Category Archives: Miscellaneous Stuff

A Foolproof GPS

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I pulled into the bank drive-through behind a car bearing a license plate reading WEARAMI.

Giving the motorist the benefit of the doubt on how to spell ‘where,’ I credited her with creatively conveying a message of confusion within a seven-letter limit.

Waiting behind her, I applied the question to my life in general and to my position as a Christ follower in particular. Here’s a list of proofs from scripture that show me where I am insofar as God is concerned. I am:

Close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11)
United with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17)
Connected to him by his love (Romans 8: 38, 39)
Seated with him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
Following close on his heels (John 10:27)
Upheld by his righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10)Sony gps

Perhaps if that woman had a global positioning system (GPS) in her car, she wouldn’t doubt her whereabouts. But even then, a GPS is a computer. Computers are only as intelligent as they’ve been programmed to be. For instance, a GPS doesn’t ‘know’ that the route for which it gave instructions has a detour now because of a barricade at an accident site.

While traveling with friends who relied on their GPS, it happened that every time we returned to the hotel, the GPS’s final direction led us into a hedge.

A GPS is not foolproof.

But God’s Positioning System is foolproof. When he says, “I will never leave you,” we can trust him.
Even better than knowing where we stand, is knowing God always has his eye on us.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

And if his eye is on the sparrows, I know he watches me.

Chocolate is Good for You!

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keep calm eat dk choc

Raise your hand if you think of chocolate as a food group.

I thought so.

Chocoholics make up a big section of the population, say…anywhere, I’m guessing. At one time, we felt guilty about our indulgences. But now, scientific studies say that a little bit of the delectable stuff is good for us. They say dark chocolate is the best.

That was good news to me. I like chocolate with muscle.

A Facebook friend of mine recently posted an invitation to the Traverse City Chocolate Festival later this month. I traveled on over to their page and the graphic for their cover photo made my mouth water.

We Michiganians first think of Traverse City as the Cherry Capital of the state. They even celebrate that food group with a cherry festival at harvest time. And if you like flavored coffee, you really should try the Traverse City cherry flavored brew. Mmmmm.

“You Never Know What You’ll Get”

If you hadn’t figured it out by now, today’s Feature For Friday is about food and more specifically, chocolate. Chocolate kisses, peanut butter cups, hot cocoa, fudge, hot fudge, German chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookies. You can almost smell it, can’t you?

While planning this post, I went “shopping” for some recipes that include chocolate. One of the blogs I follow introduced me to Cocoa and Chai Spice Tea. When I clicked on the link, I thought I’d find a recipe for Chai with chocolate. No. It was a plug for Mr. Henry Landon’s product.

Since I make my own chai tea, I decided to adapt it and came up with a recipe that I’m sharing at the end of this post. I’m not averse to tweaking my own recipes if it means saving money and coming up with something new and improved.

Chocolate certainly improved it. Now it tastes like a chai tea cocoa. Mmmmm.

Included here are some of the chocolate goodies I found. One is a recipe I’ve had in my kitchen for years and wanted to share so I intentionally went in search of it.

Bustling Around the Kitchenchocolate-whisk

Try these No-Bake Chocolate Almond Bars for a healthy breakfast treat. I know the name sounds decadent, but they’re chock full of good stuff.

Fabulously Flawless Fudge is a tried and true recipe I’ve made for years, especially at Christmas. Way back when I made it on the stove top and it still can be made that way if you prefer. This one instructs you to melt the chocolate and milk in the microwave. It really is hard to ruin this one.

Another chocolate confection that would work for people who like a baked treat in the morning or with lunch are these Moist Chocolate Muffins.

Finally, I have to plug my own “famous” chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. I shared this recipe a while back. I have never had anyone say, “Well, these aren’t very good.” Not to my face anyway. In fact, I take them to the guys who change my oil and now I have a reputation as The Cookie Lady.

That can’t be all bad.

So celebrate the cocoa bean and everything it’s brought us. Indulge on April 26, in honor of the Chocolate Festival and don’t feel the least bit guilty. God gives us all good things to enjoy.

Besides, you know chocolate is good for you.heart dripping chocolate

 

Chocolatey Chai Spice Tea

1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Three teaspoons sugar (or to taste)
1/2 c. boiling water
1 1/2 c. more water
2 cinnamon sticks
12 whole cloves
8 cardamom pods
3/4 c. milk
4 teaspoons unperfumed loose black tea or 4 tea bags

Begin by dissolving in a sauce pan the cocoa powder and sugar in boiling water. Add rest of water to mixture. Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and cardamom pods and bring to a boil.

Cover, turn heat to low and simmer for ten minutes. Add milk and bring to a simmer again. Throw in loose tea or tea bags. Cover, and turn off heat. After a couple of minutes, strain the mixture and serve immediately.

Yields about two mugs of tea. May be scaled up for more. (If using loose tea, it helps to use a tea ball if you have one.)

“The Incredibles” Coming Back to Big Screen

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Brad Bird, writer of the hit 2004 movie, “The Incredibles,” is writing its sequel. Here’s the news on what’s happening.images-incredibles whole family

In “The Incredibles,” the Parr family hid its super gifts after being rejected by society, but made good at the end of the story. I’m excited to see what Bird will come up with this time.

Helen Parr, (Elastigirl) the wise, witty and resourceful matriarch in the Incredible family, was the topic of this post. To me, she represents a model of strong, loving and faithful women. Since I decided to post about all types of media, she’ll probably show up in a future blog post when Bird’s movie is released.

Another hit movie by Pixar, “Toy Story,” had a couple of successful sequels. It doesn’t always happen with animation. There’s no mention of a release date for the sequel, but let’s wish all the best to Bird and the whole production team.

 

Six Steps To Reading The Epistles That You May Not Have Tried

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shot of man over the headReading the Bible through in a year as I had done before, I came once again to the epistles. Though I’d read them previously, this time it occurred to me: “These are letters from an actual person to actual people. There’s more than just information here; there’s emotion.”

I realize that sounds pretty obvious to some, but now I knew I’d read them differently in the future. The emotion couldn’t have been only on the writer’s part, I thought, because those receiving them must have felt excited to get them.

We’re blessed to have Bibles we can pick up daily and read these affirming, convicting and truth-filled messages. The original letters to the churches were often circulated and an individual may have heard the letter only once before it was on its way to be shared with another church. How precious they were. How empowered the readers must have been on receiving those letters.

Letter writing is becoming a lost art. What a joy to savor words on paper from someone who loves us and hopes the best for us. My realizations led me to read the epistles like I’d never read before, as if they’d been sent directly to me. Standing in for those for whom they were intended, it was exciting. I received fresh insight, higher understanding, and a new appreciation for the first century Church.
These are some practices I discovered for knowing the power of the God’s word.

  1. Pray before reading. Thank God for the person who wrote the letter and that it made it safely to you. Pray that the Spirit will provide power to guide you and encourage you.
  2. Try reading from a different translation than you normally use. The wording may be just different enough that you get a better understanding of the scripture.
  3. If you underline or write notes in the margins of your Bible, read from one that has no margin notes or underlining so these don’t distract you. If you have none, perhaps you can borrow for this part of your study. If you must write, take notes in a separate journal.
  4. Read slowly and deliberately. Because many of us have read the epistles several times, we can be tempted to read through them quickly. However, familiarity with the text can get in the way. If you were reading a letter received in the mail, it wouldn’t be familiar. You couldn’t anticipate the next phrase and you would have to listen with your heart and mind all the way through. Also, since these letters were originally read to groups, try reading aloud.
  5. Pay attention to the greetings at the beginnings and ends of the letters. The early believers would have been overjoyed to hear these heartfelt words. Some of those mentioned are people the writer traveled with. The inclusion of their names offers hints into co-workers in ministry. Paul quite often did this. Sometimes the writer also included blessings and prayers. These have power to bless and encourage you as they did the original readers.
  6. Pray again when you’ve finished. If God has spoken to you through the writer’s words, thank Him and ask Him to keep revealing truth to you. Confess any sin the Holy Spirit has revealed in your life as a result of reading. Claim God’s promise of abundant life in Christ and share what you’ve learned with someone else.

After reading through the epistles in this way, you might want to try using some of these ideas for reading any passage of scripture.

Not A Unicorn

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Advice to Young Poets
Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head
from The Republic of Poetry by Martin Espada

When I started writing this blog and was confronted with creating an “About” page for the blog and for myself, the idea was more than I wanted to consider. I played it lazy and kept it short. In fact, when I read them now, I sound silly to myself.

I’m like anyone else, I suppose; I can talk about myself all day long. If we’re honest, we can admit that we–or something about our life–are own favorite subject. Both of my “About” pages are as vague as can be. Now I give you Mr. Espada’s poem as an adjunct to getting to know me and as advice to follow. Truly.

I’m sincere by writing that in my blog I hope to share my journey in finding joy and contentment with Jesus Christ. I also hope to sometimes encourage, comfort, offer consolation, teach, break through spiritual obstacles or propel someone toward God’s purpose for them.

If a post brings someone closer in intimacy with God, that’s great too. I’d be humbled by that for sure.

But I haven’t been totally honest yet. I’ve been wearing a plunger on my head, so to speak. Unknown to some of you, I’ve been trying to be something I’m not and it’s time to reveal my secret. I have manic-depressive illness and it’s not totally controlled even though I take my medications as directed and also try to do all the things my doctor prescribes.

I know this revelation sets me up for criticism immediately. It’s okay. I don’t like being criticized for something I can’t help; but I think I can take it. Criticism coming from one of you, or a “follower” of this blog deciding to stop following will be fine. You certainly can’t call me anything worse than I’ve called myself.*

Life with manic-depressive illness, also called bi-polar disorder, can be devastating to the one diagnosed with it. Depending on the severity of our individual diagnoses–and there are many–it can also make life hard for the families of those with it. We don’t always act like we ‘should.’ We don’t respond the same way as people who have what I call “respectable” illnesses like asthma or heart disease or diabetes. People with those illnesses have some physical manifestations if things get out of synch. But with a mental illness the manifestations are behavioral. Always behavioral.

Maybe you’ve witnessed those manifestations. We just don’t act right. We can’t control our conversations (there’s no filter and we talk really fast). We get truly depressed, not just ‘having a bad day.’ We yell, have panic attacks and make you wonder what on earth you did to make it happen.

I’m not writing today to go into my story from the day I was diagnosed (and before) until now. This also isn’t a pity-party. Most of all, I can’t educate you in a short blog post. I decided to write for a couple of reasons.

  • If you decide you want to continue reading my blog, it should be based on my honesty. You don’t have to be honest, but I need to take the plunger off my head. Then you’ll see me as I really am.
  • Honesty about who I am in this regard will also help us both see how blessed I’ve been so far in my journey. God has been holding my hand through so many difficult times. Inpatient and outpatient.

And that’s something people who walk past me in the hallways at church aren’t even aware of. **

The Church–and our culture–as a whole is becoming more aware of its role in meeting the needs of those in their communities who are mentally ill. It’s encouraging to see this. Some of the awareness has come as a result of family tragedies that hit the news and our very own senses like tsunamis.

Yet, there it is. I don’t pretend to know God’s ways, but I do know he invaded my life like never before through manic-depressive illness. His voice has never been heard so sweetly to me as when he whispers, “I love you” when I’m crawling the walls or sobbing like a lost child.

It’s his voice that crowds out all the others. The lies, the taunts, the ones telling me to put that plunger back on my head.

Almighty Father, thank you that when we realize our identity in you we no longer need to pretend to be something we’re not. Grant us the ability to love one another no matter what physical, spiritual, emotional or mental affliction is with us now. Heal us and sustain us as you see fit. Extend grace to us in our weaknesses for your glory and in the name of Jesus. Amen.

*Although I have yet to call myself a unicorn.
**Until now.

For more information about Mental Illness awareness and diagnosis (your own or that of someone you love), contact National Alliance on Mental Illness or Mental Health America .

An Offer I Couldn’t Refuse

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Susan, the manager at our local library branch knows my book tastes. Through our many conversations, she even knows a lot of the books I’ve read. So when she told me about the release of a book about Harper Lee , I told her to put it on hold for me as soon as it became available.

It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

“The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee” by Marja Mills, reveals just about everything we want to know about the author who took her Pulitzer and seemingly disappeared. Over the years, I’d heard her called a recluse. Many asked why, if she was so talented, she didn’t write another novel. People also commented that “If your first novel won such a prestigious award, why bother to write another?”

Deciding to not be out in the limelight was probably just a part of Lee’s personality. Maybe going to cocktail parties and having to answer the same questions repeatedly became wearying to her.

Mills’ book about Nelle (Harper is Lee’s middle name) explains a lot of what people wanted to know. But in her opinionated and straightforward way, Nelle said her life hadn’t really been one of seclusion at all. She began to stay in her New York City home less frequently and eventually moved back home to Monroeville, Alabama with her sister, Alice. She knew the people well in the town where they grew up. Life there seemed to make her content.

Now, exciting news for fans says that another book written by Harper Lee will be released in July. “Go Set a Watchman,” a sequel to  Mockingbird, is creating just as much of a stir as when Lee left the public eye following publication of her prize-winning novel. And the stir doesn’t seem to be all positive.

It seems no one has ever been nor will ever be happy with whatever happens.

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-winning novel published in 1960 is my favorite story. There are many which rank right up there with it, but I’ve read this story three times and I can’t even remember how many times I’ve watched the movie.

For my part, if Harper Lee wrote another book about Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout, I’m not going to question it. I just hope my friend Susan asks if I’d like to be put on hold for it. How could I say “no”?

It’s an offer I can’t refuse.

 

Features For Fridays

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Beginning tomorrow, February 6, I’ll be featuring a post which moves away from the typical. Features For Fridays will fall into categories that I hope will be ongoing based on my favorite things to do: read, watch movies and cook.

In addition to this little switch-up/addition, there may be a new look to the blog itself. Nothing fancy; I’m just trying to get a handle on some of the mechanics of blogging aside from the actual writing.

This Friday’s feature will probably be about reading. News, a short review and letting you in on what I’m reading right now.

What are you reading right now? What do you like best about it?

Seeking The Savior

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Is Christmas still “the most wonderful time of the year”? Christmas, for those who celebrate it, is probably the time most filled with traditions.

We bake cookies, peanut brittle and fudge. We get crafty and make tree ornaments, stockings and wreaths. We decorate the tree with a new theme. Some of us even mail Christmas cards.

We might even call shopping a tradition. I know people who make a day of shopping one of their special times for family fellowship. Friends will meet to tramp the mall and have a “cup of good cheer.”

Do you remember the traditions of your childhood? Maybe childhood isn’t so long ago for you. For others of us childhood is decades ago. What do you remember as your favorite tradition?

My youth at Christmas time included some great expectations. We knew there would be a Christmas program at our church and the kids in our family who were old enough would have a part. There was even a tradition associated with the program. At the end, when we were all released, each child was given a small paper bag filled with candy and nuts. The contents were predictable—it was a tradition after all—but we squealed with delight all the same.

When I think of reciting a poem in front of our small congregation (almost without a hitch), my hands shaking, then receiving my treat later, I still get nostalgic. Our program, like that of most churches, revolved around a nativity scene and the story of Christ’s birth from the second chapter of Luke. We also included arrival of the Magi bringing gifts.

I didn’t need a song to tell me Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year. My family seemed to come together like at no other time. And we had our own traditions.

The Christmas tree was one of our favorites. I come from a large family and decorating must have seemed a little chaotic for my mom, but she let us go full force with the job. The only things we weren’t allowed to touch were the vintage (even then) glass ornaments. My older brother most enjoyed flinging icicles at the tree, which by no means would ever have been artificial. Not in those days.

We did other things to prepare for Christmas, but my absolute favorite tradition was driving around our small town looking at the variety of light displays families used to decorate their homes. Usually, the night of the Christmas program was our special night to make the journey.

In the days before tiny lights with built-in gadgets to make them twinkle (to recorded music, no less) and huge air-filled snowmen and Santas, people kept their decorating modest for the most part. Or at least tasteful. Even families who could afford to decorate with more lights, steered away from the “Christmas Vacation” style of decorating.

I guess we were old fashioned. Christmas meant more than showing off.

Since it was a small town, it didn’t take us long to drive around and see the lights. Short drive though it was, we regarded it as a real treat. Like I said, our family would come together like no other time. We children “oohed” and “aahed” as if we were at a fireworks display. Sometimes Dad would roll to a stop at a house if its decorations needed a little longer to take in.

The display I regarded as most special decorated the lawn in front of the church on main street. There, year after year, we’d roll to a stop to admire the nativity scene. Two small floodlights in the ground shone upward, making it easy to see Joseph, Mary and Jesus at night. We counted off each character, especially baby Jesus, whose story we’d just enacted.

For us, that stop on main street was like the magi looking for the holy family.

This year, I’ll be spending Christmas with my family again. A sister, my children and grandchildren. When my sister and I reach our hometown, we’ll drive down Lincoln Avenue and surely, I’ll be on the lookout for houses with pretty decorations. They indicate to me that people still enjoy that tradition.

But mostly, I’ll keep my eye out for the church and its classic nativity scene. As I’ve done for years, I’ll be seeking the Savior.

Being Found

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“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country to go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” (Luke 15:4-6)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

“Amazing grace–how sweet the sound–
That saved a wretch like Me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.”

Being found. It implies that we must have been lost. It implies we might have been lonely. We don’t know which way to go. Maybe we’re in darkness and we’re frightened.

Imagine being found by Someone who loves you deeply; without measure.

The truth is, God seeks us even as we may be seeking him. In fact, his Spirit seeks us out when we may not be actively looking for God. He knows we’re lonely, frightened. He’s aware that we don’t know where to turn next. Like sheep who’ve gone astray, we wander without purpose.

Once the Shepherd finds his sheep, he rejoices to have it in his arms, taking it home to green pastures.

What joy should fill our hearts knowing that he celebrates in having found us. What joy should fill our hearts knowing that we no longer need to be alone. We don’t have to be afraid; we know the darkness is gone. Forever.