Getting to Know Some New Folks (and saying "hi" to some friends)

Today I went to sing at the Gospel Fest 2008. It was really just pretty neat, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The other vocalist from our church asked me to join him last Sunday when a song we practiced just seemed to flow. We had both sung it before, just not together. I was impressed by the number of participants. I guess about 20-25 bands, soloists and groups were there. We had everything from hard rock to southern gospel represented, and had one dancer. She did a beautiful job. I love to watch the grace and fluid motion of dance.

I wasn't nervous until just before the little girl (about 5) sang with her daddy. We were next and I realized that we had not had a mic check, and I had no idea which one of the 5 or 6 mics available to use. And all the music sounds so much different in an outdoor theater. Just about the time I was seriously thinking about freaking, and had started seeking the Lord to calm the jitters, R appeared beside me saying. "Let's pray right quick." Amen to that! The jitters subsided, and the song went really well. I saw several people singing with us, always a good sign. I didn't stay for all of it, because it will go quite late into the night. At 7:45 they hadn't even completed the "first half" list yet.

I guess they do this every year, and I can vaguely remember a crowd of people a the park on 29th Street last year about this time. I hope I get to go again next year.

It Made Me Smile

Today I had a pt who was just a bit of a character who was "letting it all hang out" while still under the residual effects of the anesthesia he'd been given. To say taking care of him was a unique experience would be a gross understatement! He embarrassed his poor daughter nearly to death, and she kept apologizing for him saying, "He really isn't like that! It happens every time he gets anesthesia! I'm so sorry!" I told her it was not a problem, and that he had actually made the day kind of fun, and he probably wouldn't remember much of it when he fully recovered from the meds they'd given him. He was with us for about 2 hours after surgery. I discharged him and sent him home in his daughter's care. About an hour later, flowers were delivered to the unit, saying thank you for the great care. I don't know if his daughter told him what he'd done and said he needed to apologize, or if he remembered more than I thought he might and was embarrassed. We all got to enjoy the beautiful arrangement, and then the girls said to bring them home because he had been my pt. I have enjoyed just the memory of the silliness, and the thoughtfulness of the gift, regardless of the reason behind it. That's the first time I've ever had a pt give me flowers.

Weird

I went to visit Rhondiemarie, and when I came back, all I had was a black screen with writing ont it. I also noted that her wallpaper was gone. So I'm wondering what's the deal here!?

How to Make Big Question Marks Appear Over Peoples' Heads

Today our church did a gas giveaway for the holiday weekend. There were 8+ people there, some handing out flyers at the pumps and giving directions on how to get money back, some acting as cashiers, one or two lending moral support. All got involved in praying for those who accepted the offers. It was a great day. The reaction ran the range of "Thank you, God bless you" to "Why are you doing this?" One person asked how we were making money doing this. When we explained that we weren't making any money, we were giving it away, he took his cash and walked away shaking his head. One lady said she and her family were looking for a church home. Several asked for prayer for loved ones who are in jail. Two or three gave us their receipts and said they didn't want the money and to bless someone else with it.

One family ran out of gas just as they pulled into the lot. They didn't make it to the pump. Someone else had a gas can, so we filled it and put it in the tank so he could move the car. We were able to bless them with a little extra cash, so they were able to put a little more gas in the tank this time.

One lady lost her driver's license and came back to us asking if we had seen it. We helped her look in the parking lot, in the store, she looked all through her car. No license. She came back to us several minutes later, still searching. She had started to walk away again, when I asked if we could pray. She said yes. We prayed and she walked away. A couple of minutes later, she came back all smiles to tell us that she had found it on the running board of her truck. A small thing. Maybe. What if someone had actually taken it? Identity theft is the first thing that ran through my mind as we first looked for it. But God is faithful, and He hears us when we call. I am so glad. Glad for her that she found that which was lost. Glad for us that He moves when we make needs known. Glad that the Lord's name has been and will be praised.

I feel like maybe we helped a little today. Maybe we were the buffer someone needed to be able to make it another week. I think we were the gloves on God's hands for a few hours this morning.

We even had some local news coverage. So if you see the news tonight, you might see us!

I Went to the Movies Today...

and saw "Prince Caspian" and "Expelled." Both were very good in their own way. I am a long-time Narnia fan and they did a pretty good job of staying faithful to the tone of the book, even though there were some changes. I'd pay to see it again. The other one, "Expelled" is a documentary on science vs. religion hosted by Ben Stein. I left the theater with the verse, "...and professing themselves to be wise, they became fools..." from Rom. 1 ringing in my head. The interview with Richard Dawkins at the end of the film was a bit of a mind-blower for me. I won't reveal it in case anyone else is planning to see it. I think it is a must-see for any Christian. A couple who were walking out behind me said, "They need to show that in churches." I think they need to show it in classrooms: high school, college, etc. And the church needs to pray!

Wrap-up

Well, the kitties and their Mama are gone. They were getting very active, and I was afraid they would get into something in the garage that would hurt them, since we keep things there to keep the pest population down in the lofts. So I took them to the Human Society. I understand that they will check them to be sure they are healthy, spay the mama and take them to one of the local pet stores for placement. I am sad to have them gone, they were good company; and glad they are gone because I don't have to worry about them being shut up in the garage all day. Now I don't have to worry about L coming home to 4 cats. One would have been too many, 4 would have just put him over the edge! And I don't have to worry about them eventually getting into any of the lofts to have pigeon dinner. But I do miss them. They were so cute.

Update

Four poor kitties, four poor kitties

See how they play, see how they play

The all came to visit the Bird Man's wife

She prayed that the Bird Man would spare her life

Did you ever hear such a tale in your life as

Four poor kitties

(To the tune of "Three Blind Mice")