To put you in the mood for our scariest holiday, I thought I’d compile a list of scary photographs.
Month: October 2011
Working for Free
What ever happened to paying for work?
The website announced:
Obama for America invites artists from across the country to volunteer their creativity to support President Obama’s plan to create jobs now, and his re-election campaign to keep fighting for jobs for the next four years.
Seems that artists aren’t included among those who need jobs. (See the Graphic Artists Guild’s response.)
It’s OK to Be Overwhelmed: Part 2
Last time I talked about how, in spite of this popular quote, God absolutely gives us more than we can handle. But why does He do this? If God loves us, why does He deliberately cause us to reach the end of our ability to endure? Isn’t that just plain mean?
Let’s think of it another way.
It’s OK to Be Overwhelmed
“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
We were going through a particularly trying time in our lives, and my friend was trying to be helpful.
The problem? Her advice wasn’t true. God had given me more than I could handle. The situation was overwhelming. I was exhausted, my nerves were frayed, and there was not even a glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel. I was beginning to consider the benefits of a nervous breakdown.
Jesus and
Sometimes (often!) I don’t think I’m a very good Christian.
I don’t think Thomas Kinkade is a very good artist.- I don’t like most of the music on our contemporary Christian radio station.
- I don’t read Christian romance stories.
I guess I’m just a rebel at heart. And that is only the beginning.
Self Control
In my on-again, off-again series on God’s “Steps to Success” (found in 2 Peter 1:3, 5-8), I’ve been meaning to write about self control for some time, but I never knew quite how to approach the topic. Yes, in Peter’s list, “self-control” comes after knowledge—first we need to know the right thing to do, and then we need to follow through and actually do it! But how does this affect my day-to-day life?
Then last month something happened that turned this from an intellectual exercise into a personal issue.
Though Pete was out of town, I still planned to attend a special Christian concert about twenty minutes away. To get there, I had to pass through a rural area with no street lights. Since my night vision is less than optimal, I arranged a ride with another couple.
I Don’t Have Time…
Due to a God-arranged series of events, I was recently offered a free membership at our local Curves, the “gym” for women. Since I had been praying for some way to get into better shape (although, as I’ve often heard, “round” is a shape), I eagerly accepted.
A little context: In grade school, back when the kids still chose up teams, I was the stereotypical “last kid” nobody wanted. I passed high school P.E. by showing up with a freshly washed uniform every Monday. If a sport involves any sort of ball, from ping pong to softball, I’m worse than pathetic. In fact, my 11th grade tennis teacher told me I was so hopeless, I would never learn to play tennis. I’d like tell you the story of how that comment inspired me to become a skilled tennis player, but God frowns on lying.
Worth Reading…
Every so often I come across a post on another blog that is so much better than anything I could write on a particular topic, I just have to share it. Actually, I come across superior blogs all the time, but if I told you about all of them, you’d have no reason (or time) to read mine. I’m normally quite selfish about these things.
However, “Jamie the Very Worst Missionary” (see blog roll at left) has expressed an important concern about short-term missions that should be required reading in every church. I just can’t keep this one to myself.
So, here you go. Read “Using your poor kid to teach my rich kid a lesson.” And when you’re done reading that, go ahead and read some of her other posts. And then read her husband’s posts on his blog—in fact, I highly recommend his series on the what, where, why, etc., of short term missions according to the gospels (to find all the posts, just type “short term missions” into his search box).
See you next week. I hope.
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