Lazy Day

While I occasionally love days where I don't do anything there can be a drawback when you are so lazy that you fail to do the things that you're supposed to do.

Things like this blog.

Yep, I came in this morning with the full intention of getting up the morning blog. Only to suddenly discover that it's 3:30 here and I've spent my entire day looking at boots (hey, winter is coming), serapes, and resorts in Jamaica. Seems that I'm planning for winter on one hand and looking for a warm escape on the other. I can't wait for next year and my 10 days of vacation. Now if I can only decide where to spend them. Any suggestions?

Moving Along

I know it's a little late today but it's never too late to laugh, right?

I mentioned that I was looking for boots today. Well this is no small feat for me because I have never been able to wear those stylish knee high boots that everyone loves so much. Unfortunately genetics didn't give me (or my sister) small calves and I can never find a pair that fits comfortably. This wasn't such a big deal when I was living in CA because I was much more likely to wear flip-flops on any given day in December than anything else. However, I don't think I'll be able to pull that look off in New York. So I went in search of wide calf boots.

Let me just pause here and now to say that I love Google and even if they are the devil incarnate and are taking over the world it just wouldn't matter because you can find anything with them.

Lo and behold the first website that popped up was a forum of women in New Zealand (well many of the women are from other places but the website is hosted in NZ) who had a forum discussion on this exact topic. Thirteen pages and innumerable links later I had finally found a website with the boots I wanted. I'm just waiting to hear back from them on some questions I had and in the meantime I'm praying that the shipping from the UK isn't more than the boots. So if you have the same problem, or if you would just like to see where I spent most of my morning check out Duo.

And in Other News

It seems there may be some new evidence in the case of Natalie Holloway. The teen has been missing in Aruba since May 31 and until today authorities had only one suspect remaining in custody. If sufficient evidence isn't found by September 6 Aruban police will have to release the suspect (Joran van der Sloot). So today is either a big step forward or a last attempt to grasp at straws before they look like idiots. You decide.

"Pentecostals" have made the latest edition of Newsweek. It bothers me that these stories that pop up always focus on the superficial things about our beliefs, and make us look just a little bit crazy without ever getting into why we do what we do. Oh well, guess you just have to hope that any press is good press.

And just in case you don't think you'll make it through the weekend without the latest celebrity gossip, I have the lamest . . . oh, sorry, latest and greatest to hold you over.

Have a great weekend and I will see you all on Monday!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Lessons from a Harlot

One of the most unique, heartbreaking and yet inspiring love stories in the Bible is that of Hosea and his wife Gomer. What little we know of their story is told mostly in the first few chapters of the book of Hosea.

Most often we consider Gomer only through the eyes of Hosea. We see the woman “of harlotry” he was commanded by God to marry (Hosea 1:2), the woman who was unfaithful and bore him two children out of wedlock (Hosea 1:6, 8, 9), the woman who Hosea repeatedly tried to correct and control (Hosea Chapter 2) who eventually abandoned him altogether, only to be purchased by Hosea as she stood on the auction block of slavery (Hosea 3: 1-3).

While all of those points are valid and true have we ever to asked ourselves how Gomer saw herself?

How must it have hurt to know that you came from a lifetime of sin. That there were things in your past that had pushed you and haunted you until you had gone so far as to sell the only thing that you had any control over - your body. The anguish you must have felt to know that even though you were to be married, to become respectable in societies eyes, that you would always carry the taint of your past with you? How could you hold your head high in the market place knowing that the other women snickered and whispered and pointed their fingers? I didn’t matter to them that you were the wife of the local minister. How could you endure the censorious behavior of other mothers who refused to allow their children to play with your children? All because of who you once were. What kind of pain would it take to drive a woman from the only place of security and happiness that she had ever known, back into the life of wanton behavior?

Gomer was a woman with a less than savory past (how many of us could say differently) who was offered a what every woman dreams of in the form of a husband, a home and a family. However, unable escape her past she was unable to live in the present or embrace the future. Yet Hosea loved her and took her back at every turn. I am certain that Gomer could not understand why Hosea would love her and forgive her over and over again when she was so undeserving.

Gomer eventually returned to life as a prostitute. No doubt she fell deeper and deeper into depression believing herself to be beyond redemption. Her lowest point came when she was to be sold as a slave. Hosea, once again following the voice of the Lord, purchased his own wife for 15 pieces of silver. If we follow the parallels to the children of Israel, then we are to believe that she returned willingly to a life with Hosea and that she never strayed from him again. Perhaps Gomer was finally beginning to realize that Hosea’s love was deeper than her transgressions.

Gomer’s name means “complete”. Although she did not realize at first, it was the love of Hosea (and ultimately the love of God) that made her complete.

The Lesson: Despite our pasts - no matter how dark, twisted, or “dirty” they may be - we will only ever be complete in God. We are not worthy of his love but yet he gives it freely. He cares for even the most broken with a tenderness and a consistency that is simply amazing. Isaiah 42:3 tells us that “a bruised reed shall he not break”. We have the reassurance that even in our “damaged” state we will be treated with the utmost care until we come to realize the depth of his love for us..

Through his love we learn that we are valuable. This does not mean that we should think more highly of ourselves than of others or be arrogant or proud (Philippians 2:3). Rather that we have an intrinsic worth that comes from being a creation of God Almighty.

Realizing our value to God helps us to see the value in ourselves. Once we seize a hold of this concept we will no longer run from our pasts, heedless of our future. Instead, we discover that we are capable of more than we ever imagined and we become equipped to minister to the hurts and needs of others. Consequently through ministry we become even more valuable to God.

It is unfortunate that after spending so much time and effort to over come her past, Gomer is still most often thought of as “the harlot” that Hosea married. Thankfully none of us have to be remembered by our past deeds. Likewise, Gomer should be remembered as a woman who was forgiven for her mistakes, redeemed from those mistakes and completed by love.

Additional Thoughts

I would highly recommend the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. The author takes Hosea and Gomer (in a fictional setting) and adds amazing depth to their story. It is a must read for women over the age of 14. I have watched as it has touched and changed numerous people, myself included. You will come away with a deeper understanding of God’s love for us and for why his love goes hand in hand with our being able to love ourselves.

Additionally I would recommend that you also read the following blog (if you have not already) which discusses the story of the friendship between a Christian and a porn star (thanks Wendy). It moved me to tears and helped me to remember that everyone has a past but it is our job to love them and to meet their needs in more than just a superficial way.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Life in the Big Apple

So, my landlord had been doing some work on the plumbing in his apartment (ground floor, I'm on the third floor) yesterday and when I can home the water was still off. No big deal I thought, it's only 6 pm I'll give him another hour or so before I call. At 8 pm I still had no water so I placed several phone calls to him (no answer) and left messages asking when we could expect our water. I walked to the corner market and bought some bottled water so at least the dog and I would have something to drink (and wash my hands and brush my teeth). At 10:30 when I finally gave up and went to bed, we still didn't have any water but I was confident that the landlord would have received my messages and either turn it on or call me and explain why there was no water.

At 6:00 this morning I was one unhappy camper when I woke up to find that there was still no water and that no one had called me back. There was no way I was going through the day without a shower so I walked the dog (told you he takes priority), and then grabbed all of my stuff and schlepped to the subway and into Manhattan to my gym. Not so that I could work out . . . but so that I could take a shower. Ugh.

My roommate, being more brazen that I am, started calling the landlord at 7 am to inquire about the water. Still no answer. So she tried several more times, finally raising him from his Rip Van Winkle like slumber at 9 am only to find out that he 1) hadn't gotten the previous messages and 2) was really sorry because he thought he'd turned the water back on yesterday and didn't realize that we had been without water for over 24 hours. Needless to say we once again are able to flush our toilet. Thank you God!

The Mystery of the "Nature of God"

Since everyone seems to have an opinion on who or what God is these days I thought I would share this with you. "GOD" It brought a smile to my face this morning (considering the morning I had, that's no small feat) and I hope you enjoy it too.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Begging for Forgiveness

I'm so sorry I haven't posted much in the last few days. Things have been really busy. However, I promise to make it all up to you tomorrow. Along with as much randomness as I can find I'll be presenting the life of another overlooked/undervalued Biblical character.

In the meantime, here are a few links for you to check-out on your own.

UK Tax Dollars Hard at Work

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish (they have my full support)

and

The 5th Major Airplane Crash this Month

Thanks for your patience and understanding. I'll talk to you all tomorrow.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

So Sad . . . So True

Below is a picture my friend sent to me of her piggy bank . . . after she bought gas this morning.









Smile, it's Wednesday . . . you're half-way through the week!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Only Dull People are Brilliant at Breakfast

There is nothing like starting the day off with a little Oscar Wilde. The man may not have had the most scrupulous morals but he was a literary genius. Given that I've chosen to start the day with a bit of snark it is only fitting that I round out our morning pick-me-up with some tongue in cheek humor, a laugh that I suggest you take with a huge grain of salt, and of course a story from the reigning King of snark, John Stewart.

The Idiots Strike Again

You know, it's no wonder that so much of the world has a jaded opinion of fundamentalist Christians. Every time we make strides forward some idiot goes and says something completely absurd. The idiot this week? Pat Robertson. Most widely known as the founder of the Christian Coalition of America and for his failed Presidential bids, Robertson has now made headlines by calling for the assassination of foreign leaders that pose a potential threat to the U.S., most specifically, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

While every organization has it's problems, the Christian Coalition has been an effective vehicle for helping to promote Christian values in political circles over the past 17 years. But it is comments like Robertson's undermine the very essence of what his organization is trying to accomplish and moreover undermine the position of all staunch Christians in the political world. Maybe at 75 Pat's faculties are slipping? Or maybe he simply hasn't heard the old adage "look before you leap." Whatever the cause, the media is all too willing to point out the nut jobs. As a wise soul pointed out to me, "Why do they talk to this old bat who no one follows anymore. The media fixated on Robertson & Falwell & seems to have forgotten they were important 20 years ago. There are new, wiser voices out there..." AMEN! Anybody willing to offer a counter statement?

A Rumble Is A Brewin'

If there's one thing that Texas knows how to handle it's a good old fashioned brawl. And that expertise may just come in handy soon. Anti-war protestors camped outside of President Bush's Crawford ranch are about to be joined by a group of Bush supporters. The pro-Bush caravan has set off from Sacramento, making stops along the way to show their support of the President and our troops in Iraq. Hopefully all of this will take place peaceably (on both sides) and won't be followed by cries of "Remember Crawford." President Bush's vacation ends later this month.

Hey, Isn't That . . .

Hot on the heels of NAYC in Columbus, the Catholic Church held it's World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. Interestingly they seem to have "borrowed" a few ideas from the GYD. Cardboard cut-outs of your leaders seem to be the newest fad.















Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Truly Scrumptious

I hope everyone had a great weekend. While my plans for Shakespeare in the Park fell through I did manage to find some solace by going to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Friday night instead. If you loved the movie or the book as a kid you should definitely try to find time to go and see this outstanding show. I don't want to give too much away but the bottom line was I left feeling like I was 10 years old again. It is a show like this that makes you remember why seeing something on stage is so magical.

Not so magical but equally amusing was the little boy sitting next to me (probably 50% of the audience was under 15) who at intermission suddenly asks me if I was a "tree hugger." Somewhat taken aback, I replied that no I wasn't a "tree hugger," to which he grabbed a tie-dyed peace button on his shirt and said "I'm a tree hugger all the way, baby." I barely kept from laughing out loud and asking him if he had any idea what he was talking about. No way the kid was a day over 10. I wonder how his mother would have reacted if she hadn't been off buying snacks?

And it looks like someone has finally has a handle on the Real Estate market in NY.

More randomness to come.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!