I used to read constantly, several novels a week. I suppose the time I now use on the internet would have been spent reading a book several years ago. I always read light stuff, romances, some light mysteries that had humor, and fun light-hearted humorous books. It was my escape, as the internet is now.
Then I developed a cataract which made reading difficult. Got it fixed 6-7 years ago, but was busy building my business, and had a TV in the bedroom so stopped reading at night. Meanwhile another cataract was forming, and it progressed to the point of blinding me totally in left eye...but meanwhile I had a stroke that still causes chaos (best word to describe it) in my thinking, has affected my concentration, etc. Less than a year ago I had surgery to remove my cataract, and was looking forward to reading again. In fact I have a few books that I've wanted to read and have started them but couldn't keep up with them even though they were all light reading. So I gave up.
Then this spring I got my DroidX. And have both the Kindle and Nook apps on it. And found lots of free books. And downloaded a few.
A few days ago I started one of them. In fact, I went to bed early just so I could. And at 3:07 in the morning, I finished it. I loved reading it! It is the first book that I've read all the way through in YEARS, and I really really loved it! (If you're curious, it was Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad.)
Most of my reading has been done on the computer (a habit I formed when I needed to be able to adjust the font size to HUGE!), mostly the Bible but also online articles...no fiction though, no light reading breaks of easy mindless drivel that I used to enjoy. Is that why it was so much easier to read it on my Droid? I know for a fact that holding the Droid is easier when laying in bed than even the lightest paperback...
The problem? Not being able to put it down. I can't read into the morning hours every night, for sure. I'm now reading the Bible on my Droid at night, which isn't light reading, but involves looking things up and praying, so it isn't strictly reading as in a novel.
So I'm excited to be able to read again. Just have to work out the sleep thing. I could read while I'm working (answering calls and scheduling appointments for The Bug Man 9-5, M-F, April-Oct.) I suppose, since I can't really get involved in projects with the frequent interruptions - I do simpler things around the house during work hours but do spend a lot of time, when the phone is busy, sitting at the computer. I might as well be reading.
Anyway, I'm really happy that I read a book, just for fun. And, whenever it might be, I'm looking forward to reading another one!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Rob Bell/Mars Hill Church
I had heard of Universalism and have read several articles about it in the past but this is the first I've heard of the "Emerging Church" - although a church that I attended in the past may fit that description...
I'm not sure why there is a need to sugar coat, or omit parts of, God's Word. Yes, the convicting by God of our sin is uncomfortable, even painful. And the feeling of urgency to change that He brings about within us is not pleasant - if it were then why would we bother?
No, the need for Christ isn't a sitcom, or the result of performance by a rock band, or enjoying a feel-good, everybody-goes-to-heaven sermon. The awareness of our need for Christ is most often a traumatic spiritual awakening that shakes us to the core, wakes us from our sin-induced slumber, and then as we repent, changes us with an heart-shattering, completely enveloping love and awareness of the Creator Himself within and through and surrounding us...leading to change from the very heart of who we are, to how we see life, our goals and priorities, how we live, and mostly Who we now serve.
A conversion from sinner to follower can happen anywhere. But it is the result of working of the Gospel of Jesus Christ within our very spirits, changing our hearts from the inside out, and leaving us with an awareness and connection through the Holy Spirit within us...not just an emotional high that leaves us within a few days (or even hours!).
Do not be deceived.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a17oah
Monday, July 11, 2011
As an animal lover, today's Lazaroo was especially significant to me...
Amplify’d from lazaroo.com
Lazaroo – Monday, July 11, 2011
Jul 11, 2011
I Lazaroo.
Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, with total transparency:
“If someone’s offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an animal without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides.”
(Leviticus 3:1-2)I’m struggling with this, Jesus.
The very idea of taking an innocent animal –
one of my favorites –marching it to Your holy place
laying my hand on its head one last timeand slaughtering it?!!!
then standing there…watching in horror…
while the priests sprinkle its blood against Your altar?!!!No wonder these kinds of sacrifices were detestable to the Egyptians, Father.
I’ve got to admit it: They’re detestable to me.
as detestable as my sin must be to You.
_________
Exodus 8:25-27; Leviticus 18:22-30; Deuteronomy 7:25-27; Deuteronomy 27:1-7; 1 Kings 11:5-11; Ezekiel 36:31-32; Luke 16:14-15; Titus 1:14-16; 1 Peter 4:1-6
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a17hvy
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
So Today There Was a Verdict... #caseyanthonyverdict
...and Casey Anthony was found innocent of the murder of her daughter, toddler Caylee.
The internet is abuzz with shock and horror that she got away with it, that justice wasn't served for Caylee. There are tributes everywhere, as if it makes any difference to either Caylee or to Casey. And everybody seems to have an opinion or a thought on the matter.
Here is mine.
First, Caylee doesn't care. She is in the arms of Jesus, a place where we Christians are promised to go eventually, and our hope in this life. Caylee has already reached that hope, and is (figuratively, at least) skipping down those streets of gold and feasting in her mansion on the hilltop. The trial and the verdict and the outcry does not touch her.
Second, I wasn't in the courtroom, and didn't see all of the evidence or hear all of the witnesses, so I can't really say whether Casey is innocent or guilty. It is my stab-in-the-dark guess that all who are proclaiming Casey guilty weren't there either. Nor were any of us there when Caylee died. To me, proclaiming loudly something I don't - can't possibly - know with certainty only shows my own foolishness.
Third, if Casey did murder her child, in God's eyes that sin is no more heinous than yours or mine, no less worthy of forgiveness, no less covered by the blood of Jesus. Our sin is more awful than we can imagine in God's eyes, so horrible in His sight that it took the ultimate sacrifice to pay the price for it. Casey is - or would be - no more or less guilty of sin that any one of us.
Fourth, there is an enormous wailing and gnashing of teeth for Caylee today. Yet today 3900 babies in the United States alone also died by their mother's hand, or by her orders. Where is the justice in that? Why are no porch lights shining for those innocent ones, who were created by God as surely as Caylee was and whose death was just as painful and terrible for them?
My opinion is this: Casey Anthony is a sinner the exact same as I am, or that you are, or that all of those other mothers whose children die by their hands are. And we are all in need of a Savior, One who loves each of us enough that He allowed Himself to be brutally and horrifically tortured just so that we could come into the presence of the perfect almighty God for eternity. We all have that opportunity, we all can accept or reject it, and we all will be judged according to our works. Earthly judgments are flawed. Eternal ones are not.
So, whether or not Casey murdered her child is really a moot point, in the scope of eternity.
The internet is abuzz with shock and horror that she got away with it, that justice wasn't served for Caylee. There are tributes everywhere, as if it makes any difference to either Caylee or to Casey. And everybody seems to have an opinion or a thought on the matter.
Here is mine.
First, Caylee doesn't care. She is in the arms of Jesus, a place where we Christians are promised to go eventually, and our hope in this life. Caylee has already reached that hope, and is (figuratively, at least) skipping down those streets of gold and feasting in her mansion on the hilltop. The trial and the verdict and the outcry does not touch her.
Second, I wasn't in the courtroom, and didn't see all of the evidence or hear all of the witnesses, so I can't really say whether Casey is innocent or guilty. It is my stab-in-the-dark guess that all who are proclaiming Casey guilty weren't there either. Nor were any of us there when Caylee died. To me, proclaiming loudly something I don't - can't possibly - know with certainty only shows my own foolishness.
Third, if Casey did murder her child, in God's eyes that sin is no more heinous than yours or mine, no less worthy of forgiveness, no less covered by the blood of Jesus. Our sin is more awful than we can imagine in God's eyes, so horrible in His sight that it took the ultimate sacrifice to pay the price for it. Casey is - or would be - no more or less guilty of sin that any one of us.
Fourth, there is an enormous wailing and gnashing of teeth for Caylee today. Yet today 3900 babies in the United States alone also died by their mother's hand, or by her orders. Where is the justice in that? Why are no porch lights shining for those innocent ones, who were created by God as surely as Caylee was and whose death was just as painful and terrible for them?
My opinion is this: Casey Anthony is a sinner the exact same as I am, or that you are, or that all of those other mothers whose children die by their hands are. And we are all in need of a Savior, One who loves each of us enough that He allowed Himself to be brutally and horrifically tortured just so that we could come into the presence of the perfect almighty God for eternity. We all have that opportunity, we all can accept or reject it, and we all will be judged according to our works. Earthly judgments are flawed. Eternal ones are not.
So, whether or not Casey murdered her child is really a moot point, in the scope of eternity.
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