Steve Brown

I used to listen to Steve Brown about 15 or so years ago. His perspective on Christianity and his outlook on life is refreshing and I still like him even though we've never met. I like his blog too so I added it to my Blogroll in case you might like him too. It's called The Old White Guy Blog. You can also get there from Steve Brown, Etc.

Sailor Scott

Nashville is full of talented people and they all have stories to tell. Sailor Scott is one of them. But since I know Sailor and Dan and their beautiful daughters, I want to "plug" her story. Check out her website at www.sailorscott.com.

Sad news about a young friend.

I've just been told that a friend of my daughter's has been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. Kristi is also someone I know and care about. I remember her and her husband Chris as a wonderful young Christian family. She and Chris and their 4 children have had quite a blow dealt to them and all of our prayers are going up to heaven for an intervention from God.

I looked up Hodgkin Lymphoma because I always want to know why this sort of thing would happen to a young, otherwise healthy person. While there are many factors that may be involved, I found it infuriating to see the words pesticide, herbicide, and chlorine mentioned as possible contributors. More reasons to buy or grow your own organic food, filter chlorine out of your water and your life, and discourage insects with natural deterrents.

Please join us in praying for Kristi and her family as they go through this valley.

"If anything matters...everything matters"

I've just finished reading "The Shack" by William P. Young. It takes you on a journey of emotions that you will recognize and invites you to experience God in ways you may not recognize. I read it in a couple of days between eating, sleeping, and babysitting. I will read it again. So should you if you have unanswered questions about why things are the way they are and what God is all about. I am also adding Willie's Blog - Wind Rumors to my roll. Check it out.

Yaaay, Go Green!

I guess I am having some impact. My husband brought home reusable bags from the grocery store yesterday after I asked him to help me put our lifestyle where my mouth is. :)

I have found a few more very interesting websites with links to other interesting websites. The Nature in Us is one of them. I also like Co-op America: Economic Action for a Just Planet.

Let me know what you think. Together perhaps we can improve each other's environmental, health, and spiritual IQ.

The Gods Aren't Angry

I just finished watching Rob Bell's new DVD "The Gods Aren't Angry" for the second time. I don't know how to explain how intriguing it is to listen to him explain things that I have come to experience in my own life. If you know or don't know what animal sacrifices were about in the world of Abraham and the history behind it all, you may find this very interesting. If you are down on religion, you are right up there with Jesus because God is not about religion. And if you want to know what you have to do or don't have to do to be at peace with God, this DVD should be on your list.

Book Review

I have just finished reading two books by Rob Bell. The first, "Velvet Elvis: The Repainting of the Christian Faith" reaffirms my belief that love is ultimately all there is.

As human beings struggling to understand God, we often try to fit Him into our box, i.e. contain Him in our mind, conform Him to our understanding, or give up in frustration and decide that He doesn't really exist. Rob Bell takes you on a intriguing thought provoking journey exploring what words meant to the people they were originally spoken to and what that means to us, all the while encouraging us to question everything he says. I like it!

The second book, "Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality" did not disappoint. Again he uses the history of the words and traditions to show how God uses sexuality to teach us about spirituality. This thinking is not new but Rob brings scriptures to life in ways I hadn't thought about before and will definitely affect how I read every verse in the future. Hopefully it will always lead me to "What does this really mean?" I thank God that His answer to the question we all ask "Is that all there is?" is "No."

NOOMA

Have you heard of Rob Bell? If not, I think you should check him out. His DVD "Everything is Spiritual" is thought provoking and fascinating in a NOVA sort of way. And then you can go to NOOMA for a little more of things that make you go hmmm. I have ordered his books Velvet Elvis: The Repainting of Christianity and Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality. I'll let you know what I think of them.

Seriously, how can there not be a Creator!

Beautiful pictures from outer space.

What are you passionate about?

Of course, first and foremost, I am passionate about my family. I think back over the years and I know that I could have done things differently had I known what I know now or if I had let God be God. But I believe that in spite of all the mistakes I made, I gave them unconditional love and they are passing that legacy on to their children. I have been blessed in spite of myself because He is merciful.

I am passionate about people. I believe God is passionate about people too. Why else would he put up with us? I am especially passionate about little people. I hate it when big people are mean to them. I hate it when big people exploit them, abuse them, use them and treat them as though they don't matter. They matter very much to God. It is our responsibility to protect and care for them and to always let them know that they are loved and important to us and to God. I believe that our future on this earth depends on how we treat our children. I believe that children learn what they live and that loved children can change the world. I am ready for that change. How about you?

I am very blessed to have grandchildren whose parents take this responsibility very seriously. When you get to the final equation, love is all there is worth living for and dying for.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I love my Pastor Pete!

Check out Pastor Pete's Blog at http://withoutwax.tv/,