Friends, Countrymen, Fellow Settlers of Catan

Well friends, I am officially suffering from Catan exhaustion. After a two and a half hour nap, I am still feeling exhausted to be quite honest. I am old - way to old to not go to bed until after 1:30 this morning. Thanks to Heather it was a weekend of fun and frolic through the settlements of Catan. She brought this lovely game called "Settlers of Catan" to Convocation. To be quite honest, I was intimidated by the box. This looked like one of those games where you need to belong to Mensa in order to play. It was such a good time. Thanks to my partner in crime, Mr. Marsh, I settled Catan during the wee hours this morning. Now, I am on the hunt for my own box of Catan. However, upon arriving home it seems that there are different versions of Catan - do I need the travel version, the anniversary edition or just regular Catan? Do I need regular Catan, Space Catan, Knights and Castles Catan, or Mayflower Catan? Do I need the expansion packs and which expansion packs do I need? My mind is boggled. Aside from Catan, it was a great weekend to spend with friends.

``As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.'' Proverbs 27:17

Capacious

I read a quote from a William Maxwell story today. It goes this way: “and I think if it is true that we are all in the hands of God, what a capacious hand it must be.” Capacious - able to hold much. The line made me think of the song "God of Wonders". It is one of the few over-played songs that I haven't gotten sick of hearing. I am facinated with God and His ability to see and hold and watch over all of us. There are so many devastating things all around and yet we are still in His hands. And while there is such horror in the world - there is also such beauty. It is so easy to see the tragedy - but if you look hard past it, you can see the beauty. Friends - there is hope - there is wonder - there is beauty. Go out today and find it - chase it - pursue it. God has put it here for us - wouldn't it be a shame not to notice?

What Harry Potter Might Have Done for Us

I was asked by someone today what I thought about the new CS Lewis movie that was coming out. This person had been told by a Christian at work that CS Lewis had written a book about magic and witchcraft and she was apalled that all of the Christian bookstores was carrying the merchandise promoting it! The person I was talking to didn't know much about the books or the movie that was coming out, but was pretty sure that CS Lewis wasn't putting out questionable stuff and had tried to convince the other lady of this. Perhaps I got a bit fired up about this. I mean - this person was thinking of going so far as calling the Vineyard and demanding that they remove all of the merchandise for "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Gee whiz kids - we Christians sure can be stupid. How about we fight ourselves. How about we start some crusades and see if we can get our churches to boycott the film. Wouldn't that be brilliant. Oh and definetly we should try and prevent any non-Christian from seeing this film. Why don't we just pass out tickets for Hell while we are at it. OK - did I mention I was a bit fired up about this. I will go so far as to say that I am thankful for Harry Potter. If JK Rowling was here I would give her a hug. She has gotten kids so excited about the "fantasy" genre with her writing that I honestly believe she might have opened some doors for the Chronicles of Narnia to finally be made into decent productions (movies have been made based on them before but they are a bit lacking). I believe the Lord allows things sometimes - things that might not even be of Him - so that He can turn and use them for the good. I have read the first book of Harry Potter. Magic can be found in many things - Cinderella, Scooby Doo, even the Archie comics. I didn't find so much to question with the Harry Potter book that I read. But, I haven't read them all so I can't comment beyond that - anyway this post wasn't really about all of that anyway. I will remember for the rest of my life the first time I read "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" with a class. I cannot present the Gospel. The law prohibits that. But, an eight year old kid did the most amazing thing. He raised his hand on the day we finished the book. When I called on him he said - "You know what my mom says this book is really about? and as I held my breath he went on "She says it is really about how Jesus Christ came and died for our sins so that we can go to heaven because just like Edmund we are sinful. But, just like Aslan, Jesus died to take away that sin." I wanted to hug him. I wanted to elaborate on his message - but really what more needed to be said? And again, the law doesn't really allow me to say much. But nothing held that kid back. And I am thankful for it - thankful for his mom who knew what value there could be in the Chronicles - a mom who cared so much that she told her son the Message behind the wardrobe. Most of the time when I read the book - kids hear it and it is just another story - kind of like how a lot of the world views the real message. But then there are those days............. Please if you hear people who are ignorant - correct them. Don't let them mess up something that I am hoping is going to be an awesome thing.

Live Like You'll Die Tomorrow, Die Knowing You'll Live Forever

Ahh the words of another great writer. Rich Mullins. Everyone around seems to be talking about all of the events that are going on in the world. Suddenly it's as if the world's theme song is "It's the End of the World as We Know It". And it very well may be. Only God knows. Funny how we think of God in the catasrophes but did we think of him when the plans of terrorists were thwarted last week? Did anyone in the news say - wow how great is our God that He would prevent that. Thanks be to Him. I realize that the Bible speaks of signs. People have been seeing them for years. If you read newspaper articles from years ago, people were saying it was the end and they had all kinds of proof. I remember about 10 years ago a friend of mine gave me a book saying that the Persion Gulf War was the beginning of the 7 years. People love to get rich and God does sell a lot of books. I am sure there are many being written now. Tsunami, Hurricanes, Wars......the stuff that sells. And again - it really could be the end. But aren't we supposed to be living like it's the end anyway? Are any of us promised tomorrow? Are all of these "signs" inspiring me to live with more passion for my God? Am I loving my neighbors more? I should be. I should be with or without those things. I guess I am just bugged a bit because I have been hearing a lot of people talking about all of this but I haven't heard any hope in it. The end of the world isn't the end. It's the beginning - isn't that what we should be focused on? Isn't that what we should be sharing with a dying world?

We Have Entered Narnia

I just have to say again that I love my class - I adore them - they are awesome. I am so blessed to have a job I love waking up to. We started reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on Tuesday. They are hanging on every word. I was not at work today because I had to go to a conference. I am enjoying reading it to them so much, that I wouldn't leave the book for the substitute. One day of Curious George won't kill them. Tomorrow it is back to Narnia. Lucy has already been and they know the next chapter is called Edmond and the Wardrobe. It is an exciting life I live. I read the book with my first class and here it is 10 years later and I am still reading it. Timeless stories. I wish there were more writers like CS Lewis.

Top Ten Exciting Things In My Life Right Now

I am so stinkin busy right now that I barely have time to breath. However, that is about to change. I am sort of getting caught up. I hope I can stay that way. I am really quite tired. I have been making myself take some time for myself though. Otherwise I am not a very nice person to live with. Here are the exciting things in my life right now:

1. No matter how busy I am, God is still showing me and reminding me of His goodness and blessings in my life.

2. I am getting to go to my dream teaching conference. This is such a big deal for me. I really wish you could understand. HUGE.

3. LOST is back on. I love a show with great writing.

4. We believe that we are going camping this weekend. It has been a goal for two years and gosh do I really really really need some time away! Pray that this happens! No matter how silly it seems to you - pray that it happens anyway. Thanks!

5. I have the most amazing class ever! They have been such an incredible blessing to me. We are having a great time! I hope they are enjoying it too.

6. I finished my side of the paper work for the FAIR! I know I know - it's October, but I just couldn't fit it in! But, it's done now.

7. I have had a couple of really good nights of sleep. For those of you who know my issues with sleep, you know how exciting this is!

8. I got to do two things I had wanted to do for awhile on Sunday. They were little things, but they were still things I had wanted to do.

9. That you my friends missed my posting. That is kindness. Even though I haven't been posting, I have still been reading yours. I will try to be better.

10. The family went to Shreve's Pumpkin Patch on Sunday. I love that place. Those Shreve's know how to make Fall the best season. If you have not had one of their carmel apples, I beg you RUN as if your life depends on it. I don't know what those apples are dipped in - I don't want to know - but it is amazing. YES, you will be a sticky mess. They are worth it! Don't walk, don't crawl, don't skip, gallop or crab walk. RUN!

Remembering

Monday I talked to my 2nd graders about 9-11. This is the first year I have had kids who don't remember it. And, I am sure they have heard about it before - but maybe not. They looked at me like I was speaking crazy thoughts - how I wish I could have been. It made me think about the innocence of children and how quickly that changes. How quickly the sadness of the world tarnishes the perspective that everything is as it should be. I guess it was good for me. I had gotten to the point that I could talk about it to my classes without tearing up. Yesterday, I tried to read a book called "Brave Mole" to my class. It was a book I purchased after 9-11 that is an allergory about the terrorist attacks. The first year after I bought it, I couldn't read it - the librarian ended up reading it to my kids. I broke down while trying. I'm not embarrassed about that. I wish I had seen more of my teachers have feelings. I always shed a tear during Charlotte's Web. I cried with my kids when we watched the funerals for the Space Shuttle crew who's mission we had closely watched. I couldn't read Brave Mole yesterday. I had already tarnished their idea that all is right with the world - I didn't want to let them know that teachers cry yet. I will save it for Charlotte and Wilbur.

What Nate Berkus Taught Me

I don't know about any of you, but quite frankly - the news is making me feel depressed. I can't imagine what those poor people are going through after Hurricane Katrina. My heart breaks for them. I am easily depressed. Watching the news is something I generally steer away from. I remember feeling so distraught last year at Christmas when the tsunami hit overseas. I tried to identify with those people, but had no connection - I couldn't have picked Sri Lanka out on a map at the time if I had wanted to. And then I read on CNN that Nate Berkus, who I knew from watching the Oprah show once in awhile had been caught in the tsunami and that he had lost his partner. My heart ached for him and the pain I was certain that he was going thru. I can't imagine watching someone I love being torn away and tossed out to sea. Without even really thinking, I sent an email to him through his company's website. A month later I was invited to the Oprah show. I remember him saying over and over - when tragedy strikes do something - no matter how small. He said, "For the first three days when I was back in Chicago, I went to bed every night with a stack of thoughts and prayers from people for me and for Fernando and Fernando's family. It literally made me go to sleep and gave me reason to get up." When I heard him say that it was a startling thing - I thought back - how long did I consider whether to send a note or not? How long did I contemplate whether or not he would think it was stupid? How close did I come to just going about my regular routine? How close did I come to turning my head and looking the other way? We can't pretend that Hurricane Katrina didn't happen. It's a horrible reality. Whatever you do - do something - and do it out of love.

Am I the Only One Who's Traded the Altar for a Stage?

The new Casting Crowns is stepping all over my toes. The title of this post comes from the song "Stained Glass Masquerade". It is good stuff. I was reading in Velvet Elvis last night (yes Herschel, I am reading quickly) about Lazaras being dead. When Jesus called him from the tomb, Martha said, "But Lord, he stinkith." Rob Bell says that he relates that to his sin. He talks about where is he "dead". What kind of masquerade am I living? I hide my sin in the tomb of my own stupidity and it stinks. Jesus calls me on it - and then I shove it back in the tomb and pretend that it doesn't stink. But it reeks - the stinch is revolting. Why is it so appealing? Why do I not run in the other direction? What if we were all real with each other - what if we all took off the masks? Somehow the church has lost it's effectiveness or the altar would be packed every Sunday. The chorus of the song goes like this, and I think it is an accurate picture of the church today:
Are we happy plastic people/Under shiny plastic steeples/With walls around our weakness/And smiles to hide the pain/But if the invitation's open/To every heart that has been broken/Maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.

Lord, thanks for reminding me of the need to be real. By covering up my sin, I fail to find freedom from it. Take these desires from me and replace them with a desire to please you. Help me to resist the desire to judge others and replace that desire with a love for them. Words are not enough without the action of love. Thank you Jesus for loving me where I am at, while giving me reminders that it isn't where you desire me to be.

Join Me Please Friends

Dear Friends,
Would you please join me on a mission? I watch LOST. I don't watch much TV at all - but I watch LOST. The writing in amazing - and I can't stop watching LOST. I subscribe to TV Guide - not so I know what's on TV - I only watch about three shows and I know when they are on. I subscribe so I can read about shows like LOST. TV Guide has a DVD attached to it this week. It is behind the scenes footage, a preview of Season 2, audio commentary by writers, directors, and actors. However, the DVD is only attached to the TV Guides sold in stores, not the ones sent to SUBSCRIBERS! Does this make sense to anyone? Join me friends in boycotting TV guide - next time you are at the store - take all the subscription cards out of the TV guides in the magazine rack. We wouldn't want anyone else to suffer in this way. We must save others from the atrocity! At the end of one year, I will drive all of the cards we collect to TV Guide headquarters. I am sure they will trade them for a copy of the DVD. I will not bend to their scam and purchase a newsstand copy - really I won't - ok ok so I might - but I am not driving to town just for that - I promise.

Oh Dear Readers

Sorry friends - not much time to blog this week. Yesterday I didn't even have time to pee until 8:30 last night! That tells you how busy my life has been - grrr! But I am on the road to organization and things will be better soon. I only had one breakdown moment this week and that resulted in crying myself to sleep. I just got a little bogged down trying to take care of scheduling umpires and bus drivers and take care of all of the regular stuff at the beginning of the school year. Thankfully the Lord didn't allow me to wallow in my self-pity for very long. He reminded me of what a blessing I have to work with wonderful people at a job I love! I have the most amazing group of kids this year! I adore them already and we have only had 1 full day. The only sad moment Friday was when one of them asked how old I was. One kid (who will regret the comment when he sees his report card) said I think you look 40. However, my A+ student said she's only 23! I LOVE THAT KID! In response to my Velvet Elvis post - not much time to read this week but I will be updating about that as soon as I can get my attention back to it.

Velvet Elvis

Is anyone else reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell? He's the Nooma video guy - pastor at Mars Hill. It's incredible so far. Tonight I was reading and I thought to myself about one of the paragraphs "Wow, there is such freedom in that." Well, I went on to read the next paragraph and it was all about how there is such freedom in what it was talking about. It's good stuff so far - making me think a little outside of my comfort zone. It's quite real - you should read it.

Beware BKK Bocce Ball Players

I thought it would only be fair to warn you all. I am now an official owner of my very own Bocce Ball Set. It was on clearance at Wal-Mart for $11.00. I am going to be working on my overhand throw. I would be afraid - very very afraid! That Huebner kid and Cody Attebery will have nothing on me after I practice for 11 1/2 months!

The Professor and Mary Anne

I read this quote in a magazine article and it got me to thinkin - maybe it will do the same for you.

"A friend said mournfully the other day that he'd lived his life like the professor on Gilligan's Island. While he found time to fashion generators out of palm fronds, vaccines out of algae, he never got down to fixing that huge hole in the boat so he could go home."

Wow - I think this might be a part of the composition of the church today. Busy-ness rules the world. We are busy raising money for this, building this, having a meeting about this, having a conference about how we can better do this or that - and not that those are bad things, but all the while, there is a hole in the boat and we aren't addressing it. I think there are two holes in the boat - one is our complacency with our sin and two our complacency with a dying world outside our door. Just what I am thinking about today.

If you don't currently watch LOST, would you please consider starting this season. It is an amazing show with awesome writters! 

Stifled

Dear Readers:
It is with sadness that I must report that this is the best I can do for a post today. My good friend, one Herschel French, has stifled my creative juices. He chastised me for posting three times yesterday. Now, it is 11:42 pm and I have not posted. I am afraid of posting. What if I have something better to say later? What if another thought comes to mind? What if something interesting happens in my life that I want to tell the world about? SIGH

Return to Earth

Here's a fun fact kids.
27% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon.
Interesting eh?
Anyway, here's hoping my former commrads land safely in the morning. I doubt I am awake yet to see it since it will be around 4am. I pray I awake to good news! Fly like an eagle.

Hemmed In

Psalm 139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue,behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before,and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;it is high; I cannot attain it.

Lately, I have been listening to a lot of my old CDs. Most of the new stuff I have bought in the past year gets a few listens and then stuck back in the case. This could be why I seldom buy CDs anymore. I am convinced it is getting easier to get a recording contract, although I am sure there are plenty of starving artists out there who would greatly disagree with me. It just seems like there is a lot of mediocre music out there. Anyway - back to the topic at hand. I know there is a whole lot of controversy surrounding Amy Grant. If I was famous and my sins were exposed there would be a lot of controversy about me too, so who am I to judge. Again - back to the topic at hand. (It's becoming apparent that I am ADD isn't it?) So, I was listening to Lead Me On. Here are the lyrics:

Amy Grant - Lead Me On
Shoulder to the wheel
For someone else's selfish gain
Here there is no choosing
Working the clay
Wearing their anger like a ball and chain.
Fire in the field
Underneath a blazing sun
But soon the sun was faded
And freedom was a song
I heard them singing when the day was done
Singing to the holy one.
Lead me on
Lead me on
To a place where the river runs
Into your keeping, oh.
Lead me on
Lead me on
The awaited deliverance
Comforts the seeking...lead on.
Waiting for the train
Labeled with a golden star
Heavy hearted boarding
Whispers in the dark
"where are we going--is it very far? "
Bitter cold terrain
Echoes of a slamming door
In chambers made for sleeping, forever
Voices like thunder in a mighty roar
Cry to the lord.
Lead me on
Lead me on
To a place where the river runs
Into your keeping, oh.
Lead me on
Lead me on
The awaited deliverance
Comforts the seeking...lead on.
Man hurts man
Time and time, time again
And we drown in the wake of our power
Somebody tell me why.
Lead me on
Lead me on
To a place where the river runs
Into your keeping, oh.
Lead me on
Lead me on
The awaited deliverance
Comforts the seeking...lead on.
Lead me on
Lead me on
To a place where the river runs
Into your keeping, oh.
Lead me on
Lead me on
The awaited deliverance
Comforts the seeking...lead on.


A few weeks ago, I was listening to this song and just started weeping. I have heard this song a million and four times. It came out in 1988. It was probably the best selling Christian album that year. So yeah, it got a few listens. Anyway, I heard the song in such a new way. I so need deliverance from my sin. As mentioned in yesterday's post, I am just sick of it. This song talks both about slavery and about being in bondage. Can you imagine a slave reaching the end of the Underground Railroad, only to turn back around and run right back to the slave master? Ludicrous I say. Can you imagine the survivors of the Holocaust being set free from the concentration camps at the end of the war, only to run back into the gas chamber? How foolish! Yet, again and again I return to sin. Beyond stupidity. Psalm 139 has become such a prayer. The whole passage is an awesome exploration of just how much God loves us. I particularly love the portion above. I love the part about being hemmed in behind and before. If you think about the hem of your jeans, its purpose is to keep the fabric from unraveling. God's grace and forgiveness is the same - without him, I would unravel. Thanks be to God for protecting me from my own undoing.

Froogle Wish List

Woke up a bit quirky this morning. Decided to look at all that my blog world has to offer. Checked out the Froogle wish list. Decided on those days when I can't decide what to blog about that I will just pick out three items that I am recommending. This morning's three choices can be viewed here: http://froogle.google.com/shoppinglist?a=SWL&id=de461dc1ad7efee64951fb44f830eecb38ba65f8

They include:
1.) A Chef's Hat that you can get matching pants for. I have become a watcher of "Hell's Kitchen" this summer. I want to be a chef. The astronaunt thing didn't pan out so I am now thinking chef. I am not so great at cooking. My mom, grandma and sister are great cooks. When I cook it is either great or frightening. There are no in betweens with me. It's all or nothing baby. I think with the hat and perhaps the matching pants, my cooking abilities will improve ten-fold! I can't wait!
2.) A Parka - who doesn't need a good parka. With as little rain as we have had this summer I am expecting that we will be in for a monsoon this fall. I am going to be prepared.
3.) A Larry Bird Jersey - I don't know Larry Bird - I have never watched the Celtics play - I don't really like professional basketball particularly. So why the jersey? Because I once knew Larry's little brother Curly Bird (no kidding that was what he went by). He was in my psychology class in college. I hated that class - but I think Curly was a nice kid.

Summer

Wow - God has been so amazing this summer - not that God isn't amazing all of the time - He definetly is. This summer has flown by. I love summer but I am ready to go back to school - I love my job and can't wait to get back at it. But before I return tomorrow I just wanted to reflect a bit about the past few weeks. God has been incredibly good to me. I give so little time to him - I do things for Him - but the actual sitting down and spending time with Him part??? - it lacks. And perhaps that is what has caused the smell of my life. Yes, smell. I did a devotion last week for staff day of camp. It was based on the following song called Monkeys at the Zoo by Charlie Peacock:

Will it be different now or the same? Will I have learned anything?
Or was it just a way to spend a day or two
Set aside for thinking thoughts about You? If that's all it was I had a good time
Refrain: But that won't be enough for me, not this year not anytime soon
I have got to clean house, gotta make my bed, gotta clear my head
It's getting kind of stuffy in here, smells sorta funky too
Like monkeys at the zoo
I have been a whoring after things cause I wanna feel safe inside
That's a big fat lie
No amount of green, gold or silver Will ever take the place of the peace of God
Spirit come flush the lies out, Spirit come flush the lies out
Will it be different now or the same? Have I changed at all?
And if you were to dive deep inside my soul would you find Jesus there? Or a gaping hole?Should I be content with my beautiful Christian life?

REFRAIN I have been a whoring after things cause I wanna get everything right
That's a big fat lie No amount of green, gold or silver, the perfect body, another hot toddy Work for the Lord, fame & power, power and sex, A seat at a table at the Belle Meade Country Club Here's the rub: nothing will ever take the place of the peace of God
Spirit come flush the lies out Spirit come flush the lies out Will it be different now or the same? Will I have learned anything?

That my friends, is the state of my life. But this summer is different. I have felt God in renewed and completely new ways. God has reminded me of just how much He loves me and just how much He desires to spend time with me. Also, God has made me sick of my sin this summer. I am worn out with it. I am tired of trying to dance with the devil standing on my feet. I'm not content anymore and it's a good thing. I want more of God. I want less of me.