My Absolute Favorite Candy

Just another useless piece of information on the internet. Have you ever wondered what you would look like if you were an M&M. Well...if that thought has come across the board of your memory bank, then there's a website for you. It is mms.com and as you can tell, I played with it a little this evening. If you make one, share it! I would love to see!

Sunday Blessings

Sunday is always a day that God shows me the blessings of working for Him. He didn't let me down and I wanted to share a few with you:

- Great weather! Spring is the BEST time of year in Charleston
- A toddler that said my name for the FIRST time! I love it!
- A beautiful picture of one of the baby girls I am watching grow up in front of my eyes
- A pregnant mommy that brings peace wherever she goes
- A team of people that LOVE God's children as much as I do and show up every Sunday to do it
- A smile from my husband
- Laying in a hammock for an afternoon nap


God, thank you for the blessings you provide every day!

God's Glasses

There are so many times that I pray "God, allow those things to break your heart to break mine." It seems like such a simple prayer, but God delivers every time.

Over the last 7 months I have had the privilege of serving the people of North Charleston. North Charleston is 7th in the nation for crime per capita and based on some statistics show as much as 36% of the population is living in poverty. The church I attend, Seacoast, opened a new campus with an outreach focus based on the L.A. Dream Center on September 9, 2007.

This is the day God started to show me what poverty looks like through His eyes.

Through a few of our ministries I have had the opportunity to meet many of His children that are overlooked in the world today. I have met people that live in trailers that have should long ago been condemned, people that have had electricity cut off for days, people that live on and off the streets depending on who might 'let' them sleep in their home that night, people that have no homes.

These are the people that Christ ministered to and He has given me the opportunity to serve them with a humble heart. I remain amazed by the faith that some of the people walk with each day, relying on the strength of our Lord to get them through and believing that He will.

Today, I pray that those that read this will pray that simple prayer, God, allow those things that break your heart to break mine.

My, How Things Change

Big O and I were talking this morning...we do that every once in a while. Anyways, I was telling him how much I enjoy where we are at now, but as I sit here this evening, I remember how thankful I have been where I have.

I took the time to go through some of the pics that I have from the past couple years and the travels taken. Here's a few of my favorites!

Thank you God for the opportunities you have given me and for the ones I have yet to discover.

A New (but not really) Logo

It's Monday and my treat on Mondays is a grande mocha at the local Starbucks. It is a $4 hit on my weekly budget and I am smart enough to realize that if I do this for the next 30 years of my life that I will spend $6,240 on coffee, assuming there isn't another increase in the cost of a cup of my favorite java. (Highly unlikely)

Anyways, today after getting my java and sitting down at work, a couple friends walked in and asked, "What do you think of the new logo?" To be honest, since I hadn't downed the cup yet, I hadn't really noticed any change. But after being prompted I felt like I had turn the page on a cheap girlie magazine. I mean really...do I have to look at this when I am drinking a cup of java?

In true style, I decided to do a little research and found this is really a throw-back for Starbucks in a marketing ploy to 'get back to the basics.' An online poll shows that 57% of people asked do NOT like this logo better than the famous green one shown above and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has banged them for moving away from one of the most recognized logos in the world.

Thankfully it is a temporary switch, but until they go back I will have to result to a sleeveless drink...or saving a few bucks and making some home brewed coffee!

A Child of the 80's

Can you relate to the 80's? Sir Mix-a-lot came into the scene in the mid 80's and finally hit it big with a song about back sides in 1992. There is a pretty funny spoof on GodTube with his song.

Check it out!
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=97759aa27a0c99bff671

A few other fads and trends you might remember if you grew up in the 80's:

Yes, I'm a Gamer

I thought I would add a little known fact about myself today.

Yes, I'm a Gamer!

Not the old-fashioned sense of the word which was used to refer to someone who played role-playing games or wargames, as described by Wikipedia. I am the modern day version, which includes people who love video games.

Although I like a little Guitar Hero every once in a while, my game of choice is COD4. Fellow gamers will know this is Call of Duty 4 and a first person shooter game, but for those of you that aren't, I'll explain. It is a modern day version of warfare where you carry guns and shoot your enemy. I like the online version where you capture flags. If you're a COD4 player, you can find me online under Eisbaer1010. I'm Mrs. Eisbaer!

Good Burger...Beautiful Sunset

Wonder where to get a good burger in Charleston? I can suggest a couple of places, but my FAVORITE is out on Sullivan's Island. It is a place called Poe's, named after Edgar Allen Poe. After a brief stint at the University of Virginia, Poe enlisted in the Army under the pseudonym Edgar Allan Perry and was stationed at Fort Moultrie at the western end of Sullivan's Island for 13 months beginning November 18, 1827. His time on the island inspired "The Gold Bug", a story about a mystical beetle that led to buried treasure.


The only hidden treasure that I have found out there is the Pit and Pendulum. It is a burger, cooked to liking, with applewood bacon and cheddar cheese.

On this particular day, the sunset was the real treasure, with pics from the Blackberry.

You Might be a Redneck if...

You make your own water slides!

Growing up in Ohio with cousins on a farm, there were quite a few summers that we made our own water slides. I can think of so many materials that we used, but the best is the plastic runners that you put over carpeting to protect it. WARNING: Do not lay down with small prickly side facing up, unless you don't like a person too much!

I thought that we had come up with some pretty good designs until I found this one on the internet. I would suggest taking the 2:30 minutes to take a peak!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ37G1GKXBY

Hanging Out with Uncle Sam on Tax Day

For the past couple of months, I have driven by two people that have been faithfully waving and trying to attract potential customers for a tax agency on Remount Road. It is about 4 blocks down from the church, so I have grown accustomed to seeing them down there and it brings a smile when I ride by on the way to the school for tutoring.


Well...what I didn't realize until a couple weeks ago was that both Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty attend Seacoast North Charleston. This made me smile even bigger and I would like to introduce you to Scott (that is Uncle Sam's real name). I actually first met Scott and his family at the Christmas Store Day in the jump castle. He was the only other adult that would get in there and act silly with the kids, which his nephew was among.

As I sent off our IRS Form 1040, I was saddened by the fact that Scott, whoops Uncle Sam, won't be out to greet the passer-bys on Remount now. It is a friendly wave in a pretty unfriendly area.

Please join me in praying that Scott will find another job that will provide some regular income and that he will continue to grow closer to God.

Historic Charleston

My sister-in-law took some awesome pics recently of Big O and I in downtown Charleston. Here are a couple of my favorites!

Kid's Know How to Worship God

Sundays always re-energize me! I mean ALWAYS!

I can start so many places: the parents' smiles as they drop off their kids, the little hands that provide an unforgettable hug, the volunteers that are faithful every Sunday in sharing the love of Christ with kids, the worship team that rocks the house.

This week, our Elementary Kids pushed me over the edge. They were lead in worship by one of our high school volunteers and 4 of their peers (who all R.O.C.K.!!!). I had the privilege to step in while they were in the middle of worship. I don't remember the first song, but I know it was crazy! The kids were all dancing and celebrating a joyous God. The second song (a personal favorite) was Get Down. I feel like I get a work out every time we sing this song. On this Sunday, it was really INCREDIBLE. I was 'lifted up' both physically and spiritually. I watched 26 kids jump up in all types of individual styles and 6 volunteers free style, including a grandma and preggo mom, as they worshiped Our Almighty Father!

Jesus Goes Mainstream

After a long day of hard work and serving a sweet sister in Christ, I am sitting in amazement as to how God works. Not just in general, but how He makes himself known in such a world that is focused on things so far away from Him. I learned today that American Idol had a segment on their 'Gives Back' edition that they sang Shout to the Lord. I watch several different versions in YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHuWxfcIqW4&watch_response).

To give you an idea of how many people this impacted, last week American Idol had an average of 24.8 million viewers based on Nielsen Media Research. In case you're interested, here are the lyrics:

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You.

Chorus
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

Then, this evening, I got a call from a friend telling me that there was a show on about 'The Lord's Boot Camp' on CBS. The camp is part of Teen Missions International (http://www.teenmissions.org/). The special showed the struggle of 3 teenage girls in their acceptance of the gift of Jesus and walk with Christ. I don't know how many people watched this special, but it is obvious to me that God can and will use ALL things for His glory!!!

Another Crazy Website

Ok...I know you all are going to think, what does she do with all her time if I can find all these crazy websites. The reality is, we use them to make the Word of God real to people.

I was pointed in the direction of http://www.thebricktestament.com/ by Anne Randall, our student ministry director, and it is HILARIOUS! My personal favorite...the 13th frame of 'The Head of John the Baptist'. It brings back memories of destroying legos.

A True Jesus Lover

I found this link on someone else's blog, but has to be one of the funniest things that I have watched that wasn't on YouTube. Check it out!

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/ellen-gladys-hardy-p1.php?emf=1

Spring...a Time of Renewal

Spring has to be my favorite time of the year...it might be because I was born and married my best friend in April!

Really, I think it is because we get a glimpse of what heaven will look like. In the spring God takes the earth and renews the beauty! You look outside and see colors of green in the leaves that are breath-taking, flowers blooming in all different shapes and sizes.

God, thank you for the spring time. Thank you for the fresh creations and most of all thank you for the new creation you make in every one of us with the acceptance of the gift we have in Christ Jesus and the cross.