63. Go horse back riding

See my 101 in 1001.

This summer, as I was doing some program planning, I was brainstorming on field trips that would not only be fun and exciting for my youth to experience, but would also be a bit beyond the norm for them. They all go to the museums during the school year, and water parks were out of the question (too much liability). Pastor suggested horseback riding, the best idea ever! My my goodness did we have a good time. Of the 30 or so youth (and 5 staff) that I took, I believe there was only 1 family of 3 school-aged brothers who had ever ridden a horse before. My parents took me horse back riding for my 13th birthday, so it wasn't a first for me, but it was the first time Id seen so much joy in the faces of my youth. Their eyes lit up with so much excitement they couldn't even eat. Even the one cutest little boy who was, at first, scared to ride but eventually rode(shout out to AJ). This was fun that many of these children may not have other wise experienced. This is why I do what I do.

Task complete!

34. Clean out my email account

If you don't understand this post see my 101 in 1001.

I have a very bad habit of not deleting emails. So, I took the time one day to simply delete everything. Yep, everything. Fortunately, gmail has a feature where all of your deleted email is archived (unless you do a "forever delete"), so if at anytime I feel the need to go back and find an old email, it'll still be there. In the meantime, my email is clean.

Task complete.

38. Get a passport

See my 101 in 1001.

I never had a passport because leaving the country was never an option with in reach, but then it hit me one day. If the opportunity to leave the country ever presented itself, I wouldn't be able to go because I don't have a passport! So I got one, just in time too because it was the last day before the prices increased. Now if I can only get some stamps in it...

Task complete!

Logos 4 Mac Giveaway

Logos Bible Software is giving away thousands of dollars of prizes to celebrate the launch of Logos Bible Software 4 Mac on October 1. Prizes include an iMac, a MacBook Pro, an iPad, an iPod Touch, and more than 100 other prizes!
They’re also having a special limited-time sale on their Mac and PC base packages and upgrades. Check it out!

Speaking In Tongues

The Pied Piper is at it again! R. Kelly has just released a song called Speaking In Tongues which says:

"She work 6 days a week/She off on Sunday/Put on her Sunday's best and lemme eat it like a sunday/She knows that I'm a heavy weight/Mo money than collection plate...She yellin but I don't know what she sayin to me because I keep her sprung/They call me Bishop Eddie Long cuz I got em all speaking in tongues."

Oh my sweet Jesus, are you kidding me? And the worst part of it all? It has a catchy beat! It's only a matter of time before this song hit the airwaves. It's only a matter of time before it's played from car radios in the streets. It's only a matter of time before it is downloaded on iPod across the nation. But am I surprised? Absolutely not! This is the same dude who's former home use to be a church (I can only imagine what went on in the sanctuary...on the altar). The same dude who refers to himself as the Pied Piper. I'm sure that story went over a lot of people's heads, but the Pied Piper is a folktale about a mysterious man who played music on a flute like instrument, hypnotizing some 130 children who followed him and were never seen again.

I know I'm not the only one who sees how dangerous R. Kelly's music is to our children. And most adults are clinging so tightly to their inner child that they, too, are hypnotized by the music of the Pied Piper, so much so, they are unable to see how harmful it really is, and therefore are unable to protect their own children from this danger.

To this, I have but 3 words.

Lord have mercy.

29. Go on 3 dates with the same guy

I included this task in my list for a couple reasons.

• I tend be a bit stingy w/my time. It's the one thing I have that, once it's gone, I can never get back, and I absolutely hate when it's wasted and or disrespected. So it takes a lot of time and conversation before a guy can get me out. *Side note: It's funny how few guys are willing to put in the work.*
• I lose interest very easily, and the moment a guy turns me off, I'm already on to the next, so it's not unusual for me to only go out with a guy once or twice.

Well! Over the past...hmmm...10 months or so, I've gone out with this one guy way more than 3 times, too many times to count. He's always the perfect gentleman (I mean I've had doors opened for me before, but never like this. 's something about that man), the conversation is always stimulating, and his company is always fun.

To satisfy your curiosity, no, he and I are not an item, and it's quite possible that we never will be one, at least not according to the societal standards. So yeah, I'm still single, not so willing to mingle, but I'd like to think I'm wise enough to see and acknowledge the Light of the world shining from the man God sends my way. In the meantime, I'm working on perfecting this good thing...in an "upright" (Job) kinda way :)

Task complete.

Pray fast. Fast. Pray

Thinking back on my childhood experiences, I have very vivid memories of saying my grace before meals. You know..."God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food." And saying my prayers before bed. "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." Most, if not all of us, were taught these "rhymes" when we were just toddlers. Yes, I said rhymes. Why? Because this is a far cry from the model prayer that Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. As Christians, we should mature beyond this kind of "fast praying" and become accustomed to fasting and praying.

From my experience, the most popular time for fasting is during the Lenten season. Everybody wants to "give something up for Lent." This is not fasting. This is simply dieting, which can be very healthy, and may even be necessary for a number of us, but there will be no spiritual gain.

If you truly desire to subdue your flesh & be sensitive to the Holy Spirit (thus receiving God's direction), try fasting. If you desire to loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens,let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke, try fasting. Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your reward. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer. You shall cry, and He will say, Here I am ((Isaiah 58:6-9). It is at this point where we draw closer to God and to seek His righteousness and His will in our lives.

Here's what I've learned about fasting:

DON'T fast to receive God's blessing.

DO fast to receive God's direction.

DON'T fast as a substitute to obedience.

DO fast out of obedience (Matthew 6:16 says WHEN you fast...not IF you fast...)

DON'T fast to impress others.

DO fast so that God notices (Matthew 6:16-18)

DON'T be discouraged if you stray from your fast.

DO brush yourself off and get back on track.

DON'T fast from something that's easy (if you know you don't like chit'lins, don't fast from chit'lins)

Do fast from something that will be a challenge.

DON'T pray fast.

DO fast AND pray.