Is It Just Me?

Because it is very late and I need to get some other stuff done, this will be a short one.  I just want to reflect for a moment on the impact of knowing you are being prayed for.  My heart is never so touched as when I know that someone has been praying for me--especially when I realize that there are numerous people, many of whom I've never even met, praying for me.  The warmth shown to me and my fellow viajeros this past weekend is unmeasurable.  So, if you have been praying for someone, be sure and let them know.  Their knowing may accelerate the effects of your prayer, and may inspire them to pray for you or someone else as well. If you are reading this, I have said a prayer for you.  I pray that God touches you in just the way you need to be touched.  I also pray that you will be blessed by having friends and family who pray for you by name on a regular basis. Des Colores! Andy

I've just returned from a journey.  More accurately, I've just begun a journey.  This past weekend I attended Camino at my church and was bombarded day and night with many emotions.  Over the next few days I will be unpacking my experience publicly because apparently I'm a masochist.  As a side effect, I hope that you can look to my experience and maybe see a little of yourself.  Or, perhaps, you will gain from this in some way.  Or, you might get a little dark satisfaction at my spiritual "squirming."  Whatever the case may be, sit back and enjoy... This weekend was truly the first weekend in which have had (read "taken") the time to do some serious soul searching and self reflection in at least a year.  I'm guessing, though, it's been more like five.  The thing that most likely keeps me from doing so on a regular basis is that I often do not like what I see. If you are black, white, red, yellow, too skinny, too fat, too short, too tall,...

Is it just me, or did a lot of things change in 2010?  I mean, the year started out all normal like, with the usual changes: socks, bed sheets, underwear, trash bags, etc.  Then, in March, a change came that set a tsunami of changes into motion. This little change was a job change.  I'd been employed as a loan officer at that particular bank for 9 years.  I was very happy with where I was, but something came along, and I just had to see where it would take me.  Well, one thing led to another and this initial change led to a change in my routine.  I changed the people I worked with, and the way I worked.  I also had to leave my house by 6:30 to be at work by eight.  My one-way commute changed from 20-30 minutes to a whopping hour-and-a-half!  This change led to a change in automobiles as my old Santa Fe had 170k miles on it.  After 6 months of this daily commute (not to mention the hefty fuel bill) something had to change.  So... w...

Is it just me, or does it seem that those of us who go to church get kind of a bad rap today?  Some people look at Christians as judgmental, intolerant, even hateful.  Well, I want to clear up a few things about the church I attend: The church I attend views ALL people as God's children--Loved as they are. The church I attend feeds the hungry in my community. The church I attend doesn't agree with everything you do, but loves you anyway. The church I attend is free of judgement.  After all, we ALL fall short. The church I attend will not turn you away because we disagree with something you've done or said in the past. The church I attend believes in the word of God and it's ability to change lives. The church I attend believes in open hearts, open minds, and open doors. The church I attend believes that different people worship in different ways, and that's ok. When there's a disaster, the church I attend is one of the first on the scene offering ...

Is it just me, or are teenagers more talented than ever?  What do I mean?  I spent a wonderful Saturday night watching some rocking bands that, I'm amazed to say, are totally made up of kids in high school!  When I was in high school, we could barely get enough people in town to put together a decent band.  At this show, there were THREE acts, all by high schoolers, that were world's better than any band I was in in high school (or, for the most part, college).  I love seeing this, and can't wait to see where they end up.  If you get a chance, spend some time time watching your local teenagers rock out.  You won't regret it! Furious G.