Might surprise you

...to learn that on the rare occasion I sit on my butt during a mid-week afternoon practicing being a zombie, I avert my eyes to the tellie. When scanning the guide and seeing showings of America's Next Top Model a little squeal erupts from my throat. What's worse is they put an entire series on, running continuously for a whole day! I haven't yet been able to catch an entire series (this is NOT seen as a tragedy). I'm going to attempt to make this sound like a noble undertaking of my slackerhood now so take that as your que to stop reading if you like.

Yes, the drama that can prevail with such a demographic living in one home whilst simultaneously competing for a singular coveted title is petty. That is not what keeps me watching, though it can def add to the sociological interest. I think it's the inner Princess in me who wants to be beautiful. I sit there and begin to think "I could do that."

Tyra is a big part of the draw as well. In everything that goes into the photo shoots, the judging panel reviews and the trips, Tyra is constantly giving modeling tips that promote making healthy, professional, respectful choices in the pursuit of the coveted career that is modeling. Those tips translate in to life and many of the eliminated model-wannabes speak of growth in personal confidence and life experience as a result of their time on the show.


My competitive nature kicks in as well. Head high, meet the camera with confidence, carry yourself with dignity, have a backbone. Be you: Strong, Beautiful, Wonderfully created YOU. That's how our Creator intended us to be.



How beautiful, attractive, stunning it is to meet someone who has come to accept themselves for whom they were created to be. It's when we are least concentrated on self and focused on what the Lord puts in our life, doing what He gifts us with to do, with a thankful heart, singing His praises, that we lose ourselves and truly live a life worth living.



I hear that is attractive.



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A favorite topic

Paper made from poo...

Mr. Ellie Pooh - paper that is composed of 75% elephant dung and 25% consumer paper in Sri Lanka (map). How's that for brown- I mean Green.

Jason's parallel to deeper thoughts on "what comes out"

One of the most memorable sermons I heard mentioned care-taking of Elephants (thanks Pastor Woody!) He mentioned that if you are taking care of elephants, there will be poop, BIG poop. The church cares for people. With people, there is MESS; oft times - BIG mess. It's part of the equation.
The natural progression from these statements would be to prattle on about how it's noble to get in up to your elbows in ministry and be a good person for God, helping others sort through their messes. That's where I want to take the discussion. However, what I appreciate about Jason's musings was how you have to pull out a mirror and examine the self. What is coming out of my life? More importantly, what am I doing about what I see? In the mature age of late-20's (scrambling away from accepting that my days of a 20 something is whittled down to mere months) I feel as though I am more aware than ever of my temptations, pitfalls, unuseful (apparently that is a word I made up) habits and tendencies, shortcomings, etc. What I struggle with, or more often fail to struggle with, is how to go about addressing these hindrances. Sadly, not addressing my struggles make me far less useful to God. Ironically, if I am at least open and vulnerable about my struggles I am most useful to God. In my weakest is when HE is strongest. What?! Yeah, crazy cool. But if you look at examples in life it starts to make a bit of sense. I don't think God intended for it to make sense but on certain levels it does. After all, who wants to learn something from someone who acts like they are above you and are perfect but have pity enough to associate with you? That's crap. We know no one is perfect. There is commonality in admitting one's struggles because we ALL struggle. No one wants to feel alone. When a friend comes along beside us and relates to us on a real level or has 'been there' before, how uplifting it is!

Wait... this sounds familiar. Yeah, Jesus! HE knows what its like. He's been here. Had real feelings. Experienced life. Lived, breathed, walked, worked, cried, got angry... and pooped. Now, he never sinned but He truly was perfect. And humble. And unconditionally loving and grace giving. You don't have to become perfect to get his love. He loved us when we were still his enemies. Crazy. Cool. Really cool. He did it, he wants us to WANT HIM to help us be like him-- knowing full well that we can't ever achieve it. With man, nothing is possible. With God, it is possible.

Shew. Gotta take a break for that to settle in. And go admire the beautiful sky light show He's putting on. And get groceries. Life goes on. We can choose how to experience it.




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Meeting Together

How good it is to meet with brothers & sisters. Just got back from our annual Mid-Atlantic Section of the Christian Camp & Conference Association held in Mt. Bethel, PA along the Delaware River at Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center. It was a great time of networking, fellowship and reconnecting with strangers who have become friends.

It wasn't a relaxing or refreshing time because I am in a busy season and lacking sleep and at times exhausted. BUT there is a lot that I need to make time to reflect on and be thankful for which will in time be refreshing. So thankful!

no I did not....

oh, wait. yes.... i guess i did. Hmmm.
I'm having a moment where I recall a memory that feels more like a bad dream or an out of body experience. I told someone this weekend that I don't believe there will be Mennonites in heaven. Well, there goes my ticket to eternal bliss. Might as well start living for debauchery now.

It's not so much that I said this because taken in context the statement may have been a bold one opening doors to deep discussion of God's wonderful promise of eternal life to not only his chosen people the Jews but also an extension to Gentiles (not the least of which will most certainly include the Mennos). The issue is that I said it with a pre-conceived notion of habitual conflict of differing views of the intended listener's ears. Days at my beloved EMU, center of higher education, has confirmed that any interest in pious 'dialogue' of round about discussions that fail to end on statements of 'Thy Word is Truth' and 'Jesus is It', as non-existent for Miss Martin.
...Especially when she is sleep deprived. AND when the fellow dialogue includes persons who represent previous scoldings of accused 'shame on you' quotes at not being Mennonite enough. Or rather, their definition of said denomination which varies GREATLY from what I was taught at a young, impressionable age.

I should just know by now that this is a must and have fun with it. I'm just not there yet. I still have a hard time appreciating or overlooking when .05% isn't glowingly agreeable and supportive. These things happen. And it does make for quite a story and some good chalk ups for hard knocks. (As IF I really have 'hard knocks' in my super cool life). Not to leave my audience hanging but I think I've said enough for now. If I divulge too much more I may be shunned by the Liberals of the "mennonites" (the kind who cause ppl to wonder what exactly makes them claim the name.)


Peace. Love. Joy. and tune in to see what will be my next blasphemous utterance!