SUMMER LOVIN'

Last Night I Dreamed I Went To...

2010-01-07T14:26:00.009-06:00

No, not Manderley for any Rebecca fans out there. Russia.

I have this reoccurring dream of going to Russia completely unprepared. In fact, I hardly ever get off the plane. I'm usually just at the airport shortly before my flight is suppossed to take off desperately trying to get things together before we depart.

Last night, my friend Erin and I were making the journey together. We both managed to have our tickets and passports with us, (this doesn't always happen in the dream) and we we're even admitted on the flight. But there was a problem, neither of us had packed a coat. I was really stressed about this because it was suppossed to be frigidly cold when we arrived...hello, it's Russia! Who doesn't pack a coat for Russia? Apparently me and Erin.

In a past Russia dream, I'd been all set to go and for some reason forgot to communicate my plans with Casey.

I think to me traveling to Russia must just seem like a daunting journey that one needs a lot of preparation for.

Yesterday, I was trying to get a lot done and felt a little behind so I think that's why I had my Russia dream.

Maybe if I ever get to go to Russia in real life, I'll actually manage to pack a coat and have a passport handy.

Dern Whippersnappers

2010-01-05T23:34:00.006-06:00

I'm must be looking older. Today I got the ol' "yes ma'am" from a sophomore in college. Not a half joking, letting-you-know-you're-being-bossy "yes ma'am" from a buddy, but a you-appear-to-be-of-a-certain-age "yes ma'am" from a new acquaintance.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for politeness and good manners, but I would really still like to believe that I'm too young for college students to think of me as a ma'am. I was just in college...sort of. Not exactly, but close enough. Okay, I'm probably ten years older than the girl who ma'amed me. I suppose that probably does make me a bit of ma'am. But please don't call me ma'am if you're old enough to vote and aren't selling me something or serving me something. Otherwise, I might have to beat you with my cane and spit my dentures at you.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T15:52:00.003-06:00

I hope you all had a great holiday season. Mine was good, and now I'm ready to get back into the swing of regular life.

We spent the week following Christmas in OKC with family. Colton loves seeing all his cousins. His cousin Phoebe is just a few months older than him, and they always have so much fun playing together.

On New Years Eve, I got to go out to lunch with some of my friends from my old job at Express. I hadn't gotten to hang out with them in a while, so I was really happy to get to catch up with them. I don't usually miss my old career too much because I feel what I'm doing now is what I'm suppossed to be doing. But I do miss the friends I made during my years at Express. We spent a lot of time in close quarters brainstorming, laughing, occasionally arguing and generally providing each other with a lot of mental stimulation. I'm glad that I'm still able to get together with them every now and then.

Later that night, we celebrated Casey's birthday and rung in the new year with a party at Casey's parents' house. It was a bit of a reunion with a number of old friends gathered together. I think we had about 30 people there. We played several rounds of mafia (By the way, we have a good idea for a way to spice up this game. It involves a resuscitation card that will bring a "deceased" player back to life.) We also played a game of modified charades. (Two teams write down about 100 words to be guessed. The first round the teams can say as many words as they want to get their team to guess the word on the card - like Taboo - the second round the teams can say two words, and the last round the teams do charades.)

Now that I'm back home I've been thinking about New Years resolutions. I don't usually make a big deal about these, and I'm still not planning to this year. But, I am reviewing the year and thinking about ways I want to tweak things I'm doing. I may post more on that later.

Cute, Messy Face

2009-12-17T15:59:00.003-06:00

A friend took these pictures of Colton at the Christmas party last Friday. Colton had been eating some sweet potatoes, hence the orange face. :)

Choosing Him

2009-12-17T15:20:00.005-06:00

I've been doing some work on GFA DVD transcriptions that are going to be translated into Spanish. Right now, I'm editing the transcription of a DVD called To Live is Christ. It's a talk that our founder K.P. Yohannan, gave to a church a few years ago.

I just read this quote from his closing remarks and thought it was really meaningful.

"Tonight as you go home, I say to you: All the Bible knowledge, all the studies, all the knowledge in the world will not help you unless you choose Him above knowledge. And do what you were asked to do, the way He asks you to do it, and that’s all I ask."

Help Poor in Asia with a Few Clicks of Your Mouse

2009-12-14T15:52:00.008-06:00

Want an easy and free way to help some people on the other side of the world? Add some GFA "bling" to your blog! Wanna help but not sure how to do it? Well have no fear, help is here!

If you look on the right-hand side of my blog you can see the two GFA banners I currently have posted.

The first is the link to give to the Christmas Campaign. This is where people can choose to donate for things like sewing machines, goats, chickens, warm clothes and more.

The second is a link to receive a free copy of Revolution in World Missions. This is the book that explains the work of national missionaries in places unreached with the Gospel and how people can get involved to help them. This is the book that I received a copy of nearly 10 years ago that first introduced our family to Gospel for Asia!

To add either of these banners to your page, just right click or if you're using an awesome Mac (such as myself) control click, and select "Save Image As" and save it somewhere handy.

If you're using Blogger, log in to your account and go to Layout. Then select "Add a Gadget" on the top right-hand side. A pop up menu will appear and from there select "Picture." Another pop up will appear with the header "Configure Image." It will ask you to upload a photo from your computer (or the web). Browse to where you saved the image and upload it.

Now all you have to do is add the link. You can just copy and paste it in to the link field. Here's the link for the Christmas Gift Campaign: http://www.gfa.org/gift/?cm_mmc_o=ezybBAl%20PkBTl%20C%20WB%202Blf%20-plCjC8w_C-pMwyfblbETCjCPkBTlCjC7buf%202zfzkBT

And here's the link for the Free Book: https://www.gfa.org/offer/freebook/?cm_mmc_o=ezybBAl%25201bELl%2520C%2520WB%25202Blf%2520-plCjC8w_C-pMwyfblbETCjCPzEEwylCjCPv

Here's another GFA Christmas campaign banner I like, but it was too wide for my margins. You can save it the same way as the others and link it with the first link.

Another Fun Blogging Tool

2009-12-13T20:34:00.004-06:00

This weekend one of my friends told me about how she uses Stat Counter to keep track of the number of visits she receives to her blog. I've known about Stat Counter for a while but use Google Analytics myself and have never felt the need to try anything else. But when she described some of the fun features Stat Counter has -specifically tracking exit links- that as far as I've been able to tell, Google Analytics doesn't, I thought I'd give it a try.

With exit link tracking, you can find out if your visitors go to the external sites you have linked on your blog. All I was ever able to see with Analytics was clicks on links that went to pages on my own site.

Since Gospel for Asia is linked several times on my blog, I was curious to find out how many times the link gets clicked. Since I just put Stat Counter on my blog I don't have much data yet, but it was fun to check out another tool.

From what I remember, Stat Counter's free version only stores information on 500 visits at a time. So you can't compare information over a very long period of time like you can with Google Analytics.

Stat Counter (like Analytics) is super easy to install on Blogger sites. I saw that they even have a tutorial that will walk you through the process if you want. Or, you can just get the HTML and post it.

Happy Blogging! :)

Dumb Burglar from ZZZland...Jumps into Real Life!!!

2009-12-12T15:04:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, I posted about my dream about the lost burglar who was trying to find his way home. I failed to mention it, but in my dream the reason the burglar was lost was because he was drunk. I was trying to keep the post G rated I guess.

I'm divulging this information now because of a crazy story my mom just told me this morning.

My mom is working on remodeling a home in the area so that she can move in at the end of the month. She works evenings as a nurse and last night when she got off work she decided to go over to her house to do a little painting.

At about midnight, she heard someone knocking on the door. She was startled and went to the door and asked, "Who's there?" No one answered. Then a minute later the knocking started again. She asked the same question, and this time the answer was "It's William. I'm working on your door." She told this William person that no one was suppossed to be working on her door (certainly not at midnight!) and that she wasn't going to open the door.

She was understandably scared and called the police who said they were sending a patrol car over (much more helpful than the police in my dream.)

When the police arrived, and my mom explained to them the details, they told her that they'd received several reports about William. Apparently, he had too much to drink, got lost walking around a few blocks away and was trying to find his way home.

I think it's really weird that I had a dream about a bumbling intruder who couldn't find his way home the night before my mom had a similar real life experience! This time I'm even more thankful that the bogeyman was seemingly harmless and just trying to get home.

Dumb Burglar from ZZZland

2009-12-11T15:13:00.003-06:00

Last night I had a very real seeming dream that someone broke into our house. In my dream, I tried calling 911 but the operator told me that no one would be able to help for that sort of problem. I reiterated that I currently had an intruder in my home and she begrudgingly offered to possibly send someone out.

For some reason, my brother was there too, and he and I went to go see what was going on in the rest of the house. That's when we saw that the burglar had turned on the hallway light (not very sneaky) and was sitting down in our office playing on the computer (not very profitable).

My brother went to talk to the burglar at that point, and it turned out it was some skinny teenager who'd gotten confused about where he lived. My brother then escorted him to the door. Apparently I don't dream of very clever or dangerous bad guys.

I remember thinking during the dream: "I'm going to have to post on my blog that someone broke into the house!" Thankfully, it was real and even it had been, our burglar was clearly more interested in surfing Facebook than actually taking stuff. Lucky me.

Joining in on the Christmas Fun!

2009-12-10T17:26:00.005-06:00

This year Colton is old enough to do more things at Christmas. Last night at Gospel for Asia's Tuesday night prayer meeting all the children received little gifts. Unlike last Christmas, Colton was old enough to open his present and to be excited about the candy inside! The gift also included a little Christmas craft. This afternoon, I set up a protected area on the table and let Colton color his wise men. He had fun and only ate the markers intermittently.

On the back of the craft I wrote the date and a little description of what we did to help me remember later.

Here's pictures of the completed masterpiece, the artist and his muse, puppy.

What to Read?

2009-12-09T15:21:00.006-06:00

I really enjoy reading fiction when I find the time, but I'm a bit picky about what I like to read. I prefer a thought-provoking book - like Les Miserables or The Giver. I also really want to care about the characters like Anne in the L.M. Montgomery series or Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.

While some may not see the value of reading fiction and only stick with more serious titles, I'm not one of those people. I'm much more touched by a beautifully-written story. Jesus taught in parables for a good reason. Stories speak to people. I feel like I've definitely learned things about the world and people that I wouldn't have learned apart from reading fiction.

It's usually hard for me to pick books though. I tend to stick with classics or young adult fiction because in the past I've had several unpleasant experiences with just picking up a title at the library or bookstore and getting home to find that the content was not what I'd bargained for.

During the last few years, I've also read some Christian fiction. I've liked some of those too and am up for additional recommendations. (I've read Redeeming Love, a few Beverly Lewis and River Rising.)

My favorite book in general is probably Jane Eyre. I think Jane is an admirable heroine because she gives up personal pleasure to follow her moral convictions. The story also deals with real human issues: loneliness, charity in poverty, faith and loyalty. Other favorites are the Screwtape Letters, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Persuasion. I also like collections of short stories. One of my favorite short stories is A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner.

I recently found a couple of sites that offer book recommendations. One is Book Army and the other is Which Book. I haven't played with either much at all but they look like they could be good tools.

Read any good books that I should read too?

Have Yourself A Scary Little Christmas...

2009-12-05T14:37:00.005-06:00

It's only the first week of December, and I've already checked off the following items from my uber-serious "to do" list. I'm particularly proud of the last item.

My Christmas Checklist

Purchase Christmas gifts on Amazon and get free super saver shipping and no tax!
Decorate tree with (hopefully) indestructible ornaments. No glass balls for us, thank you.
Save by not buying Christmas CDs and instead make Christmas music station on Pandora.
Drink homemade eggnog lattes. (As you can imagine this was one of the more difficult tasks. Lifting those mugs, can be very exhausting!)
Take classic "horrified child" picture with Santa. Perfect!

Doubt

2009-12-03T14:27:00.004-06:00

I'm sharing an excerpt from an email I recently sent to someone who was questioning God's existence because it may be of some benefit to others.

"It's normal to have doubts. I have them at times too.

When I doubt, I ask myself a few questions. If there is no God, how did the world come into existence? If there is no God, how is that I have a body that is perfectly made for the planet I live on (I have lungs to breath air, eyes to see, legs to walk, there's gravity that keeps me from flying off the planet).

These things all remind me that this world and humanity is too complex to have just appeared by itself. I think it takes more faith to believe that the world, the galaxies, people, animals and everything else in all existence is here on it own than it does to believe in God.

Other things that convince me that there is a God are that I can think, love, and feel. How could these have come on their own? I believe that the world's complexity and our ability to think, feel and choose right and wrong are solid evidence that there is a God.

I believe in Jesus because historical evidence backs the Bible and because the story rings true. In all other religions that I know, it is all about people achieving something. Examples of this are: trying to make "gods" happy or trying to get "gods" to do something for you.

Christianity is the only religion that isn't about us. It's about God. His glory and how he made a way for us to know him. In other religions, the people have to try and save themselves by being good, smart, peaceful, etc.

In Christianity, God saved us by having his son die for our sins. I believe Christianity is the one and only true religion because through experience, I know that I can not be good enough. I've tried and I always fail. Apart from Jesus, I know that I can't be right with God. He is the only way to God.

Doubts are a part of faith. They come and go. Tell God you're having a hard time believing and ask him for more faith. He's good and faithful. If you seek him, you will find him. Take some quiet time to pray and be reminded of why you first believed - I recommend reading the Gospel of John.

Let me know if you have some questions about God or Christianity. I certainly don't have all the answers, but I will try to answer you the best I can from the Bible."

Judge Not ... at the Grocery Store

2009-12-02T21:14:00.007-06:00

Have you ever been at the grocery store and seen a woman with one or more children, looking frazzled - nay, downright zombified - with her runny-nosed, scruffy-looking child eating groceries from their cart?

Cast ye not the first stone.

Today I was that woman. I desperately needed to go to the grocery store. It could not be put off until another day. By the time I'd printed out my online coupons and clipped some from Sunday circulars, it was getting dangerously close to lunch time. But, I was low on munchies to feed Colton (i.e. the urgent need for the grocery trip). I gave him a snack before we left, packed another and hoped for the best.

Within about 5 minutes of entering the store, I could see that we were going to have to break out the big guns. The unpopular packed snack (which is why it was still uneaten at home) wasn't going to cut it.

1st attempt: Rip open a box of Ritz crackers and hand a couple over to the hungry, hungry hippo. Hmmm, he's still needing something else. 2nd try: Hit the produce aisle, peel a banana and hand him a chunk ... take back slimy, spit out banana and wrap it in a baby wipe. 3rd time's the charm: We have a winner with a little box of raisins.

I'm sure there is some lesson here about not bringing a hungry child to the store and also some other lessons about not giving in to screaming children who don't like the first two foods they're offered. But, I really needed groceries! Please have mercy on me! I promise... well, I really can't make any promises but ... I'm trying here.

All for the sake of soothing a hungry, grumpy 18-month-old.

Colton repeatedly tried to convince me that leaving a Hansel- and Gretel-esque raisin trail would be appreciated by Kroger management. My pocketful of retrieved raisins at the end of the trip was testimony to my belief in the contrary.

Down several aisles, I passed a well-dressed woman who didn't seem to want to smile at me. I can't say as I blame her. She probably sensed that me and my overloaded cart and my adorable combination raisin-launcher/noisemaker were going to be a threat come check out time. Her intuition proved correct. I did, in fact, end up in front of her in the one and only open check out line. Well-dressed woman did not look amused.

Fortunately for us all, Kroger management sensed the imminent threat of a meltdown of galactic proportions and opened another check out line.

Groceries were loaded and unloaded to and from the car, little Hansel was put down for a nap and mommy survived to shop another day.

Good Medicine: Riboflavin, Blue's Clues and Excedrin

2009-11-30T13:24:00.004-06:00

Last night, I went to bed with a migraine just itching to explode. This morning I woke up with a full-blown nausea-inducing, light-fearing, head-pounding migraine.

I used to get migraines about once a week but since I started talking riboflavin (about 200 mg a day) I rarely get them. However, when I go out of town I often slack greatly on taking my vitamins and then, next thing you know, my migraines are back and ready to make up for all the 'quality time' we've missed.

I think the worst thing about migraines is the nausea. I can't hardly move without feeling like I'm going to puke. I need quiet, darkness, and total stillness to feel better. Having a active 18 month old makes creating these conditions elusive.

These are the times I'm thankful for streaming Netflix. At the touch of a button I have instant access to dozens of toddler-mesmerizing cartoons, like Blues Clues.

While I was waiting for the Excedrin Migraine to kick in, Colton was entertained by Steve, Blue and whatever other characters are on Season 1 of Blues Clues.

Not long after taking those magical little capsules, I started to feel my nausea lifting and my headache slipping away.

I'm back to my old self, Blues Clues is off and Colton is napping. All is right in the world once more. Or at least in the Short household ... as long as I can remember to take my Riboflavin that is.

5 Signs You're a Klutz

2009-11-25T13:43:00.009-06:00

5. You say "Ow!" at least ten times a day.

4. You were not blessed with spatial reasoning. Trying to judge the distance between your body and all other objects is like trying to plot the course of a spaceship to the Moon without the aid of computers or scientific equations.

3. Your appendages are frequently speckled with unexplained bruises and scrapes. Scars from running into an ill-placed coffee table, bookcase or office chair are also a frequent symptom.

2. Your significant other tells you, "You're like me when I was a kid. You can't enter a room without getting hurt."

1. You have one of these on your arms because you can't seem to cook, pick up a hot glue gun or flat iron without suffering at least 2nd degree burns.

Oh, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow! I'm going to try not to set myself on fire, break a leg or otherwise do bodily harm to myself or others. You do the same now, ya hear?

Pumpkin Muffin Variation

2009-11-22T17:52:00.003-06:00

Last week, I posted the recipe for Apple Pumpkin Muffins. Today, I'm sharing a variation of those muffins that I made this morning.

I was trying to get the muffins made before church so I didn't want to spend the time to finely chop an apple. I had a can of pineapple and decided to dice that instead. Also, I added some wheat flour and reduced the fat by substituting half of the oil with apple sauce.

The muffins turned out really good and I think I actually prefer the pineapple over the apples. Their texture is really good and the added moisture was a plus.

Pineapple Pumpkin Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (I actually just use a hodgepodge of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and allspice)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup canned or cooked pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 apple sauce
1 cup (or more if you've got it) diced pineapple
STREUSEL:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cold butter or margarine
In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in pineapple.
I read a tip that recommends not using muffin papers for best taste just spray tin with oil.
I fill my muffin tins almost to the top to produce plenty of "top o' the muffin."
In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Our Future Chef

2009-11-22T17:30:00.005-06:00

Today at Ross, I found this play kitchen for about half of what the brand normally sells for.

It's so cute, and Colton loves it. It's wooden and painted in primary colors. It's only about a foot tall and a couple feet wide, so it doesn't take up much space.

I got a few plastic pots and some fake food to go with it, and Colton's been having a ball putting things in the oven, dropping dishes in the sink and hanging spatulas on the rack.

Sure, a pretend kitchen may not be the manliest toy but this is the 21st century, right? Besides, there's a greater likelihood of him needing to learn to cook a few meals than fight a big hairy monster. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for big hairy monster fighting too. But not until the boy's earned his keep by making me a zesty lasagna and a slice of cheesecake. :)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2009-11-14T10:14:00.003-06:00

Colton's been talking so much more lately. It's so much fun to watch him pick up more and more words and use them to communicate.

This morning I heard Colton saying "baby" in his room and when I went to get him he was saying "puppy" and holding his ratty stuffed puppy dog. Then he said "nigh, nigh" (for night, night) and threw his puppy back in his crib. I guess puppy needed to go night night.

When we went to the living room he said "TV" (sounds like Vee) and pointed to the TV. I said "No TV." Then he went and grabbed the DVD controller and handed it to me with a big smile and I replied, "No TV." He then grabbed the TV controller and brought it to me with another big smile, to which I responded, "No TV." Then he said "Burdie." He's watched a penguin show a couple times and says "Burdie" about the birds on the show. It was really cute. He's already trying to charm me.

Then right after that we went into the kitchen and he pointed to my cake plate where the Apple Pumpkin Muffins had been and said "Mushin." But they were all gone.

Then, he pointed to the freezer where I'd been keeping some cookies, and said, "Cookie." He got wheat bread instead. Poor child. You can see Colton's making his preference known - TV, muffins and cookies!

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

2009-11-13T16:43:00.004-06:00

I made this recipe for some friends and everyone really liked it, so I thought I'd pass it on. It's a great fall breakfast. (The recipe is from allrecipes.com.)

I used Granny Smith Apples in mine and the only change I made was to make 12 big muffins with the batter instead of 18. By overfilling the muffin tins it gives you more of the "top o' the muffin" that everyone loves.

To make the recipe healthier you could use wheat flour and replace the oil with applesauce.

For light muffins, make sure you don't over-stir the batter or you'll get gummy, hard results.

Alright, here's the recipe. Happy Baking!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup canned or cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups finely chopped peeled apples
STREUSEL:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons cold butter or margarine

Directions

In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks

Turkey Talk

2009-11-13T16:30:00.005-06:00

It always this time of year when I realize that it's almost over and that it's gone incredibly quickly. This year seems like it's gone by even faster. I guess that's what happens when you are as ancient as me. (Hardy, har, har)

This year one of my big plans for Thanksgiving includes not getting food poisoning/a stomach bug and actually being able to eat. That's right, last year a nasty stomach funk denied me the delight of overeating and Friday afternoon leftovers! This year I'm coming at Thanksgiving with a doggie bag attached to my shirt!

...Okay so maybe I'm not really out for a huge glutton fest, but I am looking forward to eating all sorts of good fixings. In my opinion the food at Thanksgiving is always a little better than at Christmas. At Christmas, people tend to feel like, "Hey, we just cooked all that stuff at Thanksgiving. Let's just take it easy." Now, you see the reason for the doggie bag affixed to the shirt.

What a Day for a ... Picnic!

2009-11-08T20:07:00.003-06:00

November might not be a traditional month for a picnic but here in North Dallas the weather this weekend was perfect for a picnic at the park.

Here are some pictures Casey took while we were there.

Grannie Fannie and the Happy Little Lion

2009-11-05T14:05:00.007-06:00

This past weekend, Casey's parents and a long-time family friend, Grannie Fannie, came down to Texas for a visit. Grannie Fannie is 97 years old and is such a sweetheart. I want to be just like her when I'm her age. She thinks the best of everyone, is full of joy, gives out praise like nobody's business and bakes a mean chocolate pudding pie! She is definitely overflowing with the fruit of the spirit!

It was so fun to have her over - she loves Colton and is always complimenting his good looks or charm! That's a sure-fire way to make a mama smile!

Here are a few pictures from this weekend's fun. On Saturday we went to a fall festival at a large church in the area. Colton was too little for most of the activities but he had fun running around and seeing other kids in costume.

What Sleeping With The Enemy Is Really Like

2009-11-03T15:21:00.003-06:00

No, this isn't a post about how my husband is really a horrible person and I'm crying out for help. Nope. Casey is great. Our marriage is great.

This post is about the real enemy I have to sleep with every night. Me.

I like myself plenty, so don't worry that I've got a self esteem problem or conflicting multiple personalities. What I'm talking about is the struggle that goes on inside myself as a person who wants to do good but doesn't always live up to it.

What Paul talks about in Romans 7:21-23: "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members."

Years ago when I read C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, I remember a passage about man's struggle with morality as evidence of a supreme being or ultimate giver of moral standards. The idea is something like, if there is no God and humanity is simply a cosmic accident, then why do people so often feel a pull toward a moral decision yet are incapable of following through with it?

For example, if the root cause of morality is just a mix of societal norms, family upbringing and desire for self preservation, then why do people wrestle with doing the right thing? If a person wants to do good, shouldn't it be easy? Why should there be a struggle? If a person feels like doing something selfish or cruel and gets away with it, why should they feel guilty afterward?

It's because we're not just minds living in bodies. We have spirits. Morality is not just cultural or subjective. There is good and evil. There is a war between the two. And the battle is raged inside of the person you and I go to bed with every night. Yourself. Myself. Us.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

A Very Merry Conspiracy

2009-11-01T17:13:00.009-06:00

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Of course, the malls and Wal-Mart will be very disappointed if you say no.

This year at our church here in Texas we've started talking about Christmas early too. But it's a good thing because this season our church is participating in the Advent Conspiracy. Have you heard of it? It's basically a challenge to Christians to spend less on buying gifts for people who already have everything and give the money they saved to people who have nothing. Very sneaky. Wal-Mart and our urges to buy, buy, buy may frown upon the idea. But, such is the nature of conspiracies!

Our church is challenging us all to cut our Christmas spending in half and give the other half to bless the world's hungry, hurting and neglected.

One way the church is helping the needy is by building several Jesus Wells through Gospel for Asia. There is a huge need for fresh drinking water in many parts of the world.

Another cool program Gospel for Asia has is its Christmas Gift Catalog. With the catalog, we can give gifts that will actually produce an income for some of the poorest of the world's poor - the Dalits in India.

The Dalits are an impoverished people group who are frequently denied any education, have few rights and are often treated as worthless by higher castes. You can imagine the impact the gift of a pair of chickens, a dairy cow or a sewing machine would be for a destitute family in Asia.

Casey and I have enjoyed picking out gifts from the GFA Christmas catalog the last couple years and knowing that somebody on the other side of the world is going to be able to make a living for their family from it!

Here's a little video on Gospel for Asia's Christmas Gift program.