My favorite quote of the day....

Get your rapture helmets ready!

Said by Eustace, on Derek Webb's board here

And I pray

I have never met her, yet I mourn with her.

A Path Made Straight

A trip down memory lane....

Let's set the scene.....

The year was 2004. The month was May.

We were living in Bluff City, TN.

Nolan was 2, Gideon was 9 months.

John and I were having a relaxing afternoon in the family room....then we heard the crash!

This is what we found:

Traveling update

I am currently driving down I-64 toward Louisville and what better time to be blogging! (it's so cool to have a Sprint wireless aircard!)

We are on our way to meet up with some friends in Louisville, and we will spend the night in Chicago. Tomorrow morning, we are going to the zoo! Many pics to follow!!

I just wanted everyone to know how hip and cool I am to be blogging while traveling at 70+ miles an hour, lol.

A few Freebies for a Thursday night

I know that I should keep the freebies for Wednesdays, right? But I don't want anyone to lose out on them...so here are a few more. (sorry John, I know you hate the freebie posts, lol)

Free lipstick from D.A. Salon and Cosmetics

Free Shine Control Facial Scrub

Free sample of MotherEarth D Pest Control Dust (8oz puffer bottle)

A quote

Mother Teresa's Redemption

I read an interesting article on the Reformation 21 blog. It's a worthwhile read.

By now, many will have heard about the recent revelations concerning Mother Teresa of Calcutta's crisis of faith. The book version is now out, containing her private correspondence with her spiritual mentors, titled Come Be My Light. The caption quote to the TIME magazine article sums up Mother Teresa's spiritual testimony over the last 66 years of her life: "Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear."

I will not be surprised if some conservative Protestants respond almost with glee, mocking her spiritual darkness as a classic instance of the futility of salvation by works. This may be right, though any delight over it is both tasteless and callous; her testimony certainly is disheartening from an evangelical view of the Christian faith. But this is not what is on my mind concerning Mother Teresa. What most fascinates me is the eagerness of the Roman Catholic Church to publicize a testimony of spiritual despair and darkness from one of its leading heroines of recent years. Were Mother Teresa an evangelical missionary leader, such private writings would in all probability be supressed. But Rome cannot publish them quickly enough. This reality is very revealing, in my opinion, and worthy of reflection.

You can read the rest of the article here.

True Relationships

About 6 years ago, I joined a message board for women due in January 2002. I was pregnant with my first son and found a much needed support group. From that point, I checked the board daily to find funny stories, great tips, a lot of useful information, and a bunch of friends. I have traveled to meet up with some of these women, and we have always had a great time.

A month ago, I started feeling convicted of something. I found that this board was taking away from my life. At times, it caused me to put my children second. I was being more impatient with them. I was checking the boards several times a day. And the only thing my 'friends' and I had in common, was the fact that we had a child born in the same month. We didn't share the same faith, and I began to realize that it was pulling my mind away from Christ, and I was much more me-focused.

These women, who had been such a huge part of my life for almost 6 years, were not edifying to me the way a real relationship should. This is not to say that you shouldn't have friends that are outside of your faith. But having been a part of this group for the time that I had, never once had I really shared my faith fully or had anyone be receptive to anything I had to say. Instead, the opposite would happen, and the things I would say would be misinterpreted by their worldly views. Even the few Christians on the board were too meek to really stand up for things being said.

I decided that I had to just stop visiting. When I shared my views, I was tired of the personal attacks. I felt like I should be able to say what I believe and not cringe when I clicked on the post button. I wanted to be edified by like-minded believers. I had been thinking of this for awhile, but I just kept holding on. I freely admit it was my flesh holding on to this board. I kept trying to rationalize it....that it couldn't really be that bad. But I wasn't getting any sort of real support from this group. Yes, they were there when I had a question about feeding my baby solids, but I needed more than that.

It'll be 4 weeks this coming Saturday night. I logged out, and I have never logged back in. My mind does wonder how some of them are doing. I care about this group of women a lot. But it was not healthy. I can't go back. I don't want to. I have been freed from it. I wouldn't say it was a real addiction...I could go days without checking in, but something just wasn't right, and I was starting to really feel the effects of it.

I started to read Shopping for Time and realized that it was time to reevaluate. In the book, they say that every now and then, you should make up a list of your friends and make a note of how edifying they really are to you. It didn't take long to realize that this message board needed to be cut out.

I can honestly say that the Lord has replaced this online support group with real friends. The kind of women who are like-minded, have a love for Christ and family, and a love for our friendship. There was a time when that message board was all I had, and I am grateful that they were there for me when I needed them. Like anything in life, that was just a season, and that season had to come to an end.

I am so thankful for the people that have been placed in my life...not really as a replacement, but more of an example of what true relationships are supposed to be. I have been truly blessed and thank God daily for the work He has been doing in my life.

On Between Two Worlds...

Justin Taylor has a great post about how one should transition themselves on the way home from work.

You can read it here.

Quite possibly, the dumbest answer in a pageant ever

True Humility

No self-esteem issues here!

Can you be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time?

Fr. Chuck would say yes...

But, you ask, can a person be both a Muslim and a Christian? As I've said
before, if Jesus is to be believed, what leads to salvation is our loving God
with all our heart, mind and soul, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Can a
Muslim do that? Sure. Can a Christian do that? Absolutely. So, if the question
is, can both Muslims and Christians be embraced by God's love and be granted
entry in to heaven, then my answer is YES. That might not be the question,
however. Now, there are many who profess to be Buddhist Christians or Taoist
Christians – most of what I've heard has to do with eastern religions – and in
the Orient, there seems to be little problem with a person holding complimentary
religious views. Maybe you read Life of Pi which was so popular a couple of
years ago. The main character ultimately embraced Hinduism, Islam, and
Christianity, causing his entire family heartburn. So embracing more than one
faith is not unheard of, and I suppose it works for some.

You can read the entire entry here .

The half hour news hour

I watched this and was almost in tears from laughing.

Baptism by Fire Hose??

I've never heard of this! It really does happen though...I guess it's the lazy man's way of baptizing a large amount of people!

Accompanied by brass bands and thundering preachers, several hundred people
squeezed onto a narrow street in the District's Shaw neighborhood yesterday to
be baptized in the drenching shower of a fire hose.

Weeping and singing, they raised their hands as the water shot up and then
poured down on them in a glistening cascade. Ministers from the United House of
Prayer for All People, which held the service, exhorted them to repent their
sins and embrace the Holy Spirit.

"Oh my God, it feels good, it feels
good, it feels good," said Geraldine Howard, a 76-year-old bus driver, her white
skirt and blouse drenched, a visor and shower cap protecting her head. "I feel
truly blessed. God is good."

The service, in its 81st year, is an annual tradition for the church,
which has its national headquarters in the District. Yesterday's mass baptism
took place in front of the House of Prayer's flagship church, the gold-domed
"God's White House" at Sixth and M streets NW. The baptism service
symbolizes healing from sins and physical ailments and the believer's union with Jesus Christ.

With 1.5 million members and 140 branches across the country, the House
of Prayer is a church in the Pentecostal tradition, with its emotive style of
worship. Each House of Prayer church has a brass-and-drum band, which performs
an exuberant beat during its services.

Members say they believe in expressing their joy for the Lord.

"If you hold it too long, it will blow you up," said Apostle R.C.
Lattisaw, pastor of the House of Prayer's Alexandria church, one of six in the Washington area.

The tradition of the baptism by fire hose started in the late 1920s,
said Apostle H. Whitner, pastor of God's White House. "We used to use the Potomac River," he said, but the church's founder, Charles "Sweet
Daddy" Grace, decided to use a fire hose instead, "because a baptism involves
sprinkling," Whitner noted.

Baptism is customarily conducted using water and is associated with
John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. God's White House has
a baptismal pool for immersion baptisms, but church officials prefer to use a
fire hose. They hold outdoor services across the country during the
summer.

At yesterday's baptism, white-clad church members gathered in the
street in front of God's White House, with elderly members in wheelchairs. As
they awaited their leader, Bishop S.C. Madison -- "Sweet Daddy" Madison -- church leaders set up the fire hose on a raised
platform.
The House of Prayer has deep roots in Shaw, where it has had a
presence since the 1930s. It was among the first institutions to rebuild after
riots devastated the neighborhood in the 1960s, and it now owns a nursing home,
apartment buildings and single-family homes that it leases to hundreds of church
members at low cost. Its Saints Paradise Cafeteria, adjacent to God's White
House, has attracted Shaw residents and office workers for decades with its
hearty Southern-style food.

Although many Christian denominations view baptism as a one-time ritual
for entry into the faith, the House of Prayer permits multiple baptisms as a way
for members to periodically wash away their sins and heal physical ailments. For
many in the church, yesterday's baptism is an annual practice.

Damisha Matthews, 33, a federal budget analyst, said she comes every
year, "for the redemption of my sins," and brings her two daughters, Mia, 5, and
Aliya, 4. She also brings an empty jug to be filled with consecrated water that
she and family members will drink and rub on their bodies to help them heal when
they are ill.

When the 87-year-old Madison -- with shoulder-length gray hair and clad
in black vestments -- arrived yesterday, the crowd surged forward as he was
helped onto the stage.

"If you have sinned since last year, you need to get into the water and
be baptized," boomed Apostle H. Thompson, next to Madison. "If you have a
sickness and need to be healed, you need to get into the water and be
baptized."

"You heard the preacher," Madison told the crowd. "If you want to go to
heaven, let the waters roll."

With that, the fire hose hissed on and, for 15 minutes, the water
tumbled down, the bands played, tears flowed and the healing began.

"All you've got to do is have faith and believe!" Thompson
shouted.

article can be found here

This kind of leaves me speechless....

Free Books and Magazines

How to Believe When You Hurt by Charles Scriven (see offer on left)

Sitting by My Laughing Fire Poem Book by Ruth Bell Graham

The Road to Reality by K.P. Yohannan

Free Magazine subscription to Back to the Garden

(I haven't read any of the above books, so please use discretion)

Free Ginger Therapy gift basket

click here

Free Borba skincare samples

click here

Free Senseo coffee pods

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Any coffee drinkers out there?

I have done this and know someone else who has received it too....so it is legit.

They ask you a few questions and then send you an email within 24 hours telling you that you have qualified for a free Senseo coffee maker. All you have to do is pay $15 shipping!

Free Senseo Coffee Maker

Inspiration!!

I have been inspired.

When I have the time, I enjoy being crafty. I really feel like this has is a part of me that I have let go of in recent years. I don't know if it's that I now have 4 little boys and a house to keep, but there has got to be a way to do the things that I want to do, and not let anything get behind (like laundry...which I really don't want to talk about right now!)

I was looking around Blogdom yesterday, and I found my inspiration. SouleMama. Check her out. She does it all....crochet, knit, embroider, sew...the list goes on. I have been inspired to start creating again. I seem to go through spurts of creativity. I don't want to let it go again!

I figured I would start small with some bibs for Jamison. I bought the material yesterday to make him some Christmas bibs. That gives me time right? lol I also found the best pattern online to make the kids some pants...I have some fleece...what is better than comfy fleece pants for my boys???

I am currently in the middle of crocheting a blanket too.

I want to learn to do more than I know. I feel that if I want to become Proverbs 31 woman, then I should be able to do more than just take care of my children and take care of the house. If someday, I should be blessed to have a daughter, I want to be able to teach her how to do 'womanly' things.

So there you have it. I'll be sure to keep you updated. It's time to clean the dust off my sewing machine!

C is for Cookie...that's good enough for me!!

Here are a few recipes of my favorite cookies to make! (the kids really enjoy helping too!) And I named the recipes after myself to give me a sense of validation in the realm of cooking.

Shannon's Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

3 eggs, beaten
1 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups rolled oats (I use quick oats)
1 cup chopped pecans (I never put these in, lol)

Combine eggs, vanilla and raisins in a small bowl. Cover and let it stand for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together. Sift together flour, cinnamon, and baking soda; stir into the creamed mixture. The stir in raisin mixture, rolled oats and nuts.

Drop by the teasponful onto an unprepared cookie sheet. (I use a medium sized scoop) Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Yields 3 dozen

Shannon's Iced Pumpkin Cookies

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg (I don't like nutmeg, so I skip it)
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin (or fresh, but has to be puree)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmet, ground cloves, and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 tsp vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by Tablespoons (I use a medium sized scoop); flatten slightly.

Makes 3 dozen.

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool cookies and drizzle glaze with a fork.

Glaze:
2 cups confectionary sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla

Combine conf sugar, milk, 1T melted butter, and 1 tsp vanilla. Add milk as needed to achieve drizzling consistency.

Shannon's Giant Chocolate Chip Candy Cookies

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, divided
1 cup milk chocolate chunks, divided
2 bars of your favorite chocolate candy (milky way and snickers work great!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. COmbine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl, mix well. In a larger bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Stir 2/3 cup of the n uts and 2/3 cups of the chocolate chunks into dough. Cut candy bars into pieces; set aside.

Using a medium scoop, drop 6 level scoops of dough about 3 inches apart onto cookie sheet. Flatten them slightly with your hand. Lightly press half of the remaining nuts, chocolate, and candy into tops of the cookies.

Bake 14-16 minutes or until cookies are almost set. (centers will be soft, don't overbake) Cool several minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet.

This yields 12 GIANT cookies.

Bloggy Giveaways!

I often frequent a blog called rocks in my dryer. This blog is always having some sort of bloggy giveaway....all you have to do is post a comment about the merchandise up for grabs, and you are entered into the drawing!

It's a great way to see what people are making and selling....a lot of what I have seen are moms that have started businesses that want to get themselves out there and noticed!

Bloggy Giveaways

Victory in Jesus

I had never heard this hymn until yesterday morning at church. When I told John that I had never heard it before, he laughed at me. He said that this would be like a Catholic who has never heard the song Ave Maria. (I grew up Catholic, so I got what he was saying, lol) We now attend a Baptist church, and I guess there will always be something new to learn!

Born December 24, 1884 in Waynesville, Missouri, E. M. Bartlett became one
of the founding fathers of Southern Gospel Music.

As a young man, he secured work with the Central Music Company
headquartered in Hartford, Arkansas. When that company relocated to Little Rock,
Bartlett partnered with J. A. McClung and David Moore in the founding of the
Hartford Music Company in 1918. Over the next few years, Bartlett and the
Hartford Company became extremely influential in the growing world of Southern
Gospel, founding the Hartford Musical Institute, publishing the monthly journal,
The Herald of Song, and sponsoring several traveling quartets. Among those
influenced directly by Bartlett's work was legendary songwriter Albert E.
Brumley.

Bartlett was himself an important composer of gospel songs. Among his
best-known contributions were "Victory in Jesus," "Everybody Will Be Happy Over
There," and "Just a Little While to Stay Here."

Victory in Jesus

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins;

And won the victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing power revealing.

How He made the lame to walk again

And caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,

Come and heal my broken spirit,"

And somehow Jesus came and brought

To me the victory.

Chorus:

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day

I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

Chorus:

There are a couple lines that were thought provoking to us. "Then I repented of my sins and won the victory". The only reason that we repent of our sins is because of the work of God within us...and is the victory really won through our repentance?

A quote

Yes, I have my hands full

My boys and I go everywhere together. It is out of our norm if I am by myself, and though it happens every now and then, I almost don't know what to do with myself. They love going out. We have out own routine that suits us.

If we go to Target, I'll treat them to popcorn and a drink....for a dollar, each child (excluding the baby of course!) gets a bag 1/3 filled with popcorn and they share the drink.

If we go to the mall, I will usually let them share a gum ball and maybe an ice cream cone if I really want to surprise them.

If we go to Walmart, they get their free cookies, they get to see the lobsters, and poke the eyes of the dead fish in the seafood areas!

All of this aside, I get many many comments from just about everyone I see. So let me take this time to answer a few questions and comments.


*Yes, my hands are full...but not as full as my heart is.
*No, I don't run a day care.
*Yes, they are all mine.
*Yes, if God decides to bless us again, we will have more children.
*No, we didn't try for a girl, we tried for a baby and look at how blessed we have been!
*Yes, my life is busy...and I wouldn't have it any other way.
*No, I don't have it bad.

These are just a few answers to some comments that I have gotten...when did having more than two children become taboo?

It's a go, I repeat, it's a GO!

(When I said that, I felt kind of like Jack Bauer!)

Being the mother of four, it can be difficult to find a sitter....especially when you want to go out of town for 5 days. Everyone we asked had something that got in the way....like....having a heavy course load this semester, or having to work and not being able to take time off, or having to go to a wedding, or having to dog-sit....the list could go on.

We were getting very discouraged. We bought our plane tickets and registered for the Desiring God conference and the thought that we might not be able to use them about made us start to cry!

Then I spoke to an angel. Okay, not really an angel, more like my sister. I asked her if she could watch the kids, and she accepted and is looking forward to it! The catch is that she lives 1000 miles away. We will make an autumn trip to Maine and fly to Minneapolis from my home state.

I started to think this whole dilemma through. Should it really be this difficult to find someone to watch your children? Should we just expect that with 4 young children, we need to hold off on going out of town? Is the current church community really the way the Bible intended church community to be?

It just makes me wonder. What if our society raised up the calling of motherhood and being keepers of the home? Would we still have had this problem in finding a caretaker for our little ones?

These are things I will ponder while I am several thousand feet above the Earth, on my way to see Piper.

Overdressed

Yesterday was a good day. We received Overdressed, the new Caedmon's Call cd, that we preordered months ago! With Derek Webb back in the mix...it is reminiscent of old music, but unique, all in one. I urge you to go out and get it!!

Here is my favorite from the cd so far :)

Sacred

this house is a good mess

it's the proof of life

no way would i trade jobs

but it don't pay overtime

I'll get to the laundry

i don't know when

i'm saying a prayer tonight

cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred?

and all this time

everything i've dreamed of

has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping

but they're running through my mind

the sun makes them happy

and the music makes them unwind

my cup runneth over

and i worry about the stain

teach me to run to You

like they run to me for every little thing

chorus

when i forget to drink from You

i can feel the banks harden

Lord, make me like a stream

to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper

the Lord, God Almighty

made your Mama keeper so rise and shine

rise and shine cause

chorus

A new message from John Piper

Attention All Counselors and Psychologists
August 24, 2007
By: John Piper


Eric Johnson’s magnum opus has just been published by IVP Academic. It is titled Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal. Knowing Eric and his love for God, and his allegiance to Scripture, and his deep appreciation for the worldview of Jonathan Edwards, and his own walk with Christ through dark valleys, I am encouraged by the conclusion of this book. Don’t stumble over the academic terms (modalities, analogical, theocentric). Penetrate to the amazing claims made here. Then consider pondering the 600 pages that go before.

In concluding the chapter (and the book), it would be good to summarize its
major underlying assumption: the different modalities of Christian soul care are
unified by a radically theocentric agenda. The use of these modalities is
Christian to the extent that it aims at the glory of God as its highest end, by
fostering the counselee’s analogical performance of Christ’s life, death and
resurrection through a deepening and manifesting faith in Christ . . . We
concede one may use all of these modalities without any reference to God or
Christ—as secular therapists do (and some Christians). But God’s glory is at
stake in the therapy of our day, and his truth, goodness, beauty and power are
best displayed when his role in our soul healing is consciously acknowledged,
made explicit and relied on, and when his Scriptures are given the primary role
in guiding the development of distinctly Christian psychological research,
theory building and soul-care practice. To the extent our faith is explicit and
authentic in our work, we manifest our own conformity to Christ. As we, and
those with whom we work, more and more come to flourish in communion with the
triune God and with the rest of the church, we together become better signs of
the Divine Life. Such is our common calling, so that Christian soul care,
properly conceived, has a significant role to play in the end for which God
created the world. (p. 604).

Desiring God Blog

Yo Gabba Gabba

What will they think of next?

This is a new show on television for preschoolers. I can't say that the kids love this show, but it is very unique and has catchy tunes.

I think the best quote from the show is one I heard today. To set the scene, they were cleaning up the house and picking up the trash..."It's so clean, I think I'm going to cry" lol

Here is one of their songs:

A quote

A More Generous View

Thoughts? Opinions?

You can see more here.

A day at the fair!

A day of coloring!

A few more freebies

Click here for free samples from Dove Hair Care!

Click here for a free sample from Tetley Ice Tea plus a coupon!

Click here for McDonalds coupons! (Valid in: AL,GA,SC, TN, VA)

Click here for free subscription to American Baby!

There are many more free magazine subscriptions here!


(When I sign up for free samples, it's good to have a junk email...so your good email doesn't get overloaded with junk mail!)

Overheard in the car this morning

Mommy, I don't want to go to Old Navel!
-Nolan

Our need to be together for the Gospel

Our unity is instead a unity of respect for the truth and for truth-in-practice, that sees in each other such a dogged commitment to God's word in both faith and practice that we want to be together promoting biblical Christianity, even (and especially) in the way we handle the points of principle on which we seriously disagree.
--Ligon Duncan TG4

The Gospel needs to be central in our lives. Yes, we have disagreements and differences. If we are truly committed to the Word of God, then all of those disagreements and differences should be minor in comparison to the commonality of the Gospel.

Changing diapers to the Glory of GOD!

As a mom of young children, it is so easy to get caught up in a rut of selfishness. I see it in my own life on a daily basis...some days are better than others. The moment I catch myself thinking that my household chores and the requests and needs of my children are just too overwhelming, I have to ask for God's forgiveness.

I am blessed that I am able to stay home with my little ones. I am blessed that I am able to be the keeper of this house...and all the chores that go with it!

Have you ever had a day when the moment you sit down, you realize that one of your children needs their diaper changed? You sit there, thinking....how long can he go before I really have to change him? How self-centered to even think about such a thing!

The little things I do may not get noticed by many. I may not get the thanks and recognition that I think I deserve.

I know that He sees.

He sees me wiping noses. He sees me putting away the dishes. He sees me doing the piles of laundry. He sees me hugging and caring for His children. He sees me changing diapers.

My prayer is that I be less concerned with myself, taking comfort that He knows me inside and out. When I have to change what seems like the 100th dirty diaper of the day...I pray that my heart is rejoicing that I have been given the duty of caring for my young. It is such a small way to show Christ's love...and what better place to start than right here at home.

Baby on the loose!

Can you see the mischief? I surely can.


Meet Jamison. He is currently training for the next military Olympics with his expert soldier crawl.



He is definitely going places! Even though he will often back himself in the corner...he has learned that he can go forward!

Ten Things Now to Stay at Home Later

by Heather Koerner

A few weeks ago I was sitting with a few fellow moms and running some article ideas by them while our kids played around our feet. My friends were being kind. To one idea, "Yeah, that sounds good." To another, "Sure, that could be interesting." And then I named off one more.

"So, I was also thinking about doing something like ... you know ... things you should do before you have kids so it's financially easier to stay at home later."

They hit the roof.

"Absolutely!" one cried, practically leaping off the couch. "That's the most important thing they need to know!"

"I sooo wish someone had told me that kind of stuff," the other agreed, emphatically nodding.

And so started a 45-minute conversation on "what I wish I had known back then." It was as if we all desperately wished we could send a letter back to our 20-something selves. We wanted to tell ourselves how important staying home with our kids means to us and how we needed to shape up financially to make it easier on our 30-something realities.

Unfortunately, not possible. But we can do the next best thing — we can send a letter to you. So, this is it. Our "top 10 things we wish someone had sat down and told us back then." May it bless you on your journey to motherhood.

You can finish the article here.

Love the people, and destroy the errors

We must be absolutely clear and unequivocal with this distinction between the person and the teaching. We must respect unconditionally the people whose views we critically analyze and respect their achievements on a human level. At the same time, we must oppose the mistaken theological view they have championed, in the hope that we may come to future agreement. In his dealings with schismatic bishops, St. Augustine followed this rule: Honor the person, fight the error. He laid down the polemical principle that we must content objectively with reasons and with proofs from Holy Scripture, and with the desire to win a person back, as he succeeded in doing in at least one instance. His motto was: Diligite homines, interficite errores; Love the people, and destroy the errors

....the Christian community certainly has the privilege and task to evaluate what is being taught. Again, we may find both good and bad in someone's teaching. But we cannot play off one against the other; we cannot ignore the bad because of the good. It would be the same as excusing a pharmaceutical firm for a dangerous medicine because of the excellent penicillin preparations it has produced for years. It may go on producing excellent medicine, but production of the dangerous substance must be censured and stopped as well as restitution made. - Klaus Bockmuehl, The Unreal God of Modern Theology (Helmers & Howard, 1988), pp. 5,6

from The Christian Mind

Muffins anyone??

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I think it's hysterical :) (Nolan likes it too)

We've all been there

3 Free Books

The Story of Arlton Murray

True Happiness Can Be Yours

The Upside of Down

I can't vouch for any of these books, so use discretion.

Free Kashi snack

free snack

If you look to the top right you can click on "skip all this, gimme my snack", to by-pass all the "pick this" stuff.

Your choices are:
Oatmeal Dark Chocolate TLC Cookie
Original 7 Grain TLC Crackers
Trail Mix TLC Chewy Granola Bar

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Free Chick-Fil-A

You will receive a coupon in the mail for free chicken and coke. Just click here to register!

The Bargainist

The Bargainist is a great place to check out. They are always adding new coupons to use both online and instore.

Make sure you bookmark it!

Free toothpaste sample

Aquafresh Extreme Clean

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Lost in the Land of Repetition

Anyone who has children knows they have been here a time or two. I am not just a visitor in this place. I'm pretty sure I am stuck here for awhile.

It doesn't bother me as much as it bothers others. It has become second nature to respond to these repetitions. I don't even notice I do it anymore.

Last night, I went to Walmart and bought the kids new toothpaste. It was like Christmas morning when the kids woke up! As they walked by the bathroom door, out of the corner of their eyes, they saw it!

Oh joy of joys! Could it be??? Cars toothpaste?? Spiderman toothpaste?? Long forgotten is poor Dr Seuss and Curious George.

I was told about the new toothpaste over and over again.

I was ushered into the bathroom several times to actually see and hold the new toothpaste.

Yes, it's been an exciting morning in the Jordan house and this is only one example.

It would be easy for me to get frustrated with my little boys as they repeat every question and observation. I can't say that I haven't been annoyed here and there. I have a feeling, though, that my time in the Land of Repetition is fleeting.

Chuckles goes to school

Coming to a church near you!! What church you ask?

Praise & Truth United Pentecostal Church of course!

We decided to bring the kids to the local fair that is here this week. While walking through the different buildings, we saw a booth for Fun Expedition, a children's place with games and go carts. The kids ran to this booth, but when I looked up, I saw that it was for a UPC church, advertising this Sunday's services. They are having a raffle for free hours of play at Fun Expedition. They told me to bring the kids this Sunday because Chuckles the Clown will be at church!

This reminds me of last year when a different church in the area decided to give $10 to the first 100 people in the doors!

Sounds like a great time by all....and better yet, free Admission!

When did it occur to people that making church into a 3 ring circus was a GOOD thing??

An apology...well, not really

It was pointed out to me yesterday, that if I keep blogging this much, I will run out of things to say.

Let me give you a guarantee that this will never happen.

Psalm 23...out of the mouths of babes

Smoking cigars to the glory of God!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a man who enjoyed a good cigar. In the past, I have found it interesting to read about Spurgeon, the man who (much to many people's dismay...not gonna name names here Reggie) smoked cigars.

Sacred Sandwich has a great advertisement.

Here is a quote (not sure if it's been validated, but I still find it amusing)

Spurgeon: I'll quit cigars if it becomes excessive.
Parishioner: What's excessive?
Spurgeon: Two cigars at a time.

Um, John...are you excessive?

The Spurgeon Archive is a great resource. Here is a quote:

All the world knows that Mr. Spurgeon now and again enjoyed a cigar. Not a few caricatures represented him smoking a pipe, but he never used a pipe all the years I knew him. His shrewd reply to the gentleman who "had heard he smoked, but could not believe it to be true," and asked Mr. Spurgeon to satisfy him, is choice: "I cultivate my flowers and burn my weeds."

A quote

Michael Vick Should've Killed Someone

As video game enthusiasts all over this land of ours fire up their XBox
360's, and Playstation 3's to take their first shot at EA Sports Madden 08 one
of the greatest video game athletes of all time has to hear about two of his
co-defendants taking plea deals in a dog fighting case. Michael Vick has gone
from transcendent quarterback who could rush for 1,000 yards while flipping off
the hometown fans and giving Mexican hookers herpes, to public enemy #1 in the
eyes of NFL fans and non fans alike. Vick has been linked to the abuse and
murder of dogs which in the eyes of the general American public is the second
worst crime you could commit behind rape of a child. Had Michael Vick been smart
he would have just jumped behind the wheel of a car and run someone over - he
probably wouldn't even have missed training camp.

The hypocrisy of the National Football League, it's players and the
individuals who are paid to cover it knows no bounds. Mike Vick's teammate in
Atlanta the very popular Warrick Dunn told reporters that he hoped Vick didn't
return to the Falcons this season. I realize that what Dunn was trying to say
was that he hoped the circus surrounding Vick stayed away from the Falcons
because as a team led by Joey Harrington they have enough to deal with. The
press has been all over Vick from the beginning to the point where if you didn't
actually look for the facts of the case you'd think Vick was the main source of
dog fighting in the United States.

My major problem though comes from a comment Jim Brown made when he claimed
that Mike Vick would not play NFL football ever again - and there seems to be a
pretty big group of people who agree with that sentiment. At this point in time
I'd like to remind you all of Leonard Little. I realize that at this point it
seems like old hat but can we at least remember that Susan Gutweiler lost her
life because Little decided to get behind the wheel of his car after a birthday
party.Forget about dogs - I like them as much as the next guy but Little killed
a human being. He received 90 days in jail, 1000 hours of community services and
four years of probation in 1998 because he killed someone. Did Little lose his
spot in the NFL? Of course not - in fact I have seen people during Sunday pre
game shows wearing #91 St. Louis Rams jerseys. I repeat: Leonard Little KILLED
someones mother, someones wife, someones daughter and not only did he not fail
to play another snap in the NFL - he has actually gained in popularity.

The insanity of the situation doesn't end there though - because Leonard
Little was arrested again six years later for driving under the influence. The
same man who six years prior had killed a human being was arrested again for
drunk driving and was he then thrown out of the NFL? Actually he signed an
extension with the St. Louis Rams. He was rewarded by the team he played for the
same season he was arrested for the second time of drunk driving.

But Michael Vick will never play another snap in the NFL because of the
abuse of animals. Unfortunately for Vick he had two huge factors playing against
him - the first was that he's a superstar athlete and whatever he did/does is
magnified compared to what a lowly defensive lineman like Little does. The
second problem that Vick runs into is what we already dealt with, that frankly
society treats the abuse of animals worse then the abuse of humans.

So let that be a lesson to all you aspiring professional athletes out there
- if you've got a choice between hooking a pit bull up to a rape stand, or
running over a middle aged woman. You're better career move would be taking a
couple shots of tequila, drinking a whiskey sour and jumping behind the wheel of
the car as you drive 90 miles per hour through a mall parking lot. Just make
sure that nobody is walking their dog in that parking lot though because heaven
forbid Lassie gets side swiped as your car bounces over the corpse of Lassie's
former owner.

Interesting to think about. The article comes from Epic Carnival.

Green Enchilada Chicken casserole

4 cups cooked chicken (I boil it, then cut it up)
2 tsp taco seasoning
8 oz cream cheese
7 oz green Mexican salsa
4 oz chopped green chiles (these last 2 items can be found in the Mexican section at the store)
8 oz monteray jack cheese, shredded

Coat the cooked chicken with the taco seasoning. Spread chicken in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Soften the cream cheese and whisk in the green salsa. Stir in the chiles. Pour the sauce over the chicken, spreading it out. Top with the cheese. Put it in a 350 degree over for about 25 minutes until it is hot and bubbly. If you want the top browner, once it is hot and bubbly, place it under the broiler for a few minutes.

It is possible to make this a day before or earlier in the day...just place it in the fridge and bake it when you are ready. The cooking time will be a little longer though.

Enjoy!

The math atheist

Biblical counseling

"Biblical counseling affirms both in theory and practice the sufficiency of
scripture for the Christian life in all of its aspects." -Dr. Daniel Akin,
Southeastern Seminary

Southern Baptist Scholars on Biblical Counseling

While reading another blog, The Christian Mind, I found that he had a great link to an interview that was done a few years ago and published in the Crossroads Counseling newsletter. It is really informative and gives a greater understanding of the differences between Biblical Counseling and Integration Counseling.

You can read the interview here

Here are some of the questions asked and answered:

1. How do you define the difference between biblical counseling and other models of Christian counseling (a.k.a. integration)?

2. Which approach to counseling, biblical counseling or integration, do you prefer? What aspects of doctrine and personal experience are most influential in your decision?

3. What do you believe the role of the Bible, the gospel, and the church ought to have in a distinctively biblical counseling model? What role does secular psychology have?

4. How does your school teach that biblical counseling should interact with the ministries of the church?

5. What questions would you ask a counselor you were considering referring to in order to assess whether their practice was distinctively biblical? What “red flags” are you screening for as you ask these questions?

6. Do you see any potential dangers with a church referring to integrationist counselors or using discipleship materials in their church that are from an integrationist perspective?

7. What authors and organizations do you believe are doing the best work in presenting a biblical model of counseling?

8. Why do you think secular psychology has become such an attractive alternative for many church leaders and members? Why are Southern Baptists embracing biblical counseling at this time in their history?

9. How would you envision an ideal relationship between local churches and a parachurch ministry devoted to a biblical model of counseling?

10. What final words of advice would you give to pastors as they consider matters of counseling?

I dedicate this picture to the Weems family

(Dudley is the dog)

Bible coloring pages for kids

click here

I can't even begin to tell you how excited the kids were to find Jonah and David and Goliath pages, lol.

Rock of Ages

Sir Will­iam Hen­ry Wills, in a let­ter to Dean Le­froy, pub­lished in the [Lon­don] Times in June, 1898, says ‘Top­la­dy was one day over­tak­en by a thun­der­storm in Bur­ring­ton Coombe, on the edge of my prop­er­ty, Blag­don, a rocky glen run­ning up in­to the heart of the Men­dip range, and there, tak­ing shel­ter be­tween two mass­ive piers of our na­tive lime­stone rock, he penned the hymn,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

There is a pre­ci­pi­tous crag of lime­stone a hun­dred feet high, and right down its cen­tre is the deep re­cess in which Top­la­dy shel­tered.’

Telford, p. 257

This hymn was sung at the fun­e­ral of Will­iam Glad­stone in West­min­ster Ab­bey, Lon­don, Eng­land. Prince Albert of Britain asked it be sung to him as he lay dy­ing. In Hymns That Have Helped, W. T. Stead stated:

…when the Lon­don went down in the Bay of Bis­cay, Jan­u­ary 11, 1866, the last thing which the last man who left the ship heard as the boat pushed off from the doomed vess­el was the voic­es of the pass­en­gers sing­ing “Rock of Ag­es.”

In ano­ther sto­ry:

A missionary…complained of the slow prog­ress made in In­dia in con­vert­ing the na­tives on ac­count of ex­plain­ing the teach­ings of Christ­i­an­i­ty so that the ig­no­rant peo­ple could un­der­stand them. Some of the most beau­ti­ful pass­ag­es in the Bi­ble, for in­stance are de­stroyed by trans­la­tion. He at­tempt­ed to have [Rock of Ages] trans­lat­ed in­to the na­tive di­a­lect, so that the na­tives might ap­pre­ci­ate its beau­ty. The work was en­trust­ed to a young Hi­ndu Bi­ble stu­dent who had the rep­u­ta­tion of be­ing some­thing of a po­et. The next day he brought his trans­la­tion for ap­prov­al, and his ren­der­ing, as trans­lat­ed back in­to Engl­ish, read like this:

Very old stone, split for my ben­e­fit,
Let me ab­sent my­self under one of your frag­ments.
Jones

The hymn was al­so re­port­ed­ly sung at the fun­er­al of Amer­i­can Pre­si­dent Ben­ja­min Har­ri­son be­cause it was his fa­vo­rite hymn, and the on­ly one he ev­er tried to sing.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my handsCan fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death
,[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

I need some validation!!

Between Two Worlds is worth:

My blog is worth $668,415.36.
How much is your blog worth?

Desiring God's blog is worth:

My blog is worth $634,542.96.
How much is your blog worth?

Girl Talk is worth:

My blog is worth $285,092.70.
How much is your blog worth?

I know I shouldn't expect to be worth as much as they are, but I'm worth something, right?

I mean, even Reggie's blog is worth:

My blog is worth $564.54.
How much is your blog worth?

Meanwhile, Angela and I are stuck at..........drum roll please!!!

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

A boy and his football

Yesterday, Gideon got a birthday package from Gramma and Grampa in Maine.

Oh, what could it possibly be?!?

It's a new, cool football!!

"I love sleeping with my favorite football!"

A boy and his coat

This morning we headed out to a local consignment sale. Haddon needed a new winter coat, since he outgrew last years. (big surprise there! hehe) Thankfully, I found one that will match the hat and scarf that Gramma made him last year for Christmas. We got home, and I wanted to try it on him to see how he would like it. It is currently in the 90s outside, yet here is what my silly two year old boy looks like!

Deconstruction

A child after my own heart

The Hawaiian Ice shack around the corner closes tomorrow. I told the kids that we would go over there one last time. They were very excited and didn't really want to eat dinner. They knew they had to eat something, so I served cereal (which is a staple in my house!).

Nolan took 3 bites and said his belly was full.

I told him he had better sit back at the table and eat some more. He got this look in his eye and said "Mommy, how about I take 16 bites?"

Considering I was going to say 5...I agreed, lol.

What is your preppy name?

Your Preppy Name Is...

Armistead Pierce Teagan the Third But most people know you as Mimi

What's Your Preppy Name?

lol

Quote of the week!

Heretics are rarely excommunicated these says. Instead, they go on book
tours.

-Al Mohler

I could not have said it better myself!

Shopping for Time

Any shoppers out there? I'll be the first to raise my hand. Can you remember a really good deal on something that you bought...whether it was today or years ago? I think we all have some sort of story (especially the women) that we have told numerous times with our chest all puffed out in pride. But are we treating our time the same way?

In chapter one of 'Shopping for Time' by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters, they address that very issue.

Do you strategically plan out your day like your shopping trips? Many of us have spent hours looking for that elusive deal, cutting coupons, sifting through flyers, scouring the internet...yet we don't treat our time the same way!

They ask the questions:

*Do you plan ahead to maximize your fruitfulness each day, or do you simply let life happen?
*Do you make choices based on Scripture or on what feels good at the
moment?
*Do you strategize to use your talents to bless your family and
church, or do you emply them primarily for your own personal fulfillment?
*Do you evaluate every opportunity in light of biblical priorities, or do
you do whatever it takes to get ahead?

(p.16)

It is definitely worth thinking about. I know that as a mom to four little boys, it can sometimes be hard to do this, and I have often felt that I am just simply letting life happen. We need to learn how we can maximize each day to give God the glory that He so deserves. When we just sit back and let things happen, we aren't doing what he calls us to do.

Let's start our days thinking and planning on how we can bring glory to our Creator!

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." -Ephesians 5:15-16

Always be sure to check this out!

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Walmart samples

Free Chocolate Explosion recipe book!

Enjoy!

free book

Free 4 oz Red Bear Hand Cleanser

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Free Chocolate!

$20,000 Grand Prize and Chocolate For All Contestants From Merci Chocolates :)

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How to save money at the Farmer's Market!

I've recently been to the Farmer's Market here in town for the first time. I've talked about going more than I have actually gone.

When I arrived, I found that the prices weren't really any better than at the store, but I'm always for supporting the local agriculture. I bought some fruit and vegetables....and lots of homeade jams and jellies. I can't help it...I love canned jams!

Here is are some steps I found about how you can save money when you go to a Farmer's Market :)

1. Research and locate both your nearest farmers' market and other nearby markets. In order to get screaming deals at the farmers' market, you first need to find it. Generally, farmers' markets run from early spring to late fall, but depending on where you live, your local market may be open a shorter time period or may be open year-round. Some markets are open daily during the season, while others are open only one or two days a week, most likely on weekends. If there are several markets in your area, you should visit all of them to find the best selection and best deals.

2. Learn more about the farms and farmers that attend the markets. Although not true for every market, there is a general rule that those selling agricultural products at the market are the very same people who grow or produce the items you are purchasing. Getting to know the producers / salespeople is your first step in building a lasting relationship with them and enjoying the great deals that can come from such a relationship.

3. Come to the market with a flexible palate. Often it is the case that common items (e.g. carrots, potatoes, and onions) are more expensive at the market than at conventional grocery stores. However, seasonal and specialty products that are outside of mainstream consumption (ethnic, heirloom, or rare vegetables, for example) can be purchased far below those prices demanded at the local supermarket. A flexible palate will not only introduce you to foods you never knew existed; you’ll also enjoy big savings.

4. Come to the market prepared to flatter. If there’s one way to a farmer's heart, it's talking food, especially talking about the food he or she grew. For instance, if you tell a vendor that you absolutely loved the way his or her heirloom Brandywine tomatoes complemented the basil you bought from him last week, there is a strong likelihood he or she will cut you a deal on your next purchase. The best reward to working all week in the field is to hear about how much a customer enjoyed eating the products a farmer grew. Farmers, like everyone else, appreciate compliments and knowing that their services make people happy.

5. Offer the farmers more than cash. Farmers are independent and sometimes unconventional. The nature of farming instills in nearly all farmers a strong desire and tendency for bartering. A farmer, like anyone else, specializes in a certain trade or skill. If you also have a skill or service that you can offer—website design, carpentry, tax preparation, etc.—a farmer may be willing to trade for your services. You may be able to get all your vegetables free during the summer in return for using your own skills to help your local farmer out.

6. When life gives you tomatoes, make tomato sauceAdd value to bulk purchases. Because most all vendors at farmers' markets grow seasonal products, there is often a large surplus of certain products at certain times. If you are willing to purchase large quantities of surplus items in peak season, you can add value to your purchase by saving seasonal food--by canning, freezing, or drying it, for example--for consumption out of season. For instance, the market price of raspberries is twice as much in winter as in summer. If you require a smoothie every morning, you can simply purchase large quantities in summer, freeze them, and enjoy savings as part of a complete breakfast. Make tomato gravy from those heirloom tomatoes, turn those beautiful onions into sweet onion marmalade, and dare to make pumpkin pie straight from the pumpkin.

7. Shop cooperatively with friends or family. You can save an incredible amount of money at the farmers' market if you buy in bulk. Consider going in with other people and purchase “cases” of food. Then, once you are home from the market, you can split up all the wonderful food just purchased at rock bottom prices!

8. Show up to the market on a regular basis, roughly 30 minutes prior to the close of market. Many of those who sell products at farmers' markets operate small farms and do not have the capability to store food for extended periods of time. After a long, hot summer day at the market, both the farmer and the produce are looking for a way to get home and cool down.

Double Chocolate Mocha Trifle

1 package brownie mix (I make mine from scratch)
1-3/4 cups of cold milk
2 packages white chocolate instant pudding mix (3.4 oz)
1/4 cup warm water
4 tsp instant coffee granules
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 toffee bars, coarsely chopped (I use a couple of the giant Symphony bars that have toffee and nuts in them)

Instructions:
*Make the brownies in a 9x13 pan and let it cool completely.
*In a bowl, whisk pudding mix into milk until mixture begins to thicken.
*Dissolve coffee in warm water, add to pudding mixture, mixing well.
*Fold in whipped topping.
*Cut brownies into 1 inch cubes.
*Chop the toffee bars.
*Layer 1/3 of the brownies on the bottom of a large bowl.
*Top with 1/3 of the pudding mixture, pressly lightly, and then cover with 1/3 of the toffee bits.
*Repeat layers 2 more times.

Chill at least 30 minutes before serving. I have found that this is fine to make a day ahead!

Enjoy!

A Communion Meditation

It is always important to remember what we are partaking in when we receive communion.

here

1 month, 2 weeks, and 1 day

Need I say more???

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3255630000

Fine Tuning

I chose 'Come Thou Fount' randomly. It is nice to be reminded that there is no randomness where God is concerned.

love her blog

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Robert Robinson was born in England in 1735. He began working at a very young age due to his father's death. His mother was said to have been a godly woman and had hoped that her son would become a clergyman in the Church of England. Their poverty forbade that, and he began an apprenticeship with a barber at the age of 11.

He began hanging out with the wrong group of friends, and one day, they decided to begin harrassing a drunken gypsy. They demanded that she tell them their fortunes. She told Robinson that he would live to see his children and his grandchildren. He took this seriously and decided that he had better change his ways if he was to live that long.

He went to hear George Whitefield, a methodist preacher. Whitefield preached on Matthew 3:7, titled "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" This sent Robinson into a deep sense of sin that lasted 3 years. Around the age of twenty, he found peace in believing.

He remained in London until 1758. Studying the ministries of Gill, Wesley and other evangelical ministers. He was invited to a Baptist church in 1759. The call was to "supply the pulpit". He first preached on January 8, 1759.

Towards the end of his life, he became friends with a Universalist and it was rumored that he denied the divinity of Christ. After supposedly becoming a Universalist, he preached clearly and declared that Jesus was God, and added, "Christ in Himself is a person infinitely lovely as both God and man."

Robert Robinson has two hymns that have become favorites. "Brightness of the eternal glory, shall Thy praise unuttered lie?" and "Come, Thou Fount of every blessing".

There was controversy at one time about the authorship of Come Thou Fount. There is now no doubt about who wrote the hymn.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount-I’m fixed upon it-mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand’ring from the fold of god;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to Thee;
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above.

Happy Birthday my dear sweet Giddy!

Dear Gideon,

Has it really been four years?

You have been talking about your birthday for weeks and it is finally here. You chose to have carrot cake and chocolate ice cream!

The first words out of your mouth this morning was wondering if there were balloons hanging up...and you weren't disappointed!

I pray that as you continue to grow, you continue to reach out to Jesus. Last night, when you awoke, scared in the dark....you called out to me. You were so scared. I told you to call out to Jesus, and He would comfort you.

And you prayed...."Jesus, please help me."

Such a simple prayer that is easily forgotten in our lives. We think we can depend upon ourselves for safety and comfort...but you knew. Just call out to Jesus, and He will help!

You quickly closed your eyes, and you were fast asleep, before I could even get back into my own bed. I cherish these moments with you. I thank the Lord that I am your mother. When I heard your cries, it was hard for me to want to get out of bed...but I am here to be mommy and it was my bed that was getting in the way.

I love you so much my little four year old boy!

Love, Mommy

Theologically sound?

Is it just me...or does this just seem wrong??

Mary and Joseph disco down to Bethlehem
Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:45AM EDT
By
Paul Majendie
EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Joseph and Mary boogie on down to
Bethlehem with their loud-mouthed donkey in a disco version of the Nativity that
is pure kitsch.
If awards were handed out at the Edinburgh Fringe for camp
humor, then "Discotivity" would be a leading contender for top honors at the
world's largest and zaniest arts festival.
Michelle McManus, winner of the
reality TV talent show "Pop Idol", was understandably nervous about taking on
the part of the Virgin Mary in the boisterous production.
"I was very
apprehensive. I didn't want to get involved in anything sacrilegious. But the
script is hilarious," said the 27-year-old Scottish singer making her musical
stage debut.
Understated subtlety is not the show's strong point.
King
Herod, plotting the massacre of the innocents after the birth of Jesus, gyrates
to "Disco Inferno."
When Joseph and Mary find there is no room at the inn,
queue camp chorus of Village People offering the "YMCA" as alternative
accommodation.
As the couple puzzle over a name for their child, Mary goes
into labor, doubles up in pain and shouts "Jesus Christ!"
The musical, which
is to transfer to London after Edinburgh, was written by British journalist Toby
Rose. He said of the show that has a baby Jesus wheeled around stage in a
supermarket trolley: "It's all done in the best possible taste.
"It's cheeky,
has loads of jokes but we like to think it is theologically sound. Its heart is
in the right place. We want people to come out thinking it was funny, not
offensive."
McManus has had a checkered career since winning Pop Idol in 2003
with 6.5 million phone-in votes.
A number one hit single was swiftly followed
by an autobiography and an album. But when the second single only reached number
14 in the charts, the record company dropped her.
"They had always thought
the British public would see sense at the end of the day and not pick this big
fat cow as the winner," said McManus, cheerfully mocking her girth.
The
contrast is striking with "American Idol" contestants who produced Grammy winner
Kelly Clarkson, Country Music Award winner Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson,
who failed to make the 2004 finals but won an Oscar for her performance in the
movie "Dreamgirls."
But McManus, whose career since Pop Idol has ranged from
radio presenter to TV comedy cameo roles, has no regrets about her 15 minutes of
fleeting fame: "What goes up must come down. It's longevity that's important to
me."