Media Art

I've posted before about taking some Media Art Classes. I'm still working at it but just can't quite get the hang of it. I have great ideas but they never look the same on canvas. Is this a gift? Or will it eventually come to me? Hmmm - well, whichever it is, I keep plugging along and I'm sure I'll either "get it" or just continue to do it 'cause it's fun!!!

Teachers plant seeds that grow forever

 Home is FAMILY

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass

it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Then there is always the dilemma - 

What do you do with all of these???

Gifts...

Which reminds me - have you heard of the country churches - small town churches where the members MUST lock their car doors in the summer???

Too many home grown vegetables stuck in the back seats...

Is this what's going to happen when people see me showing up with yet another mediocre piece of art?

:  )

Bella Vista, Chapter 2

Mildred Cooper Memorial Chapel

Found in Bella Vista, Arkansas this chapel was built to honor Mildred Borum Cooper, wife of John A. Cooper, Sr., Founder of Cooper Communities, Inc, and is a fitting memorial.  Besides being a devoted wife, mother, and member of the community, Mrs. Cooper had a deep spirituality and a love for nature.  Her family commissioned the Chapel in her honor to celebrate her life and her dedication to God and his creations.

This is a beautiful place to visit. 

Very peaceful, calm and serene. 

I hope to visit again, sit and reflect.

Gardening

I used to garden. It was always a blessing to go out and pick a bounty that we would eat later that day - or I would can the goods or even freeze them. 

Once I moved to Kansas, I tried tomatoes the first year - too much shade in my backyard.

The whole backyard is shaded like this.

Which is GREAT for a time of retreat or cooking out.

Not so great if you want to be a farmer.

I even planted some in a container, put it on a wagon and moved the wagon around finding sun throughout the day. Didn't work, either.

So today's harvest of bounty -

Is brought to you from the Sedgwick County Farmer's Market.

Y.U.M.

Bella Vista

We sent Andru off to CIY (church camp) and we headed to Bella Vista. Randy has spent MUCH time in that area - me - not so much. In fact other than stopping in at The Passion Play in the early '80's, I've not been there. So we enjoyed lots of site seeing and visiting with Randy's Aunt Leota and his cousin Rodney.

This is where we stayed.

The Greens - Escapes

Randy and Aunt Leota

Standing in front of the gorgeous log cabin his cousin, 

Rodney built outside of Eureka Springs.

We enjoyed Eureka Springs and The Passion Play

Although, we had to leave before it was over because it was pouring rain!

So, we missed the last 20 minutes!!

It was interesting watching the "Bible Characters" sell popcorn,

ice cream, sodas and water!!!

Bentonville, the home of Sam Walton's dream 

and

the coolest basketball goal, EVER!!!

"America The Beautiful"

[first of all, let me say, many of the ideas and information for this post came from Bob Ingram in his sermon "One Nation Brick by Brick" which you can listen to H.E.R.E.  Also, The Husband and I had just finished the conference "Living on Borrowed Time" with Dr. David Reagan which you can listen to H.E.R.E.  While taking notes, I added my own editorial opinion and so this is all entangled and expounded upon. - In other words, I'm not sure who's words are who's. And hope all involved will forgive my un-organization in that matter.]

"America the Beautiful"

The skies are still spacious

Amber waves of grain are no longer blowing in the midwest.

Wheat harvest has come and gone for most of us in Oklahoma and Kansas.

But in the faith I was raised with - 

I know the amber waves will be blowing again next year.

"America"

My Country Tis of Thee - Sweet Land of Liberty.

"The Star Spangled Banner"

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light.

I'm sure that you - like me can hear these songs in your head as you read this. Or maybe some of you even sang them aloud.

Beautiful songs. America's songs. Our songs.

But....

God doesn't get goose bumps when he hears these songs. When we stand in a crowd with our hands on our hearts - many times with tears on our faces - God doesn't get goose bumps. 

We have become a country - though at times very patriotic - that is on a  downhill slide - a country that has let God slip away. - Maybe that is putting it too nicely. We have pushed Him away and ordered Him out of our country and our lives.

Have you ever been to the Oklahoma Memorial? The Murrow Building destruction? Across the street at St. Joseph's Catholic Church - which was also damaged in the bombing, you will see a monument erected for all those lost on that day.

Jesus Wept

photo used by permission from Crimsonedge34

And if you are there, you will realize that Jesus has turned his back on the area of the bombing. This is the picture I see in my mind when I think of what we have done to God in our country. I believe He weeps, I believe He will turn His back on us and I believe that being a just God, we will pay dearly for our apathy and our derisiveness of Him.

What God calls murder -

We call a woman's right.

******

What God calls homosexuality - 

We call an alternative lifestyle

and our right.

******

What God calls lust - 

We call adult entertainment - porn.

******

I can go on.

Are these issues political? 

Does the fault lie within the -

Supreme Court?

The White House?

Our State Government?

or

With me?
With you?
Our homes?
 Our Churches?

All of the above?

It's time to stand up and push back. - 
oh, don't stand up and push back for our country -

Stand up and push back for JESUS.

What we call practicing our faith -

Many around us call intolerance. 

When we don't accept anti-Biblical truth as the normal -

Many around us call us intolerant.

Not long ago, the word ‘tolerance’ meant ‘bearing or putting up with someone or something not especially liked.” However, now the word has been redefined to “all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth claims are equal.” Denying this makes a person “intolerant,” and thus worthy of contempt. It has also come to mean that if you have a Judeo-Christian faith and hold to the teachings of the Bible – you are considered intolerant.

It is now time to stand up and push back.

Stand Up And Push Back For Jesus.

Being an Expert

Last weekend, The Husband and I attended "Living On Borrowed Time Conference" with David Reagan - via internet. You can find it H.E.R.E.

And may I just add here that I L.O.V.E. modern technology. With this busy summer I would never have been able to go to Texas and attend the actual conference.

Anyway, at one point, Dr. Reagon mentioned 3 people he believes to be experts in the field of Bible Prophesy at this time.

I got to thinking about that.

Being introduced as an expert.

Most of the time I don't believe I'm an expert at anything.

How about you?

What are you an expert in?

or on?