Made you look

Hi

We were not created for pain

So I was lying in my bed trying to sleep and finding it a hard thing to accomplish because instead of sleep, I was caught up in the pains and worries and hurts that I know that my friends are feeling. And, I also am often caught up in my own hurt. And I found myself saying to God, "Do you feel this? do you see the pain that your people are going through?" And the answer is a resounding Yes. God's heart hurts with us and breaks when we lie in a crumpled ball of tears. And I know that we were not created for this. God created us to have joy-filled hearts. But how do those two things mesh? When a person is lost and confused by the circumstances of their life, how do they reconcile that to a loving God? I don't know exactly, but I think it has to do with an acceptance of the mess of the world and a choice to believe in the love of God in spite of it. When we surrender and decide to trust in His goodness and faithfulness to us, his beauty, that has been there all along, is revealed, and we are left humbled by his love. Now, I know there have been times in my life when I have decided not to do this, when I have said no to God and have decided that he is not worthy of my trust. At the time, it was the decision that made the most sense. But, I've come to realize that an attitude of trust and acceptance of one's lot in life is really the most rewarding position to be in. When we give up our questions and doubts, we are freed to love wholeheartedly and pain becomes a shadow of the past, still there but irrelevant to our position in God.
"In Christ, you are a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come."

Changing a Light Bulb the Christian Way

Hey guys and gals!

I found this page while going through old files at work today... I thought it was quite humorous. (of course, I think I have an over-heightened sense of humor... oh well, I hope you enjoy!)

How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

Charismatic: Only 1
Hands already in the air.

Pentecostal: 10
One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbysterians: None
Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None
Candles only

Baptists: At least 15
One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.

Episcopalians: 3
One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.

Mormons: 5
One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Unitarians:
We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, flourescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists: Undetermined
Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Church wide lighting service is planned for Sunday. Bring bulb of your choice and a covered dish.

Nazarene: 6
One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

Lutherans: None
Lutherans don't believe in change.

Amish:
What's a light bulb?

tired but not sleepy

Hey,
So, I'm currently waiting for Jon Stewart to start. Oh how I wish that it didn't air so late. I have to sit through the whole news hour just to get to my Daily Show. And then I wind up being tired and falling asleep halfway through usually. But, i'm sure that anyone reading this knows about my tendency to fall asleep on the living room floor watching the TV...
I've been completely lazy and un-social the last few days. I prolly should have called someone to do something or at least made an effort to connect, but I didn't. I just sat on my couch and cross-stitched. So, should someone come and rescue me from that, or should I buck up and rescue myself?
I made a nice new kids flyer at work the last few days. I like it. I'm quite proud of it actually. I'll have to post the final version or something, so that i can show it off to everyone.
I really don't have anything useful to say right now. Perhaps I shall go read or cross-stitch or watch TV. All very useless time-wasters as well...
G'night

A lazy day

Hm... it is odd to me that while so many of the people I know bemoan the fact that they do not have time to do the things they really want to be doing and instead have to do the things they have to do, I find myself do anything I want to do because I have not committed myself to doing anything I have to do. But, the true irony of that is that I wind up not doing anything I truly want to do because... i'm not really sure why. I suppose because I'm scared that my involvement is unneccessary or that the thing could be better done without me.
Meh, enough of this. I'm gonna go call a friend and do something valuable with my time
Joy out!
Vangie
(I was gonna write peace out as a random '60s tribute, but then the word joy popped into my head as a more worthy sentiment to strive for!)

okay already

Ok, so I guess it really is time to post a new blog entry. A few people have been complaining at me for a few weeks to put something new on here....So, hmm..... what do I have to say that might be inspiring, or, at the least, entertaining... hmm....

Maybe those are too high of goals. I've never been really good with goals. I think goals set you up for disappointment if you don't reach them. Although, on the other hand, if you never have any goals, you never acheive anything and earn that feeling of success. So, yes, goals are good things. I'm just too lazy really to set goals and strive to acheive them. It's much easier to just lollygag around. (Oooo, what a great word Vangie! You should go into literature. Oh, wait, done that) Lollygag: To waste time by puttering aimlessly; dawdle. (www.dictionary.com)

So, I watched Big Fish with my parents last night. My dad thought the part with the baby shooting down the hall at the hospital was absolutely hilarious. Seriously. He laughed so hard! Now, anyone else would think that part was absolute lunacy and therefore not really very funny, but he just laughed and laughed. Picture it. It's contagious. I like spending time with my parents. There are no worries about being judged or thought of as not acceptable enough the way you are or striving to "fit in" when you are at home. It's just so comfortable. And, the other thing I love about my parents is that they are that way with everyone and anyone. Come by the house twice and you are no longer a guest. You are loved and cared for as deeply as anyone else. It doesn't take much to become a part of our family.

Anyway.... I think that's a long enough post. Does this satisfy you????

look at that moustache... Aaah! a pirate! and he's got my mom! 

Are You Afraid to Hope?

"Hope holds out the alluring promise of the good that is yet to come. But what happens when your longing is met with unrealized requests, disease, severed friendships, infertility, singleness, lost passion, wayward children, or the sheer repetition of life? Many people forego the promise of hope in order to avoid the pain that disappointment or loss often brings.

"Hope can be painful, yet we need it to continue. While refusing to dream may protect us from unmet expectations, in can also keep us from experiencing the beauty God is creating in our lives. Where do we dfind the courage to anticipate the future God has promised?

"We either respond to hope with our hearts or we try to push it down. Responding to hope brings a deepened sense of thirst and ache, but it reminds us what it truly means to be human. So, keep seeking--even in those places where hope seems to have been destroyed. And while hope is never without risk, its transcending power can make you more fully alive."

-the backcover of a book that I have yet to have the courage to read. I think it's because I've tried to give up on hoping because hope causes pain when it is unfulfilled. My gut reaction is to avoid my desires because I am afraid that they will never come to fruition.

But, the big problem with this theory is that "without a vision the people perish." Without having desires and things to look forward to and as-of-yet unrealized dreams, you die. Hope keeps you striving for the blessings of tomorrow.

But it has been so long since I have actually allowed myself to dream that I don't even know where to begin. The hardest question for me to answer is "what do you want to do?" or "what are you passionate about?" because I have tried to turn those off because it hurts so much when they are unfulfilled. But, I have to trust God that he has a plan for my life and He will give me what I need. "Higher are your ways than my ways, and your thoughts than my thoughts"

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Ps. 37:4) The vision, or purpose, of my life should be to delight in the Lord. I looked up delight in the dictionary and it said "a feeling of extreme pleasure or satisfaction". We are to be pleased in God alone. If I do this, he promises to give me "desires", that is hope.