I've got a couple of books that are on my I HAVE TO READ THESE RIGHT NOW OR DIE list. One is called 'Why Government Can't Save You' by John MacArthur. Here's a quote:

"A certain amount of healthy and balanced concern about current trends in government and the community is acceptable, as long as we realize that such interest is not vital to our spiritual lives, our righteous testimony or the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. Above all, the believer's political involvement should never displace the priority of preaching and teaching the gospel because the morality and righteousness that God seeks is the result of salvation and sanctification."

And to this I can only add a boisterous, "You GO, John!" (I must note here that Dr. MacArthur would probably protest vehemently against being called Johnny Mac. I mean him no disrespect. I just think he's cool enough to pull of the name, that's all. Seriously. He's awesome.)

The other book I've just got to have is John Piper's (J Pippy's?), Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ. I wanted to buy this book SO badly at LifeWay yesterday but since I was trying to be thoughtful by purchasing hubs the fab new Bebo Norman CD (Pull Me Out) I just couldn't do it. Baby needs a new pair of shoes and all that jazz.

Here's the skinny:

"If God governs the sinful acts of men, then does the devastation caused by those terrorists, dictators, murderers, cheats, and abusers discredit Jesus’ words: “All authority in heaven and earth belongs to me”? When heart-rending news comes of the latest accident, illness, or natural disaster, can we really believe that in Jesus, “all things hold together”?

Though God has not answered all of our questions about sin and suffering, there are things he wants us to know, things he declares in his Word—such as what’s at stake in the “spectacular” sins of others and the horrible tragedies of this life; their global purpose, both historically and today; and what these events say to us personally."

I've had some interesting blog exchanges with a person who says he was once a Christian but 'exited' the faith and is now an atheist. {Note: I disagree with his statement on the ability to leave faith on many theological levels but I will not discuss them here! Just so you know. You're welcome.} One of his chief complaints is his belief that God is the creator of evil. In classical Piper brilliance, I'm sure this book will deal rightly with God's sovereignty over all His creation. I just love a smart read. I need to lay off the Diet Dr. Peppers a few days before tackling it which I hope is very, very soon!

Okay, enough for today...I get excited and have to purge.

Shoot. Just deleted my signature again.

Lisa

This guy is a Christian comedian named Tim Hawkins. I'm rolling over this bit about praying with our kids. We were just talking about the 'if I should die' prayer in parenting class the other night, so guys, this one is for you!

Can someone tell me how in the world I have gone this long without falling in love with Hillsong?

I was listening to a different iPod this morning on my walk and their song 'Stand' came on. I've never heard it though I'm sure it is an oldie since it was part of a FUZE compilation album that belongs to one of my boys. I LOVE IT! There was another song on there by them that I can't remember the name of right now but oh my goodness! I have to have some of their cd's!

Which leads me to this question: Do ya'll love Hillsong? As a newbie to their music, what is your favorite song of theirs? What cd should I buy first? Cause by this weekend, I'm going to have one and that is just all there is to it....

Waiting to hear from you...:))

As if the new truck were not enough, I got an email Sunday evening that left me in a lip lock with my computer screen.

A few months back, I submitted a story to Tyndale Publishers for a Chicken Soup for the Soul-styled book called, "Soul Food for Women". I can barely believe I am typing this, but I just received a tentative acceptance from the editor saying if her submission makes it through the final editing process at Tyndale, then my story would be in a real live book!

DID YOU HEAR THAT!??! SOMETHING I WROTE MAY BE IN A REAL LIVE BOOK!!

Okay, I'm disabling caps now...

I may have just jinxed myself by even telling this news so early on, but I couldn't contain myself. I am supposed to get final word about whether the story will be included sometime in July...I'll keep you posted...Please say a little prayer it makes it! :))

For those of you who have been around here for a while, you've heard me talk about The Preacher's beloved truck, the Blue Goose. Now you have to understand that though Goose isn't the most lovely vehicle in town, hubby loves her. She has been faithful and most importantly, paid for. There has never been any mistaking when he has been visiting about town or running some errand here or there because the blue of this truck commands attention. 'There goes The Preacher', passers-by will say and he will happily wave back forever in awe that God has blessed him with a ministry that allows him to meet people where they are and simply love them. Hubs enjoyes the pulpit but he is happiest beating the bushes whether it be to cut someone's grass or lend an ear to a soul who just needs to know there is someone who cares. He does care, ya'll. More than you can imagine and it is just one of the reasons I love him so.

But, I can also safely tell you there is no amount of sentiment that would prevent Luke from trading in the Goose for this:




Now hold on to your seats for this one...



We got home from vacation on Saturday and though we were sad it was over, we were excited to get back to church the next morning. It was Father's Day and at the end of the service, our wonderful deacon chairman A. called Luke and me to the stage and proceeded with telling us through tears how much he loved our church and family. (I can assure you the feeling is completely mutual.)



He then called out R., the deacon who had played the 'We Got You a New Truck' joke only to present hubs with a shiny TOY Ford. A. asked R. to come to the stage because he was going to have him formally apologize before the congregation for that terrible incident. Now Luke and I are a little uncomfortable for this dear guy because we adore him and have hoped this fiasco was long behind us. But upon coming to the stage, R. pulled a key from his pocket and asks us to go outside of the church...



We walked outside with 200 people behind us and this truck is what was waiting for us. It is a brand new Chevrolet Silverado, paid for even down to the tags. Luke and I immediately burst into tears and we haven't really stopped yet.



I told the crowd then and I'll tell you now - when you bless my dear husband, you bless me. When you encourage him, you encourage me. When you tell him you love him, you've loved me. He has never owned a new vehicle in his 40 years and to say this is an overwhelming gift just doesn't do the matter justice. I am absolutely swollen with pride to see my preacher finally have a vehicle that people will want to ride in instead of calling to say, "Let's go to lunch. And by the way, I'll drive". Seeing his face was like seeing a boy again - and you know how boys like their toys. He is absolutely smitten with his.



This morning as I walked, I put the iPod on shuffle and asked God to ordain my praise and worship. Oh did He ever. Every song was one of thanksgiving to the point I had to stop and raise my hands while crying my eyes out. I know the guy who was unloading stock into the grocery store not far from my walking track was thinking I had lost my ever loving mind but that just has to be okay today. I have a lot to be grateful for. My God continues to take my breath away so if that means I've got to raise my hands to him in front of a stockboy from time to time, so be it.



To my church family - Thank you will never be enough. How do we express to you how much we love you? How much you have made us feel like we have always been a part of your lives? How much we feel like you've always been a part of ours? How can you know how much we praise the Lord because of you? We will never be able to say enough or do enough to convey our gratitude but we'll never get over trying. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this indescribable gift.

2 Cor. 9:10 - 11 'Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread
for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the
harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all
liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."

I was stunned to find out this morning that my dear friend Iris at Sting My Heart had given me the 'Encourager of the Month' Award. To receive this from someone who is such an encourager herself has just made my month!

Iris is the one who encouraged me most with the 'I AM' study even to the point of making the study button for me. When I got overwhelmed with the project, somehow I knew she was rooting for me so I kept on. There is something magical about accountability and once I told her I wanted to do this thing, I didn't want to disappoint her or the Lord. So thank you Iris, from the bottom of my heart, for all you did to 'spur me on'. I love you, sister!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together,as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

Please click the button above for her own words about the award. And hang around her blog for a while! You'll be oh so glad you did. :)

Have a fun Friday!!

I have just found out that someone nominated 'The Preacher's Wife' for Best Religion Blog in the Blogger's Choice Awards. WOW?! For the sister who nominated me, THANK YOU! You gave this site the most wonderful description and I don't know what to say but I am grateful and overwhelmed. For fear of pulling a Julia Roberts who told the 'little orchestra man' to have a seat as he tried to shush her Oscar acceptance speech, I'll hush now. After I say this that is.

I looked at the list of other nominees and at last tally, the Religion blog in the lead was actually an ATHEIST blog. Now tell me how that should be in a Religion category? Let me be clear I am not tellin' you to go vote for me (unless you really want to that is :)), but please go vote for somebody who loves Jesus. Could you just do that please? It only takes a minute and we simply can not let someone who does not love Jesus win the Religion category. It just can not happen. It can't. Unacceptable.

So run on over here and vote. Remember. No athiests. Jesus Worshippers only.

Thank you!

UPDATE: I am so excited! Darlene Schacht from CWO also sent this award back my way...You can read her comments here. What a blessed girl I am to have such sweet bloggy sistas!

I am so grateful to Iris at Sting My Heart for mentioning my name for the Thinking Blogger Award. You can click on her site name or the award button to view her exact comments. I had never heard of this award until today, but I can not think of anything that would make me feel more special than to know something on this blog would make you linger over the goodness of God. Iris has an enormous heart and is a constant source of encouragement to me. I am still in awe that God has placed me in the midst of so many incredible women whose company I do not deserve.

From what I understand about this award, when it is given you pay forward meaning you send this award to others in the blogsphere that make you think. Here are the official rules of this award:

If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,

Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative gold version if silver doesn’t fit your blog).

Please know I could list about 20 here, but I'll be a good girl and follow the rules. So girls, I am tagging you five:


Tracey at Show Me State of Mind - I chose Tracey because her recent posts about her son's friend, Katie, who died in the Enterprise, AL High School which was hit by a tornado reminded me how everything in life can change in an instant. What touched me is that Tracey and her family took the time to drive down and be with this family. Often there are no words, but people remember who surrounded them in their time of grief. Tracey is that kind of friend.

Mindy at Ponderings of the Heart - Mindy has the most reflective spirit and is truly after God's heart. I am blessed to not only call her Blog Sister but family as well. (My stepdad is her uncle for those of you who have wondered) I can honestly say we've gotten to know each other in our adult lives and in our roles as pastor's wives moreso through our blog than time and distance would ever allow in person. Her family has never been considered a 'step' family...They have always been as good to me as my own. I am blessed.

Rita at The Jungle Hut - Where most of us would have to be dragged into the jungle to live in a hut and minister among natives, Rita had to be dragged out. Her blog is one I have only recently begun to read and it has touched me deeply. You simply must visit her site and read about her family's work in Venezuela. A hint: You'll never buy Citgo gasoline again! :)

Bonnie Bruno at Macromoments and Photo Buffet - Bonnie is the person God used in my life in my very first blogging days to encourage me in writing. Through several 'coincidences' (we all know there are no such things) she put me in touch with Darlene Schacht at Christian Women Online where I now have the blessing of contributing at the Internet Cafe Team Blog. She has two blogs, Macromoments which is features her writing, and Photo Buffet which highlights her photography. Her words are as beautiful as her images and as her tagline reads, I always 'arrive hungry and leave inspired'. Bonnie also is a columnist for Christian Women Online Ezine. Her April article, Snug as a Glove, is phenomenal. Thank you once again Bonnie for taking the time to bless me.

Darlene Schact at DarleneSchacht.com - Darlene truly has lofty thoughts and can use words to turn the most simple, everyday occurences into a beautiful image that is forever burned into the mind. I am specifically referring to her article, Therein Is Life, in CWO Ezine this month but you can check out her blog and find many more fine examples.

There are so many more I could list here. What I want you all to know is that you have made my life more rich than it was even two short months ago. Thank you for being my bloggy friends! :) And Iris, again, thank you my sweet sister. You just don't know how much it means....

I made a 100, I made a 100! On my New Testament Exam that is...wahooo!!!

Okay, I'm done now...