Swine Flu: Do Not Do This

What You Really Should Do: Distract Yourself

For some great chuckles, find an audio copy of "The Screwtape Letters"* written by C.S. Lewis and read by John Cleese. You must experience Cleese's delivery.

Lesser men have attempted to enliven Lewis' brilliant work and well -- ahem...they're just not funny.

Has anyone else heard this version of "The Screwtape Letters?"

Also, this might help:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Excerpt from a missive written by Paul to the Philippians 4:6-7) (Man, he was one smart dude.)

Oh, and remember to wash your hands.

You are in my frazzled-but-lovin'-it prayers today. xoxoxox, Cheeky

*This "purely for example" link may not lead you to best price for "Screwtape" audio copy but it's safe. The cover looks kinda scary but it really is funny. Click link to see what I'm talkin' about: http://www.amazon.com/Screwtape-Letters-Anniversary-C-Lewis/dp/1574532618/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241082949&sr=8-4

Age of Good Intentions

I think they (the people who name things) should reconsider the term “middle age.”

Really, it should be called the “Age of Good Intentions” because that’s what the middle years are full of. Besides, some of us - I mean, "people" hate that term.

As parents of young children and children of aging parents, we are constantly stretched Pokey/Gumby-style 20 different directions.

This past week I stole some time out of my others-centered schedule to dine with dear friends. While we gathered over cocktails and a delectable family style dinner, one friend offered, “I meant to pick up three belated birthday cards and give them to you guys.” We went, “Awwwhhhh…that’s so sweet.” She thought of us.

Another friend told me, "I meant to pick up a style book for you." I don’t remember if I actually said “Awwwhhh,” (probably not, I’m kind of rude that way) but I did think it.

I've intended to be a better friend to all of them every day for the past 25 years.

You know what? I'm glad we’re finally old enough to believe what Mom has said all along. It really is “the thought that counts.”

In this hot mess of middle life, the fact that we enter each other’s minds at all is a gift. We might be too busy or forgetful to follow through, but our good intentions for one another are good enough. Great, in fact. It’s wonderful to simply be thought of.

So ladies, thanks for your good intentions; in return I give you mine.

Just a heads-up -- when we’re 80, the kids are gone, and our money is our own once again, I’ll be expecting some stellar gifts.

Have a beautiful Saturday, ladies. I’m off to volunteer for Compassion International.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ “ (Matthew 19:14).

If you want to know more about Compassion International, click on the link somewhere over that way -->.

You are in my prayers! xoxo, Cheeks

Susan Boyle: Scotland's Beautiful Church Lady

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
by dwarthy

Sin Series: Leaders and Sin

Cheeky here to summarize what we've learned this week:

1. Sin is Sin, all can be redeemed except if you quit caring altogether about redemption anyway.
2. There is not simply a list of "Deep Doo-Doo Sins" we should avoid. All sin should be avoided.
3. Paul and a bunch of other really smart important people in the Bible sinned.
4. There was one perfect person and that was Jesus Christ.
5. The goal for us poor Earthly schmucks is to seek redemption, aim for righteousness, but not expect perfection in ourselves or others.

Did I get that right?

The question I have for you today is:

In Romans 7:14-25 is Paul saying that he, the Great Apostle, author of a huge portion of the New Testament, struggled with sin even as he advanced one of the greatest Christian ministries of all time?

If so, where do we get the ideas that today's Christian leaders (e.g., pastors, etc.) should step down if they commit an especially public sin like say, just for example, divorce?

Is that a Biblical teaching or a man-made addition?

Anyone know?

I'm meeting with a pastor later today so I may know more tomorrow (about the role of Christian leaders and certain kinds of sins - but also just in general. He's a really smart guy. He's also gonna help me back-up my PC. Please still back-up my PC, BP :)

You are in my prayers today as always. Thanks for reading! xoxox, Cheeks

What a Wretched Man I Am!

Do you recognize this line?

These are Paul's words to the Romans (verse 7:24).

-NOTE: this is the third in a series on "Sin" that began on Sunday 4/19 and will conclude tomorrow. (Unless you tell me you want me to continue blathering on about it. YOU decide.) Did I mention you can leave comments at any time?-

There’s a whole section in Chapter 7 of Romans titled, "Struggling with Sin." In my Bible, half the portion is underlined.

I might have saved time by circling the entire page with pink highlighter, starring the margins, and drawing huge messy arrows pointing toward Romans 7:14-25.

I posted Romans 7:18-20 on Sunday. Romans 7:14-17 is more of the same great stuff (though not as detailed as I'd like it to be).

Here is the text of Romans 7:21-25a:

"...When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Based on your comments from the other day, most of you have already glommed on to the “through Jesus Christ our Lord!” part. This is Good News! It kinda screwed up the series I had planned for the week but I’m flexible.

When I first read Romans 7:14-25, I thought, "This is awesome!" I love when the disciples admit to this kind of stuff. I also thought, "surely these sins are of the charming, innocuous variety."

If there is such a thing.

Help me out here, ladies. I'm really not trying to drag Paul into the gutter with the rest of us (OK, me).

But since I started pondering sins (as opposed to simply committing them) I have wondered -- what could Paul be referring to?

Does anyone know?

We are All in the Gutter

...but some of us are looking at the stars. - Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892, Act III

**************************************************

Good news. You guys aren't nearly as uptight about sin as I thought you might be.

Yesterday, we pretty much affirmed what Oscar Wilde wrote in 1892.

It was great to hear from you yesterday. The chance to share our perspectives is the real power of the blog. I hope you continue to chime in.

More on one of my favorite topics tomorrow. The continuation of...The Sin Series. I'll wrap it up in time for Friday.

You are in my prayers, beautiful ladies (and two gentlemen). Thanks for reading. xoxo, Cheeky