Monday, October 30, 2006

Kaitlyn's Birthday Weekend



What a beautiful weekend it was! The sky was so blue I couldn't stop looking at it. And the tree's, man, were they beautiful. Perfect fall weekend. I went to East Tennessee to see my parents and my niece Kaitlyn. It was her birthday this past week so we celebrated. Click on the photos to see the album. Kaitlyn said to tell everyone Hi, the last pic is her message to everyone.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

It Takes Courage to become Vulnerable...........


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The Longing to Belong 10/26/2006

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Whatever else it means to be human, we know beyond doubt that it means to be relational. Aren't the greatest joys and memories of your life associated with family, friendship, or falling in love? Aren't your deepest wounds somehow connected to someone also, to a failure of relationship? That you were loved but are no longer, or that you never have been chosen?

One of the deepest of all human longings is the longing to belong, to be a part of things, to be invited in. We want to be part of the fellowship. Where did that come from?

So, too, our greatest sorrows stem from losing the ones we love. Byron lamented:

"What is the worst of woes that wait on age?
What stamps the wrinkle deeper on the brow?
To view each loved one blotted from life's page,
And be alone on earth, as I am now."

Loneliness might be the hardest cross we bear. Why else would we have come up with solitary confinement as a form of punishment? We are relational to the core. We are made, as it says in Genesis, in the image of God or, better, in the image of the Trinity: "Let us make man in our image" (1:26, emphasis added).

Meister Eckhart had it right when he said that we are born out of the laughter of the Trinity.

From the Heart of the universe come our beating hearts. From this Fellowship spring all of our longings for a friend, a family, a fellowship, for someplace to belong.

(Epic , 22-24)John Eldredge

In Epic we explore the Larger Story. Think of all those movies you’ve ever loved, the stories that have stirred your heart--there’s a reason they move you so. They’ve been trying to tell you about the true Epic ever since you were young. It is a breathtaking story, and you play a crucial role.
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From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 299
Ransomed Heart Ministries www.ransomedheart.com

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Reminders of the Story



We have dissected God, and man, and the gospel, and we have thousands, if not millions, of facts—all of it quite dead. It’s not that these insights aren’t true; it’s that they no longer speak. I could tell you a few facts about God, for example. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and immutable. There—don’t you feel closer to him? All our statements about God forget that he is a person, and as Tozer says, “In the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, desires and suffers as any other person may.” How do we get to know a person? Through stories. All the wild and sad and courageous tales that we tell—they are what reveal us to others. We must return to the Scriptures for the story that it is and stop approaching it as if it is an encyclopedia, looking for “tips and techniques.”

Reminders of the Story are everywhere—in film and novels, in children’s fairy tales, in the natural world around us, and in the stories of our own lives. In fact, every story or movie or song or poem that has ever stirred your soul is telling you something you need to know about the Sacred Romance. Even nature is crying out to us of God’s great heart and the drama that is unfolding. Sunrise and sunset tell the tale every day, remembering Eden’s glory, prophesying Eden’s return. These are the trumpet calls from the “hid battlements of eternity.” We must capture them like precious treasures, and hold them close to our hearts.

(The Journey of Desire , 203–4) John Eldredge

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Just for fun...........

OK, I was feeling silly and decided to straighten my hair for a change! I know you like it straight Beth, so this is for you! Check out the pic's below. Just click on the Pic! We had Twinkie night at the Palace last night and I had a couple of pics in there with some of our great Youth!

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Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Breathtaking.........................

 

I was in North Carolina this past weekend for my uncles funeral. He was ready to go and that was what mattered. He had made peace with family that had been estranged (Praise God), and there was some great family time while there.

It was a whirlwind trip, we went from the Virginia boarder (Mount Pilot, Hanging Rock, Westfield area to see some family (on my Dad's side) and then on down to Salisbury to the funeral and see family that had come for that (Mom's side). Then we headed back home through Black Mountain, Asheville area. We pretty much saw most of North Carolina in one weekend. I have attached a photo album of the pic's we took of the mountains in most of those areas. What an amazing site, what beautiful blue skies. God always takes my breath with the splendor of His creation. I could stay out there in it forever and just Praise Him. How glorious!! I hope you enjoy the pic's as much as I was blessed looking at all of that beautiful scenery. Tam

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Monday, October 09, 2006

Just checking in........

 
Hi Everyone! Life has been very busy of late. I don't have any new pic's to post because my rechargable batteries are dead and my charger for them is packed in a box somewhere! Most of you know that I moved to Gallatin with 2 other roommates so condensing a 3 bedroom house down to 1 room, more or less, has been quite interesting. But hey.......it's just "stuff". I am sure I will eventually find the charger and then watch out!

I accumulated so much stuff over the past 5 years, I am still throwing stuff out (and I am not even a pack rat :)

Where I am living is in a great community with a beautiful lake (across the street and behind the other condo's) but I take the opportunity most days to walk down to the lake and watch the sunset, or if it is the weekend, some sunrises. You don't know what you're missing if you miss a sunrise or sunset. God is so amazing with His handywork and I just stand in awe. Sitting on the deck at night and looking at the moon listening to some awesome music is another blessing that should not be missed. These things are more important than "stuff". I also am getting into a routine of walking around the neighborhood each morning before work, right before the sun is coming up, and that gives you a lot of energy as well as some great quiet time. It has only been a little over two weeks, but it has been good.

Once I find my battery charger, I will take pic's of these things and post them. Have an amazing week! Much Love to all.......... Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 02, 2006

Do Not Give Way To Fear..........

 
Do Not Give Way to Fear
09/30/2006

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Of course this is scary. Responding to the invitations of Jesus often feels like the riskiest thing we’ve ever done. Just ask Rahab, Esther, Ruth, and Mary. Webster defines “risk” as exposing one’s life to the possibility of injury, damage, or loss. The life of the friends of God is a life of profound risk. The risk of loving others. The risk of stepping out and offering, speaking up and following our God-given dreams. The risk of playing the irreplaceable role that is ours to play. Of course it is hard. If it were easy, you’d see lots of women living this way.

So let’s come back then to what Peter said when he urged women to offer their beauty to others in love. This is the secret of femininity unleashed:

Do not give way to fear. (1 Peter 3:6)

The reason we fear to step out is because we know that it might not go well (is that an understatement?). We have a history of wounds screaming at us to play it safe. We feel so deeply that if it doesn’t go well, if we are not received well, their reaction becomes the verdict on our lives, on our very beings, on our hearts. We fear that our deepest doubts about ourselves as women will be confirmed. Again. That we will hear yet again the message of our wounds, the piercing negative answers to our Question. That is why we can only risk stepping out when we are resting in the love of God. When we have received his verdict on our lives—that we are chosen and dearly loved. That he finds us captivating. Then we are free to offer.

(Captivating , 213–14) Posted by Picasa