The Last Goodbye by Billy Boyd

My 13-year-old son and I have been getting into Lord of the Rings lately.  

[In fact, he's basically obsessed with it.  We bought almost all the books written for this series.  He watches all the behind-the-scenes footage of the movies.  He's researched New Zealand.  He reads books on medieval weapons and armor.  And it's inspired him to create lots of medieval things.  He spends time everyday making medieval helmets and weapons out of foam and PVC pipe.  He's made working bows out of branches and thick cotton string, with arrows made out of dowel rods and bird feathers.  (And they shoot over 50 feet or so.  Impressive!)  Don't worry ... he only shoots at a hay bale or a cardboard target, never at animals or people!  For the "foam battles" with his friends, he has bows made out of PVC pipe, and the arrows have foam balls instead of pointy tips, so no one gets hurt.   They all have such a blast!  It's great to watch them using their imagination and having fun with their creations.  (One of his dreams is to make props for movies like The Lord of the Rings someday.)]  

Anyway, we both love, love, love this song from the end of Battle of the Five Armies:

The Last Goodbye

Always makes me cry!  

Well done, Billy Boyd!  Such a great song.  

But like I said, it always makes me cry.  A good cry.  A sad cry.  A bittersweet cry, understanding how we can want a long, difficult journey to end, but not really want it to be over.   

Such a great song! 

(I can't decide which video I like best, the one above or this one.  Both are so great!)

Best Pan-Scrubber for Non-Teflon Pans

Awhile back, I was trying to scrub off the cooked-on egg that was stuck to my non-Teflon-coated pans.  I tried rags.  I tried scrubby sponges.  I tried adding a layer of baking soda and salt to see if the extra abrasiveness would help.  

Nothing seemed to work.  The layer of egg was too thick and too stuck.  

My elbow and shoulder were beginning to ache because I was working so hard to get this egg off.  And so knowing that I was losing the battle, I looked around on my countertop in desperation for anything I could use to scratch the egg off.

A fork?  No, too sharp.  It'll scratch the pan.  

An egg-covered spatula?  Once again, too sharp.  And the edge is covered in cooked-on egg too, so I guess I'll need to work on scrubbing that egg off also.

A knife's edge?  Stabbing into the egg with enough pressure to cut through the egg but not too much that I cut through my hand or scratch the pan?  Yeah right!

And that's when I stumbled upon it ... the best egg-scrubber for regular metal pans (pans that are NOT non-stick!): 

A large green lid to a Simply Lemonade bottle.

I tell you, these things fit perfectly in your hand, and they have just enough rigidness to scrape off a layer of egg, but they have smooth-enough edges that they won't scratch your pans.  They break up the egg just enough that anything left on the pan can be easily scrubbed off with a scrubby sponge.  

(Once again, DO NOT use on non-stick or Teflon-coated pans, though, just the regular metal pans with no coating!)  

And when you have to throw one out, another one is usually available pretty quickly, as long as you buy Simply Lemonade or Simply Orange Juice again.  (You can use other lids too, I'm sure.  But I like the size of these.  It makes them easier to grip.)

Anyway, just passing on this little tidbit, helping to save your time and elbows and shoulders!      

So this is what we've come to!?! Wrongful Birth Lawsuits!?!

Yeah, all of this Social Justice stuff and the "entitlement attitudes" and the lack of taking responsibility has made us Much! Better! People!  

Wrongful Birth Lawsuits  (Because apparently having Down's Syndrome is a good reason to abort your baby.  And if you didn't get the chance to abort, it's a good reason to sue and get money for having to deal with the fact that your Down's Syndrome child lived, much to your dismay.  Which, of course, will then drive the medical prices up for everyone.):

Queensland Couple Suing For "Wrongful Birth" After Daughter Was Born With Down's Syndrome

Angry At Down's Syndrome Baby, Mom Sues Hospital For Wrongful Birth

Update: Couple Wins Down's Syndrome "Wrongful Birth" Suit

Chasing Slugs

Guess what I've been doing for the past half-hour or so?

Searching high and low for a slug.  

Yeah, that's right ... a slug!

We found a very large slug yesterday that my 10-year-old son wanted to keep.  So we put him in a dish with some mud and grass and leaves.  And we put some plastic wrap over the top, which we tore a little hole in for air.  

Well ... I guess the hole wasn't little enough.

Unearnable Love

(Reposted from my other blog, Love, Heal Me)

One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in my spiritual life (and in my earthly life) is to let myself be loved by someone . . . by Someone. 

I come from a very dysfunctional home.  A bio-dad and two step-dads by the time I was 8.  And then another step-dad (after a very messy divorce) when I was in my late-20’s.  I didn’t grow up with my bio-dad or his family.  I didn’t even really meet them until my teens.  And then after that, I’d see my grandparents, uncles, and cousins about once or twice a year, sometimes less.  And I’d see my dad and half-siblings once every several years or so. 

I never really felt like I belonged to a dad or had a place in my extended families.  And this feeling carried over to my relationship with God.

I didn’t know it earlier in my Christian life, but my relationship with Him was based on fear, not on love.  I desperately wanted to please Him not because I loved Him and valued His love for me, but because I was afraid of “doing it wrong,” of being displeasing to Him, of failing Him.  I never really felt like I belonged to Him or mattered to Him, like He could really love me for me.  And so I felt like I had to earn His love and acceptance and grace. 

I didn’t really know how to let myself be loved by Him because I didn’t feel like I was worth loving.  And I didn’t understand the unconditional nature of His love, that I don’t have to be worthy of love because He loves us anyway, as we are.  And so I kept myself busy trying to earn His love . . . when what I really needed to do was simply accept it for the free gift that it is. 

Getting to the Heart of What's Wrong with American Christianity

A must-read article about what's wrong with Christianity today, particularly in America's ever-shifting culture.  It relates not only to Christian music and Christian "celebrities," but also to the many other ways the church is falling away and succumbing to the "ear tickling" lies and constantly shifting morals/beliefs of post-modern "Christianity."

Skillet Rocker: Stop Elevating Christian Influencers, Learning Theology From Praise Songs

If we do not know, for ourselves, what the Bible teaches - if we are not in the Word regularly, checking and rechecking the messages we are getting from our culture - we will easily be led astray by whatever the newest "truth" is.  

And it won't be "their" fault.  

It will be ours.  For not taking our faith and the Word seriously enough to study it, to know what it says, to be able to defend it.  

Willing ignorance of what the Truth is, of what God says, will not be an acceptable excuse when we stand before Him and give account for our beliefs and choices!    

I'm Worn

My goodness does this song capture where I've been for a long time, where I am at too often!

Worn by Tenth Avenue North  

I can totally understand the feeling of being tired just from the effort it takes to "keep on breathing."  Too tired to even lift my eyes to the Lord some days.  Crying out to know that redemption is going to win, that things will be okay, that God will mend my broken, frail heart.

My goodness, do I understand this song!  (I wish I didn't, but I do.)  

When I have a hard time praying, I listen to songs like these and let them be my prayers.  I may not always have the strength to fight, to make things better, or to be all I'm supposed to be.  But even if I don't have the strength to stand up and get back in the battle yet, I will keep on clinging to Him.  Sometimes that's all the very worn soul can do: to cling, to hold on tight and not let go.  And that's okay.  For now.  

When I am too weak and broken and worn, I simply hold onto Him and let Him be strong enough for both of us.

Also great:  

Strong Enough by Matthew West

Alive, Alive by City Harmonic

Still and Small by City Harmonic

  

My Kind of Jesus!

These songs show the kind of Jesus I serve!  Why I love Him so much!  

He loves all people with a saving love.  He died for all people so that anyone who wants eternal life can find it.  He is reaching out His hand to all people, asking them to grab onto Him, to let Him love them and heal them and save them!  This is my Jesus!  My God!  My Lord and Savior!  

And I will continue to post and repost these songs because they are just so powerful!  So hopeful and truth-filled.

Oh, What Love! by The City Harmonic

Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle

I AM! by Crowder

Hallelujah Christmas by Cloverton (This song always makes me cry.  Or try this video version, if it doesn't get deleted.  I hope not though.  It gives me chills.)

My Jesus by Todd Agnew

Secret Ambition by Michael W. Smith

Confession (Agnus Dei) by The City Harmonic

Fell Apart by The City Harmonic

By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North

Worn by Tenth Avenue North  (Can anyone else understand the feeling of being tired just from the effort it takes to "keep on breathing"?  He's there, reaching for you, waiting for you to reach out for Him.)

Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

Strong Enough by Matthew West

Holy (Wedding Day) by The City Harmonic

Here and There by The City Harmonic

The Champion by Carman

And there are more songs in these posts:  My "When Anxiety Strikes" Playlist and To All Who Are Ashamed or Hurting.

More Shootings, More Complaints About Prayer

Whenever a tragedy happens, people start praying.  And when people start praying, other people start complaining: "I am sick of your prayers.  I am tired of hearing people say they are praying for the situation."


Well, you know what?

I'm sick of people complaining about our praying!


And I have a few things to say about it:

1.  You clearly don't understand what prayer is.  So shut up and keep your ignorant nonsense to yourself!

2.  If you want to turn your back on God's help, then that's your choice for your life.  But don't shame others for turning to God for help in their lives and in other's lives.  

3.  Besides, what are you doing to fix the problem!?!  What's your grand plan to make everything all better!?!  Is your whining about someone's prayers going to help the situation at all!?!

4.  We are not praying for you anyway.  So get over yourself!

5.  And who are you to block people from praying for other people, for those who are hurting because of a tragedy!?!  Maybe those being prayed for want the prayer!  Maybe they, too, believe in prayer!  Maybe they hope and pray that God answers those prayers!  Maybe they know that when bad things happen, the best thing you can do is turn to God!  Who are you to take that prayer support away from them!?!  Are you the gate-keeper of all things spiritual, of all possible help in all situations?  Once again, get over yourself!

6.  Did you ever stop to think that maybe those who are praying are hurting too?  That our prayers might not be just meaningless condolences offered for others who are heartbroken and scared, but that maybe we who pray are also heartbroken and scared and are doing the only thing we can think of - the best thing we can think of - to help ourselves and others?   

7.  And honestly, this is still a free country.  And you don't get to tell us to not pray.  You have a right to not pray if you don't want to.  But we have a right to pray.  A right given by God Himself that you can never take away!  Are you in the place of God!?!  Once again, get over yourself and shut your ignorant mouth!  

8.  And if you don't want God's help, don't worry, He won't force it on you!  He'll leave you to yourself, if you prefer.  But remember, there are ultimately, spiritually only two sides: God's side and Satan's side.  So if you reject God's help, that's your choice.  But then you know where that leaves you and who you've chosen to worship instead!  Good luck with that!

"Walking in God's Plan"

I just found this sermon by Charles Stanley, Walking in God's Plan.  It's a good look at the different types of "wills" God has, of the things we are responsible for and the things God is responsible for.  

Such as God has a "predetermined Will" - events that God has predetermined that we cannot change, such as His plan to send Jesus to the cross.  

But then there are things that God desires - His "desired Will" for our lives - such as His desire that all men to be saved, His desire that we obey and trust Him, etc.  And we have a choice about following God in those kinds of things or not.  God has given us the right and responsibility to make certain decisions in our lives, about certain things He desires for us.  And our choices will have a real effect on whatever happens, on whether God's desired Will for our lives happens or not!  

This is a good balance between God's sovereignty and our free-will, our responsibility to make choices.

#nomorejellyfish

Amen, and Amen!!!

Mario, oh Mario, wherefore art thy spine, oh Mario?

Great article!  

And about this article - about parents requesting that the government look into the harmful consequences of transgender medical treatment on children - can I just say ... DUH!!!  

Some Days It Feels Like It's All About To Fall Apart

(Reposted from my other blog.  A post I wrote in June of this year.  But I have a feeling someone out there needs it.)

I'll be honest, I'm struggling today.  

The news headlines are so overwhelming that it feels like we'll never be okay again.  The weather is so dreary and rainy and cool that it feels like we'll never get a summer before winter comes again.  Friends are hurting from struggles in their lives, losses, heartaches, fears.  We left our church because of theological problems, and now (while I am enjoying the refreshment of staying home on Sundays, watching sermons online with my family) I am feeling the loss of my church home, of the people I used to see weekly, of fellowship.  And I struggle with not being able to talk about our theological concerns with those still at the church.  I want to shout from the rooftops our concerns about this pastor's preaching, but most people like him and agree with him and don't want to hear our concerns and warnings.  And so we keep quiet, aching to warn them but not wanting to hurt them.  And I fear that we are going to hurt our kids with this church-change, pulling them away from the friends too, hurting their chance for godly relationships.  But what can we do?  We can't stay and support that man's view of God!  And then there are other fears I struggle with.  Failing.  Hurting my kid's futures.  Never being good enough.  Letting people down.  Doing it all wrong.  Etc. Etc. Etc.  And yesterday, I got a text saying my mom was back in the hospital (involuntarily) for a three-day observation because of her drinking.  If she was admitted for this, then she must have been in bad condition.  I don't even want to know the details.

All I want to do right now is listen to these songs ... and cry.  Some days - when it feels like it's all about to fall apart - that's all you can do...

Honestly by The City Harmonic (I haven't been able to get this chorus out of my mind for the past few days.)

Praise the Lord by The City Harmonic  (Sometimes, this is the only way to get through the day!)

Fell Apart by The City Harmonic  (I know how this feels.  In heaven, I am going to seek out the members of this band to hug them and tell them what their music meant to me, how it kept me going when I wanted to give up.  And I'm going to hug Tony Evans for preaching Truth, for being there when we left our church and I needed a reliable, godly preacher to listen to.  I'm going to hug these people and cry!)

Oh What Love by The City Harmonic  (It doesn't get much better than the truths in this song!  When I'm hurting too badly to pray on my own, I close my eyes and let songs like these be my prayer for me.)

How about a few from Tenth Avenue North?  Hold My Heart and By Your Side and Healing Begins and Worn (Anyone else understand the feeling of being tired just from the effort it takes to "keep on breathing"?)

Another great song: Strong Enough by Matthew West

And one by Crowder that always makes me smile, reminding me that God's always here with us, that He never leaves our side, even in the pain: I AM

And In The Sky by Bob Carlisle, Russ Lee, and Ashley Cleveland, because I am waiting for this day! And I hope and pray it's soon!

(And click here for more songs.)