summer time reading

There are many reasons to love the summers. But let me tell you, at least, this summertime book worm found a cozy and inexpensive spot today to make some quality purchases that will last a lifetime. The Public Libraries of Central Arkansas filled the basement of the Main Library with all kinds of old books, classics and some, well, not so classics. I could have spend hours down there, looking and searching every shelf. I did, sorta.

I walked away with 10 books and I paid, guess, take a guess, I'll give you three:

1. $17

2. $11

3. $5

Did anyone guess $5! I was beside myself.

Not just any ole books, I choose some classics: Screwtape Letters by. C.S. Lewis, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, a Spanish Grammar book, and some book with Protestant Reformation writings. How fun! Maybe I'm a dork, but it's fabulous!

Thanks to the Libraries of Arkansas, my personal library is now 10 books larger. One day I want to have a huge room with all my books and one of those cool ladders like you see in the movies! :)

Now,

books shelves: my inheritance ??

There is a bit of a rumble in my stomach as I sit here tonight to write what I'm about to write. I should go fill it with something, esp so all of you think that I DO eat enough b/c I do! I love to eat but I also enjoy exercising. I ran tonight and the air was so damp, so humid that when I walked in the doors of the house, water was literally running down my arms and dripping off of my face.

To Deborah, miss, I'm sad that you don't appreciate my most recent blogs. I'm a sporadic blogger and a coffee snob (I've had such bland coffee these past few days.). Miss, maybe you will enjoy this one.

I am up in MO with my mom and we are visiting her parents and my only set of living grandparents. There is purpose in this trip, but that is not what I want to write about.

Tonight, we were just sitting around after eating (and running for me) and talking. This side of my family loooooves to just sit around and talk, and that is great and all, but something within me doesn't seem to have things to contribute to conversations about visiting the doctor or how it's impossible to keep up three different homes (this is what my grandparents are struggling to make happen.)

In the mix of conversations about everything medical and everything non-medical, my grandfather, more affectionately known as Papa or Pop, decided to open the bank of stories about my great granddad, whom I never had the privilege of knowing. I could go on and on recounting the stories that he shared with me, but I won't. There was just one simple thing that continues to amaze me about my Papa.

My Papa loves life! He truly does. His joy is evident and what is more evident is that his joy comes from something that is not of this world. My Papa has created, lived and left a great legacy of faith for me. As I am in the upstairs room of their farm house, perched on one of two beds in this room that probably hasn't seen life in months, I am starting directly into a bookshelf that makes it's home between two windows and takes up half of the wall. It's full of all kinds of books, a wide variety. I have yet to ask, but I would really like to be found in this will to inherit these books. I love books, and I love to read, so how perfect would these books be. Let me list some of the titles and authors, just so you can get a feel for the treasure that I am sharing a room with tonight:

The Joyful Christian by C.S. Lewis

The Best Loved Poems of the American People

The American Presidents by Whitney

How to Win Friends and Influence People by. Dale Carnegie

Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy by J Barton Payne

Knowing God by. J.L. Packer

The Bible Code by. Michael Drosnin

The Western Bible Commentary

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Poetry of Robert Frost

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

The Holy Bible

Wow, I could go on and on. I have made my way to the feet of this mighty bookshelf as I gaze up to read the titles. I am mentally in awe of this. I could discover something new each time I'm here. I usually do.

Back to this idea of a legacy that my Papa has created. How could a man with this much knowledge, wisdom and experience in life NOT leave a legacy. I began building my personal library several years ago. I hope to add some of these books to it and leave such a legacy that my Papa is leaving. Don't get me wrong, just because you have awesome books on your bookshelf does not guarantee a legacy will be left, but it certainly can't hurt and by all means, it probably does contribute to the person and man of the Lord that he has become.

Thanks Pop!

Music as Remedy for most Common Aliments

I have always enjoyed the sweet sounds of music, and all genres at that. From as early as I can remember, when I was old enough to know music and truly appreciate music, I was always listening to music. I was the first in line to buy a new CD, the first in my family to own a Walkman or Discman or iPod, thought the latter was gifted to me. I can remember on family trips or youth group events I would always take my music with me. I was "that" kid w/ the music. I might have been the only one with my ears plugged up, but it was ok for me. Music was/is my release, my outlet and my way to enjoy just living. 

Who else enjoys music so much? I hope you can find a way to embrace the gift of music that the world has been given. There are different types of music in my music library: pop, classic rock, soft rock, rap, regga-tone, worship, folk, alternative, chill, and yes, a touch of country, but the era to be most treasured would have to the any sound that came out of the 80's! Anyone agree?

Why music? I'm not sure, there is just something about it that does my soul good. No matter the condition of my "ser" (my being) I can usually find a music to match the mood in which I find myself. 

When I feel joy I enjoy embracing music from Passion. When I feel sorrow I find myself embracing certain songs from Amy Stroup. When I feel rebellious I embrace Everclear, haha, one my favorite's from jr. high/high school. When I want to just be with Jesus in a "non-be with Jesus way", Dave Barnes. When I feel reflective I find my way to Joe Purdy or Leigh Nash. When I feel chill, like just existing they way I am, or in a complete place of being over taken by the Spirit I find my way to Shane and Shane. They have a way of honestly speaking to the existence of my knowledge about the truths of scripture. When I want some lyrics to ponder over, I find my way to Coldplay, U2, or Jack Johnson. When I feel a need to get in touch with my roots, Johnny Cash. When I just want to have fun, I find myself going back to the 80's to Madonna or Bon Jovi. When I want complete randomness, Tom FM :). When I need some truth back in my life (which is more often than not) you will find Derek Webb coming from my speakers. When I feel socially apt, Billy Joel or Elton John are always fun. I've always thought pondered on the historical significance of that one night that The Piano Man represents. (I once won tickets, in the 5th grade, to go see Billy Joel and Elton John play together at the Pyramid in Memphis. I was too young to exactly appreciate what I was experiencing.) What other emotions with which are we most regularly acquainted? Oh, when I want to dance alone in my room, you might hear Nelly coming from underneath the door, yes I said: Nelly and he is in my music library. If I'm dancing with others, then those well established and distinguished dance songs will get the job done. Partner dancing is the best. There is just something about enjoying music and the movement of the body with someone else, while facing them and embracing those moments of physical touch for 4 lovely minutes, and even more minutes if you're fortunate to get more than one dance from him. 

So, whatever your aliment (positive or negative) try music as a remedy. Reach deep into your pockets and fill your iTunes with a variety of songs from which you can create a variety of self-prescribed treatments for whatever your "ser" is feeling in the moment. 

the internet lives!

Urg, I get so frustrated with myself when I realize how long it has been since I last wrote a blog. My excuse this time is that for the last months that I was in Honduras, I was on super conservative internet usage mode, which means, no blogging. But now that I am Stateside again, get ready for this: maybe I'll blog regularly. (I journal daily, what if I just journalized (cool word) everything here? Then you would know how I talked to our Lord, you would feel my deepest inner thoughts and I would be super vulnerable.)

That last blog was good though and those thoughts on Hebrews still resound with me today. 

Life has taken it's fair share of twists and turns over the past several months, and I have landed back in the United States of America, permanently. This was a planned thing, when back in January I notified WGO that I would be moving back to the States. I do have a job and plan to move into a duplex here within the month or so. 

If there is one thing that I have come to terms with, it's this: my ministry is not over. If anything, my life-time of ministry is simply getting started, and what a better place to jump start Shelly's life-time ministry than in a foreign country? I feel so blessed to have lived in Honduras for the past three years of my life, and as I transition back into Arkansas, I totally look forward to what the Lord has for this next chapter of my ministry. 

God is in the middle of revealing some cool things to be about Elijah. I've been so intrigued with his life and the power of prayer in his life. Stay tuned for more about him and what the Lord is teaching me (and maybe you) through Elijah. 

:)