Church Lady vs Mechanical Bull

For a while now, I have had on my bucket list: ride a mechanical bull. Unfortunately, the only place I could think of riding one was at bars - probably the kind of bar that solely played country music. Being somewhat close to Nashville, I knew I could easily find a bar or an event where I could unleash my desire to ride one of these things; but the thought of riding a bull, with my top heavy self, in a bar with men, as a 3rd grade Sunday school teacher, just didn't sit quiet right with me. So I looked elsewhere. 


My bright idea was to rent one for our annual church women's Christmas party. I felt I could "let loose" a little more, not having to worry about being a stumbling block to any males because there is a sensuousness to riding a bull. After being a bit disappointed at the super expensive quotes I got, I finally found a reasonable one. (If you live in the Western Kentucky area, I highly recommend them! They were great and super friendly and accommodated all my theatrical whims. Click here for their website.) I told the owner my plight and whispered - because that is what church ladies do - "I need a bull for women. Because - you know- men." He chuckled at my modesty and affirmed me he had actually done a couple of events at some churches and he completely understood since he's also a pastor! I gasped! He gasped! But I knew he would turn his eyes the other way if things got a little too sexy on the bull, up at the church lady's Christmas party! So he e-mailed me the contract, I signed and returned it with a check. The date was scheduled, but as fate would have it, it rained the day of our event and rain and mechanical bull don't mix well. I would have to wait to check off "mechanical bull riding" off of my bucket list. We rescheduled for my daughter's birthday party, but alas, it rained again. I was discouraged. Distraught. It was as if this would never happen. But it did!

A tough little guy.

Every year our church has a fall festival INSIDE a large convention center and we have all kinds of games, prizes, food, hay rides and even a petting zoo. I called up Ethan (bull guy) again and re-rescheduled him one more time. I told him that this event is indoors and even if did rain, it wouldn't matter. So again, we set up a date.

The only problem though, was that I face paint at our fall festival, and I face paint A LOT of little cute faces. And I don't take a break from face painting because I just don't have the heart to tell an adorable little bumble bee to wait while I make a fool of myself on a mechanical bull. So I just painted along. We had hundreds of visitors come to our festival, and a lot of people enjoyed the mechanical bull. I guess I would just have to sacrifice my whimsical bucket list item, for the kingdom of God. And in reality, it really wasn't that difficult.

But, as our event was ending and there were no more faces to paint, I went up to Aaron (the bull guy's helper) and gave him permission to end the bull riding. (Going over our allotted time would cost me more money, and I didn't want to go over!) He asked me if I wanted to get on. I looked around and there was mostly just church people there! "Oh yes please!"

I got on the inflatable and raised my leg to mount the bull. But I couldn't get on! You know when your mind thinks it can do something, but your body just doesn't respond? That is what was happening here. Oh no! I tried by putting both hands on the bull and hoisting myself up! As if I had that kind of upper body strength! Finally, Aaron told me he could help me. Thankfully he's a pretty tough guy, but how was he going to help me? What if I killed him? Thankfully, I am sure of it, Aaron has dealt with bigger women trying to mount a mechanical bull at a church event. He got on a knee and told me to use his other knee as a stool to get up on the bull. I huffed, I heaved and I got on.

What happened next was the most anti-climatic thing that has ever happened to me. I got on the bull ready for him to buck me off. Ready to prevail in the battle between woman and machine! Ready for my hair to fling one way and then another! I was ready! So I clutched the rope, steeled my back and then the mechanical bull moved ever so slightly and I remembered that I have no core muscles. None. I quickly then bear-hugged the hunk of bull and slowly, every so very slowly melted off the bull. Have you ever baked bread? You know when you knead the dough, form it into a ball and then set it in a greased bowl to let it rise? And then you punch said dough and "pour" it onto a floured surface for shaping. That is how it looked like. The pouring part of the dough. And that is kinda how I felt. A turned over, punched, ball of dough ready for shaping. I laid there in my shame realizing that my mind is so much more fun than my reality. I log rolled a little away from my victorious foe and got out of the inflatable arena. Two more deacons went after me and I just walked to my face painting table flushed and defeated. No, deflated would be a better word to describe myself.  

Some of the church ladies wedding dress shopping.

I checked off "mechanical bull riding" off of my bucket list. But it wasn't an assertive check, but in the end that really didn't matter. I did have fun laughing, mostly at my lack of athletic ability. A lot of people did have fun and like we always do at these events, we shared the Gospel and God's love to the people in our community. 

I don't think I will ever have the opportunity to ride on a mechanical bull again, but it's okay. After all, life is made up of memories, not fantasies.

Nothing bad to say

I still do not know who I will vote for in this coming election. I still think when I am at the voting booth with my daughter (I usually take her with me) I will pray and make my decision then. I have family and friends who all have given me their opinion and I truly believe all of them have made valid arguments for their choice for president. One thing I have done less of though is worry. As Christians, anxiety is a sin. Jesus advises us not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25-34). We must remember that this is not our home (Hebrews 13:14) and we look forward to the day God returns (2 Peter 3:12-13). 

When all my favorite primary candidates lost, I really felt like all hope was gone. That hope dwindled more as we were left with Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. And it practically died when I saw how many Christians defended Mr. Trump's way of living. I may pull the lever for Mr. Trump come November 8th, but something I will never do is minimize what an awful human being he is. But this post really isn't about the election, it is more about a snippet I heard on the radio about a news show called "Morning Joe". I first want to admit that I honestly almost live in a cave when it comes to "normal TV". We have Netflix, Amazon and DVD's. That's about it when it comes to TV. The "news" I get usually comes from a podcast, the radio or a youtube channel. If I want local news I get that from the ladies who sit in my church pew or the police scanner. Don't get me wrong, I have tried fox news, msnbc, and other places, but the agendas they push are so blatant sometimes that I can't help but wonder how "fair and balanced" they really are. And occasionally I really think they believe I do not have a brain of my own and could never rationally come to my own conclusion, so they must insert their opinions because I could not possibly have any of my own. But back to worrying. I refuse to worry about this election. I am anti-worry. Because when I worry, even slightly, I have diminished the colossal, absolute and total power that God has over His creation. I trust Him, and I lie that I trust Him when I worry. The kingdom of God is eternal (Matt. 16:18, Heb. 1:8). His church will prevail (Matt. 16:18). And God is just, compassionate, long-suffering, loving, good, all-knowing, all-powerful, almighty, etc (the whole Bible)! So my dear brothers and sisters, let us rest in those promises, do what the Holy Spirit has prompt you to do regarding your vote, and continue with your active faith of loving God and loving others. Let Him deal with the consequences. (Please don't get me wrong when I say I am anti-worry. I am not advocating fatalism or unproductive passivity)

Being a conservative who leans libertarian, I recognize that I have my own set of biases and stereo-types. I believe that Christians tend to lean to the right of center and I am surprisingly almost always shocked when I meet a Christian democrat. I know! I know! I know there are Christian democrats who truly love the Lord, but I am always slightly shocked by it okay! I'm trying to be honest here! Saying this, I also have my biases on msnbc and shows like Morning Joe where I know they are left leaning. But, I want to give credit where credit is due. On yesterday's "Morning Joe", Mika Brzezinski said some things that were very noble of her. So I looked her up some more and, needless to say, she and I have almost nothing in common when it comes to our views on politics and government, but what she said yesterday regarding Hillary Clinton's latest FBI investigation and Mika's own media peers was vitalizing. I have provided the video below so  you can see it for yourself.

Wasn't that just awesome of her and Joe to say that? I know some Christian Trump supporters who aren't as honest as they were just there! She admitted to her own hypocrisy. Something very difficult to see in ourselves. Something Christians on "my side" refuse to see in themselves. 

I believe that all of us have been made in the image of God. That we are more precious than the plants or the animals. That we are even more special than the angels because nothing else carries with them the image of God. Nothing. During presidential election years, we tend to forget that sometimes. We fail to see the personhood of an individual because we do not agree with their politics, their religion, or their ideas. Their humanity is stripped away because of their voting tendencies or frankly because of the sin in their life. Just because someone acts out in their flesh, doesn't make them any less an image bearer. And just because someone doesn't agree with me, doesn't make them any less a human created by God. I must remember this when someone comes along with an idea that I believe to be wrong even if they are wrong because God says they're wrong. There is a way to converse with people and if the conversation leads to nothing, we are still called to love and serve each other, in humility, not thinking anyone is better than the other (Phil. 2:3). Even if we have the truth, there is a way to speak the truth. Obviously, we cannot make everyone happy. Obviously some people will become upset. Obviously, some people will hate us, but let them have to try really hard to do so. 

I leave you with this verse found in Titus 2:7-8:
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us.

Reading Hosea

Hosea 1-4

I am in Hosea now and I waited a couple of days before I delved into it because the story of Hosea and God telling him to take up a whore for his bride really just weighs me. Needless to say, I really didn't want to read this book again.

And honestly, the relationship of Hosea and Gomer really is the relationship I know I have had with God. I know I have been unfaithful, when He has been faithful. I know that I have found comfort in other things, when I should have found comfort in Him. I know I have found pleasure in sin, and have looked at His Word with disdain in my haughtiness. And what makes it so much more horrible is that it wasn't that long ago that I felt this way. Maybe this is why I don't want to read Hosea, because it is the story of me. And while I want to look down on Gomer and self-righteously scold her for her wantonness, I can't because I still haven't removed the log in my eye. And when I do remove my log, I don't even have the strength to look down on her, because it's like looking in a mirror.

I am so prone to wander. I am so prone to being entertained. When my mind is free to think, usually it is never of the things of God that it goes to. I can't pray more that 5 minutes without thinking about what else I have to do. I can't read Scripture for long periods of time because I think I am wasting time. BUT!!! I can binge on Netflix for 6 hours (sadly, I am not exaggerating!!) and the thought of wasting time never crosses my mind. Well it may, usually afterwards, but not enough to get me off the couch!

And I know the truth! And I know that I have been rescued from the fires of Hell! And I know that Jesus sought me and bought me! And I know that His law is precious! And I know that His Word is refreshing! And I know that the most joyous of times I have experienced in my whole life have been when I am worshiping Him in prayer, song or in His Word! And I know the changes He has made in me for the better! And I know the power in His Name! And so much more! 

So call me Gomer, for I am so much like her! And it drives me insane to think that I seek others instead of my God! But I do! Wretched woman that I am! So, I can't and I hope I never get over the love God has for me! How? Lord, how can you be so compassionate!? Hypocritically, I would have left Gomer! And frankly chapter 3 of Hosea implies that she really didn't even want to be with Hosea. After he had just bought her FROM THE MARKET because no one else would have her! The nerve! But that's me!

I am grateful for His mercy and His compassion towards me. And I am grateful that He is eternally forgiving, and that He teaches me so much by revealing His character in how He deals with this little monster that I am. To Him be all the glory. 

Why I am Voting "NO"

On January 15, 2013 the county where I live in (Lyon) will be taking a vote on whether to allow the selling of alcohol in its stores, gas stations, restaurants etc. As a Christian, I want to express why I will vote "NO" to the selling of alcohol in the county where I live.

First of all, I want to strongly state that alcohol in itself is not a sin (Psalm 104:14-15). Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine, providing the guests with more to drink.(John 2:1-11). Solomon in his writings in Ecclesiastes (9:7) recommends to us to eat, drink and be merry and even Paul recommended Timothy to mix some wine into his diet to help with his stomach. (I Timothy 5:23). My flesh wishes that Jesus never drank, but the Scripture is clear, Jesus drank wine as did most Jews who were not under the Nazarene law. He was even called a drunkard and glutton by those that hated Him (Matthew 11:19) (Just for clarity's sake, He wasn't either of the two.)  Therefore, we must see and admit that alcohol is not a sin, to do otherwise is to twist Scripture.

That being said, God has given us many gifts for our enjoyment, one of them being alcohol.  Unfortunately, man being the sinful being he is, will always twist and pervert the gifts that God has blessed us with. Always!
 The prophet Jeremiah mentions man's heart as being sick and deceitful (17:9). Jesus tells us that out of our heart comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, and adultery (Mark 7:21). Even in sin we were born (Psalm 51:5)! Paul elaborates and restates certain parts of the Psalms and parts of Isaiah that say that there is NOT one good person (Romans 3:10-18) Not one! Therefore, we must agree that man is inherently evil. That man does not err on the side of good, but on the side that is bad. Making alcohol legal isn't going to make man a better person, he can't become better in himself. None of us can, it is only through Jesus' blood that man is made righteous (Romans 5:9) Even if our intentions are good, man will always find a way to rebel against God and pervert that which is good.

God knows us, even more than we know ourselves and that is why He has constructed boundaries regarding His gifts.When it comes to food, God warns us not to make our stomach our god (Phillipians 3:19). When it comes to sex, Jesus commands that it be between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4) and for our enjoyment. The book of Proverbs advices spouses to enjoy each other (5:19) and even Paul (a celibate) advices married couples not to go too long without sex (I Corinthians 7:5) and let us not forget the whole book of the Song of Solomon. So again we see that God has given us good things to enjoy but we see that man has made it into a mess. With food, we see the rising of disease and obesity, the enslavement of people on diets and the weariness of counting calories. With sex, we see struggling single mothers, disease, heartache, abortion, homosexuality, incest, rape and loneliness. With alcohol, we see the rise of violence, depression, loneliness, spousal and child abuse and suicide. We take what God has given us and twist it, thus adding to our pain and suffering. We take the things that are meant to give us a taste of His glory, and make it our god. We allow the creation to take the place of the Creator.

God's Word warns us plenty of times of the outcome of drunkenness (Galatians 5:19-21). Jesus warns us of the trap it is and ties it with depression (Luke 21:34). It takes away understanding (Hosea 4:11), impairs our judgement (Isaiah 28:7), it brings poverty (Priverbs 23:20-21), and sadly it keeps us from inheriting the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10).

But I want to add another warning the Bible gives clearly and it is to those that do not have a drinking problem like me. Paul speaks about this in I Corinthians 8 and 10. In these passages Paul is talking about food or drink sacrificed to idols and the freedoms found in mature Christians. (This is perfect example for me because I am very strong when it comes to abstaining from drinking alcohol, but pathetically weak when it comes to over-eating) As a mature Christian, I am free to eat and drink and to enjoy God's gifts, but NEVER at the expense of my Christian brothers and sisters. Just like my thinner Christian sisters (with no eating disorders) shouldn't make it easy for me to sin with food by telling me to eat and eat and be merry; I shouldn't either make it easy for my brothers and sisters in Christ when it comes to drinking. As a mature Christian I need to worry about the good of others before I think of myself. (I Corinthians 10:24) - In other words, me being able to buy my beer after mowing the lawn is not as important as helping my Christian brothers or sisters who struggle with alcohol. We don't invite a struggling glutton to a buffet, just like we don't invite a struggling drunkard for a drink. (Romans 14:21) It is hard to see the weaknesses of others and it is very easy to be selfish, but again Paul warns us to watch out for the weak and if we cause them to sin, that that sin is a sin against Christ. (I Corinthians 8:12)

Besides several statistics that speak of the rise of violence, theft and abuse that spring forth from alcohol (all of which is spoken of in the God's Word. For other references see: Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35, Isaiah 5:22; I Corinthians 5:11; many more)  We must be our brother's keeper and not make it easy for man to indulge in their sin. Habakkuk 2:15a tells us: "Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink". That verse then mentions how that is like pouring our wrath over them so we can see their nakedness (or their debauchery) and laugh at them.

Are there people out there that are responsible drinkers that just want to enjoy life differently than me? Yes, of course. But the Christian cannot use the defense, "Why should I suffer because others do not know how to drink." On the contrary our mind should be, "I would rather suffer not being able to drink because others don't know Him the way I do".

That is why I CANNOT knowingly  look the other way and vote YES, knowing that I have provided a stumbling block to others.

If alcohol remains illegal to sell, I will praise God and continue to try to be a light to this dark world. If alcohol becomes legal to sell, I will praise God and continue to try to be a light to this dark world. Either way alcohol will not affect me, but it is not about me. It is about Him first and others second. We are all accountable for our actions. I pray that the Holy Spirit leads you in your decision on whether to vote yes or no on the selling of alcohol.

I leave you with this passage in Ephesians 5:18-20:
 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Filled with Him (not wine), :-)

Anna