Just saw a polish jazz

Just saw a polish jazz pianist play. Wow! Truly incredible. The guy's name- Leszek M (can't remember last name).

Discussion

The following is from a news article I read this morning. A Chinese man says:

"Protestantism has been a key reason for the success of western civilization and the establishment of constitutional and democratic government."

Discuss....

Allergies

So if you haven't guessed it now, I'm a serious foodie! And so, to figure out that I have an extremem intolerance to dairy was a bit disheartening. But then to realize today that I'm allergic to cantaloup (or rather Grass Pollen) was a surprise. I knew I was allergic to grass, but I didn't know it would manifest itself in food. After researching it I've come to know that it can manifest itself that way.

Here's the deal. I started this "No sugar dessert Monday through Thursday." I was going a little over-the-top with dessert each night and a bit out of control. So instead I've been eating fruit for my "dessert". Cantaloupe was my choice Monday and Tuesday night. Allergic reaction started shortly thereafter by presenting with what seems like extreme chapped lips. And it's been getting worse with each day of continuous cantaloupe eating.

Did the research. Bam! Allergic to Grass Pollen which is in melons and figs. Who would've thought?

I tell you what, if it turns out that I become allergic to sugar I will die!

Blush

Blush. Not the pink powdery substance that I apply to my cheeks in the morning to make me have that "glow". I'm talking about something you do, something that happens.

The question was raised about how often we, as people, blush. And I'm talking about blushing in response to something that would not be considered good, like a compliment.

How often do I blush at things I see on TV or in movies? What about conversations that I hear or even take part in? And things/people that I see? Does it bother me to see, hear or take part in these things. Or has my heart and mind become numb to them? Are they considered normal now? Do I think them normal and acceptable?

Last night in small group, us girls were discussing ways that Satan can come into our lives, mainly how we let him in. Ugh! He wants in my life and here I am opening the door for him through some TV shows, movies, magazines, music, billboards, conversations I take part in etc. "Here you go Satan, want to join my life?"

I feel like that for me to gradually become more accepting of and unaffected by the words, actions and sights I see all around me, I'm allowing Satan more of a grip in my life. I am becoming more apart of "that" world and steering further away from what is eternal. It gets harder and harder to see clearly. And it's harder to hear God. It gets kind of cloudy.

So what do I need to do? How can I protect myself? How can you protect me? How can I protect you? I don't want to become legalistic by any means. But this subject warrants thinking about and it definitely warrants some sort of action. I mean, people around us are acting and they're pushing these things hard! I want to respond by pushing back and saying "No, I don't want this! And I will not accept this!"

Those things that should make me blush and turn away from in shame are just lightly bantered about. ~ B. Brown

Fried chicken and layered cakes

So here's the comparison I made between fried chicken and layered cakes. But let me take a moment to clarify that when eating fried chicken I prefer the wing or the leg. And the little pieces of chicken and layered cakes are similar in my mind because you get yumminess with every bite. You see, here's the deal.

Wings/Legs-with every bite you get a bite of that fried yumminess because the pieces are small. Whereas with a breast or a thigh, sometimes you only get and no fried stuff.

Layered cakes-because there is icing in between each layer, you get icing with every bite, which is my favorite!

THEREFORE, layered cakes and small pieces of fried chicken are oh so yummy! In fact, where can I go to get a yummy layered cake? Hmm.

The wonder in it all

I just finished working on a document at work and I took a moment to take another sip of my coffee as I pondered how my stomach is going to handle the potato soup I just ate for lunch (wondering if water would help the process). And I thought how miraculous it is that our bodies know what to do with food and liquids and how to separate them and everything. Really the whole process of the human body is truly amazing and something that is difficult for me to comprehend. And then my mind went to the scientists or "sceptics" out there who can so easily dismiss giving glory to a Creator for His imagination in creating us this way.

I look at the body and think, "Wow, what a smart and creative God I have!" They look at the body and want to explain the wonder and the creativeness away with science. Science isn't bad; not at all! So many wonderful things have come from science. But my concern/my feeling of sadness for them is that in explaining away the wonder and the miracle of it, they lose all ability to see any wonder or any miracle in anything.

I had a friend a couple of years back that used to call me when there was a rainbow or when the the sunset was really striking. She was so excited about it! I got so annoyed at her for calling me about something so small and insignificant. Who cares?! I thought she was rediculou and actually small-minded. (Yes, I have judgemental thoughts that I'm not proud of.) But boy was I wrong! Now I see.

And today I have people in my life that minimize things that are truly huge! Beautiful things that they try and make ugly by their pessimism or scepticism. And these people are not always non-believers. Sometimes they are believers.

So today, thinking about the little miracle that I saw and remembering that girl a few years back, I thought how sorry I am that I minimized her wonder in the little things, but glad to see it now for what it is. Glad that I can see the miracle of it and the Creator in it. And instead of being that pessimist or "realist" (as I so often call myself) that explains away everything, I'd like to be the one who looks for the wonder and the miracle.

Some things that I find wonder in:
1. The human body
2. That people around the world look so different (i.e. body type, size, facial structure, etc.) and that they hold such different practices in culture
3. The brain makes decisions for me subconciously (i.e. breathing)
4. Ladybugs
5. Giraffes-did you know that there is no scientific explanation for a giraffe's life? Their necks are too long to get blood from the heart to the brain. Yet here they are! Definite Creator wonder!
6. A smile can change an attitude
7. The wind
8. Tides/waves/currents
9. Fingerprints-it's amazing that every one is different isn't it?!
10. The invention of colors
11. Changed hearts
12. Mountains-i mean giant hills that are breathtaking!
13. Snow

What are the little things that you find wonder in?

Remains

There's a power in poverty that breaks principalities and brings the authorities down to their knees
There's a brewing frustration and ageless temptation to fight for control by some manipulation
The God of the Kindoms and God of the nations
The God of creation sends this revelation
To the homeless and penniless, Jesus the Son
The poor will inherit the Kingdom to come

Where will we turn when our world falls apart and all of the treasures we've stored in our barns
Can't buy the Kindoms of God
Who will we praise when we praised all our lives, men who build kingdoms and men who build fame
Heaven does not know their names
What will we fear when all that remains is God on the throne with a child in his arms and love in his eyes and the sound of His heart cry

~Jason Upton

Tuesday afternoons

So on Tuesday afternoons on my way home from work I call my best friend, Sara. She's on her way home from Clemson every Tuesday afternoon at the same time. Neither of us have children in the car (I never have children in my car) so it's relatively quiet. And on her way home she stops to get her Tuesday afternoon treat and I sit quietly while she orders at the drive-thru and then I stop to get my treat (Diet coke with light ice) and she sits quietly while I order. And then we just chat and laugh and chat and laugh.

It's our little Tuesday afternoon "thing" and I like it. One of those small things that make me smile and make life fun. I look forward to Tuesday afternoons. :)

Let's run there!

I love, love, love Sundays! It's church day! I get to go to my amazing church, East Cooper Baptist Church (www.ecbconline.com) and be led into the Lord's presence and hear His Word spoken to me. I'm taught and I walk aware from there knowing the Bible better, knowing God deeper and having a deep sense and knowledge that the Creator, God is with me in the deepest parts of me and He's smiling on me. Joy. I go home to a wonderful lunch of my choosing and I spend the rest of the day relaxing and reading and going prayer walking. And then I finish up the day with my small group that is comprised of amazing women that are running hard after God's heart and to be more like Him (and the guys too! :) ). I leave there encouraged in His Spirit and it gets my week started off in a great way!

My sister asked me Saturday night after the birthday festivities were over, if my birthday was everything I had dreamt up for it. My honest answer was that it's hard to have some elaborate and "wow" birthday when your life is just so great and you're so blessed. And that's how I feel. I mean, what more could I want? How could one day of my life be something spectacular when every day of my life is so great?!

Let's run to the cross today. Let's sit at the feet of Jesus today. It's fun. It's sweet. It's THE BEST part of my life. Let's go there.

ABOVE ALL, KEEP FERVENT IN YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS. ~1 PETER 4:8