When you feel the world rise up against you....
Go Home
When you have lost or forgotten your purpose....
Go Home
When pain threatens to drown you in its ocean....
Go Home
When your mind seems muddled and questions reign....
Go Home
When your heart is crushed and torn apart....
Go Home
When sadness rolls in as an ominous storm
Go Home
When you cant explain the how and whys
Go Home
When you need to be held and picked back up
Go Home
When and only when your race is run
Then and only then, you will hear..." Well done..."
The God you love declares the final battle won
While you will be safely resting in the Son
Forever ....... Home!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Winter Treasures...... for someone who hates winter.... :)
Looking out my window at the gray winter sky, the snow covering the ground and the trees. I can't believe i am gonna say this, but yes... it looks beautiful! The bleakness brings a certain calmness with it. It feels good to relax and not feel hurried about driving here and there. Thank goodness we live in Tennessee where everything stops when we get snow. hahahha! Hot chocolate and hot coffee and warm fires in fireplaces. Reading books and being lazy are favorite winter activities I love. The kids coming in with runny noses and pink cheeks with big smiles excitedly telling sledding stories. The tingly feeling of when your skin starts to thaw out after being outside. The cozyness of being inside knowing that the blessing of a home is a gift to treasure.I will admit that winter might not be so bad after all. Happy Winter!
Monday, January 3, 2011
The sky is falling.... wait ... thats not the sky, those are birds!!!!
3000 birds fell from the sky! This simply can not be explained away in my estimation. What a freaky thing to happen, and all shortly before midnight on New Years Eve. I did a search and came up with quite a funny story written by a complete stranger. I sense a spiritual disturbance... if you will. I bet Al Gore will be trying to profit of this so I decided to head him off and do some reading. This is what I found. Read THIS......
ne fine spring day, Chicken Little awoke, and before going out for his morning seed, he looked outside his window. The snow on his roof was melting and the eaves were covered with long dripping icicles.
"Oh my gosh, the Earth is warming," he cried! I must tell someone.
Poor Chicken Little was less than a year old, and nobody ever told him that it got warmer every spring. He got on his motor scooter, and sped off down the road.
Henny Penny was outside pecking at seed. "Henny Penny, the earth is warming," cried Chicken Little! "I saw it! All the snow on my roof is melting!"
"Why, you're right, said Henny Penny." I thought it felt warmer today." Henny Penny was much older than Chicken Little and she could feel the weather in her bones. "We must tell someone!" They both got into Henny Penny's Corvette, and sped off down the road.
They drove down the road until they ran into Turkey Lurkey.
"Turkey Lurkey, the Earth is warming." they cried! "Chicken Little saw it, and Henny Penny felt it in her bones!"
"Nonsense," said Turkey Lurkey. "Why look here at my Turkey thermometer. It's as steady as a rock."
"But maybe it's warming so slow that we can't see it move," said Chicken Little.
"Well then, we'll do a scientific experiment."
He looked at the thermometer. It read 40 degrees. He then put the thermometer under his wing so nobody could see it, and pulled out his pocket watch. "We won't look at it for five minutes, and see if it has changed."
When he took it out from under his wing it was almost 100 degrees. "Oh my," said Turkey Lurkey, "It's warming at such a rapid rate, that it will be a thousand degrees in less than an hour if we don't do something."
So they all got into his Volvo station wagon, and went driving down the road at a very high rate.
They ran into Ducky Lucky. "Ducky Lucky, the Earth is warming," they cried! "Chicken Little saw it, Henny Penny felt it, and Turkey Lurkey proved it with science!"
"Well if we don't do something, we'll surely all be roasted," said Ducky Lucky. "That's what happens when birds get too warm, they all get roasted."
"Whatever will we do," they cried? "None of them had ever been roasted before, but it didn't sound very nice.
"We should tell the King," said Ducky Lucky! "Come on, we can all fit into my truck!" So they climbed into Ducky Lucky's truck and headed towards the palace.
Further down the road they met Foxy Woxy. "Foxy the Earth is warming," they all cried! "Chicken Little saw it, Henny Penny felt it, Turkey Lurkey proved it, and Ducky Lucky is certain that we'll all be roasted."
Foxy Woxy stroked his beard and thought for a while. He leaned his white paw on the hood of Ducky Lucky's truck. It was very warm. He looked at the truck, and looked at the birds and said.
"Why it's probably your cars that are causing the Earth to get warmer. I think you should stop driving right now."
The weren't sure if that made any sense. Foxy Woxy was not a scientist, but he was a recent graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He certainly had a much higher degree than any of them.
They got out of the truck. "But how will we get to see the King?"
"Don't worry about the King," said Foxy Woxy. "I'm good friends with him, I'll talk to him for you." He got into Ducky Lucky's Truck and drove off.
So Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey, Henny Penny and Chicken Little all turned around and walked home. When they got home, they saw that Foxy Woxy had towed away, Turkey Lurkey's Volvo, Henny Penny's Corvette, And Chicken Little's Motor Scooter. "As long as it stops the Earth from warming" they all agreed.
The next day, there was a knock at Chicken Little's door. It was Foxy Woxy. "The King said that your wood stove is causing the Earth to get warmer too. He assigned me to gather up all your firewood to save us all from roasting."
"But what if it gets cold again," asked Chicken Little? "Certainly it is better to roast than to freeze."
But Foxy Woxy wouldn't hear of it. He gathered up all Chicken Little's firewood, and threw it into the back of Ducky Lucky's truck, which now had "Foxy, Woxy, and Associates" painted on the door. He drove on down the road and took all the firewood from Ducky Lucky, and Henny Penny, and Turkey Lurkey, as well. They wanted to ask if it was really on orders from the King, but because they now had no cars, they couldn't go anywhere. Still they agreed, it was better than roasting.
That night, there was a blizzard, and Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey, Henny Penny, and Chicken Little all froze to death. The next morning, Foxy Woxy loaded them all into Ducky Lucky's truck, which had a new sign painted on the door, "Foxy, Woxy, and Associates. Purveyors of Firewood and Frozen Poultry."
And they ended up getting roasted after all.
© 2005 Tim Slagle
The Real Story of Chicken Little™
ne fine spring day, Chicken Little awoke, and before going out for his morning seed, he looked outside his window. The snow on his roof was melting and the eaves were covered with long dripping icicles."Oh my gosh, the Earth is warming," he cried! I must tell someone.
Poor Chicken Little was less than a year old, and nobody ever told him that it got warmer every spring. He got on his motor scooter, and sped off down the road.
Henny Penny was outside pecking at seed. "Henny Penny, the earth is warming," cried Chicken Little! "I saw it! All the snow on my roof is melting!"
"Why, you're right, said Henny Penny." I thought it felt warmer today." Henny Penny was much older than Chicken Little and she could feel the weather in her bones. "We must tell someone!" They both got into Henny Penny's Corvette, and sped off down the road.
They drove down the road until they ran into Turkey Lurkey.
"Turkey Lurkey, the Earth is warming." they cried! "Chicken Little saw it, and Henny Penny felt it in her bones!"
"Nonsense," said Turkey Lurkey. "Why look here at my Turkey thermometer. It's as steady as a rock."
"But maybe it's warming so slow that we can't see it move," said Chicken Little.
"Well then, we'll do a scientific experiment."
He looked at the thermometer. It read 40 degrees. He then put the thermometer under his wing so nobody could see it, and pulled out his pocket watch. "We won't look at it for five minutes, and see if it has changed."
When he took it out from under his wing it was almost 100 degrees. "Oh my," said Turkey Lurkey, "It's warming at such a rapid rate, that it will be a thousand degrees in less than an hour if we don't do something."
So they all got into his Volvo station wagon, and went driving down the road at a very high rate.
They ran into Ducky Lucky. "Ducky Lucky, the Earth is warming," they cried! "Chicken Little saw it, Henny Penny felt it, and Turkey Lurkey proved it with science!"
"Well if we don't do something, we'll surely all be roasted," said Ducky Lucky. "That's what happens when birds get too warm, they all get roasted."
"Whatever will we do," they cried? "None of them had ever been roasted before, but it didn't sound very nice.
"We should tell the King," said Ducky Lucky! "Come on, we can all fit into my truck!" So they climbed into Ducky Lucky's truck and headed towards the palace.
Further down the road they met Foxy Woxy. "Foxy the Earth is warming," they all cried! "Chicken Little saw it, Henny Penny felt it, Turkey Lurkey proved it, and Ducky Lucky is certain that we'll all be roasted."
Foxy Woxy stroked his beard and thought for a while. He leaned his white paw on the hood of Ducky Lucky's truck. It was very warm. He looked at the truck, and looked at the birds and said.
"Why it's probably your cars that are causing the Earth to get warmer. I think you should stop driving right now."
The weren't sure if that made any sense. Foxy Woxy was not a scientist, but he was a recent graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He certainly had a much higher degree than any of them.
They got out of the truck. "But how will we get to see the King?"
"Don't worry about the King," said Foxy Woxy. "I'm good friends with him, I'll talk to him for you." He got into Ducky Lucky's Truck and drove off.
So Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey, Henny Penny and Chicken Little all turned around and walked home. When they got home, they saw that Foxy Woxy had towed away, Turkey Lurkey's Volvo, Henny Penny's Corvette, And Chicken Little's Motor Scooter. "As long as it stops the Earth from warming" they all agreed.
The next day, there was a knock at Chicken Little's door. It was Foxy Woxy. "The King said that your wood stove is causing the Earth to get warmer too. He assigned me to gather up all your firewood to save us all from roasting."
"But what if it gets cold again," asked Chicken Little? "Certainly it is better to roast than to freeze."
But Foxy Woxy wouldn't hear of it. He gathered up all Chicken Little's firewood, and threw it into the back of Ducky Lucky's truck, which now had "Foxy, Woxy, and Associates" painted on the door. He drove on down the road and took all the firewood from Ducky Lucky, and Henny Penny, and Turkey Lurkey, as well. They wanted to ask if it was really on orders from the King, but because they now had no cars, they couldn't go anywhere. Still they agreed, it was better than roasting.
That night, there was a blizzard, and Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey, Henny Penny, and Chicken Little all froze to death. The next morning, Foxy Woxy loaded them all into Ducky Lucky's truck, which had a new sign painted on the door, "Foxy, Woxy, and Associates. Purveyors of Firewood and Frozen Poultry."
And they ended up getting roasted after all.
© 2005 Tim Slagle
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A new year..... A new beginning
New Years is always a reflective time for me and for most people I suppose. I have mixed emotions about the ending of a year and the beginning on a new one. Its always refreshing to let go of all the bad things that happened. Its realizing that you are also moving farther from the good things, that brings the sudden blue feeling. It's the same feeling I get when I come across kindergarten art work from my 8th grader. Saying goodbye to a place in time you will only revisit in memories is a strange and sometimes overwhelming sensation. Have you ever been impressed with the fact that since God is omniscient, He knows what the next year holds? More than ever, I am glad to not know. Realizing that part of what makes life exciting is not knowing where you are going or what life holds for me, has slowly become a soothing and comforting concept for me. Whereas , once I held on tightly to my illusion of having control of my life, I now find peace in letting go and floating on God's sailboat.
Life is meant to be lived. Life is meant to be enjoyed, dare I say, even savored. To feel the highs and lows and go through the changes that life inevitably brings to us all and in the midst of the chaos of holding on to the only anchor that doesn't move.... we find out that He, God, is our only CONSTANT. He doesn't move, or change, or evolve. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! 2010 will slip into the past, while 2011 becomes the now. Let that thought, that TRUTH live in your heart and mine in the New Year as we all face an uncertain future with a certain God who knows it all before we get there. Let a New Year allow us the freedom to hope for things we dared not to hope for before. To dream bigger dreams than we have dreamt before. Let us celebrate that God has made us NOT to know what lies ahead so that we may in the beauty of our humanness hope ... just HOPE for more. Who knows? God could have placed those very dreams in our heart so that when He fulfills them we will truly KNOW GOD and see Him in His Glory and leave our puny dreams behind and grasp the vision of HIS GLORY. Happy New Year friends! May our lives bless God, and may God bless 2011!
Life is meant to be lived. Life is meant to be enjoyed, dare I say, even savored. To feel the highs and lows and go through the changes that life inevitably brings to us all and in the midst of the chaos of holding on to the only anchor that doesn't move.... we find out that He, God, is our only CONSTANT. He doesn't move, or change, or evolve. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! 2010 will slip into the past, while 2011 becomes the now. Let that thought, that TRUTH live in your heart and mine in the New Year as we all face an uncertain future with a certain God who knows it all before we get there. Let a New Year allow us the freedom to hope for things we dared not to hope for before. To dream bigger dreams than we have dreamt before. Let us celebrate that God has made us NOT to know what lies ahead so that we may in the beauty of our humanness hope ... just HOPE for more. Who knows? God could have placed those very dreams in our heart so that when He fulfills them we will truly KNOW GOD and see Him in His Glory and leave our puny dreams behind and grasp the vision of HIS GLORY. Happy New Year friends! May our lives bless God, and may God bless 2011!
Monday, December 20, 2010
When you mess up...........
Making a mistake shows the depth of our humanity. The forgiveness of those around you shows the height of mercy. The only appropriate response is gratefulness. The hardest part in the aftermath of your mistake is attempting to forgive yourself. Especially if your mistake had an all too often ripple effect on those around you. This is the part that I struggle with most and dare say I'm not the only one. Not to say I am quick to forgive when someone else hurts me. However, I feel honestly that I have considerably an easier time forgiving them than myself. My question is.... WHY?
If I can dole out grace and have enough love and mercy for others mistakes, then why do I hold myself to this unrealistic expectation that I should be perfect? Loving NFL football the way I do, Michael Vick comes to mind. He had one of the best games of his career this weekend. Talk about redemption! For those of you who are not familiar with him, he is the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He served 18 months in prison for being in charge of a dog fighting ring. He is now on probation for 3 years during which he may not own a dog. Michael Vick showed poised leadership when his team was considerably behind going into the 4th quarter. He played a huge part in getting his team a victory which no one thought could happen. Redemption had at last come for Michael Vick. At least in the arena of public opinion. I can't help but wonder if he has forgiven himself. I hope for his sake that he has. Knowing firsthand the agony of self-loathing, I wish for everyone the relief of self-forgiveness.
I know with my heart that being a Christian is to be CHRIST focused, not me focused. As such.... just as being prideful would be a sin, being focused on hating your mistakes and hating yourself is just as sinful and in effect tells Jesus that his death was in vain. I find it difficult to remain in the peaceful hammock of God's grace. Seems like I flip out of it quite often in fact. I want to be perfect, and one day I will be. The sanctification process will be complete when i die and I will not fail myself anymore, those that love me, and most importantly the God who loves me and the Savior who freed me. For now... my plan is to try to focus on Christ and not me.... not my successes which i should always attribute to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit nor my failures which are too many to number. As Paul said, ( i think its Paul ) the Spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. As Michael Vick should say, I forgive myself, because Christ forgave me and now I am worth following on more than fantasy football. Today, I will forgive me and move on with Jesus. At least I will try to. :)
If I can dole out grace and have enough love and mercy for others mistakes, then why do I hold myself to this unrealistic expectation that I should be perfect? Loving NFL football the way I do, Michael Vick comes to mind. He had one of the best games of his career this weekend. Talk about redemption! For those of you who are not familiar with him, he is the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He served 18 months in prison for being in charge of a dog fighting ring. He is now on probation for 3 years during which he may not own a dog. Michael Vick showed poised leadership when his team was considerably behind going into the 4th quarter. He played a huge part in getting his team a victory which no one thought could happen. Redemption had at last come for Michael Vick. At least in the arena of public opinion. I can't help but wonder if he has forgiven himself. I hope for his sake that he has. Knowing firsthand the agony of self-loathing, I wish for everyone the relief of self-forgiveness.
I know with my heart that being a Christian is to be CHRIST focused, not me focused. As such.... just as being prideful would be a sin, being focused on hating your mistakes and hating yourself is just as sinful and in effect tells Jesus that his death was in vain. I find it difficult to remain in the peaceful hammock of God's grace. Seems like I flip out of it quite often in fact. I want to be perfect, and one day I will be. The sanctification process will be complete when i die and I will not fail myself anymore, those that love me, and most importantly the God who loves me and the Savior who freed me. For now... my plan is to try to focus on Christ and not me.... not my successes which i should always attribute to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit nor my failures which are too many to number. As Paul said, ( i think its Paul ) the Spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. As Michael Vick should say, I forgive myself, because Christ forgave me and now I am worth following on more than fantasy football. Today, I will forgive me and move on with Jesus. At least I will try to. :)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
How to catch snowflakes on your tongue.....
The blanket of snow that fell down onto our neighborhood Sunday reminded me of being a child and the excitement that came along with looking out the window and seeing the wonder of my world turned white. Dad used to come into my room and tell me in his adorable, childlike, excited way that it had snowed so much that it was up to the roof. Most times though , the snow barely covered the grass. I was still filled with a happiness i couldn't explain and really still can't. It had snowed and in Tennessee what that translates to is NO SCHOOL!
I also remember dad taking us sledding one time. We had the best time together sliding down that hill on that sled. My dad was never afraid to have fun. I love that about him. We went so fast when he was on the back and i laughed a lot more. Everything kind of stops when it snows here and we go buy up all the milk and bread in all the grocery stores because we have an unfounded fear of being snowed in our houses for weeks when usually the snow is gone by noon. Let me tell you how cool it is when your dad after buying milk and bread takes you to an empty parking lot to do wicked awesome donuts in his Ford Bronco! These are the memories that stick with us and comfort us when we become adults with financial obligations that attempt rob us of the joy of making snow angels and catching snowflakes on our tongues. Thank you dad for the memories! I love you!
I also remember dad taking us sledding one time. We had the best time together sliding down that hill on that sled. My dad was never afraid to have fun. I love that about him. We went so fast when he was on the back and i laughed a lot more. Everything kind of stops when it snows here and we go buy up all the milk and bread in all the grocery stores because we have an unfounded fear of being snowed in our houses for weeks when usually the snow is gone by noon. Let me tell you how cool it is when your dad after buying milk and bread takes you to an empty parking lot to do wicked awesome donuts in his Ford Bronco! These are the memories that stick with us and comfort us when we become adults with financial obligations that attempt rob us of the joy of making snow angels and catching snowflakes on our tongues. Thank you dad for the memories! I love you!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Posts you will never see of Facebook
1. Going to pee.... ooops didnt quite make it
2. Im stranded in stall 3 at Walmart... can someone bring me some toilet paper?
3. Just wiped a big nasty booger on my floorboard...
4. I hate all my friends !
5. Man, I need to poop!
6. I just spanked my child with a ping pong paddle.
7. Is marijuana still illegal? cuz i just found a bunch of plants in my greenhouse... message me if you want some...
8. Shhh... I may be pregnant.
9. I just hit a parked car at 1953 Seabreeze Drive and drove off.... hahahah
10. I shot J.R
2. Im stranded in stall 3 at Walmart... can someone bring me some toilet paper?
3. Just wiped a big nasty booger on my floorboard...
4. I hate all my friends !
5. Man, I need to poop!
6. I just spanked my child with a ping pong paddle.
7. Is marijuana still illegal? cuz i just found a bunch of plants in my greenhouse... message me if you want some...
8. Shhh... I may be pregnant.
9. I just hit a parked car at 1953 Seabreeze Drive and drove off.... hahahah
10. I shot J.R
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