Monday, November 26, 2007

Pastor turns blogger!!

On August 25, 2003 I embarked into the world of Blogging and fell in love with the writing and the connection to others.  Four years ago no one that I knew had a clue what a blog was (and most still don't lol).  Over the years I have tried explaining my place in the blog-o-sphere (as little as it is) to friends and family but get little interest.  What's that country song? I'm Cooler Online? LOL Anyway, it is always exciting to me when people I know off line cross over into having a place in cyberspace.

I have always taken joy in helping baby bloggers and promoting good journals and seeing them grow in writing and readership.  So when my Pastor mentioned that he was thinking of starting his own blog I couldn't help but smile.  FINALLY.. something I know about and can give advice on!  It is just too bad that right now I am not online as regularly as I used to be and my help has to be limited.

I was hoping to get him to start an AOL journal since that is the format that I have found I like the best but I havn't been able to do all the e-mailing I wanted to this week and he took it upon himself to start a Blogspot Blog.  Not such a bad place to blog at.. I know several people who went over there when AOL did the whole adding ads in the journals and infuriated the community, leading to an exodus of many of AOL Journals best writers.  I tried Blogspot for awhile but I find AOL Journals better and easier to use, probably just because it is where I started and I don't like to stray off too much into learning HTLM to add pics and videos.  I like the bells and whistles and control over here.

The least I can do is promote Pastor Jesse's blog, Jesus thru Jesse and ask you guys to check him out and give him some love and encouragement in his new endeavor.  If you like my writings and the notes I post about scripture, then you will love his blog because he is part of the source I quote.  He is posting notes from Sunday sermons and his thoughts and prayers on living a life for the Lord.  The title for his blog was inspired because he wants people to see Jesus living in and working threw him.  I doubt you will find some of the silliness that I post here, he is a serious guy but if you come to know him you will find he does have a bit of humor too, fun loving and always open to answering questions.  I hope that while Josh is away he can read Jesse's blog and keep in touch with what I am learning and what is going on at church and keep growing in his own walk.

So go NOW and check out Jesus Thru Jesse and welcome him to the blogging community!!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Last month at the abortion clinic...

I' had this entry plotted out in my head for over a month.. just waiting for the opportunity to write and now I am not sure how it will go.  It's something of a note to the prolife community and to those who may want to question why and how they feel the way they do.  A reminder that God IS LOVE and his mercy endures forever and since we are HIS we should imitate that love and mercy.

Last month I had the opportunity to stand down at the down town Planned Parenthood with my "I regret my abortion" sign.  Not something I get to do very often but Zane was taking part in the Silent Siege and I have friends who stand down there weekly so I knew I would not be just down there by myself.  Along with the silent siege and me and my friends there was a cluster of other people there with their own signs and even one guy holding a window blind spray painted "I am pro choice".  Some were down there for the first time with a church group.

I need to remind my self that I really should mentally and spiritual prepare if I go down there again.  I have done this before but this day shook me.  I was only there a few hours but watching those girls go in and out for that short of time and knowing what is going to happen to them and the pain they are bringing on themselves is so dishearting.  And there was so many.  A steady flow of cars driving threw the black iron gates, gates that were designed to keep foot traffic out but to me looked like they were more of pen, rounding up innocents being lead to the slaughter.  I can understand why some who were seeing for the first time firsthand how many go to this clinic would be so up set, feel anger and helpless.  It is one thing to read numbers and statistics on a page but to see it up close and know likely with each car a baby is being killed and a women is being torn into many pieces with in her heart (even if she will not admit it to herself).

There was a smell to the place.. a literal stench.  At first I thought it was my imagination. That maybe because I knew what was going on in that place I had associated a smell to it.  Rotten meat mixed with a burnt crispy smell.  I asked my friend if she smelled it but she said it may but she was there so much that she had gotten used to it and didn't smell it anymore.  Zane told me he thought the place smelled funny too and it was not in my head.

For the most part I stood there in silence holding my sign in front of the gate where the cars came in and out, where it could be read clearly.  Some would look but most turned away in avoidance.  Standing there a pool of emotional turmoil churned with in me.  I wanted these women to know me, see me, believe me, hear my story. I know their pain, the uncertainty as she walks up those steps and the things she has to tell herself to make this "choice" right in her eyes, what others all around are telling her, how she will be better off.. and the lies the clinic workers tell to sell her into a life time of pain and regret. The words and courage welled up in me to call out, "Don't go there, I know and we can help! Let me tell you what it is REALLY LIKE before you go in there so you can make a REAL choice.  If you go threw with this you will be changed for ever!  You will never look at yourself or children the same again !! You will never forget!"

Sometimes a group of the clinic workers stood out side on a balcony, sneering at us and it felt like their gaze met mine the most.  I tried not to meet their glares with hate and disgust but to pray, pray for a heart change.  I had to pray alot to hold on  and hum Jesus Lover Of My Soul to settle me, not letting self condemnations seep back in into me, remind myself I am loved and forgiven and the Lord loves all these people too and as much as my heart is breaking, how much more is Gods.

I didn't talk too much with anyone but overheard bits and pieces of conversations among the others standing.  Some praying, some debating the atheist pro-choicer, some trying to talk with those going in and hand out pamphlets and engaging the escorts.  One of the first timers was standing with his wife talking and holding a sign.  He was becoming more upset as each car passed threw.  Then he muttered at the clinic building "each of these women who go in should come out in a pine box dead, dead just like the babies they are killing"  I stiffened in shock from his hateful words.  As soon as he was done saying it he saw ME and my sign and grew embarrassed. He said to me "Sorry, no offence" and walked away.  I  was too much in shock to go after him and say "They do die afterwards, a piece of me did, they do come out as a shell.. don't you see it?!  Where is your compassion?" I wish I had.  His wife as shocked and embarassed as me looked at me and mouthed the words sorry.  I told her "I was just like them going in.  I know what they are thinking and feeling.  They do this because they believe a lie"

And here comes the point of my whole retelling of this day from a month ago.  I do not know this man's motives and why he was down there.  He may of came to see what it was like and was not prepared.  He may of had an abortion experience in his past and feels anger and loss.  I can try and justify and explain away what he said.  But on that day and at that moment he was a poor example and I hope he realizes it.  It is examples like that, that make this fight even harder, gives the wrong impression to those on the outside looking in.  It feeds in to the twisted media portrayal that the pro-life community are these hypocrites, angry, doesn't care about the women, anti-choicers and there for should be ignored.

I can understand being angry but we must check our heart.  Out of the mouth the heart does speak.   Our heart must be full of compassion, understanding, and love for these people so that when we are confronted with them our words will reflect what is pure, what is lovely and praise worthy, and what is of the truth.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Thursday, November 22, 2007

The Thanksgiving entry

Again here I am ... so much to say too little time to post.  But hubby will be home till Monday so I will hopefully get a bit of journaling in before he leaves again with the laptop and Internet.

It's THANKSGIVING!!! Oh how it has come so fast this year!  Everything this year seems to be breezing by.. is it just me.. am I getting old or what lol.  Remember when it felt like it took forever for Thanksgiving Break to come and when it did it felt like it lasted sooooooo long?  This year it is just Josh and the kids for dinner.  We had planned on having friends from church with their kids over so we bought a 23 pounder Tom but they are expecting and I swear she went into labor last night just to get out of my cooking LOL. (turning out that Josh is doing most of the cooking)  But we are very excited for them and can't wait to meet their baby girl Hadassah (Hebrew for Esther) when she comes.  We may be bringing them some dinner later up to the hospital.

I've just come off of a longgggggggg T.V. break.  It was because we couldn't pay the bill but I like it with out TV.. seems God uses these times to help me get back into the Word and refocuses me.  It is amazing how much I have read applies to all the situations in my life.  This last month I have been in the OT alot... maybe I'll give my thoughts on some of the scriptures I read in a later post.  But my point is I am playing a bit of catch up the last week with my few fav TV shows that started their new season while I was away. I was also flipping threw and landed on Rachael Ray's show.  Not one I am a big fan of but she was talking Turkey.  She showed this yummy looking Pomegranate Molasses glaze for the Turkey.  I insisted we try it on our turkey.  I should of took notes because I couldn't find it ANYWHERE on her website as was promised.  I am not good at explaining recipes to Josh because we have miss communication on that front all the time.  I had to hunt down how to make Pomegranate Molasses because no local store sells it.. only the juice.  FYI.. check a Middle Eastern grocery.  And I had to find somewhere that explained how to mix the glaze and when to apply it.  Thankful for having the Internet!  I'll let you know how it turns out and if it is as good as it sounded on tv.. seems like alot of pepper to me.

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and has much to be thankful this year and the year to come.  I am thankful that we have some how stayed afloat, that Josh has had steady work, that the children are doing well in school and that we are all in good health, and for all of the Lord's good provision.


Here are my notes from last Sunday's service about a Thankful Heart:


Psalm 100 A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

 1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
 2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before His presence with singing.
 3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
         It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
         We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
         
 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
         And into His courts with praise.
         Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
 5 For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations
.


5 Attributes of a Thankful Heart:

1. JOY  Ps. 100: 1-5, Ps. 19:8 - The Word Of God brings Joy to the Heart, Ps. 126

2. Gladness  Ps 136- be glad because HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

3. Dependence  God is God and we are not.  God is Greater than his Creation.  As our Shepard he leads us.

4. Thankfulness  can't give thanks unless you are full of it and KNOW HIM and why to be thankful.  Luke 17

5. Gratitude  Rom. 11:33-36  giving glory to God.


Sunday, November 4, 2007

Bella is Beautiful

I had the opportunity this weekend to go see a WONDERFUL movie, bella.  I was excited to see it not only because it was the first time to a movie with adult company in ages but also because all the reviews I heard and interviews with the actors and producers made bella seem a movie worthy of my money.  I was not let down in the least and even clapped at the end as I wiped tears away.

Bella is a sweet love story, but not overtly romantic.. not that kind of love but more about the love for life and family and doing what is right and by doing so finding absolution.  The ONLY reason this movie got a PG 13 rating is because of the premise of the movie is about a women who is pregnant and planning to abort.  The movie is not overtly Pro-life or Pro-choice.  It is beyond the rhetoric in my opinion.  It has absolutely no cussing, nudity or violence and a positive message, a rare find these days. 

If you can find this movie in your local theaters I compel you to go and watch it and if it is not at your theaters yet because of it's limited release then call the theaters or the distributor and demand they bring bella to your community!

 

Bella is Beautiful and it makes me miss you even more Beautiful.