We used this in my small group tonight. A song that has been -accidentally- ministering to me really powerfully lately. I was nervous about sharing with the guys because it is "kind of cheesy." But it's not ... it's just a really clear and unambiguous illustration of a shocking truth. the guys really liked it. Some sang along, some got a little misty ... and all were reminded of just how much they are really loved. Try to watch the whole thing and maybe meditate on it for a bit yourself ...
.... then let me know what happens.
Love you all,
JP
Currently
listening
:
The Ultimate Collection
By
Phillips Craig & Dean
Release date: 2006-02-21
I just looked at my blog randomly and realized i haven't posted anything in two months. There was time when I rarely, if ever would go TWO days without posting something. I'm busier with LIVING life now, but I do feel somewhat detached from my menagerie of myspace friends and blog readers.
So I fugured I should do something here ... something ... hmmm
Summer is going ok. I love the weather and we have been having lots of fun times. We go swimming somewhere at least twice a week. The girls and I all have numerous bug bites and suntanny brown arms, necks nad faces from lots of time out enjoying the wonders of creation and one another.
I sharpened up my Machete which originated in El Salvador, maybe 15 years ago but I had never actually used. Now I do some of my more rudimentary yeard work with it, and I love swinging that thing. I feel like a cross between Zorro and Dr. Livingston in the jungle (with perhaps a tiny bit of Jedi thrown in for good measure). We have a bizzarre little bamboo forest on my back lot with the grasses (bamboo is a grass, you know, right?) ... Anyway, they grow at least a foot or two a week, maybe more and I have gotten to chop the buggers dogwn two or three times now. I have done some other yard work, too, but nothin that rises to the level of "gardening" or anything. The thing is, it's nice to HAVE a yard to do stuff with, like swing a machete ...
I know what you're thinking ... sounds a little violent, right? Or creepy. It is, but ... I live life on the edge I guess, lol. As for violent and creepy, things have seemed to mellow out considerably here in the hood the last few weeks the marches picnics and demonstrations along with a few precision evictions and stepped up police interventions have made a difference. I did have to call the cops about a disturbance late last night and it was uncomfortable to deal with, but that is only the second or third one in the last couple of weeks, so we are really making progress. I think.
Also, this summer I have been spending a lot of time out at my mom's. Because she has been off a lot and can take the girls while I work which is a massive blessing. Also, the girls are developing some little friendships with kids out there and the like and it is close to Lester River where we love to swim a lot. It is good.
Work is going fairly well. We are dealing with a lot of changes as our director of close to thirty years just retired, but good things are happening. Last week I took a group of guys to see "The Dark Knight" and then out for pizza where we talked about the film and what it says about good and evil. that was great outing. A couple of guys from my church came along because they had been planning an outing with the same kids for the same day so it turned into a bit more of a "collaborative" my favorite. I have had some problems at work performance wise. This is kind of add related stuff like not gettign reports in on time and I missed an important meeting last week. But they are working with me on that stuff and are happy with my performance in other areas. I am amazingly good and natural at certain things and others are almost liek a foreign language for me. BUT I am super blessed to have job that recognizes the whole package and works with me to make us all successful in our endevors. It is truly a great situation to be in. But I do get a lot of anxiety that I'm still not good enough sometimes. Me and God and my friends are working on that, though and hopefully it will clear up ...
Some of you know that Speedy has had a fairly sparse summer not getting out much due to weather and other concerns. That should be changing now as the loaw of averages seems to dictate it can't rain and storm EVERY Friday this summer. Or can it? Also they are adding some Sunday dates for movies in the park. That will likely make a difference.
I am very blessed that I have a "real" job now though and that I am not so dependent on Speedy Wienie for survival (financially, that is). Speaking of the do-re-mi situation, I know it sounds like a cliche .... but I have really been pinched financially. By gas and food prices, and the like. We have really been really broke and I don't like that feeling. There is -nearly- enough to pay the most important bills so we are gettign by like that, but I do feel pretty tight otherwise. AND the thing is that the best things in life are free or cheap.
OK ... that's not nearly two months worth, but I guess I've given you some real, raw things about me to chew on. I'd love to know how thingss are with you all, too. Drop me a line.
