like a train wreck.....

in a much less insightful post, you know how sometimes you see things on TV, and think- this is so offensive, and yet you continue to watch? In a similar vain, I have been hooked on this blog/zeen. I have to warn you, if you are faint of stomach, or get offended easily (Like if you don't like Brian T Murphy) then don't, I repeat DO NOT keep reading, and do not go to the link.

So this guy basically eats crap. He's testing the limits to see how much the human stomach can endure. And really it's so fascinating what he eats, and how he describes it. He has the dry-est sense of humor that really has me laughing out loud. So check it out if you want to see what fermented corn, beggin strips (yes, that's right, the tasty dog treat) or breastmilk taste like.

LOVE

I have been thinking about LOVE a lot lately, and not just because I'm supposed to be in it. This weekend was pretty intense for a lot of reasons, reasons that I'm not really going to get into here in cyberland, but on Sat night I read 1 Cor 13 , and really wondered if according to that standard, I can ever really accomplish love. What's even more is that Jesus comes along and raises the bar even higher saying that I not only need to adhere to these standards with these people that I like- that I enjoy spending time with, hug on, and laugh with, but he brings me into this discussion and tells me that I'm supposed to love-the same word as 1 cor 13- my enemies. It does not boast. It does not delight in wrong, it does not envy. Always hopes. Always trusts. Can I ever love?

To lighten this a little, I have included some long overdue pictures of some people that I love in my half hearted, failing way. I haven't been able to post these because Adam has had them on his computer. These are from when he and I went home to see Cecilia Grace, my beautiful new niece (which Adam is holding in one of the pics), the other is of me, my sister and brother, and the last is of me and one of my nephews, Noah, the oldest.

I really do pray that somehow in spite of all our hurt, anger bitterness baggage, somehow the light and love of Christ shines through the brokenness to redeem our failed attempts to love.

Jesus

This is what Jesus looks like, in case any of you are wondering. (that is me standing in front of him- don't get confused).















There is a Nichole Nordeman song that says something like, "and I know you could leave writing on the wall that's just for me, or send wisdom in a vision, like in Solomon's Sweet dreams, but tonight I don't need a fiery pillar in the sky. Just want to know you're gonna hold me when I start to cry. Oh great God, be small enough to hear me."

I sometimes vacillate between these two ideas- the bigness and the "smallness" or God- that Smallness being not weakness, but an intimacy that is only gained from God choosing to lower himself to my level. Like a giant basketball player talking to a two year old, I imagine him crouching down to show me something. But lately I have been wondering if it's really possible for him to be small enough to hear me these days. I wonder if, like that statue, he's too big to even look at. Certainly too big to wrap my arms around and hold me in his arms.

Oh the Places you will go

One of the things that I do here with Impact, is go on vision screenings in random Alabama towns. This is always an adventure for a wide variety of reasons...

Yesterday I saw a poster that had a plastic strawberry, Carrot, and and tomato adhered with clear mailing tape. In big bold letters (so the kids can read it better) the mind-stimulating piece of educational information said:

"THESE ARE THINGS THAT GROWS"

Maybe it's better that they can't read.

Do you feel like this guy? I haven't lately, but seeing him still makes me laugh. Thanks T. Scott.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIA

So it's officially been a year! I was sitting here in the office and Adam says, "Can you believe that it's been a year since the pope died?" And it's sad, but one of the first things i thought about was, "Wow, that means my blog is over a year old."

Congratuations Sophia. Sorry I have been neglecting you lately. Someday i will return to you and my faithful readers.