Politics and Religion

I'm not one to get on a soapbox.. well, at least not on my blog but this issue is so important to me. I was informed a couple of weeks ago via email that our new president lifted the ban on federal funding for abortion. What this means is our tax dollars, as I understand it, go towards supporting organizations that promote abortion. UGH!

Another "issue" that I ponder on is the question... Do we as Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God? I think this is such an important question, especially in today's corrupt world. I feel as if some folks believe some parts of the Bible and then disregard others. Is it black and white? We all have issues we deal with and when confronted with what the Bible might say about them, it can be quite uncomfortable and challenging at times. I think this is even more reason to turn to and lean on God. Most importantly, trust Him.

This brings me to what I would like to share with you most in this post. In the past year or so I have been very involved in the research of my denomination. As with all denominations, there are problems that seep in. As much as I would like to be rid of all denominations, I respect and understand why they are here. As much as I question God about why I'm in the one I'm in, I respect my authority and try not to become weary. After all, NO church is perfect.. otherwise it wouldn't be the church... right? After taking somewhat of a break on keeping up with what all is going on, tonight I looked up a blog of a fellow believer and his recent post couldn't explain the abortion issue any better.

http://jimberkley.blogspot.com/

I was tagged

I was tagged to pull my 4th picture from my 4th folder....

This is Jase and Wade at a kids day after church.. goodness they were so little! (I think they were under 1 year.. they are 4 days apart.) I miss my baby days!

Just to let you see them now....

I tag..

everyone!

Oh No The Big 4-0!

The past several weeks I have been secretly planning T a surprise 40th birthday party. I am so glad to be able to tell the truth again! I did not like not being able to share certain news with him. He is my BFF so it was really hard. Anyway, he had a blast, as did the rest of us! There are more pictures on the way but here are a few.....

We learned that our pastor of 5 years is leaving in March to a call to a church in his home state of Texas. It is definitely bittersweet. We are happy for him but disappointed at the same time.

After church we enjoyed lunch with the whole family since they were in town for the party. I took a few pics of the kids playing outside. It was so beautiful yesterday and today it's pretty but COLD! Notice the adorable Blessed Be The Name clothing from Fall '08

We Have Choices

Monday night I went to a new Bible study.. Daniel by Beth Moore and boy am I glad I did. In just the first night I learned and heard things I have been needing to hear for a while.....

*We have an enemy who wants to return us to places God called us to leave. Have you ever noticed that when you make the decision to follow God, things seem to get harder? Satan wants nothing more than to hold us captive in our sin.
*Nothing is more dangerous than friendly captivity. The enemy doesn't just say.. "hey, come over here and do this.. I dare you." No, he entices you, makes things look like it's the thing you should be doing, the thing you are entitled to. It can be money, food, tv, material possessions....
*Captivity never remains friendly Once we get that bigger, more expensive, better looking whatever..eventually we end up feeling empty, discontent and unsettled. Our only satisfaction comes from God, not overindulgence

And the big one... Just because everything may be permissible, does it mean it's beneficial?
1 Cor 6:12

If you have ever done a Beth Moore study you know that she holds nothing back.. she is deep and thorough so there is no way I can relay everything I learned in just the first chapter of Daniel but let me say that the parallels in the Bible are profound! I highly recommend her studies.

Deep thoughts by angela.....

Don't you just love this hair?! Or maybe it just looks great on her? I wish I could see the back...

These are my thoughts as I thumb through the latest hair mag. I'm always wanting to do something to my hair. Of course every time I get it cut, I hate it and come home complaining to T. But a couple of days later I like it ok. Then when I get my next haircut, I hate it, look back at pictures of the last haircut and wish I had that back! It's a vicious cycle isn't it?

A New Year, A Slow Start

I surely thought by now I would have everything organized and put away but that is not the case. Those of you that know me, knows this is driving me crazy! A major setback has been migraines. This has really opened my eyes to pay attention to what i put into my body and how I live my life. My diet is terrible and in the back of my mind I have known this for months and months. My spiritual life has been out of whack as well. Time to get back on the wagon!! Let me share with you my month of December.....

The weekend of Dec 13th, we headed to Atlanta to see my dad's side of the family. This was such a great trip because I haven't seem all my aunts and uncles, cousins and 2nd cousins in 7 years. I also got to meet the new members of the family ( new wives to my cousins) and i loved them! This was really the first big family Christmas that most all of us were there except my Granny and Granddaddy. When I was little, I would go to Granny's every year and she was the best cook. She always had a huge spread and there was always tons of homemade goodies out all day, every day. My Aunt Renee ( who I am named after) gave us all a gift bag filled with Granny's homemade Christmas ornaments. That was special and I was so excited to get home and put them on our tree!

Some of Granny's homemade ornaments

KE and her 2nd cousin... they hit it off!

Most of the gang....

*Todd and Angie Thaxton, me and T, *Joel Thaxton and his gf, Jill, *Britt and Laura Reames, *Joe Don Reames and Leslie and *Jay Reames

* my first cousins

My picture taking over the holidays was the pits.. Since I dropped and broke my camera on Halloween , my sweet friend loaned me her extra camera. I used it a little, but didn't take it everywhere. T gave me a new digital for Christmas but it needed a memory stick, not a SD card which is what we were used to. Sooooo, I didn't get a lot of good pics.

annual Christmas dinner to Doe's!

KE with her mimi ( the boys stay home for this one)

Christmas Eve at mimi and papaws

Christmas morning... N loves play-doh and that is what Santa brought him

W on his new Cars scooter

KE with her new bike and playhouse. We can't wait for pretty weather so we can paint it!