Hodgepodge Wednesday

Hodgepodge Wednesday



Her goes, Simply Linda

1. When did you last 'swim against the tide'?
Oh how I would love to be swimming against the tide right now. 

No, really.  I'm spent my life "swimming against the tide."  I stayed in the principal's office at school because when "right is right" it is "right" and when "wrong is wrong" it is wrong. Even when it was disagreeing with a teacher.  Yikes, I know.  I learned better.  I guess I got in trouble more for standing up for the underdog than anything else.

2. What's the last self-help or self-improvement book you read?
I have had some wonderful early morning times with the Lord lately reading His Word.  I even told God today that I didn't want to go to work if it meant having to lose this time with Him.  My Bible is my favorite book and it is marked up almost like a journal.  When God speaks to me through His Word, I write the date.  Some verses have more than one date.  The Bible can be read as many times as we want and it will speak to us differently each time and to someone else in a different way.

 3. "Tolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness." (Sir James Goldsmith)

Agree or disagree? Discuss. With civility please, because I think we have a good thing going in our very diverse (in geography, age, religion, political persuasion, ethnicity, marital status, upbringing, and cooking abilities) neighborhood here on This Side of the Pond.

 I think there is a fine line between tolerance and compromise and apathy.  Maybe I'm comparing the wrong two and not answering the question but I have had a hard time with this one lately.  I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  He would love, but He also turned the tables over.  However, most of his anger was with the hypocrites, the religious leaders.  So I don't want to sit back and do nothing.  We've done that for too long. At the same time, I don't want to judge.  However, if you are a Bible believing Christian and have read Romans 1, you clearly see what God says about homosexuality.  Then again, aren't we all guilty of some sin?  Not on purpose, not purposefully choosing a wrong lifestyle, but still not walking in obedience?  I've asked God to keep my heart right.  I will take this time to say that I believe that the end is near.  There are signs all around us.  I'm not one to say this in my blog, but since you asked...well maybe you didn't ask, but God has impressed this upon my heart that I must not be silent when I am called on to speak.  Can I admit to you that I am afraid.  How is God going to judge?  Will I be judged as the homosexual if I am a gossiper?  Sin is sin, right?  Just Lord, keep me sensitive to your voice and when called upon to take a stand, may I do so boldly in your name and in love
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4. What is one of your most vivid memories of the kitchen from your childhood?
Granny with her apron on at the kitchen sink, making biscuit with lard and buttermilk and patting them out. Mama always in the kitchen cooking or baking.  The table is where we always gathered and talked long after the meal was over.  Memories, sweet memories.  I'll make you laugh here.  I love to play with the chickens before mama cut them up.  I'd hold them by the wing and walk them around the sink.  Crazy children we were!

5. How did/do your own children's summers compare with your summers as a child? If you're not a parent, answer as it relates to what you've observed about the current generation of children vs. your own childhood.
Oh my goodness.  This one, move out of the way so I can get on my soapbox.  What happened to getting up early to shuck corn and shell butterbeans and peas before you could play?  What happened to having the neighborhood kids help you shuck and shell so you could play?  What happened to playing til dinner and supper as we called it and knowing it was time to come home when we heard our names called?  What happened to catching "lightening bugs" after dark?  What happened to riding bikes and playing back yard ball and walking to the store to buy "Penny" candy?  Oh haven't things changed.  My children did these things!  Really, there was no electronic games in my house.  The kids today, SAD!

6. Tell us what body of water you would most like to be on or near today, and why?

Today?  Usually the beach.  Today, it's too hot.  I'd like to be near a mountain stream.

7. Share a favorite song about water, or a favorite song with the word water in it's title, or a favorite song to listen to as you sit beside the water.

Bridge over Troubled Water and Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Yelp Linda.  I'd choose these too, but since I'm always singing with the babies lately, I sing "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream..." 
8. Insert your own random thought here.


Oh so sorry this post is so long.  I really am.  Random thoughts.  I'm as happy as I have ever been in my life.  The Lord says the end will be better than our beginning.  I think he said that to the Israelites, but hey, I'll take it.  I am loving Nashville.  I can't say that I don't miss home.  Monday was one of those days. But the joy of being with my children is more than I can ask for.  God has given us the desires of our hearts.