Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Make Yourself at Home!

Hey bloggers...thanks for the good responses to yesterday's post...

I've been thinking about this past Sunday's message, and the fact that when at the beginning of the sermon I called for people to come up and tell something random about themselves (as in the current Facebook fad), they just came right up immediately (even kids), and weren't shy at all about sharing personal information in front of a very large crowd. I just found that interesting (you may want to share some facts about yourself here...just keep it clean).

I also wanted to say that there is a reason for my picture choice at the top of the page. I used a pic of me writing on my laptop, because that's what I look like when I'm creating all this stuff, and I think it gives my readers sort of a point of reference. But I especially wanted to use that particular shot at the top because it was taken on my own front porch, and I consider the BLOGINTHENOW title header to be the "front porch" of this cyber-house. All the blogs are the rooms in the house.

The point is that I think of it as a place where I welcome you all in, and now I'm encouraging you to go into all the rooms and make yourself at home.

As I said earlier, the BOOKS BY JIM SWILLEY room isn't technically a blog, per se, but I appreciate the reviews that some of you have written there. If you've never spent any time in that room, please go on in and look around. And if you want to write some words about a book of mine there, that would be great!

If you go into the DEVOTIONAL room (A Year In The Now), you'll find a good entry today about forgiveness. Your thoughts on that subject, as always, are very welcome...

In the ENTREPRENEURS room (A Word for Winners), there's a cool article about attracting wealth that's been there for a couple of days. There's already some good feedback there, but I always welcome more. And while you're there, take a little time to enjoy the music in that room. I'm very proud of that playlist.

The LifeSkills room will get an update after tonight's session, so you may want to visit that room now and later.

The MINISTRY NETWORK room (Now Ministries) has Bishop Tommy's new website link, which includes lots of pictures of UNITE 2009 (those of you who went with me to the Philippines will find your pictures there). There's also an update in that room of what's happening in Uganda. You don't have to be in ministry to participate in that blog.

Peacemaker, I'm glad you're not scared to be all alone in the PERCEPTION room (20/20 VISION)...I actually think that's a neat little blog (the little blog that could)...someone may want to go in there and keep PM company...

And, finally, there hasn't been any activity in the PRAYER REQUEST room for a couple of days, but it's there for you if you need it.

So come on in...take your shoes off...set a spell.

This house was built for you...

C U 2nite ITB!!!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anybody awake out there, beloved Universe?

I'm sitting here with a cup of hot tea, savoring Valentine's weekend in the mountains.

Noisy! But, in a good way. (4 children under 7) We chose one cabin for everyone to congregate and that's where I'm remembering right now.

It's President's Day.

The cabin smells like Swiss chocolate almond coffee, orange & cinnamon Danish rolls, scrambled eggs (one bowl prepared for those who prefer it w/melty cheese) extra crispy bacon, buttermilk biscuits with sawmill gravy & red potato home fries w/carmelized onions.

A friend used to laugh that there wasn't much to do after such fare, but to, "lay around and scratch ourselves." Which is exactly what the neighborhood stray dog did, off the back deck!

No idea how far into which pack of bacon I'd fried, before one of the kids squealed (delightfully) how much the doggy liked breakfast.

Don't even get me started on the ducks.

Did I mention that my dryer conked out on Valentine's Day morning?

Uh huh.

The good news is that I can still smell the scent of campfire on my jacket. One of my daughters borrowed Poppy's. I just pulled off one of her long, brunette hair strands from the collar and remembered (again) to pray for traveling mercies on her way home.

Good times!

Anonymous said...

OK... will you come back if I put my shoes back on?

Anonymous said...

I was going to come up Sunday and tell this one... I have actually gotten shot! Jeff and I were up at Lake Lanier (back in the 80's) camping out with some people. We had actually gone up the day before a company picnic to reserve a pavillion. Anyway, our tent was next to the water on a cove and it was dusk. The people on the other side of the cove decided to use our lantern as a target. I had just gone into the tent to sit down when I heard the loud noise and felt it hit my bum! I thought I had gotten bitten by who knows what, but Jeff and his friend jumped up from the picnic table and into the tent. They found the bullet and one of the guys immedietly got on his motorcycle and raced to try to catch the person with the ridiculous aim! Whoever it was got away...
I am so thankful it hit me where it did, and not my head, eye...etc--That's enough of my "foxhole" experience..Can't wait to get to church tonight and speak in tongues!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to go eat now. But, before I leave, I just wondered if you noticed this, too. How you almost never see anybody in rush hour traffic, holding a goldfish bag in one hand.

We've passed folks eating (pizza, the other day) texting, applying make-up, gargling (least, that's what it seemed like - coulda been scorching mozzerella), sleeping (optimally, the passengers. Some of my best naps have been in traffic.)

I won't be there tonight, Bish. Laryngitis. (audible collective sigh of relief)

* Too funny, P. Nancy!

Anonymous said...

Okay......here's something that up until now only me and the FedEx man knew.....

C'mon......Bishop said keep it clean!

Anyway...at 10:00am this morning, I received Bish's "Year In The Now" that I ordered ! FedEx DOES deliver ~! (through snow and sleet today)

Peace....
Northern Light

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed being at home this AM. My Dad's brother, Uncle Robert used to say, "make yerslf at home, if ya ain't home ya awta be."

In the past rainy days and Mondays would get me down but today is pretty good. I am dry and warm and do not anticipate any reason other than being ITB tonight to leave the comfort of home.

I especially enjoyed your dare in the perception room Bishop. What has been added to me from your teachings along with my pursuit of conforming to the image of Christ was shared there a bit.

This place is really cozy.

River said...

O K For those who still may not understand about the list I went on facebook and copied a list as an example and took out the responces so you could fill in and understand what it's like. This is one about senior high school.

Senior Stuff

Okay, so this one seemed fun:

1. Did you date someone from your school?

2. Did you marry someone from your high school?

3. Did you car pool to School?

4. What kind of car did you have?

5. What kind of car do you have now?

6. It's Friday night where were you then?

7. It is Friday night now...where are you?

8. What kind of job did you have in high school?

9. What kind of job do you do now?

10. Were you a party animal?

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?

13. Were you a nerd,jock,or other?

14. Did you get suspended or expelled?

15. Can you sing the fight song?

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)?

17. Where did you sit during lunch?

18. Did you ever cheat on a test?

19. Did you ever get into a fight?

20. What was your school mascot?

21. If you could go back and do it again, would you?

22. Did you have fun at Prom?

23. Do you talk to the person you went to Prom with?

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion?

25. Do you still talk to people from school?

Just think 3 more months and Class of 2009 will graduate.
This school year is coming close to a close.

A fact about me I shared with a friend.

I really didn't like church . I only tolerated it till I found CITN because we are free to express ourselves and not be put down for being who we are.

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that all the blogs speak of abundant life. Maybe it is just me but there is an overflowing abundance of inspiration in the atmosphere today.

There is a saying that the Bible tells us how to find abundant life, not how life became abundant but there is much poetic prophecy in its writings that for me speak exactly of how life is abundant (without beginning or end) on an eternal level.

The Holy Spirit inspired scriptures were penned by humans who didn’t fully understand what they were writing at the time and they sometimes placed it in terms of their present understanding concerning the world around them. This does not mean they were in error although some who used language that could later be misused, by those who despise the God that is Love to terrorize weak minded humans, certainly were in error.

We can no longer rest complacently in dogmatic authority but must embrace an infinitely all encompassing energy that is represented by the word God.

In view of recent findings it is OK to think in terms of science and religion being of the same pursuit. There is no longer a need for one to assimilate the other or even consider a compromise but there is good reason for unifying the two.

I dearly love what the scientific community has done, is doing and will do to improve both the quality of life and lifespan expectancy. I believe these endeavors are in perfect harmony with the divine love that is the greatest offering of praise that can be rendered by humanity.

Scientific influence reveals the same truth that religion proclaims. Religious influence reveals the importance of embracing something larger than what can be measured. The two blended together are more than complimentary of each other, they actually prove each other. There are some who claim miraculous events happen and there are others who test those claims and prove what can be relied upon to be tangible.

It appears certain that people like me who state their experience of miracles are likely to be questioned and perhaps even studied. It seems reasonable to think that an assertion of miraculous occurrence will invite observation, investigation and even some laboratory testing when an enigmatic anomaly occurs in conjunction with an expressed faith in a benevolent God. This is fine with the likes of people like me as long as there is not some prejudiced disqualification for being human involved.

When I am in prayer expecting a miracle, which for me seems to happen more often than not, there is not much thought given to whether there is a God or not. I simply pray with expectation as in a sure hope that my faith will be made real in my present place of existence. These prayers are fueled by love for those, including myself that are being prayed for.

The energy created by my prayers although not observable render observable results in a similar manner that the unobservable energy of dark matter effects observable matter around it. The God Whom I choose to call Love is the same that gives both actions.

Anonymous said...

After a short day at work,at a job that isn't for long, and only is two days a week as it is........ALL I can do is watch the clock it seems.......waiting, with anticipation for 7pm when my computer screen will breathe alive with CITN for LifeSkills session 4.

Patience, my daughter, HE is saying.

Peace,
Northern Light

Anonymous said...

I don't know what "room" to leave this in.....so I'll set it here and someone else can feel free to move it to another "room" in daddy's house if they want.

The difference between United and Untied is where you put your " i ".

Peace my siblings,
Northen Light

Donald said...

Hmmm,...let's see here.
Oh I know! Not many people know this, but I am a woman trapped in a man's body.
Just kiddin'!
Ok, ok, for real, I was the 1990 Mississippi State Karate champion (cham-peen as my grandfather would have said).

Linda Luke said...

Happy day everyone!!!

Izumi/Joy I felt like I was right there with you with all the wonderful smells and food! What a cozy wonderful way to began the day! (that's just super early though) =)

Funny P. Nancy! I am thankful that is wasn't somewhere else too!

I LOVE all the rooms in this house! Thank you Bish for creating them and making them so inviting and wonderful!!

....I wouldn't even know where to began in sharing something about me...I never want to grow up~still a kid at heart...I love cartoons, playin tea with the lil girls, seeing things thru the eyes of a child and lots of other things. I pray I never lose that wonderment! I'm a sensitive person(hopefully not overly), and compassionate. I had a bottle until I was 4. (Hey,have my parents to thank for that one!) Had first date @ 18. (very strict father~thankfully). Have loved our Heavenly Father ever since I can even remember!!

Think about you all often!

Love, love, love~

The King's Cup said...

Thank you Bishop for such a warm home to come into. To have you make each one feel so comfortable and welcome. Up until now the only room I have taken my shoes off in has been your prayer room, but we shall see where the future shall call me.
These rooms are really places that reside within your heart - That you hold sacred. Thank you for the trust in our Father that allows us entrance. Blessings!

Unknown said...

Hey River, remember when Bishop used to put up 20 questions? Lord, I remember investing half a day in working on pulling out answers to some of the really good questions. (Your list #20: The Poets...thank God for Bulwer-Lytton's "the pen is mightier than the sword?" helping to overcome any adolescent chagrin for a mascot in a beret and tights against rivals the Robert E. Lee Generals!)

Izumi/Joy, you were the first person that came to mind when I read today's post...with memories of those first moving in days on the blog and your invitations then (to those who were first timers) to find their room, get settled and join us in the main living room. You "saw" and spoke of lots of rooms then...in addition to a word artist, you are a visionary extraordinaire!

Donald, you gotta stop! I can't type while I'm laughing!

River said...

Avatar I knew it was you Bishop didn't have to let your secret out. As for 20 ours was Cardinals we were rivals to Pastor Debye's team but don't ask me what their team was because that was a long time ago.Yes I remember Bishop's 20questions I wish he would do it again I really like answering questions. My fav. on the list was number 8 I worked at six flags & my dad's catering business. Really didn't have time for prom or anything else when I was in school but I had fun after I got off at six flags.
What about everyone else?

Anonymous said...

Good morning beloved Universe!

Thank you Crown Jewel & Avatar.

I'm wondering how much cozier you would have felt, if I described how I almost caught a potholder aflame. One of our guests had to dismantle the smoke detector & fan the cabin door until cloud plumes cleared. (when I said, "crispy", that really means, "charred")

Afterwards, we had to re-count how many kids we registered. ("Huh?" "Who's that?!" "I thought he was yours." "No, we thought you brought him." "Make him take the ducks with him, please.")

Did you know there's a childrens' beverage called, "Bug Juice"? It's true. (whatever happened to good ol' caterpillars and grasshoppers, I wonder) Anyway, that seemed to be the breakfast drink demand.

Wisdom nugget: Never, ever put a capful of Joy dishwashing liquid in a jacuzzi.

River said...

Hey Izumi/Joy
I've heard of bug juice in fact my duaghter use to drink it and now she's moved on to a new one called road kill. Sounds like the manufactors of these drinks are trying hard to gross out the parents.

Anonymous said...

Hey River,

They succeeded!