An unfinished symphony...

Check this out... It's the winner of the 2008 Cannes film festival for short story films.

I'm thinking of the story at the well in Bethsaida, or the man Bartimaeus... Blindness comes in many forms. Even those of us who are walking in Jesus have amazing "blind spots" - don't we??

Jesus had God's perspective and saw with the spiritual eyes of the heart. Where other people saw blindness, Jesus saw people who knew it was "a beautiful day" but that they "could not see it."

Paul said,
Praying for open eyes and an open heart...
Deb

So help me, I did not plan on tuning in to the Republican Convention. I was actually trying to get the latest weather reports on hurricane season... but I heard Rudy Giuliani say this:

Let me be clear that I have not decided on who gets my vote in November... And I'm not so big on Giuliani, either.

But I LOVED that quote!!! It could be said for any woman in any profession... especially ministry!

Ever the rabble rouser...
Deb

Bristol Palin is 17. So is The Harpist.

Life happens, sometimes faster than you planned. I commend McCain on not making the news of Bristol Palin's pregnancy a non-qualifier for his veep pick. It hasn't been the final catalyst in my decision on who to vote for in November...

What would I do if I were in the position of Sarah Palin?? I struggle as a mother to know what to say, or think. What would I do, say, think, advise my own daughter? And could I stand the stuff that would hit the fan in the attitudes and comments of the nitpickers around me?

As I mull this over, I only know one thing:
The mudslinging and innuendos, from BOTH parties, has to stop. I am sick of nasty, spiteful, catty words!

Peace... and hope for all those involved...

Deb

Is it possible to sprain your brain? Because I think I just did.

I finished reading No Other Name by John Sanders. I filled out my chart on restrictivism, universalism, universal evangelism, eschatalogical evangelism and inclusivism. Who knew there were so many "isms"??

It's just a precursor to the discussion in my World Religions class. Where I think I will get a proper brain strain!

I really wonder sometimes... do we make God laugh when we get into our theological nitpicking? Or do we make God sigh??

Just musing...
Deb

Singing Owl over at RevGals has this Friday Five:

1. Tell us about the worst job you ever had.
Umm... it's a toss up between a church ministry job (LOL) and working as a burger jockey at the Ohio State Fair. For the latter, I went home every night, smelling of sweat, grease and grilled onions. Even my shoes stunk. The pay was... lousy, too.

2. Tell us about the best job you ever had.
That's a hard one... probably being a camp counselor, because I got to play all summer.

3. Tell us what you would do if you could do absolutely anything (employment related) with no financial or other restrictions.
Ahh... I think I'd go ahead and open that pastors' rest and retreat center. I was going to choose the mountains, but I think instead I'm going to go for a beach location. Any place where quiet outweighs commerce, and seagull outnumber people! It would be a healing place, a place to create, to study, to write, and to eat fresh shrimp by the gallon.

4. Did you get a break from labor this summer? If so, what was it and if not, what are you gonna do about it?
Yes... we had our week at the beach. It was not long enough. But it was good to unplug, to have BODACIOUS amounts of fresh seafood, and to chill with the fam. The photo here is the sunset our first night. It kinda set the tone of the week!

5. What will change regarding your work as summer morphs into fall? Are you anticipating or dreading?
Ah. It's already started. My classes. Work. The Harpist's senior year (and college visits and applications). Reedy Girl's last year of middle school. Bearded spouse. etc etc etc...

Bonus question: For the gals who are mothers, do you have an interesting story about labor and delivery (LOL)?
Both of my labors were "precipitous." From first twinge to final push, #1 daughter's labor was 8 hours, #2 daughter's labor was 4 hours! And both labors, over 10 days late, were brought on (unscientifically) by a no-holds-barred HOT Mexican food dinner. Beans, burritos and birth pangs... hmmm... sounds like a book title!

And now it's time to... GO to work!

Deb

Check out this one:

If the embedded video doesn't play, you can find it here!

I finished re-reading the Gospel of Matthew and found myself going back to read over a pithy comeback from Jesus to (surprise, surprise) the Pharisees:

I had to stop and try to grasp a truth that has often eluded me... God is looking for people to serve who are about mercy, not religion. The problem is, many of us in the "religion" business (like the Pharisees!) are forgetting that we are actually in the "mercy" business. How many times do I react to someone, or pre-judge them because of a previous interaction or experience with them, or someone like them? How many times do I accuse in my mind and find them guilty without a hearing?

Way, WAY, WAY too often. And I suspect, if you are human, you are with me on this.

SIGH....
It's official.

Summer is over and the time for the typing of papers has come.

I'd rather be beaching. Ah well...

Deb

Songbird of RevGalBlogPals writes:

It's Friday afternoon, Eastern Time, and this is your faithful Songbird with a calendar-related Friday Five. Due to some confusion with our dates, I'm stepping in today, although I am usually here only on the 5th Friday, when there is such a thing.

Here are five things to ponder about dates. I hope you'll play!

1) Datebooks--how do you keep track of your appointments? Electronically? On paper? Month at a glance? Week at a glance?
Our church staff now uses Google mail, calendars, etc. It syncs with my personal Outlook 2007 stuff, including my "smart" phone. I love it. However, I also use a paper calendar to make sure that my family is all on the same page. It helps! I also have ALL of my class assignments, due dates, etc. on a paper calendar. It's my "brain" and I can't do life without it.

2) When was the last time you forgot an important date?
Anniversary or birthday - never. Appointment - probably more recently than I can remember. Which, at the moment, I can't remember at all.

3) When was the last time you went OUT on a date?
Wednesday. :)

4) Name one accessory or item of clothing you love even though it is dated.
I don't know... I am sure my fashion consultants (aka teenage daughters) will tell me, though.

5) Dates--the fruit--can't live with 'em? Or can't live without 'em?
Eh. Great to get things moving, if you get my drift. Otherwise... not so much.

Thanks, Songbird... :)
Deb

We're leaving in the morning.... sigh...

Here in Beaufort, you can meet just about anyone. Bill and Hillary Clinton have been sighted at Hilton Head. Tom Hanks filmed a movie here, and so did a whole passle of other folks.

Beaufort is a sweet l'il ol' southern town where they still make sweet tea from scratch and call you "honey." It's just a nice place to vacation.

So, it really didn't surprise me when I ran into one of Mindy's friends...

She had some kinda rash! She told me that a girl can get her skin really roughed up if she doesn't use sunblock and moisturizer. Looking knowingly at my freckled, slightly pink face, she 'llowed as how I was gonna be peeling myself in a few days.

As for the things on her back? She shrugged. She was sure SOMEONE thought it was a great pun -- "bloom where you are planted. ha ha."


And she wondered why the Beaufort Arts Council decided to make her live just a half a block away from Talbot's, where, she noted, NO ONE with HIPS ever bothers to shop!!! As she pointed out, she was facing the other way... towards the Dairy Queen just a few blocks the OPPOSITE direction!


I like her style.

Deb

Oh... to Mindy she says, "y'all come to Beaufort any time."