Blobs of paint and perspective

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

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

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"

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"

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

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

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

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?

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?

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

"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"

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.