My local NBC affiliate LOVES playing up their nightly fear-a-thons during their primetime teasers.
It seems like every night we see breaking news about a rapist, a string of murders, a string of burglaries, or any other number of horrifying stories they can pull off the nightly police scanners.
“Tonight at 10… why police are asking women to be on the lookout for a suspected rapist…”
“A string of burglaries have hit a North Texas neighborhood… what the thieves are after and how you can protect your stuff… tonight at 10.”
“Poison apples are making a comeback in schools… how to protect your kids from the threat of evil lunch ladies…”
over at the podcast, we’ve just released a FREE e-book, redemption stories.
(I say “we” but Stewart did most of the hard work in bringing it all together and doing the layout.)
The e-book includes stories, pictures and verse, but all of them tell a story — a redemption story.
We received great input from Adele Sakler, Ben & Joy Thomas, Laura Bridge, Jason Duke, Adam Howie, Christine McIntosh, Trent Yaconelli, Emma Boyd, Angus S. Mathie, Paula Spur, Avril Cutler, Emma Boyd and Rob Griggs-Taylor.
Every submission was wonderful but these few paragraphs from Ben Thomas really grab me…
John Wesley said, “catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn”. This reminds me of Jim and Patty. Ten years ago, their neighbors wanted their boat. Today, they are a inspiration to hundreds of others in our community of what God can do when you allow Him unrestricted access to your life and resources. Our lives may become less predictable, but as our desires slowly start melting away and blending into God’s desires, our hearts become oddly comforted by the uncomfortable.
I think being a fixer means being okay with these messy, imperfect situations. Doctors mustn’t be squeamish, mechanics mustn’t be afraid to get oil on their pants. Being fixers with Jesus means we’ll encounter questions we can’t fully answer and pain that can’t be explained away by pat answers and bumper stickers. Often, the fix is simply our presence, reassuring the broken world around us that “no, God has not forgotten about you”.
Its hard-wired in us all to fix something. If you want a neat and tidy situation to fix, you should probably stick to fixing up your kitchen. If you’re up for something a bit more adventurous and long lasting, consider following this Jesus character, who invites us into a Fixers’ Collective called the Kingdom of God, where we’re invited to enter into the broken mess and tell a story about a God who loves the unloveable, reassuring them that “it’s okay” because “you’ll get better soon”.
I hope you’ll take some time to download the book, read it, chew on it and then share it with friends.
Trying a cat nap on the couch (not with the Sovn Oxygen Pillow)
For a couple of years now I’ve been hearing promos on my local NPR affiliate about the Sovn European Sleep System — and specifically their Oxygen Pillow.
I was intrigued to say the least.
After having received a number of complaints from My Life about my snoring, I thought I’d contact the store and see if I could try one out.
Jonathan and Laurie (one of our very first photos together)
Reba Kennedy at Everyday Simplicity suggested this past week that everyone needs a laugh list.
I’ve found that all the bad stuff stops me from laughing, and if I start laughing, with even a mild giggle, then those bad feelings evaporate away. Poof! And I’m free to enjoy the rest of my day. Getting stuff done — instead of spending wasted energy on bad emotions/bad attitudes. Casting my cares.
So, as a matter of preparedness, I offer…
Jonathan’s Laugh List
The mental image I have of our two foster boys sleeping in their beds, laying on their bellies, with their butts sticking high in the air.
