Redneck Shopping

The Honda needed a visit to the shop for a recall issue, so we drove to Omaha today with both vehicles. After dropping off the van we did some shopping. I found a memory box for my mom's baby dress that I want to display. We met Doc and Nancy at Village Inn for lunch and had a wonderful visit. Love those two to pieces!!
After that our shopping took a redneck turn and I realized after getting home that we spent the bigger portion of our money today on a big flat screen for guy TV and ammo. And we called it Christmas. Pretty scary, I know!!

Thought for the day

It was such a blessing to be with Murdoch's today. I wish I could put it all in a bottle and get it out to replay over and over. They are a wealth of wisdom, insight, and encouragement. It would be amazing to someday be that kind of influence and encouragement to other people. A couple of gems to remember..."I have put you in a dry place, but I will nourish you from within." "Make God tell you no."

Anguish by David Wilkerson

Okay, people, maybe nobody's out there, but I like to do this anyway. I saw a very convicting piece on facebook today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI

This is by David Wilkerson and is VERY powerful. It really did convict me and I'm going to keep going back to it for a while. But I must be honest and say that I'm writing this WHILE I'm watching TV...finals for America's Got Talent, what can I say.

Feeling Better

Another great "America's Got Talent" was on tonight! There was a 9 year old boy that could play a guitar like a pro and a group of postal workers that could really sing! Of course there were the crazies...don't these people have a friend or family member who loves them enough to shake them silly and stop them from getting on stage? I mean seriously,......scary stuff! Oh well, that's why we like it...a little of everything!

I'm almost done with the book "The Hole in our Gospel". It is seriously challenging. It, along with the book "Revolution in World Missions", have really brought the world and our responsibility in it into sharper focus for me. They definitely make "America's Got Talent" seem less than the most important thing in the present realm! Now...what to do....

Thought for the day

Thanks for praying for me. My back was still bad through the night and this morning, but by late morning the Tylenol had kicked in and I haven't needed any since. I'll take my usual dose at bedtime, but I've been much more comfortable today. Thanks!!!

Guarding the Mind

Yesterday we went to church. Late in the morning Tabbi and the boys came over for a while...she got groceries while the boys played here. I think everyone had a good time, I know we did. My mom called a little later and needed some help, so we both went over there. I stayed with her for an hour or so while Jon came back home to finish mowing leaves. The evening was quiet, which was perfect.

Today we were back at work. Jon is still grinding dyes right now after getting a late start at it tonight. I'm trying to get some odds and ends done around here and even did a little reading. Not feeling very productive, I guess. I'm think I'm going to have to start being more selective about what I watch on TV. Many of the shows we've come to like are "cop" shows, mostly because we like the investigative ins and outs...NCIS, the CSI's, Criminal Minds, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Numbers... Some of that is fine, but too much can be too much. In the process of "crime solving" too many times they show the crime over and over, and the people do such horrible things to each other. Sometimes even the news is tough to listen to. I may need to pick and choose more. They used to run "Everybody Loves Raymond" over the supper hour every weeknight...I think I miss that daily dose of laughter.

Thought for the day

How much are we influenced by the random, haphazard, "innocent" things that cross our paths and enter our minds? How do we set up a guard over our hearts and minds without becoming paranoid, flaky, superstitious, unable to function in a world that bombards us with constant media of one form or another? Yes, I can turn off the TV...and that would be a good start. But there are deliberate choices to make. "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, ...right, ...pure, ...lovely, ...of good repute, ...excellence, ...praise." Philippians 4:8 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Giving Back

Well, yesterday was so much fun I have no idea how to follow up. That's what happens when you set the bar too high...the pressure, the pressure. It was sure fun though. And thanks, Bria, for liking my post.!!

So who's ready for the weekend besides me? I get to do something fun on Saturday, but I'll wait to talk about that till then. For now I'm just looking forward to it. Tonight I have to tape CSI while we watch ER. Wow, keeping up with the new season is a challenge!!

Tonight I'm really thankful. I heard from my daughter today about an extended relative from the other family who is very ill. Young man in his thirties (I think) who is now unemployed, uninsured, living far from family, and needing a liver transplant that he probably won't get and will die without. We all face challenges every day that can seem overwhelming, but I tell you what--we're all doing just fine. To listen to the news one would think we're on the brink of disaster...we're not. We keep going to work, be thankful for our jobs, our homes, our families, our health, and the blessings we experience every day.


Thought for the day

Lord, You give us so much that we take for granted. We've come to believe that our luxuries are actually our needs, and we've been spoiled in many ways. Help us to not hold so tightly and to be willing to share out of all that You have blessed us with--whether it's our time, our belongings, our love, our support, our forgiveness, our patience, our encouragement, a kind word, a soft answer, a human touch, a tight hug. You've poured out Your life and blood for us, help us do some portion of that for others.

Season Premiere Week

Okay, apparently I'm at least a little bit of a tv junkie. I think it became that way while recovering from my back surgery 2 1/2 years ago followed my the stress fracture in my foot the following year and needing to stay off my foot. I'm not getting some other things done this week because of the season openers of some favorite shows. It seems there is at least one every night, and tomorrow night is America's Got Talent again. So many important things!! Maybe next week I'll get more walks in...Apparently my good intentions are sidetracked pretty easily. Any suggestions to keep me focused?


Thought for the day
Seems like I eventually manage to work myself back to the old grind of performing for God. Here I am feeling like I'm not "doing well" because I'm not keeping up with my good intentions (i.e. walking). It's hard to find a balance between following through with a plan and performing for points on the goodness scale. We already flunked that test...just read the Ten Commandments. If we are honest with ourselves we've broken every one at least in thought--each one of us has done that. But Christ took our sins on Himself and paid the price...death. In accepting what He has done for me and trusting that instead of trying to "be good enough" myself, I am received into His life and eternity. Even knowing that, after salvation, we turn and try to pay back what He has done for us. CAN'T BE DONE!!! STOP IT!!! He means for us to walk with Him in fellowship and joy and just let Him live through us. We're the ones who make it complicated.

America's Got Talent

Wow!!! I don't know if you watch this show, but wow!! We will occasionally catch some of American Idol, but this is so much better...the acts aren't all singers that sound a lot alike. We're down to the final ten, and even though all but one act is singing, there is such variety. We've got the old man who sings Sinatra, the Elvis impersonator who is really convincing, a 4 year old girl, an act of 1 sister and 2 brothers singing and playing strings, the opera singer, the middle aged singing car salesman, the great black lady that can sing with incredible power, the nice-looking blonde singer, the great piano player and singer who can put more emotion in it than I've ever seen, then there's Nuttin But Strinz--2 young black men playing violin, if you can imagine, like you've never heard violin and playing their own original music. I really need about 3 to tie for first. If you want to catch up watch Thursday night at 7:00 on nbc to see it go down to the final 5.

Thought for the day
We really do put talent on a pedestal in this culture. It's almost insane when you think about what we're willing to pay entertainers and sports figures so that we can be entertained. That's maybe not so bad, but it spills over into what we expect from real people, from each other. Our idea of what's normal or expected can be skewed by watching life played out according to a script complete with special effects, camera angles, air-brushing, makeup, and musical score. Have you ever noticed while watching a movie or tv the character's eyesight can actually zoom in on the precise detail he needs to see? Pretty cool---my eyes don't do that. No wonder that we grow impatient with real people who have real limitations and appearances. We can't tolerate a problem that goes on for years instead of being resolved in 2 hours. The people we deal and live with don't follow the script; we expect even ourselves to look and perform like the personalities we watch--who needs that kind of pressure? Let's think about what is realistic for us and for those around us and begin to see ourselves and them the way Jesus sees us all--precious and valuable and appreciate what God has created and loves.