Have You Ever Wondered Why…

… you have to wear a shirt with a collar on a golf course?

… responsive readings are necessary in church?

… we get so stuck in our ways that in our eyes, there is NO other way to do things?

… someone can be a natural in sports and make just as much (and more) money as a successful business person who had to rack up thousands of dollars in debt to get through college?

… people get so intense when watching sports?

… we wonder?

… we exist?

God Don’t Make Mistakes

My mom was 17 and pregnant.
If she had given up her baby, I wouldn’t be here today!
I’m not saying I’m 100% pro-life.
I’m just saying I could never have
given up a baby in any way, shape, or form.

Hydrochloric Acid Spill at High School

This chemical spill happened at my kids’ high school this afternoon.  Josh was already home since he had last period off today, and Jason was attending his fourth period class at another high school.  Ali walked right by the spill on the edge of the sidewalk, though.  None of it touched her, but the fumes did make her cough quite a bit.  She called me immediately from outside the school because her bus wasn’t there yet, and there were fire trucks and other emergency vehicles arriving.  There was nothing I could do because I was at least 30 minutes away at the office for a training meeting.  So I called Jason, but he had to work right after school.  Ali ended up getting a ride with a friend.  She washed her clothes and showered when she got home to be safe, and she says there’s no burning in her nose or throat.  She had already been coughing and a little hoarse from a cold.  All who went to the ER today were released, so I’m not too concerned.  I’ll check with her again when she wakes up tomorrow, but I’m sure she’s fine.

Barack Obama – Education Speech

If you have about 36 minutes and are interested…

Sing for Joy?

I think I had mentioned in an early post that I decided to join a worship team at church again.  Well, last night was the first practice.  There was a time when we had two practices before singing, but they have changed that to coming earlier on Saturday to count as the second practice.  That change was made some time ago, so that’s not at all the issue.

The issue is that the team I’m on now, though the people are just as great, does not stick to the key of the songs we are given to practice to for one to preferrably two weeks before practice.  So for the past week, I worked so hard at nailing certain notes on these songs on the CD only to have to sing them in an entirely different key after all!  The two songs that were changed are my favorites, too.  One of them I have to sing entirely in falsetto voice (i.e., OPERA-ish).  The other just has two or three notes that I can’t hit, but they’re in the chorus.  It will sound ridiculous if I drop out there, and there’s no harmony that will work for it.  If I false those notes, it will just sound squeeky and ruin the feeling.  The key was changed because the leader can’t sing that low – nevermind that now someone else struggles to sing that high.

Where does this fit in that The Heart of the Artist book?  I don’t see this as teamwork; I see it as a solitary decision.  I usually keep my claws in, but this is really eating at me.  I’m afraid to bring it up because I’ll be viewed as just another artsy person complaining and wanting it MY way.

I had to dump this somewhere so I can try to let it go and focus on work today.  I hope this isn’t an indication of how it will be every time this team sings.  If it is, it may really have to be the end of it for me.  As much as I want to do it, if it’s going to hurt, I don’t see how I can continue.  As much as I don’t want it to be a “show”, this is one thing I truly appreciate about my old team … we always sang all songs exactly as we practiced them on the CDs.  I don’t read music, and I don’t know how to take it up a third just like that!

Kids Mobility Nonprofit Organization

Check out http://www.kidsmobility.org

All Denver front range locations of Jenny’s Market are donating all income (not just profits) from coffee and soda fountain sales to this organization every Wednesday in September.  Thirsty???

The price of these pieces of mobility equipment is astronomical!  Insurance companies are covering less and less of these costs.  What a great nonprofit organization to help those who simply can’t afford these for their children in need.

September 11, 2001 and War

I just saw part of a special on the History Channel showing news footage as well as various people’s home videos captured on September 11, 2001.  I remember seeing the news coverage and not really knowing how to feel about it all.  For a while, I remember I couldn’t take my eyes of my TV, but I don’t remember feeling.  But, watching this special, I was really sad.  When I saw the plane slam into the second building, it made me jump and gasp – then I just started crying.

How can people hate so much?  What did we do to make these monsters do that?  If we pulled complately out of this war, would they do it again?

Palin Calls War “A Task from God”

[As seen on video clip sent in comment on preceeding post.]

If you have read the entire Bible, as I have, you will see that whenever God hands down this task, it is to defend Him and those who believed in Him.  Christians were sent out to battle those who worshipped “false” gods.  Could you imagine the bloodshed right here in the U.S.A. if Christians were to carry out that task today?

What Does the Bible Say About War?

Is the Bible Contradictory About War?

What Did the Vietnam War Accomplish? (Actually, it did accomplish something – as did our involvement in the Korean War.)

I’m torn!  I believe there is a need for war, but I also believe it should be well planned.  Here are some interesting comments to a blogger’s question, “Why are we fighting the Iraq war?“

Childhood Cancer Awareness

It’s not letting me imbed the video here, but please go to this article on our local news station website.  You can view the video there as well.

Sarah Palin Winning Women Voters Why?

So this “pit bull with lipstick” is rallying the women of America, which makes me wonder.  Are they hot for Palin simply because she is a woman?  Did they even do any research before jumping on this band wagon?  I don’t get it!  Oh … McCain picked a woman as his running mate … what a radical move.  Let’s vote for them!  I’m sure the rifle slinger must have swayed some men as well, appealing to their testosterone.  What man wouldn’t be curious about a woman all for the NRA?  I’ll try to refrain from airing more opinions until the debates begin. In the meantime, become informed!  Start here:

McCain/Palin Issues

Obama/Biden Issues