Archive for June, 2007
We went to Cowboy Church on Sunday. It was the first time in my life I can remember wearing jeans on a Sunday morning. It was weird, and it started a debate in my mind (which I was glad to share with everyone) about why we dress up for church, what is casual, and is the church too formal for today.
People have some pretty harsh opinions on what can and can’t be worn to church. I was one of them. I thought that what you wore to church showed reverence to God. I’m not so sure anymore. I am beginning to think that what I do on a day to day basis tells more about my respect (or disrespect) for God, His Ways, and His Word than all the Sunday suits I could ever buy.
Although, I still want my children to look and dress nice – whether they are going to the picnic at Uncle Ray’s or the service at the neighborhood church – I’m not going to stress as much about it. Some how, I’ve got to get past the superficial aspect of church and discover the meat.
I wonder if the early church – the apostles and others that were not having church as much as being church – even thought about what they were wearing. My best guess is that they washed off from working in the field or building tents and then met together for fellowship. I doubt any of them wore a tie or fancy dresses.
Old habits die hard. Unless we make a habit of going to Cowboy Church, I’m not sure I’ll be a regular in blue jeans for the morning service any more. Even if society is moving towards casual attire, I still have enough Southern Belle in me to want to wear a hat and gloves on Easter Sunday – or at least where a nice pants suit.
As for what I will teach my children, I’m beginning to lean towards the idea that it really is what is on the inside that counts.
This article is part of a carnival. Check out the other great features.
June 28th, 2007
Thank you for ‘Clean Sweep’, the TLC program about clearing out the clutter in your home. You see, I was a pack rat. No, not just a pack rat, but I was the queen. I had descended from a long line of pack rats, and then married into a family of them for good measure.
When my husband and I finally got a home of our own, I’m quite sure that most of their stuff ended up in our house. While this might not be too much of a problem for the average citizen, you have to keep in mind that I am Queen of Packratsville. To keep it interesting, we bought a SMALL house (only 1200 sq. ft, two closets in the whole house, and no built in shelves, and a space I refer to as an attic, but my husband calls a death trap).
I remember what a feeling I got looking around at all the stuff after I got my first taste of this show that teaches people how to de-clutter and reorganize their homes and their lives. I quickly spotted fellow pack rats, and was amazed to see them letting go. The organizers in the show didn’t just make them get rid of stuff, they helped the pack rats understand why it was okay to let go. I felt their release.
And release I did.
I “clean sweeped” my whole house. If it didn’t have a place, if it didn’t fit, or if it hadn’t been used or missed, it was gone. My children learned to put things away. If I found it just around, I was likely to get rid of it. If you wanted to keep it, it was your job to find it a place to live and make sure it stayed there. Wanderers would be permanently relocated.
I had a real yard sale that was as much a give away as anything. Nothing was coming back. But not much was sold either. We donated all the leftovers to Goodwill, and the Sheriff’s Dept. In all, we hauled away about 20 boxes of nick-knacks, 10 boxes of toys, and about 15 garbage bags overflowing with clothes.
In a society where most people are about getting more stuff, I’m about losing what I’ve got. Less is more if you ask me. Nothing comes into this house (including Christmas, birthdays, and cloths shopping) without something leaving in order to make room.
Thank you TLC, for making my world a less cluttered place.
June 22nd, 2007
There is more to starting a business than just opening up the doors. It is important that you find something that you are passionate about and mold it to meet the needs of others. After that, starting a business is as easy as the alphabet.
A – Action Plan. This will help you keep focused when you are facing the chaos that can come with opening a business. It is the guide of what you need to do and when you need to do it.
B – Budget. If you don’t already have an idea of what things will cost, then you will not know what you need to do to make a profit. You have to have some monetary awareness – or else find a partner that does.
C – Current Situation. It is important to know what is going on in the industry you are about to enter. Know the trends that are taking place, where the hot spots are, and the best way to contact your target audience.
D – Do. Don’t just stand around hoping that the business will take off. Do network at Chamber of Commerce meetings, Town Hall meetings, or any meetings where there is a large gathering of people. Do try to get the local media to include you in their stories. Do ask friends and family (and strangers if you are brave enough) to send business your way. The most important thing is that you DO something.
E – Executive Summary. It is important that everyone involved in the business knows what their job is. If it is just you, plan ahead for the day when you can expand. This will also help you keep up with what you need to do each day.
F – Files. Keep great records of everything you are doing and keep them in order. File folders of every shape and form are a good investment and should be included in your start up costs.
G – Goals. Aim for the future. Make a one month plan, a one year plan, and a five year plan. With each goal you meet, aim for a new one. Keep yourself motivated so your business can reach its full potential.
Keep it basic, follow the ABC’s of starting a business venture and watch your empire expand.
June 19th, 2007
Forget all those diets that are high protein or low carb. Forget all the hours of sweating and yoga. There is a new way to be less than you ever have been before. They say it’s the next “best thing” to hit the fitness world in the last decade.
The High Fiber diet allows participants to eat all they want and still drops the weight right off. Some say they can feel the weight falling off of them even as they chew their meals.
This new sensation in nutrition comes at weight loss from two main angles. First, it helps you control your appetite while still offering you the opportunity to eat all you want when you want. Second, the high fiber contact actually burns calories through chewing.
Unlike many of the fad diets that have bombarded the market, this is the easiest and least expensive way of shedding all those unwanted pounds. With every purchase, you receive the special card board box developed for this diet plan. In it you find the manual that teaches you how to prepare your meals out of ordinary cardboard. An additional benefit of the program package is that it is actually the first meal you will prepare.
This amazing plant by-product has enough fiber to clean anyone out.
The High Fiber Cardboard diet may seem stiff and bland at first. With our easy guidelines, you will see that it is a diet designed to fit any pallet. Try toasting up a little slice till it is dark brown on the edge. This gives you the smokey flavor of a perfectly grilled steak. You can also roast bits with some garlic cloves – “Tastes like chicken,” says many of the pleasantly surprised participants.
These are only two of the many unique ways that the manual has for preparing filling breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. You will never get board with this new direction of eating. It is not a diet that is just thinking out of the box, it’s actually eating it.
June 18th, 2007
John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love is the ultimate example of Christ. It shows the world who we are and more importantly who He is. It’s no wonder Christ left us with the command to love each other as He loved us. It will be an amazing world when that actually happens.
2 Peter tells me to have brotherly love – or love towards fellow Christians. On paper, it seems like the easiest part of love. It’s when these relatives don’t conform to what I think their walk should be that love can be hard to dig up. I just keep reminding myself what Jesus said to Peter when he asked about John’s life. In Kathryn translation, “You let me worry about John.”
I can’t let others behavior keeps me from exhibiting brotherly kindness. It wouldn’t bode well for me if Christ started holding me to the same standards.
So I will love my fellow Christians, no matter how many times they sit, stand, or kneel during their service, no matter what color their sanctuary carpet might be, or no matter how wet they got during baptism. I will love my fellow brothers because they are brothers and that’s all the reason I need.
June 9th, 2007
