Transitions and passages

Dropped my teenager off for a week at Furman Summer Scholars yesterday. It was weird, but good weird.

Furman University is where I went to college ::cough cough:: 25 years ago. Felt like passing the torch to walk with her into the front door of Judson Hall - a door I walked through so many times - settle her into a room and then drive away.

I pray I've equipped her well to deal with whatever comes her way. I'm glad she has this week to "test-drive" Furman and make sure that's where she wants to apply. And I'm particularly thankful for text messaging and Twitter - I've already had three updates today about what she's doing. My parents didn't have that luxury!

Happy Birthday America

This morning we had our church's annual patriotic Sunday service. One of the things we do that chokes me up every year is that we sing a medley of the armed forces anthems. When we sing each one, the men and women in the congregation who served in that branch stand up. There is always huge applause for each group. It was great to be up singing and see my dad stand when we sang "Anchor's Aweigh" but the one who really choked me up was the three old marines who presented the colors during the Marine Hymn. They all served in WWII. After we finished singing we all said the Pledge of Allegiance together and the oldest marine had to lift and hold his salute by supporting his right arm with his left - but he stood there ramrod straight and held that salute through the Pledge and through the National Anthem.

Even though there are many who malign our country, and we are by no means perfect - we are free and I thank God for that freedom. I thank God for men and women who have served, are serving and will serve in defense of our nation. I thank God that in His great mercy and grace I am American, a South Carolinian and most of all a saved believer in Jesus Christ - because all the freedom in the world wouldn't mean a thing if my spirit were still in bondage.

In John chapter 8, vs 34 - 36 Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Thanks be to God - I am free - free indeed.

special prayers and thanks for my best friend's husband and the 2BDE 101st Airborne, Ft. Campbell, KY currently serving in Iraq - I was thinking of you when I was singing the Caisson Song this morning.

Fourth of July - Pawleys Style

I love small town America and I love the Pawleys Island Fourth of July Parade.


A trailer with bales of hay, red, white and blue bunting, and kids - pretty perfect.


Every parade needs a "Lady Liberty" - I love ours this year.

Sick

I'm sick - I hate being sick. I know if I were a true spiritual giant I'd spend my sick time seeking God, but I mostly spend it feeling pouty about being sick.

Glad to know I'm in good company. All through the Bible you find people whining to God. "Why am I sick. . . why am I barren. . . why am I poor. . . why did this happen to me?"

David is my favorite whiner, because he doesn't get stuck in it - he moves on through. As evidenced by the many Psalms that start out in despair and end up in praise.

About 20 years ago I truly had the worst telephone call of my life (so far) and I walked away from that phone - walked out into a pasture (I was working at Lost Valley Ranch at the time) and yelled at God. I mean yelled, screamed, cried - or to use a Southern colloquialism - hollered. And I came away from that encounter with God feeling closer to Him than I ever had. It was weird.

So, I'm laying here feeling sorry for myself and saying "thank you God" that I have a sinus infection - and that's all. :-)

Here's one of my favorite rants by David

Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
"He trusts in the Lord; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-- those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-- for he has done it.