Haunting

Have you ever had a dream that you couldn't get out of your head?
This morning, I woke with a start at 7am eastern time. I had just been dreaming about a former job, and had just gotten told that one my former coworkers had died.
That's when my eyes popped open.
My heart races even as I type this, because the dream seemed so real.
I went as far as to google the coworker's name to see if there was any news on the topic, but then I figured, if it happened this morning at 7am eastern time, perhaps no one has printed about it yet?
In other news, I'm dressing up as myself in 1984 for Halloween.
The costume involves clothes in various shades of pink, pigtails, barrettes, and a stuffed animal.

Question on Fasting

Have you ever fasted over/about something?

If so, what were the results? Would you do it again? Did what you expect to happen, happen? Did it bless you spiritually? Did you fast from food, or something else? How long did you fast?

If not, why? Would you ever consider fasting? Do you know anyone who has?


I'm not necessarily talking about Lent here. I'm moreso referring to a time when you need an answer from God, so you fast and pray about it.

I would cherish any thoughts anyone might have, and please don't let the questions I've asked limit you. Perhaps you have an answer about fasting that I haven't asked about.

Unfinished thoughts on the power of Jesus

...
I've been studying the book of Mark in the Bible, and recently the account of Jesus calming the storm has sparked my thoughts.

To catch you up*, Jesus and his disciples were on a boat, and Jesus was sleeping (with his head on a cushion). A whopper of a storm blew up (and it must of been pretty severe, given the disciples were experienced fishermen, and they were crapping their pants), and the disciples woke Jesus up and asked him, "Do you even care if we drown?" He woke up and told the wind to quiet down and the storm was instantly calmed. The disciples were amazed and said, "Who is this, that has power over the wind?"

Think of all the possible implications of this story. I haven't even thought of all of them, I'm sure.
But, given the power of the storm....how much more powerful is Jesus, who has the power of God...who is God? Why do we get so frantic over the things in our lives when we have a God who is steadfast and way more powerful than the things that frighten us? Does that inspire you or frighten you?

Also, what must've the faith of the disciples been like? They had enough faith to go to Jesus when the storm was out of control...but they still questioned him. Plus, it's not like it was the first time they had ever hung out with him. They had seen many miraculous things by this time. Didn't they think he could do a mighty miracle for them, too? But I can still relate. Easily. I have even more information than the disciples did, and I would've still been a little (or a lot) frightened on that boat, it's just my nature.



*My paraphrase, from memory. To get the actual account, go to Mark 4:35-41.

Western Pennsylvania Haiku

Mostly, it's pretty.
Other days, a foreign land.
In Western PA.

Isaiah 55:12

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

Amos 5:21-24

“I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living."

Name in vain.

You know how, when you're in a crowded room (or any room with any amount of people in it, for that matter), and you think you might hear your name? Your ears perk up, and you look around to see who's trying to get your attention or to see who's talking about you.

Or, you know how, when you see your name in print, and it's spelled slightly wrong, that feeling you get that says, "Why can't they just spell my name right?! You know, when you see "Lora" but it's supposed to be "Laura." Or when you see "Steven" but it's supposed to be "Stephen."

Ok, you know what I'm saying? You know those feelings?

I can only imagine what God feels when He constantly hears "Oh my God!" and it's not a prayer.

Not that I know or can relate completely to how God feels, but that's another post all together.

Pumpkin Patch

Right now (or so) for...

Klaipeda, Lithuania: 43 degrees...feels like: 43 degrees

Long Prairie, Minnesota: 44 degrees...feels like: 38 degrees

Upsala, Minnesota: 46 degrees...feels like 40 degrees

Saint Paul, Minnesota: 52 degrees...feels like: 52 degrees

Minneapolis, Minnesota: 52 degrees...feels like: 52 degrees

Windsor, Colorado: 56 degrees...feels like 56 degrees

Los Angeles, California: 62 degrees...feels like 62 degrees

Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania: 68 degrees...feels like: 68 degrees



{All Temps are Fahrenheit}
www.weather.com

Pittsburgh

Warmth

A nice thing to do when you are cold is to put a sweatshirt in the dryer for 5 minutes, take it out, and put it on. So cozy. But don't take my word for it.

Some Semi-Organized Thoughts On Evangelism

A Passage:
Paul's Joy That Christ Is Preached
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.
And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.
It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.
They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News.
Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.
But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
-Philippians 1:12-19, New Living Translation


A Quote:
"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
-St. Francis of Assisi

Propaganda:
I'm just going to come right out and say it: tracts are a big turnoff to me. I really don't like them at all. I really don't like them at all because they assume something about me. More than once I've been handed one at work. Is this to assume that people that work at Starbucks must not be Christian? Another thing I don't like is how non-relational they are. Every single time I've been given a tract, it has been from someone who doesn't know me, for one. And for two, it has usually been left on the counter while my back has been turned. So when I turn around, they person who left it there is gone, and all that's left is a little book for me to read, and apparently get saved by. How cowardly! The most cowardly tract to date is the one we found hidden in the retail. If those people who leave these tracts would take five minutes to get to know me, they would know that I already am a disciple of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but there are other people here that are, too. And don't you think that we can be a better witness by living and working amongst people than by throwing literature at them and running? I will rejoice because the Gospel is being "preached," I guess.

Crazies:
Have you ever been walking (or driving) down the street, and been bombarded by some crazy yelling hellfire and damnation? Some of the crazies, in their hearts, are pure in their motives. And they are definitely not as cowardly as those who hand out tracts. But, like their friends who hand out tracts, they are very impersonal. You have to admit, that even if you agree with what someone is saying, it can be very off-putting if they're screaming it on the streets for all to hear. It could be very intimidating to approach such a person and ask them to go sit down to a cup of coffee and discuss what they feel so passionately about. I have to give them some credit, though, because when I see these people, the first thing I think is "Crazy." But the second thing that comes to mind are these verses from 2 Corinthians 5:
Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
-2 Corinthians 5:11-15, NLT

Promoting:
Sometimes, I find it easier to promote entertainment than to promote Christianity. And to come to that realization presents a challenge to me. Why is it so easy to say, "Oh man. You have to read this book!" or "I just saw the most hilarious movie -- you should go see it. In fact, I'll go see it with you, it's that good!" I think it's easy to promote something you like to your friends, because you might have an idea of what they like, and know what to recommend. I also think that it's easy because they're your friends, and if they happen to not love the song you recommended, you can still be friends (probably). Why do we think that if we recommend going to a certain Bible study that our friends will abandon us?
(at this point, Laura had already finished writing this entire post, but the ending was lost when she tried to publish it and the internet connection disappeared. She is frustrated, but glad that at least this much was saved. in fact, she thinks it would be ok to just leave it at this, and let other people respond to see what they think...if there is indeed anyone who actually is reading this and has thoughts.)

239 Things on the Horizon

After a summer of mostly not being on the internet, I've decided to enhance a few things about this site. Hopefully, it will be refreshing, but mostly, it will be like any other blog. But it will be mine (which is part of the enhancing).

Some things that will be better:
1) Frequency - I will try to post at least every other day.
2) Topics - Somedays I might be creative, profound, and scholarly...but other days, I will just write what is on my mind, even if it isn't creative, profound, or scholarly.
3) That's It. Because what more could enhance a blog than high frequency and a variety of topics?