brenda's thoughts, watch out I'm Christian

At what point, when planning functions for a church group, is it ok to say, "no one from the outside is invited"?

Let's say you're having a Christmas party for your Sunday school class, is it ok then? What if you're having a luncheon for all the singles in your entire church, is it ok then? Is it ever ok? Why is it ok sometimes but not others? At what point do we reach out to others and at what point do we tend our own flocks????

Yes, this is a debate that I am having with some Christian friends of mine. I honestly don't know the answer. So enlighten me but don't expect to change my mind easily if at all. Yes I know I haven't really expressed my opinion because I don't want to be a stumbling block if I'm wrong.

In the afternoons, when the work is done and their desks are clean, I put in a CD and the kids can journal or talk quietly and listen to Christian rock. This afternoon I put in a new CD that dood made for me. This song began playing.http://youtube.com/watch?v=NiMamfnL4ZE

I went down to Hawkinsville and walked along the river and then drove up the other side stopping to walk in the river every chance I got.

I looked at the rocks that may be of archeological significance,

I watched a small gator through my binoculars,

I got my flip flops stuck in the mud and washed my feet in the river,

I ate lunch at a picnic table,

I thought about stuff that happened this week,

I thought about stuff that happened a long time ago,

I listened to the radio,

I drove through puddles down dirt roads,

I saw a lot of water birds; heron, egret, sandpipers,

I saw a lot of turkey vultures,

I ate candy and drank strawberry soda,

I got bit by chiggers,

I was late for church

And I thanked God for giving me the day to relax.

Pray for me, I need to rest and relax, I miss my quiet times with God, I really miss my quiet times with God. I know that specific prayers are better than general ones so pray,

"God give Brenda a good night sleep,

Give Brenda time this week to be alone with you

Give Brenda a place this week to be alone with you

And most of all make Brenda take the gifts of time and place that you offer her."

Thanks a ton,

Brenda

Fall is falling and I have turned off the air conditioner and opened the windows to greet it.

Today

I haven't been writing very much at all, I've been so busy with work and church that I barely have time to reply to emails, which I love getting, and that I do late too these days,

My poor students have been working their fannies off, bless their hearts, I did say I was a tough teacher, I'd tell the "bee story" but I'm pretty sure I've told it too much already.

Oh what the hay, I'll tell it anyway,

We're on the playground for recess and one my students comes up to me and says, "I caught a bee".

I say, looking around, "what?"

"I caught a bee" he says, holding up his closed hand.

"You have to let it go!" I say with mounting fear.

"I caught a bee"

"You have to let it go".

"I caught a bee"  he says with emphasis in case I don't understand how wonderful this is.

"You have to let it go, it might sting you"

"But I caught a bee" he says again.

This goes on for a few minutes. Finally he reluctantly opens his hand the bee is stunned. but flies away. He is not stung.

Later another teacher whispers in my ear, "God takes care of children and fools."

I whisper back, "And that child is looked after both ways."

I sat on the bank and watched the water and waited for the sun to come up

I tried to walk a bit but God gently nudged me back to the bank

So there I sat wondering what more I could learn when I already knew so much,

God showed me that the error of that kind of thinking was exactly what he wanted me to learn

It was just like those gentle nudges

I needed a nudge cause I wasn't listening when he spoke

This is a trap for those who are walking closely with God

We get too sure of ourselves

Several times the Lord has tried to direct me but I have told him, "its ok, I got it; I know what I'm supposed to do"

It just takes twice as long when I do that

God isn't trying to tell me something I know and am doing, he's not a nagger, He's trying to tell me something I don't know or I'm not doing

So on that morning

While watching the otter swim around and catch fish,

And while feeling the warm water on my bare feet, the cool air on my bare arms,

And while watching the sun come up behind the rope swing,

I listened to God,

And was grateful that he is loving, kind, merciful and extremely patient.

Most importantly stands out a testimony I heard this week. It wouldn't have been so significant if I hadn't heard the same story told again by another person only a few days later. I was able to say, "hey, I know how this will end, you should stop."

On the upside, I was able to have dinner with both my kids last night. (You know when I take the kids out for dinner that I either just got paid or it's been a long day.) It was nice to see them together. They've grown so much. I can't help it. I have to remember how they were when they were little. My babies!

If I had to choose one thing, one idea that seems to have threaded its way throughout my week, I would have to say that it was/is "taking responsibility for your own feelings and actions". I can't begin to tell you how this one theme seems to be in the background of every story, every incident, and every person this week.

The popular ideology is that "if I'm doing it to benefit someone I care about then its ok if it hurts me and if it hurts me, even if I let it happen, it's their fault."  

WRONG, wrongo!!!! It's your fault if you let someone trample you, even if it's someone you love.

Another upside is that one of my students learned to apologize, say, "I'm sorry" and not get mad and storm off. He's so funny, cause now he walks around apologizing all day! ALL DAY!

Then Northside High beat Warner Robins High for the city high school football championship. Wahoooo, forever blue, I graduated in 82. Also, big fat thank-yous to the fella with the homemade sausage and the grill at the tailgate party. Yummy!   

Saturday night Freedom Fest was packed and absolutely rocked. Chris Tomlin, friends and fireworks. Fireworks and Christian rock you just can't beat that with a stick.