A Bad Times Kind of Friend...

Everyone can point to a buddy list, your facebook page or, the "Five" on your phone to quickly prove that you have friends. Buddies you can chat with. Pals you can call for a movie from time to time. Do they watch your pet while your out of town? Maybe they get your mail. They share things with you and you with them, decorating your walls at home and helping to mark holidays and special moments in your life. Good to have around, right? Always. Ever had a crisis in life? A dark night of the soul maybe? You did something that ruined you. Maybe you didn't do anything but were ruined anyway. Job 6 was my focus of study this morning and I have to be honest it was a brutal discussion on the word "friend." We all know that Job was having problems. He had lossed everything. Literally everything you can loose and keep a pulse. Listen to the words to his friends in Job 6.

14-23 "When desperate people give up on God Almighty, their friends, at least, should stick with them. But my brothers are fickle as a gulch in the desert—one day they're gushing with water from melting ice and snow cascading out of the mountains, but by midsummer they're dry, gullies baked dry in the sun. Travelers who spot them and go out of their way for a drink end up in a waterless gulch and die of thirst. Merchant caravans from Tema see them and expect water, tourists from Sheba hope for a cool drink. They arrive so confident—but what a disappointment! They get there, and their faces fall. And you, my so-called friends, are no better—there's nothing to you! One look at a hard scene and you shrink in fear. (The Message)

Ouch! Fickle, inconsistent, refreshing one day absolutely useless the next, looking good from a distant with great promises, running at the first sign of something hard...I am one of Job's so-called friends. For one, I shrank in fear of your depression. I should have sat in silence with you but I ran. Another, I humilitated you in a moment I should have honored you. I have recoiled from others in self-protection. I have no idea what "longsuffering" means. I fear at times being faced with choices that cause great pain and sacrifice to myself or way of life, in order to save another. I want to believe my first response would be to deny myself and face death for another, but I am severly out of shape, out of practice. My record stinks, if it were baseball I wouldn't hold a job coaching t-ball in Antarctica. When faced with the simplest of sacrifices for the kingdom I fail, so there's no way I stand an ice cube's chance in hell at succeeding...Right?

This verse isn't here to defeat me. Its not here to kill my spirit so that I isolate myself as the leper of friendship. "Untouchable." "Don't bother with this one." Its here to point me to the only one who did it right. If you knew what I did in my heart over the the last 24 hours, yet He was waiting on me this morning when I got up. He knows what I did, and He still met with me. He knows my record, ever loss, yet called me to be on His team. More than that, to coach. Unbelievable.

Meet Eddie

I am in London for the week. I visited speaker’s corner today at Hyde Park. A speaker, Eddie, had a notebook full of disturbing images from the American civil rights movement. These images did not speak very highly of those who stood by as these atrocities took place. As many Christians were gathered he began to yell at us. “How dare you gather and speak poorly of someone else’s beliefs.” “Hypocrites!” “You are all hypocrites!” “Apologize!” he continued. “This is what Christian let happen!” Many of the images I had seen before because the event took place in Mississippi, my home state. When he finished, he quietly stepped down off his ladder. It was almost as though the ladder made him a different person when standing on it. Now a much quieter Eddie went to join the crowd as an observer. I walked up to meet him and told him I grew up in Mississippi and that there was much of our history that we should not be proud of. I admitted that the church and Christians were guilty of standing by and doing nothing while men, women, and children were treated less than human. That began a great conversation with Eddie. I can’t say that his views on Christianity or American’s are any different, but Eddie and I for a brief moment saw eye to eye one nice afternoon in London.

Give US...US FREE!!!

Let me start by saying October is by far my favorite time of the year. I love the weather, college football is in its prime, its my birth month (so I get presents), and finally Baseball is at its peak. My mother says the world series was on when she was in the hospital having me, so my love affair with America's Favorite Pastime has truly been life-long. This year has had some extra drama. The Braves didn't make it in, I'm over that already, sort of. But there have been some really good games lately. The Mets blew it, but more exciting than that was the tie for the wildcard game. Last night there was a one game playoff between San Diego and Colorado. I had been looking forward to watching the postseason for a while. I found that TBS had won the bid to air it this year so I was excited.

Then October 1st happened and It seems the only thing that turned cold is the cable companies heart towards me and my tradition of postseason baseball. My wife and I have basic cable. I have learned to survive without ESPN, but yesterday TBS went to what they call extended basic cable which is more money per month and I flipped out. I know they did it on purpose. They knew my love for Baseball, and everyone elses for that matter would drive people to buy more channels. Baseball was meant to be watched and enjoyed, not sold. GIVE US...US FREE!!! I'm calling the cable company today. If and when I ever talk to a live human being I will try to work in that line.

"Thank you for choosing Charter can I have your costumer number and address please?" said the cable company. "GIVE US, US FREE!!!" "Excuse me sir?" "Give US, US FREE!!" "Are you experiencing an outage in your area or has there been a break in your cable service?" "GIVE US, us FREE!!"

The Movie we make, if it Bombs there's always Facebook!

There have been plenty of television shows and movies depicting life in high school and various of stages of life. The Wonder
Years, Sixteen Candles, Napolean Dynamite, and Teen Wolf were just a few movies that spoke of the pressures and struggles of growing up. The reason why these shows were so successful was our ability to relate to them. As we watch Kevin treat Paul badly we relate because we have done something similar ourselves.

I made a lot of mistakes growing up. I remember saying things that in hindsight, were just plain stupid. It was all I knew at the time. I cannot say that I have gotten much better, but as I look back there are things I wish I could yell, "CUT!" and reshoot. My family moved around a good bit when I was a kid. Moving around often meant leaving relationships without resolution in some cases. I left some really good friends without any way to keep up with them.

Enter Facebook. I have been able to reconnect with friends long since lost. I was able to apologize for hurting someone years ago. I'm not saying writing on someone's wall is the best way to reconcile a relationship, but I do believe that reconciliation is very important. When you have no connection, facebook creates a worldwide directory for finding friends, sharing messages, and photos.

The movie we make consists of both the triumphs and the pitfalls. We aren't going to go through life without hurting people or making mistakes that we regret, that is a part of growing. We CAN choose what the focus of our movie is going to be. Is it going to be about getting all we can for ourselves or living for something greater than ourselves. My favorite movies are the ones where the star discovers that they are caught up in a grander story. When we fall, when our movie bombs and we hurt people, there is always facebook or whatever gives you the ability to say "I'm sorry."

India Photo Movie

I just upgraded to iLife 08 and wanted to try out the new iMovie. I used some photos from my recent trip to India. Enjoy!

Facebook could replace my Facetime...

I just created a facebook page. In the course of an hour I had reconnected with over 10 friends that I had not talked to in over 10 years. I have possible plans to go to the Alabama/Georgia game with a couple of these friends. I am beginning to see that joining Facebook could possibly replace facetime altogether. I have had several requests from coworkers and close friends to be my "friends." It has become clear that I need some rules to go along with my new found indulgence.


Rule #1
If you live within 10 miles of my house I will be ignoring your requests to be my friend. If I'm your friend, just tell me in person.

Rule #2
If the number of my Facebook conversations surpasses the number of my Facetime conversations I have with you and I see you daily I will be reporting that you posted an inappropriate photo on Facebook.

Rule #3
I don't know what it is, but no one is allowed to "Poke Me!"

Bottom line is, I want facebook to enhance my relationships and open up more opportunities to hang out with the people I care about in person.

This is some scratch video from my visit to Speaker's Corner while in London.

An Experience at Speaker's Corner

I visited Speaker's Corner. I will try to post the video at some point. Very interesting. Muslims getting up blasting Christians, Christians getting up explaining the truths about Islam. Debating back and forth. It was something else. It was apologetics like you have never experienced. These Christians have been sharpened by some of the best and speak powerfully against the darkness and lies. Arguing the faith to those on the fence against those who would spout lies. The video I have is of one of the OM leaders getting up with one of the female leaders sharing the issue of valuing women in Christianity and Islam. They read from the Bible and the Quaran word for word, and invite the Islamic Extremists present to explain what it says and why, to which they back down or refuse to answer. It is a powerful experience.

Our team is doing well. I am leading worship regularly here in London. We did two different church services today. Lots of travel on the Tube, or subway. That guitar gets heavy for sure. The weather is perfect. Nice, Sunny and Cool. In the 70's during the day if not cooler. Everyone is healthy and getting sleep for now.

PRAYER REQUESTS

I was unable to sleep on the plane on the way over which really effected my first day. I was a walking zombie. Please pray that I will sleep on the way to India so as to help the transition and make the most of the short time we have.

thanks for your prayers,

jeff

Naïve But Called

We had a meeting the other day with our team. We went around the room and told everyone why we were going on this trip. As soon as we began I flashed back about 7 years earlier when our Africa team did the same thing. The exercise went very much the same way. Everyone goes around the room and tells how excited they are about going and what they think God is going to teach them while they are gone. Only a few months later I saw God totally blow our minds. So us going around the room talking was somewhat naïve. God had so much more in store for us. I'm not saying we shouldn't do it, I was just a little more cautious in my answer this time. We should pray and seek God even to the point of trusting Him with specific things. I guess the real answer is "I'm called to go." I know it. Whatever God chooses to do in my life or through my life while I am there is ok by me. I now know that God often uses trips like this as turning points in our walks with Him. Very rarely do you come back the same. So as we continued around the room I listened with a small smile on my face because I know God is going to do more. Much more than I could ask or imagine.

SUPPORT UPDATE

I'm done! I have reached my goal of $2900.00 this week. God blew my mind. I was about $1,000 away when I left for vacation last week and I got back and was done. I can't thank you enough for your emails, comments, and support. I will be coveting your prayers while we are gone.

PRAYER UPDATE

Our team's drummer has a medical issue that might cause him not to go. There is risk associated with him flying in this condition. We are praying for healing for him, but also wisdom as he and his wife decide what they will do. We will find out Thursday whether or not he will still go. His name is David.

We are in need of a lot of equipment to pull off these concerts. We are being sponsored by one of the largest music stores in Mumbai, so they will provide much of our equipment there. We are dependant upon other groups in London to provide us with instruments for the venues there. Please pray that God would give us what we need or provide in other ways for His people to worship Him.

Labeled

If you talked to those who know me best, at some point it would come around to the fact that I am not a sensitive person. It influences who comes to me for councel, mentorship, accountability, etc. Being insensitive gives me some kind of X-ray vision to see through certain screens and walls that get built up. Those who come to me usually like that about me because it is what they need. I have seen God over the last few years really working on my sensitivity. I have seen Him putting me around certain people and in certain situations where sensitivity is needed and yet I am unable to bow out and simply pass it on to a pastor who cries.

The other day my wife and I were flipping channels and for some odd reason she had the remote. I wasn't completely paying attention, I was in one of those TV comas, but we ended up landing on the very end of Mr. Hollands Opus. We sat there and watched the end, you know the part, he walks up on the stage in front of all this former students, grabs the musician's wand and as he fights back tears, begins to conduct his life's work. It is a stirring peice, as I am watching it I feel eyes on me. I turn and Lori is watching me, just waiting for me to cry! It turns out she stopped on the this particular part on purpose to see if it would make me cry! The Nerve! She said to me, "I want to see you cry." I didn't cry, but assured her that I would probably ball like a baby at her funeral and she could pile that on her plate of satisfaction along with everything else Jesus had already given to her.

I was thinking this morning. We all have labels. Some of them are good, some not so flattering. As I read Ephesians 4 and 5 this morning I was reminded that we are not to be labeled by the things of this world. The letter was written to a people who had grown calloused to the things of God, in other words, they had lost their sensitivity to the things of God. In verse 3 of chapter 5 of Paul's letter to Ephesus he says, "But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints." In others words, if someone were to talk about you, these things should never come up. He is very clear that we have been all these things and more, but have been rescued from that and given a new name, a new identity. Now we are to be named with the things that are named with Christ.

I don't know about you, but I have to quiet some of the noise of my life in order to regain some of my sensitivity. I need this on a regular basis, I have a time weekly for this but sometimes I pass up on it and God has to slow my life down in other ways for me to get it. This week it was a cold or something. It has completely clogged me up and left me with no ability to sing or talk, just type. Slow down, Jeff. Plan some time for nothing. Call it whatever you want. "Inspecting the Vinyl Siding," "Watch the grass grow."

What are the things that label you from the world? What are your bad habits? What is your answer to them? Your plan? Do you lie a lot to make yourself sound more important? Do you steal things from the people closest to you and call it borrowing? Do you download illegal software or take advantage of company software for personal gain without permission? Do you cheat on your taxes? I have been guilt of most all these at some point. Burning someone's cd verses sticking it down your pants at Walmart might make you an "Uncommon Criminal," but a criminal none the less.

SUPPORT UPDATE:

Team we are getting there. I am just over 70%. I think you guys are like me, you need a reminder to send it in. 70% is a close number but not quite there yet, so if you are planning on joining up now is a great time to send in your cards or contact me and let me know what you need.

PRAYER UPDATE:

Lori and I have been sick for the past week. My throat has been the biggest issue that and whatever makes mucus in the body working overtime. I had to bow out of a worship leading opportunity this past weekend. Hayden and Julia luckily jumped in for me and it went really well. We have rehearsal Wednesday night and my throat needs to show up.

One of the best TV series I have ever seen was the HBO series, Band of Brothers. It followed the 101st Airborne thru all of World War II. You met them when they showed up for training in Toccoa, Georgia and followed them to the very end of the war. The great thing you see in the series are the relationships that are built over the course of the war. You begin to understand that these friendships only grow deeper over the course of the war as members of the company die. Their story shows that it is often in the midst of hardship and struggle that real brotherhood is formed and refined. I know that to be the case in my own life as well. The men that I am truly close to are the ones that I have shared hardships and struggles with. I do not mean that I have had struggles or conflict with them. While that is true, I mean that I have shared burdens with them and they with me. Thru the sharing of each others burdens our friendship has deepened.

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6: 1-2

SUPPORT UPDATE:

I am a little over 30%. I have spoken to some people who recieved letters and they have told me they plan on supporting me, but have not sent it in. I want to encourage everyone who plans on supporting financially to go ahead and send it in. This helps our team know where we are and how much work we have left to do. Thanks Team.

PRAYER UPDATE:

Continue to pray for our team as we are preparing. Specifically we are using a lot of rental gear and borrowed instruments rather than taking our own. While this is a little risky for me, it is the best option we have. Please pray that we will have the instruments we need, but that God would show up at these concerts and do a work even if for some reason no instruments were available.

The Church in England

John Wycliffe, Jacob Arminius, John Calvin, St. Augustine, John Knox, Thomas More. I could keep going, but the idea is that our heritage runs deep and much of it comes from Europe. As I googled “church in London,” I found a very interesting and
telling result. All of the churches had a very rich history page, but not much more in the way of current growth or progress. It seems that churches that once steered the course of the Christendom for some time have now become tourist attractions.
I country whose majority once followed Christ now has lost touch with what once lead them. While statistics will show that the majority of the country still claims to be Christian (70%) a walk down the streets and into these monuments might tell a different story. In twenty years, 1980-2000, the Church of England suffered a 27% decline in membership.
Here is the short of it, the church isn’t growing, it is declining. The committed faithful continue to go and grow older as the younger generation becomes more and more accustomed to hanging out on Sundays rather than going to church. Many now who are parents did not grow up going to church. Many believe that England is a glimpse around the corner and into the future of what America could look like down the road. The growth of Islam in England is a major issue. I think my friend Randy said it best in the book that will hopefully one day exist so that proper credit can be given. He said that there is something that happens to you when you know that you are a minority.
You live differently. You act differently. Everything is bent on you becoming a majority. You know things will not be easy so you do not expect them to be. You are not comfortable or complacent. You stay primed and ready for your opportunity to grow. You seize every opportunity you have to get ahead so that one day you might be a majority. The Christian church started this way, but has changed over the years as it has become the clear majority. It do not want it to sound like the church is the way it is because solely because we do not care anymore. We never really cared that much about the church anyway. In fact, we do not really care about the things of God at all like we should. God Himself is the groom of the church. She is under His care and watchful eye. We need not be worried or surprised that the church will prevail, but as in all other times in history it will be a remnant that God uses. Which could mean that in the years to come we could see Christianity become the minority in the England, as well as in America. There is reason to be concerned. I do not want to preach gloom and doom, although it sounds that way. I want us to remain hopeful. Even in the midst of darkness, God will not let his Bride perish. I also want the love of God to do such a work in our hearts that we are compelled to go and speak the truth in the darkest of places as God is still advancing his kingdom all over the world. He is advancing His kingdom in the hearts of those who would call us enemies, and will one day call us brothers and sisters.

In Memory of Tuck

Many of you might not know that while we were in Africa in 2000 we lost one of our teammates in a car accident. His name was Chris Tuck and he was one of my roommates that summer. I did not know him before we started our training, but got to know him pretty well that summer. He attended Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.

It was the 1st of July, 2000. We started driving early that morning. In the flat terrain that is Africa it almost felt like our destination was the sun as it began peaking over the horizon. The previous night's darkness was behind us and the fast approaching day ahead. We had just completed several days of making bricks in a small town in Botswana for a local church. Each van had two drivers and some of us literally flipped a coin to see who would drive first and who would sleep. I had driven most of the way there so my partner Stuart was driving our Combie (A newer version of the old VW van made so popular in the 60's and 70's). My roommate Evan was driving a Combie behind us. I can remember sitting in the back seat. I had just put my headphones on and I was about to go to sleep. I remember seeing the donkeys on the side of the road, and It wasn't a moment later that I remember Stuart looking in the rear-view mirror and making the comment, "They hit the donkey...I think they hit the donkey!" The following is an excerpt from my journal written later that night. I just copied it right out of the journal so forgive how raw it is.

July 1, 2000
What started out to be our trip home from Botswana early this morning turned out to be something of much greater eternal value. The reality is that we were supposed to reach Joburg around 4:00. We were going to all go see Mission Impossible 2 tonight. Instead the tragic events, which transpired at about 6:50am, leave me in a hotel room in Botswana's capital city Gaborone. In the early morning hours Evan's combie swerved to miss a donkey in so doing flipped several times and landed off the roadside. As I came on the crash the reality of how serious it was hit me like a ton of bricks. There were bodies all over. My friend, roommate, and brother was lying by the roadside trying to breathe. As Beth held him and tried to comfort him he slowly began to go into shock. As we put him in the back of the combie Steve and I talked softly to him as he passed away. Steve started chest compressions, got a pulse, and lost it again. He never came back. Tuck died right there on the way to the hospital. Bree and Shannon were badly injured as well (broken bones). Nick and Eliza were shaken up pretty badly. Evan and Joey were not harmed at all. In the midst of sadness and grief the smell of God covers this accident. I acknowledge easily the fact that God was glorified in this. That in some way God will use this in other people’s lives. I am still confused about the issues of why and for what. It has been an emotionally draining day to say the least. There is still much to be done. It seems the rest of our stay here could be clouded with emotions and grief as we sort all the things that must be done. I asked God for wisdom in this like He would want me to (James chapter 1). I haven't received it yet. I got to see God work in people. I got to feel and experience the peace that passes all understanding which is brought by God Himself and delivered personally to me. I feel already the prayer engulfing this team as we pick up the pieces and hand them over to God for Him to build the bigger better house.

As I read this excerpt almost seven years later I am struck at how “matter of fact” much of it sounds. I do remember having the sense that God was doing something huge here, even when we pulled up on the crash site. I think many of us did. It sounds a bit insensitive as I read it now, but all I can say is you had to be there to understand that there was a lot of emotion and sadness present as well. I am by nature a “doer.” From moment one I can remember just looking for something I could do to stay busy, to help out. There was plenty to do to keep my mind busy, but the emotions came during the quiet moments in between.

There is no telling how many lives have been touched by Tuck’s death. I know that several people I am aware of came to faith because of it. They have since taken the gospel to others. As I prepare for my next cross-cultural journey I wonder if God would do something as huge in and thru our journey. I fear volunteering to be such a catalyst. God, change the goer and sender. Don’t let this just be something to add to a resume or a tax right off sheet.

SUPPORT UPDATE:

As of today I have about 25% of my support. I have had about 11 responses. I can tell you one thing the post office picked a sorry time to up the cost of stamps. I thought I had done this cool thing by putting prepaid postage on the envelopes, but now that stamps cost more and people have to scramble for 2 cent stamps. Oh well. I am supposed to have 60% of the support in by June 1st this week. I am still a little behind, as are other members of our team. If you are planning on joining or know someone else who might want to join, please feel free to let them know how to join.

PRAYER UPDATE:

The planning is going well. Please pray that our trip would help be a catalyst for the local church in London and Mumbai as our labor there is brief and theirs will need to continue long after we are gone.

HELLO MUMBAI!

I have always wanted to stand in front of tons of screaming people and yell out HELLO __________! (Fill in the city we are in). Then listen to them as crazy gets crazier. Perhaps I should have been a rock star instead of a church worship leader. I will put that one in the folder "Dreams yet to be realized."

Welcome newcomers to My Novel Life. Perhaps you got a letter soliciting money and prayer or maybe you just got a letter inviting you to tag along on the journey. I want to say I cherish your participation in this journey no matter what it may involve. I want this to be a trusted place to come for updates and prayer requests. So bookmark it or put it in your favorites folder. You can also subscribe and get a quick email notice whenever I post something new. That is what I always do with blogs I read often.

SUPPORT UPDATE:

As of today I have about 12% of my support in. That could be a little scary, but I have been here too many times before to not trust His provision. If you are planning to join the money team, just a reminder to not dilli-dalli.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

* The team is practicing weekly for all the music we have to learn before leaving. Pray for God's protection as we meet each week. That God would use this to draw us together as a team, not apart.

* For the support raising process. It is coming in slowly for me and others. Pray that God would move on the hearts of people to join the team financially. Pray that some would join even without getting a letter, wouldn't that be cool.

* Pray for the staff as we work with the different venues in London and India via email, seeing that our time schedules are completely backwards. Pray that we get all the legistics lined up before leaving, so the team is not stressed any more than necessary upon arriving.

Thanks Team,

Jeff

Do It Again da vinci

Do you have any suggestions for Mr. Da Vinci before he wraps this one up? Perhaps a more distinct smile for Mona? Maybe you could clear up the questions surrounding who the subject is. Is it supposed to be a self portrait? Maybe you could write "This is me" across the bottom to clear up the mystery surrounding its subject." Do you think Leonardo heard any of these comments as he was working on what is now considered a masterpiece? Lets consider another work of art. In 1508 Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the chapel. It took him four years to complete. I wonder what the working environment was for him. Were there constant critiques about the amount of skin shown by his figures? Can we have a little less nudity Mr. Simoni? After all, it is a church. All of these questions might have been asked, but that is not the impression you get. You get the impression that these guys were able to think freely about how they wanted to create their art, and when it was finished it was finished. More than that, when it was finished, it was perfect. No need for changes, corrections, or critiques. You were free to give them, but it would not change what was hanging on the wall. The artist was free to express his art within the boundaries of his canvas, and the world was free to spend the rest of eternity commenting on what they thought or felt about the completed work. Do you think the same license for creativity is given today? I would suspect that in certain areas the answer would be "yes." You can still go into a museum and see great works of art created by modern day Da Vinci's. Yet in most other areas, artistic works are driven by the demands of an overstimulated society in need of something that sells. So the artist is free to express, but the seller will be free to make necessary changes in order to ensure the products ability to sell. Much art is used in advertising. Advertising is paid communication through a non-personal medium (Art) in which the sponsor is identified and the message is controlled.

Part of me wishes that we could give the creative freedom back to the artists, where the brush is once again in their hands to dream and create using their God-given talent and experiences to create something that is uniquely them. Art is a form of personal expression not something to sell to someone with a certain color tapestry. Another part of me thinks the damage has already been done. Our ability to imagine and think has been traded away for something common. The only way we see art anymore is whether or not it matches the couch. Art is still alive and well. You can see priceless works of free thinking creative art on every refrigerator in your neighborhood. Before kids are taught how to be creative, they know. It comes standard with every soul. The ability to creatively create. It is a family trait passed down to all. And while kids are young we allow them to think freely. We praise them for drawing snoopy flying on a broom when told to draw a self portrait. Somewhere along the way drawings like snoopy on a broom are no longer enough.

Inspired by Angelina

There was an interesting article written about Angelina Jolie recently in Newsweek. Do read the article if you have a spare 5 minutes. No heavy media coverage, no entourage. She gets on a commercial airline by herself. Spends weeks in these villages visiting the sick often not saying anything, but helping to unload trucks as well as other menial tasks. The photos taken here were of her recent trip to a camp near Darfur. She was unable to return to Darfur because of the risk. Her and Brad recently moved to NewOrleans to live, on moving to New Orleans, "[We] realized it was a place we liked, we liked the people, I liked the school for the kids. They're very diverse. I liked the other parents. I feel very comfortable with them. We're happy having our children here. Brad is working on rebuilding here.... But for me, just as a mom, I love the other parents and the kids and the schools. I'm starting to work on the education here and the school system here. There's a lot of work to be done."

The picture above is of Brad working in New Orleans to get them to "think Green" as they continue rebuilding the city, meaning using this opportunity to rebuild economically friendly buildings. I must say New Orleans wasn't on my list of places to move before Katrina, it for sure hasn't graced my top ten since this historical natural disaster nearly washed it away.

I have been thinking a lot lately about Angelina, Brad Pitt, Oprah, Madonna, Bono and the rest of the team of people that are really getting fired up about the world's issues and helping to solve them. They are bringing a lot of attention to the needs as well as using their money and influence to solve them. Even American Idol is getting involved.

The title of the Angelina's article was, "I was transformed." It reminds me, "I was transformed as well."

Killing Is Killing

Did you ever play Clue as a kid? The conclusions were always simple. After a bit, you would make the declaration with certainty Col. Mustard in the library with the wrench. Then you opened the small brown envelope only for confirmation. In that game it was always clear and straightforward. Unlike the show CSI which looks for ways to try and fool you each week on how the death occurred and who did it. I am a huge fan of CSI Vegas (the only true CSI, the rest are posers!).

Perhaps, its time I explained the title and why I have spent the first portion talking about murder. This is about murder, but more the verbal kind then the aforementioned. Were you ever told to “kill someone with kindness?” To kill someone with kindness is to overwhelm or harm someone with mistaken or excessive benevolence. This expression originated as kill with kindness as fond apes do their young (presumably crushing them to death in a hug) and was a proverb by the mid-1500s. You also see the phrase used in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew as well as a Alfred Hitchcock episode. The way it always came up in my life was after someone had done something to me that was more than worthy of physical or verbal retribution. The greater wisdom was always “don’t stoop to their level; instead try killing them with kindness.” While my actions might have seemed peaceful my heart’s intent was far worse.


When it comes to verbal homicide we are all serial killers in some shape or form. We all have a way of slaying someone with our words. Some are the Colonel Mustards of the bunch. They use a verbal pipe wrench, swinging it violently, no thought, plenty of anger and emotion. Drawing a lot of attention and scrutiny to their behavior and malicious intent.

I want to point out another type of person, who could come off cleaner and nicer, but who’s actions can be just as hurtful: silent killers. We use phrases like killing with kindness to justify our premeditated indifference. We say we are taking the high road, which sounds great, yet we are really searching for a way to create distance between our victims and us. You won’t see us in many shouting matches, yelling obscenities and throwing elbows. We will use time, space, and manipulation to do what we have gotten “scary-good” at doing. We do away with our victims and usually walk away squeaky-clean. Looking calm, under control, dare I say holy? It usually turns out not being what we did to the person, but what we purposely chose not to do. Cause of death: Immurement. Ever heard that before? Listen to this. Immurement is a form of execution where a person is walled up within a building and left to die from starvation or dehydration. Since the beginning of time you have seen this in civilizations as a form of capitol punishment or political suicide. I don’t know about you, but that would have me looking for Colonel Mustard at some point. The phrases used above are not licenses from dear old dad, in all his wisdom, to detach and disown people and any sort of conflict.

So which of these do you most resemble? Are you Colonel Mustard or a Brick Layer? Both have heart-level issues. Look at this verse:

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25: 21-22

This verse is used often to explain phrases like, “killing with kindness” and “taking the high road.” It speaks of how to deal with conflict. It sounds so appealing to us because, lets face it, who hasn’t wanted to dump burning coals on someone who has wronged us? There have been times were I have really connected with the character from Snatch, Bricktop. You didn't ever want to cross Bricktop.
Here's a quote, "Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by an 'orrible &*#@... me." At our heart-level we desire vengeance. There are two things that stick out to me in this scripture. 1. Moving towards the other person in service and love is always the response asked of us. 2. Doing so will help to refine our enemy’s heart, like the process used in precious metals to draw out impurities, and you will be rewarded for playing your part in the process.

A Place to Swim...

My brother and I saw this a long time ago. For some reason we were talking about the lion character the other day and it got me looking for it. I have been wanting to set up a camera just to see what my dog does all day. By the way she acts when I get home she must sleep all day.