Had a good time in Texas. Our drive was long and our stay too short, I got to see almost everyone I wanted to but only a small amount of time with each.
Highlights:
I spent the day in Denton/Dallas with two of my best friends in the world...
...got lost on the way home and drove through po-dunk Texas on a Saturday night through a sea of police (you have to have driven in Texas to understand)...
...playing apples to apples in delirium and laughing so hard I cried...
...a baby that slept almost the entire ride to and from Texas...
...seeing my friend have an amazing time with her family, meeting them, and eating delicious home made food...
There are probably more but that is what comes to mind right now.
Green tomato pie was fantastic and Shane and I ate almost the whole thing.
Yesterday I had my first knitting lesson and wow what I made is really wretched looking but although I want to be a master I guess that's a little high hopes for my first time out. I work with the girl who is teaching me and it is kind of nice to get to know her outside of work. I know our beliefs and convictions about life and our faith are dramatically different, and I knew from the get-go that she must be dying to ask me why I don't go to church. I was encouraged by her attitude to understand and not just point fingers, though I know she doesn't agree with me. I hope I came across the same way. I know it is good to talk about what I believe, and I want to, but since I don't always have a willing audience (other than those who readily agree with me) it was a little hard to articulate what I think.
Also, earlier that day I had been thinking how I feel like such an odd sheep sometimes and maybe it is even that many of my fellow believers can't even see me as such because of this one thing (or perhaps others, too)...and then it dawned on me that maybe sometimes I do that to them, too...so it really helped me to put where they are into perspective. I also know that not too long ago I was probably even where they are, so I need to have the same grace with them that I would have expected and do hope for even now. Recently the biggest lessons I have been learning is when I look at things I disagree with introspectively and search myself to see if perhaps I am doing the very same thing. I think this happens much more often than we admit or care to realize.
Anyway, I am having a hard time thinking because I am at work in the cafeteria and that stupid gigantic mixer is squeaking away so I will wind this up for now, hope you will write to me soon and that we can catch up.
Comments (10)
I love you friend and I miss you... we should catch up sometime. Wish I could have been in texas to see you while you were there... too bad I was two states away. :(
Good for you on having in good time in TX. What was the temp there when you went? I was there like 2 months ago and the humidity was so intense and the temp get go below 101, but I went to Ft. Worth so I was happy, walked around the stockyards, all that stuff.
Anyhow I was gonna ask you how many calories are in the typical black coffee, since you are an aficionado. Also, what is in Green Tomato Pie, it sounds unique, you might even share the recipe. Be well
Good to see you posting again. It's been quite some time since I've seen anything from you come up in the inbox.
Did you happen to make it by Denton Bible while you were in Denton? The pastor there, Tom Nelson, is one of the pastors I listen on podcasts the most.
@Shellular_Fur@xanga - I know, I figured you wouldn't be coming though, so it was less disappointing :p when is your wedding? should I know that and i am a terrible friend? well, anyway, i love you. :)
@westernsoul - hey there..it was pretty gorgeous when we were in (northeast) tx, mid 40's-50 in the morning and mid 70's in the day. basically the way life should be.
black coffee has no calories, it all comes from what you put into it. why are you counting calories? i would be happy to give you any advice if you want it, just ask.
@MagisterTom@xanga - lol tom, did you just ask me if i made it up to a church in denton, when in the same post i said that i don't go to church?
anyway, nice to see you again too. :)
@quiet_strength - Umm... I think I fail at attentive reading.
Okay so, instead of asking if you went to church in Denton, I'll ask, why don't you attend church?
@quiet_strength - no, im not, but it is comforting to know coffee has none
@quiet_strength - It's May 15th... and most likely back home. We're pretty sure, but not definitely decided yet. :)
@MagisterTom@xanga - there are a lot of reasons, i really should write a whole post about it or something...basically, i question the current structure of the church and i can't find it anywhere in scripture ever since i really started looking closer at the Bible and reading it for what it says instead of trying to make it fit all of the things i know (i.e. church services, elders, western christianity)...i just think the things that Jesus talked about are so drastically different than what christians are preaching in churches and i don't think it is even the same gospel sometimes. i know i am probably not making a lot of sense, i am still trying to articulate my thoughts on this...like i said, i have never really had the chance to have a real conversation about this with someone who doesn't at least know me and where i am coming from or agree with me. i definitely want to hear any thoughts you have. i do want to make it clear that i believe that we need leadership (the apostles teaching), and that we are created for fellowship both relational and spiritual (the breaking of bread and to prayer). i believe strongly in the early church and in community. i don't know what else to say for now...