Rename the Blog

It happened again!

While riding the Subway a woman reflected Christ to me in such a way that I was both humbled and amazed at the bravery of her act.

Naturally Raymon, my husband if I haven't told you his name by now, was talking with several people at once while in route. One of the ladies of the group was simply exhausted and joined me on the bench. There were two empty seats beside me. Trust me, that is a rare occurrence.

We began chatting as if life long buddies. Of course it was our accents that opened the conversation. She had one too so that began a geography lesson for both of us. Next were our hopes and dreams of traveling which for both of us were pretty much done, barring the occasional jaunt to the moon and back.

Then the huge question of "why did you come?" For several stops I proceeded to tell her our story.* Amazed she listened with punctuated amens. I knew she was a believer, thrilled to learn of God's plan. Then I asked her with flippancy to pray for me.

With eyes deeply peering into mine she grabbed my hand, with the subway express train roaring by each stop she said, "Lets pray right now."

And we did.

These two middle aged ladies, hand in hand, heads bowed, bundled with packages to the max and one with talking in a level voice asking God to protect and bless me and us here in New York. On the A Train traveling who knows how many miles per hour with left over silt on the rails from Sandy moving toward the end-of-the line. What a blessing God sent. What a ministry.

He continues to fill me with surprises in the heart of this most godly land.

God truly must love NYC.




*see archived early posts and profile

Its Not Our Fault!

How do I say this...its not our fault! Now before you decide that that sounds terribly whinny which of course it doees, or that it must be our fault for me to say that it isn't...well I must protest. It is not our fault!

Rather, it was not our fault.

Well, may it was a tiny little bitty partly our fault--but not much. Really.

Okay, so some folks really messed up. Just a few. Actually, we don't know how many.

The result? A mess.

A real mess.

A multi-million dollar mess.

That can't be cleaned up.

Have you ever been helpless to fix a problem you have been accused of creating? And to make the situation worse, you must witness others make the problem worse, knowing you will again be accused?

Actually, it happens a lot. Road rage is a major culprit I hear. So glad I'm not driving these days! Spouses, ever walk in on your love who has had a bad day? Yikes! And what well behaved student gets punished along with the rest of the class because of one bad apple? The domino effect of a work crew dropping the ball on one item leading to another to another to another....

Life sometimes isn't fair. And lately, the fairness meter is stuck on the heavy hand of "un".

So next time you come across anyone, yes anyone, remember that their fairness meter may be stuck on "un" for no reason other than the fact that they got up that morning.

Pray that Jesus will hold up others' "un" meters.

He's good at it.

Milestones

Thinking of all the parental milestones one hears about, it is truly amazing to experience one.

The moment of conception, the birth of a child, the child’s first word, first step and even potty training for some reason is ecstasy for every parent. There are all kinds of firsts before the one first that cause the mom and dad to hold their breath in a strangle hold before exhaling; the first day of school.

This first is like no other. This first is when Mom and Dad hand their child over, their gift that they have reared, nursed and yes, done the potty training bit. This is the first that someone else looks into their eyes and says, “I’ve got this.”

 And their child says, “I’ve got this.” (Or not).

And it really doesn’t matter what the parent feels inside, Mom and Dad have to look their child in the eyes, the child’s soul and say, “We know.”

From this moment, Mom and Dad know everything has changed.

True? Yes. Right? It should be.

Of course, the child still runs to the parents for every single bit of support. Yet there is that hunt for independence that wasn’t there before. And the family is ready for the search.

We know.

Our family is ready for the search.

Milestones are part of growing and growing up.

But turning the child over doesn’t make the inner soul feel any less parental, only more so. That mixture of joy and ache is a victory to be savored. The next milestone is nearer. Children will soon bring children of their own to life. 

Ah, I read that I am being cryptic again. I am inspired by our spiritual NYC body, growing in number, faith, knowledge, example and wisdom; walking in Jesus steps and living as He would have us live. Our family is growing, reaching one milestone after another. 

And so it begins.

No, not the fantastic Olympics of 2012. They have been amazing have they not? I simply can not decide which sport I shall be taking up after watching these athletes perform.

No, not the hope of cooling Fall weather. HA.

No, not the joy of the recent hair cut--so long overdue.

What you ask?  Hubbie's birthday week! And what a week we have planned. For the first time we have decided to do a full week of birthday celebrations, partly to make up for a few years we had to skip but mostly because it sounds fun.

The goal is to travel as far as we can on the public transportation system to some destination we've not been to before. The trip itself can last a long time and you can meet people from all over the world.

Today we rode the A train to #1 where we met two families from France going to see the Statue of Liberty. That is a normal thing here. Hubbie meets a family from distant lands almost every weekend while volunteering at the South Sea Sea Port, but that's another story.

From the #1, we board the Staten Island Ferry, lower desk along with at lease 4 thousand other people (I jest) and three school groups, each grouped in separated neon colored t-shirts. Going toward Staten Island, we lingered over the Governors Island side. On the return trip, we shuttled over the Statue of Liberty Side--another family from another country, I forget where, sorry.

Let's see, A to 1 to ferry oh, then the train for the full length of Staten Island. Beautiful ride if you've never taken it to the end. There really is nothing to see, only a wire fence and river channel, but it is really cool to have done it. Also, the few block around the area had a gingerbread house painted purple, yellow and green. I am sure I would have gone simply to have seen that house.

All in all, we rode 3 trains and one boat today for the cost of one round way subway fare. Not bad!

Tomorrow? City Island!

SEVEN NEW SISTERS

God's family is huge. There has been two millennium of brothers and sisters who have born and died that I will one day meet. Add those to the rest of the living family that are not-yet and now known, that is quite a reunion.

But today--what a day--today, God by His grace blessed seven beautiful women with salvation, adoption and a huge family. The ladies acted out of obedience and were baptized.

Being a part of His family, I'm seven times blessed, oh why bother with numbers? It was / is an amazing unity of souls, rejoicing and praising God's name.

Everywhere... everyday... everyone...

God

Hang on everybody.

I have about 4 posts in draft mode.

I'd love to say that I was perfecting each post -- so, why not! :-)

The truth is by uh, after perfecting them for so long, my current browser will no longer work with some stuff. In fact, after this weekend, some of you may be dealing with Internet issues as well.

Sooooooo, I'll be hunting for a browser that wants to read my blog :-).

As soon as all is tip top, Apartment 3G will be observing life again!

Thanks guys.

Lindy

Seam Lock

Today I reached into my sewing basket. There was that really handy bottle of seam lock stuff my dear friend from down South backed away in my bags the last visited.

The product glues down threads that you cut to make into buttonholes (or rather someone else has!) and thus they last a bit longer. This ingenious product just might make the Sharpie product line go out of business in my house as I truly color in worn out buttonholes with Sharpies--don't you?

Of course, I've been doing that with purses for years. I've got a 33 year old purse that looks brand new, as long as I keep it out of the rain!

Obviously, reaching for that stuff made me think of my BFF.  She is a great seamstress. When I think of the great seamstresses that I know, I think of my sister and her.

But when I take down my sewing basket, Mom fills my mind. We never sat at the machine together or darned or anything like that. But we did little things like sewing on buttons. I watched her thread a needle and learned how to hand sew a lock stitch. It was so amazing to see her do such mundane but valuable things. She was always so overwhelmed by tasks, kids, duties and my antics. To watch her quietly pick up a shirt as if she had nothing else to do and whip up a torn hem or sew on a button -- I was in rapture.

But that must be what most mom's do. Take out time from a crazy day and quietly do what else needs to be done. No muss, no fuss, just do.

And so my sewing basket is precious to me. No, Mom was not a big sewer when I was a kid. But I don't remember any lose buttons or ripped hems, probably thanks to Big Sister or me after I was big enough to handle the scissors without a spanking.

Sister taught me to sew and so much more. But Mom gave me a look that said, "This is important honey, learn it well and tuck it away until you need it. Place it in your catalog of a thousand chores under no muss, no fuss, just do."

I see Mom's look when I pull out the sewing basket.

AUX NYPD Graduation, Wall / Door / Hat

IT HAPPENED!

After canceling / rescheduling four times, it happened. The New York Police Department graduated the Auxiliary Police class of 2012 on June 5th, 2012.

All invited guests had also rescheduled, some canceling bus and plane tickets. Finally, none could reschedule again. Only dutiful spouses and doting parents attended. We were surprised by two out-of-town guests who's original invitation prevented attendance, who did attend as the latest schedule allowed it!

And what a graduation night! At least it wasn't raining...

Many special announcements had been made that the doors would "open" at six o'clock while the event would start at 7 PM. One simply had to be there at 6 PM to get a decent seat. No big deal, this is NYC. Everyone knows in order to get a seat at the nearest park bench, reservations must be made a whole season before hand.

Raymon left far earlier than I as he and his fellow grads had to gather together, rehearsal and do all manor of grad stuff way out in Brooklyn and then drive into Manhattan. In full dress uniform no less. I don't know why.

Making sure to arrive at exactly 6 PM, I messed up and got there around 6:10. Oddly, the mammoth crowd was only about twenty deep.  According to all the announcements, weren't the doors suppose to be open now?

About 6:20 PM, some door did open. And this un-mighty crowd shuffled forward for the sole purpose to have our purses, watches and cell phones checked, airport style. (Not as extensively as we got to keep our shoes on.)

"Out the door and stand against the wall to your left". He raised his voice slightly so that we could hear him. He seemed a little embarrassed about the whole thing.

Okay, I'm ready, where is THE door! That wasn't THE door was it?

No.
 
Now we had THE wall. All of us desperate family members and relatively few friends are now standing against the building wall. (All of us are looking for any door now.) Directed to stand there by the next set of very efficient fellows, it seems that we must wait here to enter THE door.

Standing. Outside. For 30 + minutes. (remember the rain?)

And we all had lots to say standing against the wall; plenty to discuss about the Mayor, the way things were being run, the disabled and / or pregnant women who had to be somewhere against that wall in some sort of need and most especially--good grief, what if we had really done something wrong!

Oh yes, we all really had something to say. Do? Nah.

And promptly 10 minutes before graduation, THE door opened and we all trotted into mass chaos -- five minutes of finding a seat, it was the most fun I'd had in days.

Graduation. In under one hour, he was declared along with the rest of the five borough classes among the many courageous AUX NYPD officers. It was memorable and lovely. I got to meet many of those he works with and who have come to respect him.

One of several memorable moments of the evening was when the band played jazz music for the entrance of the colors.

There was and is much about the AUX NYPD graduation that hangs in my mind. But the faces under the hats showed more than humanity, they all showed a youthfulness no matter their age and wisdom, a determination to hope and to seek goodness.



When was the last time you saw godliness reflected in a police uniform?

Could / Can Jesus Be Surprised?

Once again I stand, rather, sit amazed at a new thought. Jesus was as humanly touched as all of those he healed.

Was Jesus as effected as those healed? Did he always know that healing was ahead? I was always taught that as an omnipotent being, he did. Even when He whirled around asking, "Who touched me?"

(This is another topic which has filled commentaries and thesis's I have not read, you can if you want.)

His power to heal was divine, not human. So his experience and that of the woman was not the same. Nor could it be. Well that makes sense. Until they looked at each other and knew the result, not of the healing but the result....I think they both had the same emotions. Happiness that the yuckiness was over and joy that salvation was in place.

Now that I need to clearly explain that to myself, I find myself going...uh?

Sure, mercy and immense love where there, even empathy played a role; without that, why bother. But I think I am talking about wonder, amazement, happiness--real joy, and faith both in human beings and in His father.

(off topic, sortta) Did Jesus, even though God is His Father, ever get a faith shot? Needed or not?

Did my Jesus, as a human on this earth, experience every single emotion along with us plus divine and whatever emotions go with that?

What do you think?

I'm stumped, I gotta ask Him.


~~~~~
[If you haven't read The Five People You Meet In Heaven or you haven't interacted with some random person just noticing that they are a child of God--do it. I keep trying to do all these great Jesus acts in other peoples lives and before I get a chance, they have effected me. Past blogs: the lady with the fan, Primo across the street, the teens from 24/7, the deli, hubbie's waitress, the student, the Mother's day Spiritual daughters and more are the audio of Jesus in my life...] 

Oxygen and Good Shoes

We took the A train to the S shuttle, walked at least 100 miles under ground and stomped up, oh... 20 flights of stairs, then saw the sunshine...started walking again, outside on the sunny side of the amazing city streets.

Next?

Okay, in order to visit a fabulous bookstore we then walked to the 6 Train station, riding to Brooklyn Bridge, then back uptown to Spring Street and yes, climbed some more stairs...it was a great bookstore.

Time to go home!

Simple, just retrace our steps, grab the 6 Train at Spring Street to Union Square/14th Street. We did just that and then walked way downstairs and got on the L Shuttle and rode west to the Eighth Avenue station. There we transferred to the A Train -- during rush hour. We did let one train pass as a few shorter women fell out, gasping for air--really--one almost fell at my feet coughing and sputtering before recovering and dashing away for her next train.



Let me explain. When seated on a subway train, oxygen is fine, air flows freely around mid-thigh level in a mass of humanity. That is unless it is mid-winter and everyone is dressed in five layers including boots, scarves, hoodies and thermals. What no real New Yorker will tell you, (but of course I will because I'm a bit of a sneak) is that everyone carries a 30 minute air supply tank strapped to one arm. That is the true origin of the term "strap hanger." (30 minutes will not cover the normal hour ride for a 4 mile trip, but one expects that the doors will open periodically allowing fresh air to waft in.)

It has never been proven however it has been suggested that the Delta airline personnel who developed the in-flight personal overhead oxygen emergency supply system was a long time strap hanger from Queens.

So it is fairly simple to spot newbies; they are the ones gasping for air as they fall out of subway cars. If they are short and standing they literally cannot breath when the cars are packed. There is no air at that level. If they are sitting, they have a chance. But the likelihood of available sitting in rush hour is very unlikely.

A general rule of thumb is to remember your oxygen comes in three levels. Level one (fine and you are sitting so an asthma attack is satisfactory) level two (breathable unless you are under five feet and without protective shoulder padding) and level three (best, except that heat rises but who cares, you are getting off at the next station).

And that is our New York Minute for the day.

Back to me!

Ah, riding the Subway from 14th Street to 207 Street standing face-to-face with humanity after a long day.  Everyone is thinking about how wonderful a refreshing shower will be when they get home.

That very thought is what gets me through the next three flight of stairs and up to my entry way. My shower awaits. And then it hits me. To shower, I have to stand. Forget it.

Mother's Day Alert.

Thank you all daughters out there who are born of other women but are also daughters to those that love you.

Last Mom's Day weekend was special because of all of my lovely spiritual daughters, devoted friends, loved ones and nieces circled me with the honor due a mother. Now that I know the true meaning of flabbergast.

I freely admit it was drudgery every Mother's Day at church to listen to compliments lauded upon mothers and grandmothers, so justly deserved by all means--I piled them on as well! But the sermons in church about did me in until I stopped going to church on Mother's Days, I simply couldn't take it when they asked the grandmothers to stand. 

It was saluting the grandmoms that did it. Over the years I had resoved the motherhood thing and how it related to my womanhood, sisterhood, Christianity and life in general. But the idea of never being a grandmother was something I simply hadn't puzzled through. And those annual on those Sundays once a year in May did not help.

But this year it did not matter. On Mother's Day Weekend, young women came to me, thanking me for being me for them. What? How? Each of them had mothers to exonerate, honor, revere. I had  planned to focus on my mom and let the day follow its course.

No, these particular young women determined to honor me on Mother's Day Weekend. In order to carry off their plans, the ring leader had to make sure I'd be around so the "cat-was-out-of-the-bag". Thus I had a week of unbelief regarding this "setup". Then truly they picked me up and off we went to bunch, gifts, readings, laughs, honors, tea and prayer.

They made it clear that to them I was their NYC mom. They adopted me. Not replacing their moms, but announcing me to be the mom God brought them. Amazing, me a mom at 60! And an oxtimom at that!

So like Sarah at an old age, God blessed her. And now my quiver is full with 8 young women from that Saturday.

Rejoice my daughters, rejoice for God will bless you as He has blessed me. You have honored me above yourselves.

3 Snippets

He asked me to teach him about God's will for his life. 

It was somewhat like being kicked in the stomach by a Mac truck. With all that stuff God said about false teaching--this really scares me.

But then again, I don't have to be scared. I'm not doing the teaching. Phew, what a relief. And if I really think hard about, the will of God is pretty easy...He wants everybody to be saved.

His will in a nutshell. Go tell somebody else this amazing news.

So what do I tell this guy? Nothing I guess, looks like he already knows.

I'll just love on him, pray for him and just be there.

What he saw in me in the first place caused him to ask the question. God'll do the talking.

Dear readers, please pray for me, most of the time I get in the way.


Nothing to do with spiritual stuff...um

Apartment meeting; about 13 did not show up. Four of us did and began to take apart a letter we had been working on for months. It wasn't five minutes before we were looking to each other, seeking one or another to take the lead in this failing endeavor. Then the circling began, round and round we went, charging villains not present of dastardly but deserved behaviors.

It was all for not. The meeting adjourned. Nothing of worth happened. My husband and I quarreled after it was over sure that the other did not take the high road.

Was it a waste of time?

A bitter individual, a Tarrah card reader, a befuddle housewife and well meaning but ineffective male locked horns over a dead cause unwilling to let go.

When is it time to give in or stand up and be counted?

Its been over a week and I've heard nothing...um


Dear readers, please pray for me, most of the time I get in the way.


And this is church folks--

True, last week on 181st in Washington Heights while on patrol...

She was a waitress, tired probably, lonely and with more shift to come.With a sigh and exclaiming to no one in a whispered voice, "I'm useless."

He heard her, stood up and said, "you are not useless." He hugged her. After a brief shock, she hugged back.

He went back on patrol and assumed that she finished her shift.

It was a fasinating experience, one I suggest that some of you would never enjoy, entertain, contemplate, consider or so much as wink about. However perhaps everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime. Or maybe fifty times just to get it right. I am not sure that it can be done correctly. Not now. Oh sure, at some time far far away, a long time ago, in some far distant land, somebody had it right. But now that I think about it, we, all of us, had better figure out a way to get it right.

What?

Last Tuesday I worked as a election day polling agent.  The entire day. All of it.

Nine votes were cast. 


It was a long, tedious process with so much redundancy if someone were to try and commit voter fraud he would have to do it in triplicate. And then the fraud plan would need to be placed in a large envelop, to be sealed by a plastic seal, then a paper seal and then in a larger purple envelop before attaching the return receipt signed by both party representation and finally packing the assemblage in the blue suitcase. (The legendary blue suitcase has been in every election since 1964. No one knows what it is for so it continues to be used.)

Obviously I got home and recovered as I am typing about the event. And yes, I plan to do it again. After all, I have to see if we ever break into double digits.

This Morning Over Coffee

We had finished up today's visit regarding the initial stages of conversation. We then started rambling into another area; sacrifice for learning. Which lead to sacrificing for Jesus. Out of curiosity, I asked what he would give up in order to follow Jesus. While sitting, pondering the question, I suggested the family business.

"Oh yes, absolutely," was his quick reply.

I commented that his response was rather fast and that it could not have been that great of a sacrifice. Anything else perhaps? What would real sacrifice be for him.

He thought again, very hard. Suddenly it looked as if he had been hit in the stomach. His face collapsed and he inhaled a mighty breath. I'd never witnessed such a vivid response to an introspective question.

Slowly he turned and looked at me, "I would give up my dreams."

What total submission could there possible be. He was giving his future inside self, all he was learning, hoping, planning for, building on, the totality of him--his dreams.

He breathed again and sat quietly. Then a smile came from within his face and infected the skin. He was beaming. And free.

He told me that he had been very afraid as soon as he said that he would give up his dreams and then he felt peace. Those are his exact words.

Getting To The Good Stuff

Today was my first meeting with Bible Study Fellowship in NYC.

After taking the A train to 125 Street, transferring to the C, going to 79th Street, going up top and catching the cross town M 79 bus, I enjoyed a beautiful ride through Central Park. Then I alighted amid Manhattanites going about their morning rituals on Madison Ave. and 79th Street.

Walking south to 73rd, it was a glorious morning. And then I hit the filming signs. No, the actual filming to be correct.

It had to happen. One cannot live in NYC without stumbling over a live TV set in the streets. I did today. After going around the lighting, through the crew and tripping among the cast (I think) I was able to get to BSF.

I'd never heard of the show. None of the ladies at BSF had either. The show must be televised in a different market.

I love the line in "League of Their Own" regarding baseball where Tom Hanks says "If it were easy, everyone would do it".

Today should have been hard like that. But today was more rewarding than hard, like extra paper around the candy, a moment's delay before the good stuff.

Thanks for Your Prayers

Quick, pre-service coffee!

Praise God, we are back in school. Yes, we are officially able to rent public schools for meeting places again. See previous blog, Praise God for 8800. (Through His grace, we gather every other Sunday at the school which worked to our advantage. The opposite Sundays we meet in designated apartments.)

Sunday, March 18, 2012 we held our first after-the-reprieve service in Muscado School. Many other churches are now allowed back in their former rented school locations as well.

Months of ligeslation and media coverages were dissolved by a nod from the Father. We all thank you for your prayers.

Selected images of fellowship, March 18, 2018

Pre and post goodies! We have lots of fellowship bakers...

 

 

Coffee in hand, reviewing the day and week ahead!

 .

Start packing up...

 

50% Angle + One Piggy Bank + Perimeters

Math tutoring on Saturday morning this March has been a huge step out of my comfort zone. The last math class I had was called arithmetic and my college degree predated calculators. Adding machines were allowed in classes if you could carry them. I wont even mention such big math words as calculus or trigonometry -- oh wait, I just did. Obviously, those studies were not on my educational journey.

St. Patty's Day in math tutoring 

Last year, Everyday Christian Church offered and executed a math tutoring program preparing neighborhood school children for national testing. The tutoring was a hit and ECC was asked to repeat the program.

These bright minds are this neighborhood's gold and to be their friends is a privilege. Even if they are all better than I am in math!

Random Images

Please forgive the lack of images here and yon. Its not so much my thing as that I simply leave my camera on the table! Here are some mixed up images ....

First is my brand new NYC do!

However, its all grown out and time for a newer, new NYC do!

Adam and the rest of Home Group

Welcome home from Texas

Subway tile work. 59th & West Central Park

How to dry a mop, apartment style

Not our remembered Southferry terminal of old!

Can you read it? In our neighborhood park / legend where Manhattan was sold.

Thanks guys! Sanitation rules

and their trucks...

1st night on patrol, uniform in bag!

 

Edification

There are precious moments when you sit along side that unknown lady in her regular Sunday morning pew, open up those singing pipes and bellow with abandon, opening your heart to God. Oddly you can not hear your voice but it is her music you hear. It is not a sound but rather memories of the years of her journey, a joy and ache, a longing and peace, an intimacy you dare not intrude upon yet she has you by the heart and draws you in.

This horizontal edification unifies strangers worshiping the Father. As He hears and smiles and in turn, vertically returns His love.

Now that is pretty amazing. And the humans don't know each other yet.

And those that do know each other...its all good.

Yesterday was Home Group at our apartment. People who love each other offering love to God...it was not a God-moment. It was a God-day.

Yesterday before we opened up God's word, we shared our week. And then prayed for one another. Prayer was our song, lifting our pipes and bellowing our hearts to The Father. The entire time was so edifying.

He was among us though out the day as we learned about Paul's nephew's courage and our experiences in which one of our own actions made a difference.

A majority of the group enjoyed the day together. Morning brunch, meal, worship, area live opera and lots of fellowship. Not every worship day is so full but yesterday, loving each other, celebrating the love of friendship, being children of God and God the Father made it a special day indeed.


PS:
Varieties of individuals attend HG. However one of our human regulars made a comment that is sure to become a T shirt mantra, "Parasites come and go". It brought the house down!

Right Place, Right Time

Today I felt a desire to accompany my husband downtown to help pick up his AUX police uniform. Normally I would never consider such expenditure of energy if I could help it. After all, that would include two subway transfers, three different trains, 16 different stair cases around the city and at least 100 miles of sidewalk (perhaps I exaggerate the sidewalk mileage a bit.) But under a surprising heartfelt urging of wifely support, I really, no really I did want to go.

All bundled up and at the first subway entrance the head police guy calls to tell us that there was no place for me at the store. I would have to wait outside. Um, okay. Still doable. Adventure is adventure. Love is love. Support is support. And the promise of a Starbucks has strange powers.

Crawling out of the concrete outdoor stairwell, trying to keep up with Skippy, my new nickname for hubby, we headed for the NYC City Hall. That landmark pointed the way to both the uniforms and in the opposite direction, Starbucks.

In other words, he went his way and I went mine. A healthy marriage requires dependent independence from time to time. We depend on the other to be independent. Today we happened to be doing it in NYC. (One time I was in Mexico while he was in California. One mile or 3,000, space and time is all part of the covenant. But that's another blog...)

He is now off gathering public safety gear, I am in the throws of caffeine delights. And I even discover a seat! Thus began another NYC miracle.

She had strawberry red hair. Her hair was the same color as my sister's. That fleeting remembrance made me want to communicate, so I asked her a question. She had a nice camera by her side so...

"Did you get any good pictures today?"

We talked for two hours. About many things.

Before parting we discussed God's will in her life and future.

She came from Seattle for her trip. I came from Inwood, the upper most part of Manhattan. We met across the street from NYC City Hall. After a short period, we two strangers shed our barriers and opened our hearts in a crowded coffee shop within earshot of whoever.

I hope I'll see again. I'll know her in Heaven.




Tomorrow I'm going a few blocks down the street. Jesus will be there. Wonder who else I'll meet?

PTL for A8800

Never did I think that a ban on church locations could possibly be a good thing for the name of God. Perspective plays a role here, semantics and even longevity. But once having made headline news for six months in the dailies in NYC -- somebody is going to notice.

Bill A8800 bans churches from renting public schools beginning last February 12.

Elected officials thought that they were doing well politically. But apparently God is winning the popular vote.

Past by the state legislature some time ago, A8800 only recently is being put into action. Last week, the polls were 54% to 7% against the bill.

I've been confused about the whole thing and sought information from the media, pastor and the Internet. Only one thing was clear, February 12. That was the date the churches had to be out of the schools.

ECC was not in school that day! We were in Home Group celebrating worship services in three apartments that day. Our normal is bi-weekly Home Groups meetings and bi-weekly joint meetings at Muscota School.

Most churches are now left without facilities and are now scrambling to locate something. Creative measures are fascinating and sad at the same time. Costs are a major factor.

One church in the Bronx got a ten day reprieve.

One church met in the streets. (And vows to continue meeting there.)

Several have combined. A few have disbanded.

We are blessed to continue in our location.

As explained to me, in order to stay at the school, we now call our time a "teaching" period rather than a "worship service." We teach songs and prayers, bible reading and even give speeches. According to A8800, as written, these activities are allowed.

The bill becomes more confusing as to what acts of worship are actually banned. And what is to happen next.

Watching an entire body respond to governmental degrees about how they should and should not worship is a history lesson to me -- like that of the first church under Roman rule.

Only a taste-bud of an inkling of what they dealt with in order to praise God causes me to rejoice that this silly bill has seen daylight. God's name is in bold print in NYC. People are singing in the streets and demanding He be praised aloud.

The effects of this bill will last for years. Every child in every school and family unit is already asking why, what's going on, did I do wrong? The conversations begun between teacher and students, board members and administration are about the entire affair, what action should or should not happen plus community hearings.

One thing the NY State Senate is right about, God does not need to pay rent to be in public schools.

Conversation and Coffee

Coffee is just black / brown liquid sitting in a cup unless someone is sitting on the other side of the table. I used to think this stuff was smelly, yucky and expensive to boot. Now, this is the true liquid gold, not oil from the ground, but perhaps oil from coffee grounds counts as a jumping off place. Oh, all right, hot tea will work in a pinch.

Lets go get a cup of coffee. It translates in all languages or the sentiment does. It opens up deep heart felt longing found in the bottom of the cups. No one needs to make small talk over a warm cup of any thing, small talk is in the steam and passes out-of-the-way. Getting down to real conversation is exposed with every drop.

The fact that I love coffee helps--soda too actually--steam in the hot months works just as well. Asking for the date is the thing.

Do you know every heart needs a cup of coffee?

Shhhh -- It Snowed!

On the evening of February 8, 2012, it actually snowed in NYC, Inwood. I know, I was here! Oh, yes it has snowed earlier like that freak blizzard in October or the one time I was out-of-town.

Nope, it has been a shockingly mild winter here. In Texas too. I know, I was there! When we left here it was 42 degrees. When we landed there, it was 42 degrees. That's a sweater and jacket for me, short sleeves for hubby. But then while in Texas, we roamed about in 60 - 70's.  Back in NYC, it still in the 50's with a few cool days thrown in for good measure.

The real reason I mention all this winter stuff is preparation. Coats, boots, shoes, umbrellas, rain hats, scarves, gloves, extra towels and blankets, guest comforters and extra raincoats. We purchased all of these things in anticipation of our first New York winter.


Who knows when winter will hit.

After all, the earthquake and hurricane happened in the same week!

Trip Thoughts

January 2012 Texas trip thoughts, scroll to bottom of page, click on title, left column.
(posted on Facebook Notes)

We're Baaaack!

Yes our 1/10 - 26/2012 trip to Texas and back has indeed happen! And somewhere I'll post the complete report as soon as I figure out how to do that obviously simple thing. Until that time, I want to share my personal highlight.

Day 8 (1/17)
Shopping with sister  This is my personal highlight. She is more than my sister, a BFF, or fellow Christian. Knowing that we will giggle in Heaven together makes this world okay. 


Oh, and she showered me with a completely new wardrobe!

Of course hubby and I had many many special visits, appointments, sharing the E.C.C. story and the joys of living in Inwood. In fact 1/17 happen to have a shared highlight, but that's another posting. 

This Just In--

It was a very good night...

 Eyslyn Hunte and me. And thanks for the picture Hae Sung!

Did You Know???

That roaches can fly?

Those that formerly enjoyed the hospitality of our front room failed to ask our permission to move-in. They earned airline miles directly into the trash can.

Some roach facts I already knew, like the females were pregnant for life. No fact sheet needs to tell anyone that. Or that they wear they're skeletons outside of their bodies, ho hum.

Interesting face that I did not know or  really care about is that their blood is white. Okay, that explains why there is no red when they are deservedly removed. Um, are you beginning to see how I feel about these creatures?

I realize that they are God's making, yet there are 5,000 species. And there is only one human species. (Really, again that fact sheet--5,000.) Give me a few spiders and I can deal with it. If you have seen the rats here, then you would call the humane society--for your own protection. Mice? No problem as yet here, but the 58 and counting in the 1st floor apartment has me wondering why she has dogs instead of cats...

Did I tell you that every squirrel that I've seen is either black or deep chocolate?

Living in NYC has its own set of tiny creatures who love and are devoted to being with you. None of whom you are prepared to welcome into your precious food and water supply much share the 1,000 year old plumbing and beautiful architecture.

But it is all worth every antenna and whisker to share God's inner peace with a stressed-out professional. Amazing talent is all around us here and each are striving to use that talent to the best of their ability. The pressure they put upon themselves is overwhelming. We are so glad to be here, share and pray that God's Spirit indwell each one.