Thursday, March 27, 2014

"Now wait. There's timing here, Kathie Lee."


I wore my gold "One" hat around downtown recently. Got a lot of compliments on it. And yes, it's now my official #annasbirthdaywish yellow wearable, but leading up to Vicki's appearance on the Today Show, it was easy to reference the Tap Pups from the Harrisburg St Patrick's Day parade (last Sat) and to drop in to "watch us, or tape it, Thursday in the 10-11am hour!"


photo source: Vicki's Tap Pups


We had a great time in the parade, too. (It's been a busy week!)

photo source for all photos not otherwise attributed: Big Frog -- additional photos available on Snapfish (free login & password required)


photo source: Brian Riordan

A few quotables:

  • Sneaker taps aren't very sneaky.
  • We've got some competition this year, so be sexy! Straight lines! ~Vicki
    Evidently straight lines are sexy. :-)
  • On the state of our educational systems, overheard by Big Frog:
    "Why do they have the Mexican flag?"
    Someone needs a good dose of Fun with Flags.
  • Everyone needs a Brian.


So... see you at the Zembo! The Spring Show is Saturday, May 31, 6pm! (It's in the round! Practice-practice-practice!)
image source: TapPups.com

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Everything you say & everything you do

Everything you say & everything you do is the Bible that someone else may need to read. ~James E McConnell Sr


God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray.
You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking.
Give to us now your grace,
that as we shrink before the mystery of death,
we may see the light of eternity.
Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and death.
Help us to live as those who are prepared to die.
And when our days here are accomplished,
enable us to die as those who go forth to live,
so that living or dying,
our life may be in you,
and that nothing in life or in death
will be able to separate us
from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.


~United Methodist Pocket Book of Worship p.46-47

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

#AnnasBirthdayWish -- compiled list of coverage

Today's the day! Happy 11th birthday, Anna!

Anna seeks Charlotte's Web cannabis oil (non-hallucinogenic) to stop her daily seizures. She has been approved for it in Colorado, but unless Pennsylvania legalizes the use of medical marijuana, she and her mom will be moving to Colorado and leaving her sister and dad behind. Her church community, neighbors, and friends rallied behind her and will be personally delivering hundreds of cards to the Pennsylvania legislators on her behalf.



Today's Anna's actual birthday. Card signing party at the church. 250+ cards, plus coloring sheets from the kids, to be personally delivered to each of the Pennsylvania legislators.


photo source: Kathryn Clymer




The Knecht family: Kaitlyn (Anna's sister) Deb, Mark, and Anna.
photo source: Anna's Birthday Wish on Facebook

Monday, March 17, 2014

"Today's the day everything's going my way!"

Even if it's not, exactly.
Might as well frame things up pretty.

Better to tell yourself "I feel good, I feel fine, I feel this way ALL the time!" than to affirm to yourself "I'm alive, I'm awake... and I've got a headache." Because if you go to bed thinking "Tomorrow's gonna be tough," guess what? You're a goal setter and a goal hitter!

Get up in the morning and put your happy socks on.

~paraphrasing Jimmy Meyer on PFN, 3/17/2014

Elton

My Life in 20 Songs Rolling Stone interview with Elton John.


I am such a BTS junkie. I love these insights into the development process.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Esther

Chag sameach Purim!

Celebrate God saving God's people from mass execution at the hands of the evil Haman. Esther was called "for such a time as this" -- what's your passion? To what has God called you?

I encourage you to join me in reading "the whole megillah", all nine chapters of the book of Esther, this weekend.

May I also commend to you Beth Moore's excellent Esther DVD/workbook Bible study.  (Looking forward to seeing her in person in May!)

Friday, March 14, 2014

"Midnight toker"? No. Just an 11yo who wants her seizures to stop, and to keep her family together.


On her eleventh birthday, Anna Knecht has one birthday wish - to receive cannabis oil here in Pennsylvania to stop her grand mal seizures. Her frequent, severe seizures have made trips to the playground and amusement park just a memory. Now, she spends her days homebound in a wheelchair, with a high risk for sudden death despite her prescription medications and surgeries. Her neurologist expects her condition to deteriorate soon and warns that she is not likely to survive to adulthood. His request to conduct a trial of high CBD hemp oil for Anna was denied. Unless Pennsylvania finds a way for her to receive this non-psychoactive oil at home, Anna and her mom will be forced to move to Colorado this fall, splitting up their family.

The Epilepsy Foundation is advocating for patients across the country to receive cannabis oil in their home states now, before time runs out. We believe that Pennsylvania can find a way. We implore you to work with others in the Pennsylvania legislature to make Anna’s Birthday Wish come true.


Please pray with us on an ongoing basis, and particularly on Anna's actual birthday, Wednesday, March 19.

The kids in my church are passionate about praying for Anna week after week. They've grown up with her and seen her regress from walking to wheelchair. In a genuinely conservative congregation, I love that the pro-marijuana crowd includes the young and sneakered who look forward to running and playing with her.


resources:

All photos from Anna's Birthday Wish, original photos by Michele Skinner and the Knecht family.

ADDENDUM: 3/19/2014
Anna's actual birthday. Card signing party #2. 250+ cards, plus coloring sheets from the kids, to be delivered to Pennsylvania legislators.


photo source: Kathryn Clymer




photo source: Anna's Birthday Wish on Facebook

God already knows that about you

You're No Surprise to God

Do you ever feel like God is disappointed with you? I used to feel this way until one day He said, "You know, Joyce, you're no surprise to Me. I knew what I was getting when I got you."

Think about it! God knows the end from the beginning, and all the days of our life are written in His book. Every decision we're ever going to make, good or bad, God already knew them before we ever showed up on planet earth. He already knows today every word in our mouth that is still unuttered, even what we're going to say a year from now.

Sometimes we go around thinking that God is so disappointed with us all the time. It's true that we make mistakes. And we're not supposed to be lighthearted about them, we need to take them seriously. But in spite of our mistakes, God has hope for us and knows that He can change us if we'll stay close to Him.

God's not disappointed. He's full of hope where we're concerned! He believes in us more than we do ourselves.

Prayer Starter: Lord, Your hope for me is so encouraging and inspiring. Even when I don't believe in myself, I know that You do, and that gives me the strength to overcome my mistakes and follow You.

Joyce Meyer: Everyday Life devotional, day 154