This struck me hilarious!

This is the lady in front of me at Starbucks. She was quite the seen as she strutted in with her hot rollers intact for travel. I had no shame as I whipped out my camera phone to capture this for many to see. Everyone inside was staring at her and then me as I clicked the picture. Very shortly after I snapped the photo she turned to look at me and I just smiled. The best part was that she was driving a convertible!

Do you know where you are?

As I was driving along the freeway this past Friday night heading home from work I found myself completely lost. At this time in my life I have a 30-45 minute commute depending on traffic, weather, time of year etc. The week had been an extremely busy one and filled with confusion, doubts and moments of sheer surrender to whatever God is doing in my life. As I hit the road to immerse myself in the traffic flow of Houston I found myself lost in thought and not until I saw the blaring lights of the tollroad did I realize that I had been driving for 45 minutes and had no idea where I was. I must say that it was a feeling of dismay, how could I have possibly been driving for this long and have no idea how I get to where I am. I felt as if I were in the twilight zone, activity was all around me and I was frozen. I decided that I would just ask someone in a neighboring toll line where we were. It took a while for me to muster up the courage because I have no doubt that the look on my face was of someone who had been commited and escaped for the first time after years of being institutionalized I rolled down the passenger window and asked a rather rough looking man in an old pick-up truck "I know this is going to sound strange but where are we?" He just looked straight ahead and tried to ignore me but as I'm sure any of you who know me knows that does not work and so I repeated the question "Sir, where are we?" and he looked at me with a glare that would have sent you running to your mother and said "Houston" and he looked again straight ahead. After recovering from what was a very rude encounter I realized that this man either thinks that I'm crazy, I'm trying to pick him up or that I'm about to car jack him and he has no intention of helping me so I just drove on ahead. I saw the toll booth worker standing out at the coin deposit and so I patiently waited my turn. As I waited I looked all around me trying to ascertain where I could possible be in this huge city. Thoughts of unsafe areas and strangers troubled me as I sat baffled in traffic. I'm afraid to say that more often that not I will get lost in thought driving to a routine location and have no memory of the drive. Finally, it was my turn to pay the toll and I asked the man in the orange work vest "where am I" and yet again I got a strange look. Finally, I had to take longer than I would have liked explaining to him my situation and then he laughed and told me that I-10 was just straight ahead a few miles. Now I have lived in Houston my entire life and I know just about every back street to every joint around and I have been down this stretch of toll-road hundreds of times and yet it was completely unfamiliar to me at this moment in time. Is my walk with Christ routine? I'm reminded of the blessings of the valley of life as I finish this blog entry tonight. I don't know about you but many times I'm in such a hurry to move out of the valley, to learn the necessary lessons and get on with the good times that I miss God's glorious presence in the mundane.

Examples of Christ?

I am in a customer service industry and I meet many people of all walks of life. Last week I meet a young man, who very obviously smoked heavily and his father who reminded me much of Robin Williams character in Birdcage (very funny movie I might add). After spending about 30 minutes with them and hearing the bitterness, venom and disdain toward the young man's ex-wife and the bigotry toward much of human life was very trying and at times shocking but they were pleasant and easy to work with. After closing the deal and sitting with them a bit longer did they bring up the fact that they plant churches within the Baptist religion. I must say that it was obvious that came out on accident for there was no intent to bring up their faith walk and was so shocked that I nearly broke my jaw as it fell to the floor. I must say that both gentlemen, for only a moment, had a look of-oh no, I have not been on my best behavior- and it was quickly covered by smiles as I told them what church I attend. As I walked back to my office I sat in my chair and thought about the starving people so eager to know Christ and looking for guidance and an example of his love and acceptance and then they meet them. I wondered, do they walk away burned never wanting to enter a "church" again? Does God move in their hearts and grow them despite the mentoring? Oh Lord may I never have such hatred toward another made in your image.

GIDDY UP

By far the most hot astro is Brad Ausmus!!

Smile Pretty

Interesting mug-shot don't you think...

Sinner Saved by Grace

I love southern gospel and my favorite southern gospel group is Gaither Vocal Band (GVB), straight forward four part harmony. I love it! As I was listening or rather singing my way through traffic the thought occured to me that if one of those voices were missing the song would not be the same, it would be incomplete. I mean without the bass, baritone and first tenor the lead vocal would be alone, unsupported and without the ability to build a chord. I was reminded of how the family of God (another great Gaither song) supports and builds up each other. I've met many christians in my walk with Christ that I will never meet again this side of heaven, members of the GVB for example. I've met christians along my walk that make me shiver because the spirit within me does not agree with theirs. This causes me to pontificate on a whole other subject....are they really christians or maybe they are just carnal christians...another time, another place. As I was singing along I began to think about how we just don't like some christians, their personality does not mesh with ours or maybe something else, something deeper like unforgiveness, bitterness, rumored bad behavior or a poor attitude, which goes back to us-maybe we are the problem, not them!

I leave you with the words of my favorite song written by Gloria and Bill Gaither, A sinner saved by grace.

If you could seeWhat I once was If you could go with me Back to where I started fromThen, I know you would see A miracle of Love that put me in it's sweet embrace and made me what I am today just an old sinner Saved by grace Im just a sinner Saved by grace when I stood condemned to death He took my place Now I live and breathe in freedom with each breath of life I take loved and forgiven back with the living I'm just a sinner Saved by grace How could I boast on anything I've ever seen or done, how could I dare to claim as mine the victories GOD has won where would I be had GOD not brought me gently to this place I'm here to say I'm nothing but a sinner Saved by grace I'm just a sinner Saved by grace when I stood condemned to death He took my place Now I grow and breathe in freedom with each breath of life I take I'm loved and forgiven back with the living I'm just a sinner Saved by grace Now I grow and breathe in freedom with each breath of life I take I'm loved and forgiven back with the living I'm just a sinner Saved by grace Saved by grace

The old meeting the new

I met Emma Victoria Taylor tonight. I have known about her for 9 months and have long awaited her arrival. She belongs to my friends Jeff and Krissy and was reminded over the weekend of her impending arrival. As Monday morning rolled around in it's sometimes brutal fashion I spoke to my sweet Krissy on their way to the hospital and I encouraged her that she would be lifted up in prayer.

Throughout the day my mind kept remembering the words in Psalm 139--For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.-- As I arrived at the hospital to meet the child that has been prayed for since before her conception I had to stop and pray that the Lord would give me fullness of joy and that the painful part of the next few hours would be abated by his grace and mercy. (The painful part is where I sit back and wonder how or when God is going to "deliver the goods" to my door). Words can hardly express what a beautiful time I had, aside from her parents I was the first to hold this precious cargo, God in his most magnificent way reminded me that his timing is perfect. I had to smile as tears of jubilant joy streamed down my face as I looked at a "little Krissy". Why is that all babies look the same until you know and love the parents of one of these infants and you can see them in the child?

I left two hours later with a feeling of peace, comfort and contentment. Praise God! As I was leaving the family began to arrive and the feeling of a "family reunion" was strong. I visited with Krissy's cousin that I have not seen since the wedding and hugged and kissed the several friends that had arrived to meet Emma. It was the old meeting the new so to speak. I love it when our past that is the old self, the flesh and the lies we have believed is transformed by our newness in Christ. Please read II Corinthians 5. Driving home I listened to the words of Steven Curtiss Chapman "believe the unbelievable, receive the inconceivable and dream beyond our wildest imagination...Lord we come with great expectations".

I leave you with--God's timing is perfect!

Back in the saddle again

I recently went horseback riding in Vermont and I am forever changed by the experience. I had decided early on in the trip that I was not going to partake in this event or opportunity rather. After much internal battle I resolved to give it another try. Now I realize that horseback riding is really no major thing and why not just hop up into the saddle and giddy-up--right?

But because I once had a bad experience on a horse I decided long ago that I would not attempt such an adventure and what an adventure it was! I wonder, how often in the attempt to avoid pain we miss an adventure, a blessing. I know I have missed many. Have you? Only because I chose to trust God in a moment when my flesh cried out "NO" was I able to truly enjoy what God had planned for me.

I look forward to the adventure of my next horseback ride. I know it will be spectacular!

This is the introduction to the mind of Maggie's mom. Now I realize that most women my age have babies but I have a dog and she is precious so she is my baby. She is funny and loves to play fetch with a stick! I never knew that a person let alone myself could love an animal so much. God knew what he was doing when he created dogs!