Monthly Archive for May, 2007Page 2 of 4

More notes from "La-La Land"

I haven’t blogged in a while; I’ve been busy. Byron read a blonde joke and decided to test it out.:

Q: How do you keep a blonde busy for hours?
A: Write “flip this over” on both sides of a piece of paper.

Good one! I only wish he hadn’t taped the note to the refrigerator.

A blonde is terribly overweight, so her doctor puts her on a diet. “I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for 2 weeks. The next time I see you, you’ll have lost at least 5 pounds.” When the blonde returned, she shocked the doctor by losing nearly 20 pounds. “Why, that’s amazing!” the doctor said, “Did you follow my instructions?” The blonde nodded, “I’ll tell you though, I thought I was going to drop dead that 3rd day.” “From hunger, you mean?”, asked the doctor.” “No, from all that skipping.”

Q: Why did the blonde stare at the can of frozen orange juice?
A: It said “concentrate”

Sunday morning is just around the corner. I think tomorrow’s service will be especially significant for many people. I’m praying that God moves in an awesome way. Then, tomorrow evening we’re having a C3 “Memorial Day Picnic”. I’m looking forward to being able to hang-out and meet some new people. It’s going to be a blast! - there will be cool stuff for kids (and blondes - like, face-painting and balloon animals). Come out and join us, and tell me your best blonde joke (5:30-8:30 p.m. @ the C3 campus). Hope to see you there!

Gotta run - that fridge won’t flip itself!

Published
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angiebledsoe
on May 26, 2007
in church and jokes
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A Message From Home

I recently watched a movie which reminded me of the one thing that people have in common: the need to belong, to be loved above anything or anyone else - to feel “home”. In this beautiful yet brutal civil war movie, no amount of physical hardship can stand in the way of a soldier’s journey home to the only place where he truly feels loved. So, he trudges across bitter terrain and endures the utter lack of food, shelter, and safety - all to return to where he feels he belongs. He doesn’t even know if his pre-war sweetheart has waited for him. He only has one letter which begs him to return soon, “…if you are fighting, stop your fighting and return to me. If you are marching, stop marching and return to me. Return to me.” So he does. It takes him months, perhaps longer. Yet, nothing deters him because he has to keep moving in the direction of HOPE.

We all do that, don’t we? - move in the direction of hope. The only other option is to give up and die. It is a part of the human condition to experience the desperate need for love, to belong, to be home. It gives us breath - without it we die.

There are people all around us who don’t know where the hope lies. They would give anything to feel that they truly belong. They would traverse any distance if they could only receive the message that there is someone, anyone who would be waiting for them - a place where they would be received and accepted. Don’t we, as Christ-followers, know that such a place exists? We’ve received the message. God has said to us all, “I love you - desperately, passionately, above anything else. Stop marching. Stop fighting. Return to me. Return to me and be home.”

Maybe we need to be reminded of the love-letter in the pocket of our tattered uniform. Maybe we need to read it again to remember what lies in store for us. Maybe we need to get up and get back on the road home. Or maybe we just need to give someone else the message, so they can begin to travel in the direction of hope.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on May 25, 2007
in hope
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Selah!

I should be asleep. I’ve been awake since 5 a.m.. There are so many things on my mind. I’m just asking God to cover me in His grace and mercy tonight. I know it’s all I need, although my mind tells me I need to figure everything out by myself. I know I need to spend less time thinking and more time waiting. “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord - You are the Everlasting God. You do not faint, You won’t grow weary. You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need. You lift us up on wings like eagles.” I’d love to soar on wings like eagles, but right now I just need to be quiet and wait. Rest is not easy for a restless mind, so I’m going to be still for a while and know “our God, You reign forever, our Hope, our Strong Deliverer.”
“I will lie down in peace and sleep for You, oh Lord, will keep me safe.” I can sleep because my God never slumbers. As a child, I memorized many Psalms, and although I rarely remember the exact reference or wording, God is always faithful to bring what I need to my rememberence - no more, no less. I think it’s Psalm 121 that says something like: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills - From whence cometh my help? - My help cometh from the Lord. - The Lord watches over [me] - the sun shall not smite [me] by day nor the moon by night - He who watches [me] does not slumber - He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Now I will lie down in peace and sleep for “joy comes in the morning…” Selah!

Published
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angiebledsoe
on May 24, 2007
in peace
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Happy Wednesday, continued…

In my continued effort to embrace the sanguine half of my melancholy/sanguine personality (some would say ‘disorder’), I’m going to list some things that just make me smile - because I can; it’s my blog!:

1. Byron: We got a new vacuum and he asked MY advice about how to put the thing together! I thought he was joking since we had been exchanging blonde jokes this morning - then I realized he was serious, and I just had to say,”oh, that’s sooo sweet - of course, I can’t help you even a little bit, but that’s sooo sweet.”

2. My boys are home all day now, and occasionally one of them will ask me to play legos with them or X-box. It’s great to be loved by little boys!

3. My girls are busy with their own stuff, but they still sit and talk with us, they are a real part of our ministry and I see God growing them, especially through the difficult times. They both want to see all people come to know God’s love. They’re awesome!

4. The staff at c3 has grown smaller (leaner), but I’m always challenged and amazed by their passion and endurance - even in the small stuff like answering the phone, making coffee for meetings, or deciding what colors the background lights should be on Sunday. You all ROCK!

5. Just when I begin to feel the hate taking over, I see such love reflected back from someone in the congregation who’s feeling the spirit of God in a fresh way. Life-change is what it’s all about, and it makes the tough times really come into focus. Thanks for sharing your lives with us!

6. Even though the music’s too loud and not really their “cup of tea”, when I see someone of my parents generation or older worshiping God or overcome with joy at the sight of another person realizing God’s love, I am witness to a personal sacrifice that’s supernatural (Christ-likeness)!. Thank you for your selflessness, it convicts me and humbles me.

7. I thank God daily (Philippians- chapter one) for the “remnant” at c3 who has suffered loss, abuse and misunderstanding to stay and persevere in order to reach people that they don’t even know. Heaven will look different because of their tears - I can only say “Thank You”.

8. What can I say to the pastors and their wives:

Darrell and Andrea: Your passion for authentic worship and unwavering loyalty is refreshing and contagious. It’s been
such a long winding road - thanks for always being there for us. Plus, you make me laugh and challenge me with your love of all people. They think we don’t know much about the gospel, but we dooo!

Travis and Sandy: Your tireless devotion to the vision and personal strength astounds me and humbles me. Thanks for sharing this journey with Byron and me - Besides, without the two of you, we’d have to find a dozen seminary graduates to fill your shoes. Who knew ministry could be like an episode of “24″?

Barry and Amanda: You’ve joined your lives with us in such a seamless way. Everyone should experience friendship that’s as unconditional and constant as you’ve been to us. Your singular focus and tenacity holds us up, literally. In Dallas, the Bishop spoke of leaders like the two of you who held up Moses’ arms so the battle could be won. You hold up our arms and our spirits. Shut the “no” and open the “yes!”.

9. Verna - you represent a whole lot of strength, girl! You put a serious dent in the whole “dumb blonde” theory. Thank you for your smile. Your passion for Jesus is amazing! Rock on!

10. I smile when I think of the countless prayers, hugs, shoulders, and hands who’ve held me up and been a beautiful shelter. I will always remember these blessings and will continually ask God to bless you in return. Thank you.

11. Byron makes me smile because no matter what I look like, he always looks at me like he did when he was sixteen. After twenty years, I’m more amazed every day by his strength, integrity and passion - “Like a Rock” isn’t just the Chevy theme.

12. Q: Why did the blonde get fired from the “M & M” factory?
A: For throwing-out the “w’s”!

So, I’m throwing out some “w’s” today and concentrating on the “M & M’s” because, at the end of the day, it’s all about perspective.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on May 23, 2007
in friends, life and wednesday
. 0 Comments