Dear Reader:

I “accidentally” came across a rather disturbing article (to me) on the song Jesus Loves Me. I couldn’t believe that someone could actually tear apart this beloved song I grew up singing in my childhood. The song that still comforts me to this day.

The author implied that the lyrics in the song were scripturally incorrect and made religion look too “Polyanna” for his taste. He was more into earning brownie points to become deserving of God’s favor (I wondered if he had ever heard of “grace”) and was definitely more comfortable in the “hell, fire, brimstone, and judgment” categories of his Biblical interpretations.

Sometimes I wonder if I, perhaps, lean too far towards viewing God as more of a Grandfather than Father… in the sense of unconditional love and acceptance. I have a certain comfort zone in my religious and spiritual beliefs that makes me reluctant to go down the path of darkness, destruction, and other scary nightmare images where God plays the role of a thundering umpire…”You’re Safe!’  or “You’re Out.”

To paraphrase C. S. Lewis….If you are looking for a religion that will make you comfortable…don’t choose Christianity. (There’s a lot of truth there.)

Lewis also was the one who made the astute observation that: “You don’t have a soul, You ARE a soul. You have a body.” With that one statement the spiritual world turns upside down, doesn’t it? Once we are born…we are in it for eternity. Earth is just a small ‘wrinkle in time’ in the overall big picture of life

A few minutes before our church service started this past Sunday…I was talking to Anne about a new book we are using in our Sunday School class and how I could relate to the young author’s mixed feelings towards “structured” religion…pro’s and con’s. I, then, made the statement that I was a “Jesus Loves Me” kind of gal with more of an old-time religion credence.

It was only a few minutes later (after the children’s message) that our organist began to play “Jesus Loves Me” as the children scampered back to their pews.

Anne and I turned, at the same time, and started laughing. But God wasn’t through with me yet. Apparently He didn’t think one wink would convince me He had been listening in to our conversation.

Another few minutes passed and right after the first reading the choir stood up and began a medley called “Ole Time Religion” with most of my old favorite hymns mixed in…while the congregation started clapping and stomping their feet to the music.

Now blog readers, This is my God–the God I love and adore...the One who takes time to reassure me with His Winks that all is right in His World and all is right with me. (the  same message He sent with “my” dolphin years ago.)

I thought maybe I should name the two pumpkins on the sofa throw (title photo) “Saint” and “Ain’t”…though their expressions look more like two “Ain’ts” (Identical twins perhaps?)

The way I look at it I “ain’t no saint” but I am a child of God and I love Him beyond my limited ability to fully comprehend Love…God’s Love…God, Himself…since He IS LOVE!

Anne said that a friend of hers (she used to visit regularly at the Presbyterian Village) said that she had a problem with the Apostles Creed because the word “love” wasn’t in it. If we were stating our beliefs, then she felt like LOVE should be the top statement…we believe that GOD IS LOVE!  (Amen!)

So until tomorrow…Let us continue our search for God in both the comfortable and uncomfortable tests of faith we endure for the One we Love.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Some of you might have noticed that the group photo, in the blog heading, was changed yesterday (Thanks John!) to update the grandchildren…with the addition of our “Little” Lachlan. (Who’s not so little!)

After Carrie miraculously snapped the photo…I realized I hadn’t gotten Lachlan’s bib off of him in time… but then I started laughing and thought ….”No..that makes it perfect”

…Lachlan spits up a lot …(both in amount and time intervals)…so much so that Mollie was initially concerned… but her pediatrician assured her he was definitely gaining weight ….he was just known as what the medical field calls a “Happy Spitter (Upper.)”  So now we have the memory of the “Happy Spitter”… Lachlan… immortalized!

*WHOOOO can find the sixth person in the photo? A beautiful live “ghost” in the mirror….WHOOOOO it’s almost Halloween.