2008 Good Gifts for Preachers

Crying in worship along with having a good cry with the Pastor is healing. When I go into a Pastor's office and see a box of kleenex (or "facial tissue"), I know the Pastor is comfortable with tears. If you can cry around a Pastor, you can tell them anything.

Tears clean out soul and mind debris.

If you can cry, be grateful. Crying is a gift if you have bunched all your sadness inside.

St.Casserole

Picture of kittens from I Can Haz A Cheeseburger?

2008 Good Gifts for Preachers

I have a rooster lamp in my dining room. I'd put the lamp in my study if I could find a place for it. Roosters and chickens as decorations don't mean much to me but I love the idea of a preacher owning a rooster lamp. Why? Because we need reminders of our betrayals. Peter needed a rooster lamp but got the lesson directly from Jesus. Glance at your lamp and remind yourself not to betray yourself or others. Turn on the lamp and see light reminding you of God's light coming into your darkness.

Here's the one in the picture: rooster lamp

Oh. I forgot to blog. Anyone out there?

I deserve no readers for the next ten days...


I am reading The Shack. People have been pushing the book on me for months. I'm about 3/4 through with it. I'm happy with it so far.

I've seen Twilight twice. I read all four books in the summer.
The movie works as an adaptation.

Other than these, I don't have much news.

Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow.


St.Casserole

Take a moment to go here

I don't want you to be serious all the time.

It's Monday. Aren't you tired from yesterday?


St.Casserole

Can you hear me laughing?

Reading now: Walter Brueggemann's Prayers for a Privileged People


Jean-Pierre de Caussade's The Sacrament of the Present Moment


Muriel Barbery's The Elegance of the Hedgehog


and because I'm fighting the blues I grabbed my Grandmother's copy of Prayers New and Old, 1937 The Forward Movement, for my devotionals this Monday morning.


St.Casserole

I drove to and from the church for a wedding weekend. Six hours in the car allowed me to finish The Poisonwood Bible. What a relief to finish the story. I kept thinking the author had nothing more to say during the final three audio CDs but on she went. The Price women kept going with more aphorisms, cruel and brittle insights and descriptions of Africa. On the sixth hour of driving, as I entered my home county, the story ended.

The Congo is in the news again. Has been for years. I googled info about the current situation even going to the gov CIA site, though after reading the book I doubt the contents. The history from our perspective I ignored but the health stats broke my heart. Nothing is better there. Not enough food, bad health care, violence beyond reason (isn't all violence this?), dictators, no infrastructure, and more.

Lord, for all those who teach, for healthcare workers,for the people of the Congo, for those who love and serve the people of the Congo, have mercy.

St.Casserole

I'm reading the newest Phil Rickman novel with clergywoman sleuth/deliverance minister, Merrily Watkins To Dream of the Dead.

I love this series.

Thanks, Phil, for getting this book out before Christmas! Thanks for introducing me to singer Nick Drake, too!

Last year Amazon kept telling me the book was available only to delay it.

I wonder if UK readers appreciate Merrily Watkins? I was surprised that three bookstores in Ireland hadn't heard of Rickman. Why were these bookstores even bothering to be in business.

Yours,

St.Casserole

P.S. I am behind listing my books read. Let me add this to my to-do list.

Cold where you are?

NOT HERE.

High will be 75.

Great.

Too hot to garden.

Too many bugs outside.


Warmly,

St. Casserole

Picture of Faith Tones via The Presurfer. The higher the hair, the closer to God.

Nightmares! I've got them!

I'm feeling good, eating well, plowing through the Fall/Winter garden work.

The past two nights kept me waking up with miserable nightmares.

I'm listening to the audio unabridged POISONWOOD BIBLE in my car. I'm on disc 9 of 13 so far.

I resisted reading the book ten years ago but when a CD set showed up at a garage sale for $2, I grabbed it. Keeping a novel going while I drive costs buckage so deals appeal to me.

I find the story painful and difficult to tolerate. The image of Rev.Price oblivious to his wife and daughters struggling in the 1960's Congo makes me feel trapped.

Please, no spoilers.

Let me fight through the story and Lord, Have Mercy, may the nightmares stop.


Plucky but not so cheerful,

St.Casserole

What a week!

U.S. Presidential Election

24 Hour Conference a Camp Beckwith on Mobile Bay

and THIS

LD is home for the weekend



St.Casserole

When Sarah Palin spoke in Arizona this morning, she listed what she intended to do back home in Alaska. On her list was "...children back in school". Why didn't she mention time with her new baby? Doesn't having an 8 month old baby grab a Mom's attention throughly?

I had two babies. They were the center of my world regardless of what else I did. Would I have forgotten to mention a fifth baby?

Sorry, but this is bugging me today.

St.Casserole

Wow

Amazed

Grateful

Exhausted



Hope, I Haz It

St.Casserole

In today's pastoral prayer, I will ask God to help us be gracious and to work hard for our Country regardless of who wins the election.

St.C.

My mind is on:

Nov.4 Election

Sermon for Sunday

Deep South Fall Weather

LD at the Holy Ghost Weinie Roast

Mr.C's Office Building

Little Church's ongoing restoration

*Pic of Fish in his ADVENTURE CAT Halloween Costume

What? Is there Anything Else?

St.Casserole