For Uncle Steve

While hunting through a random closet in our house today, I discovered this...and being the curious person that I am, I tried it on.



It is my dad's old track jacket from high school! What a fun discovery! The sad part is that it fits me. (Apparently my dad was quite small in high school)

This post is for you, Uncle Steve, #1 fan of Blue Earth sports! Hope it brought a smile to your face. :-)

Sneak Preview

I don't have time for a long post today, but I am too excited right now to skip posting altogether.

The future is exciting, folks! An opportunity has presented itself and I am joyfully anticipating all that this year could hold...

At this point I cannot share details, but I can at least make you curious...

It involves this...


and this...


and this...


and this...


and most importantly, this.


For now I will leave you hanging, but there is much, much more to come!

Green Thumb

I gave in to a whim this week and purchased a little plant for my room. Really I have no idea what possessed me to do this, except that I am growing tired of winter and this seemed like a tiny piece of spring.





I would like you to meet my African Violet. It is a cheery addition to my room and I hope my 'gardening' skills are sufficient enought to keep it alive for a long time!

Follow Me

He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?'" Mark 8:34b-36

These verses have been weighing heavily on my mind today.

Anti-Valentine's Day...or Not

I greeted today with mixed emotions.

Earlier this week I thought Valentine's Day would come and go as any other normal Sunday and I would be just fine with it. However as the day drew nearer, and as I saw more and more husbands and boyfriends frantically running into my store to buy thoughtful cards and flowers, my heart started to feel that familiar pang that always comes with the remembrance of bittersweet memories.

I started to wish that I would not have to acknowledge the presence of this "holiday".

However, I awoke this morning to realize that Valentine's Day had arrived un-invited (bringing with it a beautiful winter wonderland of snow). The day also arrived with a card and lots of chocolate from my parents (maybe its not all bad).

As much as I may have wished it away...I am not anti-Valentine's Day. Yes, there were a few tears shed...but tears are temporary. This day is about so much more than the celebration of romantic love.

It is a celebration of love. Period. And as I was poignantly reminded in church today...Jesus is love personified.

Today I choose to celebrate Christ's love for me...and I choose to rejoice in the fact that I can now, in a small way, share that love with my family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and others with whom I come into contact each day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Meet the Press

I do not always stray into the realm of current events and politics on my blog...although perhaps I should do so more often.

At any rate, my dad showed me this article, written by Dr. Kevin T. Bauder, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, and I thought it was an excellent read. Not only does Dr. Bauder deal with the media uproar surrounding the Baptist missionaries charged with kidnapping in Haiti, he also brings out some very solid, logical lessons to be learned from this incident.

Read it...and tell me what you think.

Behind the Name

Have I mentioned before that I love the title of my blog? I put quite a bit of thought into the naming of my little corner of the web.

Perspectives.

What does the word mean to me? It is a reminder of the joy that is found in being able to express the essence of me (complete with my thoughts, emotions, convictions, passions and quirks).

This word is also a constant reminder of what my life is to be like as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Life is all about perspective...living with an eternal mindset. As a follower of Christ, my entire life is to be formed around a Biblical perspective with a focus on Heaven.

Sometimes there are days that help bring my perspective back to where it should be. Yesterday was one of those days. I work at a secular job and there are many days which test my ability to maintain a Heavenly perspective.

However, yesterday I found myself in the office of my manager for a 'performance review' which turned into an incredible opportunity to share my faith.

Here are just a few of the questions I was asked...

"So, you're not all about making money, are you?"

"What do you think Heaven will be like?"

"Have you thought about being a minister?" (This one made me laugh :-)

"At what point in your life did you decide, 'This is what I believe. This is what I am going to follow?'"

How thankful I was at that point for my solid, Biblical education which allowed me to have some concrete answers for him! And what a blessing to be reminded, through a conversation with my manager, of the purpose for which I am living.