Jon and I enjoyed a much needed little date this past weekend.  We didn't have any money to do anything real expensive, so we ate at home with the girls and went out for coffee and dessert.  Before we ate, though, we browsed through Barnes and Noble.  I could spend hours in there!  I did find a couple books, though, that I had a physical aversion to.  I wanted to take the whole stack of them and hide them somewhere.  I'll just give you the titles....you can fill in the rest. 

Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment by Deepak Chokra  (What foolishness.  What blasphemy about my Lord!!!)

and

The Green Bible  Made of 100% recycled paper, with words about nature and the earth highlighted in green.  Includes a helpful list of resources and tips for being a more green Christian.    (seriously....seriously??? What happened to the words of Christ in red?  We're more concerned with saving trees than the true message of the gospel).

Anybody else feel nauseous?!

It was still a great date.  :)

So much for trying to blog more consistently. :) Oh well. 
Our church here hosted a conference this past weekend on Pride and Humility from the book of James.  Let me tell you, it was not good for my self-esteem.     That is a GOOD thing though,  because as we learned this weekend, pride is such a deceptive, all encompassing sin that requires a daily battle.  My view of pride tends to be narrow-- looking at myself in the mirror, being boastful, or trying to be the center of attention.  But there are SO many other ways to be prideful, even when trying to do works pleasing to the Lord.  James Williamson from Louisville was the preacher and he did such a great job of fleshing out both the pride in our own hearts and the HUMILITY of Christ from the book of Philippians.  Here are a few of my favorite applications:

-He asked us to pray two "dangerous" prayers:  1) Lord, show my myself.  2) Lord, show me Yourself.  Help me to examine my heart and life rightly and see the ways in which pride dominates my character.  And then help me to see the way You humbled yourself and did not seek after Your own ways. 

-Whatever you are "full of" will spill out when you get bumped.  For example, if you have a glass of coke and your two year old bumps in to you, coke will spill out.  If our hearts are full of pride, then when we get "bumped" (by disobedient kids, rude drivers, slow cashiers:), then what will spill out is impatience and sharp words.  If on the other hand our hearts are humble, we will be slow to anger and patient with others, remembering how patient God is with us.  ***sigh** 

-Have you ever gone out of your way to do something nice for someone and they really did NOT appreciate it the way you'd hoped?  Didn't even have enough sense to say thank you?  Or all day long you serve your kids, serve your husband, clean the house, and run around like a crazy woman only to have your children be ungrateful and complaining?  Well....rejoice.  Because this gives you a tiny insight into what the King of Glory Lord Jesus felt over and over as He ministered to others.  In Heaven NO ONE ever questioned His authority or greatness, but bowed down and worshiped.  On earth people were constantly pointing fingers and denying who He was, even to the point of crucifying Him as a common criminal.  He did not demand people treat Him with respect (even though He had the right to!) and did not beat people over the head like we tend to do, but dealt so tenderly and lovingly with others.

There is more I could say, but I hope this makes sense to you and can bless you today to remember our beautiful Saviour.  I forget Him so easily as I go about my day and I am so ashamed of that.  Gotta go, my kids are screaming at each other.   lol