The Grove

Today was a professional development day at school so Carol, the other counselor I work with, and I went to Oak Grove Elementary to talk with their counselor. On the way down there we passed a sign that tickled me. Accoding to Carol, that sign has been up since the school year started. I took a picture with my cell phone's 1.3 megapixel camera so it isn't very clear.

If you saw this sign that says "Lordy Lordy Diane Carr", how old would you assume she was?



I bet you didn't say "51".

Resurrection Letters, Vol. II

Josie, Shannon, Whitney, Ashton, and I skipped LIFE group tonight. We went to Andrew Peterson's cd release concert and it was great! It wasn't anything fancy or showy, it was just Andrew on stage with his guitars and a piano, singing to a half-filled sanctuary. He went through each song on his new cd "Resurrection Letters, Vol. II", giving his background thoughts and the scripture basis for each one. It was a good time of worship.

I downloaded the first song off of this cd several weeks ago and I'll share it with you now.

"All Things New"

"Come broken and weary. Come battered and bruised. My Jesus makes all things new, all things new. Come lost and abandoned. Come blown by the wind. He'll bring you back home again, home again. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, the light of the dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, he makes all things new.

Come frozen with shame. Come burning with guilt. My Jesus, he loves you still, he loves you still. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, the light of the dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, he makes all things new. The world was good, the world is fallen, the world will be redeemed, so hold on to the promise. The stories are true that Jesus makes all things new. The dawn is upon you. Rise uup, oh you sleeper, awake, the light of the dawn is upon you. Rise up, oh you sleeper, awake, he makes all things new. All things new."

The following verses are the ones Andrew cited as the basis for this song:

"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." II Corinthians 5:17

"And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, ' Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" Revelation 21:5

During the intermission, Josie commented that she felt like she had been covered with the Truth tonight; I'm pretty sure that is exactly what each of us needed.

(The cd isn't being released until October 21st but you can listen to a sample and/or buy the single on iTunes. If you want to buy the whole thing, you can pre-order it here.)

It's A Sunflower!!

Our Kindergartners went to the punkin patch today. One of the highlights of this trip is that they each get to choose a pumpkin to take home with them. Even though the teachers remind them to pick a pumpkin they will be able to carry by themselves, the eyes of 5 year olds are often bigger than their arms in these situations. Because of this, I went out to meet them as they arrived back from their field trip. Sure enough, several of them were dragging their pumpkin down the steps of the bus, up the sidewalk, and down the hallway to their classrooms. It was hilarious, but I guess you would really have had to see it for yourself.

One of my favorite 5 year olds, Cameron, came running up to me after getting off the bus. He had something he wanted to give me; he brought it back just for me. I was touched! He reached into his plastic bag which carried his small pumpkin and pulled out a sunflower. He was so proud of it! I got a little choked up! I took a picture of it.



I taped it to the wall to show all of it. Isn't is sweet!?!

I Doubt You'll Like It...

...but I do. This one is mainly for my mom but you are welcome to look too.

I got my hair cut and colored today.

Life is War

The Missions Committee at church is reading "Let the Nations be Glad" by John Piper. Since I'm a member of the committee, I'm reading this too, only at a slower pace than the others. Needless to say, I'm a little behind. I sat down a little while ago to read chapter 2 but I haven't been able to get past the first paragraph.

"The Supremacy of God in Missions through Prayer" (chapter title)

"Life is war. That's not all it it. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of frontline forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider."

The Renewed Mind is the Key?

A friend shared this video with me. It makes me laugh, a lot!



If you want to laugh a little more, try this....

Okay

I love church signs, especially those found in small towns. Here is one from a church in a town I drive through almost daily.



In case it is too blurry for you, it says "Not sure you believe in God? Just don't die!"
My initial reaction is still my reaction...WOW!!!
I'm not sure what else to say about it.