I can't believe it's the weekend already. So not complaining but still hard to believe!
Anyone else watch Dancing with the Stars! I'm so SO SO excited that Helio and Julianne won. I would have been upset if Marie Osmond won...because she would have won on her popularity alone. I can't wait till next season.
Anyone of my listeners know how to dance ballroom dances? Although I am a major chicken, I kinda would like to learn some of them...It would be fun...I think. LOL
Here is a little video of their final dances...including the freestyle dance!!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Advent Devotional...Day 8
November 30
OfWindows and Doors
Quinn G. Caldwell
When we were young, if I walked through the living room and accidentally blocked
her view while my sister was watching TV, she would snarl from the couch, “You’d
make a better door than a window.” Not so with John the Baptist. Of course, it
could have gone differently than it did: John had had a miraculous birth, was full of the Holy Spirit, had the respect of the people and the fear of their leaders. He could have proclaimed himself history’s goal, and the people would have followed him. Instead, he made of his words, his actions, and his life windows through which the people could see the Realm of God and the coming Messiah. Are there ways in which you—or your church—have been acting as if you, and not Jesus, are the end toward which history is tending? As Advent nears, how might you be more like a window through which the world can see the coming Christ?
Prayer: O God, in you I have become great indeed. Help me to remember that the greatness with which you have gifted me is for your service alone. Make me transparent for the Gospel, a window through which all who meet me glimpse your goodness. Amen. As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:15-16
OfWindows and Doors
Quinn G. Caldwell
When we were young, if I walked through the living room and accidentally blocked
her view while my sister was watching TV, she would snarl from the couch, “You’d
make a better door than a window.” Not so with John the Baptist. Of course, it
could have gone differently than it did: John had had a miraculous birth, was full of the Holy Spirit, had the respect of the people and the fear of their leaders. He could have proclaimed himself history’s goal, and the people would have followed him. Instead, he made of his words, his actions, and his life windows through which the people could see the Realm of God and the coming Messiah. Are there ways in which you—or your church—have been acting as if you, and not Jesus, are the end toward which history is tending? As Advent nears, how might you be more like a window through which the world can see the coming Christ?
Prayer: O God, in you I have become great indeed. Help me to remember that the greatness with which you have gifted me is for your service alone. Make me transparent for the Gospel, a window through which all who meet me glimpse your goodness. Amen. As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:15-16
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Advent Devotional...7
Odd Things
Quinn G. Caldwell
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Mark 1:4-8
Camel hair, locusts, the desert: make no mistake, John the Baptist was a distinctly odd man. Then again, prophets tend to be at least a little bit odd, for the God for whom they speak tends to do some pretty odd things--like entering history as a human being. So we Christians do a lot of odd things of our own. We sprinkle water on ourselves and call it salvation, we share meals and believe that God sits at table with us, we proclaim that the poorest and most broken are dearest of all, we seek to create peace amid war, we proclaim that our flawed and broken churches are the very body of God in the world. Make no mistake: these are not things that the world considers normal. And yet they are the stuff we are made of, the signs we're known by. They are the way God continues to speak to God's odd people.
Prayer: O loving creator of all things, help me to live as St. Paul urged: help me to be in this world but not of it. By the grace of my baptism, make me odd to every way of the world that is not yours. Give me the strength to live less as a product of this world, more as a citizen of your coming realm, and so let me participate in your turning the one into the other. Amen.
Quinn G. Caldwell
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Mark 1:4-8
Camel hair, locusts, the desert: make no mistake, John the Baptist was a distinctly odd man. Then again, prophets tend to be at least a little bit odd, for the God for whom they speak tends to do some pretty odd things--like entering history as a human being. So we Christians do a lot of odd things of our own. We sprinkle water on ourselves and call it salvation, we share meals and believe that God sits at table with us, we proclaim that the poorest and most broken are dearest of all, we seek to create peace amid war, we proclaim that our flawed and broken churches are the very body of God in the world. Make no mistake: these are not things that the world considers normal. And yet they are the stuff we are made of, the signs we're known by. They are the way God continues to speak to God's odd people.
Prayer: O loving creator of all things, help me to live as St. Paul urged: help me to be in this world but not of it. By the grace of my baptism, make me odd to every way of the world that is not yours. Give me the strength to live less as a product of this world, more as a citizen of your coming realm, and so let me participate in your turning the one into the other. Amen.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Say Merry Christmas!
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a " Holiday ".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !*
To Speak up or stay silent
let me first say that 95% of the time i enjoy my job...it's not *stressful* and the higher ups don't expect you to be perfect. If you make a mistakes, they don't scold you for it, but they help you to fix it.
now, some of the people i work with really drive me crazy. they constantly complain, stating that they have the most work out of all us and that nobody cares. UGH! first off, we ALL have heavy loads...sometimes more than others. but, i don't know how many times i've offered to help her and i get nothing. i hate the fact that this person is being SUCH a martyr...do i say something to my boss??? the negative attiude this person provides can really stress me out!
now, some of the people i work with really drive me crazy. they constantly complain, stating that they have the most work out of all us and that nobody cares. UGH! first off, we ALL have heavy loads...sometimes more than others. but, i don't know how many times i've offered to help her and i get nothing. i hate the fact that this person is being SUCH a martyr...do i say something to my boss??? the negative attiude this person provides can really stress me out!
Advent Devotional...Day Six
All Things are Possible
Quinn G. Caldwell
"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord... he will be filled with the Holy Spirit." Luke 1:13-15
An angel comes to Zechariah and announces an unexpected thing: he and Elizabeth, here in their old age--what some might call their declining years--are to have a son, a miracle of a boy, filled with the Holy Spirit, born for the rejoicing of the people and the purposes of God. Understandably, he responds with disbelief. But what is unexpected for Zechariah is nothing new for the God that caused creation to spring into being at a word, who birthed the whole people of Israel from barren Abraham and Sarah. Much has been made of "the decline of the mainline churches" in recent years. The membership numbers do point in an unhappy direction, and many have come to expect an equally unhappy future. But our God is the God of unexpected things in surprising places, the one who makes new life to spring unexpectedly from old bodies. And we are a people learning to expect the unexpected.
Prayer: Come, God, come. Open me to your Spirit moving in me and in my church. Teach me to expect the new life--the miracles--you are nurturing even now in the deep places of my life. Amen.
Quinn G. Caldwell
"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord... he will be filled with the Holy Spirit." Luke 1:13-15
An angel comes to Zechariah and announces an unexpected thing: he and Elizabeth, here in their old age--what some might call their declining years--are to have a son, a miracle of a boy, filled with the Holy Spirit, born for the rejoicing of the people and the purposes of God. Understandably, he responds with disbelief. But what is unexpected for Zechariah is nothing new for the God that caused creation to spring into being at a word, who birthed the whole people of Israel from barren Abraham and Sarah. Much has been made of "the decline of the mainline churches" in recent years. The membership numbers do point in an unhappy direction, and many have come to expect an equally unhappy future. But our God is the God of unexpected things in surprising places, the one who makes new life to spring unexpectedly from old bodies. And we are a people learning to expect the unexpected.
Prayer: Come, God, come. Open me to your Spirit moving in me and in my church. Teach me to expect the new life--the miracles--you are nurturing even now in the deep places of my life. Amen.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Advent Devotional...Day Five
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward all. Luke 2:14
William Green
All flesh. What part of "all" don't we get? God's embrace isn't for some flesh, but all flesh. We'll never meet a person whom God doesn't love. And yet we continue to construct walls that divide us--walls built on gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, and whatever else that distinguishes us from one another. Advent is a good time to look again at the "walls" that divide us. We can't celebrate the coming of Jesus without letting them crumble. What are these walls for you? Consider some "walls" that, at first, may not be obvious. Isn't tolerance a wall when it's a substitute for respect? Isn't being nice a wall when it's avoidance of difference? Isn't good will a wall when it's limited to conviviality and agreement?
Glory to God is peace on earth, good will toward all--and the angels are not going to take care of it for us. This is not a matter of following rules but of honoring relationships--with strangers as well as kin, with enemies as well as allies. When we honor others as ourselves, then, and only then, can we celebrate Christmas, finding in Jesus the love that welcomes us all, and brings us to our best.
Prayer: "Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again." Amen.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward all. Luke 2:14
William Green
All flesh. What part of "all" don't we get? God's embrace isn't for some flesh, but all flesh. We'll never meet a person whom God doesn't love. And yet we continue to construct walls that divide us--walls built on gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, and whatever else that distinguishes us from one another. Advent is a good time to look again at the "walls" that divide us. We can't celebrate the coming of Jesus without letting them crumble. What are these walls for you? Consider some "walls" that, at first, may not be obvious. Isn't tolerance a wall when it's a substitute for respect? Isn't being nice a wall when it's avoidance of difference? Isn't good will a wall when it's limited to conviviality and agreement?
Glory to God is peace on earth, good will toward all--and the angels are not going to take care of it for us. This is not a matter of following rules but of honoring relationships--with strangers as well as kin, with enemies as well as allies. When we honor others as ourselves, then, and only then, can we celebrate Christmas, finding in Jesus the love that welcomes us all, and brings us to our best.
Prayer: "Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again." Amen.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Advent Devotional - Day Three
Your troubles will not overwhelm you... the hard trials that come will not hurt you. Isaiah 43:2
The church is always tempted to give easy answers to hard questions. Jesus did not say he was the answer. He said he was the way (John 14:6). As Maya Angelou put it in one of her poems, "When I say 'I am a Christian'/I'm not shouting 'I am saved.'/I'm whispering 'I get lost'/ That is why I chose this way.... " Faith is not the absence of doubt--or of heartache--but the willingness to be honest about it. A good way to prepare for the coming of Christ is to acknowledge heartache and doubt. In a Christmas card, stables glow, the cows don't smell, and it always looks soft for the baby Jesus. But Jesus was born in a real stable. There was no room in a more pleasant place. And so with us. Jesus becomes real, not simply amid warmth and happiness, but during hard times. And what turns out to matter more than answers is the assurance that we're not alone, there's nothing so strange about us--and we're on the right way.
Prayer: "Redeemer come! I open wide my heart to you; here, Christ abide! Let me your inner presence feel; your grace and love in me reveal." Amen.
The church is always tempted to give easy answers to hard questions. Jesus did not say he was the answer. He said he was the way (John 14:6). As Maya Angelou put it in one of her poems, "When I say 'I am a Christian'/I'm not shouting 'I am saved.'/I'm whispering 'I get lost'/ That is why I chose this way.... " Faith is not the absence of doubt--or of heartache--but the willingness to be honest about it. A good way to prepare for the coming of Christ is to acknowledge heartache and doubt. In a Christmas card, stables glow, the cows don't smell, and it always looks soft for the baby Jesus. But Jesus was born in a real stable. There was no room in a more pleasant place. And so with us. Jesus becomes real, not simply amid warmth and happiness, but during hard times. And what turns out to matter more than answers is the assurance that we're not alone, there's nothing so strange about us--and we're on the right way.
Prayer: "Redeemer come! I open wide my heart to you; here, Christ abide! Let me your inner presence feel; your grace and love in me reveal." Amen.
freerice.com
http://freerice.com/
For each word you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger!
I donated 110 grains of rice...with a little help from an online dictionary though!
For each word you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger!
I donated 110 grains of rice...with a little help from an online dictionary though!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
I'm Ready for Christmas!!
Now that Thanksgiving has passed and we're eating turkey leftovers...
I AM READY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!
I don't believe in getting any Christmas decorations out until Thanksgiving has passed.
I've updated my blogger page and myspace to get in the holiday spirit.
One month from today is Christmas Eve...YIKES!!!
I AM READY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!
I don't believe in getting any Christmas decorations out until Thanksgiving has passed.
I've updated my blogger page and myspace to get in the holiday spirit.
One month from today is Christmas Eve...YIKES!!!
Advent Devotional - Day Two
Fear not, for behold I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10
Seventy-six times from the beginning to the end of the Bible we find the words, "Fear not!" Almost always this accompanies great blessing, as at the birth of Christ and on Easter morning. Along with so many others in Scripture, the shepherds and those first at the empty tomb come upon something wonderful--and are told not to be afraid.
How often fear and joy work together in our lives. Something especially good happens to us--and we wonder when the other shoe will drop. Someone says the 'yes' we've wanted to hear, and we wonder whether we can really believe it.
Perhaps it's like the story of the boy who loved Mister Rogers and Captain Kangaroo. He was thrilled when Mister Rogers announced that the two would finally meet. But when that day finally came, after a minute of watching his two heroes together, he quietly left the room. Puzzled, his father followed him and asked why. "What is it? Is something wrong?" The boy looked up and said, "It's too good. It's just too good."
Are we prepared to believe there's such a thing as something too good not to be true? In the spirit of Advent, let's get ready!
Prayer: "Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again." Amen.
Seventy-six times from the beginning to the end of the Bible we find the words, "Fear not!" Almost always this accompanies great blessing, as at the birth of Christ and on Easter morning. Along with so many others in Scripture, the shepherds and those first at the empty tomb come upon something wonderful--and are told not to be afraid.
How often fear and joy work together in our lives. Something especially good happens to us--and we wonder when the other shoe will drop. Someone says the 'yes' we've wanted to hear, and we wonder whether we can really believe it.
Perhaps it's like the story of the boy who loved Mister Rogers and Captain Kangaroo. He was thrilled when Mister Rogers announced that the two would finally meet. But when that day finally came, after a minute of watching his two heroes together, he quietly left the room. Puzzled, his father followed him and asked why. "What is it? Is something wrong?" The boy looked up and said, "It's too good. It's just too good."
Are we prepared to believe there's such a thing as something too good not to be true? In the spirit of Advent, let's get ready!
Prayer: "Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again." Amen.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Devotional Day 1 - Expecting the Unexpected
Expecting the Unexpected
William Green
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.
What do you expect? More of the same? Do you worry about the worst--or anticipate the best? Or do you just quit thinking about it? Advent is about getting ready for good news. This means repentance: turning from our ways to God's ways, giving up reliance on ourselves alone. This is an act of hope. It's a joy not a job because it involves something to look forward to! It's anticipation: expecting that goodness and mercy far greater than our own are waiting to be born anew for us and in the world. This "good news" seems unrealistic. But God's ways are not our ways. And God's love is stronger than the toughest trouble, surpassing what we can figure out. When we demand that life fit our rational expectations we put ourselves in charge: instead of trusting God, we play God. Whether what we face is beautiful or ugly, tragic or fortunate--or anywhere in between--all this is the grist of grace, the cradle of Christ... the means whereby love again becomes real for us. We can expect to be surprised.
Prayer: "Come, O long expected Jesus, born to set all people free; from our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty." Amen.
William Green
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.
What do you expect? More of the same? Do you worry about the worst--or anticipate the best? Or do you just quit thinking about it? Advent is about getting ready for good news. This means repentance: turning from our ways to God's ways, giving up reliance on ourselves alone. This is an act of hope. It's a joy not a job because it involves something to look forward to! It's anticipation: expecting that goodness and mercy far greater than our own are waiting to be born anew for us and in the world. This "good news" seems unrealistic. But God's ways are not our ways. And God's love is stronger than the toughest trouble, surpassing what we can figure out. When we demand that life fit our rational expectations we put ourselves in charge: instead of trusting God, we play God. Whether what we face is beautiful or ugly, tragic or fortunate--or anywhere in between--all this is the grist of grace, the cradle of Christ... the means whereby love again becomes real for us. We can expect to be surprised.
Prayer: "Come, O long expected Jesus, born to set all people free; from our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty." Amen.
Advent Devotional
I'm getting these daily devotionals starting today all the way until Christmas Eve. I'll be sharing them here for my wonderful audience! :)
Black Friday
It's black friday and I am staying home! LOL No way am I going to be out in the stores..especially being so close to woodfield. I'm been doing some browsing online for stuff...maybe I'll buy a few things. We'll see...
anyone shopping today?
anyone shopping today?
Joke from my nephew...
"What does the smoked turkey say?"
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"cough cough....gobble gobble....cough cough"
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"cough cough....gobble gobble....cough cough"
Grateful Friday
I'm SO VERY grateful for yesterday.
I'm grateful that my grandmother finally got to meet her "granddaughter-in-law". My cousin met his wife while they were in basic in California. She was sent over to Korea before my cousin was, so she didn't get a chance to get home when he came home for a graduation celebration. They were married in Hawaii last summer and Gma wasn't strong enough for the trip. When my other cousin got married this summer, she wasn't able to get time away from the military. My sister and I (along with our families) hadn't gotten a chance to meet her either, so I was looking foward to it as well.
I'm grateful that Grandma is still thriving. Her physical body may be working against her, but her mental state is excellent. A few months ago, I wondered if she would be able to make it to this day or make it to her 90th birthday, which is next month. I know that not everyone is as lucky as I am, so I know that my time with her is limited. She could last another 10 years or she could be gone next year.
Not to mention it was my husband's "bird day" yesterday...that's what my nephew said..LOL
I'm grateful that my grandmother finally got to meet her "granddaughter-in-law". My cousin met his wife while they were in basic in California. She was sent over to Korea before my cousin was, so she didn't get a chance to get home when he came home for a graduation celebration. They were married in Hawaii last summer and Gma wasn't strong enough for the trip. When my other cousin got married this summer, she wasn't able to get time away from the military. My sister and I (along with our families) hadn't gotten a chance to meet her either, so I was looking foward to it as well.
I'm grateful that Grandma is still thriving. Her physical body may be working against her, but her mental state is excellent. A few months ago, I wondered if she would be able to make it to this day or make it to her 90th birthday, which is next month. I know that not everyone is as lucky as I am, so I know that my time with her is limited. She could last another 10 years or she could be gone next year.
Not to mention it was my husband's "bird day" yesterday...that's what my nephew said..LOL
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