Gotta Love those Libraries

Love in the library
Quiet and cool
Love in the library
There are no rules
Surrounded by stories
Surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library
Once upon a time
Jimmy Buffett

I've always loved libraries. In fact, when I was in elementary school, I would play library the way other kids played school. I even categorized my books. Then in high school, I thought seriously about becoming a librarian. Some days, it still sounds good--days spent in the quiet company of books and more books. And I especially look back on my days taking the kids to the library several times a week for story time, checking out books and videos, and just for a place to get out of the house.

Of course, folks have been predicting the death of the library for years now. So today's news about libraries and Generation Y made me very happy! Seems Generation Y adults--like Jimmy Buffett and me--love the library. And interestingly enough, the more they use the internet, the more likely they are to visit the library!

So I'll see y'all at the library!

Nothing like a good ole fashioned possum drop!

Today I recieved an e-mail from the listserv of one of my favorite authors, Sharyn McCrumb letting me know about a unique opportunity for welcoming in the New Year--in Brasstown, NC rather than dropping a ball to count down to the New Year they drop a possum! Check out this website for more information including directions, times and pictures of last year's Possum Queen!

A Great Start for 2008!

So as some of you know, Craig and I will start 2008 by celebrating our 25th anniversary with a trip to New York City. We held our breath that the stagehand strike would end before our trip--and it did! (By the way, we are open to suggestions on what play we should see.) But we have also been holding our breath about the Hollywood writer's strike which appears to be a long way from being settled, but today I received the following e-mail and I feel like I have received the best Christmas present ever!

Dear Daily Show Fans,

We are happy to announce that we WILL be taping on January 7th, 2008. If you are getting this e-mail, it is because you have scheduled tickets for this show date.

Honestly, I can't imagine a more exciting anniversary trip!

Proud to be a Band Geek!

Is it any wonder that our family domain is fivebandgeeks.com? Check out my internet famous son's latest blog for Mental Floss -- 6 Marching Bands That Never Were.

This Irrational Season

After Annunciation

This is the irrational season
When love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason
There'd have been no room for the child.
- Madeleine L'Engle


Thanks to Stacey at RevGalBlogPals for reminding me of this wonderful poem. I pray you are all having an blessed and irrational time as we prepare our hearts for Christmas.

They're back . .

Proof positive that Hollywood has any more original ideas. Nonetheless I look forward to this one!

Pray for us!

Today, Laura passed the driving test for her license. So at the first of next year, she will have her driver's license! There is something scary about your "baby" getting her license! (Not to mention how old it makes me feel!)

Picking Blackberries

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
And only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

(Of course, having been to Sinai, I can now say that it was remarkable that Moses saw a bush at all--let alone a burning one! Charles said, maybe Moses missed seeing so many burning bushes that they all burned away.)

Musings

I've been thinking about Charles' sermon this morning, especially about signs from God. Like Charles, I've never been one to receive lots of visible, audible signs from God. Either I am thick headed and blind or God has generally wanted me to discern his will through a more extensive and intensive process. I've always likened my call to ministry as a light gradually dawning. God generally seems to draw me gently into realizations--maybe because fear has always been such a driving factor in my life. Yet, God has also led me to points in my life when I had no choice but to jump into whatever he was calling me to do--long before I was ready or felt prepared. Of course, that day probably wouldn't ever come for me. Actually, I think part of the reason God pushes me into things I don't particularly want to do is so I will know that I HAVE to rely on God and not myself.

So -- how does God speak to you? What signs have you seen? And when has God pushed you into a new situation/ministry before you felt ready? And how did you respond?

If you are concerned about the Golden Compass . . .

Check out this very good article from Christianity Today.

The author makes many good observations, but I think his best comment is this:

The best way to make Pullman's stories look like gospel truth is to respond by acting like the villainous Christians in his stories. The best way to expose Pullman's lie is to respond like Christ himself: With grace and truth, not wrath and condemnation.