Tag Archive for 'blog'

Toilets by day. Hebrew by night.

I got another gig. You probably already know about my job at Crichton College as an adjunct. It’s a great job and I’m grateful for it, but it doesn’t quite meet the budgetary needs.

I’ll cut to the chase. I scrub toilets on Monday mornings. I knocked four of those bad boys out this morning. They didn’t know what hit ‘em. But, I don’t just scrub toilets. I also clean, mop, sweep, dust, vacuum, etc. I am Mr. Clean. Except hairier.

Some really cool folks needed someone to help clean their house. I called them. They have a son in college named Ryan. Bam. I’m a housekeeper.

That makes me an enigma. A contradiction. An irony. Toilets by day. Hebrew by night.

I’m studying Hebrew right now. Hebrew puts lines in your forehead.

Photo 48.jpg

Have you noticed I don’t update like I once did. I’m sorry. I spend my free time exfoliating. Trying to get those wrinkles to iron out.

One last word, before I get back to my ha’ams and yabs: God has taken us out of the desert to an oasis. Our cup is full!

Desktop Blog

You’ve probably noticed that blogging activity has come to a slow drip (coffee metaphors are especially timely for me). There are two reasons for this:

1) Time. Not as much of it. I’m busy learning Hebrew, people!

2) No internet. Now that we’re poor, internet is a luxury we’ve cut out of our lives. So, I spend a fraction of the time online that I used to.

I still blog. In fact, my output would probably be twofold had I the time and access. I have tons of stuff rolling around noggin these days.

As Memphian as . . .

Yup. We’re now Memphites (Actually, we live in Cordova, a suburb, but Memphis sounds MUCH cooler).

The parents are gone. Now, it’s just the four of us in our new home for the next few years. Here’s the rundown:

- Classes start in about 2 weeks.

- I’m still looking for a shirt like the one pictured above.

- No job yet . . .

- House is still a wreck, but it’s all good.

- It’s H.O.T.

As far as a our departure from the Promise House goes, it went well.  The girls knew we were leaving 3 months ago, so they had lots of time to adjust. That doesn’t mean there weren’t major tears shed, but I feel like everything was healthy and good.

It’s crazy that we’re here already. Crazy.

So, what does the move mean for familybush.com? Not sure yet. Probably less activity for a while. What with a full class load, part-time job (hopefully!), and a new baby. Things might slow down a bit once the semester begins. But, not completely.

We’re excited. Jesus is pulling us close to him. He’s allowing me to feel him again. Something that hasn’t happened in a while. More on that later. I just want to say it loud for now.

40 Day Fast

They are getting geared up for the 40 Day Fast over at Inspired to Action.

Go check it out. It might be something that you want to get involved in. The movement was inspired by this blog post. It spawned the 40 Day Fast (which is now being repeated) to help raise awareness about injustice issues across the globe as well as share ideas and ways to help bring justice to the oppressed.

More Baby Copeland Action

Adam just put lots more pictures and a video of his day old son on their blog. Go have a look.  I’m definitely one proud uncle!

ADAM RAY COPELAND JR. HAS ARRIVED!

Head over to his blog and give him a virtual congratulatory hug!

Cindy Beall’s Story

God redeems. He brings beauty out of dirty, messy, broken places. It doesn’t get much more broken than Cindy Beall’s marriage. Cindy’s courage alone to share her story is amazing.

The story is shattering. That’s really the best word I can think of for it, because it shattered some things in me: my heart, some stereotypes, notions of forgiveness and grace, and my weak understanding of God’s redemptive beauty. Read it for yourself:

Our Story. . .

The Day Everything Changed

What Now?

My Word From God

Let the Healing Begin

Better Than New

She posted it on her blog over a six day period. You can click on each of the links of the story above to read it day by day. Or you can just go to her blog.

Re-Imagining Christmas

Today, on the God’s Politics blog, Shane Claiborne posted a great article about ‘reimagining’ Christmas. Here’s an excerpt:

A few years ago I remember a pastor friend telling me they tried something a little different for their Christmas services. Instead of the usual holiday décor and clutter of the sanctuary, they brought in a bunch of manure and hay and scattered it under the pews so the place would really smell like the stank manger where it all began.

Read the full article here.

Dr. Kevin Shearer

Kevin Shearer is a missionary for the IMB in Lima, Peru. I had the chance to get to know him during our two years there. Here’s an excerpt from his blog . . .

Then I wandered down a narrow alley till I found Judith. Judith is a beautiful 18-year-old (approximately) who just gave birth to an even more beautiful baby girl. “Come see my baby,” she said, excitedly. I stooped and went into the small straw mat hut with dirt floors. Theirs is better than some; they have three rooms. It was warm enough inside (thankfully). There, in the middle of the only bed they own, lay that precious baby. Judith looked up with proud, but pleading eyes. “Please pray for Chris; she has a lung infection and a blood infection.” I did. Chris cried all the way through, sneezing from time to time. I told Judith I would be back. Judith has her own health needs. I know some doctors who plan to help meet them . . .

You can read the whole post here. Kevin plants churches in the ever-expanding city of Lima.

Life goes on.

It’s been a while since I’ve felt like just sitting down and putting something up on the blog. Lots of stuff is happening. Good stuff. Jesus is working in the Promise House. He’s bringing beauty out of the ashes. We get to be a part of it everyday.

Our youngest resident is due in three days. She’ll be staying with us at the Promise House for a few months.

Sophia is growing like a weed. She’s cutting her top teeth now.

We’re gearing up for summer. Thankfully we surrounded by amazing folks who want to be a part of the girls’ lives. Folks like Nitzia David, Linda Bass, Denise Seal, and of course the sewing ladies.

I was talking with one of the girls about her faith. She puts her faith in Jesus and is learning how to walk with him. I asked her if she thinks some of the other girls were being influenced by her. “They don’t say anything. But I think they are paying attention.” I told her I agreed.

New Chapter. New Blog.

Our time in Peru has come to an end . . . and with it, the “Life in Peru” blog.

But, we’ll continue to post on this new blog as we step into our new role as houseparents for the Promise House in Little Rock.

Last Weekend

Well, it has been a busy week, so I have a lot of catch up “blogging” to do! I need to first give an update of last weekend, which involves a praise. I asked everyone to pray for us because Ryan and I were going shopping together last Saturday. I think I was part of a miracle last Saturday. Ryan and I shopped ALL DAY, and we did not fight once! (We had a few “discussions” but no fighting!) That is a first for us! We both got some clothes and things we need for Peru. We really had a fun day together.

Setting up Blog.

The very fist Blog entry. It ought to be deep and meaningful. I really sould set the tone for the whole expedition. Anyway, it’s Friday. I’m going to get the tags renewed on our car. Woohoo. Going to Lamar tonite for the big Texas Hold’em tourny and maybe a litting sk8ing.