Gravity | Love

Bets gave me Sandra McCracken's "Gravity | Love" CD for my birthday, and I've had it in my CD player for about a month now. I listen to it in the mornings when I get sick of NPR. Sandra's got a nice mellow voice, but what I really love is her songwriting. The American Songwriter Magazine says "Sandra McCracken is adept at writing songs that span the abstract and the tangible - songs that beg for repeated listens and imaginative reinterpretations." And I think it's absolutely awesome that she's married to one of my favorite artists, Derek Webb.

"Long Way Home"
It’s not what we expected
it's not what we had planned
but maybe it is better
than we can understand

like finding a good reason
in a bottle on the shore
everything will have it’s season
nobody’s keeping score

this is not how I thought that it would be
waiting on some circumstance, to make me feel complete

innocence, we pass it down
like corduroys with the knees worn out
i wanna take the long way home
the long way home

i’m driving in slow motion
on streets of might-have been’s
put to rest my reservations
A new day to begin

this is not how I thought that it should go
drag me around and around the things I thought I should know

love is not efficient, but even if it was…

innocence, lost and found
like corduroys with the knees worn out
i wanna take the long way home

Catching Dinner

My folks are in town visiting this weekend -- We went fishing in Tampa Bay and successfully caught Red Snapper and Mackerel for a tasty dinner! Dad fried the fish and the french fries (he's way better at frying things than I am), and we had a nice dinner at home:



When was the last time I caught my own dinner? I used to go fishing a lot growing up, but unless you call trying to throw pizza dough in the air "catching" dinner, or catching the eye of a guy who might later buy me dinner (which never happens by the way ;), it has been a LONG time. Maybe it's the memories of a simpler time talking, but I really enjoyed baiting the hook, casting my rod, and waiting in anticipation of what might bite!

Church

I began thinking tonight how similar I am to the President. Sure, our political opinions, on things like healthcare, abortion, and the military, are quite different. But he has been looking for a church home just like I have.

Ok, maybe not "just" like I have. He has aides and friends to help him scope out churches in the area. And his presence at a new church certainly wouldn't go unnoticed. I wonder if the President gets a letter from the Pastor afterward, thanking him from "braving the unknown to attend" and detailing when the next New Member class starts up?

Somehow, I forget how hard it is to find a new church home. Maybe it's because the Lord has always blessed me with great fellowship and good worship in the past. I grew up in a good church with a great school, couldn't have asked for a better foundation and Pastor in college, and in spite of what I might say about MD at times, I've got some great friends up there and 2 churches that feel like home. So why shouldn't I trust God can provide that in FL too? Maybe it's because deep-down, I'm really quite shy. Maybe it's because I am horrible at good-byes, so the thought of getting settled into a church during a temporary assignment just spells heartache when I have to leave.

Needless to say, it took the President 5 months to find a church home, and he had lots of people helping him! Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on myself. :) Or perhaps I should just pray harder. The thing about faith and prayer is that at some point, it requires action, and I've always had a hard time distinguishing when I should get down on my knees and when I should get up off my knees.

Story

I first heard Catherine Rohr's story at a leadership conference at Grace-Fulton in January. I was reminded of her story again while reading
this post on Don Miller's blog. She left her high-dollar salary in NY to start a program in Texas that teaches prisoners good business skills so they can make a positive difference once they're released. How's that for living out the Gospel and making a difference?

That's one of the biggest questions I ask myself: Am I using the talents God has given me to make a difference?

Space!

I saw the International Space Station tonight. Well, if you count watching a bright light in the sky move from the SW to the NE for about 6 minutes "seeing" it. I had bird-watching binoculars, but they didn't quite do the trick for space station-watching. Still, it was pretty cool!

Family

I just bought airplane tickets to Texas for an upcoming family reunion. This is an annual event where the descendants of my great-grandfather Oscar gather to catch up, play dominoes, laugh, and eat. Oscar had 9 children, who went on to have their own children, and so on, making these things a pretty big to-do. I am excited to go back to Texas for a few days and be surrounded by family.

Lately, I've been reading my great-uncle Mel's blog. In his blog, he shares stories about growing up on a Texas farm, seeing the world as a missionary, and life lessons he's learned along the way. It has been FASCINATING reading. He talks about being in Tienanmen Square 20 years ago during the massacre. He talks about growing up during the Depression. He talks about racism. He paints a picture into what life was like back then.

I'm glad I'm from Texas. I am proud that I'm part of the Kieschnick clan. I'm so thankful for the way I was raised and the blessings the Lord has provided me through family. And I can't wait to get together in a few weeks!