Ok...so I was decided upon to create a website for the trip. Here is a link for it http://www.freewebs.com/erivmissions/
Tell me what you think so far.
Eventually it will have all of the people who are going pictures and faith bios. We will be able to update it too...oh ya...we are also going to have a blog site linked off the page.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Gum Update
After telling many people about the "gum" incident, I have been overwhelmed with choices that I "should've" made. My personal favorite, open a hymnal and tear out a page to spit it into. But no...would be wrong....FUNNY...but wrong.
My father preceeded to tell Holly and I about how my grandmother (all of 4 1/2 feet tall) and my great aunts (very similar in stature) balled him out at the luncheon following the cemetary visit. I kind of wish I could've been there to see a bunch of little ol' ladies give it to this guy. I had to go coach a baseball game, otherwise I might've seen it all unfold. I guess they were kind of relentless...not to the point of yelling....but really guilting him and scolding him for his poor actions. WOW!
Anyways...I knew that some of you might want to know that.
My father preceeded to tell Holly and I about how my grandmother (all of 4 1/2 feet tall) and my great aunts (very similar in stature) balled him out at the luncheon following the cemetary visit. I kind of wish I could've been there to see a bunch of little ol' ladies give it to this guy. I had to go coach a baseball game, otherwise I might've seen it all unfold. I guess they were kind of relentless...not to the point of yelling....but really guilting him and scolding him for his poor actions. WOW!
Anyways...I knew that some of you might want to know that.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Would God chew gum?
My aunt passed away this past week. She was 89 years old, and was the last one of my deceased grandfather's 4 sibling still living. Five in all, with my grandfather being the youngest. She was Catholic and most of that side of the family is, so of course there was a Catholic funeral at a Catholic church. It was a descent service with the priest delivering a fairly "heart" felt message like he knew the woman as well as the rest of the family (which I am convinced he did not). But that is another story....
So there I am sitting third row from the front, along side my grandmother (to my right), and my father (to her right). There is some immediate family in the second row, and her son and step daughter with grandsons in the first row. My legs began to get tired from all the ups and downs and different prayers. It seemed strange to me (I am not Catholic), but I tried to be honoring to my grandmother and deceased aunt and did my best to follow. Finally there comes a moment for silent meditation...we are asked to remain standing. I am there thinking about Aunt Frannie in heaven (or pergatory if I was Catholic) playing shuffle board with John Paul II...when all of a sudden I notice the paster coming down from his pulpit and walking down the second isle in my direction. He stops right in front of me and leans in to tell me something...
Figuring it had something to do with being a casket bearer, I leaned forward to hear his instructions...and his response....
"You must remove the gum from your mouth...this is the holy temple of God and it is rude to have gum in your mouth so you need to get rid of it immediately!"
WTF....Is he serious?! I am suppose to be meditating about my always smiling aunt. I couldn't believe it....as I remove my gum...he wanders back to his authoritative throne in front. The kicker is...I wasn't even chewing the gum...it was kind of just in my mouth...I don't even know how he saw it...let alone let it bother him so much he needed to interrupt my silent meditation over my aunt's death to tell me to remove it. I was so mad that I really didn't even respond to him...except to say "sorry I offended you" as I removed the gum. I should've handed it to him and said "thank you for being a servant of the lord", and asked him to "please throw it away for me". But I didn't...I didn't want to make a scene at the funeral.
Afterward, I helped carry the casket to the hurse...and stopped him. Sorry I offended you I said. And before I could say another word, he said that "it is ok, it is just sad that in a Christian society people just do not know how act properly and next time you will know better"....and walked away. Are you kidding me right now?! I didn't even get to say something...I wanted to tell him that first of all...society is far from a Christian society...I don't know what box you are living under...and even if it were...would God care if I had gum in my mouth at my aunt's funeral? NO!! Secondly, I would've said that building of brick and wood is just a building...it isn't a holy temple of God. God doesn't live there...he lives in our hearts...not in buidlings! And lastly, that if Jesus were standing there with me, do you think he would've care that much...or would he have maybe had gum in his mouth too?! What a confused and power hungry individual! I tried not to judge him in my heart, but I think I may have. I wanted to rebuke him, and correct his wrongful actions, but he didn't even give me a chance to speak. Only God can change a man's heart. So I will pray for him.
But when it comes down to it, I hope there is Gum in heaven so that Jesus and I can meet that man...both of us blowing bubbles with our gum and asking him if he might want some. That would be great...cuz I really think that God would chew gum.
So there I am sitting third row from the front, along side my grandmother (to my right), and my father (to her right). There is some immediate family in the second row, and her son and step daughter with grandsons in the first row. My legs began to get tired from all the ups and downs and different prayers. It seemed strange to me (I am not Catholic), but I tried to be honoring to my grandmother and deceased aunt and did my best to follow. Finally there comes a moment for silent meditation...we are asked to remain standing. I am there thinking about Aunt Frannie in heaven (or pergatory if I was Catholic) playing shuffle board with John Paul II...when all of a sudden I notice the paster coming down from his pulpit and walking down the second isle in my direction. He stops right in front of me and leans in to tell me something...
Figuring it had something to do with being a casket bearer, I leaned forward to hear his instructions...and his response....
"You must remove the gum from your mouth...this is the holy temple of God and it is rude to have gum in your mouth so you need to get rid of it immediately!"
WTF....Is he serious?! I am suppose to be meditating about my always smiling aunt. I couldn't believe it....as I remove my gum...he wanders back to his authoritative throne in front. The kicker is...I wasn't even chewing the gum...it was kind of just in my mouth...I don't even know how he saw it...let alone let it bother him so much he needed to interrupt my silent meditation over my aunt's death to tell me to remove it. I was so mad that I really didn't even respond to him...except to say "sorry I offended you" as I removed the gum. I should've handed it to him and said "thank you for being a servant of the lord", and asked him to "please throw it away for me". But I didn't...I didn't want to make a scene at the funeral.
Afterward, I helped carry the casket to the hurse...and stopped him. Sorry I offended you I said. And before I could say another word, he said that "it is ok, it is just sad that in a Christian society people just do not know how act properly and next time you will know better"....and walked away. Are you kidding me right now?! I didn't even get to say something...I wanted to tell him that first of all...society is far from a Christian society...I don't know what box you are living under...and even if it were...would God care if I had gum in my mouth at my aunt's funeral? NO!! Secondly, I would've said that building of brick and wood is just a building...it isn't a holy temple of God. God doesn't live there...he lives in our hearts...not in buidlings! And lastly, that if Jesus were standing there with me, do you think he would've care that much...or would he have maybe had gum in his mouth too?! What a confused and power hungry individual! I tried not to judge him in my heart, but I think I may have. I wanted to rebuke him, and correct his wrongful actions, but he didn't even give me a chance to speak. Only God can change a man's heart. So I will pray for him.
But when it comes down to it, I hope there is Gum in heaven so that Jesus and I can meet that man...both of us blowing bubbles with our gum and asking him if he might want some. That would be great...cuz I really think that God would chew gum.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Dreams and God
I woke up from a vivid dream early this morning. It was the strangest I have had in a very very long time.
Chuck Hill and I were fishing. But we did not have any poles. Simply a strange fish manual and our hands. We wadded in the water and scooped up fish by the handfuls. The water was warm, and the sun's rays brushes our faces. It was a warm yet cold day. Despite the sun's warm appearance, there was a coldness to everything around us.
The sun was shinning bright and you could see down into the crystal clear water. The suns rays revealed the multitude of fish in the stream running into the open water. We each carried a special fish book with instructions on how to catch each of the species of fish. I eagerly wanted to catch some perch for some reason and Chuck agreed it would be beneficial. I didn't want to read my book, so Chuck open his book. It's slimy coated outside cover needed prying open to read it's liquid like content filled gooey sheets. Our books appeared to be fishlike themselves...so odd. But hey had the answers...how to catch the fish.
To our right was a ledge, and I walked far up it to look down into the water. It was a ledge against a cliff wall, about ten feet from the water's surface. From the ledge, I could see some huge fish that I wanted to catch. Chuck warned me to come down, and I ignore him. I wanted the big fish....CRASH!!! The ledge gave way...sending me plunging into the dark clear water. The fish don't move...so I try to grab them...but they grab me instead. They took me deep into the water and I faught against their sharp razor teeth. They let go...and I swam hard to get back to Chuck. For some reason I could breath under the water...but it was getting harder. The giant fish swam with me and stared me in the face...smiling and revealing their teeth once more. I reached for Chuck but he can't get me.....The giant fish raced toward me...teeth glaring...
POOF! The dream ends...and I am in my bed. I immediately ask God what it means...and he answers me in my head. (I am not sure what is more fightning...the dream or the instaneous answer from God) My answer...Do not always go after the big fish. I give you what you need and people to help you. Be prepared for what you seek and the big issues won't tear you apart. You had the answers in your book, but refused to be prepared. You didn't listen to sound advice and you were reckless. I am in control. Be fishers of men, but beware that not all men can be caught. Guard yourself in me, do not let temptation drown you.
I tried to go back to sleep...but I was a little freaked. Eventually I managed some beauty sleep, but the dream was still in my head with those words when I awoke in the morning. I told Holly and she told me to blog it...so here it is.
Chuck Hill and I were fishing. But we did not have any poles. Simply a strange fish manual and our hands. We wadded in the water and scooped up fish by the handfuls. The water was warm, and the sun's rays brushes our faces. It was a warm yet cold day. Despite the sun's warm appearance, there was a coldness to everything around us.
The sun was shinning bright and you could see down into the crystal clear water. The suns rays revealed the multitude of fish in the stream running into the open water. We each carried a special fish book with instructions on how to catch each of the species of fish. I eagerly wanted to catch some perch for some reason and Chuck agreed it would be beneficial. I didn't want to read my book, so Chuck open his book. It's slimy coated outside cover needed prying open to read it's liquid like content filled gooey sheets. Our books appeared to be fishlike themselves...so odd. But hey had the answers...how to catch the fish.
To our right was a ledge, and I walked far up it to look down into the water. It was a ledge against a cliff wall, about ten feet from the water's surface. From the ledge, I could see some huge fish that I wanted to catch. Chuck warned me to come down, and I ignore him. I wanted the big fish....CRASH!!! The ledge gave way...sending me plunging into the dark clear water. The fish don't move...so I try to grab them...but they grab me instead. They took me deep into the water and I faught against their sharp razor teeth. They let go...and I swam hard to get back to Chuck. For some reason I could breath under the water...but it was getting harder. The giant fish swam with me and stared me in the face...smiling and revealing their teeth once more. I reached for Chuck but he can't get me.....The giant fish raced toward me...teeth glaring...
POOF! The dream ends...and I am in my bed. I immediately ask God what it means...and he answers me in my head. (I am not sure what is more fightning...the dream or the instaneous answer from God) My answer...Do not always go after the big fish. I give you what you need and people to help you. Be prepared for what you seek and the big issues won't tear you apart. You had the answers in your book, but refused to be prepared. You didn't listen to sound advice and you were reckless. I am in control. Be fishers of men, but beware that not all men can be caught. Guard yourself in me, do not let temptation drown you.
I tried to go back to sleep...but I was a little freaked. Eventually I managed some beauty sleep, but the dream was still in my head with those words when I awoke in the morning. I told Holly and she told me to blog it...so here it is.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
More than meets the Eye
Ok...so it is coming...it is really coming! I can not wait...
Yes I am a cartoon loving freak and this is my favorite series next to GI Joe.
Yes I am a cartoon loving freak and this is my favorite series next to GI Joe.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Hillarious...for any race fans out there
Ok you gotta turn your speakers on for this one. Brought to you by Crazy Frog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
