Friends, I failed today. Unintentionally I hurt a precious friend with this blog spot. I removed the blog because I did not want anyone else to get the wrong ideas about my friend or my feelings for him.
So for now, the ramblings of this everyday housewife are over.
Maybe someday in the near future I'll feel like posting again. Until then....
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Lost in Limbo (do they still have limbo?)
Obviously it's been some time since my last post. Since that post I have spent time in Pigeon Forge with the Delores Sisterhood; graduated both my daughters from college; attended two basket making seminars; attended leadership training at Precept Ministries, International; moved Erica to Texas and moved Courtney to Bullit County (Louisville) Kentucky.
In the midst of this I have found myself floundering in "limbo" trying to discern where God is calling me. You see, I'm not comfortable at my church any more. And before you comment, yes, I know, I shouldn't feel comfortable if I'm being challenged in my spiritual life. But therein lies the rub. I am not being challenged nor am I being "fed" God's word without it being reduced to a soft sell, touchy feely version of the gospel. Something I call "Bible lite."
I crave to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed from the pulpit in all it's glory. To hear what's hard to hear for people in today's society. To hear the truth and not what just makes people feel good. Jesus never told us that following Him would make us feel good. On the contrary, He told us we would be challenged and hated. I want to hear the love story of God and His people. To learn from Israel, her disobedience, her judgement and then to hear of their hope for restoration.
People today need to believe God. Not just believe "in" God but believe His Word. I don't understand how people (Christians) claim to know God and yet pick and choose which parts of His perfect Word they're going to believe and what parts they're going to call "just stories." In my mind you either believe God or you don't. Now let's not get silly and bring up things like "wearing clothes made of two different fabric" or the "symbolism" of Revelation. Read the Bible with some sense. Follow the rules of grammar and recognize the type of literature in the passages you're studying. Also, recognize who is being addressed. Let scripture interpret scripture. Take the Bible at face value. God did not inspire a book that the average man (or woman) could not understand. He wants us to know Him.
So, why do preachers (some of them) insist on "dumbing down" the gospel. I don't think Jesus, Peter, Paul or any other Biblical author used the soft sell approach to reach people. Sometimes I just want to scream, "WAKE UP PEOPLE!"
Which brings me back to limbo. To me a intricate part of worship is hearing the Word proclaimed. So do I stay at a church where I have a large "family" of friends but can't seem to worship because of the ministers style of preaching or do I search for a new church that values the same worship/preaching style that I do? Do I stay at a church whose denomination is one step away from apostasy with some of their views on major topics in today's society or do I go to a church who values the truth of God's Word and stands by them in spite of society's views? Do I stay at a church and fight to proclaim the un-watered down Gospel and feel like a spinning tire on an ice slick or do I go to a church where I can be challenged in my faith and learn to proclaim the Gospel in my everyday life by the way I live? Do stay at my church and try to suppliment my worship experience with other experiences or do I go to a church which builds my worship and my faith? You see, limbo! I'm lost as far as direction goes. I love the people at my church and I'm sure that no matter where God leads me, as far as church is concerned, I will always have these people as brothers and sisters in Christ. But it's so hard! I don't know what to do and I'm having a hard time discerning God's will for me in this matter.
So, please, pray for me.
In the midst of this I have found myself floundering in "limbo" trying to discern where God is calling me. You see, I'm not comfortable at my church any more. And before you comment, yes, I know, I shouldn't feel comfortable if I'm being challenged in my spiritual life. But therein lies the rub. I am not being challenged nor am I being "fed" God's word without it being reduced to a soft sell, touchy feely version of the gospel. Something I call "Bible lite."
I crave to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed from the pulpit in all it's glory. To hear what's hard to hear for people in today's society. To hear the truth and not what just makes people feel good. Jesus never told us that following Him would make us feel good. On the contrary, He told us we would be challenged and hated. I want to hear the love story of God and His people. To learn from Israel, her disobedience, her judgement and then to hear of their hope for restoration.
People today need to believe God. Not just believe "in" God but believe His Word. I don't understand how people (Christians) claim to know God and yet pick and choose which parts of His perfect Word they're going to believe and what parts they're going to call "just stories." In my mind you either believe God or you don't. Now let's not get silly and bring up things like "wearing clothes made of two different fabric" or the "symbolism" of Revelation. Read the Bible with some sense. Follow the rules of grammar and recognize the type of literature in the passages you're studying. Also, recognize who is being addressed. Let scripture interpret scripture. Take the Bible at face value. God did not inspire a book that the average man (or woman) could not understand. He wants us to know Him.
So, why do preachers (some of them) insist on "dumbing down" the gospel. I don't think Jesus, Peter, Paul or any other Biblical author used the soft sell approach to reach people. Sometimes I just want to scream, "WAKE UP PEOPLE!"
Which brings me back to limbo. To me a intricate part of worship is hearing the Word proclaimed. So do I stay at a church where I have a large "family" of friends but can't seem to worship because of the ministers style of preaching or do I search for a new church that values the same worship/preaching style that I do? Do I stay at a church whose denomination is one step away from apostasy with some of their views on major topics in today's society or do I go to a church who values the truth of God's Word and stands by them in spite of society's views? Do I stay at a church and fight to proclaim the un-watered down Gospel and feel like a spinning tire on an ice slick or do I go to a church where I can be challenged in my faith and learn to proclaim the Gospel in my everyday life by the way I live? Do stay at my church and try to suppliment my worship experience with other experiences or do I go to a church which builds my worship and my faith? You see, limbo! I'm lost as far as direction goes. I love the people at my church and I'm sure that no matter where God leads me, as far as church is concerned, I will always have these people as brothers and sisters in Christ. But it's so hard! I don't know what to do and I'm having a hard time discerning God's will for me in this matter.
So, please, pray for me.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Where have my babies gone?
Geez, time is passing too quickly! In just four weeks my little girl will graduate from college with a master's degree in Music Education! It seems like she was just born last week! To make matters worse, in just five weeks my baby girl will graduate from college with a bachelor's degree in Social Work. Surely she was just born yesterday?!
I can remember each of their birthdays in every minute detail. What a joy it was to hold them and marvel at the little miracles in my arms.
My precious little Courtney, sweet, happy, independent and loving! My darling little Erica, creative, joyful, independent and loving! God has surely blessed me with these two beautiful, intelligent and Godly daughters. I'm not sure what I ever did to deserve them but thank you Lord for entrusting these angels to me for their time on earth.
Girls, if you're reading this, I love you so very much and I'm proud of you more than words can tell.
I can remember each of their birthdays in every minute detail. What a joy it was to hold them and marvel at the little miracles in my arms.
My precious little Courtney, sweet, happy, independent and loving! My darling little Erica, creative, joyful, independent and loving! God has surely blessed me with these two beautiful, intelligent and Godly daughters. I'm not sure what I ever did to deserve them but thank you Lord for entrusting these angels to me for their time on earth.
Girls, if you're reading this, I love you so very much and I'm proud of you more than words can tell.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Spring
Boing!!
The calendar says it's spring but the wind and temperature says differently! Guess I don't like the "inbetween" seasons! I would rather it be snowing and cold like Christmastime or I want to throw my windows open and feel the warm breeze flutter through the curtains. The only inbetween time I like is Fall....ah, sweater weather! But you can keep summer! I hate the hot sticky humid weather.
So, I'll just wait for warmer day and in the meantime light a fire in the fireplace!
The calendar says it's spring but the wind and temperature says differently! Guess I don't like the "inbetween" seasons! I would rather it be snowing and cold like Christmastime or I want to throw my windows open and feel the warm breeze flutter through the curtains. The only inbetween time I like is Fall....ah, sweater weather! But you can keep summer! I hate the hot sticky humid weather.
So, I'll just wait for warmer day and in the meantime light a fire in the fireplace!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Aahhh, March Madness
I love basketball tourney time! I tend to pull for the underdog unless they're playing Western or U of L! Just watched San Diego win over UConn and loved it! That means the Western Hilltoppers will be playing San Diego on Sunday! Go Tops!!
Tonight U of L is going up against Boise State. I sure hope I can stay up late enough to see the entire game but thank goodness for TiVo if I can't.
One pet peeve I have though is the stupid TV stations and sports channels listing Western as "W. Kentucky" If they can't call us Western or WKU they should at least list us as "Western Ky" I've half a mind to email ESPN and set them straight. Think they'll listen to me?
Tonight U of L is going up against Boise State. I sure hope I can stay up late enough to see the entire game but thank goodness for TiVo if I can't.
One pet peeve I have though is the stupid TV stations and sports channels listing Western as "W. Kentucky" If they can't call us Western or WKU they should at least list us as "Western Ky" I've half a mind to email ESPN and set them straight. Think they'll listen to me?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Rain
I love the sound of rain beating down on the roof and hitting the windows.
I like mornings when there is a slow steady pulse of rain falling and lulling me back to sleep or calling me to curl up with a book and my favorite quilt.
I absolutely love thunder storms! When I was younger I used to sit on the front steps with my Dad and watch the "heat lightning" in the summer. I still like to watch the storms and sometimes find myself on my covered deck watching the lightning streak across the sky as I count out loud until the thunder comes.
Today was one of those days when the gentle falling of the rain lured me to sleep in my chair and reminded me just how much the simple things mean in life.
Dad, if you're reading this, I miss our times together.
I like mornings when there is a slow steady pulse of rain falling and lulling me back to sleep or calling me to curl up with a book and my favorite quilt.
I absolutely love thunder storms! When I was younger I used to sit on the front steps with my Dad and watch the "heat lightning" in the summer. I still like to watch the storms and sometimes find myself on my covered deck watching the lightning streak across the sky as I count out loud until the thunder comes.
Today was one of those days when the gentle falling of the rain lured me to sleep in my chair and reminded me just how much the simple things mean in life.
Dad, if you're reading this, I miss our times together.
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patrick's Day ramblings
They say if the world slowed down or stopped spinning we would all be flung into space. If that is true then I'm stuck like glue to this rock called earth. At the risk of giving away my age let me put it this way. My world has been moving like a 33rpm album playing at 78rpms. And yes, before you ask, I have owned albums that play at both 33 and 78!
In the past month and a half I have been to Bowling Green, Kentucky (twice); Bowling Green, Ohio (twice); Louisville, Kentucky, Waddy/Peytona, Kentucky, Frankfort, Kentucky, Wilmore, Kentucky (eight times) and Ft. Worth, Texas! I drove every trip! To be honest I love to drive and my friends will tell you I even have control issues when it comes to driving. But holy cow! That's a lot of driving in a short period of time. Of course it did put more miles on the car which helps me to reach 100,000 miles sooner. After all, the sooner I reach that magic number the sooner I will get a new automobile! Only 6,000 more miles to go! I can't wait to get my new red Toyota Highlander!
Anyway, all this to say, I'm pooped! To make matters worse, I'm getting the old lady syndrome of not being able to sleep late. No matter how tired I am or how late I go to bed I don't seem to be able to sleep past 7am. I also find myself being cold all the time. I used to not wear a coat and used to be hot all the time. Now, I can't seem to keep warm and I almost always wear a coat or jacket when I leave the house. I used to think that only "old" people had these problems. Now I have them!! And I'm not old! I realize of course that's all in the eyes of the beholder and that "old age" is a very relative thing. After all, 60 is looking younger and younger.
Well, that's enough blarney for today!
In the past month and a half I have been to Bowling Green, Kentucky (twice); Bowling Green, Ohio (twice); Louisville, Kentucky, Waddy/Peytona, Kentucky, Frankfort, Kentucky, Wilmore, Kentucky (eight times) and Ft. Worth, Texas! I drove every trip! To be honest I love to drive and my friends will tell you I even have control issues when it comes to driving. But holy cow! That's a lot of driving in a short period of time. Of course it did put more miles on the car which helps me to reach 100,000 miles sooner. After all, the sooner I reach that magic number the sooner I will get a new automobile! Only 6,000 more miles to go! I can't wait to get my new red Toyota Highlander!
Anyway, all this to say, I'm pooped! To make matters worse, I'm getting the old lady syndrome of not being able to sleep late. No matter how tired I am or how late I go to bed I don't seem to be able to sleep past 7am. I also find myself being cold all the time. I used to not wear a coat and used to be hot all the time. Now, I can't seem to keep warm and I almost always wear a coat or jacket when I leave the house. I used to think that only "old" people had these problems. Now I have them!! And I'm not old! I realize of course that's all in the eyes of the beholder and that "old age" is a very relative thing. After all, 60 is looking younger and younger.
Well, that's enough blarney for today!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wishing...
Some days I just wish...that's it...I just wish.
I wish I didn't feel so lonely when my hubby was out of town.
I wish I could make everything perfect for my daughters.
I wish it would snow so deep I would have to stay at home in front of the fire and work a jigsaw puzzle.
I wish it was Christmastime all year long.
I wish I was more disciplined with time management and excerise.
You get the idea?
Today was a wish day and I was just wishing I had a memory left! I spent all day catching up on things I should have done weeks ago.
Maybe tomorrow will be better.
I wish I didn't feel so lonely when my hubby was out of town.
I wish I could make everything perfect for my daughters.
I wish it would snow so deep I would have to stay at home in front of the fire and work a jigsaw puzzle.
I wish it was Christmastime all year long.
I wish I was more disciplined with time management and excerise.
You get the idea?
Today was a wish day and I was just wishing I had a memory left! I spent all day catching up on things I should have done weeks ago.
Maybe tomorrow will be better.
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