We are entering Holy Week

and I am growing and learning from my classes so that a newer depth will be added to this year's services and worship. But I am puzzled from last night's Bible study. We are in the gospel of John - and the consensus (sp?) is that we have to know that we need God and ask Him for his presence and for our inclusion in His people. Everyone in the room seemed to agree that this was the process. I don't like to upset a group, but I need to see Fr. Stan and find out why I never felt this need - rather, God came after me. For three days we wrestled and, as always, He won. Now I wonder how I ever lived without Him - and also why I didn't know I needed Him more. Or why I thought I had Him. I was very pleased with my life, not knowing that I had no life. Am I different, or does He have to chase down other people? Hmmmmm?

Blessings

MRI results

After undergoing an MRI on my back, jackhammers and all, my doctors, who were sure my spine was disintegrating, found that my spine is just fine. I'm feeing better, too. It's about time.

Busy week, with services and preparing for the cantata for Palm Sunday and Easter.

Nancy says she hopes to get to grandson Kevin's wedding. I so wish we could go, but we can't, so that's that. Hope to see photos,tho. He is marring a wonderful girl- and someday I will meet her.

Pray for rain - we are surrounded by fires. Blessings to you all.

A quiet week

It's been a long time since I've had one of these. Last month I had 17 doctor's appointments - mostly because of being in the hospital, I think they wanted to be sure I am still here, since I died while I was in there. I did schedule a sleep study. The doctor thinks that the reason I sleep aabout 12 hours every night is because I am not really sleeping well - so we will see, and if I need a breathing apparatus, I will just look like an alien.

Dear son in law (Scooter) is having surgery in the morning to fix his dreadfully messed up knee (from their skiing trip last month). We are on call to possibly go and stay while Nancy takes care of a bit of business.
Nancy put up a new bird feeder and hummer feeder for me. I have seen one hummer and the neat thing about the bird feeder is that the doves have no way to get in to eat - the openings are too small. I wouldn't mind them eating if they were in any way moderate - bu they are pigs. When they eat and raise their heads their craws bulge and hang down. Squirrels are a problem, too, cause they can't get in and have knocked it over twice. If it happens again, we will get some super glue so they can't do it. The little ones are many - I have house finches, and lots of other teeny birds. Fun to watch.
We now have a chancel choir at church and I finally get to sing in parts. I have misssed this more than I can tell you. Motets are my favorite, but this is really good. We are doing a wonderful one (No Greater Love) for Palm Sunday evening and will do the finale of "Hallelujah's" for Easter. I love our music but I have really missed a real choir.
I'm pretty sure my left knee is finally going - most other major joints are titamiun, including a new left shoulder. Still in PT for that. My PT is the greatest!.
Love to you all and many blessings. Pray for rain for our part of the country.

How dead is dead?

Yeah, a dismal thing to blog about, but I have some concerns here. I always figured if you were dead you were just dead. I've read about people who 'see the light' and are sent back to finish living. Since I died from a seizure in the hospital a few weeks ago, and I'm back with no light around, I began to puzzle over this. My good friend Charles, died in surgery - he left his body and floated up at the ceiling while they worked on his body. Then he went back into it. No light there. Mine was a really bad seizure (just found out I am having those and hope the meds are stopping them) and my smart child called the hospital to tell them I had dropped the phone and was making weird noises - told them to go check on me. It took them awhile to make me start breathing again, but I didn't see any light. When I told my doctor I had died in the hospital, his first question was did I see the light - sisnce another of his patients had died and really seen the light. Who knows? So I have decided there is really dead, maybe dead, sorta dead and somewhat dead. Not sure where I was in this list, but I'm really glad I'm not dead. Ideas, anyone?

Accck!

The computer souldn't let me in to my blog site to write! Talk about frustrated! Of course, wnhen you realize that I never touched a computer until I was 64 years old and that only because my new boss told me that I had to learn it. There are still things I can't do, but mostly I can do what I want. Sooooo - tomorrow I will begin to catch up all this time. Thanks to those of you who kcpt checking. I'm baaaaaack...

an absorbing book

I don't usually tout a book in this venue, but want to call your attention to this last one I read. "The Woman Who Fell From the Sky." I picked it up casually, but I'm glad I did. It details the events in the life of an American woman who went to Yemen to be a teacher of journalism to Yemenis who put out an English newspaper. She finds herself the effective editor as well, and since I knew little about Yemen, I am gratified to know this much more. Included are her trials with reporters with absolutely no journalistic training, imperfect English and the national crisis with the drug qat. It is hard to see how such a nation can ever leave the third world status it occupies when almost all of it's inhabitants are stoned most of the time. However, her efforts are heroic and funny and ultimately rewarding - do give this book a try.

Blessings to all....especially at this blessed time of year.

Yesterday morning,

as I entered the narthex of the church, I saw many people waiting to go in to church, and on each face was a huge smile. Then I felt the love in the room - so thick I could almost hold it in my hand. This is my home- it is where I belong. Then we went into the sanctuary and worshipped with song, prayers and learning. I was privileged to read the first lesson, from Isaiah - 'and a little child shall lead them'. Talk about cold chills! These experiences get deeper and deeper each Sunday. I know God is preparing me to come home, and that it will get deeper and deeper, although I can't imagine this now. As the Narnia books say ' further in and farther out' (?) this deepness defies expession. Soon I'll know. But the people who say "love makes the world go around" are right, and most of them don't even know the sort of love of which I speak. Some day we all will. Maranatha!

As I reread this, I think I may sound as if I am dying. As far as I know I am not. I just think all worship services and fellowships should be like this one was - filled with the Holy Spirit.