SPUR on TV

A few months ago Spur58 got the privilege to perform on the cable tv show SOUNDCHECK that is on DAYSTAR. I personally do not get that channel (bummer, I know!) so I won't be able to watch it, but I want you to watch it if you do get the channel! Actually you may want to TIVO it b/c I think it comes on pretty late! And I think the lead singer is extremely HOT!

Here is the scoop:
SPUR58
Friday, May 18th at MIDNIGHT!

On another note ... have you guys headed over to SAVE THE SLOTH yet? They have weekly challenges that I know will be great for you! I have been keeping up with them and they are on my mind constantly throughout the week and have caused me to think more about my surroundings and notice people around me. They want us to wake up and breath again. To wake up to what is really around us.

I challenge you to take the challenge! You won't regret it!

Random things.

Here are a few random things I would like to talk about today:

1. Ash Wed was yesterday and I didn't even know it until half way through the day. I found a blogger who wrote about Lent. Here it is: Lacey and Ginger. Also check out this site on Wilkipedia about Lent.

2. A person made a comment on my last post about Ash Wed and Lent that explains a lot. Check out the comments section under that post.

3. I have decided what I will give up for lent - the Internet (except for emails and blogging - but i will not be reading blogs) I will also give up Diet Coke. Wow, I can't believe I just said that. I think that the Diet Coke will be harder than the Internet! I had my last diet coke today and just read the blogs I subscribed to. So, hopefully after 40 days of no diet coke I can give it up for good, and I will have much more time for other stuff since I won't be reading any blogs.

4. I have been thinking a lot about Lent and Ash Wed and I wish that this was a more common practice among people other than Catholics. I think it is a great season to reflect on what Christ did for us when he died on a cross for our sins. Just as Lacey said in her blog, I think we all need to be reminded of the gift that God gave us. We can tend to slack, and hopefully I will be reflecting daily on this gift and will not easily forget the free gift of salvation and freedom that God has granted me through his son, Jesus Christ.

5. I recently finished SHEPHERDING A CHILD'S HEART by Ted Tripp and enjoyed it. I recommend it and Aaron and I will take the book and it's suggestions and mold it to fit our family. One thing that I am going to try to much harder to do is to require first time obedience from my children. YES, I do want that, but it is hard and takes lots of work. So, I will begin working on my children and their obedience.

6. I am now on to a book that Aaron recently finished and is highly recommending me to read - THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS by Brian D. McLaren - I'll keep you updated as I go.

7. MY knew hurts so badly that I am not running today or tomorrow. UGH!

So, I pray that God will too move in you to remind you daily of the love that he has for you and the over pouring of blessings that he bestows upon us. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice, and thank you God for pursuing me even when I was wondering and feeling as though I knew it all. I pray that over these days of sacrifice that I will reflect daily on the gifts you have blessed me with.

Lent and Ash Wed

I have noticed lately that most of my thoughts that don't involve kids, meals, diapers, bath time, or bed time occur to me during my workouts. This is the first time I've worked out this much since high school. It is hard and most days I dread it, but there is something about being out on the road alone with your thoughts. You can concentrate more and can think things all the way through without any interruptions. For this, I am loving running on the road. At the Y, I plug my head phones into the TV and watch TV, but out on the road it's me, my ipod and my thoughts. LOVE IT!

Today my ipod shuffled from Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Charlie Hall, Faith Hill, John Mayer, Will Smith, Matt Redman, Something Corporate and Spur58. I think that Aaron could have bought me the shuffle since that is what I do, just shuffle from song to song. It keeps things fresh and I never know what is coming up. I can go from "Blessed be your name" to "Getting Jiggy with it" and love it. I only keep one ear plugged with the music so I can hear if the big bad wolf is coming to get me and because my mom said it's not good to workout with your headphones in b/c of blood flow to your ear and your heart .... not sure about that one, but if you can confirm that let me know!

Okay, back to the point of this post ....

As I was running today my mind wondered back to a subject that it has wondered to quite frequently since I read a book last summer called Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for an easy read and a great encouragement. This is Lauren's memoir and it takes you down her journey from Orthodox Judaism to Christianity. I loved it.

What it brought my mind to again was lent and ash Wednesday. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I am not sure where ash Wednesday or lent originated, or even what it means. Does this make me a bad Christan? I am willing to take the label of bad Christian and ask my questions. Why do people put the ashes on their forehead? What does it represent? Why do they give stuff up for lent? Did I miss this somewhere along my 28 years of church? Is it because I grew up Southern Baptist that I don't know much about either one of these? I am going to research this more and find out where it started, what it means, and what it means for me.

If you have all these answers, I would love to hear them. BUT please don't make me feel stupid if you feel a though I should know this as a believer. I want to know.

Tony & Lovie

This morning at church I was made aware that both coaches in the big game today are Christians. What a great Super Bowl - two Christian head coaches, two black head coaches in the Super Bowl - this will be a great game with a great winner!

Visit this website to see more about these great coaches and their faith!

BEYOND THE ULTIMATE