June 15, 2006

God's Child

This morning I was awaken to the aches and pains of my age. My arthritis, or so I believe it to be, in my legs and hips just doesn't allow for restful sleeping in the early morning hours. So today I gave it up and went into the living room to sit up in my recliner. I made the coffee and sat reading the ACU Today magazine that had arrived this week in my mail.

I graduated from Abilene Christian University when it was still ACC. It is so amazing for me to read about people that graduated near my class and have gone on to achieve so much in life. ACU graduates are successful in all careers and in numerous places around the world. The profession I find especially fascinating is not the doctors, lawyers, teachers or photo journalist that ACU spawned. While those are noteworthy professions, I continue to be intrigued by the missionaries, preachers and students of Biblical studies. Those people live to study God's word. They champion His cause in all nations and walks of life. They are passionate about bringing the word to others and in general doing what they know Jesus would do if He were walking among us today. God bless those people who choose to encourage those of us with lesser faith.

In my early morning reflective hours, my emotions and feelings run the gambit from angst about the corporate worship and politics of my local congregation, to the longing for spiritual revival in my own life. When I read about how ACU influenced a man who is now preaching in what many term a "megachurch", I have to wonder how I skipped through my college years on such a shallow mindset. Even though I do remember hearing messages that pricked my heart and would sear my soul with a longing to be a better Christian for Christ, I left ACU and those lessons slowly faded into the busy-ness of adult life.

A reflection of who I am at my core, comes back to me In the first hours of morning. It is at those times when nothing has happened in the day to discourage me, no person or event has challenged my opinions, no substance has yet altered my thinking or approach to my day, that I am vulnerable. I am who I am. A child of God, needing forgiveness and mercy.

As I read this morning I was encouraged by words of Rick Atchley, a former ACU student and currently the senior minister of a church in Texas. He said, "the grace of God is bigger than any sin or mistake." What a statement and revelation for my eyes to read. He repeated that same statement in regard to his preaching each Sunday that "I preach to nobody whose mess is bigger than God's grace." I don't know about you, but that is the type of encouragement that I need repeated in my ear on a daily basis. I openly admit to being weak for sin and somewhat of a "mess". Guilt and discouragement along with the reality of what I don't do on a daily basis makes me ashamed. I am weak. I need all the "Rick Atchleys" I happen to come in contact with to tell me that God's grace is bigger than any mistake that I make.

There isn't a lot more to this. I just wanted to put some thoughts down before the day progressed any further and I begin to lose the person I know I am. God's child.

June 12, 2006

I Am A Dreaming Soul

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world
So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time
You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all...
But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult

You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you.
Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses.
Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others.
Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life.

Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

June 10, 2006

BAYTOWN NATURE CENTER



It only took 3 years, but Kim and I finally ventured to the back of our Lakewood subdivision to check out the Baytown Nature Center located on a peninsula surrounded by three bays. Overlooking Crystal Bay, the San Jacinto Monument can be seen quite well. For many years prior to 1983, that area known as Brownwood, was a residential subdivision and already subsiding due to the withdrawal of oil and groundwater. Then, in the fall of 1983, Hurricane Alicia struck, damaging many of the homes in the neighborhood. So, in 1991, city officials decided to make the vacated subdivision into the nature center it is today.

It was a treat to drive back into the center toward the bay this morning and see many species of butterflies and birds. I understand there are many mammals there, but we only observed one rabbit. Of course, on a hot Texas day like today, those mammals are going to be asleep in a shaded area. We enjoyed walking around the picnic areas bordered with wild plants and flowers. Fish were jumping in the bay waters while little black, gray chested birds of some kind sang a tune. As we watched the fish in the calm Crystal Bay waters, the San Jacinto Monument stood tall on the opposite bank.

Upon entering the gates of the park, we had to stop to check in at the information center . There is a charge to enter the nature center, but the employee was going to allow us a 15 minute look around. After Kim inquired about membership fees, we decided to go inside the building to sign up. Inside the information center were some aquariums with live snakes that had been found in the area. Even though I'm not a fan of snakes, the interesting birds and other features of the park were enough for me to agree on purchasing a family membership for a year. Within the park are many picnic areas, a playground for the children and other features that nature lovers will enjoy. We hope there will be opportunities to take our friends and relatives to the center for outings, making our membership a wise investment.

Even though it took us three years to discover this little jewel of nature literally in our own backyard, I'm sure glad we did.

June 8, 2006

Starbucks

Starbuck's new frappacino drinks for the summer are absolutely delicious! They are liquid bliss. Have any of you tried the Banana Mocha Creme? I may try the Banana cocoanut creme today. Forget the diets and cool off with one of these better-than- ice cream liquid desserts. To top it off, the people working in there were having so much fun. They were dressed in tropical print shirts and looked very cool. The man that took my order was so friendly and wasn't about to let me stand there and be glum. I halfway expected him to flash a big toothy grin and exclaim, "Don't worry, be happy!" I had to smile and join in the fun time.

The employees in that Starbucks reminded me of a film I viewed at work one time. The film was about making the workplace a fun place to be. The documentary focused on a fishmarket and the way its employees have a rocking time while serving up smelly old fish to their amused customers. The fish-throwers laughed and joked with each other and their customers while completing the fish orders. Even the grumpiest customer left with a smile his face. The people in the Starbucks weren't throwing coffee drinks around like the fish, but they were laughing, joking and making me feel like I was important. I was a happier person for having stopped in their shop on a very hot day.

Okay, who's up for a cup of coffee?

June 6, 2006

Short and Stout

"I'm a little teapot short and stout..."

Yep, that's me. I can't seem to get on the diet wagon. It just isn't happening for me. There are so many great foods and drinks out there that I'm having a hard time choosing the good stuff...well, that's not true. The "good stuff" I'm great at choosing. What I meant to type was that I was having difficulty choosing the "healthy stuff." Big difference.

Tonight I watched again a DVD that I own, "Spanglish". I love that movie. I especially love "The Best Sandwich in the World" that Adam Sandler's character makes in the movie. In the special features the brilliant DVD producers show us the secret of the sandwich straight from the chef that originated the recipe. Watching him prepare the sandwich will make anyone's mouth water. I get hungry just thinking about it.

Tomorrow, I'm going to make a great sandwich for lunch, uh, no, breakfast...na, that would't be right...lunch, no, breakfast...see? I have absolutely no will power whatsoever. In fact if I had some great bread, and bib lettuce, (I have all of the other ingredients) I think I'd be tempted to go into my kitchen right now at 12:40 in the AM and make that sandwich. Oh, what do you know? Then it WOULD be breakfast. Or as my movie chef said, "a late night sandwich." yum!

"...here is my handle, here is my spout."
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