You are mistaken

The entry posted earlier this week was not made by a pastor. It was made by a teenage girl who was giving the scripture lesson to the congregation for Youth Sunday. The theme was about making mistakes. We all make mistakes...even God makes mistakes. I'm not trying to embarress this girl but I flew into "uh-oh" mode. She was a product of her lesson. She made a mistake.

I guess my issue was that her Youth teachers had listened to the sermon several times before she went in front of the church to give it. And no one clarified afterward. And where did she get such an idea that our perfect Lord makes mistakes? She didn't just say it once. She said it several times over an hour.

As I listened to the CD of this sermon in my car, I dialed my phone with the other hand.

"Uh...Chuck? Just wanted to be positive about something before I move forward. God doesn't make mistakes, right?"

"Right on, sister."

I didn't even need the affirmation. I just needed to talk about it. And I did go to God first. I went right to His word to find out why He made the covenant with Noah. My Bible says that God didn't make the covenant because He was sorry so many people were killed by the flood.

Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though [a] every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

God wasn't saying He had made a mistake and now needed to make good on it. He was impressed, pleased with Noah.

God is perfect. How can something perfect be flawed? His plan is perfect but He gives it to a bunch of imperfect human beings. It is our mistake, not His.

Just as a follow up, I did call the pastor of this church and we discussed "God's mistake." He had already planned on clearing this up at the weekend service. Just so we are all on the same page as Christians here....

Thoughts anyone?

“I believe that God made a bad decision and a good decision at the same time; bad by killing people [in Noah’s flood] and good by fixing his mistake by giving us his son.”

How do you feel about this statement made during a local church service?

Jesus's Tomb

For two weeks now, I’ve been listening to two co-workers talk about the Jesus’ tomb thing. Now, it’s not that I’m offended or I think there is one bit of truth in this ridicules story, but the two of them talking about it every day for the past two weeks makes my blood boil. I want to go over and discuss the whole thing with them, but at lunch or another time, not during work hours. I hit my wall the other day. I walked over to them and said the following:

“I hate to be the biiiyatch, but you two have been talking about this for two weeks and it’s distracting. I would love to sit down with you and discuss it at lunch, but not during work hours. What you are talking about is my salvation and I take it seriously.”

I don’t think my message was received well. I totally acted in my flesh.

Sonny and I happened to be e-mailing each other back and forth so I shot him this message:

"I just told a couple people next to me to shut it regarding the “Tomb of Jesus.” They’ve been talking about it for two weeks straight and I finally hit the wall. Probably not a good way to share the gospel but I just couldn’t take another day of listening to them talk about my salvation so brazenly. I totally acted in the flesh. I’m so….fleshy. To me…and I’m saying this for me, now…not you or any other Christian, but my belief in Christianity is faith that Jesus did rise again. If people are trying to discredit that, than they are discrediting my salvation. My belief is in the fact that Jesus was crucified, took on the world’s sins, died and rose again…giving us all new life in him. The rising part is key…for me. The newer Christian might be wounded by all of this. The grade-school Christian (me) is okay with hearing it but my blood pressure goes through the roof. It is just SO absurd that they found this tomb and come to the conclusion it is a certain person in history."


His response was so awesome that I just had to share it (with his permission, of course):

This whole tomb of Jesus thing is a load of crap on two parts.

1. It’s not a new discovery-its been shot down before. This tomb was discovered in 1980. Someone is peddling a book and movie so they want to sensationalize some non-existent link (Da-Vinci Code anyone ?)
2. Being a Christ follower is based on Faith-not tangible evidence for or against.

I understand where you are coming from. I get seriously irritated with armchair archaeologists who base their “belief of the week” on pop-media. Its like they can’t see what’s going on...“Big Film Director” discovers Jesus tomb…oh and he just happened to have made a movie about it and is working with two guys who wrote a book called "Real Archaeology," but this obviously has nothing to do with movie directors and book writers.

People die, only Jesus rose again. I know it because it’s the only time it’s happened and the world was changed from that point on. Only truth can change the world that way.

So, if you know me well, then you know that I wanted to recreate this dance with Joey. Someone beat us to it! We'll have to start practicing JC. I can just see Mike Lilly and Bobby getting into it, too.

The longer a couple cohabits before marriage, the greater the amount of negative stresses on them. If cohabiters, by nature, already have less commitment to marriage than those who choose to marry without cohabiting, the presence of these stressors might be just enough reason for them to end the relationship.

http://mcelroycounseling.com/notes/?p=513

It's kind of weird how all of my pre-christian friends just assume Joey and I are living together or will be now that he has purchased a home. Not so, my friends, and it isn't because of a study done on the subject. It's because of God.

The Spoiled Brat Rides Again

I admit it and I can't believe I'm admitting to it. I had a major meltdown on my birthday. It wasn't pleasant for anyone within a 5 mile radius of me. It started when my co-workers started cancelling on my birthday lunch...and then the family started saying they could not attend the birthday dinner. My irrational thinking led to "no one loves me" and tears. So over the top emo. My other teammates made banana splits which cheered me and I even thought there was still hope while driving to Lansing. But as I approached the city, my attitude worsened.

Arriving to my mom's, I ignored everyone in the house and went straight to bed where I cried for the next three hours. What was my deal? 31, I guess. Krissie asked me earlier where I thought I would be right now in my life. "Married to my best friend whom I am passionately in love with even when he annoys me and we have one little kid and another on the way" was my answer. That day, turning 31, I think I broke down and couldn't see anything clearly. Are we entitled to one day of this, hiding in bed? Still, I was way out of line and could barely control myself. I apologize to all who took the hit.

Just for public knowledge, I am extra sensitive on my birthday. All I want is to have a nice lunch with a friend or friends, a nice dinner with family and to look at baby pictures with my mom. That's all I want. The two seasons of Veronica Mars, the trip to Florida, the Playmakers GC, the facial at Douglas J, the dinner at Clara's Friday night, the 1 pound of honey and the endless birthday wishes I received were good, too. I guess I always knew I was a spoiled brat.

Oh, and the wine tasting was a great time. I think if you click....here...you'll see pictures from the event.

Thanks to all of you who continue to love the bratty me.

(crickets chirping)

Trip Around The Sun

Trip Around The Sun

By Jimmy Buffett

Hear 'em singing Happy Birthday

Better think about the wish I made

This year gone by ain't been a piece of cake

Every day's a revolution

Pull it together and it comes undone

Just one more candle and a trip around the sun

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning

And it's good to know it's out of my control

If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living

Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go

No, you never see it coming

Always wind up wondering where it went

Only time will tell if it was time well spent

It's another revelation

Celebrating what I should have done

With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun

Yes, I'll make a resolution

Then I'll never make another one

Just enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun

Just enjoy this ride ...Until it's done

Jimmy: Darker Days Behind For Me

“Hey, Beau-ful”

That’s how he greeted the ladies. The last time I heard him say that to me was February 4, 2006. That was the last time I spoke to him.

And now it’s been a year since he’s been gone. Looking back, it has been a strange, sad, angry, confused year which was also full of joy and healing. If only he could have taken that trip with all of us.

No, I wasn’t a close friend but I still had the privilege of walking into his house unannounced like everyone else. I still teased him in retaliation of his teasing me. I still went to the Chophouse restaurant with him and fought with him over the bill. I still got to share a little bit of Jesus with him.

A year ago today, I was driving home from work talking to Jenny. Talking to Jenny? No…complaining to Jenny about the stupid stuff going on in my life. I told her I would call her back as I pulled into my parking lot. I walked over to the mailbox, grabbed the emptied trashcan by the side of the road (Jimmy’s trashcan he let us borrow) and began to drag it back to it’s designated spot by the front porch when I saw Krissie coming out from under the carport. I hadn’t even realized she was there. The look on her face…completely white…shocked. “Jimmy’s dead.” As my mouth dropped so did the mail. I grabbed her, hugged her saying, “why? How? When?”

“It must be a joke,” she said. She was dazed as she walked down the street to Jimmy’s parent’s house, having to pass Jimmy’s house on the way. I called Joey who was taking his grandma to the Lion King at the Wharton Center. There was just no way this was happening. People started to arrive to our condo. They were stunned, convinced someone had broken into the house and killed Jimmy. The darkness of those days began to settle in. Nothing felt safe anymore. Nothing felt right. Yet, I still managed to hang on to my petty problems. They were almost an escape from something I couldn’t handle.

Soon, the truth started to seep into Jimmy’s family and friends. He took his own life. Sadness turned to anger at Jimmy for not confiding in them…and then turned to anger at themselves for not seeing any warning signs.

The months following Jimmy’s death were just so dark. That is the only word I can use to describe them. Krissie stopped sleeping. I could barely drive down the streets to our home and would rush inside so I didn’t catch a glimpse of his house. His friends, the ones who found him, fell apart. It was a complete mess. And then summer came. Krissie and I had so many talks about what happened and finally, against even my best judgment, I told her to leave. She had to leave the condo to get away from the constant reminder. And she did leave. And she finally slept.

The healing began. Krissie got engaged and started attending a church near her new condo. Some of Jimmy’s friends rallied and raised money for suicide awareness and prevention. Still, people will always be a little broken from this tragedy. Some more than others.

I no longer feel the darkness from those months after Jimmy’s death. Joey hauled in the trashcan last night, the same trashcan, Jimmy’s trashcan. The night felt a little different. It felt peaceful. I looked down at Jimmy’s house. The new neighbors who moved in had the front porch light on. The house looked peaceful, too.

There is a banquet tonight to honor and remember Jimmy. I think I’ll attend and hug the people who are still living under those dark days. But I pray that somehow this tragedy will cause them to really rely on God, not their own understanding of it because suicide doesn’t make sense.

Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own

U2 (Jimmy’s favorite band ever)

Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough

You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

We fight all the time
You and I...that's alright
We're the same soulI don't need...
I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

I know that we don't talk
I'm sick of it all
Can - you - hear - me - when - I -Sing,
you're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me...

Where are we now?
I've still got to let you know
A house still doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone...

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it
The best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

Red Dress Run

Good Idea: Run a race for charity.
Better Idea: Run it in a red dress.
Bad Idea: Sucking down a chocolate martini before finishing the end of the race.

Okay, that's the short of it. The long of it goes something like this...

Joey and I met up with Playmakers runners at Trippers. Our friend Levi had talked us into doing this run but what I didn't understand was that it wasn't so much a run as it was a pub crawl. First stop: MAC's Bar. The snot was frozen to my face. Yes, it was bitter cold. 5 degree wind chill. I couldn't reconcile doing a run and drinking beer at the first establishment so I had water. I wanted to run, too! I didn't like stopping. We spent about 20 minutes at each bar. We received two drink tickets at the start but I didn't use mine. Not even at the second stop, The Green Door. In fact, I took off a little early for Moriarty's. My parents were there waiting for us and I had a few sips of beer. I talked Levi into buying me a chocolate martini at 621. I traded him my two drink tickets for the martini. Problem was that 621 wasn't accepting the drink tickets. Oh well. The chocolate martini was only $5 and it was the best damn chocolate martini EVER (except for the homemade Joey chocolate martinis).

Joey and Levi

Of course, my stomach told me it wasn't a great idea while running to Tavern on the Square, our last stop. But, we finished and then took off for my mom's hoe down at her church. That was fun stuff, too because I got to square dance. I love to square dance :o)

My mom and I. She's so cute!!!

Locked In

"We're really Jesus Freaks now. We're spending the night in our church." --Jenny Cole

I never belonged to a Youth Group. Well, briefly in 7th grade. Nothing like RivKids, though. And I have never attended a lock-in before, either. This was my first. I volunteered for the RivKids 4th and 5th grade lock-in. What a blast.

We played barbarian capture the flag. I think Peter and I had more fun than the kids.

We did make overs until midnight. Yes, I was curling little girl's hair until midnight.

I thought it was funny that Emma's dad had to make sure everyone knew this was his daughter. I think I'm going to look for a shirt that says "Chuck."


My niece and her new friend, Zoe.



The kids slept in the auditorium (translated = sanctuary). They watched Cars until 3 a.m. Yes, folks, I didn't sleep until 3 a.m. Wendy Smith and I shared an air matress and I don't think I kicked her much during the night. We got up at 7:30 a.m. and I was exhausted but I loved the experience. I'm in for next year.

I Gotta Go Where It's...Sort of Warm

I went to Florida the first weekend in February to visit Kelly (VRA). I felt all grown up driving to the airport myself, missing my exit, getting turned around, parking at Quikpark, taking a shuttle to the airport, finding my terminal and flying by myself to Orlando. Just before take off, I heard someone say Orlando was under a tornado warning until 8 a.m. Interesting, I thought but really, all I could think about was warm weather and my new swimsuit. Ah...a reprieve from the crappy weather in Michigan!

We had a comedian for a pilot. "Folks, we just have a few rules for you. Please don't smoke unless you are in a designated area in the airport. Please adhere to the safety belt rules. Also, please remain inside of the aircraft during the flight. Now, if you'll look out of the left windows, you will see...a bunch of clouds. If your vision is really good, you can Toledo, OH." The rest of the flight was spent listening to Buffett on my MP3 player and talking to God. He is amazing and I can't stop thinking about God's creativity when I'm eclipsing the heavens in a plane.

After landing and taking a shuttle to the main airport, I saw spotted Kelly, waiting for me. I don't know if she saw the tears in my eyes but I was so happy to see her. We have been friends for almost 15 years. Want to see a picture of us from back in the day? Sorry, Kell. And us now...(we definitely improve with age--remember that!)

The first thing I found out was how bad the damage was by the tornados. Kelly's husband, Chris, was deployed to a badly hit subdivison. Second thing--Florida was rainy and cold. Well, warmer than Michigan but not warm enough for the clothes I packed.

Kelly and I drove to Citrus County after trying to gas at a couple of gas stations. I saw where she worked, her new house and then we picked up her two boys from school. We then had to drive an hour to Gram's house to drop off the boys. An hour back and we got ready to go out. I had a lot of fun getting to know Kelly's friends and also getting to know her as well. It had been awhile since we have hung out on a daily basis. True, our lives are different (I do not hang well after midnight) but I still love her sooo much.

Saturday, we picked up the boys from Gram's and took them to Austin's soccer game. I got to see Chris briefly also. See, when the rain started, I took off for the truck with Tyler.

Tyler and I waited for the rain to stop while listening to Jerry Jeff Walker. After the game, Chris took the boys and Kelly and I took off for Margaritaville. I was wearing a turtleneck, folks. A turtleneck in Orlando, FL! I was not pleased. We had a good time at dinner and then moved to the volcano bar for a few drinks.

As you can see, it really is a volcano bar. Once an hour it erupts and margarita flows down the volcano and into the giant shot glass. I love this bar. After dinner, Kelly and I visited with Johnny Walker. We got back to our hotel at a decent hour and even made it to Rob Schiller's new church. I never realized how much I missed that family until I saw them. After eating at Sweet Tomatoes (the best salad bar EVER) and rushing back to the airport, I made my flight. Despite squall warnings back home, our flight left on time. I left the cold damp Florida weather for frigid, blowing snow...or as our pilot said, "welcome to tropical Detroit." Oh well. I had Joey's homemade spaghetti waiting for me at home.

Kate could be the greatest mom ever.

Let It Go

Let It Go
By T. D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you.And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you:

let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person intostaying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming tosee you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you let them walk.Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

The Bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made

manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us,

no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you.And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.

LET THEM GO!!

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it justmeans that their part in the story is over. And you've gotto know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keeptrying to raise the dead.

You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, Ibelieve in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'mfaithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.

LET THEM GO!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to......

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ....

LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, andsee your worth.....

LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ........

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge......

LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction......

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents ..

LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude.......

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better......

LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to takeyou to a new level in Him......

LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a brokenrelationship.......

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even tryto help themselves......

LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed .....

LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are soused to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to......

LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things.GOD is doing a new thing for 2007!!!

LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left think about it, and then ..

LET IT GO!!!

"The Battle is the Lord's!"

I just got done running with the sisters (Ellen and Shelley). It's cold out at 8:00 a.m. but I feel good doing it. Now, off to a hot shower.

Cash: The Autobiography

I finished reading Cash last fall and typed out some of the parts I found interesting, especially because I have someone in my life I love to death but is addicted.

I’m thankful that God has inspired me to want to write, and that He might possibly use me to influence somebody for the good, if I can see the opportunities through the smokescreen of my own ego.

Finally, I’m thankful, very thankful, that at this moment I have absolutely no craving for any kind of drug. I’ve been up almost three hours today, and this is the first time I’ve thought about it, and even then it’s in the spirit of gratitude. So my disease isn’t active. Last night I saw a bottle of wine passed around the table, and I never once thought about taking even a sip of it. (So why am I thinking about it now? Watch it, Cash! Gotta never be complacent. Never take anything for granted. Don’t forget, great prices have been paid and will be paid again if you get too smug, too egotistical and self-assured.)

And as I’ve said before, all mod-altering drugs carry a demon called Deception. You think, If this is so bad, why does it feel so good? I used to tell myself, God created this; it’s got to be the greatest thing in the world. But it’s like the old saying about the whino: he starts by drinking out of the bottle, and then the bottle starts drinking out of him. The person starts by taking the drugs, but then the drugs start taking the person. That’s what happened to me.

Being Offended Part III-What to do?

More notes I jotted down while watching JM:

• I have been bitter and resentful because of the way I was treated. Jesus said, “my peace I leave with you.” Don’t be upset all the time.
• Proverbs 19:11. 11 A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Glory to pass over a transgression. It’s a choice. We choose to be angry. There is a glory that covers us when we chooses not to be offended.
• Be the kind of person who has to be pushed really far before they ever get offended.
• I will feel my emotions but I can choose my response.
• Though everything else is going wrong, I will rejoice in the Lord.
• When you see the person who has offended you, say hello, ask how they are and do not speak badly about them to others. Someone hurt you but someone else loves that person. Do not share your view. Bless (speak well of) our enemies, don’t curse (speak evil of) them.
• You can’t let what an unkind, rude person has done to you control you. Slam the door in the devil's face and allow God to reveal what the offender has done to you to the offender.
• When you are hurt by the people closest to you, it hurts your spirit. It goes down deep. What should you do?
  1.) Repent—even if it wasn’t your fault. Humble self and review how you are treating people in your own life. As I repent, it will soften my heart.
  2.) Forgiving—after repenting, it will stick better
  3.) Pray for those that hurt/persecute you (Matt 5).

So, yeah. I have been paying more attention to my emotions by giving my emotions less attention. I've been more emotional than usual! But I know God will work through this with me if it's something He wants me to work on. As for dealing with people who offend, well, I've learned a lot. I listen to others complain about what so and so did and I wish they could know the stuff God has revealed to me. And when people have offended me? Whoa. Even recently, I've shared the offense with at least one other person. Is it right? Is it okay to vent? Even if it is to Joey? What if it is about Joey?

More on that later...

Being Offended Part II—You’ve Got Me Feeling Emotions

In a continuation of JM’s teaching on being offended

Ummm…I’m emotional. We are all emotional. The difference is that I tend to live by my emotions. Not a good thing. Emotions = good; Living by emotions = bad. God gives us emotions and they help us in many situations. I was stunned when Joyce talked about not worshiping our feelings. Instead of asking myself “What do I feel?” I need to ask “what do I BELIEVE?”

We have all been burned by someone in our past. Guess what? We will be burned by someone in the future, too. Sometimes we become jaded and untrusting. Tired of being hurt, we wonder what people’s ulterior motives are. It is important to know that God does not have an ulterior motive. He just loves you and wants the best for your life.

At least once a day, I hear myself say outloud or in my head “I don’t feel…(fill in the blank).” That’s good news! Joyce explained how right feelings come from right decisions. Once you make a right decision, your feelings will follow. Do what’s right when it still feels wrong. Jesus told the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the lake. Peter explained to Jesus they had been fishing all night and they were exhausted. Also, they had already tried that side of the lake and had no luck. Peter felt tired but he believed Jesus and followed him.

I am striving to be more emotionally balanced. Those closest to me know what a roller coaster ride I can be. Step 1: admit you have a problem (my emotions aren’t me). I have free will. I can go with how I feel or I can go with God’s word. I tried it the other day when for whatever reason, I just felt nasty and hateful. I prayed to God and said, “I believe you can help me by removing these feelings or letting me have control over them.” My brattiness subsided.

Yes, there will be a part 3 and 4 and even a 5 or more of Being Offended. The reason is because I have been offended for over a year and it was these teaching that made it start to subside. I need to record why. Peace out.

Not sure where to take her for Valentine's Day?

The Atheist

I thought more readers would wonder about Jake and if he came to Riverview or not. The answer is…not. His reply was “No, thanks. I’m not interested in Christianity.” Of course, I didn’t leave that alone. My smart ass replied that Christianity was interested in him but hey, no problem. Still, I had to fight that feeling of rejection. I thought about it all day and it burned inside of me. My thoughts would freely float to what looked like rejection. But no. God warned me against this. It took until right before I turned the light off to go to bed. It was almost like I heard God say to me, “Holl, I didn’t ask you to convert him. I asked you to ask him.” Right. Riiiiiight. I need to know that line in the sand. The rejection was toward God and God could handle it. As I tried to sleep, I searched my feelings for that testy rejected one. Nope. Not there. Not there, either. I went to sleep and felt great the next morning. See, giving up the control to God isn’t always as easy as it sounds. In fact, He will continue to work that out of me for the rest of my life.