WWYD? What would you do?

I watched Stranger Than Fiction last night. Thought is was a great movie,- boo to those critics.
But now I have to ask, Would you knowingly give your life so that a stranger could live?

The way it should be...

You know so much of our culture is focused on love, romance, marriage, blah, blah, blah. Okay fine. (Can you tell I was watching Oprah today? Grrrr.)
Unfortunately I'm affraid that so many women my age and younger are in love with the idea of marriage with and unrealistic view of what it will be like. They really want the wedding, not the relationship. You see it all the time (I'm guily too, so I'm not judging anyone) when engaged women are blind to the issues in themselves, their man, or relationship once the ring is on the finger. They are in love with a fantasy, the idea of being "grown-up", and what our culture deems as "okay as a person because you're not single anymore."
So here's my proposal. Every woman should save up all their money (and have their parents contribute too) to have a big fancy All-About- Me party.
Have it catered. Wear a big dress. Get a photographer, a cheesecake, and have everyone bring you crazy expensive presents. Do it when you are about 22-23, right after you graduate. Celebrate you and all the wonderful things about you. Be the center of attention, and act like a princess for a day.
Get it out of your system.
Then take all of your registered things, start your new apartment, and love life, and learn about yourself
Then wait about 10 more years... and when you a finally know enough yourself, and are a complete person, you can present that to someone else who can appreciate who you are. Then get married just the two of you, with a pastor on the beach at sunset. Sigh.
:0)

Good story, Good lesson

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you."

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued, "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today -- one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and, excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right he took his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO, the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it and bring it back to me today. "But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead -- it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

"When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust!

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends!

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness!

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment!

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective!

If you plant hard work, you will reap success!

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation!

If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest!

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

Two thousand years ago, Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same story but with fewer words, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal.
6:7)

We are grass that will wither and die, but the incorruptible seed of God's Word will live forever. Sow it daily into the life of your family! (1 Peter 1:23-25)

I Thought I'd Just Die:Embarrassing Confessions of the Mirrorly Challenged

I only had a few minutes to get to the store. I quickly threw off my workout clothes, pulled on the outfit I'd worn to work and shook my hair from it's ponytail as I rushed out of the door.
3 minutes later, I hastely plucked golden delicious apples from the stand as I noticed a fimiliar tightness around my throat.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. A subtle flip/peek confirm my worst fear.
My shirt was on backwards.
I froze, unsure of what to do. This is a major embarassment. This is much worse then the time(s) I've drug myself to work, after dressing in a sleepy stupored fog, only to realize later that my panties are on inside out.
Oh no. This is for for whole world to see.
My cute fitted tee is now a boatneck with a cute v-back.
"Don't worry Christy. Just get your bread, butter and get out quick." I say to myself
Ha. No such luck. It's the Murphy's Law of grocery stores. When ever you are in a rush (or realize you are having a slight wardrobe malfuntion) there will only be 2 lines open,-one will have someone writing a personal check, and the other will have a senior citizen paying for a cart of groceries in loose change.
I tried to act natural as I waited and checked out. I rushed through the parking lot hoping I wasn't spotted by any of my first- grade students ("Hi Miss Merrill!...Hey, why is your shirt like that?...Oh. I do that too sometimes.") Drove home.
Phew! Safe.
But I took a peek at my self in the mirrow. Hmmmm...It's actually kinda cute.
I wonder what other clothes I have would look good backwards?

Hey Baby, If you've got it, flaunt it!

And you thought you looked bad in a bikini?

My recomendation, part 2

Okay I re-read my blog from this morning about the movie, and perhaps I need a little more explanation. Some of you will watch this movie and think, "What was Christy talking about? This movie is Crazy."
1) There is some S-E-X and some gratuitous male nudity in it, which I'm not even sure why they put that in there. But I guess that's why it's gratuitous.
2) I think the reason it effected me so much was because of the concept of this (fictional) character who wanted to serve, make a difference, and have this big life adventure (sound like anyone you know) but leaves the mission hospital swept up in the seduction of money, power, noteriety. When you watch the movie, there's a line during a confrontation at the end. Amin growls something like, "You thought Africa was just a fairy tale. And you were going to come and play the part of the white man. But we are very real"
It makes me very aware of the need to keep my motives in check as I prepare to do the same thing. I definitely need to keep my heart right as I prepare to enter into another culture, to avoid ever taking on a "savior complex."
There. That's why it effected me.

My recomendation

I saw The Last King of Scotland last night. I have not been effected by a movie in this way in a while. It is truely a great movie, and Forrest Whitaker definately deserved his Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin, the president of Uganda during the 70's.
Warning,- it is rated R and deserves every ounce of the that rating, but 95% of it is because of horrific images that boggle the mind. I am still thinking, "Who dreams up torture like that?" You can close your eyes if you need to.
Yes it gave me weird dreams, but somehow it's still in my mind this morning and I can't stop thinking about it.
Let me know your opinion if you've seen it.

The Name Game

I know there is power in the spoken word. What we say about ourselves over and over and over again has a great effect on us. People who say, "I'm stupid," or "I'm not good enough" usually act in a way that reflects that. I know those examples are consious on their parts, but do you ever wonder about what we "unknowingly" say about ourselves and how it effects us?

For example if you speak in tongues, you are edifying yourself without knowing what you're actually saying, (in some cases). Those words have a definate meaning, but you don't really know what they are.

Today this all kinda dumped on me as I read the introduction of Ezra. "Ezra" means "help."
I thought to myself, "Some of us don't even know what our names mean, but we identify ourselves by them"
Have you ever noticed that when you find out what a friend's name means, it's very fitting! Is it because they have titled themselves by that name for all of these years? Is it a self fulfilling prophecy? (Lord, I hope not. "Sanjaya" means "victory")

My friends' (joanne and miss Jean) name means "God is gracious" and it's very fitting for both of them.
Have you ever noticed God changed people's names? Abram became Abraham, the "father of many nations." Simon became Peter the "Rock" Jacob became Isreal "One who struggles with God."
For years I unknowingly called myself the "Famous light of Christ." Is it any wonder I'm going to serve as a missionary?

So what is your name, and what does it mean? Does it fit? Do you want to change it now? hee hee.

The gig is up!

My mom finally read my blog. This was her response:

O.K. YOUNG LADY YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE...................

HOW'S THE BELLY RING ??????????????

AS FOREST GUMP SAYS "THATS ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT"...............

MOM

I knew she hadn't read it because i saw her twice this weekend and she never mentioned it. And I wasn't about to mention it!

All Aboard!

Yea! My church is getting on board.
Thanks Shanna, for all of your hard work and pushing, pushing, pushing.

Cool sight

Okay, so Shanna Ten Clay tipped me off to this web page, Follow the Rabbi. Just click over there in my links.
It's addicting. Be warned.
But it is so awesome. I could just read for hours. It is so relevent and explains the cultural atmosphere of biblical times, and the significance of Jesus's words, actions, choices, ect. It's so cool, I just had to share.

That's Children's Cup!

I read this the other day:
"Master," Simon replied, "We worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try again." And this time their nets were so full they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge on sinking. Luke 5:5-7

When I read it, the words almost popped off the page at me. "That's Children's Cup!!!" With their obedience, they have an abundance of work to do. They have been praying for God to send more partners and helpers to do the work God has given them. But not only are the new partners sharing the work load, but they are also sharing the blessings!
Are you being called off of the shores?

Caught ya!!!!!

Look at this little rascal! My bed was perfectly made. He just lay there unashamed, and let me take his picture.

Tyler, Ernesto, and $300 bucks

This is my roomate for the next week, Tyler. He's such a sweetie.
And he is sitting on my new carpet!

As you might know I've needed new carpet in the bedrooms for a while. The old carpeting was worn, dirty and pet stained. Well, I tried to get some last fall, and Lowes was going to charge me $1,200 for my two tiny bedrooms! That's crazy. No, wait, that's right, it was on sale. I was going to get the bargain price of $900. Home depot couldn't offer me a much better deal.
But I couldn't justify it. No matter how much i wanted it. I could not spend that much on two tiny bits of carpet.
Well, leave it to my momma. She found the nicest man, named Ernesto, to do her carpeting. and since he did such a nice job she refered me to him.
He came this morning, and completed the job,- carpet, padding, and labor for $300! Now that's more like it!
If any of you are looking for some carpeting, let me know, I'll give you his #.
It smells like new carpet in my house now. :0)
It's pretty, clean, and free of pet stains.
Did you hear me Tyler? Free of pet stains!

Belly blues

"No one said it would be easy. But no one said it'd be this hard"
Oh sing it Sheryl Crow.
After longing for 13 years I got my belly button ring. And I love it, don't get me wrong. But I had no idea it would be so high maintanance. I'm not a high maintanance kinda gal. I thought it would be like getting my ears pierced.
Twist twice and add some solution. Done
Nope. I was very niave.
First you have to wash it with dial soap. No biggie. Then you have to soak it twice a day in sea salt water. Yes sea salt. Imagine the physical act. I have to fill a tiny tupperware of salt water, then hang my belly forward and press it real hard and then bend way far back and try to balance and lie down on the couch without spilling it out of the tupperware. This has meant farwell to the snooze alarm so I can have the extra time for this sanitary routine.
No peroxides allowed
No ointment allowed.
And all of this might be worth it if it worked. But appearantly it is still the general expectation that my piercing will get an infection at some point in the next 2 months. Yes, I said 2 months. I've yet to talk to anyone who hasn't gotten an infection. In fact the official care guide from the tattoo parlor says, that the piercing needs to be de-crusted regularly, and the bar must stay inserted at all cost, to let it seep.
Ewwwwww.
No one ever told me that part.
Is it all worth it? I don't know. But what's done is done and I'm not about to undo it. So I guess this is a ow-y icky course in perserverance.