things one cannot do during a blackout.

Because power is just so important to us:

going without electricity for about 22 hours made me think,

about all the things one cannot do without electricity.

They are the things that follow:

make hot oatmeal

make hot tea

make coffee, de-iced

make anything hot

eat instant mac and cheese

use a toaster

turn on a lamp

flush the toilet

use the sinks

take a shower

straighten hair

make a video about blackouts

go online

write a blog

turn on the heat

see the stairs

do homework after it gets dark

read a book after it gets dark

watch a movie

charge a cell phone

charge a laptop

stay in your own dorm

decorate the hallway

see the person sitting across from you after daylight hours

So I think you get my point. We rely on electricity for a lot of things,

and I am saddened by how much we freak out when we don't have it.

Yes, I know that it helps, and it is handy...like when you need to use the toilet...or the lou....or when you need to take a shower.

But when one is bored because "they have nothing to do"

because everything one normally does involves having power...

well that's sad.

And because I am being honest here, means I am one of these sad people...=]

because I said more than once today that I was bored.

And from this I have learned that I am addicted to electricity,

and I am very happy that it is here to make my life easier.

One last thing:

Kudos to the people who lived without it,

you rock!

operation beautiful

all it is is a post-it note.

with a positive message,

posted anywhere,

on mirrors,

on walls,

on magazines.

we are all beautiful,

so pass it on.

www.operationbeautiful.com

You are Beautiful!

Caffeine

Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that is a psychoactive stimulant drug.

So is caffeine addictive??

From personal experience I believe that it is.

I tend to have at least 2 sodas a day or more,

and some tea or coffee as well, because when I don't my body will tell me.

I get insane headaches and I feel sick.

Which is not okay.

I have tried to cut down on it, but it is so hard to do.

I have even given up drinking soda for lent and hopefully that will enable me to be able to cut down on it after lent is done.

I know way too many people that have issues with caffeine.

It is an epidemic,

According to the Starbucks website there are approximately 255 stores in Manhattan alone.

And that equals a ton of caffeine, which then equals a ton of people addicted to caffeine.

We need to stop relying on caffeine to get us through the day,

how about actually sleeping for once???

From my own experience caffeine is addictive...

What do you think???

ireland oh ireland

ireland seems to always be on my mind.

i think about living there.

i imagine how it would look.

i wish i could be there now.

but for now it will stay in my mind.

Beauty Of Music: Music in Worship

Nowadays when someone even whispers the word worship most people automatically think of singing, guitars, drums and microphones, which all happen to be components of worship bands.

So why is that?

Why is that today a majority of people think that music is the only definition of worship?

It is not wrong to think this way, because music is an essential component to worship.

Music encourages participation from the congregation.

Prayers only take one person, the sermon only takes one person, but song can be done with many.

But participation does call the music to be singable and understandable.

For example:

The hymn "Come thou fount of Every Blessing" the lyrics are a bit...old and poetic.

"Come thou fount of every blessing tune my heart to sing thy praise, streams of mercy never ceasing calls for songs of loudest praise, teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above....." and so on and so forth.

While singing this hymn one does not have enough time to actually figure out what they are singing, yes it's a gorgeous song and it sound pretty when sung...but is the true meaning of it really getting across to people??

So...song choice does matter, because when done right (not that anyone really knows what the right way is) music in worship is a wonderful aspect.

Another positive thing about music is that it is extraordinarily expressive.

It enables people to express themselves in more of an open way with the entire congregation.

And another positive is that there is an aesthetic beauty of music and that can defiantly add to the richness of worship.

So let's recap all of the above and then I will close, and leave the issues of music in worship for a latter entry.

People think worship is just music, that is not a bad thing to think because music is essential to worship. It allows participation, expression and it is a beautiful way to worship God.

So continue to sing to God with all your heart, for He calls us to worship Him. But remember song is not the only way to worship.

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.

Psalm 108:1 (NIV)

Lilies.

lily: any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

to sleep among the lilies means to be free from life

to experience something new, something apart from who you really are.

to sleep among the lilies is to sleep along side of God.

to experience His creation.

to know Him, and see the beauty His hands crafted.

so, sleep among the lilies and experience Him.