Life in the Bristolwood

We’re living in a plastic world. Everything is so breath-taking with its Hollywood charm and computer-enhanced edge. Our worth is measured with what we have, and what we have is never enough, some people make it their career to convince you that what you have isn’t “convenient” enough and your life would be better if you had what they are selling. We (and I’m talking for myself as much as any of you) spend more on one pair of jeans than we spend on food for a week! Sure, we’re good, but we can be great if only we had…

There is something so wrong with that. Why is it so hard to be content in a country where near anything is possible? We don’t have to ever be hungry, yet young girls are starving themselves to be more perfect. This is so wrong. America, why can’t you turn off your TV and wake up to what is happening, we need a revolution, we need a change. We are given freedom, yet we hold ourselves captive with our desires. Lets get back o what we really need. There are people half way across the world, in poverty and without appropriate food and clothing for their own families, who are happier than I am, sitting here having a coke and typing on my computer without a need in mind. They have peace, and it doesn’t come from what they’ve got in their wallet, no, they have found peace of mind through Christ.

One day its all going to be gone, our bodies will wear out and we will die and all the money and clothes and cars and all our lifes goals… they will all be to nothing… at that moment, when we draw our very last breath only one thing will matter, and only one name will be of any importance. Jesus Christ is all that will remain. So next time those designer jeans are calling, think about the investment you are making, not just with your money but also your time, will it mean anything in a few years? We were put on this earth for one reason alone, to carry the name of Christ to a world that is longing for fulfillment. I want to change, I want to set an example for others to follow, and I want to bring His hope to others around me, but I am trying in vein if I don’t put down my own pride and trust 100% in Him. We are content and fulfilled in God’s strength alone.

I spent most of today just feeling miserable. Yesterday, I spent the day lying on the bed and this morning when I got up, I was so sore! I had a pain in my hip that made it hard to walk. After wondering how to alleviate the pain, I decided to hit the hot tub. That did the trick! As soon as I got out, I was totally pain-free and felt fine (well, my hip, at least) the rest of the day. Now, if that tub could just get rid of this cold!

I took this picture of Muphy earlier in the day. I suppose I shouldn’t even show it, as the carpet is a mess…just don’t have the energy to vacuum at this point in time. Anyway, this picture so exemplifies Murphy…..Here I am…and, what can I do for you?

Yesterday, the kids had to go to the dentist for cleanings. Afterwards, we decided to stop by Sam’s to pick up a few groceries. As I walked into the store, something caught my eye!! Yes, they had a huge cart, filled with beautiful flowers! I bought the bi-color begonias for the porch.

And, for my mother-in-law, I picked up this really pretty Gerbera Daisy.

My mother-in-law absolutely loves these daisies. Mark asked me what the ocassion was for buying the daisy…I told him that I thought about his mom when I saw them! So, I bought one. They had yellow, pink, and orange. I thought the orange was rather unusual and stunning. Each plant is in a plastic pot placed inside a little metal pot. I am pretty sure she will like this orange one. Both the begonia and daisy are HUGE! I considered myself lucky on these finds!

It is kind of funny how when we are confined in a room, we suddenly notice things that we don’t usually see…such was the case of my “psycho Christmas Cactus”. Yes, it did bloom at Christmas, and I have NO idea WHY it is blooming yet again! I think it has MORE blossoms on it now than it did at Christmas. Silly plant! Oh, and as if that isn’t bizarre enough, there is another small Christmas Cactus next to that one that is ALSO producing buds….

Well, we never considered ourselves *normal* here….Yesterday, as Michelle and I were waiting in the truck for Mark and Ben, Michelle told me to “look” at Angus…..

Yes, I know I have had my camera for a few days, and SHOULD have taken a gadzillion pictures, but….I have been so busy, and now I am not feeling so great. Ben had this “cold” thing, and now I am coughing from time to time, so I am not sure if I picked it up or not, but it is no fun coughing!!!

My Angus is such a beautiful little fellow!

And, before I upload Murphy pictures, I need to tell you just a little about him. Angus is my “the glass is half-empty” fellow, but Murphy? Well, he could care less HOW much is in the glass, cause he is just HAPPY! Murphy is the little fellow that gets so excited as he plays, that every now and then he bangs into a wall! (who put that wall there, anyway?) Murphy is unlike a “typical” Scottie, in that when called, he bounces up to you, as though saying, “here I am! Here I am!!!”

So……

I did manage to get this one picture of Murphy sitting upright. Can you see the look of dismay on his cute little Scottie-dog face?

Although I didn’t catch it, Murphy used that short little front paw of his to remove the silly little St Patty’s Day bopper! Enough of THAT! Well, since I *am* the Alpha-dog, I replaced the bopper and poor little Murphy put on his “poor, poor pitiful me” look……

So, these pictures were all taken with the new Nikon camera, and I was pretty pleased with them. I became acutely aware that using a new camera takes some major getting accustomed to it. Every camera is so different, and although I was able to snap a good picture with one hand on the Olympus, this Nikon is much heavier, and one really must steady the camera for a good shot. I also don’t have the diaptor adjustment set correctly, so I need to use my glasses, or the pictures are blurry.

So, at least this is a beginnng, eh?

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” Ephesians 6:12-13

Ephesians 6:12 seems to be another one of those clichés in the church. That verse comes up over, and over and over again, and I must have heard it a zillion times as a little kid (Remember the plastic swords and shields, our “spiritual armor”?). But to be honest it never really came any further than dress-up time, and when I did start to read into it when I got a lil older all I could see was this mystical Lord Of The Rings sort of world where if we gave into temptation and put on the ring, scary black riders on horses would come and stab me to death that night… I don’t know why my parents let me watch those movies… Well, I guess that’s a pretty good analogy for my 10-year-old-mind, however, I was still stuck in this mindset that “principalities” and “spiritual wickedness in high places” was something that I might never experience, I mean come on, how often do you get a chance like that to fight of demons in the spiritual realm? Right?
Wrong. Dead wrong. We are living in a state of being blind to the spiritual, every decision we make, every choice, every depression, every emotion. This is the spiritual, and I am pretty sure it looks absolutely nothing like Lord Of The Rings, there aren’t magical rings, but there are everyday temptations (lust, cheating, lying) and there is only one way to combat them, with God’s word. We are getting this so wrong guys, the spiritual world isn’t all so “spiritual”, there’s a difference between the powers the Bible talks about and DOOM III, the war we are fighting is constant and its ultimately against ourselves (the “sin nature” or the “old man” that we give up when we accept Christ.) So when we are making a choice, like whether you are going to cheat on a math test, we are in a fight! Satan wants you to fall into that sin and bring you further from God, and God is trying to give you the strength it takes to do the right thing. It is you fighting “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” , and this is what the fight looks like.

So now that we’ve identified who we are fighting and what it looks like, what do we do to win? Ephesians 6:13 says that we are to put on the full armor of God. Basically this means to be able to 1) know the truth that when faced with lies you will be able to defeat them 2) be righteous, or stand up for what is right so that when people try to speak against you they will have nothing to say 3) be prepared to defend the gospel, hiding God’s word in your heart so you will know whats right 4) and the Bible says that above all these, to have faith, faith that no matter where you are in your life God is always right by your side and you can only fight off the temptations and lifestyle of the world with His help 5) accept salvation, this obviously being the first step 6) finally, what do we use on the offence? The word of God. Over and over again we are told to hide God’s words in our heart, and this is why. We can’t LIVE for God if we don’t KNOW God! We have to know what He says about life and WHY He says it so when we come to making those decisions we will know what to say or do.

This realization can to me only a few days ago; I have always been dreaming about fighting a spiritual battle, I need to look around, I’m already in one. We need to open our eyes here, this isn’t just our lifestyle, its our fight.

This morning, I was so happy to see blue skies! After taking the boys out, I grabbed my swimsuit and plopped myself down in the hot tub.

I love sitting in the tub, as it is so soothing. But many times, I go out while it is still dark, because it is fun to turn on the lights in it. This morning, the sky was already blue at 6:30 and I drank in its beauty as I soaked. There were some clouds high in the sky, and it was obvious that the southerly winds that will warm up this day had not yet begun! There was a definite northwesterly flow.

As I sat, I suddenly realized that I was hearing something *different*! Yes, the birds were singing! One of my friends in the Syracuse area said she has been hearing birds for some time now, and I was getting green with jealousy! As I listened, I heard chickadees. I turned to see two pairs, flitting about in the treetops, looking as though they might be courting…I saw nuthatches running up and down the trees, and heard a phoebe, then another answered from afar! A little junco sat on the bank behind the garage.

Today, we are supposed to warm up to freezing or above! Hurrah! Even though I do love the winter and the cold doesn’t bother me as much as some others, it sure is nice to see some bright blue skies and sunshine! The stove can breathe a little sigh of relief as well. And, who knows? I might even clean the chimney!

This morning, I awakened about 5:45 to a beautiful morning. I was so psyched! Perhaps I would finally get to the basics and do a little picture-taking with the new camera. NOT!

I got online to download email. One little, two little, three little orders, four little, five little, six big orders….As I looked at all the orders, it became obvious that I was going to be spending a great deal of time working on them. That was no big problem, but in the midst of packing orders, I nearly stumbled and fell on a goofy little piece from Ben’s Brio train set! I got so frustrated, I spent about an hour and a half trying to pick things up and straighten them out in my non-work area of the basement.

I worked like a crazy woman (so what is new? hehehe) getting things in order and Michelle got a call from one of the ladies who oversees the Bible study she attends. Michelle has been helping with the worship before the study, and the woman wanted to know if Michelle could come a little early. She asked, and I told her yes.

Yikes! Mark and Michelle went out to the garage to put the little Jotul stove out there back together again. Michelle came into the house and asked if I was ready to take her…..if only I would have had my camera in hand then. She had leaned against the chimney pipe while helping Mark, and she had a big smudge of black around her eye….it was the epitome of the expression, “black eye”! I told her she might consider washing her face before leaving. She traipsed off to the bathroom where hysterical laughter soon followed!

I had just completed packing when she came in, so I was off again, racing about in fast forward! As I sat in the car, I was almost fearful I was going to fall asleep! I didn’t, however, and I safely dropped Michelle off.

I then decided if I didn’t take a break, I WOULD break! So, I dropped into Wegman’s and grabbed some Chinese and a Pepsi. I ate a very leasurely dinner all alone at my little table, and it was heavenly! Even in the midst of lots of noise and chaos, I was able to take refuge and just enjoy….I spent about an hour perched at one of those bistro tables and I was just so happy to relax that I nearly forgot to think about what I needed at the store!

After my terrific meal, I shopped a bit, picking up the oh-so-important corned beef round! And cabbage. Heaven forbid I should forget the cabbage!

Upon completing my Wegman’s excursion, I meandered my way to TJ Maxx. I found some cool things there….I always do! Then, I hopped over to WalMart to pick up a few more things. While there, I chatted with Carly on my cell for awhile. I dawdled about the store, trying to kill some more time….finally it was time to check out and pick up Michelle and head home.

We got home shortly after 9, then there were groceries to put away, dishes to wash, and I needed to get the fire going again in the stove. I went upstairs at about 10:15, and I am exhausted! My legs hurt from standing so much today! I have no idea what the weather is going to be like tomorrow, but I am hoping that I will finally get some pictures to post!

Tonight’s orders…get some sleep!

Is that a word? “headachey”? No, I am not getting the flu, I am overwhelmed by the new camera manual. Yikes! So many new “bells and whistles”. And, I never heard of formatting a card before using it in the camera before! And, WHY can I not turn that itty bitty little dioptor adjustment? Ugh….

Yeah, I know, want a little cheese with that *whine*?

As my head began to spin and feel like it was going into overload, I decided to read a little email. As I was reading on one of my Scottie lists, I came across this story about an outstanding dog named Faith and her people. I am always in awe of people who find a mission in life that others would deem foolish and foolhearty.

We spent today running around a little. Mark needed to pick up a new pair of forearm crutches that he ordered from a medical supply business. The pair that he has been using appears to have broken inside one of the shafts. When we think about what could happen if the piece actually broke off, we shudder….Mark uses those crutches, heavily depending on them to help him balance!

When I woke up to the above……….This was the first thing I thought about!

I had to literally pry the lid off, as it was rather frozen on! Our hot tub is a very basic model. It is a Nordic Hot Tub. When we were looking in the autumn of 2002, it was a choice of our tub and a Softub. We decided on the Nordic, as it just seemed more durable. After 4 1/2 years of living with it, I would say we made a good decision. I have never had any problem with chemistry until the fill before this one. For some reason, things got a little goofed up, but water is one of those forgiving substances! You just take in a water sample to any pool and spa sales and they can computer diagnose any imbalances and set you on the correct path. Of course, they sometimes will try to sell other things too, but one learns early on to take a tough stance!

One of the things that really sold Mark on this particular tub was that it didn’t have the gel gloss finish that other manufacturers use. It is made from recycled plastics and I wasn’t sure what to think about it! However, when tons of ice and snow avalanched down our 12 pitch roof onto the lid of this tub, it left a few scratches in the surface. It we had the high gloss tub, it would have needed to be repaired. Our Nordic tub looks just fine.

Yesterday, the weather was terrible here, with periods of snow falling quite heavily, and the wind blowing wildly. The snowplow would go up the hill, and within an hour, there was no way one could tell they had ever been by. Our road is very steep and can be treacherous if one doesn’t know the road well. (there are deep gutters along the road that could “eat” a car!) I had packed two orders to go out for my business, and as the time came for Bob, our UPS man to come, it was looking rather bleak. I carried the telephone upstairs with me as I was sure Bob would call from another business located down the hill….at which point, I would load the boxes into the Explorer and deliver them down there.

Shortly before 5, I heard a knock at the door, and was shocked to see Bob standing there with a big box in hand! I told Bob to come on inside…I think he was happy to get warmed up by the Jotul! Bob had to hike up our driveway as the truck was at the bottom. Our driveway is about 125′ long, and although it doesn’t appear steep, it is definitely an incline. Bob was off work most of February, as he had an emergency appendectomy. One of our boxes was 51 pounds, so I told Ben to grab his sled! Bob and I followed as Ben went down the driveway, box in front of him!

Now, about that box that Bob delivered…..can you guess what was in it?

Before you jump to the conclusion that I am a spoiled rotten person, let me tell you that photography has been a passion of mine for many years. I especially love the “freedom” to play with the manual settings on an SLR camera.

Am I a little excited? You BETCHA!

Christian music. That term used to mean little more than either old guys with cowboy boots and no fashion sense–at all– or hymns that sound like they just stepped out of the 1800′s. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with those, but would you honestly listen to that vs. Green Day? For me…. and most American’s between the ages of 10 and 25 the answer is no. Well, thank God (no pun intended) that things have drastically changed in the past 30 or so years.

The term “Christian music” or “Gospel Music” now covers everything from worship to Christian Death Metal to Christian Punk. The main difference in the giant we call the Christian music industry is lyrics, instead of showcasing and glorifying teen angst, aggression and explicit sex, Christian music addresses these issues with the actual biblical answers. At least that’s the case in general, yes, this may surprise many, but there are a lot of Christian bands out there with a less-than-squeaky-clean message. This, however, is the exception, not the norm. All music (no matter WHAT record company is promoting it or who the members thank in the credits) needs to be approached with a standard or what you will and will not allow into your mind.

So here’s the big question that it seems everyone is asking– “What is the benefit of listening to Christian music?”. Good question, and one that deserves an answer, however all I can offer is my opinion.

The idealistic answer would probably go something like this… “It will improve your spiritual life, and bring you closer to God.” I won’t bore you with the 17-digit number of how many times I’ve heard this answer, but first lets look at some definitions here,
“Christian music is music created by or adapted for the Christian Church. It also includes Contemporary Christian Music, in which the music explores Christian themes but is designed to be played in places other than churches (Wikipedia)”.

“Worship music is a sub-genre of Christian Music that is commonly used to denote songs that are used to worship God and set in a choral music style, often with repeating, short, easily sung “chorus” parts. Originally termed praise music, then later praise and worship, worship music has become the more current phrase to refer to any music used by Christians as part of their devotional practices, whether in the confines of a local church, or elsewhere.”(Wikipedia)
and finally, “Worship: reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred” (Dictionary.com).

So we just learned a few things, 1) There is a difference between Christian and Worship Music and 2) There is a difference between Worship music and actual Worship. Christian music explores themes of real life importance and generally is applied outside the church where Worship music is that Sunday-morning good stuff. Then there’s actual worship, which in this definition says absolutely nothing about music. Worship, as it was meant to be is more than just reading the projection every Sunday between 9:30 and 9:45, wishing you were still at home in your PJ’s watching those famously mind-numbing cartoons they play around this time. No, worship is actually active, its wrapping your whole being around this act of giving up everything on your mind and all your own problems and purely admiring God’s faithfulness and compassion in your life. Can this be achieved on a 10 cent piece of plastic and instantly turned on and off with the push of a button? I know I step on toes as I say this, but I feel recording and selling worship music as entertainment is a mockery of its very essence. I don’t mean to say that you cannot experience the Lord’s presence with recorded Worship, but 90% of the time we are turning it on in our cars as passive background noise.

Christian music on the other hand can be so flexible, from getting us through the tough times with the actual messages to an energetically blasting party song. Its huge, and to dismiss it so quickly is crazy. Well, I’ve wanted to post this list for a looooong while, so here it is, it compares some popular secular artists with Christian alternatives, and I highly recommend checking some of them out;

Nickleback-Kutless, Day Of Fire, Seventh Day Slumber

Evanescence-Plumb, Gretchen, Flyleaf

Slipknot-Becoming The Archtype, Demon Hunter, Staple

Green Day-MxPx

Avril Lavigne-Krystal Meyers, ZOEgirl, Stacie Orrico, Flyleaf

Hawthorn Heights-Dead Poetic, Emery, As Cites Burn

Papa Roach-Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch,Pillar

Coldplay-Copeland, Waking Ashland, Cool Hand Luke

3 Doors Down-Lifehouse, Sanctus Real, Jonezetta

James Blunt-Damien Rice, Sufjan Stevens

Godsmack-Chevelle, Decyfer Down, East West

Three Days Grace-Red, The Classic Crime

My Chemical Romance-Kids In The Way, Subseven

Linkin Park-Project 86, Dead Poetic, POD

All American Rejects- Eleventyseven, New Found Glory, Stellar Kart

Nine Inch Nails-Skillet (“Hey You, I Love Your Soul” cd specially)

For info on these and many other bands please visit www.jesusfreakhideout.com