Weekend-spiration:

I had a blog for this Far Side (by Gary Larson) cartoon all written and buttoned up, but I just can't use it. See I looked at this and focused on the bitterness of the comment. I know Christians aren't always viewed with smiles and welcomed greetings, but focusing on that just isn't my thing.

That doesn't mean it's not truth. Jesus told us that we would be hated because He was hated. It it what it is.

But I don't want to dwell in it.

I'd rather talk about the picture itself, birds traveling in their little design, sort of like the bumper art on so many of our cars.

There, that's where I want to go with this post! Those little fish bumper stickers that you see on people's cars. I have a friend that has 2 big fish and 3 little fish representing their family. Stinkin' cute idea, but my bumper isn't big enough for my family. And I have a friend with 7 kids - forgetaboutit!

Weekend-spiration - Worship and Maverick Basketball?

I can find myself all over this cartoon by Gary Larson! I'm the geek in the skirt (without the beard!) who misunderstood the directions - again! I'm also the appalled woman standing next to the geek with her mouth hanging open at the audacity of the man to show up at a formal event dressed so shamefully! I'm even Jacob the Stutterer, who's so stinkin' excited to get out the news that he double clutches every other word.

This cartoon just delights the tar out of me!

As I look at it, though, the actions of the people with the branches aren't so unlike the actions of the guy in the skirt - well ... except for the skirt and the belly hanging out over it. The people that gathered on that amazing day when Jesus came back to Jerusalem were cheering him on.  It was an ancient parade, for pity's sake.  I liken it to our reaction to a rock star or even the enthusiasm of a sports event. 

Seriously, when was the last time you cheered at a sports event?  Mavs won!  Even from our living room I was hollering and I bet they heard me down at the Triple A! Yelling at sports is nothing new for me. I made myself hoarse at my boy's football games when he was in high school. He really wished I had been hoarse before I arrived, but I told him I would just buy a loud, obnoxious bell if that happened.

Next question: when was the last time you cheered at church?

Was that a cricket?

I'm not pointing fingers! On the contrary, I wish I was bold enough to act on the excitement I feel sometimes during worship, but my church just isn't big enough to cover my embarrassment if I started whooping. I'd rather just sit in the back and be as inconspicuous as possible. Shame on me!

I'm not sure the guy in the picture has the wrong idea at all!

What are your thoughts? Are you uninhibited when you worship corporately or would such emotion make you uncomfortable?

Big Picture Thinking: The Far Side.

My brother has always been a great fan of "The Far Side" by Gary Larson.  For years, we got him big books of the comics as Christmas gifts.  This morning, his sweet wife, Karen, sent me an email of "The Biblical Far Side."

This cartoon makes me laugh out loud! (LOL just doesn't cut it!) But after I stopped laughing, I found myself poised with castenets right alongside the goofy man in the boat. 

I've started this writer's journey and I'm determined to follow the Lord's leading and ready to accept whatever comes.  (I say that, but I've only received 1 form rejection this time around.  We'll see how well I do when they all start pouring in!)

I remind myself of my dog; Captain, is a hoot.  He just wants to please us, running to get a stick so we can play or biting his toy just right because he knows we like to hear it squeak.  When we're walking, he is all over the place, running first one direction until he figures out that it is the wrong way, then jerking and jolting to change directions and take the lead again; all the while assuming that he knows where we're going.

In this journey, I can tell the times that I'm being a puppy; I know God is ultimately leading and at some point, I'll be able to look back and say, "Ohhhhh, that's where You were going, all along!"  Until then, I'm just racing back and forth; meeting people, making connections, assuming that ultimately God will make a way for me to become a real author and help support my family with something I love. 

This is where the Far Side comic comes in.  I THINK I've got this down, that I know what is being asked of me, that I understand where I'm headed. In truth, however, I must follow all the more closely, so I don't make a wrong turn (or any MORE wrong turns) and don't miss the big picture of what God is doing in my life and in my family. 

"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long ... Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord?  He will instruct him in the way chosen for him." Psalm 25:5,12

May I turn in my castenets for a fishing net, now?

Looking back, when did God lead you in an unexpected direction?  I want to hear your story!