"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Be A Sport

I will be attending a continuing education session at work next month about being an effective team member. In preparation for this, I watched a power point presentation.
I am from the old school of the traditional hierarchy where the boss had all the say. I have noticed a change in the last 10 years towards the desire for more independance in the work place. After watching this presentation, I better understand the company's direction in regards to team work. We have progressed past the traditional and even the independant level to the "Interdependant-Level Work Group." This means that employees work independantly but also closely co-ordinated with each other. As well, there is more involvement in the job process.
I actually can see that this type of work group can be very effective. Our team members rotate to the different roles in our department weekly. As a result, we are able to view our job from the various angles which leads to efficient co-ordination of the parts. At monthly meetings, the leaders do listen and are open to suggestions.
This system relies on the working of all its' parts, though. Complainers and cynics will hinder the process but perhaps the dedicated workers can spur them on. Optimism is also an asset.

"Blessed Art Thou Among Women"

There is a meeting tonight for the women of our congregation. We will be discussing great women of the Bible.
As I wondered who I would include in the roster, Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to mind. She never gets mentioned though. I think everyone is too afraid of her deified Catholic position.
Mary found favor would God. I would think that this fact alone would create many a sermon, much like David who was a man after God's heart or John the apostle, whom Jesus loved. Mary found favor with God!
She was an obedient and humble handmaid. She accepted God's words that she would bear a son, although she was a virgin. Mary didn't laugh at God's plan as another great woman, Sarah, did in Genesis 18:12. She was a woman of faith who rejoiced in God's merciful plan of salvation.
Humility is also shown by her response to her cousin, Elizabeth's, proclamation of her blessedness. Mary immediately gave the praise back to God in a beautiful poem.
Besides her many righteous attributes, I personally admire the character trait shown in Luke 2:51. Scripture says that Jesus' mother " kept all these sayings in her heart." Mary treasured thoughts. She enjoyed thinking of life and God.
Mary is indeed a great woman in the Bible. There is plenty to learn from her godly example.

I'm Alright, Just Associating...

I saw physiotherapist today for a deep muscle massage. He kept on asking me whether this or that was the spot. "No... no... YES," I answered as he located the source of the pain.
As I lay there with my body contorted , I imagined the therapists that probe, with much more difficulty, the mind. There I would lie, on a couch of course, while the therapist tugged at my exposed heart to see which associations would cause a flashback that would reveal the past horror.
"Is this the one?"
I would cry, "No...no...might be..." as my mind flickered with the remembrance of a disappearing dream.

Looking for a merry heart
to enjoy the sunlight with
Looking for a laughing soul
to live my lifetime with

Looking for a change of wind
to scatter the clouds within
Looking for an inner love
to heal the brood of self

Regarding My Moose Haiku Tribute

Yesterday, I had written a haiku blog about my best girlfriend. It was my attempt at developing as a humorist. I had published it just before going to bed. I woke up this morning with the sickened realization that I had failed miserably with my comedic poem. Hurriedly, I deleted it and hoped that no nighthawks had passed through.
Being the pal I am, I also emailed this to my unsuspecting friend to see what her response was. I received a phonecall later that morning and she exclaimed with much glee, "That is the nicest thing anyone ever said about me." I was abit dumbfounded by that as I had extolled in my haiku the fact that she was NOT a moosehead.
After much laughter, I wondered if I should re-instate my poem after all but decided,"No!"
I received another phonecall from that same chum who said while she had the t.v. on as background noise, her attention was caught by a scene from "Kids in the Hall." This is a Canadian comedy troupe. In this skit, while soft Japanese music played, one of the guys attempted to write a haiku poem. It went like this:
" Ninety-nine bottles
of beer on the wall. Ninety
nine bottles of beer..."
I figure I must be on the right track with these humorous entries if top Canadian comedians are writing the same stuff.

"And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness..." Isaiah 35:8

There Are Qualifications for this Job

In my job, we have to carefully document procedures as well as exhibit exceptional quality control. The extent of our dedication is demonstrated by Petey, our department fish.
"Has anyone fed Petey?" someone asks during the course of the shift. Then we check Petey's schedule which is divided into a.m. and p.m. feedings.
There is also a Q.C. binder beside his bowl, in which the previous calendar months are filed. There are even the dates that the other Peteys have met their demise, but not for being underfed of course. Our Q.C. proves that.

This Love Surpasses Knowledge

Almost everyone is familiar with the two greatest commandments given in the Bible about love.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

See Matthew 22:36-40.

There is also another version of these commandments that Jesus gave in John 13:34.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." See also John 15:12.

Christians need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus love, for with that knowledge they themselves will be able to respond with love to God, His Son and His children. This takes a deeper commitment than the previous commandments as there is a need to reach beyond self-love to God's love as the standard.

There is story of a woman that washed Jesus feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. When the host protested because she was a sinner, Jesus replied,"Her sins, which are many have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." (found in Luke 7:37-48) It was the love Jesus had for her that prompted her tears The opposer was not aware of his own sinfulness, otherwise he too would have been on the floor with the her, weeping.

The first step to this love is to recognize the deep need for forgiveness.

I Need a Punchline!

After reading that there is a shortage of humorists, I decided I needed to write a humorous entry but my head hurt from the effort. A friend told me that maybe I don't have funny situations but his words failed to comfort me.
I thought of using Woody Allen's schtick but people always take me seriously when I am self depreciatory. I end up having to punctuate my sentences with "just kidding." Just the other day as I sat in the passenger seat with a speeding cabbie, I thought of Woody. He was being driven by Annie Hall's morose brother who only hours previously had told him that he contemplated driving into oncoming traffic. As I meditated on Woody's terror stricken face,we darted around another vehicle while the cabbie apologized for missing the turn. I knew Woody would have had some comedic reply but my knack for silent amusement will have to do for now.
Maybe it would be better if I used a comedienne's approach to life. I love Lucy, I do! I think of her every time I buy eggs. There is an episode where Lucy goes grocery shopping and ends up covered with eggs. I only open the container and examine them. I don't hold each egg to the light but if I was braver, I would. Then I might enjoy all the comedic situations I could get into.
So my impatience will have to learn to let Carol the humorist come to life naturally. This could be fun!

A Difference...

Some people appear very confident. They usually are extroverted,friendly and well-liked.
Others are more self-conscious. These are the introverts who are studious but awkward and shy.They may lack confidence but not because they have less talents than the outgoing. Their introversion causes them to focus more on themselves and their flaws.This awareness of their weaknesses can leave them vulnerable to self doubt.
However even though the extroverts are more fun to be around they usually lack the depth which enables the introverts to explore their inner lives. This is a more torturous journey attested to by mental illnesses but the riches are found in the honesty and depth of its' art and literature.

Writing Assignment #1

Fellow blogger Cuz has given a writing assignment so I am going to see if I can write a half an hour story about Charlie...

Charlie's fears were growing stronger. There were knots in his mind continually. He was preoccupied that matters would go unfavorably for him always. He did not know that this was unusual for it was all he knew.
As he stared at the grocery list that his wife had prepared last night, he realized that she only wanted him to get outside. She wanted to excuse him from his daily grind of doing nothing. He grasped the piece of paper and turned to go but the tension in his forehead made him ask if should he take a pill to get him through this. He decided against it and resolutely opened the door. Still trying to convince himself that there was nothing to fear, he counted his breaths. As he rushed out the door,he stumbled on a rock. He held his throbbing toe and whined that something always happens. There is nothing but pain outside. His wife would not be back from work for another eight hours. She would find him on the lawn, a failure at getting out of the house.He should know by now the pattern.
As Charlie lay ruminating about his misfortune, he picked up the rock that was the cause. It was not large but was not a pebble either. It fit in his palm. The rock's coolness and smoothness soothed him as stroked its contours. His breathing was back to normal now.
Charlie got up with the red and black speckled rock still in his grasp. He continued to comfort himself by rubbing the stone and he surprized himself by walking to the store. He got the groceries and forgot all about himself because he held that which caused him the pain. This little piece of the earth both hurt him and healed him.

Stand Therefore...

I want my ears and eyes
to be open to understand
the experiences
the ideas
that have taught others
but
with a mind to
determine
wisely
for
only one Spirit
speaks
true

Have You Been PreDetermined?

The Bible message of study today was based on Calvinism. John Calvin, like other reformers before him, rejected the false teachings of Roman Catholicism but over reacted. He extolled God's saving grace but rejected the necessity for man's faithful responce to this grace, which is obedience. His premise that "faith only" saves is prevalent today in most denominations.Even baptism, which is commanded by God in the process of becoming a Christian is considered a work and rejected.

John Calvin taught that God predetermined who would be in heaven even before the world was created. There is no hope for those who did not make this early cut.

Roman 8:28-30 states "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he justified, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

I believe this is not referring to predestinated individuals but rather the church. This special group of believers, Christ's church, is what was predetermined to heed the gospel call and by it be justified and eventually glorified with Christ.

Maple Leaf Forever

Our red Maple Leaf flags were flying half mast for four mounties that were gunned down on Thursday in Alberta.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are an emblem of our country so to have the beautiful maple leaf, another symbol of our home, honoring these men is a sober reminder of the fragility of both man and nation.

Why am I out of focus?

the intents were well
but I did not really want to
after all.

a few moments taken to research and
an hour is lost,
familiar feeling?

the concentrated interest
makes time slip beyond
and out of control

while the rest of the hours
are lost by daydreams...

What Moms Do

I was talking to a young mother who was fretting about her baby girl being left at her in-laws for the first time. I couldn't believe her exaggerated anxiety over such a trivial matter.I tried to console her that another child would cure her but she confided that she didn't think she could even handle another charge. Inwardly I recalled some sitcom that teased these anxious one-child Moms that they would still be checking their sleeping 10 year olds for breathing! This Mom was definately of that caliber.
Then I cringed as I remembered that I had checked my own sleeping angels even when I had three of them! Somehow it was reassuring at the end of the day. Perhaps we think that handling these trivial matters strengthens us or maybe this fear for our little ones turns us into control freaks!
After my Mother died, I was going through her scrapbook clippings and came across an advice column for mothers with wild,young daughters. It advised the Mother to let go and trust that their daughters will get through it. I can say that my Mother was an expert at letting go and she lived to see her all her daughters happily married with children of their own to worry about.
I do hope though, especially for the young mom and I, that we will learn to stop worrying and just start loving.

Naive or Paranoid

Do you have that advertisement where this great hulking beast of a man is talking on a kids' chat room about dolls? That is creepy but even outside computer land, there is no certainty about who you are dealing with.
Quietness is mistaken for arrogance while a smiling face disguises alot of maladies. No one really knows what is going on inside the "I'm fine's."
For some, blogging is the opportunity to both speak and hear the inside. I hope that these that do won't be shoved back into silence by hulking beasts.

Okay, it is late, but the risk of disclosure has been on my mind alot today along with the haunting melody of a fellow blogger's title tune. (And I don't mean Paranoia)

For Now

Voices surround me while
I sit mimicking,
cynical until they pause and notice me writing.

I stand up slowly realizing
I cannot join these banterings.
Instead I fume with an envy

for the person I am not,
until I muse and whisper in my ear,
"Sit down and write!"

My son learned in science today that if the earth was a grape
then the sun would be as large as a house.

So,
what does that make me?