My heart strangely warmed.

I always wonder about John Wesley. You know, the dude who founded the Methodist church and started the movement because during a prayer meeting his heart was "strangely warmed."

What does that mean? I feel like I have had my heart warmed about 4,000 times. Does that mean I was supposed to start something great or move in a direction worthy of my heart warmth every single time? I am wrestling with this thought today.

I had breakfast with a dear friend this morning whom I haven't seen in about 2 years. We had a great conversation about where we are now and where we have seen God in our lives in the last two years. The answer was very clear: He has been seen a lot. He clearly is not Waldo. It was very easy to spot Him in both our lives.

It felt good to just catch up with her and enjoy the company of someone who you used to have a great friendship with but time and events just separated. At the end of our breakfast she asked if she could pray for us and for me and I accepted. Her prayer was for me to be blessed and for my focus to never change off of God in everything I do.

My heart was strangely warmed. I felt humbled and convicted. I felt reminded. The conversation went full circle. I was forced to remember all the times God has tremendously blessed me, through the good times and the bad, and then was brought to the throne of God to continue to have my eyes directed at Him and not ay myself.

I see that I have two choices at this point. I could say "Aw, that's nice. Yeah I totally want to do that." And later just move on back to reality of what I do and focus on. Or I could realize that my heart was warmed, moved to compassion or conviction, whatever your choice word is for warmth, and move into something beautiful and great that sits at my feet every time I am allowed to remember and am warmed: the intimacy of God, the call to be a co-laborer with Him and the choice to let Him redirect me.

I had a warm moment this morning... and no, not the kind where I didn't make it to the bathroom. I realized that John Wesley's heart was warmed... and instead of just feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, he took it for what it probably was: a prompting from God to be and do something great for Him.

Just another day in the life... just another moment to remember I will never have it all figured out and I am glad for that.

Long Time No See... time to get serious.

It has been too long.

I actually kind of forgot about this thing because I got busy. I write in my regular journal, but I committed to write here and I haven't. I am sorry for that. Now let me make it up to you.

Now for the subject of, "What shall I write?" I could write about something popculture-like, you know about a song, a musical artist, a movie, etc., etc. I could write about the Olympics... they seem to be full speed ahead with tons of Americans taking gold after gold. For instance, it's worth writing about Apollo Ono setting a record for most medals won in the Winter Olympics or Shawn (or however he spells it) White winning another gold medal just last night in the half-pipe. He did a great job. I could also write about Lindsey Vonn won gold in the downhill, too. All these people worked so hard to accomplish their standing as Olympic Champions. The cool part is when we watch the Olympics, we tend to identify with them... even though my quads are about half or a quarter of the size of Lindsey Vonn's, my skating skills could make the ice angry and let's not forget how I wrecked my body and broke my arm snowboarding... Let's just say I can not literally identify with any Winter Olympian.

But for some reason... when I hear their stories and when I see their face as they accept their award, I cry and I identify.

And let's face it--you do, too. People can admit they cry during the Olympics. It happens once every 4 (well, 2) years. So that's a good crying at least every 24 months. People can strangely connect with athletes who put their lives at risk for something they passionately strive for... something they have put all their faith in and work incredibly hard to receive their glory. We see that. When the Georgian athlete who was in the Luge accident died... the first words out of my mouth were "he didn't even get to compete..." People laughed at me but if you really think about it... that is what this 21-year old athlete LIVED for... he LIVED for this moment. To compete in the Olympics and he made it so far and so close... and then it was gone.

So, where I am spontaneously going with this? I think that if the Georgian Olympian were standing here today he would tell us that he wouldn't change the way he did things. That he wouldn't go and be a business man because it was safer or easier. He wouldn't tell us to squander our passions, hopes and dreams because of risk. In fact, I don't think he would say that at all... he might even say it's okay that he died doing something he felt so strongly about. I think he would probably be sad he didn't get to compete, but he still had a long adventure he loved.

Yes, it is sad. He was young. That breaks your heart... one of his teammates didn't compete after the accident. Probably not because he was afraid he, too, would die in a luge accident or whatever he competed in... but probably because he was so broken a man with such great passion got cut off so short--and a friend.

So... What do you live for and what are your passions? Life is too beautiful to not believe you have them and it is too frail to say you can wait around until the right time to have them. It terms of my faith in Christ, we are called with gifts--gifts to glorify the father and to advance His kingdom. Sometimes those gifts put us in risky places and terrifying events like the luge. They could cost us our emotional lives, or perhaps our physical ones. We have other passions that bless others and make life a more beautiful place. If only we could live like Olympians.

But.... we identify so well with them. We cry with them. We know we want that, too.

So what are we waiting for?

Cats

Some of my favorite videos on the internet are of cats.  The ones that hate everything and never stop being angry.  Those are my favorite.  I could watch them for hours and hours and never stop.  

Like this one.

I don't know what it is about them, but for some reason watching an animal be angry helps me not to be angry.  Except when it is your own animal.  When they are angry or upset, it ruins my mood entirely.  

I don't know.  Maybe when we think about it, it's like that with us and people.  We have a hard time having compassion for people that we see on TV who are hurting or in the newspaper.  Or all those kids in Africa dying from AIDS when we watch those videos in Sunday School telling us to give money.  Does it always have to happen to us in order for us to realize that it happens?  That it's real?  

Sorry, the only reason I am pondering this is because my dog has been acting weird... and it is stressful.  

Welcome to the new blog...

Yo yo yo...

Greetings from Asbury and the brain of Pam.  I thought I would try this blog in order to get some stuff out to lots of people and just have fun.

My current thoughts of the day:  The cold weather.   

It has been brought to my attention that it is becoming winter.  I noticed this when I went out to my car the other day and discovered that someone painted my car white.  It was God.  I do not like it when people vandalize my car.  God, why?  Cold weather means ice, snow, pain, freezing temperatures, the flu, shorter days... not my favorite things.  I'm sure some of you love the cold.  I am thankful for people like you because you remind me that it is important for the earth to go through the process of winter in order for there to be summer.  Ha...

The other thing that always goes through my mind when winter comes is... people.  I am not the only one who doesn't like winter.  All those folks who can't afford heat in their homes, or are forced out of their home... they hate winter too.  They hate winter for a much bigger reason.  And I remember that I can hate winter, but I shouldn't complain about it.  I go into the church and it is a nice, comfortable 74 degrees and my office is actually probably closer to 80.  It's like I am going to Florida in December... practically vacation.  When I go home, it is still about 65 to 70 degrees in my apartment.  Nothing to dread and nothing to worry about.  So again, I shouldn't be complaining, I should do something about it.  If I love sipping coffee on a cold day and sitting by a fire, I shouldn't forget that a lot of people also love doing that.  So today I say, remember that classic saying, "Love your neighbor as yourself" because if you love staying warm in the winter months, I am almost positive your neighbor does, too.  So if you see someone who is looking cold in the next few months, help 'em out!  

Random Fact:  If you have 3 quarters, 4 dimes, and 4 pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar.  That's also enough to buy someone a medium (or even large at some locations) cup of coffee at McDonald's!