not one less

The older I get, the more I realize there are some things I still CANNOT get over.

Regrets from the past. Mole hill problems that have become mountain range problems. Minor infractions from other folks that have been allowed to fester. The list goes ON.

John 16:33- “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Every now and then, I am reminded of this verse. I'm glad He did and still does, because the petty individual that I call myself still continues to fight the world, myself included. We all know that both of these are losing battles.

Let me indulge you in another "a-ha moment" of mine: He meant that particular verse for EVERYBODY. Duh, right? To be honest, this realization came to me as I was deciding a title for this post.

Not one less.

Not one less who claim Him as Christ will know of His victory.

He promises that we'll be troubled, but He also promises that He has conquered it. For EVERYONE.

Hallelujah!

something old, something new

It's been almost a week ago, but I'm still talking' about it.

Last Sunday was the union of the now Mr. and Mrs. Y.

This wedding was SOOO good for TOO many reasons. For starters, THIS cake and the multitudes of cupcakes with it...

For place cards, P and A put out individual Lego men holding banners with the names and table numbers in binary coding. Another reason why I love and respect CS majors.

It was THE party to be at. This wedding was by far the largest CCF reunion I've ever been to. If I counted correctly, about 10 years worth of folks were in attendance. If cocktail hour schmoozing was an Olympic sport, hand me my gold. Familiar faces galore. I seriously could not sit still the whole reception, I was table hopping so much.

The food was seriously THAT good. No more on that, I'd go on forever. A candy bar and a silly photo booth shoot were wonderful parting gifts. Definitely had my share of those.

Through and through, one of the best weekends I have had in a long time. I can't help but thank Him for allowing me to know so many wonderful people. Reunited with so many people that I was TOO happy to see and yet TOO unhappy to part with. Now that I think back, it was also a gathering of many people who love Him! It WAS a CCF reunion, if I hadn't stressed that enough earlier.

I wonder if I just caught a glimpse of Heaven.

Congratulations, P and A!!!

my left shoe

Last Sunday as I was rushing to church (late, again?!) I realized too late that my left shoe was missing its insole.

Throughout service and Sunday School, I felt this unevenness. As I sat. As I stood. As I walked. It just didn't feel right.

When I finally got home, I put the missing insole back in and my feet finally felt complete.

Then it hit me.

Seems stupid, right? Something as trivial as a missing insole inspiring some religious epiphany? It sure did. I was reminded of this verse...

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.

As of lately, I've fallen behind in reading His Word. Just seemed a bit off everyday that I wasn't in it. I need to get back. Back to the Basics...

Time to hit the Books.

a whistleblower's angst

Luke 6:42.

When you point a finger, 3 fingers point back at you.

Knowing the above mentioned things full well, I still need to address what I witnessed yesterday. It REQUIRES to be called out.

One of my students nonchalantly proclaimed he was going as a prisoner for Halloween. OK? No big deal?

This student leaves to go home only to come back and show off his costume.

Orange prison jumpsuit.

Prior to my looking at him sideways, the mention of the word "prisoner" brought to my mind a haggard lookin' fella whose diet consisted of bread and water. Or the black and white stripes that Larry, Curly, and Moe flaunted when they slapped each other around. Just not THAT. Darn my archaic naivety.

All I could think of after that incident was, who was wrong? My list is as follows:

1) the person who designed the costume
2) the person who gave the OK on the costume
3) the person who allowed the costume to be sold in their store
4) the person who bought the costume

I could go on pointing fingers, but what use is it if nothing is done to fix the problem?

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” -Luke 23:34

Luke's account of Christ's words as He was dying.

I wonder if He looks at our broken world and still utter these very same words.

Our need for Him is very much needed. I'm glad He hasn't forsaken us.

Hebrews 13:5.

His green earth

Anything back to back has more of an effect on everything than anything. If that makes sense...

On the last day of September, I made a lone excursion to the beach. Cold? Far from it! Even though the first day of fall was roughly a week ago, in my mind fall starts in October. But, I digress...

It truly is mesmerizing to see ocean waves crashing into the sand and then gently pulling away. The feeling is intensified when this happens around your feet. So repetitive, yet soothing. I'm wanting beach front property right about now.

Since WL loves the beach so much, I called her so she could listen to this episode of waves meet sand. I seem to do this every time I go. I hope she isn't too jealous of the fact that I'm there and she's not.

The following day, BB called me to look out the window. I had heard of such things yet never witnessed one. A double rainbow. The picture above doesn't do the phenomenon any justice, but if you Google it or witness it for yourself, you'd understand. Couldn't keep my eyes off of it.

Can't help but marvel at such things. Can't help but mention one of numerous psalms singing of His glory.

Psalm 146:6.

because I can

Instead of tooting my own horn (Ironic, much? But, I digress...), I'm tooting other folks' horns.

I've just finished writing another recommendation. In the past two years or so, I've been writing them almost as much as I've been asking for them. It's weird/exciting/happy feeling to be "of age" to write them for others while very much needing them myself.

The familiar notion of crying old comes to mind, but for as long as I've been crying so, I'm embracing this notion more and more. Let me clarify.

A few years ago, I would have thought aging as dreadful. Now, I embrace it joyfully.

Yes, I realize I'm too young to speak about getting old. To that I say, pish posh. I've been doing so since high school and I know that I'm gonna keep doing it till kingdom come.

Speaking of kingdom, I'm reminded of this one verse...

Proverbs 16:31.

Praying that I get to that point. God willing.

we remember

10 years.

Most everyone has said that it's one of those things that define a generation.

A thing that everyone remembers exactly what they were doing the moment they found out.

A thing that has caused countless ink, tears, blood, and everything than can flow, to run wild.

We have. We do. We will.

Remember.