Bible/Cell Phone

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
>
> What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
>
> What if we flipped through it several times a day?
>
> What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
>
> What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
>
> What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
>
> What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
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> What if we used it when we traveled?
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> What if we used it in case of emergency
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> This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
> Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry
> about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
>
> Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities?"
>
> And no dropped calls!

Sent via email from Alan Jordan a member of St. John
Thanks Alan!

Clumsy me

This week has been so fast and furious that we had not unpacked all the suitcases, including mine in the bedroom. And of course it was the big one. Well, we had it sitting in the floor and the big cat, Tygger had taken it over as if to say, "you aren't going anywhere, anytime soon." That was okay, because we had it set it out of the way or at least I thought it was. The other night, I was going into the bedroom to go to bed, and the lights were off. Koda, the little dog was under my feet. I rounded the corner into our bedroom and went tripping pretty as you please over the edge of the suitcase, spilling right onto the floor. The suitcase had some kind of hard plastic edge to it that scraped and bruised my thigh all the way from the knee. I was laying on the floor crying and the dog was licking my face. He thought it was a game and funny. Inspite of my screaming when I fell, the kids did not wake up. Bob came in and rescued me, turned out I have a pretty bruise and abrasion. It has really hurt for a couple of days. We iced it down and I have been using IBprophin. I have been wearing shorts too, could not stand anything to touch it. Needless to say, the suitcase has been emptied and put away. Tygger is very angry with us too for doing that or maybe she was angry that we went away in the first place.

Comings and Goings, Dogs and Cats

Well we are all home safely. We had a nice relaxing stay in Chattanooga. The hotel had a indoor swimming pool, which the kids enjoyed a lot. And we went to the Tennessee Aquarium. Katy's comment was that it was fantastic. I think they liked the petting pools most of all.

Two days before we left our gray cat, Rhianna, was ran over and killed. Bob buried it so we wouldn't have to keep seeing it. We were very sad. And we were sad to come back and she wasn't there to greet us.

The day we left, the kids left the back door open by mistake and the dogs escaped to run free for awhile. So we had to wait on them. I picked up things and threw away trash while we waited. They came home, and we prepared to leave. Well wouldn't you know it, the kids left the door open again as we were ready to leave again, and there went the dogs. Koda, the little black dog, came back first and then the big brown dog, Lily Bear came home later. I think we spent about two hours with the dogs running and coming back before we could finally leave.

Well, today when we came home; one of the kids, left the back door open, and out the dogs went and away they ran. They didn't stay away as long this time though. And the kids didn't leave the door open again. I would say the dogs and cats are as glad for us to come home as we are to be home.

Forced fast from the Internet

Hi all, I am sitting in our hotel room in Chattanooga, where finally I have internet access. We stopped here to cut our trip back home from the mountains in half. I took my computer with us to the mountains, thinking I remembered there was internet access at the place we stayed. But no there wasn't. And there were no cyber cafes near by. And you just don't run off to find a place to post on your blog in the middle of a Blizzard with category 3 hurricane winds. And you don't leave the kids while you do this. I guess I could have, but I didn't. So from Saturday until today, I have been off the internet, and I did not open the computer the whole time, until now. I have missed you all and blogging and all. It has been a strange quiet time, but I think I needed it. I'll blog more about the vacation and the internet-less experience later. But it is good to have been on vacation, and now to start back. I didn't preach last Sunday, and I don't preach tomorrow. I start back next week though.

Friday Five The Dreaded Dental Edition

revgalblogpals: Friday Five

Reverend mother says that; Cheesehead and I are both laid up this week with various tooth maladies. This one's in honor of us:

1. Are you a regular patron of dentists' offices? Yes. Or, do you go
a) faithfully, as long as you have insurance, or
b) every few years or so, whether you need it or not, orc) dentist?
what is this "dentist" thing you speak of?

2. Whatever became of your wisdom teeth? They removed when I was in my 20’s, along with them went my wisdom also. ( I knew there was something wrong with me.)

3. Favorite thing to eat that's BAAAAAD for your teeth. I-C-E

4. Ever had oral surgery? Commiserate with me. MMM no, that’s why I go to the Dentist regularly to avoid the oral surgery. I can commiserate with you having broke my front tooth as a little kid and having to the see the Dentist about that several times. I hated the shots worse of all. I would pay any time for laughing gas.

5. "I'd rather have a root canal than _________________." Having never had one, I really don’t know the answer to this, but maybe its gum surgery.

Bonus: Does your dentist recommend Trident? Nope. Flossing yes.

Cartoon link

Imus in the morning, booboos big time.

I have been looking around the Christian world of internet, to see if anybody besides Rev. Sharpton is saying anything about this? And guess what, no. Why? I am bamboozled. I decided I would say something. How in the world is he just getting 2 weeks suspension? How have we become so bawdy and crass so freely over the airwaves? Doesn't anybody care? Are we afraid of being shot down for standing up for this? I know that racism still exists, its all around me. I hate it. And yet the monster rears its ugly head in me sometimes too. Its in our churches; and in lots of ways, even though it isn't spoken out loud its spoken silently and nonverbally. Its there.
Mr. Imus said out loud what probably a lot of people think. But that doesn't make it right. It is absolutely sad and maddening that it happened. I feel for the girls on the Rutgers Basketball team that were on the receiving end of the remark.

Idol Chatter at Belief Net says this about Mr. Imus.

Well now some of the advertisers have pulled their advertising from his show, As they say money talks, and may bring about more power than any other thing can.

Imus "has stolen a moment of pure grace from us," the captain of the Rutgers women's basketball team said Tuesday, responding to the uproar over the radio host's comments. The media is saying the team is handling it with class and dignity. But the effects are there.

Perhaps Mr. Imus brought out what is still alive in our country that needs to be confronted with God's grace and love. After all isn't this part of the Resurrection story and the story of the gospel? Lord heal our prejudices in this country. Help us to stop the name calling. Help us heal the division in our country. Help us to heal the division in our world.

If you don't know what Imus said, you can read it here.
Here is Imus on MSNBC

Post Holy Week/Easter Sunday Grunge Day

For some reason, I don't remember last year wearing me out like this. But maybe it did and I don't remember. Maybe it was the all day Sunday headache? I just know that Monday I grunged all day. I did take Zachary to speech therapy and picked up the girls at school. I tried to read a book while waiting for Zach, but couldn't get the words to stop traveling on the page. Instead, I just flipped through a magazine looking at the pictures. We went to Zach's ball game Monday evening. Other than that I was in slow motion all day.
How about you?
I am counting the days down until we go on Spring Break vacation.
4 days and counting.
It will come Abi, be patient, it will come.
Anybody else on a Post Holy Week/Easter Holiday?

What I did Easter Sunday

• Got up at 5am, made coffee, fed the animals, got breakfast for the kids, got kids and myself ready for church, went over sermon, children's sermon and Pastoral Prayer. Also sent out Easter thought for the day email.
• Got to church early to make sure things were setup, clean, put my sermon on the pulpit, get a bulletin and hymnal, find a bible to read from, put the items for the children's sermon in place, (a Easter Basket with eggs), and to greet people.
• Helped rearrange the Easter Lilys away from the altar area so the song leader who is highly allergic to them wouldn't get sick during the service. Vacummed up spilled dirt from dropped plants. Yep, we did drop two of them.
• Went over to the meet and greet to meet and greet, have a cup of coffee, and maybe have a little bite of food.
• Talked to the youth leader and the youth for awhile.
• Went back inside sanctuary for last minute check, met some people who were visiting.
• Went over to choir room to practice the songs and pray with choir.
• Started worship, Preached, sang in the choir; went back and forth between choir loft, pulpit, the place where I do the children's sermon, my regular seat and the floor of the sanctuary to do prayers. Whew.
• Shook hands with lots of people, some new, some coming back, some of our homebound, and some extended family members.
• Went home had lunch with the kids, and then crashed.
• Nursed a headache all day.
• colored easter eggs with the kids, with dye that didn't work. (Darn, that's what I get for buying the cheap pack.) Cleaned finger nail polish off the girl's bedroom floor. (Kara spilled it and then tried to hide it by smearing it in.) Took a walk with the kids and dogs in the woods.
• Had supper, that sweet hubby cooked, watched a little tv and crashed again.

So what did you do on your Easter Sunday

Easter Under Attack: The Colbert Report

"I seem to remember that on Easter Sunday Jesus rode out of the tomb on a giant rabbit that laid colorful pastel eggs. I believe that is the gospel according to Cadbury." The Colbert Report

Easter Wisdom from a Target Cashier

I know, I know, many of you don't shop Target, but I do. Wednesday I was in there finishing up some Easter shopping for the kids, and shopping for upcoming birthdays. (They had a sale going.) At the checkout counter, I started the usual friendly chatter with the cashier. She was a young girl and a new hire. I mentioned to her why I bought all I had for Easter and birthdays. She said to me at that point, "Used to be when I was little, all we did was dye the Easter eggs, and get a little candy. Now Easter is like Christmas, the way parents buy things for their kids for Easter." I said to her, "Sure loses its meaning." Her reply was, "My kids want a bunch of candy and things for Easter, but I told them no, we are not going to do that." "Well, good for you."

I left the store feeling guilty with my basket full of bags. And what did I do to feel guilty? I didn't want to give the kids a bunch of candy, they get enough from all the parties and Easter Egg Hunts. I decided I would try to find some things that were Eastery instead but not candy. I think I went overboard. God forgive me. The cashier was right, it's become more like commercialized Christmas, and I have helped it become that. Here it is Good Friday. Nail that nail into Jesus hand, Abi.

But I am not sure she knew what Easter really means, and I wish I had told her. Here is my excuse, the line was long, and she had already moved on to the next person. Maybe I'll see her again, and find out if she knows and if not tell her. Will my kids know from what I do, and say? I hope so. I hope so.

Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

Over at revgalblogpals, we have been taking a sabbatical from our regular postings. Instead each day one of us has posted something for that day as part of Holy Week. There are some good postings with good thoughts. Today it was my turn, go have a look at the Maundy Thursday/Holy Week post. And yes, I did post it early in the morning. I woke up early and could not go back to sleep. I'm now going to make some coffee and work on my sermons for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is quiet, and I am looking out the window at the stars, and the moon. How beautiful, what a sight to see for the beginning of a day. I stepped outside and felt the cool crisp air, and listened to the songs of the birds.

Where did the time go?

Where did the time go between my last post and today?

• Thursday; trip to Bham to a committee meeting that took longer than originally thought, wrote a rough draft for Sunday's sermon, and saw my therapist.
• Friday; caught up on office mail, phone calls, etc,went visiting in the afternoon. Kid's had ball practice in the afternoon. Tried to do the Friday five, but home computer gliched and I lost everything, lost my patience too.
• Saturday; spent all day at the ball park with multiple games, also took them to swim lessons.
• Sunday; Sunday morning meet and greet, worship prep, worship and preaching, Easter egg hunt and party at the church, choir practice, nap, and finished reading "Leaving Church'
• Monday, today; back in the office catching up on the office work, preparing for: a Wednesday talk, hosting a worship service on Thursday for two other churches, a sermon for Friday night, and a sermon for Easter Sunday, plus those who come by to talk, and ball practice this afternoon.

Now I know where the time went and is going, going . . . gone.