planted here to grow...

2011-11-11T11:48:00.000-06:00

“The Christian gospel is not merely that Jesus died and rose again; and not merely that these events appease God’s wrath, forgive sin, and justify sinners; and not merely that this redemption gets us out of hell and into heaven; but that they bring us to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as our supreme, all-satisfying, and everlasting treasure. ‘Christ … suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God’ (1 Pet. 3:18)”

— John Piper
God is the Gospel
(Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2005), 167

http://firstimportance.org/2011/11/brought-to-the-glory-of-god/

2011-11-07T13:08:00.000-06:00

“No amount of activity in the King’s service will

make up for neglect of the King Himself.”

–R.M. M’Cheyne

unite the Gospel with faith | Hebrews 4:2

2011-10-26T10:08:00.001-05:00

“Being able to articulate the gospel with accuracy is one thing; having its truth captivate your soul is quite another. The gospel is not just supposed to be our ticket into heaven; it is to be an entirely new basis for how we relate to God, ourselves, and others. It is to be the source from which everything else flows.”

— J. D. GreearGospel: Rediscovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary
(Nashville, Tn.: B & H Publishing, 2011), 9

Jesus My Glory

2011-09-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

O LORD GOD,
Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus;
and I would flee to no other refuge,
wash in no other fountain,
build on no other foundation,
receive from no other fullness,
rest in no other relief.
His water and blood were not severed in their flow at the cross,
may they never be separated in my creed and experiences;
May I be equally convinced of the guilt and pollution of sin,
feel my need of a prince and saviour,
implore of him repentance as well as forgiveness,
love holiness, and be pure in heart,
have the mind of Jesus, and tread in his steps.
Let me not be at my own disposal,
but rejoice that I am under the care of one
who is too wise to err,
too kind to injure,
too tender to crush.
May I scandalize none by my temper and conduct, but
recommend and endear Christ to all around,
bestow good on every one as circumstances permit,
and decline no opportunity of usefulness.
Grant that I may value my substance,
not as the medium of pride and luxury,
but as the means of my support and stewardship.
Help me to guide my affections with discretion,
to owe no man anything,
to be able to give to him that needeth,
to feel it my duty and pleasure to be merciful and forgiving,
to show to the world the likeness of Jesus.

(Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

Jesus read his Bible

2011-05-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

This post was particularly helpful in seeing that Jesus treasured his Bible... interesting concept to consider at first seeing as Jesus was God in the flesh. Here's a small excerpt detailing the effects of Jesus' treasuring of the Word on our life:

"We start off thinking about needing to be more faithful in reading the Word, but we finish off by seeing (in the Word) that Jesus was faithful in all of his living, to include his love for the Bible. It is this soul-stirring, pride-crushing obedience of Jesus that convicts and compels my obedience. It drives me to the Bible, not to curry favor, but in response to the favor he has earned. Small group conviction and accountability relationships may work in the short-term to produce more Bible reading. However, it is this sight, grasp and appreciation of Jesus’ doing and dying for us that truly changes people in the long-term."

Read the entire post here.

the difference between a christian and non-christian

2011-04-15T09:07:00.000-05:00

This post is not orginial to me but rather was just posted on the DG blog (found here). I simply found it good enough to repost...

What is a distinguishing mark of a believer? At our 2009 Pastors Conference Mark Dever gave us a helpful and memorable word:

"The difference between a Christian and non-Christian: When a non-Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with his sin. When a Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with God, against himself."

on reading books by old dead guys...

2011-04-13T13:41:00.001-05:00

CS Lewis said, "The only safety is to have a standard of plain, central Christianity ("mere Christianity" as Baxter called it) which puts the controversies of the moment in their proper perspective. Such a standard can be acquired only from the old books. It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones."

2011-04-08T12:28:00.003-05:00

It is impossible to conceive a Savior more suited to the wants of man's heart than our Lord Jesus Christ--suited not only by His power, but by His sympathy--suited not only by His divinity, but His humanity...[He] is the most loving and sympathizing of friends, as well as the mightiest and most powerful of Saviors....you want no comfort...so long as you can repose your weary soul on the Man Christ Jesus."
-J.C. Ryle, Holiness, pp.240-242

standing on shoulders

2011-04-07T09:12:00.003-05:00

It is no secret in my little corner of the internet that I am indeed a great fan of Hudson Taylor but before Taylor (and still near and dear to my heart) is Samuel Rutherford. You can find glimpses into his sweet walk the the Father in The Letters of Samuel Rutherford or even shorter glimpses in a small pocket sized book, with BIG truth called The Loveliness of Christ. In recent weeks, these words of Rutherford below have supplemented my time in the word quite well. So thankful to have men and women who gazed at Christ from days long past that we can indeed stand on their shoulders and behold Him as he is and seeing Him, be transformed in His image...

"There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ than to bring our wounds and our sores to him." -S. Rutherford

"Whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome Jesus, what may soever thou come, if we can get a sight of thee: and sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bedside and draw the curtains, and say, Courage, I am thy salvation, than to enjoy health, being lust and strong and never need to be visited of God." -S. Rutherford

purposes in pruning

2011-03-04T12:54:00.000-06:00

I've had this plant for three years. Three years and it has bloomed once... once. However, I have very high hopes for this plant this season. Why you might ask? Because after three years I finally pruned it. Indeed, a couple of months ago I finally took the plunge and cut away some of the old leaves that had been damaged by the harsh sun and sudden frosts. The result: new fresh growth!! In the midst of my excitement about this new growth (yes, sometimes it's the little things that excite me) I've been reminded that likewise the Father prunes his children so that they might bear fruit for him. Therefore, we should be thankful for the sometimes painful act of pruning. The Father is purposing in the midst of our pruning that we would be conformed to the image of his son. Pruning, it's a good thing all in all, right?

Indian Scrambled Eggs

2010-07-28T13:28:00.004-05:00

You don't have to hang around me long to know that I love India and the other night I was in the mood for something with a little Indian flare and decided to try my hand at whipping up some Indian scrambled eggs, which we were served for dinner one night on my most recent journey there. I had all the ingredients on hand and chances are you do too! Here's a brief tutorial and I promise you, you'll love the outcome!

Saute some onions in a bit of olive oil...

Add chili power, salt and eggs to your browned onions...

Scramble per your usual method...

Enjoy!

Now if you had been in India, your scrambled eggs would have been served minus the fork but with a bit of naan (type of flatbread) for "scooping." You would've probably been served some type of vegetable curry as an additional side dish but I just went with the eggs.

Made me wish I was there again...

A Day of Contrasts

2010-06-25T08:00:00.046-05:00

The Lord provided a very interesting contrast one day in particular while I was in India. Let me set the stage: The first part of this day the team had the opportunity to visit two Hindu temples in the area… Temples exist on almost every corner and the only difference in them is the god to which they are dedicated (Hinduism supports about 330 million gods), the size of the temple and the degree of “ornateness” (I think I just made that word up but it fits). We saw the sign next to the door detailing the price for each particular type of blessing the worshiper was seeing from the god. We stood in the temple and watched as worshipers rang a bell in the doorway (to wake the god) before entering. We watched as worshipers came and lay down prostrate before the god, plastic and decorated with garland. We saw the gifts/offerings people had bought seeking blessings and/or appeasement from the god.

For me, there was an overwhelming sense of sadness as I saw the deception. We had seen just days before, in a neighboring village, the priests “taking the god for a ride” through the village on a decorated cart dawn by water buffalo. We heard about how periodically the gods are taken out of the temple and bathed in milk. Scripture describes this scene perfectly in Psalms 115: 4-8.

Later that evening, the Lord provided a completely different picture: We had the privilege of attending the early hours of a monthly all night prayer service at the church in Ventrapragada. The service started with worship through singing and through the preached word before moving on to the time of prayer. It was such a beautiful contrast from the picture seen earlier in the day. Believers bowing in prayer before the throne of the living God who never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalms 121:4). So many of these precious saints were found laboring in prayer for the salvation of their families. Through translation the team knew the specific prayer requests of these people and one by one, side by side with these Indian believers we were able to simultaneously approach the throne of God with our petitions. How sweet to know that the one true God, immediately, hears and understands our prayers, in English and in Telugu.

The interesting thing is that we Americans think we are a little more removed from the scenes of temples filled with idols on every corner, in our houses, and in our cars but we really aren’t. Sure, we don’t literally take our gods out for a ride, bathe them in milk, or attempt to literally appease them but really we are no different. We erect idols and temples of a different sort. Our idols are seated on the thrones of our hearts where Christ is the rightful ruler and our idols manifest themselves in the form of our jobs, careers, money, kids, religious appearances, and chiefly, self. As we are frequently reminded at Grace Church, our hearts are indeed “idol factories” and we desperately need a great Savior to step in, purify our hearts, and unite them toward Christ (Psalm 86:11).

Broken Barriers

2010-06-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Once of the most moving experiences was a visit to the “slum” area of Ventrapragada, the village where we spent a good deal of time. This is the portion of the community where the people that are considered “untouchable” or the “lowest of the low” reside. The children of these people are often times denied education, though they live virtually across the street from the school. Though they are beautiful people, their clothes are often tattered and dirty. We heard that many times the only sustenance these people have is rice and often after they cook the rice they reserve the “rice water” for consumption later because it has nutrients that will be beneficial and fill them up.

As we walked in this area and looked at the faces of these people we listened to Vijay tell of the barriers that the gospel was ripping down. These people are in a class all to themselves and usually those of the higher castes do not associate with these “lowest of the low.” About ten years ago, Vijay’s dad who pastors a church in Ventrapragada, began faithfully ministering to these people who are frequently ignored and about three years ago they began seeing the fruit of faithful laboring with the Gospel as some of these people began know Christ. Now, despite barriers that have existed for thousands of years, believers from the higher castes can now be found on a Sunday morning worshiping right next to believers from the lowest castes. The gospel does indeed break down all barriers when we allow it to penetrate every area of our lives.

Two reasons this picture was so valuable to me: One, Memphis just so happens to be a city where years and years of racial barriers have been erected yet the gospel can completely demolish these barriers when our lives are all wrecked by gospel truth. Seeing the broken barriers in this village in India give me much reason to hope and expectantly pray that the Lord will do the same here in Memphis. Two and similarly, we were once “untouchable” because of our sin. An even higher barrier once existed between the holy God and sinful man and yet by Christ’s redeeming work on the cross, he has completely destroyed that barrier. Now believers have freedom to fellowship and worship at the throne, where we once were, by virtue of our sin nature, denied access. Praise God that the gospel does indeed break down the highest of barriers!

Happy Journey!

2010-06-23T08:47:00.002-05:00

Normally, one wouldn’t necessarily see the need to devote an entire post to the journey to a particular destination however, the Father’s hand was SO clearly seen in the orchestration of our journey that I think it does necessitate a post of its own. We were supposed to depart Memphis around 8:15ish on an American Airlines flight to Chicago, then to JFK, Brussels, Chennai (India) and then our final destination by flight, Hyderabad. We were set to arrive in Hyderabad, India around 9 am local time and the team that was meeting us in Hyderabad was scheduled to arrive before us around 2 or 3am.

We boarded our first flight from Memphis to Chicago and were seated with carryon luggage stowed and seatbelts fastened, ready to begin the first leg of our journey when the captain came over the PA system asking everyone to unload for about 20 minutes while American Airlines personnel try to fix a potential problem with the plane’s hydraulics (not sure exactly what this is but hey, if they say there is a potential problem I’m more than willing to get off!). 20 minutes turned into a canceled flight and we ended up spending the better part of the day in Memphis trying to reroute 6 passengers on the same flights all the way to India.

The very helpful American Airlines representative was able to eventually book us all a new itinerary that was supposed to depart at 2 pm that afternoon and take us from Memphis to Chicago to JFK to Frankfurt, Germany to Mumbai and finally into Hyderabad. And while we were almost assured our luggage wouldn’t make it to our final destination because the new itinerary had us flying on 4 different airlines, it would in fact get us to Hyderabad before our original itinerary and eliminate an overnight stay in Chennai, India en route to Hyderabad. What a kindness of the Lord!

Our journey seemed to be clicking along just fine as we left the States but when we arrived in Frankfurt, Germany we all received another little reminder that the Lord is indeed the one who orders our steps (Proverbs 16:9). You see, we found that our friendly American Airlines representative had booked our Frankfurt flights for January 4 as opposed to June 4. Talk about an extended layover! Now we were completely at the mercy of our friendly Lufthansa ticketing agents to get all 6 of us out of Germany together sometime in 2010. (Side note: It an odd sort of way it was the Lord's kindness that the tickets were booked for January. If they American Airlines ticketing agent had seen June, itinerary #2 would probably not have worked and we probably would have never made it out of the States.) Thankfully, Lufthansa was able to reroute us (yet again) and accommodate as long as the 6 of us could run through the Frankfurt airport (including another pass through security) and make it to the plane that was currently boarding for Abu Dhabi, UAE. This third itinerary was to take us to Abu Dhabi and then finally to Hyderabad.

Fortunately, that is exactly what happened. We made it to Abu Dhabi fine but discovered there that our bags did not (actually, only my bag made it to Abu Dhabi). We also discovered that only 4 of the 6 of us had flights that continued on to Hyderabad. The friendly Eithad Airways ticketing agent somehow worked a bit of magic and was able to free up 2 additional seats. We all 6 finally boarded the plane to Hyderabad where we arrived literally moments before our team members from North Carolina did and hours before our original itinerary. What a sweet providence of the Lord! Obviously the Lord had alternate travel arrangements for us and on the onset of the trip it was a precious reminder that the Lord was in control. He continued to show us this even in the way that he provided luggage for the rest of the team almost moments before out bus left Hyderabad for the villages. The entire time, unbeknownst to us, the Lord was behind the scenes orchestrating our crazy travel plans in such a way that caused us to feast on the fullness of Christ and rest in his kind providence toward us. In this sense, as the Indians say, it was indeed a “Happy Journey.”

India

2010-06-22T14:28:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, last week I returned from India and in an effort to attempt to adequately quantify some of what went on while I was there I thought that I’d write a series of blog posts. I’ve got so much more to say than can really be said in response to the casual, “How was your trip?” Therefore, you (the 2 readers I’m lucky to still have after my sporadic history of blogging) can read a more full account at your leisure. And given my record of saying I’m going to blog about a particular topic and then that blog failing to materialize, I can understand the skepticism of my intent to complete this series. Rest assured dear reader, the series will be completed because I’ve already written the entire series and will be posted selections over the coming days. So, diving in…

Just to set the stage for those who might be unfamiliar, I recently spent 10 days in southeast India where God was so gracious in allowing me to see all that he is doing there. It was such a joy to see the ways the Gospel is spreading and taking root, to see the ways the Gospel is breaking down barriers that have existed for thousands of years, and to see mostly the way God is upholding his promise to make his name great among the nations (Malachi 1:11-14).

On June 3, I left with a team of 5 others from my church en route to Hyderabad, India. Once there, we met up with 2 others from a sister church in Charlotte, North Carolina. From Hyderabad we took a bus southeast 6-7 hours to the village where our local contact, Vijay’s home church is located. We spent the next 10 days in this village, Ventrapragada, and surrounding villages conducting pastor’s conferences (the 2 pastors: Nathan from Grace Church Memphis, and Coty from Desiring God Community Church in Charlotte, NC taught hundreds of Indian pastors), conducting gospel meetings in the villages in the evenings, and working with the precious children from Ventrapragada and the children’s home there which is associated with Vijay’s home church. While the team went to take the gospel and to teach local Indian pastors, I know the group would probably unanimously say that ended up learning far more from them. Hopefully you’ll get just a glimpse of that in through the coming posts….

Isaac Ambrose: Looking Unto Jesus

2010-05-28T10:44:00.002-05:00

So I've had this book for a while and the goal is to finish it at some point before I kick the bucket. Seriously, it is 694 pages of text in size 9 font! I pick it up and read small portions periodically. Half of one page is often enough to chew on for days. Since I think it will be ages before I finish this treasure I decided to skip to the end and read the 1.5 page conclusion. The last two paragraphs alone have enough to make your heart rejoice... Here's a small sample for your day:

Click to enlarge if necessary.

May your heart rejoice in Christ this day!

44 ways to ruin your financial life....

2010-05-05T09:10:00.001-05:00

A blog I follow via my handy dandy GoogleReader posted a link to this website recently, which is a post on another blog about 44 ways to ruin your financial life by age 30. Given my profession as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and my general love for promoting personal fiscal responsibility/stewardship I loved reading this post and felt it worthy enough to share with you. Let me know what you think!

another gem from Hudson Taylor

2010-04-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

I've had multiple posts of late (check out this, this and this if you happened to miss them) with tiny samplings of the gems that can be found in Hudson Taylor's two volume biograpy and here's yet another that I absolutely love:

"God owns all the gold and silver in the world, and the cattle on a thousand hills. We need not be vegetarians." -Hudson Taylor

another Vita-Mix treat

2010-04-27T09:15:00.000-05:00

Several months ago I posted about my new fancy blender (click here if you missed it) and since then I've tried multiple new recipes in it but discovered what is sure to become a new fav this past weekend... Peach Sorbet! This treat is SO simple, Peaches (fresh or frozen), a small bit of your sweetener of choice (of course I'm a huge Splenda fan but for this recipe I used half Splenda and half honey), and a touch of vanilla. Throw it all in the blender and what do you get after about a minute and a half? Frozen Peach Sorbet! Can your blender to that? :)

wondering

2010-04-19T09:11:00.004-05:00

I'm wondering if all true believers adopted Hudson Taylor's view of missions how many unreached people groups would still be out there today?

For those of you who are keeping score at home, I am now reading Hudson Taylor: The Growth of a Work of God, which is Volume II. These books now officially have to be at the top of my "Favorite Books of all Time" list; again I urge you to run get these two books! **Update: Just so you know, the two volume set is on sale here now!!**

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts." -Malachi 1:11

first time for everything...

2010-04-15T13:54:00.000-05:00

Wheatberries. Has anyone out there in the blogosphere ever tried cooking them? Last night, I did and despite the 45 minutes that they have to simmer on the stove, they were incredibly yummy! Super nutty and very filling!

"My Hope is Built"

2010-03-30T08:44:00.000-05:00

On their latest album, Everything is Different, Shane and Shane redid the timeless hymn, "The Solid Rock" retitling it "My Hope is Built." The words are the same but the tune has been slightly modified. Though the hymn has been around for ages and Shane and Shane's latest album out since last November, the truth found in the following words have arrested my heart yet again this week...

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

but wholly lean in Jesus' Name

When darkness seems

to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood

When all around my soul gives way

He then is all my Hope and Stay

When He shall come

with trumpet sound

Oh may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne

I stand on the Rock Of Ages

more lessons from Hudson Taylor...

2010-03-18T12:00:00.004-05:00

Due to a combination of things that the Lord has been working in my heart over the last 6 months this quote from Volume I of Hudson Taylor's biography is having a profound effect in my life in regards to being intentional about having Gospel conversations with folks in MEMPHIS. Most immediately, I'm praying for and talking with my neighbor. You just can get closer to home than that!

lessons from Hudson Taylor

2010-03-03T15:07:00.000-06:00

I've been reading Volume I of Hudson Taylor's biography The Growth of a Soul. I can not possibly commend it to you enough. Here's a brief excerpt to whet your appetite.... Enjoy and then RUN get the book!

prayers from my clothes closet

2010-03-01T15:52:00.000-06:00

I was at church last night where they were finishing up a weekend conference on missions. The speaker for the weekend was encouraging consistent labor in prayer for the nations and unreached people groups all around the globe. He suggested a simple method that he had adopted for assimilating further prayer for various nations into his daily routine: Each morning when you put on your clothes, take a brief moment to see where the article of clothing you are putting on was made. Then as you continue to dress for the day spend a few minutes in prayer for that particular country, the unreached people groups there, the advance of the Gospel, the unrestrained worship of Christ, and laborers to go forth. Genius! I took a brief survey in my closet this morning and realized that using this method I would quickly be praying for India, Thailand, China, Bangladesh, and even the United States, just to name a few. So today I'm praying for Sri Lanka... who are YOU praying for?

olympic junkie

2010-02-24T14:35:00.001-06:00

I have to be honest and admit that I am officially a Winter Olympics junkie. For some reason the last couple of weeks I've watched sports that I usually don't really care too much about, like ice dancing for instance. At any rate, I have faithfully cheered on the good 'ole team USA as they rack up the medals in alpine skiing (my personal favorite), snowboarding, figure skating, speed skating, and the list goes on. It's so inspiring to watch these athletes dedicate their entire lives to excelling at their sport and winning the "ultimate prize."

But as I sit on my couch late at night and watch the winner proudly boast their shinny gold, silver, or bronze medal a couple of verses keep parading through my mind...

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

I pray that the athletes that stand on that podium in Vancouver know the one true and eternally satisfying Treasure that is worthy to be pursued with their life. And for us who will probably never stand on a podium as the winner of gold medal, may we remember that Christ is indeed our greatest Treasure both in this life and the next and may we commit our lives to seeing this Christ more clearly.

*On a semi-unrelated note: There is a female speed skater, skating tonight, that grew up skating in West Memphis. I've gotta cheer for my hometown olympian!! Check the story out here and watch her tonight!

what would you do?

2010-01-28T09:06:00.001-06:00

For some reason in a meeting yesterday at the office we got started talking about what we would do if we won the lottery. The big one. In the moment all I could think of is that I would pay off my house and a few other small miscellaneous things (like maybe take the fam on a small trip, etc.) and then I would start some sort of foundation to support missionaries going to serve in locations in the 1040 window. I must admit it will be VERY hard to actually win the lottery if you NEVER actually play the lottery but hey, anything could happen, right?

After sleeping on the curious question, I think my answer is the same. I would still work but I'd probably take a bit of unpaid vacation so I could go on multiple mission trips per year. I'd probably buy Grace a piece of property just so I don't have to set-up the GraceKids room every Sunday (obviously there would be a greater benefit than just that but, it's all about me, right? haha... :) But overall I'd still want to find a way for the bulk of the money to go towards the gospel going forth in the entire 1040 window... particularly India.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

question of the day.

2010-01-20T13:15:00.000-06:00

Will the Tigers be able to break Kentucky's record for the longest conference winning streak tonight against Tony Barbee's (an ex-Calipari assistant when he used to be here at Memphis) UTEP Minners? Let's hope so. Oh the drama that is college hoops...

Pants on the ground.

2010-01-18T21:25:00.002-06:00

I'm pretty indifferent about American Idol. I don't watch the show BUT I've watched this video on YouTube about a gazillion times and it truly makes me laugh EVERY time. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!!

Promises.

2010-01-17T16:49:00.004-06:00

You know, at one point in my life several years ago I don't know that I really expected to learn big truth from teaching a children's Sunday School class. These days I do. It's totally normal. It's my month to teach GraceKids at my church for the 7-12 year old class. I love these kids... Anyway, this year's curriculum has been centered around the promises of God for those of us who are found in Christ and the past couple of weeks I've had the joy of teaching on 3 specific promises namely, God will never leave us, nothing can ever separate us from God, and God will complete us (or conform us to the image of Christ). As these specific promises have been at the forefront of my mind, I can't tell you how many times I've clung to these promises as of late. I'm so thankful we have a loving Father who is faithful to himself and to upholding his own glory, therefore we know that we can trust his promises when everything around us seems unstable. AND I'm also thankful that the Father has used a curriculum made for little hearts to speak big truth to me as he so graciously reminds me of his promises.

new toy

2010-01-11T10:35:00.001-06:00

I got a new toy this weekend and boy is it great! I purchased a Vita-Mix blender and I have to admit that it is pretty much the coolest thing ever! This is the same kind of blender that top chefs on Food Networks' "Iron Chef America" and restaurants like Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Smoothie King use. Anyway, I submit to you that it's not just a blender because it really does so much more... You can make ice cream, hot soups (yes, they come out of the "blender" piping hot!), grind gains (and then mix with yeast and water and have it knead your dough for you!), juice fresh fruits, make awesome smoothies in 30 seconds AND make your own nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.). So much healthier eating because you know exactly what you are putting into your food!

I tried my hand at making some fresh peanut butter this weekend and it was SO yummy! You simply dump in honey roasted peanuts (or any other kind of nut you like) and blend. Can your blender to that? It comes out nice and warm and oh so nutty! Seriously, Jiff has nothing on this! The great thing about this PB is it has no added hydrogenated oils or tons of extra sugar... just peanuts. Anyway, I'll keep you posted on my "blending" adventures. I'm thinking of making chicken tortilla soup in my "blender" tonight.

Mobile blogging?

2010-01-06T09:08:00.002-06:00

Mobile blogging? Has anyone ever tried it??

***Update: Tried it on a real post and I'm not a fan.

blast from the past

2009-12-31T08:53:00.006-06:00

Last year I posted this quote (find it from previous posts here and here) and as yet another year is upon us I thought it might be beneficial to put it out there again.

If God doesn’t rule your mundane,

then he doesn’t rule you, because

that’s where you live.

-Paul Tripp

Happy New Year!

question of the day:

2009-12-09T13:34:00.004-06:00

I love Christmas Carols, especially the really good ones that exalt Christ as God coming to earth on behalf of sinners. What I wonder is, do non-believers who sing songs like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, etc. really not get the Truth of which they sing? How can some sing God-glorifying Christmas carols so flippantly? For example, I wonder if Bob Dylan really understands what he is singing about when he sings The First Noel or O' Come all Ye Faithful? Just curious. Anyway, here's to praying that when people sing or hear a Truth-saturated Christmas carol this year they will come to know the everlasting joy found only in the Christ of which they sing.

Merry Christmas!

May you rejoice in Christ this season...

the Lord is near!

2009-12-04T09:23:00.008-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, one of our pastors served my church family well by quoting the entire book of Philippians at our annual members meeting. In the midst of his quoting the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see something I'd never seen before. And over the last couple of weeks, I can't count the number of times the Lord has brought this truth back to the forefront of my mind. So what is this truth? It is simply this: So many times we quote Philippians 4:6, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." It's a great verse that most of us have heard a million times. But I submit to you that if you took a poll asking folks what the verse preceding verse 6 in Philippians chapter 4 says, you would get a bunch of blank stares. We hardly ever quote verses 5 in conjunction with 6 despite the fact that they are separated by a semicolon (in the ESV). Now, I will be the first to admit that I'm not the best grammarian BUT I think I remember from high school English (Mrs. Minnis for all you WMHS grads!) that two thoughts separated by a semicolon implies that they are related in some way. So I think in the context of this verse, what gives verse 6 weight and your ability to not be anxious about things and the fact that our requests can be made known to God is precisely because of the end of verse 5: "The Lord is at hand." Or if you read the NASB, "The Lord is near." I love it! Christ is near to his children! So all together now:

"[5] ...The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:5-7

So, the constant reminder of the Holy Spirit over the past couple of weeks to my soul has been: Because the Lord is near, do NOT be anxious about anything and make all your requests known to God by prayer and supplication abounding with thanksgiving. The result: verse 7! Praise God for the reality that his risen Son sits enthroned at his right hand and is so near his children!

it's definitely been a while...

2009-12-03T09:38:00.007-06:00

Suffice to say, I've taken a bit of a hiatus from blogging since my last post. To be perfectly honest I've lacked motivation and inspiration (I don't have cute, entertaining kids to post about :). However, I think my break is over and for the one reader that just might still be out there (if I'm lucky), I'll begin blogging again.

Since it's been a while, here's a brief run down of my life since the last post on June 5:

-Summer rolled by without any major note worthy events.

-At the conclusion of the summer, I got to enjoy a brief trip down to the gulf for a little girl time with my mom at the beach. This turned out to be perfect because the guys in my family aren't the biggest beach fans.

-I did indeed have the privilege to run in the 40th running of the ING New York Marathon. It was quite the experience! Fun city. Fabulous race. The experience is worth its own post, so look for that coming soon.

-I also had the joy of going to India for several days on a mission trip at the beginning of November. THAT definitely is worth its own post or even series of posts!

-I've finished a couple of good books since I last posted so don't be surprised if you see a couple of book review in the coming weeks.

-Lastly, I'm running the St. Jude 1/2 marathon this weekend. I LOVE this race... or at least the 1/2 is a blast. I'm running it with a couple of girls from my office and we decided to raise money for St. Jude so if you are in the giving mood hop on over to this site and make a donation!

By the way... it's great to be back!

2009-06-05T13:48:00.005-05:00

So, it's official. I'm in. November 1 I'll be running the NYC Marathon! Marathon training starts tomorrow, which means I have to get my running butt back in gear (I've been slacking the last couple of months). However, having a goal, especially one that you've paid for, can work wonders for the accountability side of training. Thankfully my training buddy (and fun friend) for this exciting experience will be Monica! Running the New York City Marathon has always been a dream since I started running. I've actually been trying to get in the pool to run this race for the last 2 years (this was my third try!). At any rate, as I usually am at the beginning of marathon training, I'm a bit nervous, nevertheless looking forward to November!

experiential learning

2009-06-02T14:59:00.004-05:00

Learning experientially is generally a good thing. This is never more true than when you are experientially learning scripture and a particular verse or passage is becoming more and more a reality in your heart and life. However, while there are a great many passages in scripture I pray the Father would be pleased to teach me experientially in increasing measure, I will have to admit there are some passages in scripture that I NEVER want to experientially learn. Take this one for example: Exodus 8:24. This week I am experientially learning about the 4th plague. Yep, flies. Swarms of them in my house. Flies everywhere you look and everywhere you step…. Disgusting you say? Believe me, I know. I’m working on figuring out where they are all coming from. We’ve pretty much ruled out the source being in my house but I’m not so sure about the neighbor… At any rate, I now see certain passages in Exodus 8 have a totally different light and I’m praying Exodus 8:31 comes to pass… the Lord "removed the swarms of flies" and “not one remained.” Hopefully this will be the case very soon. Until then, I better go stock up on more antibacterial cleaning supplies because I have a LOT of disinfecting to do…

blogging break

2009-05-26T09:25:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks and I've decided I'm offically taking a blogging break. Never fear faithful readers, I'll be back to blogging the first week in June!

super steals and one GREAT mom!

2009-05-08T11:42:00.013-05:00

I'm not one that usually feels the need to blog about simple things such as my grocery shopping experiences. However, I do feel as if this is one time to step out of that mold for just a brief moment...

I have a great mom (and seeing as this weekend is Mother's Day, it is important to note this) who has taught me all sorts of necessary traits over the course of my years and one thing she so readily imparted to me is the techniques of a thrifty shopper. Clipping coupons and buying items on sale are just a few of the ways to become a thrifty shopper. Well, my mom would be proud because on Tuesday night, I combined all thrifty shopping techniques in one Target trip and ended up with the following loot for a mere $14.00. Yes, my friend, everything pictured below for a total of $14.00!!

Note: As you can see, I do love the FiberOne products at my house (they are yummy and a great way to get your daily fiber in!) and they just to happened to all be on sale this past week at Target.

Another product of my mom thriftiness is the impatients that are now planted in my flowerbeds (pics of that to come just as soon as I get finished mulching...). My mom found these super healthy, beautiful impatients on sale (a weekend special) at Home Depot for $.33 apiece about a month ago! I was so excited I quickly purchased 3 flats for around $10! Can you believe it?

Isn't my mom the best shopper?!?! But beyond shopping, I am very thankful the Lord has blessed me with a great mother. I'm thankful for her friendship and for all that she has taught me over the years. So on this Mother's Day weekend, I'm making sure she knows just that! Love you Mom!

lemon soup and gospel conversations

2009-05-06T20:52:00.018-05:00

Shocking I know, but Cafe Eclectic's lemon soup is actually fabulous! In case you haven't been (and I encourage you to go), this is a fabulous little place in Midtown at the corner of McLean and Faxon near Rhodes College. Earlier this evening I was getting dinner at Cafe Eclectic with Emily and Cassie and admittedly we were a bit sceptical of the soup but when our precious server, Ashley bought us each a small sample we were sold. This is a delightfully unique, lemony rice soup that totally hits the spot!

For me, one of the draws to this truly eclectic eatery is their roasted potatoes. Mmm... I've never had better potatoes than these rosemary and thyme roasted white and sweet potatoes (see picture at above right). Yet another one of the draws over the past couple of visits has been our sweet server, Ashley. This fun loving girl has been so curious of our (recently) habitual Wednesday night dinners at Cafe Eclectic where we've been discussing a book we've been reading together for some time (Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss). Ashley's consistent curiosity has led us to become very intentional about having gospel oriented conversations with her during the course of these evenings. Two weeks ago we passed along a copy of Because We Love Him by Clyde Cranford and this week were pleased to find that she is working her way through the copy we gave her and loving it! She's even had some of her friends at her school question her about her reading selection as she reads during the course of her day between classes!

So, if you are in the area soon stop by Cafe Eclectic and say hi to Ashley (I'm sure she'd love to see you) but regardless of where you dine in the near future please pray that the Lord would open her eyes to clearly see the beauty of Christ!

p.s. The house coffee here is fabulous!

ONE of my favorite Lewis quotes

2009-05-04T08:47:00.005-05:00

The quote below has long been one of my favorite CS Lewis quotes. I re-read it this weekend in a book I was reading by another author (seeing as I couldn't work in my garden because of the monsoon we are currently in the midst of here in Memphis). I believe Lewis was spot on... we are indeed far to easily pleased with the finite pleasures of the world.

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." -C.S. Lewis from 'The Weight of Glory'

Top 10 things I love about Memphis

2009-04-29T15:57:00.014-05:00

About a year ago Laurin posted her list of top things she loved about Memphis and Lee decided to weigh in with her’s earlier this week. In light of the fact that Memphis has been confirmed, by a very narrow margin, as the 2nd most dangerous city in America (see article here) and the 2nd most miserable (see article here), I decided it was a great time to put my two-cents in on this topic. In no particular order, here are the top 10 things I love about this city:

1. Shelby Farms: As Laurin and Lee both noted, this really is a Memphis jewel. One of my favorite parts about Shelby Farms is the Wolf River Trails. As expressed here, I love trail running and the Wolf River Trails on the south side of Walnut Grove are an excellent place to get a great trail run in.
2. The Pancake Shop: This little place on Summer Avenue serves hands down the best pancakes in Memphis. If you don’t believe me give them a try for yourself! You'll see exactly what I mean.
3. Fall drives down Central Avenue
4. Tiger basketball! No, I couldn’t leave this one out. In all honesty, I simply love all things University of Memphis. I enjoyed the time I spent there, I cherish the friendships that began there, I think highly of the business school, I like Tiger football, and more than all of those… I love Tiger basketball.
5. My job: Yep, obviously my job is in Memphis and I love it. I like both what I do and where I do it.
6. Grace Church: I could probably go on for days about the things I love about Grace Church. The truth is this is the only thing on this list that really has eternal significance. I’m so very thankful for my church.
7. Gibson’s Donuts on Mendenhall: The best donuts you will find ever. Gibson’s holds a special place in my heart because it used to be owned by the same man (Mr. Howard) who started the much beloved Howard’s Donuts in West Memphis. Gibson’s must still have the very same recipe. Because I grew up on Howard’s and it is near and dear to my heart and because this post is about Memphis, Gibson’s officially makes it on my list.
8. The Memphis Marathon and Half Marathon: This is a great race and it keeps getting better and better as each year passes. The Memphis Marathon was my very first marathon and because of that alone it has significance. The Half Marathon is just plain fun and you have to love the fact that this race supports another one of Memphis’ jewels, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
9. BBQ: If you like bbq (of the pork variety of course) and you live in Memphis this has to be on your list. You won't find better bbq anywhere else in the world. A few of my favs include: Neely’s Interstate BBQ, Germantown Commissary, and Central BBQ. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
10. The Orpheum: I love going to The Orpheum. It is simply one of my favorite places in Memphis! To name a few wonderful events I’ve seen there (and some multiple times): Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The Lion King, Death Cab for Cutie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (as part of the summer movie series), and in June… Wicked!

So, what are some of your favorite things about where you live?

just another saturday

2009-04-20T16:41:00.020-05:00

A little recap from the weekend: This past Saturday contained one fun adventure, one new place, and one new creation! What a GREAT day! Let me explain…

Fun Adventure: Despite the early morning rain, I headed out to Shelby Forrest for a nice trail run Saturday morning. Due to the rain, the trail was nice and soft and felt great on the joints and knees which have gotten used to running on the asphalt and concrete as of late. This run reminded me just how much I love trail running; it is far better than road running. Anyway, being that I don’t have any upcoming races to prepare for, it was quite nice just to run… and yes, run in the rain. Once you got going and engrossed in the natural spring beauty that surrounded you, you didn’t mind all the sloshing around. The sound of the rain hitting the tree canopy above, the choir of chirping birds overhead and wet shoes trudging through the water saturated terrain. Sorry for the bad picture quality, it appears I had a little rain on the camera lens. At any rate, here are a few fun pics! (Note: Yes, several months back I surrendered and purchased a running skirt. You know what?!?! I love it!)

New Place: After the soggy run, I headed back to my house for a quick shower that was VERY much needed (I had mud everywhere!) and out to Panera Bread for lunch with a friend. I’ve been to Panera Bread in the Atlanta airport but never to the one in Cordova… until Saturday. I had a small salad and some yummy French Onion Soup (I love French Onion Soup!). Great food + great company and conversation definitely = fun times!

New Creation: I mentioned here about the Sprinkles cupcakes recipes that I got my hands on Easter weekend. Saturday I made them for Sunday's Grace Lunch. I decided to go with the Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing. I’ve never made cupcakes (or any cake at all for that matter) or icing from scratch before so, this was the second “first” of the day. Thankfully, I had my good friend Ashley there to help out with the cupcake construction. Despite being only slightly dry (does anyone know how to fix this so the cupcakes are a bit more moist????), these cute little cakes turned out to be quite tasty. Personally, I feel the cream cheese icing was my favorite part! Mmmm.....

It's official...

2009-04-17T11:20:00.004-05:00

A new running route in Memphis is coming soon! I'm excited! Check this out...

2009-04-14T09:19:00.021-05:00

It's been a while since I really blogged. So here's a random update of sorts... Enjoy!
-My aunt recently got her hands on the recipes for a couple of Sprinkles Cupcakes and made them for Easter lunch. They were fabulous and I think I’m going to make them for this Sunday’s Grace Lunch. Get excited!
-This coming Tuesday, April 21st is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s… again, get excited!! Who doesn’t love free Ben & Jerry’s?!?!
-About a month ago I woke up on a Sunday morning and the thought of coffee was enough to make me sick. Consequently, I didn't have any and I had a headache to pay for it later. Ever since then I've been doing something I never thought I'd do... drink decaf coffee in the morning! Weird I know! At the very minimum I've been having ½ decaf, ½ regular coffee in the morning hours.
-I went to the Death Cab for Cutie concert on Saturday night and had a BLAST! What a fun concert. I highly recommend catching their show if you have the opportunity in the future.
-I haven't blogged about Tiger basketball since that fatefull day that Calapari officially decided to leave but I am really excited about out new coach Josh Pastner. Additionally, I'm really saddened by this response that so many have had towards Calapari lately. He did a great job at Memphis and he's a likeable person. Hopefully as time passes and the sting of his departure lessens, Memphians will look back on his tenure here at the university with great fondness. It was a fun ride, which hopefully will continue...
-Completely unrelated to the Memphis basketball: I'm a BIG fan of little government. Enough said.
-I’ve still been plugging away at Isaac Ambrose’s Looking Unto Jesus and here is a quick quote/ sampling for you: “Only Christ is the whole of man’s happiness.” Great stuff.
-Since Ambrose’s book will likely take me 10 years to finish, due to it’s length, I’ve been reading a few other things simultaneously. Recently I finished a book that was lent to me by a precious little girl at my church who LOVES to read! It was a super book about a missionary who I was previously unfamiliar with, Mary Slessor. She spent her entire life serving numerous tribes in Calabar (in Southern Nigeria, Africa). This book has really piqued my interest and I’m dying to know more about Mary.
-In other book related news, I got my copy of Hungry Girl's latest cookbook in the mail yesterday and most all the recipes look yummy! I highly recommend these easy and healthy remakes of your favorite recipes.
-In other recipe related news, I got a great new recipe from last week’s Viking Cooking School class for a homemade vinaigrette. You should give it a try. It’s fabulous! The great thing I learned is that the mustard, in addition to adding extra flavor, holds the oil and vinegar together so they don’t separate quite as easily. Such a fabulous and easy recipe!

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch granulated sugar
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar (or whatever vinegar you happen to have handy)
3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

-For the first time since I started running in 2004, I am not signed up for a race furthermore, I do not even have one in mind. Any good suggestions?
-I bought some Roundup at Home Depot last weekend (yea! It was on sale!) and am ready to rid my flower beds of pesky weeds so I can plant my spring/summer flowers (impatients, which I also got on sale at Home Depot!). Unfortunately, it's supposed to rain this weekend so that might put a damper on my gardening plans... I'm sure you'll see pictures of my gardening right here, so stay tuned! :)

Easter

2009-04-09T14:48:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, this Sunday is Easter however, at Grace Church last Sunday we received the following reminder: For the believer, every day is Easter. Praise God for the risen Christ each day!

something new

2009-04-02T15:56:00.003-05:00

Warning: This could potentially sound odd!

In an effort to be more dilligent about memorizing scripture I've tried something new this week and so far, I like it. I wrote the passage of scripture on a note card, which is pretty typical however, I decided to put the card in a Ziploc bag and tape it to the tile in my shower. Voila! Now I have a "waterproof" scripture card so I can work on my memorization as I shower! Yep, so far I like it and it seems to be working....

a very wild ride indeed

2009-04-01T11:05:00.005-05:00

No, I’m not going to convert this blog into a sports blog but with all the recent developments in Tiger Nation (coupled with my love for Tiger basketball), I must make a few remarks. Apparently next year’s basketball season will be a bit of a wilder ride than I originally thought however, not for the reasons I anticipated when I wrote this last Friday. Here are a couple of my remarks given recent developments:

-Our “rebuilding year” probably just got extended from this year to next and depending on who the new hire is, potentially the year following too… I say that because in the span of a week we’ve gone from having a great team, competing for a spot in the Elite 8 (last Thursday) with the number one recruiting class in the nation in the wing to currently having quite literally approximately 5 people TOTAL on our team. (Thanks for taking next year's team with you out the door Cal!)
-The past season marked the end of an era for more than just the graduation of Robert Dozier and Antonio Anderson. It seams Cal’s era here at Memphis is over as well. It’s kinda sad to me because he was the coach the entire time I was in school at the university and he is a great coach too!
-I have to say for those who know me and fear this might be the case, I am not bitter. Seriously. Who can blame Coach Cal for leaving? Kentucky has a fantastic history and it is a big deal to coach there. If he can rebuild the Kentucky program anything like he did Memphis’ he will have solidified his spot in the Hall of Fame. No questions. And if Kentucky was his dream job and that’s where he really wanted to be then that’s where he needed to go.
-With that said, I do like Coach and I’m sad to see him go but no doubt he did a lot of phenomenal things for Memphis’ basketball program in his tenure here. He built it up to a nationally competitive program and I for one, have enjoyed the ride! But guess what? The show will go on. Memphis will again have their day in the spotlight and we will win a national championship. What would make that win sweeter? Winning over a Cal coached KY team.
-More than anything, I’m not a fair-weather fan so you’ll still find me at every game next year yelling just as loudly for my Tigers… just with a new coach.
Go Tigers!

In the end...

2009-03-27T11:11:00.010-05:00

I'm very proud of the Tiger's '08-'09 run. I suppose I really can't complain when we get to the Sweet 16 in what was coined very early on in the season as a "rebuilding year." This year turned out to be magical in its own right. This team found their own idenity not dependant on last years success or defined by the last game of last season. They forged their own path. It's an end of an era of sorts because of Dozier and Anderson will graduate. So long to the winningest team in Tiger history. This team will definitely be missed. But of course, there's always next year.... and get ready because NEXT year's going to be a wild ride for sure! As always... Go Tigers!

Memphis in March

2009-03-24T16:29:00.004-05:00

I really love Memphis in March. For several reasons… March in Memphis typically marks the arrival of more “spring-like” weather, at which point I decide it is time to polish my toenails and joyfully drag the flip flops out of the closet. With spring comes the sense that things are new again, the Bradford pear and tulip trees all start budding and the tulips and daffodils pop up and hostas reemerge from their winter underground (I would also like to report that my hydrangeas made it through the winter… yea!).

Anyway the point of this post is not the weather or even my gardening but rather probably one of my favorite reasons for my love of March: college basketball. Yes my friends, it is at this time of the year that all the drama that makes up college basketball is out with full force and thankfully the Memphis Tigers are right in the mix for yet another year. Though I love Tiger basketball and the excitement and intensity this team plays with on the court, perhaps one of my favorite things about Memphis basketball is the effect is has on this city off the court. This city rallies together in unity to support this basketball team regardless of race, economic status, age and it is astounding. I love the fact that it is not at all weird to start up a conversation in Starbucks with a total stranger who is proudly donning their favorite U of M apparel about the Tiger’s latest accomplishment. The unity that this team brings Memphis in the month of March is great and it makes me imagine about how fabulous true unity in this city would be if it was under the banner of Christ!

So, this March I have been praying the Lord would be gracious to grant Memphis wider inroads towards true unity under the banner of Christ…. And this would be infinately greater than any National Championship banner the Tiger basketball team could ever bring back to hang from the rafters at the FedEx Forum.

2009-03-10T16:08:00.002-05:00

"Never did creature turn his affections towards God, if the heart of God were not first set upon Him.” - John Owen, Communion with God

newest bumper sticker...

2009-03-09T11:42:00.005-05:00

I will attempt to not dive too deeply in my political persuasions here on this blog however, I found this to be incredibly funny!

2009-03-05T10:00:00.016-06:00

I went to see Slumdog Millionaire last weekend and I loved it. You might have heard some comment that it is a "feel good movie" with a happy ending and on a certain level, this is true. However, personally I had a combination of emotions after viewing the movie. While watching the movie, the same emotions I felt while riding the train through northern India several years ago came flooding back over me. The reality of the extreme poverty in India is utterly devastating and seeing it first hand can break your heart. The main characters in Slumdog Millionaire are well acquainted with this poverty. The saddest part about Indian poverty is that a large portion of it is due to the predominant religion in India. Hinduism continues to suppress a whole class of precious individuals and keep them entrenched in this poverty. Hinduism's claims are a far cry from the gospel of Christ. So this week my heart has yet again been heavy for the millions and millions of Indian people; O that they would see Christ and find him to be Altogether Lovely!

"Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts!

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth!
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the Lord, for he comes,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,

and the peoples in his faithfulness."

-Psalm 96

1 year anniversary

2009-03-04T09:56:00.006-06:00

I just have to note that March marks my 1 year anniversary of blogging and it's been a blast! So, thanks to all that follow and comment!

25 things i hate about facebook

2009-02-27T13:53:00.003-06:00

So generally, I'm ok with Facebook. It is fun at times and I do enjoy it. However, it is also a waste of time and it is not void of its annoyances. I'm definitely a minimalist when it comes to fb... I don't care how many gifts someone gives me, I'm just going to delete them. I DO NOT understand "poking" and I think that most apps are just plain a waste of my time. In the same vein, I submit to you this rather humorous video (That I totally found here). Let me know what YOU think... enjoy!

unlearning

2009-02-24T09:18:00.006-06:00

This past Sunday's sermon at Grace contained a powerful challenge, one of "unlearning." The statement was made, "Do not come to biblical conclusions based on what you grew up hearing." How many times have we as believers taken things we have heard from the pulpit or our well-meaning parents and friends at face value and never paused to check their alignment with scripture?

So I've been wondering this week: What other things to I need to unlearn and in what other areas do I need to re-evaluate my conclusions by genuinely comparing them to scripture?

02.19.09--a random thursday update

2009-02-19T08:49:00.006-06:00

Suffice to say I’ve been very busy as of late and my blogging has lacked a bit. Therefore, what follows is a collection of random thoughts (in no particular order) that have been floating around in my head for the last couple of weeks. Here’s the disclaimer: read at your own risk!

1. Recently on Mike Huckabee’s FoxNews program, he called the new stimulus bill, which President Obama signed this past Tuesday, the Congressional Relief Action Program (or CRAP). You can read his thoughts directly here. I tend to agree with the former Arkansas governor in his assessment.
2. I’ve owned my house for 11 months and I’m refinancing. Yep, if you are a homeowner RUN to check your interest rate now. It might be a good idea for you to do the same.
3. I did my taxes last Friday night. They are done and behind me for yet another year. I might add that TurboTax is amazing and makes navigating the crazy world of the IRS very doable.
4. The Vanilla Macadamia Nut Kona Coffee that my boss brought back from his vacation in Hawaii is heavenly. The last couple of afternoons it has been a very welcomed afternoon treat!
5. Last Saturday I ran a new race or rather one that was new to me, The Valentine’s Day 10k in Bartlett. It was loads of fun and I think I will have to incorporate it into my annual running calendar.
6. Next on the running calendar is the Germantown Half Marathon. I am NOT a big fan of this race. It’s a well run race but it is a boring course. Blah… But for some reason, I keep signing up for it and yes, I continue to run it. Such is the case this year.
7. I REALLY want an iPhone and will probably get one very soon. Yea! I can’t wait!
8. I’m absolutely ready for spring. These warmer days simply make me more antsy for it’s arrival.
9. Since it’s inevitable that spring will come and at some point in the not too distant future, I have begun to think about my gardening agenda for the year. This year, I want to incorporate an herb garden somehow… rosemary, basil, etc. I’m still formulating my plan and trying to decide exactly what herbs I want. I don’t know much about herb gardens though I’m excited about the possibility of learning. Thoughts?
10. And while I’m on the gardening topic, why do pansies always look their prettiest in the last month or so before you are supposed to pull them up? My yellow pansies are blooming and are simply beautiful.
11. I’m reading an absolutely fabulous book right now and it is transforming my devotional time. Melissa told me it is a daunting book to read. She was right. It is. But I’m about 48 pages (out of 694 total with a size 7 font, literally) into Isaac Ambrose’s Looking Unto Jesus and I can say that this one will probably end up making it into my top 10. I don’t really look to finish this one quickly as I have a long way left to go but believe me, it is good. This one deserves its own post, which I will tackle very soon.
12. The goodness of the Lord continues to astonish me in the way that it totally surrounds me and hems me in from every direction.
13. I am thankful in the mist of turbulent economic times, changing government (yes, I do think America is marching towards socialism but that is another post as well), and general instability that Christ is faithful and that my hope rests in HIM.

Ok everyone, I suppose that’s more than enough random info for one post. I’ll try to be a little less overwhelming by posting more frequently but until next time, have a happy Thursday!

better than last year?

2009-02-19T08:41:00.005-06:00

As I write this I have just returned from the Tiger basketball game and I’ve been pondering the following question:

Is this year’s basketball team better than last years?

I know that is a difficult question considering the magical season that we had last year but this year is shaping up to be rather stellar in it’s own right. Offensively, the question regarding which team is better is definitely debatable; however, defensively this team has been shutting down the opposition.

Currently, we are at a 53 conference game winning streak! To put this in perspective: The Tigers have only lost one (nope, that’s not a typo… I meant ONE) game since Conference USA realigned a couple of years ago. And to top it all off, the most astounding statistic of all: As of late, The Tigers have become a free-throw shooting machine! Seriously, I know this is hard to believe given last year’s free-throw woes but tonight the Tigers were 90% from the charity stripe and they were frequently at the line.

So here's to another great [fastly approaching] March... we'll see how far this year's team can go. Go Tigers!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-13T09:19:00.005-06:00

Kurt Strassner posted the following last Valentine's Day. It made such an impression on me then that I felt the need to draw attention to it again this year. Happy Valentine's Day!

THE STORY OF ST. VALENTINE

Write it in heart-shaped stone. Valentine’s is a certified craze. Card companies, candy stores, and bed-and-breakfasts have turned February 14th into one of the biggest, pinkest, most lucrative days of the year! But I got to thinking…Isn’t the full title Saint Valentine’s Day? Was there really a saint named Valentine? If so, who was he? And is there any Christian significance to this day?

Here are the wonderful answers:

St. Valentine was the faithful pastor of a local church in Rome in the mid-200’s AD. But all around him and his little congregation, controversy raged. About this time a cruel emperor named Claudius II held the throne. Claudius, like most Roman emperors of the day, hated the Christians…and could be ruthless in his treatment of them. He and Valentine, living in the same city, were on a collision course.

Some time during Valentine’s pastorate, Claudius completely outlawed marriage in Rome…concluding that single men made better soldiers. Well, Valentine saw this as an affront, not only to young lovers, but to God. Had not God said, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1.28)? Had He not said, “the marriage bed is to be held in honor by all” (Hebrews 13.4)? And was not marriage a glorious illustration of how “Christ loved the church” (Ephesians 5.25)? What could Valentine do but defy the emperor? He continued to encourage marriage among the youth of his church. And he continued to secretly counsel and marry young couples for the sake of Christ…putting himself under the watchful eye of the authorities.

Meanwhile, Claudius also continued the reign of terror begun by his predecessors. He persisted in beating, torturing, and killing Christians. And again Valentine stood with God, not the emperor. He made the comfort of suffering, dying believers one of his top pastoral priorities. Feeding the hungry, assisting the sick, and comforting the dying saints were among Valentine’s greatest pastoral joys. And he paid with his life. On Feb. 14, 270 Valentine was captured, beaten, and beheaded.

That gives new meaning to the phrase: Will you be my Valentine?! St. Valentine’s Day is actually a day to remember a man who was willing to lay down his life for the sake of Christ and His church! Truly he imitated Jesus who said of Himself: “Greater love has no man than this that He lay down His life for His friends” (John 15.13).

Ah yes, it is not primarily to Valentine that we look for our example of sacrificial love. Rather, we look to Jesus Christ, the God-man who went to a Roman Cross for the sake of us sinners. And it is not a cruel emperor whose judgment we fear; but that of the perfect, benevolent, but righteous Judge of all the earth—a judge who finds us all guilty of ignoring His goodness and breaking His law (Romans 1.21).

So Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to look beyond St. Valentine to Jesus, who willingly went to a bloody crucifixion to stand in our place at God’s bar of perfect justice (1 Peter 3.18).

Valentine’s Day is a chance look away from man, in whom there is no salvation, to Jesus, who alone can save (Acts 4.12). And yes, Valentine’s is a day for receiving gifts of love! “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6.23)!

Have you received God’s “free gift”? Have you entrusted yourself to “Christ Jesus our Lord”? And if not, would you do so today? “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4.9).

treasures

2009-02-02T14:04:00.011-06:00

I have always loved to read. As a little kid I would try (and sometimes quite successfully) to "hide" in my room so I could finish a really great book I was working on instead of doing my chores. Though much has changed since those times as a little girl, my love of a good book hasn't.

So, below you will find two lists. First, my top 10 all time favorite books. This is quite an elite list and I'm sure that as time continues to fly by this list might change a bit but generally, these are the books that have literally changed my life. I wish I had time to comment on each of them but I fear everyone would tire of reading before I could adequately summarize the impact these 1 books have had. Secondly, you'll find just a few of the books that are on my list to read soon (maybe you'll see some book reviews on the blog soon!). This list is indeed every expanding! Lastly, I must make note of the fact that these two lists exclude a ton of amazing books that have had a significant impact on my life... maybe I'll leave that list for another post. Happy Reading!

Top 10 all time favs (in no particular order)
The Valley of Vision, Communion with God (by John Owen), Letters of Rutherford (by Samuel Rutherford), Daily Light, Death of a Guru (by Rabi R. Maharaj), The Knowledge of the Holy (by AW Tozer), The Pursuit of God (by AW Tozer), Because We Love Him (by Clyde Cranford), A Chance to Die, The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael (by Elisabeth Elliot), and Desiring God (by John Piper)

Next on the List "To Read"
The Practice of the Presence of God (by Brother Lawrence), The Believer’s Joy (by Robert Murray McCheyne), The Glory of Christ (by John Owen), Redemption Accomplished and Applied (by John Murray), Born Slaves (by Martin Luther), To the Golden Shore, The Life of Adoniram Judson (by Courtney Anderson), God at Work (by Gene Edward Veith, Jr.), Repentance (by Richard Owen Roberts), The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer (by E.M. Bounds), Overcoming Sin and Temptation, 3 Classic Works by John Owen, Looking Unto Jesus (by Isaac Ambrose), The Reagan Diaries (by Ronald W. Reagan), and 1776 (by David McCullough)

valley of vision

2009-01-30T11:12:00.002-06:00

" Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley." -Valley of Vision

what a weekend!

2009-01-26T12:20:00.010-06:00

This weekend was jam packed with stuff! When I finally sat down on Sunday night, I realized that the weekend flew by more quickly than usual. Here’s just a quick recap of this weekend's adventure:

Friday night I had dinner with my friend Elaine. She is a fabulous cook and I got to try something new! She had made homemade spaghetti sauce which we had over spaghetti squash (this was the new part). It was great and surprisingly tasted like real pasta. I highly suggest you give this a try!

Saturday morning I woke up a little late for my usual run but thankfully was able to hook up with a friend from work for a great run. I had only anticipated running about 8 miles when we set out but ended up running closer to 11. It’s been several months since I had a good trail run in, but Saturday proved to be the remedy for that. We ended up running the Wolf River Trails (blue trail out and the white trail back) which is always a treat. Afterwards, I made a “quick” run through Wal-Mart (no run through Wal-Mart is every really “quick,” I suppose) to pick up a few things and then home to clean the house. This all had to be done before 2:30 when the Tigers were scheduled to take on UT (btw: bad officiating, good game, perfect outcome! Go Tigers!). After the game back, I quickly headed back home to get ready for a fun night out with friends.

I was up early on Sunday to make a last minute run through Kroger for the things I had forgot to pick up for Grace Lunch (fyi: The last Sunday of every month Grace Church has fellowship/lunch together--good times, good times.) and still make it to church in time for our 9:00 prayer service (thankfully, I did make it on time in case you were curious). After lunch I had to run few quick errands and get home to make a pot of potato soup before I headed back downtown for my small group. Whew… are you tired yet? My small group was fabulous, I made a few more stops and finally made it back to my house around 8:00. It was a wonderful, but packed weekend! I was almost ready to come back to work just so I could sit in one place longer than 20 minutes!
--------------------
For those who are interested (Melissa), here's the recipe for the potato soup. It is an incredibly easy, yet FABULOUS recipe.

-3 cans of low sodium chicken broth (you can use regular if you'd like.)

-1 bag of Ore Ida O'Brien frozen potatoes (these are the tiny cubed potatoes)

-1 package of white gravy mix (I use Pioneer brand no-fat white gravy mix but again, you can use regular if you'd like.)

*Bring the chicken broth to a boil and throw in the frozen potatoes. Allow to boil for a bit, just until the potatoes start to break down a bit. Mix the white gravy with a 1/4 cup of water and pour into the chicken broth/potatoes. Allow to simmer for about 10 more minutes until it is nice and creamy. I know this kinda sounds like a weird and overly simplistic recipe that wouldn't taste very good but seriously, it's great! Throw on whatever toppings you usually do on your potato soup (i.e. bacon bits, cheese, etc.) and enjoy!

What is a Healthy Church Member?

2009-01-23T14:51:00.010-06:00

Some time ago the pastors at Grace Church gave every covenant member Thabiti Anyabwile's book, "What is a Healthy Church Member?" Though we received it many months ago, I just read it this week. :) Let me just be very clear: This is an outstanding book! Anyabwhile very simply outlines, both practically and theologically, our role as healthy church members. He encourages us, the congregation, to be theologians, to be expositional listeners, to do the work of an evangelist, to be committed, to be growing in Christ likeness, to be willing to seek the Father's discipline and recognize it is for our good as we grow in holiness, and to always be humble, people of prayer. Anyabwhile's book is a short, easy read but it is not void of the godly admonition that I, along with others in today's modern church, need to be reminded.

Thank you Grace Church for encouraging us to take ownership of the Christ-centered vision of the church!

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

2009-01-20T08:51:00.011-06:00

I recently finished Phillip Keller's book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" and I must say this is quite an insightful little book (it's a great, short read packed with truth). As a modern day shepherd himself, Keller works his way through each phrase in Psalm 23, describing what David, the author of this psalm, would have had in his mind when penning Psalm 23. Keller goes on to describe the spiritual parallels that then become evident regarding Christ as our great Shepherd.

I think what really clicked while reading this book is that we are hardly any different from the needy, ignorant, stubborn sheep. Sheep aren't animals that really thrive the wild with no shepherd; their entire existence is really dependent on their shepherd... and not just any shepherd will do, only a good, kind, loving sheperd who always has his sheep's best interests at heart.

I strongly commend this book to you. It will revolutionize your understanding of Psalm 23 and most of all lead to a treasuring of every aspect of Christ as our great, Good Shepherd.

welcome back!

2009-01-19T08:42:00.003-06:00

So my good friend Melissa has emerged and is now back into the blogging world. Woohoo! Stop by her blog and give her a warm welcome back!

by popular demand....

2009-01-09T09:43:00.006-06:00

"If God doesn't rule your mundane,
Then He doesn't rule you, because
that's where you live."
-Paul Tripp

This quote has had quite an unexpected response since I posted it about a week ago! And in the referencing of this quote (here, here and here) others have expanded on it a bit. At the encouragement to do the same, here is my list of things that tend to be somewhat mundane and therefore subject to the exclusion of Christ at times. I am greatly thankful for these mundane things but also long to be intentional about recognizing Christ’s rule in these mundane moments. So here is my “Mundane List” and specific questions to ponder in regards to recognizing Christ’s kingship in the midst of each:

-My morning cup of coffee: Do I use the few quite moments as I sip my coffee and eat my breakfast to ponder Christ? Do I thank him for his gracious provision of this food and drink?
-A random weeknight run: If I’m heading out solo, do I consciously plead for the Father’s help in taking every thought I have while running captive to Christ?
-Certain days at my job (hey, these day’s happen to everyone, right?): Do I recognize this my vocation falls under his kind providence and that each moment I am at my job is yet annother opportunity to draw attention to Christ?
-Paying bills: I am so grateful that I have a job and for the provision of money to be able own a home and have power to it. Am I wise in how I use my money so that it best glorifies Christ? Am I obedient in using the smallest of things he has allowed me to purchase to bring honor to him?
-Driving: I am so thankful I have a good, reliable car. Especially in Memphis, Christ’s rule is exercised in this area by the simple fact that I arrive safely at my destination. [Note: However, his kingship wouldn’t be compromised if I didn’t arrive at my destination in one piece either.] Do I use the moments in my car to take a brief reprieve from the world and focus on Christ? Or do I simply fill the time with random ‘noise’ from the radio or cell phone?
-My family and friends: I really do have the best of both of these and I am so thankful for each of them! I see or talk to most of them so often I probably take them for granted. Do I really see each of them as tangible expressions of God’s love toward me?

I’m sure I could continue on and on but the goal here for me is to make a conscious effort to remember that Christ rules over even these things. May we all indeed be subject to his kingship in every area of our lives including our morning cup of joe.

brand new crockpot

2009-01-06T12:44:00.014-06:00

So, my grandmother gave me a crockpot for Christmas and yes, I was SO very excited to get it... it even matches my kitchen! Now all I need is some help accumulating great Crockpot recipes. Anyone have any they'd love to share? I'd love some new ideas...

Laurin, I'm sure you've got some good ones! :)

Bobbi, do you have some healthy ones?

latest [temporary] addition to my family

2009-01-06T12:26:00.004-06:00

I don’t think I ever tire of seeing the beautiful picture of Christ that earthly adoption paints for us. This little guy (all 4lbs and 11oz of him) is about to become an another beautiful example…

haunted

2009-01-06T12:23:00.007-06:00

It is quite frequently that I am haunted by thoughts from the previous Sunday’s sermon at GC. Not to disappoint, this week has been no different. Last week's sermon was an issue I’ve been wrestling with for some time now and thankfully the Lord was gracious to provide a few more thought provoking questions in regards to glorifying God in the workplace and the development of a God-centered view of vocation. I think for far too long my heart has tried to default to the view that there is a difference between a secular vocation (calling) and the sacred. This past Sunday we were exhorted to remember that in reality there is no difference between the secular and the sacred… a distinction simply does not exist. One of the heaviest take home points for me was the exhortation to gaze on Christ’s glory and as I do, pleasing God through my vocation will become an expression of my love to him (real worship!).

At any rate, maybe some of the questions that have been haunting me this week with spur you on toward a more God-centered view of your vocation, whatever your calling is.
-Am I always doing my work well (genuinely, heartily) as unto the Lord? Colossians 3:23…

-or are my ears sensitive to the applause of men?
-Do I remember that the reputation of Christ is at stake as I flesh out my vocation?
-Is it my aim in the workplace to draw attention to Christ or myself?
-Do I exhibit the humility of Christ in my vocation?

WHATEVER 2009 brings your way....

2008-12-31T13:45:00.008-06:00

Remember:

If God doesn’t rule your mundane,
then he doesn’t rule you, because
that’s where you live.
-Paul Tripp

Initially, I'd beg to differ with anyone that says that my 2008 was mundane. As a whole, it was not. With that said, I will admit that I did also have my fair share of mundane days mixed in among the rest. Through every day, I'm so very thankful God rules in every detail of the mundane exactly as he does in the mist of everything else (excitement, chaos, tragedy, sadness, change, etc). So whether your (or my) 2009 turns out to be eventful or mundane... or most likely both... be ruled by Christ each day in this new year. Happy New Year!

Emmanuel

2008-12-25T14:33:00.003-06:00

A couple of weeks ago my pastor made a statement in the Sunday service, "Jehovah has become Emmanuel." What an amazing statement that has been divinely engraved into my memory over the last several weeks. The God of the Old Testament became Emmanuel, literally "God with us." I am thankful that he did this in the form of Christ pouring himself into a human container, being vulnerable as a small child, and ultimately for Christ's fulfilling the purpose for which he was sent, namely, to glorify the Father and save us from our sins. So this day, among all others, I am grateful for Emmanuel. Merry Christmas as you celebrate Christ this day!

Christmas Tree Poll... PLEASE VOTE!

2008-12-18T12:19:00.019-06:00

Ok everyone, I need a little help! I'm taking an informal poll or survey on which Christmas Tree is the best! Please leave a note in the comment section with your favorite tree... Please type "Left" if the Charlie Brown tree you see to your left is your fav or "Right" if the sophisticated, classy tree on the right is your preference. [Note: you can click each photo to get a more detailed view of each.] Happy voting!

Additional picture of the "Left" tree... just in case you were still undecided...

how to fold a fitted sheet!

2008-12-18T12:08:00.005-06:00

I have to admit this has always been my least favorite part of folding sheets.... the dreaded fitted sheet! Check out this great video and learn how to revolutionize your sheet folding!

o christmas tree, o christmas tree....

2008-12-11T11:39:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I put up my Christmas tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving but I've been too busy to post. This picture is a little old because now I have my tree skirt around the tree and a beautiful bow (tied by my very creative mother) on top. Merry Christmas!

lead me to the Rock

2008-12-02T15:31:00.002-06:00

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day. -Psalm 61

kicked asphalt... all 26.2 miles of it!!!

2008-12-01T16:03:00.030-06:00

I've been back from my trip to Philadelphia to run the marathon for a week now and haven't gotten around to updating with details. So, here goes...

"Kick Asphalt" is the official theme of the Philadelphia Marathon and I must say that's exactly what I did! This was a great race (well organized, great course, etc.). It started and finished in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which of course was made famous from that great scene in "Rocky." The race started at 7am and it was freezing... literally. I actually prefer a cold race and once we got started running the day turned out to be perfect for running a marathon. The course provided you with a great foot tour of the city... We passed the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philadelphia's "Old Town" (the historic part of the city), the Philadelphia Zoo, Drexel, and The University of Pennsylvania. The last 13.1 miles of the marathon was an "out and back" to this cute little town, Manayunk, with a great, quaint main street. This town was so cute I wanted to take a break in middle of the town (mile 20) and do some shopping!

Thankfully, this race eventually came to an end at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As if just running 26.2 miles wasn't enough, I had to run up the stairs of the Museum of Art just like Rocky did, for a photo opp (crazy, I know!). To make things even better, after all that... I had to walk a little over a mile just to get back to my hotel. No rest for the weary, right?

However, once I completed the trek back to my hotel (btw folks: technical running clothes designed to keep you warm while running do a fabulous job of just that. However, they do a rather lousy job of keeping you warm any other time... in other words, the walk back to the hotel was miserably cold.) I must say I was ready for a nice warm shower to help me thaw (yes, I totally skipped the ice bath!), this tasty new hot chocolate/recovery drink (which is wonderful after a cold run!!), and a much deserved NAP!

While in Philly, I also got to see the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and our nation's Constitution was signed. Here's a pic... By the way, the only piece of furniture that is original to the room is the big chair in the middle of the picture. George Washington himself actually sat in this very chair. How cool!?!?

I have to add that while we were in Philadelphia we did LOTS of good eating (I totally justified it with the fact that I was/did run 26.2 miles). To name a few, we ate at great tapas bar, Continental; a great Itallian resturant for our pre-marathon meal, Spasso. However, more than any other resturant, it was very appropriate that we went here to enjoy fabulous food...

All in all, a fabulous weekend!

leaving for Philly!

2008-11-20T14:26:00.003-06:00

Well, tomorrow is the day! I'm setting off for Philly bright and early tomorrow morning. I'm excited for sure--I love to travel but the nervousness of the upcoming marathon (yes, I'm sure that no matter how many marathons I run, I'll always be slightly nervous!) adds a different dimension. At any rate, I'm quire sure I'll have a blast! I'll be sure to update with lots of fun pictures and info when I get back...

observations from late night bball

2008-11-18T08:54:00.006-06:00

Yes, I went to the [insanely] late University of Memphis basketball game. Last night's 11pm Tigers game kick started ESPN's 23 hours of college basketball (not quite sure what happened to the 24th hour???). Here are a few brief observations from the night/morning...

I've never been to a basketball game that started on one day (Nov. 17) and ended on another (Nov. 18).
Over 18,000 people were just as crazy as me last night. (As a note: this is more people at a Monday night, 11pm Tiger game than last Wednesday night's 7pm Grizzlies game!!! )
12th ranked Memphis is now 2-0 and it will be a LONG road until March... and though this year's team is in many ways very different from last year's, I'm just as excited! They might need a few more games to 'gel' but they are good!!
Calipari became a legend in Memphis last night. With last night's win, the 221st, Calipari officially became the winningest coach in Memphis basketball history.
He achieved this win against (1) UMass, where he spent many years coaching and (2) Derek Kellogg, his former assistant.
It's still hard to get used to watching a Tiger game without CDR and Joey Dorsey.
Antonio Anderson did a great job of leading the team, picking up a double double last night.
Pierre Henderson-Niles did ok! He actually ran up and down the court for minutes at a time (get that? because it's big for him... "minutes at a time").
By the way, does anyone have a clue WHY we are supposed to call him Pierre Henderson-Niles this year?!?!? Is he trying to be like CDR??? I'm a bit baffled by this.
Tyreke Evans put on a nice late night show.
The two really drunk guys in the section where my season tickets are located provided [interesting] alternative entertainment. Yeah, I seriously thought that one of them was going to fall over the edge in the midst of his dancing.
Xavier Henry just announced this morning that he is committing to the University of Memphis for the 2009 season... the fun just keeps coming! And he picked Memphis over Kansas!
Go Tigers!

thankfulness - 11/14

2008-11-14T12:21:00.001-06:00

Here are the "thankfulness" posts for the weekend.... Have a great, thankful weekend! :)

November 14: Godly Church Leaders
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God." -Hebrews 13:7

November 15: God's Provision
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" -Matthew 6:26

November 16: Being Counted Worthy to Suffer
"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully, For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." -1 Peter 2:19, 21

thankfulness - 11/13

2008-11-13T13:40:00.002-06:00

November 13: The Care of God
"We your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever, from generation to generation we will recount your praise." -Psalm 79:13

taper time!

2008-11-12T09:10:00.011-06:00

It is hard for me to believe that the Philadelphia Marathon is about a week and a half away. Crazy! At any rate, I'm ready and am officially "tapering."

I've also prepared for my time in the "City of Brotherly Love" by watching Rocky. I assure you if I get anywhere close to those steps, I will take the time for a fun photo op! Since I will be arriving in Philly a day and a half before the marathon the plan is to sqeeze in a bit of sightseeing... maybe Constitution Hall, Betsy Ross' house, and the Liberty Bell. I can't wait!!!

thankfulness - 11/12

2008-11-11T16:39:00.004-06:00

November 12: Meaningful Work
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 3:17

thankfulness - 11/11

2008-11-11T08:54:00.006-06:00

Last year my mom found this great prayer guide, 30 Days of Gratitude, to be used during the month of November to intentionally orient this month with a view towards thankfulness. I think throughout the remainder of the month I will post selections from this guide. May we all be intentionally thankful for all we have in Christ.

November 11: The Peace of Christ

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15

and since I missed yesterday...

November 10: The Favor of God

"Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." -Psalm 30:4-5

after the election

2008-11-07T12:22:00.001-06:00

“We are people that know politics is important, but not ultimate. We know that politics has its place, an urgent and important place where, in the City of Man, decisions are made that can make the difference between life and death, injustice and justice, mercy and no mercy, commonweal or common disaster.

But we also know that there is in this world at its very best only a hint of the kingdom that is to come, where God’s reign is supreme.

No government will ever be able to say, ‘Every tear has been wiped away.’ No government will ever be able to say, ‘The blind have received sight and the deaf have received hearing and the lame now walk.’…That power is God’s alone.”

—Albert Mohler, “After the Election”

Redemption

2008-11-07T11:37:00.002-06:00

So, I have become a recent fan of 24. It is indeed a fabulous show! I am also excited that in approximately two weeks the prequel to Season/Day 7 will air. Check it out...

a prayer for election day

2008-11-03T13:05:00.003-06:00

John Piper had an excellent post today in preparation for tomorrow. Keep reading...

November 3, 2008 By: John Piper
Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray:

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of
-being in the world, but not of it,
-doing politics as though not doing them,
-being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
-rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;

4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

october

2008-11-03T09:53:00.003-06:00

October was quite a crazy month with respect to the markets... Since I've been in the field, I've never seen a crazier month. Let's hope November does not provide us with a repeat performance!

DJIA for October 2008

Happy Halloween!!!

2008-10-31T13:08:00.002-05:00

one week from today...

2008-10-28T09:04:00.008-05:00

We, the people of the United States of America will select a new president seven days from now, but this verse is resonating in my heart...

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
-Daniel 2:21

running to obtain the prize

2008-10-26T13:52:00.015-05:00

A random event happened almost two weeks ago at a Tuesday night track workout that I haven't yet been able to let escape my memory. There is a precious British couple, Ted and Margaret, that run consistently with my running group. I love running with sweet Margaret, she runs at a pace that is just a bit faster than I, just enough to be a good challenge. While her husband Ted is just as great, he is FAST, a lot faster than I. At the end of our speed workout (yes, it is brutal to put this part at the end) we are to do three 300's around the track as fast as you can. I was not particularly excited about this portion of the workout but knowing that it is easier to run it with a faster partner, accepted Ted's offer to run the 300's with him.

Now Ted already had one 300 in the bag by the time we started therefore, we decided to run the two 300's together and I would have to run the last 300 solo. Immediately after taking off with Ted I started to reconsider... Ted was running insanely fast, much faster than I am accustomed to. Each time Ted felt me backing off the pace he would look over his shoulder and verbally pull me along. He would say, "See the girl in the white shirt ahead? Just run to her." and when we zoomed past her he'd say, "See the man in the black shorts ahead? Just catch up with him." And though I felt like I was going to throw up, I did make it to the end, in record speed, two times! Though Ted was setting the bar high for me with quite a challenging pace, he was there, running the "race" with me the entire way.

However, I felt an even more challenging test arose as I realized that though I was ready to quit (after all, Ted had now finished his workout) I still had one 300 left to run. The following thoughts crossed my mind, "Ted's done. I can run the last one by myself and slow the pace down. There will be no one beside me to challenge my pace! Nice! I can ease up a bit, not have to run quite as hard." That was the furthest thing from the truth. Not while Ted was still on the track! Ted sent me off for my third 300, admonishing me to break it up into manageable pieces by just trying to catch (and beat) the girl in the white shirt front of me until I got to the end. Through that entire last 300, I could hear Ted from the other side of the track yelling with his British accent, "Catch her! You can do it! You've almost got her! Keep going!" Every time I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep that same pace until the end and I would back off ever so slightly I'd hear Ted's British yell come from across the track.In the end, I did catch the girl in the white shirt in front of me just as I was crossing the 'finish line.'

So, why has this random event been seared into my memory over the last couple of weeks? For two reasons: (1) I am grateful for those in my life who have run along side me, setting the pace just a bit quicker than what is comfortable for me, challenging me to live outside the comfort area. I'm thankful for specific men and women in my life that are running towards Christ as hard and as fast as they can. I'm thankful that they encourage me to mirror their pace in pursuit of Christ as well. (2) I'm grateful for those that, though our course might be different for the moment, they yell their challenges for me to keep running towards Christ from the other side of the track. I'm thankful for those that when I start to back off the pace ever so slightly, yell their admonitions from the other side of the track to keep running as hard as I can and not to stop until I've reached the finish line and obtained the prize.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. -1 Corinthians 9:24

'tis the season for.... butternut squash!

2008-10-22T09:00:00.005-05:00

Last night I tried my hand at a new ingredient, or at least one that I've never prepared... butternut squash! The recipe I made was so simple it hardly warrants the term "recipe." At any rate, I cut the squash up into "fries," lightly misted them with non-stick cooking spray, salted them and then baked at 425 degrees until crispy. I have to say these "fries" tasted a lot like sweet potato fries (which I love) but better! It was so hard to believe, while I was eating them, that this was actually a veggie! So tasty....

house update...

2008-10-22T08:44:00.011-05:00

I haven't done a ton of new things to the house lately but I did finally get around to painting the guest room and putting a bed up. Now, the room is FAR from complete however, I suppose I could officially have a guest now!

The next home addition is this chair my mom purchased at a rummage sale for $5.00 some time ago. Of course it didn't look quite like this when my mom purchased it; it was rather ugly but she saw great potential and I must say, I now LOVE this chair. Thanks to the hard work of my mom and dad in refurbishing the chair (inside and out!), I now have another [comfy] seat in my living room. So please feel free to stop by for a visit anytime!

clearly defined.

2008-10-16T14:34:00.014-05:00

so·cial·ism: –noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

Socialism is wrong. There I said it... and it is true. Those who would argue that this is not an issue in this election are wrong as well. It is an issue and a rather big one at that. I know some are tired of hearing about 'Joe the plumber', who was elevated overnight to a central figure in the McCain campaign, and will likely tune out this story. However, Senator Obama's response to 'Joe the plumber' (below, emphasis mine) is not worth missing. Any individual who clearly asserts the following, as Senator Obama did, is clearly supporting a socialist ideology, redistribution of wealth.

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too," Obama responded. "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody ... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

It is not the government's responsibility to unilaterally take from the one (presumably one with more wealth) and give to those less fortunate. Quite the contrary! It is the job of the people, esp. responsible believers to aid those who are less fortunate and to establish God-glorifying businesses. So with that said, this election is of extreme importance. This election represents an unprecedented crossroad for the future of our nation. It is a election to choose either the path of socialism or to preserve the democracy of America. Preserve the democracy people!! Vote against socialism in America!!

wishing Reagan were here now...

2008-10-15T08:49:00.013-05:00

I will apologize in advance for the lengthiness of this post but I feel it is of utmost importance... O that President Ronald Reagan were here now to be a herald of truth as he was during his time here on earth. Reagan got it! He understood and clearly articulated the issues that were and still are facing this great nation. What follows are selections from Reagan's 1964 speech (1964 people!!! Reagan said what follows in 1964!!!!), which he gave while campaigning for Barry Goldwater's presidential ticket. The amazing thing about this speech is that it could have been given yesterday and it still would be relevant. Reagan got it! He got it and he wasn't afraid to speak out, for he understood that the future of these United States rests upon the decisions we make now. And Reagan feared this country was headed down a dangerous path then... what would he say now?

[I must give props to Ben Ferguson for playing this speech in it's entirety on his morning radio show for the past two mornings and calling attention to its current relevance.]

"This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves."

"You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course."

"They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy."

"Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation of government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment. Our Democratic opponents seem unwilling to debate these issues. They want to make you and I believe that this is a contest between two men...that we are to choose just between two personalities."

"If you and I have the courage to tell our elected officials that we want our national policy based upon what we know in our hearts is morally right. We cannot buy our security, our freedom from the threat of the bomb by committing an immorality so great as saying to a billion now in slavery behind the Iron Curtain, "Give up your dreams of freedom because to save our own skin, we are willing to make a deal with your slave masters." Alexander Hamilton said, "A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one." Let's set the record straight. There is no argument over the choice between peace and war, but there is only one guaranteed way you can have peace--and you can have it in the next second--surrender."

"Admittedly there is a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson in history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face--that their policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight and surrender… You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin--just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well, it's a simple answer after all."

What are your thoughts?

Want to read more.... check out Reagan's entire speech here.

business as a reflection of God's character?

2008-10-12T16:01:00.002-05:00

Mostly due to my own internal assessment, I have always felt “inferior” to others in occupations where clear and apparent opportunities to display the glory of God exist. For example, in my original estimation it always seemed more apparent for one to see how the glory of God can be displayed in the life of a teacher with opportunities to mold young hearts and lives (even if in just small ways) with a bent for the glory of God. Medical professionals have a clear and simple platform for going overseas to do missions and while attempting to heal individuals physical bodies from disease and sickness, offering the solution for how Christ can heal their soul from the disease of sin. To some degree I’ve always felt that “business” carries a negative connotation and outside of using business to build a simple relationship to share the gospel I’ve never seen how “secular” business could be a direct representation of God’s character and, when done right, it is a good thing ordained by the Father for everyone’s good.

I’ve spent the better part of the last ten years learning about all things business related. I have an undergraduate degree in finance, a master’s in business administration and have spent countless hours learning things from management techniques to corporate finance and fundamentals of our economic system to individual financial planning and wealth management. And I will whole heartedly admit that I thoroughly enjoy learning about business and economics!! I can’t begin to imagine myself in any other field. [I am SO thankful for medical professionals but I would hate to be one myself; I stand in awe of teachers but would be absolutely miserable if I was one myself.] However, until I read Wayne Grudem’s Business for the Glory of God, I never realized the direct correlation between business and the glory of God. I don’t suppose, from a spiritual perspective, I’ve been happy to tout my love of business and simultaneously really feel as if my field was one completely ordained and straight from the heart of God.

Grudem does a phenomenal job of explaining how, as believers, we should thank God for business related concepts such as money and profit, inequality of possessions (election season was a great time to read this chapter! BOO for socialism!!! :), employment, ownership, competition, and borrowing and lending. Grudem admonishes the reader not to allow the distortions of good concepts to warp our thinking about the concept itself in an evil way. The overall theme that Grudem consistently makes through the entire books is that good, God-glorifying business is right and necessary for it fully displays God’s character and provides a practical outlet for his people to display and advance the gospel. Grudem even remembers the poor in his discussions regarding money, possessions, and business and asserts that, though providing the poor with food and clothing is good and certainly right, it is at best only a short-term solution to the problem of poverty. Grudem continues by stating that the only real long-term solution to world poverty is through business.

In conclusion, I am thankful to be able to reconcile my desire to display God’s glory in every aspect of my life with the love of my career and general business. Grudem’s book has set me on a course to discover new ways to do missions by examining existing agencies like Opportunity International, who provides microloans (less than $500) to individuals to start business in poor areas of the world. The estimated impact of these loans has been hundreds of thousands which has then in turn impacted millions of lives. This has set me on a trajectory to see how the Father will use the love of business that he has gifted me with to more fully display his glory and advance his gospel throughout the world.

10/4 SNL debate spoof

2008-10-06T10:36:00.001-05:00

hilarious!

back on the track

2008-10-01T10:31:00.010-05:00

So, last night was my first night back to my running group's weekly track workout since April (yes, I have been a slacker when it comes to speed work but I HATE speed work when it is HOT!). At any rate, now that it has cooled off here in Memphis, I am back on track (literally) when it comes to working on speed. This morning my legs are definitely feeling the effect of being away from speed work for such an extended period of time.... Not optimal with the Tour d' Espirit coming up this Friday night where I plan to run a mere 25 miles. :)

I also feel compelled to share with you that my absolute favorite speed work album is Lecrae's "After the Music Stops." If you haven't checked out Lecrae you might want to give him a listen and I found out last week, he's from Memphis!!! Nice...

new book i'm VERY anxious to read!

2008-09-26T15:54:00.006-05:00

Wayne Grudem published Business for the Glory of God toward the end of 2003 but I just recently became acquainted with the title. I must admit, I am extremely anxious to read this book!!!

The book's summary elaborates: "Wayne Grudem introduces a novel concept: business itself glorifies God when it is conducted in a way that imitates God's character and creation. He shows that all aspects of business, including ownership, profit, money, competition, and borrowing and lending, glorify God because they are reflective of God's nature. Though Grudem isn't naive about the easy ways these activities can be perverted and used as a means to sin, he knows that Christians can be about the business of business."

I'll keep you posted with my own analysis!

ending the week right where we began

2008-09-19T15:29:00.010-05:00

I know some of you could probably care less what happens with the financial markets but I generally pay attention. It DIRECTLY correlates with my job and besides I actually ENJOY paying attention. I would like to state (predominately for those of you that are clueless) that we have just completed a "historic" week in the financial world. After 5 days of uncertainty and extreme volatility, we have ended the week right where we began (which given the week is a definitely a GOOD thing). And although this week does not have any real bearing on what occurs next week (it could be better or worse next week), it's good to know we "weathered" this week's storm (Note: Ramifications from this week will probably be felt for a while because the financial landscape has indeed drastically changed).

With all the chatter by uneducated and fearful indivduals this week (mostly induced by the 'drive-by' media) about the potential collapse of the American markets, I have had great cause to revisit where my hope rests. Do I put my hope in the American financial system? Do I place it in our economy (which IS funadmentally sound)? Do I place it in the strength of the global economic system? Or better yet, my ability to control and/or generate my individual wealth??? Hmm... I've had to remind myself (or rather preach to myself) where my hope really lies. It lies in One who has infinitely more strength than the American economic system... my hope rests in Christ!