Here are the pictures I promised of our newest family member.
He’s cute and a royal pain. He’s also learning to cuddle, so yes, he’s worth it.
Okay, I’m trying very hard my best to be mature here, but have you heard the news that the middle age, wonder-drug Viagra may be the new enhancement sports enhancement drug?
It seems certain professional baseball players have been taking Viagra to improve their performance playing baseball game.
The mind reels! How can Viagra possibly improve one’s performance at bat in a baseball game? Wouldn’t it make wearing a cup hard virtually impossible? I can’t imagine it would make getting around the bases running any picnic either.
Will these guy stop at nothing to prove they are the bigger men better athletes? What’s next?
For once the eight-track didn’t have to be coaxed into not eating the tape, which meant we were ready to listen to the comedian we’d seen on a new show called Saturday Night Live. As six of us sat on my bedroom floor, the smoke of strawberry incense swirling around our heads, and black light posters glowing, George Carlin’s voice came through the speakers like an ice pick through the heart of polite society. We alternated between shocked and hysterical laughter as we listened to “Class Clown” and “Seven Words”. If one could actually die laughing the “Hippy Dippy Weatherman” would have done me in, that day.
How did we get here, George, to the end of your life and more than half-way through mine?
Some things hit kind of hard.
Carlin wisdom:
“Always do whatever’s next.”
“Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.”
“Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.”
“The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.”
“Think off-center.”
“Weather forecast for tonight: dark.”
“May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.”
Good-bye George. Thanks for the memories.
School and work are keeping me busier than the proverbial paperhanger.
1) Nineteen-year-old daughter informed her dad and I that she is planning to move in with her thirty-four-year-old boyfriend. I could rant for years on that alone, but am sure you all already know how I feel about it.
2) The atomic fur-ball is growing amazingly fast, and my arm is pretty well shredded from his first nail clipping.
3) There have been major improvements in my situation at church. I’ll probably write a whole post on it when time permits.
4) I’ve interviewed for a promotion at work. Prayer and positive thoughts would be appreciated.
Mr. W brought home a little, white and black spotted ball of fluff and named it Tony. He enjoys chasing the other animals through the house, destroying the pantry, attacking finger, toes and ankles, untying shoe laces, sleeping, and eating. I’ve taken to calling the miniature bundle of energy Teeny Tiny Tony.
It’s a little worrisome watching a tiny kitten curl up next to our big Lab and fall asleep, but they seem to get along very well. She even tickles his tummy with her nose. The other dogs are waiting to get to know him better before passing judgment.
Mr. Dithers is being his usual sweet self, in spite of his age, and making sure the new family member is well groomed and disciplined, but Stink says he’s a royal pain in the butt, and wants nothing to do with him.
How do you thank a soldier
Who tries to make the world a safer place,
Longs to see his sweetheart’s face,
Refuses to give up till the war is won,
Misses the first words of his son?
How do you thank a soldier
Who has to leave her own fair land,
Never breaks in enemy hands,
Truly believes in the American way,
Faces death every day?
How do you thank a soldier
Who works through the midnight hours,
Does without “real food” and hot showers,
Far from home sleeps on the ground,
Prays for his friends when no one’s around?
How do you thank a soldier
Who’s grateful for a letter from a stranger,
Bravely walks into danger,
Fights when she’s tired, sore, and hungry,
Gives her life for God and Country?
How do you thank a soldier?
You fly our flag, high and proud,
Say the “Pledge”, right out loud.
Stand for the Anthem and cover your heart.
Let patriotism show in your life and your art.
Remember always why he was lost.
Remember freedom comes at a cost.
Dedicated to the men and women who gave their all.
I see many believers today working like demons (pun intended) to prove, to their fellow Christians and the rest of the world, how spiritual and holy they are. It’s one of the many traps religion, in place of relationship, will get you into. The Bible does call us to serve our fellow man Matthew 23:11 “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”, but it does not say we must work in order to keep our salvation, and openly condemns working to gain the approval of others. Matthew 6:4-6 “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Does this mean that we shouldn’t work at all, and just expect God to take care of everything. Of course not! Remember the Proverb “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”(24:33,34) Laziness clearly leads to poverty, and we’ve all seen enough examples to know it’s true. Matthew is speaking of our salvation. Did Jesus say on the cross “Now go and do your part.”? No, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30)
Let’s look at Ephesians 2:4-9 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Our salvation is a “gift of God”, and we can do nothing to earn it. We can only accept it. If the only thing we get from all this is the realization that salvation is a gift and accept it, then we’ve done amazingly well. But there is more.
Galatians 4:4-8 Explains, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” We’re adopted, heirs with Christ! What was promised to Him is also promised to us. Because of His sacrifice we receive not what we deserve, but what he deserves.
Look again at Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Notice the present tense? As far as our salvation is concerned it’s all done. There is nothing left for us to do, once we accept God’s gift.
Imagine being seated with Christ. You say to Him, “Lord, this is amazing and wonderful, but I don’t deserve it.”
And He says, “You’re right.”
“Lord, what can I do to deserve all of this? I was raised to earn my way. No one gets something, especially something this wonderful, for nothing!”
“There is nothing left for you to do.”
“But, Lord, this isn’t right. Surely I can do something, work as a missionary or feed the homeless. I could buy coats for poor children.”
“There is nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“It has all been done.”
You’re sitting there, surrounded by God’s glory and the beauty of heaven, and you realize it’s yours for eternity. Everything has been done, and there is nothing left for you to do. You see the love in His eyes, and as tears well up in your own you ask, “How can I ever repay you?”
With the kindest smile you’ve ever seen He says, “You can’t. It’s a gift.”
You whisper, “Can I at least do something to show you how much I love you?”
“Yes.” He says, “You can follow in my footsteps.”
We need to check our motivation. Are we working to earn “brownie points” with God? Are we working to impress others? Or are we working because we understand the incredible mercy and grace we’ve been given?
If everything has already been done, in Christ, why fight and struggle for power? Why be jealous or haughty? Why condemn and undermine? When we start from an attitude of rest we can truly “walk with God” and do the good works, He has given us to do, with a glad heart.
An explanation for those of you wondering where I’ve been for the past two weeks.
Bunnies have no proper respect for the wiring, which connects one to the Internet, and tend to chew it into tiny bits.
Bunnies don’t understand what a pain it is to install new wiring under one’s house, where spiders as large as one’s hand, multi-legged horrors, and assorted creepy-crawlies live.
Bunnies do not have the language skills to explain to the Internet provider what happened and convince them to help one reconnect.
No bunnies were harmed or even relocated during my reconnection. The wiring was simply placed out of harms way.
Missed you guys!
I’m pretty sure this isn’t it.
8am: Roll out of bed, and pretend four hours was enough sleep. Sit in front of the computer for the next hour with a cup of coffee, trying to get my heart started.
9am: Feed the critters, and decide everyone looks a little moth eaten. Brush three dogs (outside), clip their toenails and wash their faces. Clip two cat’s toenails, then brush one and clip the bird’s toenails.
10am: Shave the other cat.
11:30am: Let the poor traumatized animal go sulk under the bed. Notice I am now wearing more of his fur than he is, and jump in the shower.
12pm: Clean house, vacuum, do dishes, and start a load of laundry.
1pm: Realize fainting has become more than just an interesting possibility, and eat something.
1:30pm: Post a blog to whine about never having a real “day off”.
2pm: Fall across bed for a two-hour nap. 
A couple of people approached my husband on Saturday, and expressed a feeling of being “run down” by our Pastor recently. These folks have been Christians long enough to know the difference between conviction and guilt tripping. It was also hinted that if I leave the church, some people would be very hurt.
Knowing this and feeling pretty lousy about it, I skipped church on Sunday, and spent the day “being still” (Psalm 46:10), and listening to the “small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). It had a lot to say, and while not everything was what I wanted to hear, it was what I needed to know. The biggest thing seems to be the need to hurry with my studies, because though I still don’t know what it is, God has a plan. I have to be ready.
I’ve been reminded of my life verse. Hebrews 13:6 ”So we may boldly say: “ The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”” And that God’s will always comes to pass. Acts 5:39 “but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.””
I realized that the Pastor is not my problem to solve; his demons are not mine to fight, and it’s not up to me to protect him from himself. My job is to continue to be faithful to the flock, support them when they struggle, tend them when they hurt, tell them when they are wrong, and love them unconditionally, until God leads me elsewhere, if He chooses to do so.
To top it all off, my official ordination came through today. I am now, legally, Reverend Shawn W, which makes finishing school that much more imperative, and I’m currently searching for a women-in-ministry group, for the support I’m going to need. A little discretion may be in order. Only a select few will be told of my new status, for now anyway.
If you’re so inclined, a little prayer would be appreciated.
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