learning from the birds

So I'm reading in Proverbs this morning and I come across this verse I don't remember ever reading (or at least understanding) before. (Which is part of the reason I like reading out of my NLT sometimes. It's different and fresh to me wording makes me stop and think about even familiar passages in a new way.)

"When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away." -Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)

Makes sense. I'm not sure if I knew that birds were this smart or not, but I like the simple concept. The birds sees you setting a trap. The bird knows it's a trap. The bird stays away from the trap. The bird doesn't flirt with the trap, trying to see how close it can get without getting caught in the trap.

Solomon is comparing this to our foolishness as people. In our folly we lay traps for ourselves with poor decisions. We set ourselves up to fail, or at least to experience some really icky consequences.

Let's learn from the birds on this one, and follow wisdom.

to strip or not to strip

I'd be lying if I said I've never considered stripping as a job option. I know you can make good money.

Talking with a friend tonight, I found out that he's taken on weekend stripping jobs for bachelorette parties, etc. He makes $400-500 in a 4-hour stint. Great money. He's doing it for the cash. He and his fiance, you see, need to raise some money if they are going to pay for their big wedding coming up. And neither of them blink an eye at this particular method of (very effective) fundraising.

I had another friend who also stripped for a long time. I"m sure she was great at it. And she had the same attitude as my friend tonight. It's just a job. She needed the cash. It was the best paying job for miles around. So she did it.

When my friend exclaimed (trying to get a reaction out of me) that I had never had felt the freedom that comes in stripping, I replied (quite honestly) that I fully intend to strip all the time for my husband once we're married. And that will be the best freedom.

I have a whole married life in front of me. So I needn't be in too much of a hurry right now.

best compliment ever

Today, I found something out that totally kinda rocked my world.

Chris and I were good friends as teenagers, but we haven't seen each other or talked in years. Recently, Chris found me on facebook. I noticed his profile picture was with him and a little girl, and I wondered if he had a daughter now.

Chris messaged me today to tell me his little girl's name is Kathryn. He said, "I just wanted you to know that I named my daughter Kathryn...She's a pretty perfect little girl...When I found out she was a girl, I had to think of a name of the best girl I ever knew and I thought of you."

Wow.

on temptation

If God is so clear in James about how He never tempts us, then why does He specifically include "lead me not into temptation" in the Lord's prayer? I really don't know.

Bix at Six

I am in love with the Bix at Six. This is my first year. My sister and I have gone out the last two weeks and had a blast.

I just love all the people. You've got really fast competitive athletes racing the trail, and you've got me who's walking more than I'm jogging. All ages. Skill levels. Ethnicities. I'm definitely a social exerciser, and all those people just energize me. It's beautiful.

Lord, Change My Attitude

I've been doing this study with my small group. It's "Lord, Change My Attitude" by James MacDonald. I have to admit that I was skeptical about doing a video study, but this has been the most convicting study I've done in years. Actually, I think it may be the most convicting study I've ever done.

Each week, Pastor James drives home the point that our attitude is our choice, our decision. First he talked about a complaining attitude. Then the next week he follows up with how we should replace a complaining attitude with an attitude of thankfulness.

Replacing Covetousness with Contentment
Replacing a Critical Attitude with Love
Replacing a Doubting Attidue with Faith

Great stuff. Each time, he asks are you a covetous person? Are you a content person? And so on and so on.

It's made me examine how I really do choose to think. So often I just let my emotions determine my attitude. But his challenge to intentionally decide how we will respond is...just that - a great challenge for me.

Thank you, Pastor James, for speaking the truth and for challenging us. And thank you, Father God, for how You're working in my life.

nose for your rose

"It's no good to give someone a rose if you cut off their nose." Or at least so says our small group leader Nick. And I think he's got a good point here.

So many people want to win debates. They want to be right. But not only to be right, but for other people to admit that they are indeed right.

Too often as Christians we're taught how to defend our faith as if people just need to here how right we are. Too often we aren't encouraged or trained how to really listen to people, how to ask good questions, how to truly dialogue with people about meaningful life issues.

Let's not worry so much that someone gets something we find so valuable in their hands that we lose focus and cut off their noses in the process.