Pray for the Hostages

I don't agree politically with everything this article says, but it did remind me this morning of the situation over in Iraq. I'm weary of hearing about the latest person being beheaded just for being in the country to help out. Christians, Jews, Muslims, non-religious people, there seems to be no discrimination. The only common denominator seems to be--they were there to help. Barbaric.

Anyhow, when Hensley was beheaded this past week, it hit me even harder than the others. When I was little I went to school in Georgia with some Hensley boys. They would be in their early forties now. I wonder if they are related to the latest victim? And I was really convicted. Have I prayed for the hostages like I should?

Sometimes I think we don't pray as much as we should, because we're afraid if God won't grant our request. And then it might make God look weak to us, or to others. And so, to protect God's reputation we don't pray--or we pray apologetically, with little faith.

Well, I think God can handle His own reputation. He told us to pray. We just do it. God, I pray for the rescue or release of Kenneth Bigley. Please intervene on his behalf. Bring him home to Great Britain. Enable him to see his new grandchild. Thank You.

Muslim Envoys Off to Baghdad

School's in Session

Well, I guess I should blog a little more often, huh? Suddenly life is busier than it has been in years.

When my family was just getting started I used to chomp at the bit, wishing I had more to be busy at, feeling guilty for doing nothing other than nourishing and changing babies. Not that that doesn't keep you plenty busy, but I was going through a big adjustment, and it was time to be less busy for a while. During that era I had an epiphany which helped me to settle into that homey life. It was this: Someday I'll be busy again, and I'll miss the idyllic life of caring for babies, garden and hubby.

Well, it's here. I'm busy again, and I DO miss the idyllic life, but I'm relishing the challenge of teaching music--not just sight reading and vocal coaching, but of passing along a love of music--and of God. It is, after all, a Christian school, and it's okay for me to do that.

Tuesday night before I went to bed I was working on a guitar arrangement of some of Jomama's music from the cantata. Well, the guitar session turned into a worship session, as I listened to all the music from the cantata, sang and cried, and talked to God about all the feelings that went into that project. I got to bed around midnight. The alarm was set for 5:15 am. Bummer. But I was going on some advice I gleaned from a dream A. had a long time ago, and since it was obviously God-orchestrated, I trusted Him for strength for the next day. Miraculously, I had even more energy than usual. Go figure.

Then last night I saw a bunch of the Selah sisters! There was this cool group hug, and when Heiress asked about the new job, I commented that now I put together two programs a year, without the help I used to get.

To backtrack, last year we all worked together to produce this incredible cantata experience. It was a team effort like I've never seen. Like the Body of Christ, each part, catching the same vision all at the same time. Thus, the comment, two programs instead of one, and without the help.

Later I thought, no, not without the help. I've unconsciously adopted the model, and have been using it freely. The Jr. high-high school age kids are working to help mentor the younger ones. Kids have been bringing in CD's to help me pick out music. They bring in instruments they know how to play. A couple of technical minds are working with the sound tech, shadowing him. And I've got these two third graders with incredible gifts in movement, who have pretty nearly choreographed the whole thing.

I think in the fall I may use the model even more overtly. Someday these ruffians will be leaders in their churches, and even more than reading music, I'd like for them to have had the experience of the body of Christ working together. Hands doing the hand stuff, noses doing the nose stuff, toes doing the toes stuff--you know.

Selah
-Godseeker

Guess What?

OK, so Heiress already guessed, cheater :)

There will be a new addition in March :) Yep thats right.

That might explain any weird behavior out of me this summer. Anyway, we've already got pictures, and I do have to say, s/he is quite a cutie. Of course I might be biased.

Meanwhile, I had been very disciplined this Spring with bible study and prayer. This summer I've let it slip, due to tiredness and nausea and excuses. So, I've got to get back to work, now that I'm running out of excuses, tiredness and nausea have subsided. So Selah Sisters, can you help keep me accountable?

Much Love and Joy,
A.