Finally...a permanent job.

It's settled. No more moving for a very long time. I am now permanently employed by the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Office Manager. WOOHOO!!

We've been throwing around the idea of moving back to DC for higher paying jobs (and higher cost of living to go with it) but have finally decided that we're happy, and why ruin that? We are settling down and plan to make a life in this fun and funky place. So come visit!

Meanwhile...God seems to be teaching new things all the time. Lately it's that I have limited control over situations while he has limitless power to meet all my needs. And I was reminded of a lesson learned earlier on...there is a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. I wish I would remember that in the throws of despair and not wait weeks for that to suddenly dawn on me in the midst of worship.
There's so much more going on than I'm willing to publicly post. I really am just trying to just trust and rest in the knowledge that I serve a mighty God.

But...tonight we're going to Bluegrass on the Harpeth which is sure to produce many a picture and maybe even a video or two.

One other tidbit: I learned a rather cool part of Franklin's history this past week. In 1864 as the Battle of Franklin finally drew to a close, leaving 1000s wounded or dead on both sides of the war a Confederate preacher began to have prayer meetings and write those prayers down. God used his heart felt prayers and service to start a revival in Franklin - the one of the first revivals in the "holiness revival movement" in the Methodist Church. (Holiness revival movement = what we think of as revivals today.) As some of my friends my guess it was quickly shut down by the powers that be and he was moved to a small church in Mississippi. (Sound familiar?) Two of his books were published while he was alive and about 6 more were published after he died. You can still buy his books on Amazon. His name: EM Bounds. Check out the full story at: http://clusterpaper.com/article/em-bounds.

Beautiful Day

Quite literally, it is one of the most breath-taking-ly beautiful day's I've seen. The sky is the perfect color of mystery blue, there's cool breeze, and it's about 85. It was hard to stay indoors today.

But the beauty of the day isn't merely a matter of the weather. Today is a day that no matter what ill news may come (Stupid IRS) my heart will still rejoice. Today is a day when Justice is introducing itself to our history.

After years of relentless violence and horrible massacre the world's courts have begun to open their sleepy eyes and see the genocide in Darfur. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking to press charges of genocide against the president of Sudan. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/07/14/icc.transcript/index.html?eref=rss_world) If this warrent for arrest is issued, and President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is finally submitted into the earthly hands of justice, all should rejoice.

No, the violence in Africa won't stop. But, the hell that is Darfur and all of Sudan will perhaps know the peace that has been prayed for by so many. The voices of thousands of protestors will be heard and not haven fallen on deaf ears.

Pray that the beauty of the moment of justice will come. That it comes quickly. That the evil that has drenched the ground blood red will be bound on earth. That the tiny bits of morality that hold our fabric of society together will hold strong and rightly punish the wrong. Because, if no charges are brought, or if a prosecution fails in this court - hope is lost for the remaining inhabitants of that region. Retaliation is the free cool-aid of Africa and everyone's thirsty, and if not they're forced to drink.

PRAY. If you've ever had tug at your heart for Africa or for Darfur muster it up, put your foot on the spiritual battle's front line and offer up all that you have. If you don't believe in God or that God has anything to do with the outcome of events, let's put debating aside. Offer your good thoughts, write your congressman, your senator, the President, DO ANYTHING BUT SIT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER SCREEN AND NOTHING ELSE!