it seems to me

that protestants compensate for the cult of mary by understating how cool mary is...
i suppose it's all about balance.

i just want to say that i heart mary.

we had a good thanksgiving and hope you did too.

today's chewable vitamin:
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
~ luke 1.46-55

happy thanksgiving

image taken from...
rion.nu:


1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD : "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. 6 "Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.

7 In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 "The enemy boasted, 'I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.' 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. 13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble;anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; 16 terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people you bought pass by.

17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.
18 The LORD will reign for ever and ever."

~ exodus 15.1-18

this is me an laurel at the the ghpl...
taken w/ camera phone
(sorry- i was having technical difficulties earlier- but it's fixed now.)

weekend
i work only two days this week and then have five consecutive days off. i am looking forward to it immensely. i plan to do a lot of nothing.

we had a good weekend. here were some of the contents.

: the buckeyes won. which was good.

: we had our recently engaged friends dave and sara over for dinner.

: we went to anne and gino's and had fun. we solved all the world's problems and felt very accomplished.

: i made some kick ass chilli.

: i had a nice conversation w/ lyndi.

: i got some great input and persepctive on my life from two very wise older women in my life.

: we did some seasonal deep cleaning.

: i watched charlie and the chocolate factory and didn't like it so much.

: i slept in one day.

: i had an 'ah ha moment' when i was reminded that i can act my way into right thinking and that i don't have to entertain and nurture every thought and emotion that comes to mind. these are good things for me to remember. and yes- sometimes cliches actually work on me.

: i converted a trashcan to a composter and started a compost pile.

i would like to have more hyper-links in this post.
but lyndi will have to suffice for now.

have a good week!

today's chewable vitamin:

"a time comes when silence is betrayal. some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony, but we must speak. we must speak out with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak." ~ mlk

this is andrea, maggie and nora. our family's contigent in nashville.

autumn is in full swing. i don't want it to end...
lots of different things going on lately.
here are some of them.

i'm going to the u2 concert with or without you.
i may have company, i may not. either way, i'm going.
here are some additional things on my mind lately...

now, i realize that this is old news-
but these are some other things on my mind lately that i've been perculating on:

i think it is fantabulous that athletes are held accountable for thier attitudes and words. i hope this is a trend.

here are some links to scary reports about the US military using chemical weapons in iraq.

still following this fairly peaceful and hopefully democratic election in west africa.

also praying for things in darfur to progress for the better.
have mercy oh God, have mercy.

and is it bad that i pray that richard mugabe will die soon?
my projection is that after his death;
it will come to light that zimbabwe surpasses our worse nightmares w/ the aids problem

a quick shout out to my old friend marsha who finally started blogging.

today's chewable vitamin:
"discipleship is not limited to what you can understand – it must transcend all comprehension. plunge into the deep waters beyond your own understanding, and i will help you to comprehend.
bewilderment is the true comprehension. not to know where you are going is the true knowledge. in this way Abraham went forth from his father, not knowing where he was going. that is the way of the cross. you cannot find it in yourself, so you must let me lead you as though you were a blind man.

not the work which you choose, not the suffering you devise, but the road which is contrary to all that you choose or contrive or desire – that is the road you must take. it is to this path that i call you, and in this sense that you must be my disciple."
~ martin luther taken from bruderhof's daily digs

ellen johnson-sirleaf liberia's new president.

a gratitude list...
in no particular order:

my family.
jesus
the 12 steps
my sister is healthy
laurel
the library.
sleep
down comforters
central heating
hot water heaters
indoor plumming
affortable rent.
prayer and connection w/ the Lord
our church
the Church
chipoltle
pad thai
u2
our incomes
hope
direction
friends
paid time off
health insurance.
forgiveness
perspective


today's chewable vitamin
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
~ dueteronomy 30.19-20

this is a picture of anne and gino

i am posting this picture of our friend's gino and anne.
they just got married in september.
i'm posting their picture for no particular reason other than to put a post up.
i don't have lots to say.

i know i don't talk much about work here, but this week compels me to say that if you ever crave an upclose and personal version of jerry springer; please be sure to stop by my place of employment. you will not be disappointed. these things really do happen in real life. i really don't have the imagination to make up the stuff that goes on here...

other than that, life has been both rich and full lately and i have lots to be grateful for!

hope all is well with you and yours...