Hurdles

So, now we are on to the track and field events, and Troy and I have been enjoying the women's 100m hurdles. We felt bad for Lolo. The men's 100m hurdles started tonight. Now, the women maybe hit two hurdles in all of the races combined. The men hit at least two hurdles each in every race. They were knocking them all down and I just thought...isn't that just like a man...trying to run right through something instead of doing it the most efficient way...the right way...like the women!!!!

Troy's opinion of why the men had difficulty was far more...well, Troy-like. He mentioned that men have...equipment or appendages down near the hurdle jumping area that probably hit the hurdles...I hope not...for their sake.

Hollywood Nice Guys

This was on yahoo news today. I thought I would share it because it is a side of Hollywood we don't often see.




The late Heath Ledger's daughter Matilda was spotted skipping along the streets of NYC yesterday with her mom Michelle Williams in the cutest pink sundress. Every time I see a photo of the 2-year-old I can't believe how much she looks like her dad. He definitely lives on through her.

As most of you probably know, Heath was filming Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" at the time of his death. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell stepped in to complete Heath's role, playing different versions of his character "Tim."

When the three actors learned that Ledger's will had not been updated to include his daughter, the generous trio decided to donate all the money they earned from the film to little Matilda!

It's good to know that there are a few nice guys in Hollywood.

Too Much Excitement for One Weekend.

So, besides the scheduled big events of this weekend...like meet the teacher on Friday, Women of Faith all weekend (amazing), or the first day of school (great). We had a few unscheduled surprises.
First, on Friday after meet the teacher, we headed to Target to get a few things off of the kid's teacher's wish lists. Troy and Nate dropped off Abby, Ian and I to shop while Nate got his haircut across the street. With Ian in my cart and Abby pushing her own cart right behind me, we headed down the main drag. All of a sudden two men come running down the aisle, one on each side of my cart. Abby had the aisle blocked right behind me so one of the men could not get through. So they begin to play a cat and mouse game around my cart. The man being chased turned to go the other way as a Target employee and a police officer round the corner. They box the guy in and tazer him right in front of us as the guy screams curse words....seriously...with my kids there. Abby is saying look at the bad man...loudly. Ian's eyes are as big as saucers. We went down an aisle to get away from the situation but could still hear the police officer yelling at the man to put his hands up and the guy shouting curse words back. Then my cell phone is going off and it is Troy wondering why there are six police cars and an ambulance outside of Target...well, honey, a funny thing happened while shopping for school supplies... Turns out the guy was stealing car stereos.
Then on Monday as I was waiting outside West Shore Elem. for the kids to be released from school, I was bit several times by fire ants. As I was driving home, my body started to tingle and my vision went blurry. I got tunnel vision and couldn't see to drive. My stomach and head hurt and I couldn't breathe. I told Abby to call Troy to meet us at home and prayed like crazy that we would make it. He pulled in right after us. (He said later that I did not want to know how he made it home from the church, but he didn't pull in right after us. Apparently, I was passed out in the car when he pulled up. When I thought he was pulling in, he was really getting his keys that he left in the car so he could get me into the house to call 911. He couldn't find my keys because I had turned off the car and dropped them.) I couldn't really get out of the car but, because I am stubborn and my kids were freaking out, I tried to walk into the house. I passed out right inside the front door. Troy called 911 and paramedics stayed until the acute reaction was over. I opted not to go to the hospital in an ambulance but was talked into going to see my doctor by my parents and husband. They checked to make sure it was just a reaction to the ant bites and not my heart (it was the ants). Now my body has to recover from the stress and I need to make an appointment with an allergist to get an epi pen.
You know, life can get crazy. Both of these situations could have had very different endings...what if endings...
What if the thief had had a gun? What if he had grabbed Abby or Ian? What if I had gone completely blind while driving? What if Troy had gotten in an accident coming to my rescue?
We don't often see God's protection so clearly or have such tangible reasons to praise. Thank You, Father, for Your love, grace, protection and presence. Thank You. Praise You.

First Day of School

So, it is the first day of school for all three Borst babies for the first time. I volunteered at the church until Ian was finished, which helped a lot with nerves. Abigail is in second grade. Nathanael is in first grade. Ian is starting pre-shcool. I am really happy with the kid's teachers. Abby has Nate's teacher from last year, who we loved with Nate and think is just what she needs after a rough year last year. Nathanael did not get Abby's teacher from last year, which is so important. I was able to talk to Nate's teacher for awhile on Friday. I really like her, but she is pregnant and leaving in October. Nathanael does not do well with change, but I am confident that this can be a great chance to see that change can be smooth and good. Ian is just ready. We really like where we have him, and he had a great first day. I hope this is a great start to a fantastic year.

Quote of the week:

The boys were excited about school...but Abby...not so much.

Abby: Mom, have you heard of something called home school.

Me: uuhh, yeah

Abby: I want to be home schooled so I can sleep-in.

yeah...I'll get right on that...

US Olympians

We have noticed that the number of American Olympians is not exactly accurate. There is Team USA and then all the people who live and train in the US but compete for other countries. We feel that as Americans we deserve to be compensated for their accomplishments in some way. Our suggestions: Yao Ming can mow our yard, Kirsty Coventry can take our kids to the pool, the US should always host the Olympics, Sammie Sanchez can teach Nate and Ian how to ride a bike, every four years we can invade any country we want and make it a state =P, all Americans can attend the Olympics for free...or at least just give us an accurate medal count.

I had a reminder from God today.

I love this song and have not heard it in awhile. I heard it today. It's message just speaks to my heart.

I Will Lift My Eyes
Written by Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

'Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now

© 2006 Appstreet Music (ASCAP) / New Spring (ASCAP). All rights for the world on behalf of Appstreet Music (ASCAP) administered by New Spring (ASCAP). / Peertunes, Ltd./GrangeHill Music/J Ingram (SESAC)

Look at her face!!!

Can I just say that there is a point at which you just have to stop?!!!?! I am talking about plastic surgery. There are some actresses (particularly on soaps) who look awful in the attempt to look younger. And it's not like we can't tell they have had worked done. Their faces may not have wrinkles but they can't hardly talk, much less smile. Their lips stick out, their foreheads don't move. Their cheekbones are in unnatural places. The saddest part is they used to be gorgeous women. They definitely didn't need to do it.

Logos Team Challenge

So, in our Logos Team we are reading "Good to Great in God's Eyes: 10 practices Great Christians Have in Common" by Chip Ingram. Chapter one is called "Think Great Thoughts." That is going to take awhile...hhmmm...yeah. Chapter two I can do. I am all over "Read Great Books." Our Logos Team leader and my wonderful (today, anyway) husband challenged us to at least start a great book, and he had some that he thinks are great to choose from. I didn't need him to tell me Tozer was great...but I have never read anything by him because as Troy puts it people like A.W. Tozer and Watchman Nee are "jumping in the deep end." I originally thought I would just continue to plug through Beth and "Get Out of That Pit," but never one to back down from a challenge (that's not totally true...I will definitely back down if I don't want to do it). Anyway, I decided to tackle "The Knowledge of the Holy" because both Troy and Chip (in his book) recommend it.

I have only read the preface (Logos was yesterday!), but I am already very intrigued. In the preface, Tozer makes these statements:

"The Church has surendered her once lofty concept of God and substituted it for one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men."

"The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us."

"With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine."

WOW! Tozer believes the church lacks reverence and awe of God....and he wrote this in the 60s. Can you imagine what he would think of today's church? You don't even have to get too awfully emergent to see people dressed down, tardy or talking in worship. I'm not bashing...I'm guilty of all three. Can you imagine Tozer at a church that has "centers" and making a collage for Christ? Yikes! I am all about fun...but don't we sometimes lack respect for Who and why we worship? What if our sanctuary was just that...a sanctuary where the Spirit fell freely and was felt by all? I love being challenged in how I view God. I can't wait to continue to expand my knowledge of the Holy.

The apple of His eye

I love when God shows Himself as the answer to all of our questions. He will make His way know if you look for it. Like He did for me today.

There are two mini-background stories you need to know to understand what happened today. First, like I have said I spent Friday night and Saturday listening to Beth Moore speak. One of the things she said was that she really believes in reading Scripture first thing in the morning. I understand the idea that we start the day with God if we read His Word first thing, but I am soooo not a morning person. I barely function before 9:00. But in an effort to apply one of the many things I learned this weekend, I began my day reading Scripture. Second, there happens to be a couple of situations in my life right now that are causing me issues. They are situations that only peripherally involve me...basically, because they more immediately involve people I love. The issue that I am having is that some people just need to be yelled at because they are being selfish and stupid and are just flat wrong. So running through my head is all the things I want to say to these people who desperately need to be verbally slapped. So, last night I was talking to Troy about where Jesus says that you have committed adultery as soon as you lust and murder as soon as you are angry. I wondered if that meant I might as well say everything since I was already sinning by thinking it. My wise husband was barely listening because he has a crazy busy schedule this weekend that has him wiped out.

Finally...the reason for the blog. I had no plan for where to start reading the Word this morning. Though not commenting on the method one way or another, I just flipped open the Bible. This is what I read...
Psalm 17
1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.

2 May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.

3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

4 As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.

7 Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings

9 from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.

10 They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.

11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a great lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

14 O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.

15 And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.


Amazing. I don't know what it says to you (because God's Word is like that...living and active). But for me, today, it says leave it to God. Do what is right in His eyes. Let no sin come from your mouth (it matters if you say it - which was my tired husband's response - but don't tell him he was right!!). And I am the apple of His eye. Fabulous.

Beth Moore Simulcast

So, this weekend we hosted the Living Proof Live simulcast at our church. I am still processing all that I learned from Beth and will (hopefully) blog about that soon.
Here's what I learned while heading up this thing...Trust God to do His part. I had so many worries while planning this thing. Will anyone come? Will we be able to provide an experience that people will enjoy and enable us to do things like this in the future? Can we feel like we are part of what is happening at the live event? Will worship be the same? Will the women feel comfortable in their worship? Will they give to our mission? WILL YOU REALLY BE THERE GOD? Just tons of questions.
Did it go exactly as I planned or imagined...? Nope. But God was faithful...as usual. He was there and hearts were changed. I can say that with certainty because mine was. Isn't that why we did it?
It is beautiful to know that God is sailing the ship...even if we try to grab the wheel.

Friendships

You know, I serve a God of restoration. I am glad that I do. I am glad that friendships can be restored. My mom used to tell my brother and I (usually when we were arguing) that friends would come and go, but we would always be family. The church is a family. We go through things that, sometimes, aren't pretty. But we will always be family. We are all the children of God. A God of restoration.
Speaking of restored friendships...
I am in the nursery on Wednesday nights with a fun toddler...usually, it is just us. We often struggle with whose job it is to pick up the blocks that he has dumped all over. This happened a few weeks ago...

Jeremy: "Miss Kelly, I'm dirty."

Me: "Okay, let's change you."

Jeremy: "I've got to put it in the toilet."

Me: "Um, no"

Jeremy: "That's what I do at my house."

Me: "Well, this is God's house."

Jeremy: "He needs to come clean up the blocks then."

Nice...