Thursday Thirteen, 10/5/06

The Thursday Thirteen is a meme hosted over at Laura's. You simply list thirteen items of your choice, link to her site, and go visit other meme players!

Thirteen things that have made me happy this week:

1. Having an article approved for publication
2. Being approved to present at a conference in Hawaii
3. Having a really good conversation last night with Jillian
4. Looking forward to my visit with H & J this weekend
5. Receiving a stellar observation from a colleague on Monday
6. Leveling up in Guild Wars
7. Really starting to Journal again
8. Starting up group again with Dave
9. Reading Naked, by David Sidaris
10. Reading The Little Disturbances of Man, by Grace Pauley
11. Getting a phone call from my Nana
12. Looking at my brother's picture
13. Eating waffle fries

Tag: Thursday Thirteen

All the news not fit to print

1. He's hot, but is he THIS hot?

2. You think you matter? Try being dead for five years!

3. Think your marriage is a joke? Think again!

4. WANTED!: Your jugs!

5. Cat fight!

inspiration

I poured through a good chunk of scripture today, trying to both get caught up in my reading and turn what devolved into a task back into a habit. So many passages on God's redemption, love, and our great gift. Nothing spoke to me, but instead I feel that we can't lose site of the many small lessons that scripture plays in our life. To open our hearts to God allows us to read the Bible and find in it the instruction manual of life. We need not always find some grand passage with some deep spiritual resolution.

Sometimes one minute to the next is hard enough, and God understands that. He's commitment to us can be seen in the so many ways he cares for the little things - the little things that make up our soul.

~~

And because we haven't seen her in a while:

Tag: Angelina Jolie, little things

Cut if off

From Mark:

Whoever causes any of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed  than with two hands go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

Why is Christ telling me to punish myself? Am I unworthy? Irreverent?  Unneeded? I don't believe that. I refuse to believe that. This is a story about inside and outside, those who die to self and those who indulge. This is a message of love and peace, of patience and fidelity, of sacrifice and determination. I am already made worthy by Christ's death and resurrection - the gates of Heaven have been opened, the trappings of death cast off and replaced with the resplendent robes of eternal life.

I don't have to cut off my hands or pluck out my eyes, but I have to choose love. I have to choose peace and sacrifice. I have to die to self, to the selfish and worldly instincts that drive me from my brothers and sisters and leave me in an island of loneliness and death. The great millstone around our necks is a choice, and one made available to us out of love, not anger.

I choose life, and love, and faith.

~~

It's been a crazy weekend here in TouristTown, USA. After watching 3/4 of Monk, season two, J and I took care of errands around the house and in town. I love living in the center of town. While the constant sounds of sirens, motorcycles and thundering big-rigs leaves something to be desired, I adore waking up on a Saturday morning, walking half a block to the local farmer's market on the square, buying fresh bread and produce, getting a hot cup of coffee at the local shop, stopping by the library, and then meandering home to enjoy the fresh homemade whoopee pies we got just a short while ago.

Militant Suburbia? City Living? I'll take a small town any day of the week.

 

Tag: faith, whoopee

 

The Centurion

No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secrecy that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.

I was talking with a close friend about a series of recent setbacks...stubborn outbursts really, that both Jillian and have embraced throughout the summer. He reminded me of the Centurian whose faith was so great, yet so humble, that Christ testifies as to this gentile's belief.

Well, I've lacked that humility, and it's time to get some. Time to tackle the big issues and uncover my light. There is no sense having this candle burn within me if I simply smother it slowly.

As the weekend draws near, let's raise our hearts and minds to Christ and ask him to send the Spirit onto and into us, so that what we do these next few days will reverberate in the halls of heaven. 

How Much is Your Blog Worth - September, 2006

In Courage tradition, we step back and take a look at this blog's worth at the end of every month. Started in October, 2005, we have been fairly faithful in measuring Courage's growth and decline (using the same formula applied in the AOL-Weblogs, Inc. deal). As of today, Courage is worth:

My blog is worth $46,856.82.
How much is your blog worth?

And, because I'm a dork, let's take a look at the last several months in graph form:

Now, if that doesn't make me dorky, I'm not sure what will :)

How much is YOUR blog worth?

Thursday Thirteen & CarnivAOL

Here's today's Thursday Thirteen (click the link to visit Laura, who hosts the TT):

Thirteen of my favorite video games of all time:

1. Baldur's Gate II (including Throne of Bhaal)
2. Super Mario Brothers 3
3. Counterstrike
4. Civilization II
5. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
6. Baldur's Gate (including Tales of the Sword Coast)
7. Half-life
8. Command & Conquer: Red Alert
9. Smurfs (for Coleco Vision)
10. Hero's Quest I: A Quest for Glory

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Submissions are being accepted for the next edition of CarnivAOL. Visit the link and check it out!