There’s a spring that waits ... and waits ... to be

Winter Alert:  1"-3" of snow over the next 36 hours

Basil-To-Be For the Herb Garden

Destination: Feet Freedom!

Sermon: Living Water

There are many venues and vessels, but one Living Water.

Surprising Words of Life:  THEM
John 4:5-42
March 27, 2011

Jerusalem United Church of Christ, 

Palmerton PA

“She is not a prostitute.  She doesn’t have a shady past.”

Yet, if you have ever heard this story of “The Woman at the Well” you have probably heard this woman described as a prostitute, a woman of ill repute, a multi-married harlot.  If you talk to your friends and relatives who heard sermons on this woman today, you will hear her described as shameless, shameful, and sinful.

And yes, she was an outcast.  She is all alone at the well in the heat of the day.  In the middle eastern desert culture, all of the other women in her town would have come in a group to draw water from the well in the cool of the morning or the evening.  The woman who encounters Jesus at the town well is alone there at noon with her bucket.  She was outside the circle of “us” women. She is a “them” - the “other” - obviously the outcast.

There is no doubt that this woman was different. She was probably a lot different from the other women who gathered at that well who were married to their first husbands.  When Jesus invites this woman to call her husband, she replies that she has no husband.  Jesus agrees:  "You have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband" (4:18).  She is an outcast -- a THEM, not one of the US crowd.

She is not just different from the other women, she and Jesus are very different from each other, the conditions perfect for an US-THEM fiasco.  Jesus is male and she’s female, and that alone foreshadows the Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus understanding gap.  In that culture, a man and a woman would not be even that much alone together or to talk to each other directly.  What’s more, Jesus is a Jew; the woman is a Samaritan.  Jews and Samaritans the text tells us “do not share things in common,” another way of saying they avoid each other to keep from being tainted by the other and to keep from killing each other.  The woman is known, perhaps even famous, for her lifestyle; Jesus is the stranger in this town.  

The beginning of the conversation foreshadows a major misunderstanding.  She is there to get the cool wet well water that Jesus is thirsty for but has no way to reach.  So, Jesus asks her for well water, and then he provokes her by saying that she should be asking him for something called living water that she doesn’t even know she’s thirsty for.  Water!  Sitting at a well, they can’t even talk about water and understand each other.

Wordless Wednesday: The Flowers of March

Three weeks ago on a cruise

Today in Pennsylvania

Temptation's God Surprise

Surprising Words of Life:  Temptation
Matthew 4:1-11; Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
A sermon for Jerusalem United Church of Christ, Palmerton, PA

Crawfish adorned Christmas tree

This story of Jesus in the wilderness seems strangely familiar to us.  Our Holy Scripture tells us that Jesus was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.”  So it makes a lot of sense to us that Jesus, when he taught us to pray, included this particular plea:  “Lead us not into temptation” and we pray that prayer every single Sunday.  

“Lead us not into temptation.”  God forbid that what happened to Jesus would happen to us -- that is, that the Spirit would lead us into wilderness places and put before us a buffet of delicious temptations.

I don’t know about you, but when I pray that prayer, “Lead us not into temptation,” I find myself inserting my temptation of the week -- something I’m struggling with or something I want to avoid.

“Lead me not to the dessert menu.”
“Don’t get me all tempted to get lost in a book when I should be doing housework.”
“Lead me not anywhere close to that person where I might say something in anger.”
Or the more general:  “Lead me not into things I have no business doing -- the temptation to do this when I should be doing that.”

I sort of pray that prayer “Lead us not into temptation” -- as a general -- and sincere -- “Keep me out of trouble, God!”  and God knows what that trouble is.  My great fear, of course, is that surely God does know my temptation, so God could be really good at leading me right into it just to test me -- yet again!  “Lead me NOT …” I pray!

Still things go very wrong sometimes.

Friday Five: Favorite Things About Lent

I'm B-A-A-C-K!  I'm back home in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, I'm back from the boisterous and thoughtful adventure that was BE 4.0 and I'm back to blogging.  Thank you RevGalBlogPal sisters (everywhere!) for this venue as perpetual encouragement and energy boost.  I have coffee in front of me and a day of major big-time catching up ahead of me.  And -- oh yeah -- it's Lent in just a few days!  Ack!  And ... I am still rocking a little, as if still rolling on that big boat!

Today's RevGalBlogPals Friday Five:

What are some things you appreciate about the season of Lent? Perhaps you would share 5 of them with us. And for your bonus question feel free to share one thing you could do without.

1. Ash Wednesday:  I like the messiness of the ashes as a defining marker of the beginning of the season.  I don't understand Ash Wednesday without ashes, but I found out it does happen.  In the first year of a particular call, I went along with our UCC church's tradition of sharing Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday services with a neighboring (happened to be Methodist) church.  Their pastor was appalled that we were imposing ashes at the Ash Wednesday service, that year hosted at our church.  He refused to participate in imposing the ashes or receiving them.
2. The Color Purple:  I like changing paraments and wearing the purple stole.  I found out on BE 4.0 that the clergy stole evolved from a pastor's need for a sweat rag!  Well, then, give me a purple one!
3. A New Beginning:  Like New Year's Day and the first day of school, the beginning of Lent feels like a good time to do some self-reflection, begin new habits &/or look to the future.  So, Lent also gives me the gift of ...
4. Disciplines:  I have lately started using the word "practice" instead of "discipline" because it helps me to remind myself to actually "do practice" or otherwise I don't think I will ever "be disciplined."  I usually add a practice or two rather than taking something away.  
5. Good Friday:  It's a hard service to mess up or embellish a lot as the story speaks very well for itself.  I like to wallow in it -- yes, wallow rather than immerse -- because the implications are profound and deep and I'm pretty sure I've not yet touched the bottom of that deep end.

BONUS -- The one thing I can do without:  If I had to say one thing, it would probably be the church Easter egg hunt which is held, strangely enough, on Palm Sunday! The reason for that date:  "People are too busy on Easter" and "The kids' Easter clothes might get messed up!"  My childhood family Easter egg hunts -- yes, multiple egg hunts at multiple family homes -- were wonderful!  I haven't figured out how the one we do at church adds a thing to what families can -- and will -- do for their kids.  I have nothing at all against a church Easter egg hunt; I just don't get it.

Friday Five: Books R Us

Jan at RevGalBlogPals has enticed me out of the spectator seats and back onto the blogger playing field with today's Friday Five.  Books do it for me every time!

1.  What books have you recently read. Tell us your opinion of them.
I'm in a group that is reading Diana Butler Bass' Christianity For the Rest of Us.  I do recommend it, although the lay people in our group don't seem all that inspired by it.  On my last day off, I re-read Eat Pray Love (Elizabeth Gilbert), a book that reminds me what spiritual journey looks like on a modern day seeker apart from the institutional church.

2.  What books are awaiting your available time to be read. 

At the top of my pile is War is a Lie (David Swanson), "a thorough refutation of every major argument used to justify wars, drawing on evidence from numerous past wars, with a focus on those wars that have been most widely defended as just and good."

3.  Have any books been recently recommended?  I'm looking forward to reading Carol Howard Merritt's Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry for a New Generation.  I hope it will begin to answer the question raised for me by Eat Pray Love:  Wouldn't it be great if the church was a place where spiritual seekers found God instead of having to give up church in order to find God?  I am all in favor of exotic locations as pilgrimage destination, though!

4.  What genre of books are your favorite, along with some titles and/or authors you like best?

I don't know if this is an official genre, but I'm sort of a sucker for modern-day morality parables.  The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho) is a favorite, as is The Shack (William P. Young).  I also have enjoyed God on a Harley (Joan Brady), The Knight in Rusty Armor (Robert Fischer), The Dragon-Slayer with a Heavy Heart (Marcia Powers) and The Princess Who Believed in Fairy Tales (Marcia Grad).  If you ever see any of these on a dollar table at a book sale, grab it!

5.  What have you read lately that you have a strong urge to recommend (or condemn)?

I strongly recommend Rita Nakashima Brock's latest book Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire.  It is a very life-giving look at the historical make-over, in art and story, of Jesus as shepherd in the earliest church to Jesus the very dead sacrificial lamb. She does some cool things with Song of Solomon, too!  Reading this takes me back to the thrill of seminary learning days.  Yeah, I know, I'm a total church and Bible geek! 

Friday Five: Favorite Things of the Season

The RevGalBlogPals Friday Five today is an invitation to name five things that mark the season for me and one thing that doesn't do it for me.

1.  Candles, including the "fake" window candles

2. Christmas tree lights, any kind, the more the merrier!

3. The movie "White Christmas"

4.  Snow! 

5.  Christmas Eve worship service, especially lighting the Christ candle

The one thing that doesn't do it for me is when those who are most vocal about "Jesus is the reason for the season" tell me that they won't be coming to the Christmas Eve worship service because "family comes first."

Friday Five: Pies R Us?

Brownie in a pie!  Yum!

I'm glad I finished up last week's Friday Five yesterday, so I could play today's RevGalBlogPals Friday Five about pie!


I am two years gluten free, and I've not delved into GF pie crusts yet.  But I did have a pie life before, and hope to have a pie life again someday.  I've discovered and multi-tested a great (very great!) GF brownie recipe, though!


Are pies an important part of a holiday meal?  I didn't grow up with much pie on an every day basis, so a pie does say "holiday" to me.  I did serve a delicious holiday meal yesterday without pie.  The sweet potatoes were like dessert, though.


Men prefer pie; women prefer cake.  Discuss.  My experience says "true" to this one.


Cherries -- do they belong in a pie?  I've never been a big fan of cherry pie.  I prefer them as a topping to cheesecake.  [Note to self:  Find GF graham cracker crumb recipe!]


Meringue -- if you had to choose, is it best on lemon or chocolate?  I'm not a big fan of meringue.  When the choice is lemon or chocolate -- anything -- the choice is always chocolate!  (Anyone remember the boxed pudding cake mixes, back in the day, that came in chocolate or lemon?)


In a chicken pie, what are the most compatible vegetables?  Anything you don't like in a chicken pie?  I used to pick out the peas from the pot pies we had as a kid.  I would probably stick with the basics -- carrots, potatoes, celery, onions, peas.

Friday Five (Thanksgiving Day edition): Unexpected Blessings

This is a leftover from last week's RevGalBlogPals Friday Five. We were challenged to name five unexpected things we are thankful for.  In chronological order:

Each of my children:  Of course, it is expected that I am grateful for each of my three now adult children.  Each one's actual entry into my life was unexpected in a special way that I cherish.

Becoming a pastor:  I was the kid in Sunday School that everyone dreaded having in their class.  And, yes, kids overhear teachers saying these things!  My crime was that I had questions that the teachers were not very good at answering to my satisfaction.  My little secret was that, while all the other kids were bored with Sunday School and especially the worship service, I was both fascinated and strangely captivated by the whole thing.  I went to seminary because I had always wanted a graduate degree, and I thought it would be like going to Sunday School full time!  If they could see me now. . . !

Amazing journeys:  I've gotten to travel to a lot of different places, mostly in the U.S., with some travel to Latin America.  The journey of my life has been more wonderful and life-giving than I could have ordered off of the best menu of choices.  The people in my life -- family, friends, parishioners -- have been unexpected blessings over and over again.  Even the rough, rough roads have been unexpectedly blessed.

Church life:  I never expected that I would want to be a pastor, much less be able to, much less derive joy from it.  I get so frustrated sometimes that I feel like I'm stuck in the temple, Jesus-style, whip in hand, either whacking the money changers over the head or wanting to so badly that I'm screaming, mostly on the inside.  Alternately, I'm crying over Jerusalem and feeling so totally impotent that it hurts.  Church life is hard for me because I really do believe Jesus Christ is good news for the world and for the church!  I have gotten to see glimpses of miracles, quickly vaporizing usually, but -- still -- I have been privvy to many unexpected blessings!  

Daniel:  I truly am a person who would have lived a full and complete life, and been totally happy with my own children, if grandchildren had never happened for me. Daniel's advent was totally out of my control, so his presence in this world is, for me, indeed an unexpected miracle.

The Comfort of Quitting

My niece Laura took this picture

I quit.

I quit trying to "win" NaNoWriMo.  Winning would have meant writing 50,000 words of a so-called novel in the 30 days of November.   I started off strong, believing that this was my "winning" year.  As of a few days ago, I have put away NaNoWriMo writing for 2010.  Quitting means that, for the fifth year in a row, I have played and not won.

My inner Pollyanna has struggled a little bit this time in her efforts to turn quitting into winning.  She's a persistent one, though, and has declared that, indeed, I quit one thing so I could win:  

• The opportunity to spend three whole days, and two partial days, with my daughter, son-in-law and grandson.
• Some deliciously long conversations with cherished friends and family.
• A few sacred, unencumbered days to walk with a family through the death of their 45 year old relative.
• The joy of writing and writing and writing on the so-called novel, and now I have won back the joy of a more relaxed writing schedule for sermons, blog posts, and whatever else I want to write.
• Some much-needed goof-off time.  Did I say much needed?

And ... I won the once-in-a-lifetime chance to make 2011 the year I win NaNoWriMo for the first time!

Friday Five: It is Well With My Soul

Not my photo, although it seems very familiar.

The Friday Five invitation at RevGalBlogPals talks about perks and privileges for which we are grateful.  To quote kathrynzj over there:  There are many perks in my life for which I give thanks and then there are some that make everything right in the world during the moment I am enjoying them. I'm wondering what a few of those things - five to be specific - are for you.
I think of perks as those things that are truly the icing on the cake and undeserved or unexpected, like God's grace and falling stars. These are things that I really didn't expect to be part of my life, so they are the perks that come to mind today:

• Chili's:  For me, Chili's represents the privilege of going out to eat and also is a piece of family tradition that dates back to good memories of dining at the first Chili's restaurant in Dallas, TX, way back in the day.  In fact, I enjoyed a bit of the Chili's today for lunch with my first-born.
• Technology:  Include smart phone, computer, iPod, cable TV, Netflix, Skype, internet research, online role-playing games, and even worship technology. I am not very patient with people who vilify technology outright.  I do not use all of those things in any given day, or every week even, but I am grateful for the things, and the people, they bring into my life.
• Meaningful work:  I can't say that my work is always my play, but darn close.  The privilege is sharing faith and life and God together.  The perks are the travel and the many, many people I would never have met otherwise.  
• Corrective Lenses:  In my case, bifocals.  My life would be beyond fuzzy without them.  No driving, movies, or being able to see my congregants' faces during the sermon.
• Being a grandmother:  A grandchild turns out to be a serendipity that was/is totally out of my control to create or wish into being.  Daniel (now 5 months), along with three amazing adult children and a wonderful son-in-law, are all fantastic perks of this time of life.

Some See Fungi

Some "rare" Texas mushrooms

Words:  The dawn of Day Four of NaNoWriMo and I have completed a tenth of the 30-day journey of 50,000 words with a current word count at 5163.

As if the voices in my head are not sufficiently taunting and belittling, Laura Miller at Salon.com opines that NaNoWriMo is a (quote) "waste of time and energy."  "Better Yet, Don't Write That Novel" Laura advises those of us who would give ourselves permission to write a whole lot of *compost* for a whole month.

Better yet, read Carolyn Kellogg's rebuttal (debunking?) of Miller's article.  At LA Times online, she offers Twelve Reasons to Ignore the Naysayers:  Do NaNoWriMo.  Why, she makes it seem almost harmless for a couple of hundred thousand writers -- or "writers" -- to have occupied themselves producing 305,703,617 words so far in 2010!

Picture:  Taken in Southlake, Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth area) in September, this picture of mushrooms in my sister's front yard is evidence that it does, indeed, sometimes get soggy in Texas.

You say "fungus"; I say "mushroom"!  And then, I write about it, because it's what I do.

Words and Pictures: Day Three

Words:  Slightly ahead of pace with 3410 words.  Mood: satisfied!

Picture:  This sweet daisy bloomed for about a month until 2 nights ago when the freeze seriously wilted it.  The joys of warm weather are captured in this picture, especially the joy of gardening during the warmer season.

Farewell sunny daisies and fluttering butterflies!

Hello simmering soup and flannel robes!

Words and Pictures: Day Two

Coffee & General Synod 2009 "goodie bag"

Words:  I have to write 1666.666~ words a day in order to "win" NaNoWriMo by writing 50,000 words in a 30-day month.  Yesterday, my first day total was 1671.  It was my day off.  Writing my quota today will be more challenging.

Picture: Finding coffee at a United Church of Christ General Synod is easy.  Finding good coffee is divine!  It's not a great picture -- and it may actually be tea! -- but it brings back memories of General Synod in 2009 when I got to sponsor our conference youth delegation:  a two-day drive, fun youth, Habitat houses, amazing worship, old and new friends, and the always-appreciated reminder of why I keep on saying "yes" to this call to ministry.

A Month of Words and Pictures

Good-bye, October!  Hello, November! Pumpkins forever!

The Words:  50,000 of them, courtesy of NaNoWriMo, a.k.a. National Novel Writing Month.  Why?  For the joy of writing, of course!  So many words over there, so there will be pictures over here.

The Pictures:  Lisa Clarke at Polka Dot Cottage is celebrating a Month of Gratitude by taking pictures of things that bring her joy.  Thanks, Lisa, for a great idea and for your invitation to everyone to play.

Today, these small pumpkins make me smile!

Friday Five: Comfort Media

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five today is about Comfort, media style. 

Comfort, yes!  Comfort media, absolutely!  I have my own selection of movies and TV shows that are never old, no matter how many times you watch them.  These are the treats you curl up with during a bad cold or to unwind after a particularly challenging Consistory meeting. Just sayin' ... 

And don't forget the comfort food!  In honor of the last few days of Fair Trade month, treat yourself to some Fair Trade chocolate from Theo Chocolate, the only only organic fair trade bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States.  For something hearty and spicy, check out my daughter's yummy Rattlesnake Pasta -- freshly posted today!  Surprise, it's vegetarian!   Be ye comforted to the max!

My media comforts trend toward strong women, slapstick comedy and just plain escape:

Legally Blonde (movie) starring Reese Witherspoon as a blonde who is underestimated by almost everyone but herself.  Witherspoon herself seemed to be underestimated until she won the Oscar for Walk the Line.

The Closer (TV show) starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.  She is sassy, competent, Southern, and is surrounded by a great supporting cast.  I watch every episode I can find, no matter how many times I've seen it before.  It's just a fun show to watch.

Pretty Woman (movie) which is great Richard Gere and great Julia Roberts. I watch the whole movie to get to the last line, which gets me every time.

Fletch (movie) starring Chevy Chase.  I almost have this movie memorized and I still think it's hilarious.

Instant Movie or TV Marathon -- My daughter introduced me to The Deadliest Catch when we watched a bundle of episodes together marathon-style.  I am now watching the first three seasons of Mad Men with my son whenever we get the chance to squeeze in a few episodes.  I love Netflix!

Knew Better, Did Better: Fair Trade Buying

Janee Payne:  Freshly-picked coffee beans

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better."  -- Maya Angelou


October is Fair Trade Month.  The "special month" is ending, but the opportunity continues year-round to buy with justice in mind by seeking out fair trade products.


ABOUT FAIR TRADE, from the Fair Trade USA web site:  "The Fair Trade Certified™ Label guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product. Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla." 


TWO KINDRED SPIRITS:
This week (Oct. 25-31) is International Nestle-Free Week.  Once again, coincidentally, my thoughts are swimming in the same stream as my amazing youngest at Anktangle.  She makes a convincing case for staying away from all things produced by Nestle, and she details how difficult that is to actually do.  Shameless, totally biased plug:  Amy's blog is special (like she is!) and her activism is filled with love for her family, for justice, and for life itself.  Spend a few minutes browsing!


I have been inspired by Jan at Yearning for God who has written regularly about Fair Trade products, especially fair trade chocolate.  Pay her a visit today and wish her a very "Happy Birthday!"


SOURCES FOR FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS:
Equal Exchange:  Fairly Traded Coffee, Tea, Chocolate and Snacks.

Green Mountain Coffee has a fairly extensive selection of fair trade (many are organic) coffees and teas.

Small Farmers, Big Change:  "A green and more just food system starts with small farmers."

Divine Chocolate:  "Divine is the only Fairtrade chocolate company which is 45% owned by the farmers. While Fairtrade ensures farmers receive a better deal for their cocoa and additional income to invest in their community, company ownership gives farmers a share of Divine’s profits and a stronger voice in the cocoa industry."

Sweet Earth Chocolates: This company's "organic fair trade confections for chocolate lovers everywhere" includes wedding favors and bulk ingredients.

Mountain Rose Herbs (also teas, spices and essential oils) is committed to sustainability and ethical stewardship.  A significant number of their products are fair trade and part of the standards and values of their business.


DOING BETTER:  Some of my favorite things are coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla.  I will enjoy them all the more by doing justice in the buying of them.

Saturday Video Joy: Garments of Love

"Garments of Love" 

by Christopher Grundy, Eden Seminary professor

Therefore, as God's chosen people, 

holy and dearly loved, 

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

[Colossians 3:12-14]

Friday Five: Joy of Friendship

The RevGalBlogPals Friday Five today is about friendship:

Who is the first friend you remember from childhood?  During my preschool days, Yvonne and I were inseparable at school.  One day, she walked in front of someone who was swinging and got kicked in the head and there was blood and she had to leave school suddenly.  Happier memories involved field trip days and our first experiences of going on a "trip" with packed lunches.

Have you ever received an unexpected gift from a friend?  A friend gave me a going away party when we moved from Philadelphia to Dallas.  The party itself -- of young women from our Sunday School class -- was a huge gift, though not unexpected.  The unexpected gifts were that each woman had embroidered a tea towel for me.  (Remember:  Young women, Dallas, luncheon party, in the mid-80s!)  The most unexpected and long-remembered gift was when she played the then-new song "Friends are Friends Forever" and we all cried together.

Is there an old friend you wish you could find again? Or have you found one via social media or the Internet?  Yes to the first question.  There are a couple of people I wouldn't mind finding again, including the women at the party I mentioned above, but I'm not looking for them, either.  To the second question:  Many of our high school friends are reconnecting via Facebook and have had a couple of get-togethers that I have been unable to attend so far.  There is a plan for us to gather for our (*cough*) 40th high school reunion next year, but in a location far, far from any official reunion function(s). 

Do you like to get your good friends together in a group, or do you prefer your friends one on one?  Slight preference for one-on-one.

Does the idea of Jesus as a friend resonate with you?  Yes, among a host of other images.

I'm Wearing Purple Today

Today is "Spirit Day" and I'm wearing purple to speak out against anti-LGBT bullying.  It is also a  reminder to me to speak up whenever I hear language that demeans anyone for any reason.  I am thankful for organizations and groups who have brought LGBT human rights issues into the mainstream and advocated for equality for all.

GLAAD (The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. Go their Wear Purple page to show "Spirit Day" purple on Facebook and Twitter.

The Human Rights Campaign works for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equal rights.  Find out what actions are taking place in your state by clicking on a drop down menu on the home page.

I'm especially grateful for the Jesus followers who are the United Church of Christ.   The UCC has historically been a pioneer faith in issues of justice and equality, including marriage equality for all.  Geoffrey Black, general minister and president of the UCC, was one of the national religious leaders who signed the Clergy Against Bullying Statement. 

Yearning for God celebrates the "It Gets Better" You-Tube project

Anktangle celebrates the beauty of purple in pictures.

Kristin at Halfway to Normal proclaims "Not up for debate:  Acceptance and love for all"!  Amen!

And Geaux Tigers!  Today, I wear my purple LSU Tiger shirt in solidarity with teens who didn't live until it got better for them. 

Peace. With justice.  Now.