Here is the final post in this week’s reblogged series from 2011. This is the last post in the unexpected series about The Gambler. This is the part I’m sure you’ve been waiting for because we finally get to the catchy refrain! You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. Simply put, you have to pick your battles. Though you may really want to get your point across, sometimes it’s better to just save your breath. This line also reminds us that sometimes, you don’t reveal everything that you know. (I’d use more card references, Read More
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The Wisdom of The Gambler – Pt. 2
This is part 2 of a reblogged series from 2011. In yesterday’s post, I talked about the nuggets of wisdom hidden in the song, “The Gambler.” Here are a few more nuggets that I’d like to share: Wisdom can come when you least expect it…and when you need it the most. The first line of the song says that the singer and the gambler were “on a train bound for nowhere.” After they stop avoiding each other and have grown bored of just staring out of the window, the gambler looks at the singer and can tell that he’s at the Read More
The Wisdom of The Gambler
Sometimes, as I review old posts, they ask to be “revived.” This week’s posts are reblogs of a 3-part series from 2011. Who knew a gambler could provide such wisdom?! Most people are probably familiar with the Kenny Rogers version of the song “The Gambler” and may even remember his TV series of the same name. For the past few weeks, the refrain to this song has been popping in and out of my head. I’ve even used it as my Facebook status a few times. Today, when the words popped into my head again, I decided to look up Read More
So much more than Ferguson…
As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m trying to maintain blog presence while also resting my hand(s). So today’s post is a reblog from 2014. Unfortunately, the words/sentiment are still relevant. Warning: Sometimes, I ramble. This is one of those times. I recently had a brief email conversation with a colleague who is becoming a friend and an ally. The conversation was, of course, about Ferguson. In one of my rambling responses, I mentioned how I’ve been disconnected from a lot of what’s going on because of my struggle with trying to balance my work schedule with maintaining a healthy Read More
Writing the Truth of Racial Justice from My White Skin
Today’s post is from a fellow Redbud, Andi Cumbo-Floyd. She is a writer, editor, researcher, and farmer, whose books include The Slaves Have Names and Steele Secrets. She blogs regularly at ourfolkstales.com and andilit.com. — By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. – Hebrews 11:24-25 I read these verses just this morning and felt the zing of truth, of conviction, of calling whip through me. The question I am sitting with these days is how do I Read More
Where Are You?
Note: I’m dealing with some arthritis/carpal tunnel issues, so this week’s posts will be a combination of short posts, guest posts and/or reblogs. On Saturday, I attended the UMI (Urban Ministries International) Writers Conference. There were a ton of reasons (all physical) that I shouldn’t go, but I really felt like I was supposed to be there, so I pressed on and made it. UMI CEO, Jeff Wright, presented a devotion to start off the day. Before he was done, I knew I was right where God wanted me to be! I wanted to briefly share his thoughts with you. Read More
3 Lessons I Learned From Scumbling
I spent Friday evening and most of Saturday and Sunday sitting around a table with seven other people and writing* an icon under the instruction of a gifted iconographer. (*Because icons are seen as a depiction of the Holy Scriptures, the act of creating one is called writing, not painting.) I’m still processing this amazing/formative experience, but there are three thoughts/lessons that are clear enough to communicate to others. #1: Trust the process. Things were going fine until it was time to work on the face of our image of Christ. The way that iconography works, you put down the skin tone Read More
. . . and then there was Israel and Palestine
So far this week, I’ve shared photos from the Egypt and Jordan legs of my trip to the Middle East. The remainder of the trip was in Israel and Palestine, and I’ve got tons of photos and experiences and thoughts. Honestly, I’m still trying to figure out the best way to share those photos. In the meantime . . . This weekend, I’m participating in an icon writing (painting) retreat with a renown iconographer (Joe Malham). So I decided to share photos I took during our visit to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Countries from all over the Read More
. . . then, I went to Jordan
On Monday, I shared some photos from my recent trip to the Middle East, primarily the time we spent in Egypt. Today’s photos are from the leg of our trip that was spent in Jordan. It was a very short visit, about eight hours, but we packed in a lot of steps!
So, I went to Egypt . . .
Last Fall, I visited Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. While I’ve shared a few blog posts/photos here and there, I haven’t shared some of my more significant experiences and photos. No time like the present, right?