1 out of 8

Blobs of paint and perspective

2007-06-30T09:49:00.001-04:00

Have you ever looked really closely at a Monet or Renoir? If so, you're staring at blobs of paint that seem to make no sense from that perspective. But when you pull back you can see the whole masterpiece. Sometimes that's how life is. Our perspective can be skewed by being too close to the action and we don't see how God is creating a masterpiece in us.

Because of a Burger

2007-06-30T09:35:00.000-04:00

We were offering free food and karaoke to the people of Myrtle Beach as an outreach. Before it started, we walked around the beach and distributed flyers to invite people to come. I talked to Olga at the henna tattoo parlor. She always hears our parties and wishes she could come, but has to work too late. So I brought her a hamburger, chips, doughnut and a root beer. She was so thankful because she had not been able to take a break since her co-worker never returned from his break 4 hours prior. We talked a little and she volunteered that she wanted to attend an American church. So, we are going to take her and three of her friends. Plus, we already have some other Russians attending our church, who were explained the gospel to--this is divine. I love it!

Not my sinful, self-gratifying, selfish self

2007-06-30T09:28:00.000-04:00

Because of Christ, I live the life He designed for me in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not longer my sinful, self-gratifying, selfish self that dictates, but God's love that rules in me. This happens because of God's undeserved favor toward me through Christ's death and resurrection. It's nothing this sinful, self-gratifying, selfish self has done, but all what He has done for me.
-Galatians 2:20-21; Jen Abegg Standard Version

"Schmoofed"

2007-05-05T11:16:00.000-04:00

Have you ever spotted a great parking space? Then as you get closer, about to steer your car into it, you realize a motorcycle or some little vehicle is occupying it?

That happens frequently enough that my friend Angie said, "We need a name for that."

We call it "schmoofed."

Or, if you're from parts of the Midwest, where you "warsh" your clothes, it might be "schmurfed."

Still similar things happen all the time. Yet, we don't have words to describe then.

So, Angie (http://angiebring.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/there-needs-to-be-a-word-for-that) and I are announcing a content to help define situations, to put words to them. Help us coin a word for each of the following scenarios below.

The winner gets a dozen homemade cookies from us.

Here’s the reverse-Balderdash game: (leave a comment with your answers)

-The emotion you feel when you can’t locate your car in a parking lot. A mixture of “where did I leave it?” confusion and “is this the time I’m actually right and it got stolen?” paranoia.

-When you gear your muscles to pick up something heavy only to find it’s incredibly lighter than expected and you surprise yourself with your incredible strength (for example a milk jug, that only has 4 oz. of fluid, rather than the whole gallon).

"sine cera"

2007-04-03T10:19:00.000-04:00

I learned something cool in Bible study today. In Romans 12:9, the word "sincere" comes from the Latin "sine cera," meaning "without wax." We say "waxy spiritual" when we're pretending to be more spiritual than we are. Also, wax can serve as a polish, to give the appearance that something (like a car) is shinier...Interesting. Historically, "sine cera" refers to the ancient practice of using wax to hide cracks in inferior pottery to pass them off as otherwise for a higher price. Quality pottery was stamped with "sine cera" to show it had not been altered. Aren't we referred to as pottery in the Bible? Perhaps we can be sincere and not hide our true nature with hypocritical words or actions. May I be genuine. May we all be.

Legacy of Love

2007-01-25T16:59:00.000-05:00

When my grandma died, my family and I went through a bunch of her belongings. I was thrilled to uncover a box of cards given to her over the decades...and there were some she had given my grandfather. Some of them contained so much love, that I felt like I was watching something I wasn't supposed to. But it was so endearing to discover the love that my grandparents shared for a few months short of 50 years. What a legacy.

Those life/death moments

2007-01-15T23:18:00.000-05:00

So I answered my cell phone on my way out of work this evening. Big mistake! OK, small. But it could have been huge! I've seen the bumper stickers "Shut Up and Drive" but what about "Shut Up and Walk?!" While arranging the dates for my friends to come visit, my heel got stuck in a small groove on the stairs. I tried to hold onto my phone and grab the rail for life at the same time--which doesn't usually work. You know those brief seconds when your life seems it might end at that moment? It was one of those. I thought I was going to tumble down the stairs at Lake Hart and die. Instead I caught myself, which doesn't usually happen. My bag containing important things like my computer and a loaf of bread bounced down the stairs and made a loud bang. My friend on the other end of the phone? He kept talking. He had no clue.

high heels and aerating

2007-01-15T23:15:00.000-05:00

It occurred to me as I walked through the grass on my way into Bible Study, that there is one positive consequence of high heels--they aerate the lawn. Every step I took poked a hole in the grass. I guess they are good for something.

Naughty or Nice?

2006-12-02T09:28:00.001-05:00

Why is it kids always cry when they are sitting on Santa's lap? I know I was always a little afraid of the big, bearded fellow--even though he supposedly always dropped off gifts for me every year.

He's scary because we never knew him personally. He's just a kind man in a red suit who watches to see if we are good or bad, and based on his findings, we may receive gifts or coal from him.

No wonder why we think we're "good" people, because even when we were naughty, most of us still received gifts. Sometimes we tend to think of God like that. That He grades on a curve, and that He will let us into Heaven based on our "goodness."

However, He's not Santa. He wants a personal relationship with us. He doesn't grade on a curve. He expects perfection from us. And since we are not perfect, He offers a substitutionary sacrifice. We can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

How fur is too fur?

2006-11-16T10:01:00.000-05:00

If "farther" is actually measurable distance, and "further" is not, why do we ask how far is too far? Dennis Rainey is right. That's the wrong question.

Takes off the relish

2006-11-16T09:55:00.000-05:00

"Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."

John Wesley's mom said that.

We always want to know exactly how far is too far. Is this OK? "'So-and-so' is doing this, maybe I can." This is the perfect measuring stick.

"Create"

2006-11-16T09:51:00.000-05:00

I love blogs. Thanks to Becky and Angie who kept pushing me to start one. I love that every time I want to write something new, I push a button that says, "Create." I wonder if it is the smallest taste how God felt when He whipped up the Earth...and planets, and solar systems...and us. Only He didn't use a template. He just went "Voila!" and still does. Although, I really can't quote Him on that.

Blogging

2006-10-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

I like blogging. It feels so free and safe. I can write whatever I want because it seems like the only readers are me and maybe two or three friends. I can just be myself. No need to worry about audience, making a point or anything. I can just write.
Like this blog. No point really. Just words on a virtual page. So fun.

1 out of 8

2006-10-30T07:11:00.000-05:00

1 out of 8
Jen(n )

My friend shares my name--kind of. (Remember, 1 in 8 do.) So our whole lives she's always been "Jennifer" to me. That's even when I was still being called "Jenny," and sometimes "Jen." We were the same age, and she emulated almost everything I did. In middle school, I started going by "Jenn"--it was cool and different. So did she. Only this time when I outgrew it and needed another change, "Jenn" kept hers that way.

Granted, I still allow friends and family to call me "Jen" and almost preferred it in college--almost. But the funny thing is she found out several years ago that she is not a Jennifer. She's a Jenifer. But she insists still on spelling her nickname with two "n's. I think it is rebellion against her psycotic mom who left her when she was young. Jenn was learning how to read and spell just after we befriended each other, which was also just after her mom left her and her brother to be raised by their dad, divorcing him and looking for the good life. So there's Jennifer, going to pick up her marriage license and finding out her true name was Jenifer. That's not the time to find out your real identity.

I love life

2006-10-27T12:17:00.000-04:00

I love life. I try not to take it seriously. It'll slip between your fingers really fast and then you won't be able to look back and reflect on how much you enjoyed it. Life is meant to bring glory to God. We do that when we enjoy it.

Think about:
Swinging in the park.
Sliding down big water slides.
Walking through a snow-covered prarie in the Rocky Mountains.
Frolicking in the sand on the Southern California beaches.
Cool days.
Summer days.
A tea party with friends.
Friends in general.
The Grand Floridian.
Explaining the gospel to someone.
Ted.
Spending time alone with Jesus.

How can I not love life?

Sin

2006-10-27T12:02:00.000-04:00

I'm looking at a question in my Bible Study homework. It's a personal question, so I don't HAVE to answer it out loud. Although, I value transparency and so I figure I should answer it in a way that I could verbalize to the group. We're studying Romans, specifically chapter 4. We're discussing why we feel guilty for sin even when we know it is forgiven.

Here's the question of interest (notice in police reports, they won't refer to someone as a "suspect," but a "person of interest"? Why is that?):

"Name the specific sins of yours that are counted against Christ instead of you. How will you express your gratitude to Christ?" Hello!

So, I started thinking about generic answers. I don't want people to think I am too much of a sinner. I wrote cute words like "jealousy" and "deceit" then I got real (not that those aren't real sins in my life). Here's my answer among others on the list: "Not wanting to admit my wickedness and make people think I am better than I am!" Amen to that. In case you haven't noticed, I am a wicked and depraved woman, desperately in need of a Savior. You are too...that is if you are a woman. If not, you still need a Savior.

I want to be like Paul. Who gives a rip about protecting myself? May Christ be glorified. I died to me. Let people see Christ in me. PRAISE THE LORD!

Intimacy

2006-10-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

I am writing an article about spending time alone with the Lord. I realized something really interesting as I am writing it:

In a marriage, the only way for a couple to bear fruit, is intimacy. In our relationship with God, we need intimate time alone with Him in order to spring forth His fruit and to bear His likeness.

Ever notice in the Bible when it says So-and-so Man KNEW so-and-so Woman, and she conceived a child? To really KNOW God, we need time alone with Him. I love how marriage mirrors His relationship with us.

Funeral thoughts

2006-08-11T11:08:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I attended the funeral for my friend's brother-in-law. Michael was a 26-year-old police officer who was killed in the line of duty. The procession or motorcade was two vehicles wide and seven miles long. Ted and I waited 25 minutes before we could even get in. Police officers were in front of us and behind us, which I found thrilling and Ted found a tad disconcerting.

Michael was 26 when he was killed by a 19-year-old. It's so sad. I've cried my eyes out over this death. But I know that God is sovereign. I take great delight in that fact.

At the memorial service, the pastor who knew Michael, shared the good news of Jesus Christ with all 3,000 attendees.

Michael was given a 21-gun salute, and Vicki (his widow) released doves in his honor. I felt proud to be an American, proud that we honor those who protect and serve us in such a way, and proud of Michael, my brother in Christ.

We later found out that several people accepted Christ at the memorial, including a commander. One man was planning to leave his wife and four children and take another law-enforcement job. Instead, he told Michael's family that he decided to stay with them.

I know Michael's death seems senseless to most. But his earthly death caused hundreds of law-enforcement officers and thousands of others to hear the gospel in a dynamic way. Some accepted Christ. I don't know how anyone there couldn't dedicate their life to following Him as a result. I know that I decided that I want to live more fully for the Lord. One earthly life gone, hundreds more born into eternity. Amen and amen. Though, it is still difficult that his life was taken so swiftly.

Poor Vicki—she has to go home at some point and see Mike's aftershave on the counter. Or find his book lying open in the middle of a chapter. Or find his shoes haphazardly tossed into the closet. That would be rough. She has to throw away and give away a bunch of his things. And she never gets to tell him about her turmoil. Never gets to wake up next to him again.

It's hard, because a lot of our new siblings in Christ would never have accepted Him if not for Michael's passing. However, we trust the sovereignty of God. Praise be the Lord who gives and takes away.

1 out of 8 Girls Born in My Era

2006-06-13T11:03:00.001-04:00

My parents chose the name "Jennifer" because they thought it was unique. My mom knew one. My parents met at Jenny's Pizzeria. That's it. I suppose they thought "Jennifer" was as uncommon as "Wilma" is today. They were wrong. I heard that 1 out of 8 girls born in 1977 is named Jennifer. I was born at the tail end of 1976. Go figure.