TImes

Romans 12:21

Thank you Pastor Scott!

I love our church.  I love the people and especially the music.
Thank you Scott for sharing this yesterday.

Tornadoes and Terrorists

With the tornadoes in our region last week and the death of an evil terrorist my mind has been in a quandary over how to deal with the chaos.  We escaped damage although our neighbors and friends have to replace roofs and windows.  It was a scary night but the kids enjoyed our family camp-out under the stairs.  Tragically our college hometown suffered devastating loss.  The pictures don't begin to reveal the horror experienced by so many in Tuscaloosa as well as to other towns throughout the Deep South.  The disaster level has been assigned the same level as that of Hurricane Katrina.  http://cw.ua.edu/2011/05/01/alabama-tornadoes-receive-same-disaster-ranking-as-katrina-911/  

It was eerie to see bald pieces of land where some of our old stomping grounds once stood.  We've heard so many stories of extreme loss but also of extreme faith unfold.  My in-laws are still without power after almost a week but instead of complaining they are embracing the board games and "pioneering" lifestyle, they come from good stock, a blessing to call them family.

Furthermore,  we have had several people ask how they can help the tornado victims, this is the best way we know of: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/04/29/how-to-pray-and-give-for-disaster-relief-in-the-south/ 

As far as Bin Laden's death I admit to initial elation at the news.  Go get 'em Navy Seals!  But that soon turned into a feeling of shame for all the rejoicing.  My husband shared my feeling of "sickness over the whole situation" and led me to a blog post that summed it up pretty well for me:

Some Thoughts on the Death of Bin-Laden

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." 

--Martin Luther King, Jr

Blessings,

Amos Lee

If you haven't heard him you must go now and do so.  His music is a blend of jazz, folk, country.  It is a pure, warm, delight.  I'd discovered his crooning only recently and was thrilled when Jeff surprised me on my birthday with tickets to see him.  The concert exceeded our expectations.  This man has serious talent.  He has played along side a uniquely diverse group including Norah Jones, Willie Nelson, John Prine, James Taylor, Merle Haggard, Dave Matthews... 

Here are a few of my favorites:

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  ~Berthold Auerbach

gettin' your groove back, shakin' yo' bootay music

If you are like me, finding myself at this time of year, yet again, the skinny jeans a distant memory and the fat jeans leaving imprints, it is time, time to shake it.  So like my 80's teen self, I have made you a mix, sadly not the classic cassette type, but made with careful, loving care, nonetheless.    Now my local friends, you'll know what I'm jamming out to at the gym and in my car as you pass by wondering if I'm having a seizure or just doing the "Elaine Dance" from Seinfeld...

 

.

Now go on, get up, shake it!!!  Just try and sit still, crank it up...

Pause my music first 
and  
then either go listen on Youtube or itunes...

"Tennessee Bwoys", Grits

"Beautiful Feet", by Lecrae

"Blessed Be Your Name", Matt Redman

"Got to Give It Up", Marvin Gaye 

"1234" Feist

"Your Grace is Enough", Matt Maher 

"OOOH AHH", The Grits

 "Switch", Will Smith

"Sweetly Broken", Jeremy Riddle 

"Me and Bobby McGee", Janis Joplin 

"Love and Happiness", Al Green

"Hands High", Lecrae

"Forever", Chris Brown

 

A Beautiful song to share

My sweet husband found this song and our children request it daily, they call it the "angel song".  

I wanted to share it with you to bless your ears with as we celebrate this time of thankfulness...

(PLEASE PAUSE MY MUSIC ON THE RIGHT FIRST) 




 


Blessings to you and your family for a safe and joy-filled Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for my dear family and friends and for all of the new lovely people I have met through this blog community.

Fabulous new music you must hear

Happy Fall Y'all!  

Busy 'round here, hope to catch y'all up 
soon on all of the exciting things going on!  
In the meantime enjoy these two new songs that 
my sweet friend Kate told me about after hearing 
them at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta last week...
(Don't forget to pause my music on the sidebar first)

AND...

Hope you have a fantastic, joy filled weekend!  
I am excited that at our farm tonight we are having 
a benefit to collect clothes for our 
emergency youth shelter. 
With 165 people coming so far I better get cracking,
can't wait to tell you more about it!

Blessings,

My favorite new song!

Download it now from itunes, trust me you'll LOVE it!
"Up From The Grave He Arose", by the Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Just try and sit still and not sing your lungs out, it's that good!