Sunday, December 14, 2008

"Eve Names the Kiss"



Could this be how it all went down?

"Eve Names the Kiss"

by Gwen Hart

He sat upon the garden wall.
She had her fingers on his knees.
The smallest leaves began to fall.
A subtle difference in the breeze.
Prompted the tiger and the hare to linger there.

Even the snake
slithered closer so to hear
what sound she'd make.

They'd heard him speak
a thousand times,
define the world
from bumblebee to elephant.
His syllables were muscled,
bold.

But she,
they felt,
was different.

The future trembled on her lips.
Her mouth was like an apple split,
two halves as supple as her hips.
And when she said the word, he bit.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

A prayer for this Saturday ...


May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.

Author Unknown

Amen!

Friday, December 12, 2008

An Albert ....


Another quote ...

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965)



Thursday, December 11, 2008

Christianity as Music


How many times have you heard that this person or that person, or maybe yourself is not acting very "Christian"? Vulnerability is a big risk, because there will always be people who will not like what you have to say or reject who God has made you and not like the experiences you have had. consider ways that you might share your experiences, thoughts, and dreams with others at church. Expect that not everyone will rejoice with you or mourn with you, but I truly believe that anyone who really understands the grace of God will be grateful for your story and come away with a greater picture of the goodness of our God.

Christianity is a beautiful and flawless piece of music composed by God. Sometimes, the musicians (us) attempting to play it hit a few wrong notes or play it off key. Sometimes we make such an awful noise that they cause their audience to run away from them, holding their ears! But every now and then, a musician who is practiced in their Christianity plays the music and it is glorious and wonderful and sweet. We shouldn't fault the composer (Jesus) when unpracticed musicians play His composition; a composition should be judged when it is played by the best, not the worst.

The thing is that we are all immature and immaturity means that a goal has not been met. Imperfection means that things are not as they should be at a given stage of development. There’s a big difference. Adam was created perfect but he still required instruction to grow in his maturity. Jesus was created perfect but even he “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52)

When I think about it this way a huge weight is lifted off my shoulders. The big struggle of so many Christians, including myself, is a lack of patience with themselves or others for not being instantly “finished”. I am convinced that when you read the Bible, you realize that the “heroes of the faith” tend to be no different – flawed people who nonetheless are chosen and loved by a God who is not too proud to be associated with them. There is Peter, denying that he knows Jesus in Matthew 26. And then there is God, calling himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6, among others), and proclaiming that Peter is the rock upon which he will build his church (Matthew 16:18), forever associating himself with his flawed yet beloved followers.

For all of my weaknesses and sins, I get the sense that God likes us, that God is using us anyways, and that because when we are vulnerable, God will get the glory for not kicking us to the curb but instead loving, forgiving, and using him to bring others to Him. remember that the grace that has been bestowed upon us is so much greater than we can give back. Let us purpose to show this grace to others. The world is starving for grace and will take notice when we show this to each other. This is the music our world needs to hear!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Artsy Ramble


Have you ever studied the lives of any of the great artists in history? I don't mean just the artist that painted or did art, I mean artist in the terms of creative people...writers, singers, and so forth...

I majored in art in college, (not that I ever finished and got a degree or anything but I did take every art class they offered...lol) and in studying the ones admired the most, they all seem to have suffered either from deep depression or went through some terrible times in their lives.

Beethoven wrote the Moonlight Sonata (spelling?) but its one of the most beautiful but also mournful pieces of music ever written. The story behind it was that he was in love with this young lady but her family rejected him and he could not marry her. He was utterly heart broken and it came out in this music. Later on some of his most wonderful music came after he had gone deaf!!! Could you image writing music and not being able to hear it?

I image somewhere he told someone he could hear the music in his head, he didn't need to hear it with his ears.

Wolfgang Mozart was considered insane I think...or seemed to be, but actually it was due to the terrible treatment he got by others in most of his life. There is a movie that was done on him a number of years ago...you ought to check it out and watch it.

Edgar Allan Poe, was an extremely depressed person, in fact I heard he had bipolar, but not real sure on that. Just reading his stuff, while so well written and required reading in many schools (or used to be), you can image how the depression affected his writings.

Van Gogh...he cut his ear off....I think it was over a woman too....grief and despair can do funny things to ones mind.

Michelangelo was also a nut case...lol....He had a learning disability, depression and a recent news article said he may have had Aspergers ... what that is....well we call it being a geek....awkward, no social skills and gets super focused on ONE thing. His one thing was art...

I think all these people obsessed to some degree or another with their work to the point they neglect family, friends and other normal day activities. Which caused people to think they were nutty...I don't think they were really nutty, they were gifted...

But also in all their lives some kind of grief and heartache and depression affected them and because of it, it actually enriched their art, be it painting or writing or acting...whatever and it made them outstanding in what they did.

They have all left us with their 'gifts' and something to learn by and appreciate and make kids have to learn in school....

When I was younger and wanted to 'create' something, whatever...I wrote and did "art" well kinda ....I was told SO many times that to be a good artist I had to SUFFER! Had to go through hardships and all kinds of bad stuff in order to add that richest to my art....sounded real appealing ... Right!

I find it amazing that our most talented people throughout history really had such rough lives! And there seems to be a correlation to great Christians ...

I also think it helps the rest of us too ...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Dream of the Rood

Listen, I'll tell the loveliest of dreams,
what I dreamt in the dark of night
after reason-bearers lay at rest.
It seemed I saw a wondrous treeled aloft,
wound in light,the brightest of beams.
That beacon wasall covered with gold.
Gems stoodfair at the ground’s surface;
likewise there were fiveup at the crossbeam.
All beheld there the Angel of the Lord,fair through eternal decree.
There was no felon’s gallows there,
but holy spirits beheld him,
people of earth and all this glorious creation.
Rare was this victory-beam,
and I stained in sins,mauled by misdeeds.
I saw glory’s tree,graced with garments,
shine with joy,
girded with gold.
Gems had worthily covered the tree of the wild.
Yet through that gold I could glimpse
the old war of wretched ones,
for it first beganto bleed on its right side.
I was all driven with sorrows;
afraid I was of the fair vision. . . .
I have few friends
powerful on earth, since they have departed
from the world’s joys,
sought wonder’s King,
and live now in heaven with the high Father,
dwell in glory.
And every day
I look for that time when the Lord’s cross,
which I once beheld here on earth,
will fetch me in this fleeting life
and bring me where the bliss is great,
joy in heaven,
where the Lord’s host areseated at the banquet.
Endless bliss is there.
It will set me where forever I will
dwell in wonders,
taste wellhappiness with the holy.
May the Lord be my friend,
he who earlier suffered here on earth,
on this gallows tree for our trespasses.
He redeemed us and returned our lives,
gave us a heavenly home.
Hope was renewed
among blessings with bliss for those who suffered burning there.
The Son, mighty and successful,
was victorious
in that quest, when he came with many,
a host of spirits into God’s glorious kingdom,
the almighty ruler,
to the bliss of angels
and all the saints who earlier dwelt in glory
in heaven,
when their Creator came,
almighty Lord,
back to the land of his home.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Jesus Pencil Toppers???


I don't know but I found this a wee bit bizarre at best ....


Jesus Pencil ToppersBlessed are the shopping list scrawlers and the test takers when their pencils are topped with one of these replicas of Jesus। Handsomely detailed with a red robe and arms outstretched in blessing or prayer. Five 1-1/4" (3.2 cm) tall, soft vinyl Jesuses on each illustrated blistercard. UPC