Life

I had to laugh as I watched Dave Ramsey today. He was talking about he and his wife feeling out of place at an event and said, "I felt like a hot dog in a steakhouse". That just cracked me up. I've often felt like a hot dog in a steakhouse, too, but usually I feel like the baked potato (rimshot).

Speaking of food, I've lost my appetite. Well, it isn't completely gone but it seems to have its bags packed and be on its way out. I was standing in the grocery store yesterday and could not think of even one thing that sounded appealing to eat. I marveled at this. I'm sure it's a passing thing and had everything to do with the stress of the day (weeks...months). In fact, as I sit here I ponder the taste of a Caramel Macchiato. Does that count as food?

I'm almost done with Beth Moore's Esther Bible study. It has been exactly what I needed at this time of my life. I have learned a lot from the study about the subject, God and myself. Beth's delivery STILL makes me feel like she is yelling at me every week, but since most people don't feel that way I have to chalk it up to a personality thing. I truly like her transparency, and like the content...but that delivery thing hangs me up a bit. The best thing I've learned so far is that we should not live our life fearing the 'what ifs', but rather trust God to the point that even if the 'what if' happened He would see us through. I was also moved by the instruction to be brave in making decisions.

May each of you go forth today bathed in Christ's love.

Michael Jackson and Me

I really should be blogging about my recent trip to Kansas, but since that involves posting pictures it will need to wait. Stay tuned...

For the record, let me begin by stating that yes...the MJ coverage was bloated, voyuristic and overdone. That said, I did participate in watching the memorial on Tuesday. I found it to be a beautiful and a fitting tribute to a man who, like him or not, had an impact on our world (musically speaking). I have heard people in the media ask, "which Michael will you remember?" I will remember him as being one of the most uniquely talented individuals I have ever seen. I have actually grieved the prospect of not being able to watch him in the coming years because, as a performer goes, he had no peers. I loved, loved, loved his song "Man in the Mirror" and many of his early songs as well. Obviously, he had issues, but so do I. I am going to go against the grain of some (most?) and refrain from judging him regarding the child molestation charges against him. I wasn't there, and he was acquitted of the charges. Since I will never know the truth, I am going to choose to err on the side of his innocence. Along those same lines, I feel compelled to bring up another point. The people who called him "friend", the people who really knew him, are people of quality. These individuals (like Stevie Wonder, Brooke Shields, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, etc.) don't appear to me to be people who would give a pedophile a "pass" just because he is talented.

I am most heartsick over the question of his salvation. I leave these things in God's hands. It is, however, a good reminder to us all that looks, talent, status, celebrity, fame, money, good works, or a charitable heart don't lead to salvation. In the end, when your body is gone and your spirit lives on, faith in Christ is the only thing that matters.

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
and no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make a change."