Zombies Ahead

Chris Lippincott, director of media relations for the Texas Department of Transportation, confirmed that a portable traffic sign near the University of Texas at Austin, was hacked into during the early hours of Jan. 19. "It was clever, kind of cute, but not what it was intended for," said Lippincott, who saw the sign during his morning commute. "Those signs are deployed for a reason — to improve traffic conditions, let folks know there's a road closure." Really? Is that what they are for? In San Angelo, it's not uncommon on a beautiful, sunny day to see one of these signs warning "ICE ON BRIDGE" so I just figured they were set out for us to play practical jokes. I wonder... if I could hack into one of these signs, what would I say?

NO NOSE PICKING ZONE

HOT MEN AHEAD

BIG WHEEL KEEP ON ROLLIN

BRAKE... ACCELERATE... BRAKE... ACCELERATE

TURN RADIO OFF

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

TURN AROUND AND GO BACK

YOU JUST PASSED GAS

Any other ideas? Please share.

Shake It Up, Baby

Fatigue is the number one killer of my dreams of being a runway model. I know, you'd think it was my body, but my body wouldn't look this way if I wasn't so tired all the time! I blame just about everything I DON'T do on the lack of energy. I'd run around the block if I weren't so tired. I join a gym if I had more energy after work. I'd eat less if I had more energy (wait, that one isn't quite right.) Energy is a valuable commodity and everyone is trying to come up with ways to create it and conserve it. Today, I read on foxnews.com that technology is using kinetic energy to make our lives a little more convenient. They have used kinetic energy on things like flashlights for years but are now developing the technology to use that same energy on devices like your ipod. Just shake it and it recharges. So I'm reading this and thinking, would that work on me? When I get tired, could I just shake and instantly become rejuvenated? So I gave it a try. The answer is NO. Shaking makes me tired. Now maybe I wouldn't be so tired if I shook more. And we have come full circle because I would shake more but I don't have enough energy.

Preventable Death

One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday afternoon is crawl into some comfortable clothes and watch crime investigative shows like The Investigators or Forensic Files. Something about that monotone voice telling a mysterious story of intrigue knocks me out like a light. Today was another typical Sunday afternoon, and once I managed to get my remote control working, I zeroed in on Dr. G Medical Examiner. If you've never seen her show, she is the forensic pathologist for Orange County in Florida. She's the woman that does the autopsies. I recently saw her on the news reporting her findings on the Caylee Anthony case in Florida. Her show is great. Today she had a special on the top 5 reasons people die preventable deaths. I grabbed a pen out of the nightstand. Yes, I have good stuff in my nightstand. Pen, paper, magazines, chapstick, foot cream, my bible, and occasionally I hide candy in there, but don't tell anyone. Anyway, I began to write these 5 things that I need to avoid in order to prevent having the classic Y incision cut into my chest.

#5 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Can you believe that? One of the top 5 ways people die is carbon monoxide poisoning! Dr. G's advice, read the instructions on gas fueled products. Sounds like good advice.

#4 MRSA Staph infection This is an infection with a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to some antibiotics including methicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin. Dr. G says people don't expect a skin lesion to be deadly and try to doctor it themselves and the infection can become deadly if not treated.

#3 Alcohol Abuse This seems pretty reasonable. Alcohol can kill you in excess, it can kill you if you don't use it once your body becomes addicted, and it can kill other people if you try to function with it in your body. Best plan, don't use it.

#2 Obesity Dr. G says being just 30 pounds overweight can lead to heart disease, lung disease, asthma, pancreatic cancer, etc. etc. etc... Basically, get in shape and drop those pounds.

And the #1 preventable way that people die...

I have no idea because I fell asleep. This will surely be the way that I die.

The Days of My Youth

There are days I feel young and then there are days, like today, when I see a picture from my past and suddenly feel distanced from my youth. This picture was taken my junior year in highschool. I was dating my highchool music teacher, Phil Webber. (It's been suggested that he looks like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite in this photo.) I'm the girl in the light colored shirt second from the left on the back row. This was our ladies ensemble and we were actually pretty good. Probably because all the attention we received from our teacher. :0) I've really changed since those days but my goals and dreams still remain the same as they did in this picture, taken 21 years ago. I dreamed of marrying a godly man and working full-time along side him in a church, and here I am. Many of the other young ladies in this picture are serving God in their work as well. Clarissa (bottom right), Teresa (top row, 3rd right), and Jenni (bottom left) are all pastor's wives. Lisa (middle, 2nd left) is on staff at a church in Orlando, Cheryl (top left) is a teacher in a Christian school, and the list goes on. We've all gone our separate ways but try to stay in touch by way of Facebook. But no matter how many miles away we find ourselves from each other, we will always have a single thread that binds us all together - we are sisters in Christ. I miss these ladies and often wonder what happened to each of them. Donelda (middle row, first girl on left) is the granddaughter of the late Art Wilson and Amy (middle row, first girl on right) is the daughter of Kansas State Representative Dick Kelsey. I'm not sure where they are now but know that we will see each other again someday, if not here on earth, in heaven. 21 years is a long time but not when compared to eternity. I'm looking forward to heaven and doing some hard time with my highschool girlfriends. We've got alot of stories to tell and to catch up on.

The Pit of Despair

My favorite movie of all time is The Princess Bride. I love the twisted humor entwined with romance and adventure. From the moment that the farm boy is ordered to "fetch me that pitcher" I am engrossed in the story that unfolds with its mischievous villains, giants, wizards, and of course, the six fingered man! One part of the movie that always tickles me is when Westley is captured and held hostage by the albino in the Pit of Despair. What a dramatic name for a place to be held hostage, the Pit of Despair. Calling it the Cave of Doom just wouldn't do the movie justice. This is the end of our hero! Westley is surely going to die. It is a hopeless situation and despair is the word that best describes this point in the movie.

As I was reading my bible today, I came across this verse, Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." There it is! The Pit of Despair!! At the moment in our lives when things seem hopeless, God is there to save the day. He lifts us up and sets our feet again on solid ground. Now, it seems wrong in so many ways to draw an analogy between Westley in the movie and my life but how funny is it that God used this way to describe the hopeless and insecure time in our lives. He lifts us up, gives us a song to sing, and people will see what He has done.

Our church is going through a difficult time right now as we transition from a situation that has been comfortable into a new beginning and new leadership. It is a tough time and many feel unsure, insecure, and maybe even without hope. I'm not sure I would define our situation as the pit of despair but there have been nights we have cried and wondered how we would ever escape this despairing situation. Satan has used this situation to get a foothold and cause unsettled feelings of anxiety among our people. As I read this verse in the Psalm today, I was overwhelmed with a sense of comfort. God has picked me up and set my feet on solid ground and will steady me as I walk along. If there is anything I could tell the people at Lifepoint right now that are feeling shaky and searching for stability it would be this, many will see what God has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Hang on to the steady hand of God as we regain our balance and overcome the Pit of Despair.

He's Not A Hero!

Tomorrow is Super Hero day at the boys' school. It's spirit week. We used to do that in high school. I remember Hat Day and School Spirit Day but now they do things like Lumberjack Princess Day and Favorite Inanimate Object Day. What is that? You're supposed to come to school dressed like a spoon? Anyway, the boys are going to be super heroes tomorrow. Wes has chosen Nacho Libre. I know Nacho isn't a super hero but try to convince Wes of that. I guess we all look up to someone and make super heroes out of some pretty interesting people. It's hard for me to pick a real hero in my life. People are fallible and it's easy to be disillusioned by the appearance of their goodwill and impeccable charisma. I've looked up to people in my life only to be disenchanted by their hypocrisy. That is not to say I don't want to be trusting and have heroes in my life, I just want to make people heroes for the right reasons. I want my heroes to be truly honorable and virtuous, not arrogant and delusive. We need more heroes in Christianity today. We need more believers to not just believe in Christ but truly follow Him and act like He would act. We need heroes that reflect Christ, not just dress up to look like Him. The church needs men and women with integrity and servants of God that treat each other with respect. We need less gossip and more encouragement. We need more positive reinforcement and less negative feedback. I want more heroes in my life and I hope to be worthy of hero status myself someday. Right now, I probably rank right up there with Nacho Libre but I'm working on it!

Rhinoceros Resolutions

Last week our family vacationed at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida for Christmas. It was an experience like no other and we had so much fun. The trip was full of memorable experiences but one of them sticks out to me as I think through my resolutions for 2009. This picture was taken on our trip. If you think I'm going to talk about my weight, not only are you wrong but now you've offended me. I know I'm overweight but a rhino? Seriously! Anyway, we went on a safari while we were at Disneyworld. It was probably as close to a real safari as we will ever get. The jeep-like vehicle drove through acres and acres of habitats that were designed exactly like the natural habitats of many wild animals, including some rare, near extinct animals. As we slowly drove past the animals that were roaming free, we slowed down as this rhinoceros was walking towards the vehicle. It was heading straight for the jeep and right where I was sitting. The driver slowed down so we could snap some pictures. The rhino kept moving and just as the rhino got to the road, the jeep moved forward and the rhino walked right behind us and crossed the road. It was really exciting to see such a large animal move so close to us with no regard whatsoever of our presence in his habitat. As I ponder the beginning of this new year, I want to resolve to do some things better and some things differently. The most important resolution on my list it to pay closer attention to the world that is going on around me. I find it easy to get focused on my life and what I am doing that it is easy, much like that rhinoceros, to just keep my head down and ignore the many people that are passing me by each day. I can stay focused on what I have set out to do and often disregard all the people who are watching me. It is easy to give God the credit when our lives are focused on Him, but when we push forward with where God has placed us and ignore the people that He has placed around us, our actions are hardly Christ-like. So, this year I have made several resolutions but one of the most important is to keep my head up and pay closer attention to the people in my habitat. They may not all be taking pictures of me but my life and my testimony should be reflecting images of Christ, and I know He would never just walk on by.