NFL/Superbowl Saga Continues

Last year, I shared my annoyance with the NFL for not allowing churches to hold superbowl parties. I even sent them a letter.

My first entry with all of the basic information can be read following this link.

You can read the letter I sent to the NFL through this link.

They sent a rude reply to my letter. That can be read following this link.

Now someone has found a loophole to the "big screen" controversy. I sure hope this guy finds a church willing to take the NFL to task over this. The idea that BARS can have superbowl parties and not CHURCHES still bugs me. And I loather football!

Here's a short clip of the article:

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the reason bars and sporting establishments are permitted to show the game on larger screens is a legal exemption for organizations that use them year-round instead of for a one-time event. Baptist Press knows of at least one unidentified church that called the NFL earlier this year and cited the exemption for those who use large screens year-round. The church argued that because it uses its screen year-round, it should be exempted. The NFL allowed the church to hold the party without interference.

Super-Cool! I really hope a church steps up and makes an issue of this. I know it's not necessarily a hill worth dying on if you look at it on the surface. When you think about it, though, this is a basic right being denied Christians that bars can enjoy. Is it discrimination? I'm not sure, but it's something worth considering, IMO.

You can read the entire article by following this link.

Then He Left Her

I must confess to paying little attention to Jesus' mother, Mary, when she is mentioned in the Bible. Because she is almost always mentioned in the context of her son, The Son of God, my focus has been on what those passages tell me about my Messiah. This Christmas, however, I paid attention.

In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her how her life was about to change. Mary understandably freaked out for a minute or two, asking all of the obvious questions. Gabriel answered each one and Mary ultimately surrendered her will to the plan of God:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said."
Very brave answer, in my opinion. Here's where my interest was piqued, though. No sooner did she utter these words then the angel who brought such incredible news did the most frustrating thing: He left.

Left!

Here's a teenage girl who has apparently lived her life in such a way that God took notice. She was betrothed, as any upstanding young woman in her culture was at the time, to an upstanding man in her community. Her life was just beginning! Then an angel came and delivered news that would turn her life upside-down. Even so, she accepted it. Yet, as soon as she began to wrap her brain around the concept of being the mother of the Messiah, the only one who could tell her what to do next left.

Left!

The reason this has stuck with me is that this is exactly the situation we can find ourselves in when we feel God calling us to make a change in our lives. We may feel convicted to become more involved in serving in our local church through teaching Sunday school or helping with Awanas, for example, or maybe we have been struck with the need to take better care of our "temples". Then, the minute we make that commitment we are struck with the challenges we may face as we seek to fulfill that commitment. God convicts us, we submit, then -BAM- we're on our own to actually do the thing we said we'd do.

Many of us use this time of year to review our habits and commitments of the past year and resolve to make some positive changes. We may even pray about them and truly believe God wants us to make those changes in our lives. We'll commit to them then -BAM- one week later, we're filled with guilt and regret at our failure to follow through. Obviously, I've experienced this scenario more times than I will ever admit to anyone!

This year, I would like to make some positive changes in my life and believe those changes are fully based on how the Bible teaches me to live. I am convicted to make those changes and I desire to follow through. I am so glad the Lord revealed through Mary's example some ways I can be successful, even when I'm on my own to see things through.

1. Seek out support.

Once the angel left, Mary packed and hurried to Elizabeth's house. They were both facing pregnancies that would shock their communities. They helped each other through the tough stuff.

Finding others who are on our same path of change to take the journey with can be the greatest success tool there is. There's nothing like having someone to celebrate and commiserate with who knows exactly what you're going through.

2. Stay positive.

Mary focused on the blessing she was receiving, not on the upheaval caused by an unexpected pregnancy. (v46-47, 49)

We can keep our minds on the positive aspects of the changes we are making. For example, if we commit to teaching a Bible Study once a week, we could focus on how much time we have to spend preparing or we can appreciate how much time we now make to study God's word. What a gift we give ourselves when we spend more time in Bible study!

3. Keep the result in mind.

Mary praised God and knew that she would be revered for all generations to come for the sacrifice she was making now. (v.48)

What will our lives look like once we are successful in our quest for improvement? How will our friends and family see us differently when we meet a goal we set for ourselves? Will these changes improve our relationships? Those are all great things to keep in focus!

4. Focus on others, not yourself.

Mary could have become self-indulgent through her entire pregnancy. After all, she was giving birth to the Word made Flesh! Who would fault her for wanting to have someone rub her swollen ankles or maybe even sleep in? Instead, she made herself useful in Elizabeth's home. Using my limited math abilities, it appears Mary was told of her pregnancy in Elizabeth's sixth month and stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Sounds like she stayed until John the B. was born to me. How nice it must have been for Elizabeth to have someone to help her with the household chores during her last trimester.

When we face challenges and changes, it can be easy to fall into a mode of self-pity. Feeling sorry for ourselves because we feel deprived, restricted or whatever gets us nowhere and sets us up for failure. Instead, we can turn our energies toward blessing others. If we decide to fast once a week, how about serving a meal at a shelter that day? If we start feeling overwhelmed by leading a study group, we can stop and write a note to a member of the group, encouraging them to keep up with their studies. That's the crux of loving our neighbors as ourselves, I think; placing their needs before our own.

I'll be keeping Mary's example in mind as I face changes in my life in the coming weeks. If you, too, are planning to make some life improvements, I hope these ideas help you as your journey begins. Blessings!

Now I've Done It.

My sister invited me to check out a website that, she said, is a free comprehensive weight loss/healthy living resource on the internet. It's called SparkPeople. I had never heard of it, but they have about a jillion members. I've been checking out the site for the last few days and am very impressed and encouraged by what I have seen so far.

SparkPeople is very much like having a personal trainer online. The site will tailor a fitness program to your needs and resources. It offers a healthy eating plan that can be customized to your nutritional requirements or food aversions. For example, I loathe seafood and indicated my disgust of all things that come from the ocean depths when I filled out the initial information form upon joining. There's no seafood in the eating plan set up for me.

There are groups to join where you can meet people with similar needs, personalities, religious affiliations or lifestyles. I've already joined the Biggest Loser Fans group (I LOVE that show!) and the Conservative Christian Women's group. It even has a bit of a reward system to encourage you to explore the site's seemingly endless resources. There are motivational articles, nutrition information, even a place to look up illnesses and their symptoms!

I'm sure I have only touched the surface of this site. If you are considering making some healthy changes in the new year, SparkPeople might just be the place to start. Here's a link button for those who might want to take advantage of this FREE resource.



Get a Free Online Diet

If you want to learn a little more about the man who began this website and why he did it (it's a pretty interesting story),follow this link to a news story about the founder.

Right now, I'm still getting a feel for the site and putting their advice and tools into practice. My plan is to be ready to roll by January 2. I'll probably blog a bit about my progress and the tools I am using through the coming months, but I promise not to obsess here about any of that. SP has a blog tool that I'll use to share those thoughts.

Here's my first blog entry from there to give you an idea of why I'll keep my weight loss/healthy living diatribes safely enconced at SP:

Here's where the rubber hits the road. I'm overweight, my cholesterol levels are through the roof, my stress level is rising and my energy level is dipping precariously in the opposite direction. But it's not time to beat myself up. It is time to give myself a stinkin' break.

I am not my weight.

I am an intelligent woman. I write some mighty fine articles and prose that have been appreciated by many. I can problem-solve and multi-task as well as any CEO out there. Plus, I can complete a level "hard" sudoku puzzle!

I am not my weight.

I am a funny woman. I have been blessed with a quirky way of looking at the world. I like that about me! I love ending up in the midst of a group of people and making a casual comment that elicits cackles from everyone. I love being alone, seeing humor in something and laughing out loud.

I am not my weight.

I am a loving woman. Nothing is more important to me than relationships. First, my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. Then, of course, comes my husband and children. They are the neatest people in the world! Seriously, you will likely hear about my children on the news one day. For a GOOD reason! Making the time to nurture growing friendships is a growing priority for me. I hosted a movie night with some girlfriends last week and had a great time. The week before Christmas no less!

I am not my weight.

I will not puff myself up with false pride, but I will no longer beat myself up constantly about my shortcomings. It is time to focus my energy on what I am doing right then build from there. I cannot build a new lifestyle on a foundation of failure; I need to begin with a solid footing. To that end, I will focus on my strengths, gaining momentum as I grow. Yes, I am overweight and that needs to change. But,

I am NOT my weight!

Feel free to join me...if you can stand me! Blessings to you in the coming year!

Paul Potts Surprises Them All

This one made me cry.

There is something about humble people finally recieving recognition that touches me deeply. Most of the world has probably seen this already, but it was new to me. Wow!

Christmas Rant 2007

I didn't intend to make this an annual event, but since I ranted last year, it appears to have become a tradition. Sorry in advance, but I simply can't keep this inside. I know those of you who read this would NEVER be involved in any of these activities. This is a safe place for me to let out steam. Better here than in the middle of Sears, right? Here goes.

All-Christmas-music-all-of-the-time radio should not begin until December. Playing any Christmas tunes before Thanksgiving should be a punishable offense. Have mercy. If someone will start a petition to ban Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" altogether, I'll sign. Twice.

To those of you who think the mall parking lot is your personal race track: You people need to get a grip and possibly some medical intervention. Slow down!!

To those of you who think driving to the mall and waiting for a parking space is a great excuse to have your "quiet time:" It isn't. Pay attention or get out of the way!!

Some parenting advice: Begging is not acceptable under ANY circumstance. You're whiny kids are driving the rest of us nuts. If they're tired, take them home. If that's the way they've learned to ask for things, some adjustments need to be made. Allowing them to argue with you in the middle of Target is out of line. Here is one of the most important rules in our family (my kids can recite it in their sleep): Don't Embarrass Mom in Public! It works for us; give it a try.

Once you have negotiated the checkout line and reached the register, shopping is OVER. Sorting through your shopping cart, making the checkout person (and those of us in line behind you) wait while you continue to shop is inconsiderate. Here's a novel idea: Wait to get in line until you have made your final purchase decisions.

Save the Santa hats for the week before Christmas. I beg you.

Done.

A Christmas Carol

OHMYGOSH. This never fails to make me laugh!

It's an oldie but a goodie. Enjoy! Or plug your ears, depending on your taste in music...if you can call this music. Too funny!

LINK: O Holy Night