Conversations

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conversation, God, prayer, Religion, talk

Our theme for Bible Study this month is conversations. The topic is prayer. I like the concept of thinking of prayer as conversation with God.

In this age of being instantly connected with others, conversation is something that comes easy for most. Every day we have conversations with others via phone, email, social networking sites like Facebook, text messaging, etc.  It is so ingrained in the fabric of our lives.  We communicate with family, friends, acquaintances and even strangers about everything from the mundane and trivial to urgent matters.

Yet it prayer, one of the most important conversations we should have can be so hard if not almost impossible. Maybe it is the idea that we need to use special words or a set formula. Really shouldn’t prayer be an honest and open conversation with God.

25 Random or Not So Random Things About Me

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Meme, random, random information, random things, viral Facebook notes

This has been viral note spreading throughout Facebook. Until now, I have chosen not to respond. I decided to post it here rather than Facebook. If you choose play along please leave a comment.

1. Banana is one of my favorite flavors. Think this may be due to all the food allergies I have. As a child yellow was always a safe color for me when select popsicles or other food treats.
2. Barbeque involves cooking meat preferable brisket or sausage over wood. The words brisket and pulled should never be used in the same sentence. I do not care how many sauces you have barbecue is about the meat. If the first comment someone makes about a BBQ joint is about how the good the sweet tea is something is wrong. In addition, there is something wrong if you cannot smell the smoke at a BBQ joint. One, last thing I want my brisket served in thick slices and warm. No, it will not be tough if you cook it right.
3. Despite tests that indicated, I should not be able to read I have been reading on a post secondary level since 5th or 6th grade.  The makers of those tests just did not consider my mom’s determination that I would learn to read or else.  Trust me it was not always a pleasant experience. Oh, in case you are wondering I had excellent teachers in my early elementary grades. Just need extra help because of dyslexia.
4. During my early years, I enjoyed playing in the TV studio side of the radio/TV station where my dad worked. It was a great big room (or at least to a preschooler) with slick floors.  Great place to race my toy cars or slide around.
5. Even though I am from Texas, I am not very country. The one of the few genres of music I cannot stand is country.
6. I attended the same high school as my mom and the same college and graduate school as my dad.
7. I do not like anything squishy!!!
8. I do not like loud noises unless it is at a rock concert.
9. I got a black eye on the Rocking Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Most unusual way I have gotten a black eye.
10. I have never been a bride’s maid in a wedding but I have been a grooms person.
11. I hope that that at least once in my lifetime the Texas Rangers baseball team will win a post-season game.
12. I know that the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame has nothing to do with baseball.
13. I never learned cursive. It is a dysgraphia thing.
14. I used to teach in the country and guinea hens attacked my classroom.
15. In high school, I was not allowed to take a computer programming class because the teacher said I was not smart enough. Further, she believed that I had no future with computers. According to this teacher, she only had a limited number of spots and did not want to waste one on me. Well, I taught computers for many years and even developed my own curriculum.
16. In kindergarten, I had my own corner.
17. In sixth grade, I read over 1,000 books but I did not do my homework because it was boring.
18. My childhood pets included dogs and a cow. Yes, a cow, she lived on my Granddaddy’s farm.
19. My favorite animals are dogs, horses and kolas.
20. My newest hobby is photography.
21. PBJ is still one of my favorite choices for lunch.
22. Surprisingly I do own several dresses.
23. The primary reason I do not drink beer is I do not like it. My beverages of choice are fruit juice especially apricot or anything cherry and Dr Pepper. Oh, there is nothing better than a half frozen Dr Pepper on a hot day.
24. The sports I like are golf, hockey and baseball.
25. Usually, I like to keep things in alphabetical order. Did you notice this list is alphabetized? Used the sort function in Word. It is probably my mom’s fault that compulsively alphabetize things but that is another story.

Sky Watch Friday: Church of the Heavenly Rest

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Abilene Texas, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal Church, Sky Watch Friday

Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal church is an impressive landmark on Abilene’s south side.  It began in 1881 as St. Paul’s Episcopal Mission.  St. Paul’s met in the Northside school building at corner of Pine and N. 13th streets. In 1884, the church’s first building was built at  the corner of North 3rd and Orange street. One of Abilene’s major landowners and devout Episcopalian Colonel Josiah Stoddard Johnston donated the land. Johnston was also credited with naming Abilene. At this time St. Paul’s Mission became Church of the Heavenly Rest. According to the churches website I believe it may be the first Episcopal church in Texas west of Ft. Worth. In 1951, the church moved to its current location at  S. 6th and Meander. The church acquired the property that once was the Legget Mansion. The north side property was sold to First Baptist Church. A temporary structure was built on the current location. The cornerstone for the new building was laid on Pencetcoste Sunday 1953. A year later on All Saints day, All Saints Chapel was opened.  Construction of the church was completed in 1956.

I thought this was a cool shot with the steeple hiding behind the tree.

Thought the church has some interesting looking doors and courtyard areas.

This door reminds me of the doors of the CD covers from Rich Mullins Songs & Songs 2.

Okay I was having fun playing with sky shot. See the birds on the roof?

Had to play with the camera settings too.

Couldn't resistant playing with angles either.

Check out The Sky Watch Blog.

TOP 10: Recommended Reading

Tags

blogs, communities, lists, ministry, Religion, Top 10

Today I would like to share some things while I was blurfing recently.  They are in list format but not necessarily prioritized.

#10:  What is the Church? (Part 2) by Michael Kelly. I know it is the second in a 2 part series but jump in there and follow the link to the first part and the post that sparked the series.

#9: The Bridge Keeper by Steven Bush. Reminder that there are those in need our own communities. What are you doing to reach them?

#8:  Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome by Dr. Galyon at 2 Worlds Collide. A book review/reaction to  Kent Hughes book by the same name.

#7:  Review of Lost and Found by Ed Stezter at SBC Impact.  Just read the review

#6:  Wisdom from a Nursery Rhyme by Quinn at SBC Ghost Recon. Short but insightful post that is a must read.

#5: Forgiving Public Sin by Chuck at Confessions of a Small Church Pastor.  Inspired by recent news coverage of transgressions of two very different public figures.

#4: Heroes by Jimmy at Keeping it Simple. Reflection inspired by the actions of the pilot of the U.S. Airways plane that safely landed in the Hudson River.

#3:  Character or Reputation? By John at PlusLife. This is another one you will just have to read.

#2: The Myth of Self-Esteem by Cathy at Random Cathy. This is for those of us who have struggled with self-esteem.

#1:  A New Approach to Common Controversies by Arlyn at Bethel Fellowship.  Arlyn brings a new perspective to the debate about worship style, attire for church and Bible translations.

Have your own Top 10 list be sure to leave a link?

ABC Wednesday: C is for Granddaddy Crain

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ABC Wednesday, Family, grandparents, Meme, photography

As a child, I enjoyed spending time with my Granddaddy Crain. He was my hero. Even though he died shortly before my 10^th birthday, I was able to spend a lot of time with him. During my preschool years, I was able to spend a week with my grandparents every couple of months or so. He always had time for me. I  enjoyed the time we spent together.

See more ABC Wednesday.

My World Tuesday: The Paramount

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Abilene Texas, Arts, Box office, Entertainment, Histroric buildings, movie palace, National Registry of Historic Places, Parmount Theater

The Paramount theater in Abilene is one of those hard to find cultural gems. I grew up hearing my dad tell stories of going to the paramount as a teenager. During my college days at Hardin-Simmons I too enjoyed movies at the Paramount. On weekends the Paramount shows classic movies. It is open most afternoons to the public but was closed for the Christmas holidays so, I could not get any interior shots.

 

The Paramount Theater in downtown Abilene.

The Paramount is a movie palace built in the 1930′s and was restored in the mid 1980s.  The ceiling inside the theater looks like clouds complete with twinkling star lights. You can seen an video tour of the at the Paramount’s website.

 

Couldn't resist a black and white shot.

Box Office

Both an Abilene landmark and listed in the National Registry of Historic places.

Be sure to visit the That’s My World! blog.

New Word for the Day

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Blogging, new words, word of the day

Today I was talking to The Big Guy and my words got all jumbled up. I was attempting to discuss I read in the WordPress Blog Surfer function. Instead of blog surfer,  my words got all jumbled up in my brain/mouth and a new word was born: Blurfing. The Big Guy suggested I use it on my facebook status. I did and decided to make a blog post. So here is the official or not so official definition.

Blurfing: V. The act of reading or surfing blogs on the web or in a reader.