were white socks. They are now dark gray! I wonder how long some of them have been there. Hmmm!
Did I mention 23 socks???
That's all I have to say about that!
~A
23 white socks! Where did I find them? Caught inside the rubber part of the spinner. Whatever that really means!
Of course I think they were white socks. They are now dark gray! I wonder how long some of them have been there. Hmmm!
Did I mention 23 socks???
That's all I have to say about that!
~A
Musings of a Tuesday
Things I don't understand......
Where all the white socks go
Why I have 500 channels but nothing to watch
Why I can put stacks of "stuff" on the stairs to be carried up but my entire family just steps over the stacks
Why more credit is offered to people already deeply in debt
Why some people see truth so plainly while others are easily deceived by smooth-talking lies
L
Where all the white socks go
Why I have 500 channels but nothing to watch
Why I can put stacks of "stuff" on the stairs to be carried up but my entire family just steps over the stacks
Why more credit is offered to people already deeply in debt
Why some people see truth so plainly while others are easily deceived by smooth-talking lies
L
Monday, November 3, 2008
Good Times
Hello my friends. Remember me? I'm the one who makes you realize how FUNCTIONAL you really are. Well, here goes my last seven days recap. Tuesday, I was in Anniston taking my grandmother to lunch. Got a call from Layne's school saying she had a headache, so I sent some Advil via a friend. I then got a call from Emma's school ten minutes later asking if I had washed her hair with LICE shampoo? UMMM... is it just me, or is that a stupidly ridiculous question? Anyway, I say no and hung up. Twenty minutes later the nurse calls back in a little hysteria saying, "We found nits in Emma's hair. Come get her."
I took her to the doctor that day, and he said she had Dermatitis. So Wednesday morning she goes back to school. That afternoon I call the school to tell them she was ok, and the nurse tells me that she just saw Emma and she does have nits in her hair. I proceed to tell her that my physician said she didn't, and she said, "Well, he is WRONG." I called the doctor, spoke to him, and he said for that nurse to bring him a nit and he would believe it! Seriously, my pediatrician and school nurse are in a fight! CLASSIC!
For the first time ever, I marched to the school. I had a meeting with the Assistant Principal and nurse...blah, blah... and I took Emma home again. This time I did stop and get "the shampoo" and got busy on her hair. How about this... they were both right. She did have Dermatitis and lice! Whatever! She stayed home with me on Thursday and by 8:00 am Lyla was throwing up on the kitchen floor. Good times!
So this weekend I pulled tons of nits out of Emma's hair, accidentally scorched MY scalp trying to make sure I didn't get LICE, cleaned my house so good you could lick off of the floors (not that I would recommend that), washed everything that could fit in my washing machine, and pretty much knew I had lice because my head has been itching all week.
I just knew this week would be better, and then I get the call to come get Layne because she is throwing up at school.
Is it too 80's to say... CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY...???
~A
I took her to the doctor that day, and he said she had Dermatitis. So Wednesday morning she goes back to school. That afternoon I call the school to tell them she was ok, and the nurse tells me that she just saw Emma and she does have nits in her hair. I proceed to tell her that my physician said she didn't, and she said, "Well, he is WRONG." I called the doctor, spoke to him, and he said for that nurse to bring him a nit and he would believe it! Seriously, my pediatrician and school nurse are in a fight! CLASSIC!
For the first time ever, I marched to the school. I had a meeting with the Assistant Principal and nurse...blah, blah... and I took Emma home again. This time I did stop and get "the shampoo" and got busy on her hair. How about this... they were both right. She did have Dermatitis and lice! Whatever! She stayed home with me on Thursday and by 8:00 am Lyla was throwing up on the kitchen floor. Good times!
So this weekend I pulled tons of nits out of Emma's hair, accidentally scorched MY scalp trying to make sure I didn't get LICE, cleaned my house so good you could lick off of the floors (not that I would recommend that), washed everything that could fit in my washing machine, and pretty much knew I had lice because my head has been itching all week.
I just knew this week would be better, and then I get the call to come get Layne because she is throwing up at school.
Is it too 80's to say... CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY...???
~A
For All My "WICKED" Friends
I'VE HEARD IT SAID
THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON
BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN AND WE ARE LED
TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW IF WE LET THEM
AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE
BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM ORBIT
AS IT PASSES A SUN
LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A BOULDER
HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD...
IT WELL MAY BE
THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN
IN THIS LIFETIME
SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART
SO MUCH OF ME
IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU
YOU'LL BE WITH ME
LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART
AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END
I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MIINE
BY BEING MY FRIEND...
LIKE A SHIP BLOWN FROM ITS MOORING
BY A WIND OFF THE SEA
LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A SKYBIRD
IN A DISTANT WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD.
THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON
BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN AND WE ARE LED
TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW IF WE LET THEM
AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE
BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM ORBIT
AS IT PASSES A SUN
LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A BOULDER
HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD...
IT WELL MAY BE
THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN
IN THIS LIFETIME
SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART
SO MUCH OF ME
IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU
YOU'LL BE WITH ME
LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART
AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END
I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MIINE
BY BEING MY FRIEND...
LIKE A SHIP BLOWN FROM ITS MOORING
BY A WIND OFF THE SEA
LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A SKYBIRD
IN A DISTANT WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD.
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