DJ Amai – A fantastic DJ from Mongolia – where can I get his CD?!!
Do I really have to fly to Ulaanbaatar to find this guy’s CD? Does he have a MySpace? Anybody help! Help!
Happy Fourth of July!
God bless America….and apple pie…..and beer……and potato salad with sour cream, onion, mustard, mmmmm
Stomach Hurts – don’t know why
I don’t feel well today. I have been trying to take better care of myself, but yesterday I developed a tickle in my throat at work and it hasn’t gone away. My stomach is stirring and it is not good because I am going to be honoring a traditional family tradition by going to the Ribfest at a nearby suburb. Some people may say that because I live in the city of Chicago and north of downtown – I have more opportunities to enjoy enjoyable festivals. However, I am going to be honest and say that I have had more fun at suburban festivals and even some bars than in the city. Don’t get me wrong – I love being in the city, despite my grumbling and honking and complaining about all of the humans that clog up my neighborhood. But there is a different quality to being in the suburbs that I can’t put my finger on. Perhaps I will go out again with my suburban friends and be able to really put feet on why suburban venues are more fun at times.
Worship in the midst of beauty – a call to help people build confidence
I have heard that my church is full of beautiful people and that the communion line is like a fashion show. For those reasons it has been hard to pay undivided devotion to God bc seeing the beauty made it hard for some to feel attractive. The people who have shared this are women and men. Where can we go from there? Just say “look inside”? Yes character is very important- but to address feeling unattractive etc should be done on a more wholistic level.
I started to take better care of myself. It has helped me to know I am doing my best to look and feel my best and sticking doggedly with my own personal taste even if it is not considered attractive or respectable on my cultural context.
Therefore, I can be released from feeling like I am not attractive and the unspoken pressure to conform. I know that I will be ignored and/or rejected by other Christian men bc I have an unconventional fashion sense in my Cultural Christian context……… But if I sell out and conform – how does that glorify the Almighty?
It is the fruit that matters and modesty -NOT my effort to be more acceptable or appealing to man.
*Disclaimer – if anybody who knows my true identity and where I go to church reads this – I do not hold any grudge or resentment towards others at church simply for being attractive, nor do I condone pettiness or envy, as those are sinful and centered around the self. I am simply writing this because I think that this post can be used by God to help others who struggle with feeling inadequate in the church to rebuilt their confidence and be who God has created them to be and to focus more on being effective Kingdom builders and encouraging and comforting others around them.
Honest Work
I worked late today. I started at 9:30 and finished at 6:45. I was supposed to be done at six. You would think I would be indignant – but I am grateful.
I am grateful bc I know many others who would trade places with me. It feels good for me to work bc I feel God’s pleasure when I am working.
I hope that my joy will not be dimmed out of greed, fear, or fatigue.
Whistlin’ Dixie – the Remix
Ok I dated Whistlin’ Dixie for a month when I was in college. After 9 years of being out of touch, he has attempted to add me as a friend on Facebook and after I blocked him, he slithered back somehow and has been writing private messages to me under a different username that I just delete without reading. He is really a pest and is very desperate bc we dated very briefly! Good luck, ladies of Northwest Alabama- WD is on the hunt bc he is probably down on his luck and L-O-N-E-L-Y. Sad sad sad. He needs Jesus and to meet some Christian men who will invest in his life and pray for him.
Remembering Michael Jackson
August 29, 1958- June 25, 2009
I was never a die hard fan of Michael Jackson, but I certainly enjoyed his hits from the 80’s such as “Bad”, “Beat It”, “Pretty Young Thing” and especially “Thriller”. In the 90’s, I loved “Black or White”. Forgive me if the titles are incorrect, I am bad at remembering the names of songs. I was not fanatical about the way he expressed himself in his physical appearance as he advanced in his career and was rather suspicious when I heard about the possibilities about him molesting young boys, but I have always respected him as an entertainer because of his innovative and unique vocal qualities and his ability to reach a broad range of tastes and demographics. A Korean student of mine told me that she remembers listening to all of his hits and how many of her peers in Korea tried to emulate his sense of style.
I have prayed for his family and will continue to do so. I have heard many times that the loneliest place is usually at the top and based on what I heard about Michael Jackson’s life, it was a rather lonely place at times, even though many loved him.
