Mudpies

If you have read Herschel's most recent blog, then you might have noticed that he mentions my making of mudpies. I thought I might explain. One of my favorite quotes from CS Lewis is this:

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased. "

I am a mudpie maker. I love the sea. I desire the sea. I have my ticket for the sea. But there is this deep dark side of me that loves to play in the mud way too much.

Perhaps Paul says it best:

Romans 7:14-25. New International Version:
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

I am thankful that God is merciful. I praise God for His grace. It blows me away that He loves those who make mudpies - enough that His Son's blood can wash the mud off.
Lord help me to desire you more and sin less.

A Return To Blogging

Time. There is never enough time for the things we love. I love to write and I love to read things others write. The end of a school year this past spring took me away from blogging. It is a busy time and it was a busy summer and really now is not any less hectic. However, here it is - a return - a return to tell you about Derek Webb. Do you know him? If you don't, get ready. I loved this CD. And Derek Webb being Derek Webb is offering it as a free download. Go get it quickly. He has so much to say. Savor it. Study it. Look, listen and hear. You won't regret it. It's free. www.freederekwebb.com

A Dangerous Woman

Here's my book report for the 50 books in a year a thon.

Finished

• Suprise Me God by Terry Esau
• Sister Freaks by various authors

Both were excellent reads. I highly recommend them.

Currently Reading

• White Collar/Blue Collar God by Terry Esau
• Nice Girls Don't Change the World by Lynne Hybels

I am almost finished with WCBCG. It is a good read.

I have just started NGDCW. In the book she says "The opposite of being a nice girl is a good woman. And, not just a good women, but a downright dangerous woman. A woman who shows up with everything she is and joins the battle against whatever opposes the redeeming work of God in our lives and in our world." Oh to be that kind of woman.

SURPRISE

OK - I haven't been posting my Surprise Me God surprises here, so if you want to read them you have to follow the link on the right to Jon's Blog. But, I am going to post here a few of the things I think have been surprises that maybe aren't the normal things you think of as surprises from God. I however - I choose to believe that just as my earthly father sometimes gives me things I want and not always just provides that things I need, so does my Heavenly Father. It's kind of like when I take my nieces to Barnes and Noble and I want to buy them quality children's literature and they want "Walter the Farting Dog". Sometimes, you just have to buy "Walter the Farting Dog". Anyway, here it goes:

1.) I have a favorite billboard. (Doesn't everyone?) About a year ago, it was taken down. IT HAS BEEN PUT BACK UP!!!! I just saw it on Friday. I can't quote it exactly, but it says something like "Tall Outdoor Type Seeks Relationship". I know, I know - but it always makes me happy!
2.) I got two scrapbooking magazines in the mail today - not one - TWO!
3.) I got an extra half hour of free time at work today!

Now, I know these are ridiculous things, but in the light of some trying weeks, these have been bright spots. So work with me here.

Day One - Acts and Surprise Me God

Day One of Surprise Me God started 10 minutes into the dawn of a new day. I awoke sick. Quite sick. The stomache flu that had made it through the rest of my family over the weekend had decided to set up residence inside me. There wasn't an hour throughout the night and much of the morning where I wasn't sick. But, that happens. I don't necessarily count that the surprise, although it wasn't something I was anticipating. What was a surprise was how beautiful the sunrise was as I drove to work. I had to go into work to lay out things for a substitute. I was driving to school at 6:30 this morning. That's a good hour before I normally head out. God was having a good painting day. And after a night of flu - I needed to see something pretty. While I was in awe of the sunrise, God managed to steer 4 deer out of my path - thank you Jesus. And it is the end of day one - and though I am feeling pretty wrung out - I did just eat my first thing of substanance in over 24 hours. Life is good. Day One of Acts was a good study too. Jesus goes home - but with a promise that He will be back. Good news indeed.

Sweet Anticipation - 30 Days of Surprise Me God and Acts

www.surprisemegod.com

A big thanks to Jon at http://jonperes.blogspot.com/. He posted about a new book called "Surprise Me - A 30 Day Faith Experiment". It's an experiment where you wake up and pray "Surprise Me God" for 30 days. SCARED, NERVOUS, EXCITED! Jon had earlier invited his readers to join him in a study of the book of Acts during the month of February. I don't know what is going to happen as a result of either one of these things. But, from what I know of God - He is going to show up. I can't wait!

Signs

Today I was talking to someone about signs that God gives. Different kinds of signs. Signs that bring us comfort and peace. We were talking about those things that some like to call coincidence. She was talking about one sign God had given her - something so small to some, yet so large to her. She said, "It just shows you how far I will reach." And it came to me, and I replied, "No, that's how far God will go." I am so thankful for a God who takes delight in blessing us in big and small ways. He never fails, yet I continue to do so over and over again. He gives and it doesn't depend on my performance and that is grace greater than imaginable.

Back At Ya CODY

Sometime ago Cody sent me this email with a quiz about how observant you are. He had said that he had scored a 17. I, being the cocky smart alec that I am, was positive that I would easily beat that score. Friends, I scored a 12. A sad, pathetic 12. However, today I got an email to try the MENSA Intelligence Test over at http://mensa-test.com/. The site states that according to MENSA, if you get 19 + of these, you are a "genius". It took me a bit, and I almost burnt a batch of cookies, but I scored a 22. Cody - if you read this, and you beat me, please don't tell me. I think you're quite smart, but I just want to be smarter.

Let's All Join In

Julie of Julie's Jolly Blog issued a challenge a few weeks ago for all of us to join in reading 50 books this year. I have decided to begin with a book given to me by one of my Sunday School students. Thank you Marylee Snyder for "Sister Freaks". You're one of my favorite "sister freaks." Thanks Jules for the challenge.

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends.

Dawn Adams

Because I Know You All Care

I know this will be so interesting to the masses, but I have been tagged by Nathan so read on.

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: I answer the phones and assist with enteries at the New Wayne County Agricultural Fair, I was Nathan's 3rd Grade Teacher, I am currently a 2nd grade teacher, and I was a Video Leasing Engineer at Star Video for 9 years!
Four movies you could watch over and over: You've Got Mail, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sweet Home Alabama, Hope Floats
Four places you’ve lived: Our old house in town, the house I live in now, a lovely pea green house in Terre Haute during college, and 410 Taylor Hall at good old EIU!
Four TV shows you love to watch: LOST, ALIAS, General Hospital and Everyday Food
Four places you’ve been on vacation: Panama City, Memphis, Nashville, and Holiday World
Four websites you visit daily: www.yahoo.com, www.cnn.com, www.ebay.com, and www.wfiwradio.com
Four of your favorite foods: Have I mentioned I am Italian? Jack Daniels Chicken from TGI Friday's, French Onion Soup from TGI Friday's, and my grandma's scalloped potatoes.
Four places you’d rather be: I really kind of like it here if you want to know the truth - but since you made me choose I am going with:
1.) I hear Heaven is better than here
2.) My acceptance party for the Publisher's Clearinghouse
3.) At any Archiver's scrapbook store with my money from Publisher's Clearinghouse
4.) England - I have always wanted to go there.
Four albums you can’t live without: Michael Jackson's Thriller (LOL Got ya there - just kidding - although there was a time....)
1.) The Soundtrack from Dying Young (it's great to sleep and paint to)
2.) Winds of Heaven Stuff of Earth Rich Mullins
3.) Keith Green The Collection (Please don't make me choose between the silver or gold CDs.)
4.) Journey Greatest Hits (I am a child of the 80s)
Four magazines you read: TV Guide, CCM, Creating Keepsakes, Instructor
Four cars you’ve owned: 1979 Monte Carlo, 1986 Bronco II, 1994 Grande Am, and my current Gas Guzzlin V-8 1996 Limited Jeep Grande Cherokee
Four people I'm tagging: I am way too old to play tag.

A Quote to Share

Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with their imagination.
-Robert Fulghum

Here's wishing you a New Year filled with hope, wonder, and imagination!

You want me to do what?

I got one of the most hysterical phone calls ever today. Somehow the community college I attended has gotten my name on their current roster of students (if they think I am paying tuition for that Associates Degree again, they got another thing coming). A recruiter for the Army called and tried to talk me into joining up. He offered to help pay for my college education. I assured him I graduated from that college over 15 years ago. He seemed very surprised but not surprised enough to quit. He then tried to talk me into joining the Reserves. He asked if I was still in school and I told him I sometimes like to pretend I am going to finish grad school. He told me they would be glad to help me pay for it. I finally had to break it to the poor guy. I am old, almost 35 - I am way out of shape, and a tad bit emotionally unstable (ie. not someone you would want to give a gun to). You just never know sometimes who's gonna be on the other end of the phone.

Merry Christmas

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Everyday Food + Me = Real Big Batch of Cookies

I have a secret to confess. I love watching PBS on Saturdays. Please don't tell anyone. I think it makes me seem old. My favorite favorite favorite show on PBS is "Everyday Food". It is from the people of Martha Stewart. She isn't on the show, but she gets the cash from it I am sure. Anyhoo back at the ranch. Well on today's episode, Lucinda (one of the 5 chefs) made Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Hey, I thought to myself - I can do that. Lucinda's secret ingredient is sour cream. Who would have thought? She said it makes the cookies more "cake like". I hate crunchy cookies so I decided to try it. I know have a testament to my hearing loss. I swore I heard Lucinda say 2 Cups of sour cream. Kids - I doubled the recipe because I wanted to make cookies for the church party tomorrow night and I knew the family would eat some tonight. I have cookies everywhere - and I must say they are tasty. Now, before you rush out and try this - I just read the recipe on the website. It's 2/3 C of Sour Cream. Thankfully I didn't measure it out - so I didn't add quite 2 Cups. But, I did add more than she suggested. And again, the cookies taste fine - but the volume of cookie dough is astronomical. It's everywhere. I have been baking for an hour and a half and I am not yet done. I have every baking sheet we own loaded with dough. My cooking never seems to go just right. Sigh. Someday Martha, Someday.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Amazing. I went to see "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" last night. What they left out from the book was tolerable - what they added only added to the story. This comes from someone who almost never enjoys a movie that has been adapted from a book - and I still believe that in this case the book is still better. But I was so happy that the way I envisioned so many things was the way I saw them play out in the movie. My only regret - that one of the most signifigant parts of the book to me is the struggle for Edmund to choose between right and wrong. I think the book does a better job of showing just how great the struggle. And I too like others have mentioned - wanted to see Aslan clear the wall of the castle and turn all of the statues to life - it happens - we just don't get to see enough of it in my opinion. But those are very small things compared to all of the things they got right. When the Stone Table cracks I wanted to yell "Long Live the King". It is the greatest story ever told - a King who lays down his life so that we can live - a King who can rise from the grip that death had on Him. A King who covers our stumbling and faltering ways. And I, like Lucy wait for the return of the King.

Up All Night

Well it's time for the annual pilgrimage to the big city to spend the night. Nathan, Terri and I are headed to Best Buy to spend the night on the sidewalk! It should be a lovely time. Temperatures are at the low and so are the prices kids. Everyone on my list is getting a techie gadget. I have on three layers of clothes and these heat packs used by hunters. Look for us on the news in the morning!

The Lord Who Sees What We Cannot

Thanksgiving - a time to set aside for being thankful. Should we really have to set aside time for being thankful??? I am pondering that tonight. This weekend I was driving with Madeline in the car. We were listening to Awesome God on the radio (One of my top ten questions for God - Did you have to take Rich Mullins so soon). No one can belt out a song like Madeline and I love to belt songs out right along with her - she is delirious and thinks I can sing. So here we were driving along belting out Awesome God when out of no where came Bambi's father and man has he ever grown! And he was running right at my door! And I counted his nose hairs. I am not kidding or exaggerating one little bit when I say that if my window had been down I would have felt his breath. We were that close. At the most precious second before he hit my door he flipped around - I wish you could understand that there wasn't even enough room for him to flip himself around - and so I know it wasn't the deer who did it. I know it had to have been the hand of God picking him up and turning him around. In those seconds that went by in a flash I saw that deer move in a way that I don't think is possible. And I had to laugh. Because I think God is funny. Here we are singing "When He rolls up his sleeves He ain't just puttin on the ritz" and God was so putting on a show. I could just hear him saying "Hey Cheryl - you think I am awesome??? Well watch this!" And I was amused and I was thankful and I was mindful. But friends it gets better. I got up this morning and I was watching some guy preach on TV while I was getting ready for church. And this guy is telling this story about a man who was riding a horse and it got spooked and he had to jump off right before his horse went off of a cliff. Anyway - he was telling this preacher how he was thanking God that he gave him the ability to jump off right before the horse went off. And the preacher said isn't it amazing that you ride that way everyday and it had never crossed your mind to thank God for getting you to where you were going, but instead he had to prove himself to you to get you to be thankful! Thank you God - lesson learned. I get it! I drive that rode everyday. I see deer 3 out of every 4 trips on that road. Yet it took feeling the breath of Bambi's father to make me be thankful.

"For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. With their hands they shall support you..." - Ps 91:11-12

"There are angels 'round my bed tonight...some are there for comfort, some are there to fight." - Kevin Max Smith

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.