Uphill idealist

Image found at blog - Beyondmeds In the last week the word compassion seems to have captured my heart and mind. I've been finding my thoughts draw to or brought to stories in the Bible that display Jesus in the action and work of compassion in his world. In a discussion at after-school Bible Study with some high school students, we thought long and hard on the question, "If you could have any of Jesus characteristics as your own, which one would you want the most?" We read this scripture to get our discussion started: Matthew 9:35-38 "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into h...

Here are my new specs from 39dollarglasses.com - thanks to my eye glasses wearing friend , I got a good deal on some newly needed glasses as my script has now placed me in the full-time wear category (maybe it's all the blog writing that has got my eyes here?) The service was fast (ordered the specs on Tuesday of this week and they arrived by Friday!), I was impressed with the quality of the glasses, and though mine were more than the $39.00 due to heavier duty frames and lens coating; they seem to be well worth the cost of $73.00 including shipping. My daughter also was upgraded to glasses and loves her tortoise shell retro frames.

Image from Natalie Dee . Here is my week three response to the following questions from the online and face-to-face group called Holy Conversations . This weeks questions can bring up some tender spots for many of us, so I have tried to be especially fair in what I share here. I too have been the offender and insensitive. I pray that is not the case in the present case for this discussion... Have you ever tried to share your faith story, conversion story or gospel message with anyone? If so, what did you say and how did the person respond. What was their reaction to your story and how did you feel when you shared it. One of the first times I remember intentionally sharing my testimony was a part of a 'street-witnessing' effort of a Christian music/arts and drama group I was a part of the summer I was seventeen. Prior to that summer, I'd attended a weekend retreat that fired up my faith and I spent that winter and spring devoting myself to setting my alarm early EVERY day t...

so my friend Dave from old Long Point Camp days is a rock star... well at least I think so. Dave and Brian is a comedic music project he's a part of and I think they are great. Their website is www.daveandbrian.com Hope this song cheers up all the dorks out there - I know it made this dungeons and dragons dork smile today!

Image from www.honeymooners.ie When you think of paradise, what picture comes to mind? For me, paradise can place a picture in my mind of palm trees swaying in balmy sea-side breezes while the bright yellow sun beams across a white sandy beach. On a cold February day, I really can’t think of a better way of spending some time than on a get away to paradise. Is anyone else ready for a little vacation from the cold and the snow? Each person’s picture of paradise could be any number of things. However, the idea of paradise usually holds some universal elements for people: it is a place of beauty, it is a place where the cares of life don’t have a passport, and it is a place that seems to be very far away in time or in miles. While some people may have the resources and time to hop a jet plane to their own personal paradise, for the vast population of humanity, such things are the stuff of fairy tales. Paradise, speaking purely in earthy terms is a place very few have the chance to travel...

There's a dark & a troubled side of life There's a bright, there's a sunny side, too Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife The sunny side we also may view Upon waking this morning, I was not-abiding-so-much-in the sunny side of life or mind. I think the words some of my family members might be tempted to use are..."She got up on the wrong side of the bed. Or maybe the wrong side of the planet." Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life It will help us ev'ry day, it will brighten all the way If we'll keep on the sunny side of life My thoughts upon waking were focused on what was wrong with my life, what I had failed to do and where I felt stuck or overwhelmed. When after a few necessary delays in getting out the door to go on my morning constitutional I found myself thinking, "God, I really don't know what to share this morning with Sleeping with Bread - I could really use something good to happen....

This Sunday there was much talk about the scripture where Jesus is tempted for 40 days in the desert. The scripture says that, "Jesus was sent into the wilderness by the Spirit..." Jesus was sent by the Spirit, and accompanied by God as he stood up to temptations that Satan(the accuser) placed in his path: power, status and physical things (bread) were the things Jesus was tempted with. So many times we feel alone as we go through our days. But the fact remains that God is with us - in all circumstances, in all places and in all temptations. So this week I'd like to focus on the verse in Phil. 4:13 Philippians 4:12-14 (New International Version) 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. So I'd like...