Transition

During the past couple of weeks, we have been visiting churches in the area. The places we've been to so far are wonderful. The people are friendly, many people are from our previous church, the song service inspired, and the message meaty and well worth listening to.

About two weeks ago we were visiting a church and had the opportunity to participate in the Lord's Supper. It's been a while since we've had a chance to do that and, as you know, that can be a time for great reflection.

To be honest, right now my heart is heavy with this particular season we're going through. I want to stay completey in the center of God's will and am sad that the last 13 years at our previous church ended so abruptly with a single conversation. God has led us, at least for now, to a time of separation from the situation. I don't know how long the separation will last - or if we'll be even be led to return -but being a nomad is never fun.

Anyway, during the Lord's Supper I just sat. Existed. Empty. I felt as though I was being emptied and just let it happen.

Once the Lord's Supper was over, we had an exceptional worship time. One of the choruses we sang was "Blessed Be the Name" and I couldn't help it. The tears flowed and my heart broke. Right there, at that moment, it was all I could do not to physically bow down and worship. But I couldn't. That's not proper. So I held it in while the tears flowed.

Fast forward to today. What is one of the choruses we sang? "Blessed Be the Name" The irony is this was at a different church.

And then it happened. David, our precocious 5-year-old, began dancing. He said he couldn't help it and then the words flowed out of his mouth. He didn't care about the notes not being right or what people thought. He just moved and sang. I have to admit, I was jealous. He had no inhibitions about what he was doing, and I was jealous.

Jonathan, the proper 8-year-old, looked at him and told him to stop. He shouldn't do that in church. Then they started having a brotherly argument.

I didn't want this moment to end for my child; too soon he'll look around, like I did, and wonder if anyone saw him and if he should have done that. So, I moved Jonathan between Scott and me and let David go.

After the chorus was over, David looked at me and said, "I just love that song. I can't help it."

I wish I could say that today was a turning point for me and I'll become a hand-raising, swaying Baptist, but I can't. But I was able to see what a childlike faith is like, uninhibited by what's proper and right. I was able to glimpse, for just a moment, what it must be like to completely let yourself go and truly worship God.

Blessed Be the Name

Tummy Party!

Come to the party in my tummy! I'm so ready!



Quite possibly the most disturbing video I've ever seen. However, having watched it, I don't think I'll be able to eat again for a week...jump starting that diet I had planned.

Stealing Letters from Blogs

In the tradition of our good friend, Brandy (i.e., I'm stealing this idea from her), I'm bringing to you a few of the To Whom it May Concern letters,

To Whom it May Concern - I'm in a hotel room, and because I'm bored I will blog version

Dear Shopper in front of me at the convenience store,
I know choosing your option of lottery tickets is a tough deal. I don't play so I wouldn't know, but I'm sure choosing between losing money on "Deal or no Deal" or losing money on "Tic Tac Dough" or any other of the cute, amusing games produced by the lottery is a really tough task. However, Socrates, I'm standing behind you with a bottled water, and the only reason I'm here is pretty much to change a $20 I need to break before heading back to the hotel. So how about cutting a guy a break and making up your mind sometime before breakfast tomorrow morning?

Sincerely,
Tired & Sleepy
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Dear HBO,
OK. Rarely do I get the chance to see your channel. I'm not gonna pay a lot for this muffler, and I'm also not gonna pay for your channel in my home, considering most of the programs involve Bill Maher, boxing matches, or soft core porn. But when I do get a chance to see your channel in a hotel, I get...Beverly Hills Cop 3? What's next, Electric Boogaloo 2? Dirty Dancing Havana Nights? Grease 2? How about reruns of Jake & the Fatman? How about a movie from this century? If I see The Sound of Music as the featured Saturday movie, I may scream.

Sincerely,
The Caine Mutiny
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Dear Hotel Gym User,
I don't know how to break this to you, but Charlie Atlas you ain't. Who you are is the guy at the Y everyone makes fun of because you take your pick-up basketball games WAY too seriously...calling fouls, throwing knees & elbows...basically a classless fool. If I'm at a hotel gym, it's because I just want to try to kill some time and get remotely close to being in shape at the same time. I don't need to hear you grunting and groaning from across the room because you're trying to pedal up Mt. Ararat. How about scaling it down a bit, eh, Skippy?

Yours truly,
Fat & gangly
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Dear hotel heating system,
All I want is a warm room. I don't need the arctic, and I don't need the grand Sahara. Something in the middle would be a nice touch. I shouldn't have to get out a compass and slide rule to figure out how to make this work.

My best,
Pneumonia
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Dear LG,
What in the sam hill is this in my room? I didn't know you made tv's in IMAX size. This is glorious!

Love,
ESPN fan
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