Have you ever really thought about what it means to say "Good Bye?"
The dictionary says that Good Bye is:
1. An acknowledgement at parting.
2. An act of parting or leave-taking.
That pretty well sums up the last week for me.
On Wednesday, I "acknowledged at parting" a friend who was moving back to her home country.
On Friday, I participated in the "act of parting or leave-taking" after four years of working at an awesome company.
Today, I said "Good Bye" to a dear woman of God who passed away over the weekend.
Some good byes are inevitably sad, but some are more along the lines of "see you later."
Christine, I hope to see you later.
MM, I'll see you soon.
Sis. Sylvester, I'll see you again one day.
Good Bye for now.
August 31, 2009
August 25, 2009
Consuming Fire
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
for our "God is a consuming fire."
Hebrews 12:28 & 29
August 21, 2009
More about Frogmore...
By popular demand:
Frogmore Stew
PS - add about 6 lbs of crab legs when you add the shrimp. It's just better that way. :-)
Frogmore Stew
PS - add about 6 lbs of crab legs when you add the shrimp. It's just better that way. :-)
A New Generation
You may remember the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry ground. If not, take a minute and read about in Exodus 14:10-31. After this miraculous crossing, these same Israelites saw God move in many ways, but because of a lack of faith, they all died before they could enter into the promised land, the land that God was giving his people.
A new generation was prepared to go wherever God sent them. First step, cross the Jordan River. Now, check out the following:
"He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.""
~Joshua 4:21-24~
Do you see what God did? The very same thing he did at the Red Sea, he did at the Jordan River. Why? So that a new generation would know that he is the same yesterday, today and forever.
What does that mean to me? That God, who did everything the Bible says he did, can do the same thing for me today. That God, who carried my great-grandparents through the Great Depression, will carry me through this year and next.
He's the same. Yesterday. Today. Forever.
A new generation was prepared to go wherever God sent them. First step, cross the Jordan River. Now, check out the following:
"He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.""
~Joshua 4:21-24~
Do you see what God did? The very same thing he did at the Red Sea, he did at the Jordan River. Why? So that a new generation would know that he is the same yesterday, today and forever.
What does that mean to me? That God, who did everything the Bible says he did, can do the same thing for me today. That God, who carried my great-grandparents through the Great Depression, will carry me through this year and next.
He's the same. Yesterday. Today. Forever.
August 17, 2009
August 15, 2009
Getting your hands dirty
Ever gotten up from a meal with dirty hands?
I'm not talking sloppy joe messy. Not fried chicken messy. I'm talking you ate with your hands, messy, greasy, sloppy all at the same time.
That was my dinner tonight.
Frogmore Stew.
A delicious meal of crab legs, shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes and smoked sausage all boiled together in one flavor filled pot of water.
You can use a fork for the potato and sausage if you like.
Otherwise, this is a hands on meal.
With drawn butter and cocktail sauce.
Yum.
Messy? Sure.
Worth it? Absolutely!
August 12, 2009
Summer Storm
"What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm..."
~Job 38:24-25~
August 11, 2009
I won't deny it.
I am a reader. Not just a casual reader. A voracious reader.
As such, I am constantly searching for the next great read.
Now, before you go making suggestions, there's something you should know.
I read G, with the occasional foray into PG, books only.
No graphic scenes.
No obscenities.
You get the picture.
Sadly, this limits the selection.
So yesterday on my way home from work, I stopped by the book exchange and picked up a few quick reads from the Love Inspired line.
I was pleased to find Crescent City Courtship by Elizabeth White to be an execellent story with fully developed characters and story lines.
When I finished the book, I read the author's notes. (I don't always do so, which should be indicative of how much I enjoyed this.)
What did I discover? That this story was written as White's thesis for her Master's in Creative Writing.
That brings a whole new perspective to writing a thesis for the intent of publication.
As such, I am constantly searching for the next great read.
Now, before you go making suggestions, there's something you should know.
I read G, with the occasional foray into PG, books only.
No graphic scenes.
No obscenities.
You get the picture.
Sadly, this limits the selection.
So yesterday on my way home from work, I stopped by the book exchange and picked up a few quick reads from the Love Inspired line.
I was pleased to find Crescent City Courtship by Elizabeth White to be an execellent story with fully developed characters and story lines.
When I finished the book, I read the author's notes. (I don't always do so, which should be indicative of how much I enjoyed this.)
What did I discover? That this story was written as White's thesis for her Master's in Creative Writing.
That brings a whole new perspective to writing a thesis for the intent of publication.
August 10, 2009
Back to work.
"Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun."
~Colleen C. Barrett
It's back to work for me today. No more vacation. No more rest.
Thankfully, I'm blessed to have a job that can be fun.
Of course attitude does make a difference.
Today's attitude:
"Hey guys! I'm back!"
"How are you? Tell me about your vacation."
"How are you? Tell me about your vacation."
Oh, yeah. Let's get some work done while we chat.
Ahhh. It's good to be back.
August 5, 2009
The best laid plans...
Vacation is half way over. So sad.
On the other hand, it's been INCREDIBLE so far. There are plenty of stories.
Tonight, we tried to make a trek to Busch Gardens for a couple hours of shows, rides, etc.
Sounds like fun, right?
It would have been great.
Except for a couple of things.
We walked all the way to the boat landing, hoping for a river cruise.
It closed 30 minutes before we got there.
We tried to ride the skyline to the other side of the park.
It closed due to an approaching storm.
We tried to go to FestHaus for the German oompa-loompa show.
The last one had already played.
So, one ride on the carousel and 30 minutes in the Land of Dragons later, soft drinks in hand, we were trying to beat the afore mentioned storm out of the park.
Question of the day: When a storm is approaching and you hear an announcement about "inclement weather" coupled with instructions to "seek shelter," how do you react?
A) Walk calmly to the nearest exit, hoping to make it to your car before the bottom falls out.
B) Run quickly to the nearest building and wait it out.
C) PANIC! Run! Where's the car? Who has the keys?
We chose option A. Sadly, the majority of people in the park were caught up in option C. Really people? It's a little rain. Pretty sure none of you will melt.
That being said, we fought to stay upright in the tide of humanity rushing to the exits and shelter. And finally made it to the car. Were we a little wet? Sure. A little cold? You bet.
But all in all, nothing a little hot chocolate and a warm blanket couldn't cure.
On the other hand, it's been INCREDIBLE so far. There are plenty of stories.
Tonight, we tried to make a trek to Busch Gardens for a couple hours of shows, rides, etc.
Sounds like fun, right?
It would have been great.
Except for a couple of things.
We walked all the way to the boat landing, hoping for a river cruise.
It closed 30 minutes before we got there.
We tried to ride the skyline to the other side of the park.
It closed due to an approaching storm.
We tried to go to FestHaus for the German oompa-loompa show.
The last one had already played.
So, one ride on the carousel and 30 minutes in the Land of Dragons later, soft drinks in hand, we were trying to beat the afore mentioned storm out of the park.
Question of the day: When a storm is approaching and you hear an announcement about "inclement weather" coupled with instructions to "seek shelter," how do you react?
A) Walk calmly to the nearest exit, hoping to make it to your car before the bottom falls out.
B) Run quickly to the nearest building and wait it out.
C) PANIC! Run! Where's the car? Who has the keys?
We chose option A. Sadly, the majority of people in the park were caught up in option C. Really people? It's a little rain. Pretty sure none of you will melt.
That being said, we fought to stay upright in the tide of humanity rushing to the exits and shelter. And finally made it to the car. Were we a little wet? Sure. A little cold? You bet.
But all in all, nothing a little hot chocolate and a warm blanket couldn't cure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)