The Criminal Who Made Joseph Kony Famous: by Geoffrey Botkin

My daughter shared an article about the Joseph Kony issue which I think is very helpful to gain perspective on what's really happening in Africa. It is written by Geoffrey Botkin, founder of the Western Conservatory of Arts and Sciences. Hearing all the hype a couple of weeks ago made me curious about what the real situation is in Africa. I am glad to have this practical information, and to know that African nations are dealing with the warlords.

Casting Crowns - Behind The Song "Jesus, Friend Of Sinners"

I heard this song today. I'm not sure if it was the first time I've heard it, but it was the first time it got through to my heart. This is a video about the song. I'll post the song next. I am getting something from this song that isn't exactly what was intended; but when I heard them singing about the world not being able to see Christ's message because of our pointing fingers, I saw how the world can't see Christ in us because we're too busy pointing our fingers at each other; at other believers. The unity and love that Christ spoke of in His church isn't there as it should be. I really don't know if what I've said in past blog posts about Catholicism is wrong. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. But I'm getting that even if I was 'right' about some or all of what I have posted about, that much of it was not my business. I had to go through what I went through to learn something, but in the end I didn't learn what I thought I was learning all along. This may make no sense unless you've been with me for a while; but when I posted about Peter cutting off the ear of the servant of the high priest, and I said this was the pope persecuting the servants of Christ the High Priest; well, after listening to this song, I realized that was me, too. There is a time and a place to defend the faith, but sometimes we take things upon ourselves that we ought not. Whether any popes persecuted Christians, do I have the right to decide who is or who isn't a Christian? What do I really know about it? Our earthly church rulers may or may not do well, but we ourselves should love other individual believers and be united with them. I have no idea how this can happen, but I pray it does. That doesn't mean I won't ever speak out if I see something wrong, but I will be much more careful about it. And I pray I'll remember to take the plank out of my own eye first. In Christ,
Jennie

My first solo

Here I am singing my first solo for our Koinonia Dinner Theater fundraiser. This is our homeschool co-op; we're raising money to help buy the property which we've been leasing for the last two years.

Our Anniversary Trip to Cozumel

My husband Eddie made this video of our recent cruise to Key West and Cozumel, so I thought I'd share it here: 

Our Anniversary Trip to Cozumel

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

For Saint Patrick's Day, here is the Confession of Saint Patrick, written in the fifth century, originally in Latin. I enjoy finding and reading things written so long ago by our elder brothers and sisters in Christ, and seeing in them the same struggles and joys, and the same love for Christ that we have as believers today.

Chance Scoggins: Stepping Beyond the Dream

Somebody tweeted this today:Chance Scoggins--Stepping Beyond the Dream. The link won't work, so just go to www.chancescoggins.com and look under the post for March 12, 2012. This, like the Neil Gaiman post, is another one that really hits me where I am right now. Been thinking alot about the gifts God has given me and how I haven't used them and developed them as God would wish me to. Goes back to living in depression and fear and complacency for so many years. This has been a theme in my latest posts, and I keep coming across this idea of pursuing your dreams, using your gifts, and being willing to risk making mistakes in order to do what you were made to do, especially for the purpose of blessing others even if you feel inadequate. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. "Fear not, for I am with you even unto the end of the age."

The Well of Living Water

I heard this on my local Christian radio station,J93.3FM, last week. A recording of Mark Hall, of Casting Crowns, talking about his new book 'The Well'. He said 'the woman at the well thought she was standing beside a well talking to a man, but she was really standing beside a hole in the ground and talking to the Well'. He said we often draw from so many other things in our lives instead of from Christ, the Well of Living Water. We think we're drawing from a well, but it's just a hole in the ground which cannot satisfy. How true that is.

This really struck me, as I seem to be in a season of uncertainty and changes in my life; and I feel like I've been asleep for many years because of depression and fear, and am just now trying to wake up and live. I feel like I'm wanting to stretch my wings and be willing to make mistakes while trying new things. In the process I feel like I'm being pulled by both the world and by Christ, and I have to learn how to walk in this world, but not be of it. I am tempted to 'be of it' though, since I've lived a sheltered life for so long, and often feel lately that I've missed out. My last post on Neil Gaiman relates to this, of course. I want to be free to do things even if I make mistakes and fall down in the process. I don't mean that one should go out and sin, but that I should stretch myself by using the gifts God has given me. I will make mistakes as I do this, but I will also grow into who God meant me to be.

Pray for me to seek first the kingdom of God and not fall for the world's false substitutes.