SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: ARTS IN MEMPHIS

9/30/12 An Artsy Ending To The Month.
From theater in Germantown to Hattieloo in the  Park, statues along a gallery walkway, Symphony in the Gardens (sort of), and school childrens’ word sculptures beneath a flagpole, it’s been a great week for exploring the “arts” in Memphis.

Garden walkway at Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Steel Magnolias at GCT with my T-Cups friends

Hattieloo in the Park---I do so-o-o LOVE Hattieloo, as everyone knows.

My blonde haired grandson loves Hattieloo as well, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"

"Have Integrity"---by a young Idlewild Elementary sculptor

Rain didn't dampen the spirits of Memphis Symphony Orchestra's Big Band---we just had to move inside to hear Scott Moore lead the musicians in "Begin the Beguine" and a new rendition of "Rhapsody in Blue"---my parents would have been dancing in the aisles, especially since Scott played the trumpet at our daughter's wedding.

GROWing??

9/29/12 Today’s question is about growth.

How’s your spiritual growth? How does one measure his/her spiritual growth?

Monday’s (9/24) meditation verses (Colossians 1:9-14) give much fodder for querying.

I began in verse 10 asking hard questions? I know what the answers should be, but God….knows the truth.

Ask yourself these spiritual growth indicators, as I did. 

• “Is my walk worthy of the Lord?” 
• Am I pleasing Him? 
• Am I increasing in the knowledge of God?

If the answer to the last one is not a yes, then, according to the pithy punches of Pastor Cole, you might end up too trendy or too rigid and thus end up walking in spiritual circles.

If one doesn’t increase in the knowledge of God he becomes like a ½ baked spiritual casserole. (Huffman, 9/2/12) Not too appetizing is it?

May that thought and the thought of walking in spiritual circles drive each of us to spend more time with Him and in His word so that “growth” might occur.

Street Corner Reflections

9/26/12

What I saw with my eyes…..

Corner of Grove Park and Poplar---a youngish woman dressed in colorful attire with a turban-type wrapped head piece---- scratching her entire body almost spasmodically and certainly inappropriately, even pulling up her shirt and scratching under her arms……as she opened her car door in the CUMC parking lot, I saw that it was her “house”---homeless

Corner of Mendenhall and Poplar---a bearded man in blue shirt & clean jeans, cinched at waist to keep them up---directing an orchestra, only he could see----often switching to guitar strumming or keyboarding, though no instruments were visible, just his movements----mental instability

Corner of Shady Grove and Yates---2 well dressed gentlemen in dark suits wearing yamakas, the Jewish skullcaps, accompanying a lady who was wearing a white doily type head covering similar to ones I saw Catholic women wearing bobby pinned to their coifed hair when going to mass at St. Peter & Paul’s in Hoptown---orthodox Jews on the way to Shul for Yom Kippur services

Seeing the first 2, I felt fearful. Seeing the Jewish trio I felt no fear. I, who thought I had no “real” prejudice, was clearly shown that sin in my life.

Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? (James 2:4)

 What God saw with His heart………mankind, His creation---in need of a Savior.

I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the one who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. (Acts 10:34-35)

Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5)

What I now see………………All people are in need of God…………..as well as people who reflect His love to them. May that be my reflection.

“Dancing” in my head…………

 

9/25/12 Preparing to speak to “He Cares” (homebound group) at my church on Thursday has kept thoughts “dancing” in my head all week. 

I assume there is a new “dance” coming---or maybe new steps for an old dance, or maybe just light, easy tripping movements.

Or.....just maybe I'm to encourage others to open their hearts to the love of the Lord so that each one can hear His unique song. A song for his/her soul. A song for his/her own life. A song leading to worship of His holy name in a new way---maybe tapping their toes or fingers in a new dance for themselves. 

 “Raz, dva, tri.” Let the dance begin! 

Meditation Practice w/o dangling participles

9/24/12 Monday blogs are normally somewhat easy to write because I usually start the week with selected scripture. Scripture for meditation. Then, I just share it. Today---not so easy. I felt like Miss Rosa Nourse, 7^th grade teacher at Virginia Street School in Hopkinsville, KY, was looking over my shoulder. She was a stickler for correct grammar. The improper usage of the predicate nominative pronoun I and dangling participles were two usage problems that she attempted to pound into our heads. The nominative gaffe caused me to shudder recently when during a prayer, the participant requested prayer for “my wife and I”----Miss Rosa would NOT have been pleased. I, on the other hand, felt bad that I even noticed it because the request was so heartfelt.

As for the participles (all those words ending in  “ing”)….. this week’s meditation includes several participial phrases. I’m fearful that I won’t set them off with commas or that any paraphrasing and explaining I do, might not relate back to the subject. Hm-m-m, even “relate back” sounds like a redundancy. But oh-h-h the fear of a dangling modifier that would dishonor Miss Rosa’s teaching.

But God….is the One who inspired all scripture so unless the chosen translation messes up, then it will be correct in the way it speaks to one’s heart. In meditation, that’s what counts. Chew on all 5 of the participial phrases listed in this prayer and see if you don’t agree. Pray it for yourself and others.

Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. (Colossians 1:9-12)

Praying it for my family, I experienced great joy----with or without the dangling participles. I was too caught up in my prayer time to even notice.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: MAGIC OF MEMPHIS

Memphis Botanic Gardens Farmer's Mkt on Wed 2-6 pm

9/23/12 This week, with my eyes intentionally open to find the positive aspects of Memphis, I saw lots of good stuff---in just 3 days. Is it all merely one’s viewpoint?

Certainly negative words tend to run across our newspaper and top the “breaking news” intro on TV----But God…..reminded me that…..

With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up, but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down. (Proverbs:11:11)

So………….here's what I saw in places and people of Memphis in those 3 days.

Pop-up opera all over town for 30 days---Go Opera Memphis!

Art Classes for kids at the Dixon Gallery

Give 365 described in CA as philanthropy for young donors but they welcomed this Medicare gal as well----so many (11) worthy finalists for the "Eye on the Prize" grant money---

Catching up with Pi Phi Chum, Mimi, at GIVE365 meeting

A GREAT place to visit in the fall or spring....or anytime----a real Memphis treasure

View from Visible Music College toward Redbird's Stadium

Ekundayo Bandele, founder of Hattieloo presents his grant request for a technical theatre internship program at Give365. I LOVE Hattieloo---as all who know me can attest! Click to see renderings of new Overton Square proposed theatre district.

After school creative writing program at the Hooks library vying for one of the grants.

Wish I had a picture of the adorable Brady family who travel from Illinois to Memphis for St. Jude. They LOVE St. Jude and all of Memphis should as well!

Shakespeare as hubby likes it----FUNNY! Performance is such fun that we both recommend it for everyone!! TN Shakespeare Company----what an asset right here in our community!

Oral Test Question

-->

9/22/12 3 Xs----that’s the way God gets my attention. Luke 6:45 reminder in my Tuesday notes---"It is “out of the overflow of the mouth that the heart speaks” was first attention grabber.

#2 was Crickett’s Wednesday night lecture from James 1:26 of deception of heart of one who does not “bridle his tongue.”

Yesterday brought #3 as I listened to son’s Allen Bible Church message in “Words with Friends” series  emphasizing the “Might of the Mouth.”

NOTES, condensed Dotsy style 

WORDS: 

• Powerful
• Palpable
• Personal

Death & life in words---choose vital words, not venomous; choose words that will delight the Lord; choose words that minister to others not words that just seek to manipulate. 

For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'. (John Greenleaf Whittier)

Wielding and Yielding words---choose words that will yield fruitfulness in a life. (Fruitfulness = fear of the Lord in both the giver and the receiver of words. Proverbs 1:7 & 9:10)

Buddy ended the message with today’s exam question from Psalm 19:14.

Consider your words. Are the words of you mouth and the meditation of your heart pleasing and acceptable in the sight of the Lord?

If not, you, as I did recently,  just failed the “oral” aspect of a spirit-filled life.

The good news is a make-up exam is given daily.

Great News from St. Jude for Michael B.

9/20/12  CaringBridge Posting from the Brady's made my day. Having spent a little time with this Chicago area family as they were waiting to go in for the results, I understood how, even in the midst of hope, there is always that element of apprehension that comes from having cancer in your rear view.

"ALL CLEAR!!!!!!" Praise God! Prayer works! Thank you St Jude!!!!!!! We are meeting with Dr Furman then heading to the airport. Details to come! We love you all so much and are so blessed and thankful!!!!!!
Love, Anne

More info to follow with pic when I receive one since my camera battery gave out on me.

Walkabout Wednesday: a reprise

30 Days of Pop-Up Opera (Photo by April, age 8)

9/19/12 Walkabout Wednesday took on a new twist this afternoon as my walking buddy, Ellen, has “turned” to swimming for exercise because of a foot malady. I miss our times together. I miss the different places we walk. I just miss her.

But.....today I had the granddaughter of friend Claudia accompany me and we “walked” through the Farmer’s Market at the Botanic Gardens.  What a surprise we found there. The Opera Memphis folks were performing. Good music with great food. How serendipitous was that!

My young friend asked the OM director, “What are they singing?” When I asked her what he said, she replied, A word that tickles my tongue---“La Boheme.” 

I explained to her that this music was opera---and that they had been taking opera “to the people”----just popping up in different places like festivals, universities, parks, libraries and even the Greenline. I was thrilled that we had happened on one of their outside "free" productions!

When I asked her how she liked the music, I loved her response. “It crackles me up, and makes me shiver.”

Well done, Opera Memphis. That sounds like a rave review to me.

Since the group will be performing at Shelby Farms on October 6 (at the playground) I suggested a "walkabout reprise." Hearing the word playground, she was all for it.

A Great Start to My Day

attenDANCE!

-->

design@brokenpromises.org

9/19/12 Successful businesses have attendance policies. Attendance is seen as an integral part of a good work ethic.  Sometimes an unstated, but real, expectation.

Class attendance. An important facet of education. ADA (Average Daily Attendance) results in rewards ($$) from the state because the Department of Education knows how importance attendance is for learning. After 42 years in education, I know that to be true.

Learning and growth occur when one is attending. Present. Focusing. In the realm of education, attendance is both a physical and a mental act. The same is true in the spiritual realm.

attenDANCE! Time alone with the Lord. Necessary for instructions in each “dance of life” which one faces.  Only the Lord God knows these steps. It’s the dance He has planned. He wants to lead you. Following requires attenDANCE.

attenDANCE!! How long has it been? Darkened the doors of a church lately? (Hebrews 10:25) How else can one spur others on to love and good deeds if we’re not in attendance. (Hebrews 10:24)

attenDANCE!!! How long has it been? To dance with Him, one must “show up.” This attenDANCE requires our participation, both individually and corporately.

MEDITATION “MUSTS”

9/17/12 “Life is at its richest when we are living in close communion with God and loving our neighbors at the same time.” (Loritts, p. 10) A-men!

In his book, a CROSS-SHAPED Gospel, Bryan Loritts states so well the “musings” of my own heart. The vertical relationship with the Lord is all about loving and serving Him---with prayer, Bible study and intimate times in His presence. Yet, the horizontal relationship with others occurs as love for the Lord overflows into love and service for others---neighbors here, in Ukraine or wherever God gives a sphere of influence. Focusing on one aspect to the exclusion of the other is an "off kilter" message of good news. It takes both to have that complete God-centered relationship.

So…..today’s meditation will be on 2 verses to allow for the complete truth to “sink in.”

And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

2 “Musts” for meditation that MUST not be overlooked or missed.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A Wedding Weekend

9/16/12 Whirling from one event to the next, New York came to town to be a part of Stephanie and Ryan’s wedding.

From “Up on the Roof" at Metro 67......

River Reflections

Floral Reflections

Mother-of-the-bride "to be"

Engaged tonight---tomorrow starts a new life chapter

.......To the sanctuary of St. Mary’s

The long walk to give away his precious daughter

The vows---may they remember "love is patient, love is kind, love does not seek its own, and love endures all things....(1 Corinthians 13)

The Kiss

Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Gillin

....to the historic Cadre Building

Celebrating "Southern" roots with upscale BBQ compotes, cones of fried goodies from okra to hushpuppies, and even Memphis' "Now famous cheese ring" with its requisite strawberry  preserves---yet served in a pastry shell.....plus dancin' to the music of the "SoulSations---mighty fine!

Sister of the groom and the best man, Ryan's dad

Flower girl with her grandaddy

A book of well wishes, Memphis style

Maintenance ???

9/15 12 Saturday’s have become a day for asking questions. No answers given, just questions to provoke thinking. Today’s question is, “Do you maintain a continual watchfulness over your heart?”  “Are there on-going thoughts for which you are ashamed?” (Psalm 19:14)

Oswald Chambers in 9/15 entry of My Utmost for His Highest asks the same type question. “Is there a thought in your heart about anyone that you would not like to be brought into the light?”

Unlike me, he also gives the answer. If so, “renounce” those thoughts immediately. That’s the maintenance required for one to live to the higher standard of God’s calling---of being our utmost for His highest. (My Utmost, 9/15)

Maintenance required. Always for our spiritual growth, maintenance is required.

September 13---A Day of Giving

9/13/12             Gifts received from others.

Gifts given to others. 

All gifts from God’s hand.

 It was a glorious day!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,….(James 1:17)

Legacy

9/12/12 It’s hard to load 27 years of living into a moving van as one enters a new season of life. To pack up to travel 13 hours away to a new home location and reduce one’s household to fit into a truck seems minimizing the importance of a life lived in that homeplace. The good news---it’s the relationship with people and the memories, especially the spiritual legacies, which remain. An impact on others that far outlasts our household goods. 

The Swets were such godly, caring people for us and all on our street. We watched our street change together. We watched people be carried out in ambulances together. Our kids grew up together.

We will miss their legacy of kindness as will the folks at Second Pres where Paul ministered for years. International students will miss their open door and holiday meals. All of Longreen will miss their gifts of soup on windowsills, energy drinks at the back door, caramel corn tied up with a verse of scripture and neighborhood watchfulness. 

Their kitchen table and chairs remain, along with the large, shiny “new” kitchen window’s unobstructed view of backyards. No fences between our house and theirs have given all our kids and grands lots of room to hit baseballs, ride in mini golf carts and just roam. A good neighborhood for folks to get to know each other.

This morning has the new neighbors, a young couple whose grandparents I know, making their first steps toward moving in and establish their own home and legacy. May they build a spiritual inheritance as well---a legacy that will last into eternity.

Man of Faith

9/11/12

Todd Beamer showed a true biblical faith aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on that fateful day in September 2001. 9/11.

“Let’s roll!” That was Todd’s voice leading the passengers to takeover and foil the hijackers.

That’s how he is remembered. Prior to that command, he had been on the plane’s in-flight telephone with GTE supervisor, Lisa Jefferson, for over 10 minutes before the plane crashed. She had apprised him of the other hijackings and he told her that he and others vowed not to be their pawns. What I remember is that though Ms Jefferson could hear the shouts and commotion, Beamer asked her to pray with him and they recited the 23^rd Psalm.

The rest, as they say is history. A tragic history.  A history of a man of faith. His wife told reporters that she knew Todd was in heaven because he was saved. As she puts it, "Just knowing that when the crisis came up he maintained the same character we all knew; it's a testament to what real faith means.” (http://old.post-gazette.com/headlines/20010916phonecallnat3p3.asp) 

The couple had met at Wheaton College near Chicago, IL. That’s where, this summer, I first got a glimpse of the legacy left by this man of faith. His story is there. In the basement of the Todd M. Beamer Student Center, is the 7' x 7' wall relief depicting Beamer and his sons. Clay Enoch, the sculptor, is son of First Evan folks, Betsy and Doug, and is a 1995 graduate of the college. Seeing this work gave new meaning to me of “let’s roll.” That phrase seems to be a statement, not only of Beamer’s character, but also of his faith in a trustworthy God. A man assured of his eternal destination can lead such a charge. 

Todd Beamer---a man of faith.*

Tonight’s NT reading by hubby was from Hebrews 11, dubbed by many as the “Faith Hall of Fame” of the Bible.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Todd Beamer, a man of faith, whose actions surely pleased God.