The Big.. Big Picture

I have a reputation... I don't like spending money on myself. So this was hard for me... ;-)

We received money for Christmas that we were supposed to spend on something fun. So...

We decided that since we haven't ever spent money on ourselves for something fun, we were going to go out and buy a TV. Ours was going out and our other one wasn't digital (yes, that old). So we thought, lets get a TV... Lost and 24 will be starting soon.

We went to Frye's and almost choked on the prices. But we were determined to buy a 32-42 inch TV.

But!!!!!!! They were having a short sale. 20 65" Toshiba TVs were being released for almost 50% off. Yes... that's what I said. It was only $100 dollars more than some of the 42" TVs.

To make this long story short, I have a 65 inch television in my house.

To those waiting for this to sound spiritual, ok, here we go. Joel Osteen's head has never looked so big and his voice is very clear. How's that?

For those who think the television is a time stealing, time wasting one-eyed devil, I say, you can send yours to our house and we'll lay hands on it. When we're through, it may only play TBN, Daystar, SkyAngel, TV Land, Fox News, and movies made by Carman or Richard Crouch.

For those who know me well, yes, the Transformers movie looks absolutely incredible on that screen.

And for those who know me best, yes, I have spent more time trying to clean the living room of all the cardboard boxes and styrofoam pieces than I have spent watching the TV.

But "24", Lost and American Idol start soon... and I have a front row seat.

I Guess I Just Don't Know When to Quit

If the third time is charm, what is the tenth time?

No looking back! Forge on ahead! This is how the west was won and all that stuff...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So check this out, let's sound off here. If you by some chance actually have read any of my past blogs and would like to see me go back to posting my random ramblings, let me know. I'll start the vote. I say yes! Anybody else care to add their two or three cents. Heck, I'll take a penny. Just let me know.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Yesterday, in the midst of a storm, someone handed me a penny.

He said Jesus told him to do it. I smiled at him at first. Condescendingly, of course. I didn't know if he was all there but I appreciated his obvious empathy to how I felt inside. I didn't know how he knew, but he knew something was up. He met my gaze and wouldn't let it go for a moment. Then turned and walked away.

I glanced down a the penny, trying to make sure I wasn't missing any possible message from the Lord. Let's see. Abraham Lincoln, freed the slaves, 16th president... so on and so on...

And then on the top... Right above his head... These words...

In God We Trust

And I suddenly understood.

Here I Go Again

What amazes me is that I keep trying to do this. I like blogging, but I go months without doing one and then have a sudden attack of words.

"I'm mossy, Jerry! My brain is mossy"

What's up with me lately? Well, I'm about to go through some major changes that I almost wrote about here. But I can't say them yet. I don't know who reads this thing. Needless to say, some very interesting life changes are on the way.

I think my problem is that when I read my friends' blogs they seem to either be one thing or another. Some write about the externals of life, "what we did, what happened, what's up." The others seem to be more instructional devotional type things. both are good. But, I don't write like that.

Sure there's some of that here and there but what I write is more contemplative, internal... what is that word? ... introverted! This is what I think about... uh... cheetos and m&ms. You know, that kind of stuff.

By the way, whose idea was it to make mini-m&m's? Did some one really say "these regular m&m things are just too filling... can I have a smaller portion please?"

So I may just shorten the blog name to Ramblings... By the way, I will also start up the Rambling John stories again. I'll take blog name suggestions. But for the some of the best of the other kinds of blogs, visit my friends on the right hand side of the page.

See you in the funny papers.

Unfamiliar Shapes

"Yes, there will be many many times when I will cry and long for the familiar but it is the unfamiliar that shapes us."

These words, written by my friend Elizabeth have convicted me, encouraged me and challenged me for the new year.

Elizabeth is packing for Russia. It has been her dream to go there. And God has opened many doors to fulfill this prayer and heart dedicated for service to Him. She is wise beyond her years.... Come to think of it, she may be wise beyond my years too!

This awesome yet humble woman of God would cringe at the thought of any one putting her on a pedestal or calling her an "inspiration". But that is what she is to many of us. But her words today were just too powerful for me to read past.

In my life Lord, what is unfamiliar? How does it shape me? Am I comfortable... too comfortable?

As we get ready to launch the new CD, change things at the church, move from graphic arts to teaching, etc. etc. etc., I see a year full of the unfamiliar. I have already been tempted to back away. But I have not.

Thank you Elizabeth for all you have shared with us through your blog, words and heart. We will pray for you as you serve the Lord in Russia.

Lord, let my tomorrows be unfamilar...