My family and I really love traveling and we’ve had the opportunity to visit countries all over the world. One of our favorite vacation destinations is Italy. There is so much to enjoy; delicious food, warm hospitality, rich culture, history, amazing artwork, designer shopping and beautiful scenery. Although we enjoy the bustling energy of cities like Florence and Rome, we especially love the beautiful scenery of the countryside. Our favorite region is Tuscany, in central Italy. Tuscany is credited with being the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and was the home of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Puccini and many other artists and musicians. It is easy to see why the beauty of this region was so inspiring. One afternoon after finishing lunch at a villa in the region we spent some time just relaxing on the verandah, gazing out over the valley. It was a clear, sunny day and the lush vineyards seemed to go on forever. We sat for hours just soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the view. That’s when I gained a real appreciation for the Italian phrase, “il dolce far niente” (the sweetness of doing nothing). We live in a busy world of constant activity. We have 24-hour news cycles. We’re always “plugged in” with our smart phones, PDA’s, laptop computers, and other gadgets. We are constantly sending or receiving information. Social networking has given everyone a voice – even if they don’t really have anything to say. But this constant communication is part of our perpetual motion society.
Archive for category My Blog
Be Still
Dec 13
Because of who you are
Dec 7
Because of who you are I give you glory,
Because of who you are I give you praise,
Because of who you are I will lift my voice and say,
“Lord, I worship you because of who you are”
The lyrics to this popular worship song remind us that God deserves our worship. We count our blessings daily and praise Him for the wonderful things He does for us. But we worship Him just because of who He is. The Lord’s name stands in for His purpose, and reflects His character, qualities and attributes. In the Bible there are many Hebrew names that are related to specific circumstances of how God reveals His power and glory to His people. Read the rest of this entry »
Give Thanks
Nov 22
This week our focus is on celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. Our minds turn to thoughts of sumptuous dinners and the choices we’ll have to make.
Light meat or dark meat?
Stuffing or dressing?
Jellied or whole berry cranberry sauce?
Pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie?
Some of us won’t even bother to choose, we’ll just eat it all! Yes, there are many choices to be made – for some people. Others are not so fortunate.
I’m OK, You’re OK
Nov 15
In 1969 Thomas A. Harris wrote the book, “I’m OK, You’re OK.” It was so popular that it made the New York Times Best Seller List and is considered one of the best selling self-help books ever published. It is a practical guide to transactional analysis and details how people deal with interpersonal communication. The book outlines four life positions that govern how we interact with other people. Read the rest of this entry »
Tech Talk
Nov 10
The book of Matthew provides many examples of Jesus’ teachings. As a master communicator, Jesus used examples that would connect with His audience; parables that were relevant to their daily lives. This proved to be a very effective way to communicate kingdom principles. However, these parables aren’t quite as relevant to us in the 21st century. I believe that if Jesus walked the earth today, he would employ the same communication techniques. So instead of teaching about camels or grapevines or sheep, he would use examples of robotics or other types of technology.
Just Be There
Nov 1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 It is very comforting to know that we’re never alone. He is with us in every circumstance and nothing can separate us from His love. God is ALWAYS THERE. As human beings, we need the comfort of God’s divine presence. We also need the comfort of other people. Family, friends, neighbors and associates play an integral part in our life’s journey. They help us celebrate the good times and comfort us during tough times.
Life Goes On
Oct 25
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.”~Robert Frost
I was struck by this ironic thought recently when I was on Facebook . I read the usual collection of posts; some silly, some serious, others philosophical. One in particular caught my eye because it announced the death of a man that I had met 30 years ago when we attended the same church. I didn’t know him well, but knew that he had been ill. As I stopped to pray for his family and friends I was reminded of the irony of life: It goes on.
Parent Promises
Oct 19
“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” ~Charles R. Swindoll
“The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom. The realization that this is what the child will always need can hit hard.” ~Sloan Wilson
“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.” ~ William D. Tammeus
I’ve Known Rivers
Oct 11
“I’ve know rivers ancient as the
world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”
In the 1994 movie Forrest Gump stated, “My momma always said, life was like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get.” I would like to offer another opinion about life, “Life is like a zipline adventure.” I came to this conclusion after a recent experience with a zipline. My husband and I were on a vacation when we decided to give it a try. You might ask, “What is a zipline?”
