The Wauchula Adventure

Oh what a night. It's 1:55 am and I'm just getting home and to bed. Cathy and I had the most memorable night ever.

We left my house at 4:30 pm for Wauchula which should have only taken us and hour and 45 minutes. Well, four hours later we arrived. I'm not kidding. Seriously.

We got Mapquest directions. NEVER AGAIN!

We followed them exactly but one important part was left out. We ended up near Kissimmee. (Stop laughing!) We drove for almost 4 hours straight aside from getting gas THREE (count 'em three) times. I am not kidding. I just prayed that my honorarium (if I actually arrived and got one) would cover the cost of my gas! (It did.)

So there Cathy and I sat after driving through some serious country, in front of a DUDE RANCH. Yes, a dude ranch. I called Larry and said, "honey, we are not in the right place. Please look this up on the internet and tell me where we are. He googled it and said, "ooohhhh babe, you are really far away..." I freaked. Service was supposed to start in 30 minutes and he said I was at least an hour away. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN 21 YEARS OF MINISTRY!!! I have never missed a meeting, nor been late. I was horrified.

We tried to call the pastor's wife and the church but got no answer. Larry didn't know how to tell me to get turned around to get there. We just started for the opposite direction that we had been coming and kept calling the church and finally got an answer. They gave us directions but it still took another hour and a half to get there! Service started at 7 pm, but we didn't arrive til' 8:30 pm. By the time we got there, they had done praise and worship, had their food and fellowship time, announcements, and they had introduced me (without me being there!) I walked in at 8:35, after having been on the road 4 hours, and got up and preached. (After profusely apologizing.) They laughed so hard when I told them where we had ended up. Amazingly not one person had left during all this time! They had stayed and were very hungry for what the Lord had for them and said, "we know God has something amazing for us with all that you went through to get here." They were right!

Service went awesome and they were such a wonderful group of ladies. God moved around the altar and women were really touched.

They gave Cathy and I amazing directions home that we only had to make two turns to get there although it took just a little longer than and hour and a half. We were both starving but we were out in the boondocks with NOTHING around, and certainly no food place late at night. We stopped to get gas at a place and got a sandwich out of the fridge there, sat at a little table in there and ate it before getting back on the road. And then we drove home, the majority of time on a dark country road with no lights, no houses, no companies, no NOTHING but flat road and darkness (and rain too...) We both remarked, "can you believe we have been to so many places like this in Florida? Who knew there were so many?" I mean places where you drive for miles and there is not so much as a gas station or anything in sight. Usually we see cows or something like that but tonight there weren't even any animals, I mean there was NOTHING, sometimes for 20-30 miles!

On the way home Cathy talked to Tom to tell him about our adventure and he said, "Do you realize you guys were driving so long you could have gone to Georgia? Or even the Keys? Well now that you put it THAT way I feel even more embarrassed about getting lost for 4 hours on what should have been a 1 and 1/2 hour trip! But it's all good. We had a great time in God and they said, "well Pastor Deanna, NEXT TIME you'll know how to get here!" The pastor's wife (Debbie Lecocq) said, "Next time you come, I'm giving you the grand tour!" I was pretty impressed that after being late, they actually want there to be a next time!

I can't wait to go back sometime...they are a terrific group of people.

I walked in the door at 1:15 am and heard Savanna say, "Momma, come in my room". She had been laying there for a few hours and didn't sleep real well, and heard me come in. "Come sit with me and hug me..." she said. (If Teeb didn't also need me, I'd have just snuggled up in her bed and gone to sleep...)

And now my friends, my contacts are out, my teeth are brushed, and I'm...off to bed with good memories of our Wauchula (or should I say the Kissimmee/Dude ranch?) adventure.

What's happenin' today!

We kept Savanna home from school today. Checking her a few times in the middle of the night we could see she still had a fever. Larry and I both stayed here with her today and worked from home while taking care of her and then Lar took her to the doctors as soon as we could get her an appointment. She has a virus and just has to keep Motrin and fluids going for a few days and she'll be fine. I am relieved that she doesn't have strep throat as that has been going around. (At left is a pic of her when she's well, typing on the computer after school one day.)

I got a ton of initiatives done today as I always do when I work from home. I would say probably 2/3 of my written work for this week, as I really pounded away at it this morning. It's kind of a relief to start the week this way as I have to start working on messages for my Africa preaching trip and I'm way behind and would you believe the trip is just a little over a month away? I know, I know, I can hardly believe it!

I'm preaching in Wachula tonight and Cathy is going with me. It's about an hour and a half away and the service will probably end around 9 pm but we will stay afterwards for the fellowship they are having. I never, never just "preach and run." I think it's important to stay with people as long as I possibly can. Once we get on the road I'd say we'll probably get home about midnight but Larry will be here holding down the fort as usual. (And Tom at Cathy's house...) I'm looking forward to a great night. I know the Lord has something very special in store for the women of "Florida's First Assembly"!

Ta ta for now but I'll probably be back to blog when I get home because I have such a hard time winding down after a service. I'm just too stoked! And besides that I'm still basking in the awesome day we had yesterday. Go God!

Absolutely amazing day ~ Breaking through the darkness

If you've been praying for me these past few months...thank you again. You'll never know how much it means. Slowly, the darkness has been dissipating. Today was a major stride forward. What an awesome day we had at church!

Right up front in the beginning portion of the service, four people accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord! Worship was off the chain! God is up to a lot of stuff right now -- good stuff -- and we are taking some major steps forward.

I'm starting to look forward to waking up in the mornings again. Some of you know this is really a significant change for me in these past few months. I just ask you to continue to keep us in your prayers. Everything isn't solved yet, but we're on our way.

This is also a really busy week for me and I covet your prayers just for that. Monday night I'm preaching in Wachula. It'll be a real late night by the time I get home. (I'm coming back home the same night.) Tuesday in addition to my regular work I'm teaching some piano lessons and then that night Larry and I do "America's Prayer Meeting". I'll get home around 4 am, maybe a bit later. Wednesday night I've got Fusion service. Thursday I leave for fall breakaway in Orlando and get home Saturday night. Sunday is church. Somewhere in between there I'll breathe.

In the midst of all that, Savanna is sick. It never fails that my kids get sick when I'm under a pressure filled week like this. Cathy noticed at the end of leadership meeting Savanna was warm and looked lethargic. I took her temp at it was 102. I immediately got her into a cool shower and gave her Motrin. Not sure what's wrong with her yet but well find out tomorrow. It's a good thing, such a good thing that Larry and I are total partners in this thing or I'd be up a creek! We'll juggle things back and forth to take care of the babe until she's better and do what needs to be done. Between the both of us we keep the bases covered at home and church.

Larry has been doing well training for his upcoming 5 K race. He has been running nightly. He wants it to be easier to this week he's eaten mostly salads trying to drop some more weight to make running not as strenuous. I'm proud of him.

Time to sleep...I'm so tired but it's such a good tired. The last thing that happened tonight was our leadership meeting and it was a great one! Someone wanted to bless our leadership tonight by providing steaks for our dinner meeting. They were huge thick cut delmonico steaks that we did on the grill. I pulled all the china out and we had a nice dinner. Most everyone was here except for one two who had vacation and an emergency. We had a full house. I had to use a few sets of china. Great meeting in re-capping our victories this past month, solidifying plans for the Friend's Day and then talking about the Mark Batterson's Manifesto from In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. Great discussion. I love our leaders! They are like family.

Tomorrow is another day but I'm going to sleep well tonight, basking in the memory of this great day.

...and some days I think I'm a little crazy?

glumbert - Laughing AbWorkout

Click above and prepare to laugh your head off...

We're co-hosting again!

Hey friends, I have a few extra days in advance to tell you this time, that Larry and I are getting ready to co-host America's Prayer meeting once again. This time it will be this coming Tuesday night at midnight (or early Wednesday morning should I say -- we start at midnight and to to 3 am on Wednesday morning, EST.)

Usually Larry guest hosts by himself. But a few weeks ago he invited me to co-host with him, with the blessing of the general manager at the station. Well...the next day after we did the show, the GM called Larry and said, "I just need to let you know the feedback we got at the station was incredible!" He said they got many phone calls and emails just raving over the fact that a husband-wife team co-hosted!! People just loved it. (Just another illustration for me to use in my teachings that partnership ministry is "where it's at!") So yesterday the GM called Larry to let him know they needed a guest host again and he said, "Brother, I love you and we love it when you host the show by yourself, but after what happened last time we really want you to bring your wife with you again!" So, we're doing it! We had a blast last time, because it's what we do best and we enjoy it so much. The GM told Larry that they were "amazed at how we flow together." Well, we've had 21 years of wonderful practice.

If you want to tune in and you live in Tampa, it's probably channel 3 if you have Direct TV, or on local TV on channel 3 or 22. And, as I've said before, the show is now worldwide show, on SkyAngel and also for anyone who has Direct TV. If all else fails, just get on your computer HERE and watch it. Anyone, anywhere can watch it if you have a computer and internet. Simply scroll all the way down and look to the right where it says, "Live Webcast". Click there and you can watch from your computer. You can also call in if you want! There's a toll free number. I will warn you, tons of calls come in from everywhere so it's not guaranteed that they take your call as one that goes on the air, however everyone does get prayed for by ministers who are also there answering phone calls.

The show airs live EST from 12 midnight - 3 am. So for those of you on the west coast that would be 9 pm-midnight.

Last time my key word to let you blog friends know I was thinking of you was "covenant." I said it three times during the broadcast. This time my key word to say, "I love you bloggers" will be......"BLESSING". Get ready for a BLESSING as you tune in to pray with me and the Teeb. :-)

Relief for your grocery bill in Tampa Bay

Well folks, some great relief for our food spending has come to Tampa Bay, and I for one am thrilled! I want to tell you about it if you don't already know, and encourage those of you who live in other places to google and see if there's a store near you. ALDI'S has just come to Tampa this week!!!

We used to have ALDI's when we lived in Ohio and I loved it. I am definitely an ALDI fan. Yesterday was the grand opening at the store in Tampa we went after work last night and did an incredible amount of shopping for at least half of what we would have paid anywhere else and I am not kidding.

Now before any of you say, "I can't do all my shopping there..." Well, neither can I, but I do get a great majority of things there and just fill in the gaps with a few things at another store.

Some of you who have never heard of it may be saying, "what is ALDI'S?" It's an incredibly low-priced grocery store. I'm getting ready to use actual statistical figures about ALDI, not just my own guestimations, so you can get an idea: 95% of their products are their own store brand. They have 90 percent of the foods people buy most, and at prices up to 40 percent below those of conventional supermarkets, analysts say. Aldi has 1,300 to 1,400 items. Other grocery stores tend to sell about 45,000 items, when myriad brands and product sizes are taken into account. But at ALDI's, for instance, you will not have 10 brands of salsa to choose from -- you will simply be offered ALDI'S brand.

Every family has their "name brands" that they don't want to do without and we are no exception. For instance, my husband doesn't like anything but Heinz ketchup, so we never use anything but that. I like Hellman's mayonnaise, especially to make my chicken and shrimp salads and I never use anything else. I use Dove soap, period. But if you're like us, you only have a very few things like this that you "must have" in name brand. I am okay with 95% of my things being store brand. ALDI is FABULOUS for stocking up on things like flour, sugar, butter, (all your baking products), milk, bread, juice, vegetables, and a great many other things. Even if you do not want to get your veggies and meat and such there I really encourage you to check it out for your baking products, and everyday things such as bread and milk and butter. It will save you an incredible amount of money.

If you want to read more about the opening here in Tampa Bay and a little more of what ALDI'S is about, click here.

In case you are wondering, I am not one of those "secret shoppers" nor do I get kickbacks for reviewing ANYTHING here on my blog. I am simply a person that, when finding something valuable, likes to tell my friends. And especially in this time of a difficult economy, I want to help those I love in any way I can. Let me just say my kids were freaking out with joy when I came home after work last night with a huge amount of groceries, with many of their "favorites" that they haven't had in a long time simply because I was not going to pay the price for them right now in this economy. They were screaming over the soft pretzels when they pulled them out of the grocery bag. It's probably been a year since I bought them! Savanna was freaking over her lunchables! (A few name brand things they do sell are Pringles, two kinds of luncheables, and a few varieties of Campbells soups.)

FYI, you do need to take your own grocery bags or pay 10 cents a bag. You also need to bag your own groceries, and carts are 25 cents a piece, and you get your quarter back when you return the cart to the store in the front instead of leaving it in the parking lot. All these things are what keeps their cost low.

Enjoy the savings, my friends!

The hand of God is upon me...

Hardly had time to Twitter...

or blog today...

Just slammed with work. We are trying out a new printer and this means TONS of free printing opportunities so therefore we are going a little bonkers with creating right now and I've been doing that as well as a lot of other wrap ups today.

It has been an insanely busy day but it was a GOOD DAY and for that I'm ever grateful.

Don't ever, ever, ever underestimate the joy of a GOOD DAY!

Tomorrow's fun Friday so I'll be back with more blogging tomorrow. Looking forward to a day off with the Teeb. We need it.

Last but not least as I sign off tonight let me say that I sense the hand of God in some things that are happening right now. I'm sensing some very good things. Not at the breakthrough stage yet but let me tell you we are so on the verge, I can TASTE IT!

Recently a new girl who has been a real blessing to me, Melinda, gave me this photo. It's a real photo of a cloud formation that looks like the "hands of God".

I really do believe He has the whole world in His hands, and that includes everything that concerns me, and you.

THE LIST

And on the heels of this post where I talked about meals we wonder why we don't make more often, I'd like to talk now about the things you WISH you could eat every day but know you can't, at least unless you want to be as wide as your dining room table or fall over from a heart attack!

Here's my Top 10 list of things I can sparingly eat but would eat all the time if no health or weight consequences were involved:

1) Hamburgers with gravy
2) Pork chops with gravy - especially my mother in law's, they're AMAZING.
3) Biscuits with gravy
4) Are you seeing a theme here? I'll try to get beyond the gravy stuff, and let's just suffice it to say ANYTHING with GRAVY...
5) Donuts - especially Dunkin Donuts yeast donut with chocolate frosting...mmmm
6) Coke Slurpees
7) Anything dripping with cheese - all varieties of cheese
8) Any kind of pie but fav's are: cherry, banana cream, blueberry
9) Potato chips with dip
10) Cheesecake and Chocolate - that one's a tie.

There are many more but those are my top 10 for starters...how about you?

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day...

We had a wonderful morning today! It started out with us meeting Greg & Kerry Todd for breakfast at First Watch. (They are pictured here with their children, Adryana and Arjay, and they have another child on the way!) The thing I love most in ministry is spending time with people, just bonding in relationship. As anybody who reads my blog for more than five minutes knows, I have a ton of administrative and written work to do, but getting out and being with people is what I do love most.

This morning we met them and shared a delicious meal and talked about all kinds of things, with the high point being Greg's coaching Larry. Greg is a physical therapist who owns and operates his own clinic, Renewal Rehabilitation, where he works with professional atheletes and just regular people as well, doing physical therapy and rehabiliation. And in addition, he is a serious runner who participates in many races throughout the year. I mean, sometimes he runs 18 miles or more a day. Pretty amazing. His blog that highlights his running accomplishments is here and many of you may have already checked it out on my blogroll. Anyway... my husband is beginning training to run a race and hopefully eventually a marathon or a triathalon. He and Greg are going to run the upcoming Gasparilla race together which is a 5K. Larry began running today! He used to be captain of his track team in high school so this is something he's done before and loves to do, he just needs to get back in shape and Greg is going to guide him.

It was nice just talking with Kerry and having "face to face" time. As she works a lot with the pre-school kids at church, she is often not in the sanctuary and even when she is, we just don't connect a lot because after church I'm greeting the first time guests. We catch up on each other's blogs, but it was so nice to talk in person!!

After breakfast we went over to Greg's rehab center and took a tour. It's really awesome. We are really thankful for the Todd's, in personal relationship with us, and as members of our church...they are an amazing couple who are raising an amazing family.

I had a lot of written work today when our breakfast meeting was over. I finished my Wednesday night message and power point presentation, my Sunday teaching and a bunch of other stuff. Getting two teachings done in one day is quite a bit of work as I put a lot into them. But...it's what I love to do most. So to me, it's not work -- it's LIFE!

When I got home tonight I gave Savanna a piano lesson (she's doing great!). By the way, I am giving a limited amount of beginner piano lessons right now, in case you live in the Tampa Bay area and happen to have interest. I specialize in teaching beginners, and also how to play for church and give an incredibly discounted rate. If you are interested, check with me quickly because I'm only doing a few hours a week.

I went for a bike ride after Savanna's lesson. What a beautiful night. The whole time I was riding I was praying scriptures that are close to my heart while I saw the most beautiful sunset.

My life has it's challenges right now, but I thank God for every single blessing that is also in my life or coming my way. I'm climbing the mountain but soon I'm going to stand on it!

Continuing the uphill climb

It's been an extremely busy day today, knocking out a lot of work. I mean piles of it. And at the end of that all I have to say is that I'm continuing to persevere.

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." ~ Newt Gingrich

Of course the Bible says it best, much better than a Gingrich quote...

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:2-4 (The Message)

I am still working through trials. A few months have gone by now and some have asked if my trial has lifted...and the answer is no. But I'm a much better person for it. Remembering that just like Ezekiel, God's goal above all is to make us more like Him...to make us better. A friend saw me a few weeks ago and said, "You look so happy! There must have been a breakthrough in your circumstances!" I said, "No, just a breakthrough in me...I'm changing and it makes everything better although not easy by any stretch." I'm just determined to become more like the Lord in what I'm going through although some days I just want to throw my hands up (for other reasons than praise and worship, lol)

I'm getting there...persevering daily. Thank you for your continued care & prayer.

Now I'm off to clean the kitchen one last time before bed and make school lunch for Savanna to take tomorrow. A woman's work is never done...

Celebrities who think they should run the country *sigh*

This is THE funniest thing I have seen in a long time! I was ROFL when Larry showed me this. You are going to absolutely love it, no matter who you are voting for. I get so sick of it when celebrities (whether Republican or Democrat or Independent) try to act like they are some kind of authority (more so than any of the rest of us) on what should happen with our country! **sigh**

Barbra Streisand (who this video is about) said she would move out of the country if George Bush got re-elected. What I want to know is, why is she still here? Several people I know personally would have even helped her pack the moving truck.

Friends you can totally let it all hang out (or fly up) with...lol

Yep, I'm posting twice today. :-) And it's the weekend to boot!

I am missing several of my ministry friends right now like crazy. It's been a lonely day for me because of that. I'm with my family and I've been cleaning and cooking. I haven't been "alone" all day yet I long for sisters in ministry. I'm getting ready to go to a dinner party in just a few minutes, and I'm sure it will be pleasant. But I do long to be across the table with a cup of coffee from Tara, Melissa, and some other of you friends who are reading this, and just talk until we can't talk anymore about things we can't talk to anyone else about. It's just been one of those kinda days, ya know? And I've been making church related calls all day long while I've done work around the house and I'm just sick of the phone although all my conversations have been pleasant enough and just checking on things and people here and there. If you are in ministry, you know what I mean, I don't have to explain this to you.

I found this quote today and wanted those of you I'm missing til' it hurts to read it:

“Somewhere there is someone that dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence that life is worthwhile, so when you are lonely remember it’s true, someone somewhere is thinking of you.”

I know I can call you (and I do) but there's nothing like being face to face.

Until we meet again... I love you so much, my friends.

Why don't we have this more often?

Do you ever sit down to dinner with your family and while eating, say something like, "why don't we have this particular meal more often?"

That has happened to me quite a bit and I thought I'd ask my blog readers if it happens to you too.

I’m talking about things you eat at home, not going out to eat. And I’m talking about things your whole family likes. It’s totally understandable why you don’t make something all the time or more often if your family doesn’t like it. Here’s some things we eat on occasion and usually while we are eating and everyone’s raving about it, I’m thinking, “why don’t I fix this more often?”

1) Turkey and dressing - every Thanksgiving I say, “why don’t I make this more?” No, not the entire sha-bang – that would kind of minimize Thanksgiving if we had the whole meal during the year at another time but I am talking just cooking a turkey. I never cook a turkey except on Thanksgiving. And I always wonder, “why?” because we all love turkey.

2) Ham – ditto with Christmas and Easter. Of course I don’t want to replicate Christmas or Easter dinner during the year (it would probably put me in the hospital with exhaustion!) but our ham recipe is absolutely heavenly too. So why don’t we eat it more?

3) Barbeque – We’re c-r-a-z-y about BBQ. We have it when we go out and one of our fav places is Sonny’s or a local jaunt that’s fabulous called Hungry Harry’s, but I rarely make it at home and I always tell myself I am going to make it more in all it’s various forms but I usually don’t.

4) Chili dogs with cheese – One day Cathy (my assistant) mentioned to me that her family eats this all the time for dinner and it’s one of their favorite quick and easy things to fix. It's so simple - you just boil hotdogs, open up a can of hormel chili (I use the kind without beans when we do them this way) and put some shredded cheddar on top. It takes less than 10 minutes to make this. I realized all my family loves it too so I did make it the week she mentioned it to rave reviews, but haven’t made it since.

5) Breakfast for dinner – all of my family loves breakfast of every kind – eggs, toast, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, you name it we love it. And we’ll order it at night at Perkins or Cracker Barrel. But we never think about it at home.

These are just a few…there are more but I just can’t remember them right now. What are some things your family loves but you just never think to make at home?

Freedom

"I don't want to do this...but I have to..." How many times have you heard a friend say that and groan? How many times have you said it?

Many times I talk through things here on my blog to work it out within myself. Yeah, it's cheaper than counseling. (GRIN)

With that said, I'm not making statements with this post, I'm asking questions. Because I really don't know.

I've been giving some thought to something...just how free can a person be? One time I was complaining about something and a friend said to me, "Deanna Shrodes! What are you complaining about? You don't HAVE to do anything! All you HAVE to do is live, die, and pay taxes!" That sounds nice but I don't believe it to be true.

I've always said -- you can be as free as you want to be. Do you know how many sermons I've preached where I've said that??! *sigh* But I have to confess there are times I wonder whether I should go back and make a retraction on that and tell people I preached something I'm now not so sure about. There are some areas I really struggle with. I know we are not free to do "whatever we want to do" carte blanche in life. We must follow laws and if there were none, life would be chaos. But aside from legal things, just how free can we be?

I have a pastor friend who became what he calls "totally free" one day. He and his wife were pastoring a very difficult church and they were unhappy. One day he woke up and had a revelation and said, "I can be free....I don't have to do this." That morning with their wife's agreement, they put their house on the market. Then they proceeded to sell everything with the exception of their car within about a month. Upon doing that they resigned. Everyone was shocked. "Where will you go? What will you do? Is this really mature or even normal?" These were all things they heard and ignored. They put their kids in the car and drove away and told the children they were going on a "great adventure." They moved across the country, and started a whole new life. This new life meant that they made half the money they used to make, but being that they got rid of everything they had few bills and were a lot happier. They did go back into pastoring a few years later, but said that they would never be anything but free again and would do the same thing again in a heartbeat if they felt they needed to. This couple's mantra in life is that as long as you are willing to downsize, sell and surrender everything, anything is possible. It sounds like a dream...but I wrestle with exactly what that means. Is it really that simple? They make it sound like it is but I'm not sure.

I have a hard time deciphering what is required by God or man at times. This is because there are many human beings who think they ARE God in a sense. They believe their expectations ARE what God wants. And my struggle in in knowing what to hold myself to, and what to leave behind and be free.

This includes questions such as:

Am I free to not answer the phone or the door if it's not an emergency? (Obviously I realize that pastors should always answer their phones or doors if they are working or during emergencies.)

Am I free to decline invitations of things I really don't want to attend? (unless required by my job.)

Am I free to go where I want to on vacation? (provided I have the $ of course)

Are my husband and I free to spend what extra money we might have left after paying bills on whatever we want? (I know, there's not much of that left for any of us Americans right now, but I mean...after the economy gets better...)

If I really don't want to sit somewhere, do I have to?

If I really don't want to have a conversation because it's negative, am I free not to?

Am I free to have any kind of car I want as long as I can afford it?

Am I free to sleep all day on my day off until my kids get home and I have "Mom" responsibilities ?

If I am invited by friends for a dinner party and accept the invite but then find out later that they have invited someone who is out to do nothing but tear down my family, am I free to reconsider and decline the invitation?

Am I free to not get dressed on my day off if I don't want to? (Obviously I do wear clothes in front of the kids. You might find this one kind of funny, but honestly there have been days off where I don't get dressed and if somebody calls or comes over and I say, "I can't come out right now, I'm not dressed", they get a little incredulous and say, "what??!! It's 3 o'clock! Is that really appropriate?" as if I should be ashamed or something.)

Am I really free to walk away from conversations I don't have the energy for at the time?

Am I free to walk away from a relationship if it's toxic?

Am I free to give one person a birthday gift but not another?

Am I free to accept some invitations to lunch or dinner but not others?

Am I free to go to a home interiors, pampered chef or tupperware parties and not buy anything? The hostess always says, "please just come even if you aren't going to purchase...I just want you to be there..." but do they really mean it? Can I really go and eat a plate of veggies with dip and drink red punch while I talk and watch demonstrations, but not buy a thing?

Am I free to not give out my cell phone number when people ask for it point blank?

Am I free to ignore text messages and IM's? (I hate both of those forms of communication.)

Am I free to not clap when the rest of the audience does if I think whatever just happened wasn't really that good?

Am I free to not buy candy bars from kids who come up to me and ask me to buy them for their school or sports team?

Am I free to not answer if people ask how much I paid for something?

Am I free to hang up if I don't like the way a conversation is going?

Am I free to not answer when someone asks how much money I make?

Am I free to not answer someone if they ask how much I paid for an outfit?

Am I free to spend my birthday any way I want to? (Of course I mean aside from sinful behavior...I'm not talking about going out and getting drunk. What I mean is, if you want to go rollerskating but everybody else wants you to go to Applebees, are you free to? )

Are you free to... _____________________________?

That is the question. Again it comes down to -- what are man's expectations and what are God's? The two are not the same...but many times become complicated and intertwined way more than I would like. It's confusing. I know we technically "physically" can do all of the above, but can we really, without ramifications? And if we have automatic ramifications to all this, are we really ever free? We could do all the above but we might be labeled uncaring, cheap, materialistic, unGodly, or a litany of other things and maybe even face more than the consequence of people just thinking those things. Some of the questions are not black and white and clear cut, they are all situational. I realize that.

Yes, I know that according to scripture everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. But exactly how does that translate into all the above scenarios and ones like them? Some say, "just be spirit led". Okay, is that really all there is to it? We are free from sin because of the blood of Jesus. We can also be free of our past, our emotional pain, even our physical pain. But there's more to life than that. We all have these scenarios in life and all I know is this... I love people to pieces. Really I do! But there are times that I take way too many calls I don't want to take, go to far too many events I don't want to go to, and listen to a bunch of stuff I'm not really sure God expects me to. And all the while I wonder, "how free am I...really?"

How free are you?

**those in the ministry please feel free to answer anonymously to give me an honest answer.

New address

It's time for a change, my friends!

Stat counter reveals a ton of things to a blogger, and one of those things is how people find you in the first place. After noticing on my stat counter that a ton of regular readers who read my blog every day "google" or use other search engines with my name each and every time to find it, I thought it was a bit ridiculous for you to have to do that. It's clear why you can't remember the address... (http://www.lifetimeintimateportraitds.blogspot.com/ -- what was I thinking when I did that?!) So, I decided to simplify for your sakes and anyone else who wants to very easily find me. Yes, it's time we become more user friendly around here.

You won't have to google me anymore to find my main blog.

From now on the address of this blog is simply: http://www.deannashrodes.com/.

You can still find it here at this old address for a few days but thereafter it will automatically be re-directed to the new address. Right now my other blogs (Equal Time and Psalms of a Woman After God's Own Heart) will all have the same address that you can get to from this page on the sidebar.

I'm all about making things easier...

TOGETHER

Wherever we go, whatever we do,we're gonna go through it together.
We may not go far, but sure as a star, wherever we are, it's together.
Wherever I go I know he goes.Wherever I go I know she goes.
No fits, no fights, no feuds and no egos, amigos, together!
Through thick and through thin, all out or all in
And whether it's win, place or show.
With you for me and me for you, we'll muddle through whatever we do.
Together, wherever we go.
Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim

The lyrics above are from the song "Together Wherever We Go". It's from the musical Gypsy, and I sang it in high school way back in the day. :-) Good times.

One thing that has always been really important to me in my closest friendships is loyalty. Those who are my covenant friends can tell you I'm fiercely loyal to the core. Recently several situations have occurred that have tested the strength of those relationships and I'm happy to say they've come out strong with flying colors! Not only have the relationships proved true, and risen to the occasion in strength, but I believe God has even brought new ministry about as a result. One of my closest covenant friends, Pastor Tara Sloan, and I have even decided to write a book about it!

In I Samuel 18 we see perhaps the greatest biblical example of covenant relationship. Verses 1 & 3 say: "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself...And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. "

These men were the greatest bff's who ever lived, but Tara and I are trying to become a close second. :-) What Jonathan and David experienced was a kindred spirit relationship on steriods. (lol) They were cut of of the same cloth ~ two peas in a pod ~ or "eating out of the same box of Cheerios" as I like to call it. When the Bible speaks of their relationship one meaning of the Hebrew words "one in spirit" means, "their hearts were tied together." Does that sound absolutely beautiful OR WHAT?

Understand that God makes covenants because He himself is a covenant. Covenants are not just agreements or contracts, but they are a work of the Holy Ghost in bringing people together for the purposes of God.

I am very much looking forward to Tara and I delving into the writing of our book on a deeper level, however for now I just want to ask all my blogging friends to please lift her up in prayer. She's going through one of the greatest tests of her life ~ one that she doesn't deserve, one that Craig doesn't deserve, one their precious girls don't deserve. But just as with Job, "when they are tested, they shall come forth as gold."

The Sloans are among the most integral and anointed ministers I know. I believe they are one of the greatest prophetic voices in the church today. The enemy is very threatened by them. The trial by fire that they are under is nothing but an attack but it is about to catapult them into the greatest season of their ministry that they've ever known! God is about to release them into the new "spacious" place...the large place He has for them beyond their comprehension! Right now however they are in the midst of paying the price for that next level God is about to lead them into. Keep in mind the first half of the word breakthrough is break, and the first half of the word testimony is test! Unfortunately we have to go through breaks and tests to get to the victory! The Sloans are on schedule for it. Victory is in store because the Word promises that to the upright. Let me tell you, those of you who know the Sloans can testify that they are among God's choicest servants.

They can use prayer at this time in a great way. Please uplift them daily in your prayers until the breakthrough manifests. Many of you in my network have received a personal e-mail from me with more details. If you are in that group and for some reason the e-mail escaped you, send me an email and I'll get it to you asap. I want to thank you for personally, specifically and strategically interceding. But for ANYONE reading this today, whether you know them or not, would you please right now, lift up my dear friends, the Sloans? Thank you for joining me in fasting and prayer as we defeat the enemy and pray the Sloans right into the spacious place God has for them.

Me and Madea

I opened this up last night before going to sleep and absolutely cracked up! Larry says, "what's going on?" I said, "Tara just compared me to Madea. I can't wait to open up this article and see what she says!" She wrote all about it today on TRW.

She was absolutely 100% correct. I've got the high heels and earrings off and could care less how much the mascara runs. For my covenant friends, I stand ready to throw down at a moment's notice. As one of my favorite songs says...

Keep smiling, keep shining
knowing you can always count on me...for sure...
that's what friends are for...
Through good times, and bad times...
I'll be on your side forever more...
ohhhh that's what friends are for...

My top priority in this election

Who are the people who take the "Gallup poll"?

When you see that Fox News or CNN has taken a poll, who are those people?

ME! MY FAMILY! Yes, we are among them.

Seriously, a few months ago we got a call asking us to be a Gallup poll family. That means that they call us to ask us various things and we are part of the statistics on their polls.

We're busy and I don't need another thing to do or another phone call to take but Larry thought it was pretty cool and said, "hey, that's a great opportunity, let's do it!" So we did.

This past week on "Fun Friday" I got the kids off to school and went back to sleep for a few hours and the phone rang and Larry passed it to me. With his sleep mask still on, he passed it over to me mumbling something about..."here, it's a poll about the election..."

Disclaimer here: Keep reading, I'm not going to talk about who I am or am not voting for. (I never talk here on the blog about that -- only about issues or happenings with both or all candidates.)

The pollsters wanted to know what the biggest issue was for me in the election. They had pared a list down and it only included five or six things, none of which would be considered, "hot button" issues for Christians such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. There were only about five things and I don't remember the entire list except that the economy, immigration and national security were on the list.

It was an easy answer for me.

Most people probably think, "the economy! Surely you're as ticked off as we are about how much it costs to fill your gas tank, and what a few grocery items cost vs. what they used to, and your mortage insurance and yada yada yada. Yes, yes, yes, I am sick of all that. So sick of it. It's affecting EVERYBODY I know, bar none. Larry and I have close friends who are even losing their homes, going bankrupt, and more. It's a serious matter of prayer for me daily. It's not just "someone out there" that it's happening to, but people I dearly love. Our expenses personally (mortgage, insurance and the like) have gone through the roof, however I'm not complaining because I see what is happening to some of my friends and I realize I'm incredibly blessed. One thing I am realizing is that if a person went bankrupt in the past or foreclosed on their home, barring something very unusual it was always their fault -- usually mismanagement. Now, in this time we are living in, it's the first time where you really can lose it all financially through no fault of your own. I am learning that as I see some dear friends who have not mismanaged but just had unexpected things happen to them. Anyway, believe it or not, that's not my biggest issue in this election. As bothered as I am about this economy it pales in comparison to my biggest concern which is national security.

Nothing is 100% safe and secure - I realize that. We are living in the end times - I realize that too. I'm not naive that an attack can happen on anyone's watch. However, it's no debate that some former presidents have placed national security at a higher priority than others.

Back on that fateful day, 9/11/01, we were not Democrats, nor Republicans, but we were all simply Americans. On that day, there was an explosion of Patriotism we hadn't experienced in many decades, and a voracious drive among all Americans to defeat the evildoers who had harmed our people. I didn't hear one single person in all of America on radio, TV or who I knew personally disagree that this is what should be done. There was a 100% unity that we needed to voraciously defeat terrorists.

Now, seven years later the enthusiasm for that has waned and many have forgotten just how horrible that day was. I hear people (many of them celebrities who definitely are not authorities on foreign affairs) talk about "negotiating" with terrorists, "meeting with" them, trying to "understand them." The truth is, such people cannot be negotiated with, met with or understood. They are evil and must be defeated, plain and simple.

As bad as our economy is, why is national security a bigger issue to me? Because quite honestly we can live with gas being $4 a gallon even though it's really hard. But many will not live through a terrorist attack. And if we want our economy to really crumble, another attack is all it would take. Doesn't anyone remember how the economy took a nosedive when 9/11 happened? I have many friends who were almost immediately put out of a job. Do you know how many people I've sat with over coffee and heard this, "Well, I was laid off back when 9/11 happened..."

Terrorism also affects our economy. Uncertain times when it comes to national security also creates uncertainty in the economy. We can't afford another terrorist attack.

Nothing is foolproof and I realize an attack could occur on either McCain or Obama's watch, or anyone's watch. Realize, an attack took place on Bush's watch, but many people also blamed Clinton because supposedly a bunch of memos had come to his desk in earlier months and years warning him of this but he didn't do anything about it. Others say that it doesn't matter how many memos came across Bush or Clinton's desk - nobody could have predicted 9/11 or what would have happened. That's possible. I don't know the answer. (I'm also not an expert on foreign affairs or who was to blame, if anyone. Obviously I think we could agree, the terrorists were 100% to blame for what happened. What we're not sure of is, could any of it have been avoided?)

All I know is this...what is most important to me in this election is national security. And all the reasons I shared are why. Before ten years ago I didn't think much about national security. Before we were attacked on our own soil, I didn't understand the danger. But like many or most Americans, I had a rude awakening. And I'm a mother.

Seven years ago we lived an hour outside of Washington D.C. The night of the attack, I remember getting Savanna out of her crib and putting her in bed with me. I kept her there for a while. I held all my children closer. I drove them to school for a while and didn't let them walk. I watched for planes in the sky and started praying when I saw them. The most important thing to me in the world was making sure my family members were close, and safe. I remember calling my sister (who also lives an hour outside of D.C.) and crying together on the phone as she freaked out and left work to go pick up my niece and nephew from school, and hold them safe in her arms -- and keep them home for a while.

Will our new president care about protecting our families? Will they take no chances when it comes to this? Will they be ready in a second to do whatever it takes to save American lives? Will they have their finger on the button and use it at a moment's notice if they need to?

All these years later, it's still as much a priority to me. I've never forgotten the terror of that day. I will never forget watching on TV live on CNN as the plane hit the Pentagon and hearing them say, "our country is at war" and the next thing I knew I was stretched out on the floor in front of the TV crying out loud in prayer. My children's safety is still of absolute utmost importance to me. I'm still holding them close although I have started letting Savanna sleep on her own again (lol) but I'm praying to God that whoever gets in the White House will also care about holding their children close and keeping them -- and all of us -- as safe from these evildoers as possible.

Good day in the house

Had a real good day in the house today. I expected it after my Holy Ghost throwdown prayer meeting I had (just me and Him) yesterday. I chronicled it yesterday in one of my psalms to God in my other (new) blog yesterday. I came with expectation. He met it. He's good that way.

This was our second week of "The Blessed Life" Wow, wow, wow is all I can say. Amazing. Totally amazing. I can't say enough about this series. If you are a pastor reading this, trust me on this one, YOU NEED TO DO THIS. ASAP. If you want more info on this, contact me. I can't say enough about it -- it will revitalize your church as you know it!

Had some great visitors today, among them the Southeastern student, Melinda, who I met at Unstoppable. She is an absolutely incredible singer -- and was at Unstoppable as part of the worship team. She expressed interest in being part of our church and I thought it might not actually work as far as being involved with living in Lakeland, but then she informed me...she lives in Tampa! And she's commuting. She is starting school there a bit older than most of the kids...she's 25 and just starting there and has a condo here. HOW PERFECT! I was automatically impressed by the fact that two weeks ago she told me she could not attend last Sunday with a prior engagement but that she'd be there today. I've gotten used to the fact with college students that most of the time if they tell you the sun is shining, get your umbrella out. (lol) In other words, if you have absolutely no expectations of them, well then...you'll never be disappointed. :-) [Translation: that's how you cope, to take that mindset.] Well, much to my delight she walked in this morning, thrilled to be there! We invited her to go to lunch this afternoon and then she came to our house for newcomers. Yay!

I have been believing God for miracles these past few months and I'm starting to sense a few unfolding.

The Lord prompted me tonight to study covenant prayer again. I have a book on my shelf at the office I have to re-read again tomorrow. There's something in there God wants me to see for this time period that I haven't seen yet...can't wait to uncover it.

Meme about me and my kids From Cassandra

Cassandra over at Tripping Around the Sun tagged me to do this meme. Haven't done one in a while...here we go:

First: post a picture of you and your kids.


Here are two photos - I don't have a picture of me with all three, just one of me with the boys, and then one with Savanna. Guess we need to take one of us all together now that you mention it... geez, what kind of mother am I? (lol)

Second: Answer the questions.

1. How many children do you have? Three ~ Dustin, Jordan and Savanna

2. What are their ages? Dustin - 18, Jordan - 17, Savanna - 11

3. What time of day do you start your day? 6:00 A.M.

4. What do you eat for breakfast? Depends what day it is and if I'm on point with WW or not! If I'm not on point it could be a PB & J but if I am on point usually a 1/2 bagel, or my special WW egg sandwich.

5. Do they watch TV? Yes, more than I would like but it's not one of the main things I make a huge deal over. I am much more of an easy going Mom than most.

6. What are their favorite activities? They all differ in what they enjoy however a few things they all enjoy are music and reading.

7. Do you get a break during the day from them? Yes I do. They are all in school and my boys are 17 and 18 so they work a lot themselves and we are just in a different stage of life now from when they were babies. For many years though, no, it seemed I never got a break.

8. How do you end your day? Reading. Or spending time with Larry. Usually both.

9. What is your best parenting advice or tip? Love your children. You will make a lot of mistakes - every parent does. But if you really, really genuinely love them and you show it, and they know it -- love covers a multitude of sins and mistakes.

Third: Tag 5 people.

Tagging: Tara, Cathy, Kerry, Michele, Danella

My new blog

As if I needed a new one! I know what some of you are thinking, "Deanna Shrodes, you need another blog like you need a hole in the head!"

Alright, stop the chastisement. Remember, "there is therefore now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus..." (lol)

Seriously, why am I starting yet another blog? Well, first let me say I am not sure I'll post in it every single day. Keep in mind, none of my other blogs are everyday ones. But here's the reason behind it:

My first blog had a psalm like quality, in that it was the personal cry of my heart day to day. Good or bad, it was first person to the extreme, between God and me, but available for public viewing. Over time as I switched to blogger and started this blog you are reading now, my daily blog evolved to focus on ministry, work, family happenings, social issues and many other things. It lost the intimacy factor that I missed so much, yet I didn't want to do away with my new style of blogging either since writing about all of the things I write about here are important to me. Evidently others thought deem it worthy of reading too, so I'm not going to change the focus of lifetime intimate portrait.

Although I do have a private journal reserved for the most intimate of communication, I did want to get back to having a public blog simply for writing my own heart cries to God. This is basically what the Psalms are -- David's intense and intimate communications with God, with the whole world listening in. We are so blessed by the Psalms because we realize...we're not alone. Somebody who was known as the "person after God's own heart" went back and forth between saying, "Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me," to asking God to "break off the teeth of the enemy." Ever had days like that? I have. Plenty of them. Life is a rollercoaster ride. David blogged it and now we know we aren't alone or crazy. Psalms are intimate heart cries, yet there is value in others peeking in on the depth of that kind of writing because it gives them hope that others in life have the same ups and downs they do...and through it all, God is faithful.

So I'd also like to invite you to venture over to this blog, "Psalms of a Woman After God's Own Heart." Warning: it's an extremely transparent blog. If you have your head in the sand that pastors or their wives ever have questions, doubts, fears, depression or that they get really, really angry at times...you may not want to read it. But for those who dare to read...come on in.

If you care about equality

Many of you who read this blog know that I also co-write another blog with my friend, Pastor Tara Sloan, called Equal Time. That particular blog is dedicated exclusively to issues of biblical equality. We do not post there everyday, but if we have something to say on the subject, that's generally where it goes (though we sometimes can't help posting something on this topic on our personal blogs, as it's so much a part of our DNA.)

Some of you might not know the blog exists, and we've just updated the look of the blog and posted some new things so I thought I'd give it a shout out. Also pass the word along to those friends you have who care about this issue and might want to read as well as come on over and comment about it. Find the blog here.

Did you hear me?

Hey friends! I said "Covenant" in the first couple sentences! Hope you were listening, but actually I slid the word in there four times. :-)

Just wanted you to know I was really thinking of you who are my regular readers and friends.

Larry and I got home at approximately 5 am. I was wide awake when we were done the show at 3 am because I had so much strong coffee during the show. lol Seriously. We were starving when we got done and did something we haven't done in a long time...years, in fact...we went out to an all night place for breakfast. Fun! We used to do that all the time before the kids were born, and we've done it once or twice since they've been born, but it brings back great memories of when we used to burn the midnight oil working at the church office and sometimes we'd look up and realize, "hey, it's 3 am" and we'd go somewhere for breakfast. That was in the first two years of our marriage before Dustin was born and we were youth pastoring.

No sooner did I got to sleep this morning (5 am) did I have to get Jordan up for school at 6, and then I have to get Savanna up at 7 am. It was a hard morning, but worth it. I had so much fun being with Larry and I love it when we work that closely together. So many times over the years in the church we have gotten busy on our own projects (because circumstances in the church have necessitated it) and at times we are in different areas of the building or in separate meetings for a majority of the time. I miss the times when we work together and flow together and we both just love every opportunity when we can partner together up close and personal.

I went to sleep at 7:20 after getting Savanna off to school til' about 11:20 and I'm working now. Larry went in to the office this morning but since I was done everything I have to do at the office on site and can work remotely today, I chose to do so. Computers have revolutionized the working world, praise God!

Last night our "code word" was covenant. Speaking of that, my greatest covenant friend is Tara Sloan. Many of you know that, and we are even writing a book on that subject. She has been there for me these past months as I have been going through some dark times. I cannot get into the details yet (I'm sure she will during days or a few weeks to come on her blog) but I want to ask all of you who are in relationship with her to please bombard heaven for her at this time. Something major has happened in her family's life and they need a miracle. The Sloan's are among the most integral and Godly people I know. I trust them with my life. They have been there for me in the ups and downs of life for over 10 years now. It's my joy, my honor to stand with them at this time and always. Details are not necessary right now - just join me in fasting and prayer for a breakthrough. My heart is burdened for her so much and I got the opportunity to talk to her this morning for a while and although it was good, I wanted to hop on a plane. She's told me so many times when I've been discouraged how she's just felt like she was going to burst and longed to fly to me and personally encourage me face to face. That's what I long to do for her today but can't. But I ask all of you to join with me...send the prayers up to heaven on behalf of my covenant friend.

And Tara, I know you are reading this because you read every single blessed thing that I write! So I'll just say this...as Craig has reminded me of so many times, now I remind you, "DON'T DOUBT IN THE DARKNESS WHAT GOD HAS SAID IN THE LIGHT!" I love you.

Larry and I co-hosting America's Prayer Meeting Live Tonight!

This is kind of last minute but I wanted to tell all of you who are my personal friends (not just lurkers, but hey, you lurkers can watch too...be my guest) that Larry and I are going to co-host America's Prayer Meeting tonight on CTN. Due to today's amazing technology, all of you have the ability to tune in, no matter where you are, and watch a few minutes and see our smiling faces if you want to. (Although I'm sure you won't stay up the entire show - it's three hours long, Lord help us!)

The show is not only nationwide, it's worldwide. Larry hosts at times when Bro. Dortch (Richard - the regular host) is out. Tonight he had to make a trip to the Phillipines, so they called and asked Larry to fill in and he wants me to host with him.

So if you want to tune in to see the hottest pastor in all of America host a prayer meeting along with his adoring wife, tune in! How to? In Tampa it's on Direct TV, usually channel 3 or 22...it's also on SkyAngel (worldwide) and I believe Direct TV now in most of the USA if not all...and if all else fails, just get on your computer HERE and watch it. Anyone, anywhere can watch it if you have a computer and internet. Simply scroll all the way down and look to the right where it says, "Live Webcast". Click there and you can watch from your computer. You can also call in if you want! There's a toll free number. I will warn you, tons of calls come in from everywhere so it's not guaranteed that they take your call as one that goes on the air, however everyone does get prayed for by ministers who are also there answering phone calls. It's on EST from 12 midnight - 3 am. So for those of you on the west coast that would be 9 pm-midnight (yep, prime time on the west coast!)
I know some of you tune in to watch my babe when he hosts but now you can see us together...won't that be "speeecial?" (as the church lady would say from SNL! lol!)

I'm tired but looking forward to ministering alongside my husband as a team because that's what we enjoy most. I'm still re-cooping from Unstoppable, and today has been a busy day at work, then I'm preaching tonight (excited about my message - it's called, "Fused for Encouragement") Then Teeb and I will head home from church tonight, freshen up, change clothes, and leave for the studio. I know it makes for a crazy-busy day/night and a tiring day at work tomorrow (we won't roll in til at least 4 am) but you know...these are the fun parts of ministry. Heck, it could be worse! How blessed we are. Somebody somewhere tonight is dealing with a church split, a business meeting going awry, contentious church members, and all kinds of craziness (I've been there, done that in the past!) but despite some stress I've been under lately of another kind...here are the BLESSINGS! I got up having one of my "dark mornings" (not as bad as before with the depression but I still have them and am working through it) and then as the day went on things got better. But alongside the "dark days" (even if you aren't dealing with depression, you still have them) come the blessed moments. Today I have been blessed to get a lot done at the office, I get to do my favorite thing tonight (bring God's Word) and then pray for people all over the world with my husband tonight for three hours. These are the parts of ministry I do love and you know, we have to relish them when they come and soak them in for all they are worth, because some days, it's really hard out there. We must SOAK IN THE BLESSINGS WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THEM!!!

I love you all...and tell you what...Larry has a little "code word" he says on the air to let me know he's thinking of me. Sometimes it's something crazy like last time I think the word was "Bahamas" and it has nothing to do with the show but somehow he fits the word in to what he's saying creatively, and when I hear it, it means, "I love you, Deanna and I'm thinking of you right now". Other times the word is easier to fit in like "fellowship" or discipleship" but it lets me know he's thinking of me. So...I'm going to pick a code word that means, "I love you my bloggy friends and you mean so much"..........and it will be..........COVENANT. :-)

Every time I say COVENANT, I'm thinking of you and shooting a prayer out to you from me, in Tampa, Florida. (((hugs)))

Another one? Yes!

And here is yet another re-cap of the Unstoppable Conference weekend from LaDonna Jones, who pastors in North Port, FL with her husband, Keith.

People keep writing about it and as long as they do, I'll keep posting their testimonies and insights.

I agree with LaDonna, the weekend was just what God ordered!

Mmm...yup. Still missing everyone.

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT

My friends, I've been waiting to make an absolutely HUGE announcement...for those who haven't heard yet...

simply click HERE.

More Unstoppable Recaps

Okay, so I'm basically bawling after this Unstoppable Conference recap from Tara... as well as this subsequent post she did with more photos.

Also, I received a re-cap from Jessica Smith, one of our women in the Pastoring Partners Network who came to Unstoppable from Oklahoma City. I received this today by e-mail and she gave me permission to post it. She doesn't have a blog (yet) so I asked if I could share her thoughts here... and believe it or not I have cut some of it out of it because it was much longer but I've kept the main thoughts here for all to read:

Deanna,

Wow, what can I say about Unstoppable? Where are the words at? Well, when I was flying out I was so excited. I was actually going to meet with my friends of over a year, of whom have poured so much into me, yet never really knew it.

I was more so happy to be able to meet you and Tara face to face. Out of everyone from the pastoring partners network, you two had always stuck out the most. The very things that I desire to do, be, and learn are things that you have done, are doing and are planning to do. It is refreshing to be in friendships with those who share the same heartbeat for ministry, life, and covenant, as you and Tara do.

Meeting Tara was awesome. Like coming home to pie and ice-cream after a long day at work. We went outside the airport where our ride was waiting for us. She was SOOOO sweet. She gave us roses and welcomed us to Tampa. I love her accent, I do believe she told us she was from Cuba? We got to the hotel, and I walked in stoked to be there. Wow! I was welcomed with hugs, encouragement, and a bag full of goodies. I felt like a celebrity!

I saw you and I felt like I was meeting a celebrity..not because of your leadership or position, but because I admire you so much (in a good way!). Just to let you know too, you give the best hugs ever! Not the, "oh not another person to hug hug" or the "my goodness I have to hug her because she is here", but the "I am happy you are here --welcome -- you are family hug" Not everyone hugs like that, but you do! The only other people I know who hug like that are my husband, Tara, Bishop Miller and Pastor Purifoy (my pastor). I sat at a table with some other women who have now become even better friends to me. Carrie, Melissa, Jessica L. and others. Truly a God thing in the biggest of ways. Dinner was fantastic and chatting with everyone was even better! Service that night was exactly what I needed to hear. It is refreshing to know that I am not the only one wading through something that makes you want to give up. As you stated, your enemy is used to promote you! Amen! Afterward I was pretty tired and headed back to the room after chatting a few more minutes.

Friday morning I woke up revived, and ready to roll. I went to the Dr.'s session on depression, and it was amazing the things I learned, it is going to be able to help me when my husband has his moments of pain. Tara's session was wonderful as well. How not to lose my mind... I am glad that someone had enough guts to be honest and share. The hardest thing for me with my Master's Paper was to get women to answer a simple question! Afterward, I went to go eat lunch at Ruby Tuesdays with Carrie, Jessica Lewis and another lady she is from the other side of FL. Anyway, we ate lunch together and took a ton of pictures!

We then went to Ross and bought a towel, drove over to Target and got chocolate and baby wipes. We were all cracking up the whole time trying to figure our way to Clearwater beach. It was sooo funny! We made it there, parked and soaked out feet in the water for around 20 minutes. Then as the tide came splashing in, these clear jelly like looking things were banging against our feet. We thought they were either Double D breast implants, or jelly fish. We were wrong on both accounts. Either way, I was out of the water in no time flat. I do not like things that I do not know about to be touching my feet, even more so if it might sting! I really had no desire for anyone to have to urinate on my feet! We got back in the car, wiped our feet off and got stuck in traffic. After two u-turns, we were finally on the correct way back to the hotel. (I really do not remember the hotel being in Toronto! )

Arriving back at the hotel, we all had bonded...we were at the same table and worship was terrific. The presence of God was all over the place, and I could really see the anointing on you and Tara. Service was great and I agree, Tara broke it down....

After service Friday night was one of the most special times for me. This may sound silly, but I had really needed a meal like this my whole life! Jesus always was eating with the people that He ministered to. I was refreshed, at ease, ministered to, and had my heart opened those three hours! I had always desired something like that moment, and the Lord really answered some prayers during that time. By the time we finished eating and talking, Carrie, Melissa and I did not want to stop. So we went to my room and chatted for an hour or so, sharing more stories. We were laughing SOO hard...and we got a phone call from "the front desk" saying. "I am sorry, but we got a complaint that you are being too loud. Can you please turn it down a notch?" Okay...weird. Then about 5 minutes later..knock, knock...."This is the clerk from the front desk" Uh huh. I look out the peep hole and see it is being blocked. I was about to either be murdered, ambushed, or made fun of..I opened the door and it was Jessica Lewis and Sheryl laughing their heads off at us...they joined us for another hour or so. We bonded some more. It was late, we were about to fall off the bed in tears and tiredness, but we each went to bed around 2:30 or 3ish.

Saturday morning was bittersweet for me and went way too quickly. I ate breakfast with my new buddies, headed into the service, and felt God hit me like a ton of bricks. This was His heart for every woman! This network, this ministry, covenant relationships! The two of you sharing your story, faith, and womanly perspective on covenant was mind blowing. Bishop Miller and Kathy share the same heart for covenant too. Yet those people have always been the men who reached out to my husband and I, not the women. Greg had several men in his life to share his steps with, but I did not. I started praying for covenant relationships with women in ministry last year before I even came upon your website. Now there is a living example of two women in covenant relationship....

1. It is possible

2. There is an example.

3. Look for God's connections and not make it happen on your own.

Thank you for being that living, possible example!!

Ending in prayer, I could not stop crying. The whole thing had opened up my heart to be honest, open, and willing to trust again. I quickly said goodbye to everyone, to you and Tara, because Sue had to pick up her boys for music lessons. Sue and I became quick friends. We ate at Sonic, talked for few hours, then she took me to this AMAZING Japanese steak house to eat...yummmm. We stayed up late laughing our heads off at You Tube videos and funny stories. You should ask her how her son was able to get the hamster out of the truck! LOL As I got up at 3:30am to get ready to go, my heart broke...I did not want to leave..not yet. But I had to.

I was dropped off after several laughs and hugs. On the plane to Atlanta all I could do was try not to cry. I was leaving my new family!Switching planes in Atlanta, I had the most amazing God connection!! That is another long e-mail.

Let me tell you several things:

1. Thank you for your effort, time, heart, tears, and energy that you put into this conference.

2. Thank you for following through with the conference despite how your world is crashing around you.

3. Thank you for being a godly example of covenant relationship.

4. Thank you for pouring yourself into me and other women across this country.

5. Your impact goes further than you know.

6. This is just the early years for this baby...it is going to grow into something bigger than you, your church, your denomination, your vision, and region.

7. The bigger the heart, the bigger the vision, the bigger the vision, the bigger the impact, the bigger the impact, the bigger of growth and harvest.

I love you and thank you for all you have done and continue to do! I now have a new word for you..." A God connection" is now Godnecction!

In His Love,

~Jessica Smith

My reflections on Unstoppable...finally

I've been waiting to blog extensively about this for a day or two, because honestly my emotions are so strong. Melissa at The Diaperheads has already blogged here about Unstoppable, and I expect a post anytime from Tara. I've had a mixture of sweet memories and a terrible ache in my heart for people I'm missing. All I know is that if I could fly everybody back here who flew in for Unstoppable, I'd do it in a heartbeat! (Those in Florida, I already see several times a year, so it's not quite as sad.) I want you far away gals to know how much I really, really miss you.

As far as Tara...well, nothing would feel better unless she came to my house for a week or I went to hers and even then although we'd terribly miss our husbands and kids, we'd still feel like, "this is all the time we have?"

The blessing of that is...I am blessed to have those in my life that I so treasure and love deeply.

There's something special about sitting around a table together for a meal and talking for hours. (I did a sermon about that very thing once! Several have asked me to do it again...) Anyway, on Friday night of Unstoppable we stayed in the restaurant until about 1:00 am. (It was supposed to close at 10 pm. They stayed open til after 11 pm serving us and then they just let us stay in the dining room as long as we wanted.) We were there for three hours, eating, talking and laughing our heads off. I mean laughing long and hard until some of us had tears in our eyes. It was so good...so "healing." Laughter is such good medicine. I needed it so much. I am sitting here crying right now as I write this just thinking about it, and there's an oxymoron for you - crying while writing about laughter, but here I sit doing it...taking my glasses off...dabbing my eyes...and typing more.

I skipped ahead to Friday night so let me back track.

I spent the night at Hilton Wednesday night after working with Pastor T and Larry on setting up the media and the displays. One of the best decisions I've ever made to accept Joyce's (sales reps) offer for the complimentary suite. I was able to really be rested for the next morning. Cathy (my assistant), Lisa (Armor Bearer/friend) and Bonnie (awesome church member!) met me at the hotel and helped set up registration and we did lunch there. Soon all the wonderful ladies descended upon the place. Two of the first to arrive were Jessica Smith from Oklahoma City and my dear friend Tara Sloan from Chicago. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. My ladies took care of registration while Tara and I went to the suite and caught up and prepped for Friday night. So good just to sit and talk face to face over a cup of tea and pray together for a powerful service that night.

Thursday night was the opening banquet and WOW, it was awesome. The Hilton always does such a great job with the banquet. Exquisite! After sharing a delicious meal, Jenn Lee led us in worship and as usual it was so powerful. We could have just done nothing but worship all weekend it was so amazing! Thursday night I brought the opening message and I titled it after a Jim Carrey movie, "A Series of Unfortunate Events." I spoke about the life of Ezekiel. We had a powerful altar time and I was able to pray with women who are so dear to me...and there is something so special about praying with a friend, isn't there? What a connection.

Thursday night we just went back to the room and again Tara and I had so much to talk about and we stayed up late. We can't help it. Even when we have ministry to do, or an early morning meeting, we stay up and talk. I remember when we went to another conference together (where neither of us ministered) I still came back hoarse from the many hours of straight talking and lack of sleep. I talked until I just couldn't keep my eyes open anymore and realized, only one and a half more days until my friend would be far away again...

The next day was the workshops and as usual they were amazing! Many say the workshops are worth the entire price of the conference if you just came for that. We do topics that you really can't find anywhere else, at least not yet! Pastoring Partners Network still has the corner on it.

Friday I had lunch with the speakers and we talked until about 3 pm and it was so refreshing. I had intended to go up to the room and rest a few hours but as I was walking through the lobby I saw Pastor Judi Cotignola and her staffers and couldn't help but stop and talk to them (love that group of gals!) and we talked until 5:30 pm, after which I rushed up to the room to get ready for the evening service. I quickly called the manager of the Hilton and asked for a huge favor of extended hours for the restaurant after service. I didn't know if we'd get out by 10 pm, due to the moving of the Holy Spirit and didn't want to take a chance. Hilton has bent over backwards with anything I've asked of them, and this was no exception. He said sure, he'd keep the chef and a few servers there.

Finally at 7 pm it was time for Pastor Tara Sloan to come off of her chain into the prophetic. I'm tellin you, that girl knows how to flow...

Midstream through the altar time I was sensing maybe she thought I was wanting to wind the service down and I went over and whispered in her ear, "just keep flowing...go as long as you want...you're off the chain now, baby..." Man oh man, it was good. We had testimonies at the end and it was so good to hear from a few people who were especially touched that night. The presence of the Lord is amazing...so healing...not just for our attenders, but for me this year! (Rarely do I receive anything seriously for me when I'm in charge of something - I'm so busy with details and I don't expect something personal - I just go with the goal of doing my job and ministering to others. But this was different. I received so much from being in God's presence and the encouragement of my friends.)

After service we walked into the restaurant at the Hilton and sure enough the staff was waiting to serve us all the late night meals we wanted. (Few of us ate dinner earlier as we just talked ourselves to oblivion all afternoon and early evening!) We transformed the dining room ourselves by pushing tables together into a huge long table (I told the servers we'd put the whole thing back the way we found it...their eyes got kinda big when we started rearranging...) and we settled in for an incredibly fun time. Like I said, one of the best times ever. When we were finally done telling endless "church stories", it was 1:00 am and we looked over and noticed the staff of the Hilton had just quietly left us there and they had gone home for the night. We got up and took all our remaining dishes and glasses into the kitchen and put them on the counter, wiped down the tables, and put them all back the way we found them. (We wanted to be a good testimony, of course.) I am sure they were probably shocked to find people who actually kept their word. I believe it's so important that we as Christians and especially as ministers, to keep our word in all situations.

That night Tara and I stayed up until about 4 am, finalizing things about our tag team message for the next day. We already had the whole thing totally mapped out well in advance, but we were still up late, tweaking, strategizing, yada yada yada. She laughs at my nature to have everything "exact" and I laugh at her tendency to just "flow." Right up til 3 am we had no idea what we were going to do about one small aspect of the ending. She kept saying we needed to just wait and see how things went. I said, "okay my friend, what if we get to that point and we sense absolutely no leading?" She said, "well then, we're going to just stand there and pray in the Holy Ghost for a few minutes until we know...that always works in a pinch..." OMG, I almost fell off my bed laughing! She did too. We were finally happy with our direction by 4 am, and said goodnight, and got about 3 hours sleep.

For the lack of sleep, I still think we were "in the pocket" on Saturday morning. It was our first tag team message together but we flowed great. We were so thrilled with this project that we've decided to write a book on it. The Lord had already spoken that to Tara's heart and she thought she'd wait to tell me to see if I felt the same without her saying anything. Upon reading the final draft of our message, I said to myself, "this should be a book" and immediately emailed her and told her that and and she said, "I was just waiting for you to tell me that."

Our message flowed well and then we ended it with Martina McBride's music video of "Anyway" and took communion together. Very powerful!

Tara made the observation that the networking at this year's conference was awesome. It was so much more than last year. This is what it's all about! This is the vision...the dream I've had from the very beginning for the PPN.

It was hard saying goodbye to everyone. Tara's parents wanted to take her to the airport but I talked to her at the hotel as long as possible and didn't start the waterworks until the last few minutes. :-)

Everything was packed up and Nadal (banquets manager) came down the hall and we hugged and I said, "I love you, Nadal..." and he (to my surprise!) said, "I love you too!" This from a man that two years ago sort of bristled against the fact that we'd be working together on the conference. (He's from the middle east...not too keen at all on women in leadership and the staff at the time warned me of that). But, he and I have gotten along just fine and in fact have developed a great rapport. It's that way with the whole staff there, I just love them and I think it's mutual! I don't think the sales rep from last year would have EVER thought she'd hear a client say, "I love you" to Nadal and hear "I love you" back. (lol) What can we say??...God does miracles!!! He can make hardened hearts soft and open. I love it when God breaks down the walls of prejudice and shows people what is possible.

We said goodbye to Nadal and Larry took me to dinner. I was starving! We also wanted a few minutes of peace and quiet before walking back into the house with three kids and a little craziness! (I knew I would be cleaning, cooking, unpacking, ironing, having the three of them talking to me non-stop about everything that's happened over three days time...) So he took me to a nice quiet dinner at Liang's where he asked for the corner round booth (they were almost empty in there at the time we went) and we snuggled up close together in that huge round booth and shared an orange chicken dinner while we caught up on everything with us. It was so good. But quite honestly, I couldn't wait to get him home. (lol)

I came home and sure enough I was immediately thrust into the wonderful chaos that is the Shrodes family. Simultaneously I was unpacking, going through mail, making a double batch of chicken and dumplings for a choir dinner the next day, getting all our clothes ready for Sunday, listening to Jordan talk incessently about his weekend, listening to Savanna trying to interrupt him repeatedly (I told her to be quiet and let him talk as she was with me @ Unstoppable for two of the evening services and I hadn't seen Jordan at all.) Dustin gave me a hug but then did his usual retreating to write and talk to Casey. :-)

It's back to everyday routine in our house, and that's good. But I sorely miss everyone from Unstoppable, and still have a little "lump" in my throat with emotion when I think about it. I know in a few days that will fade and I'll just be left with sweet memories.

But truly, I can't wait until Tara gets settled in with her gang and we can trade a monster e-mail again and catch up.

For anyone from Unstoppable who is reading this, just one question...how do you spell ruckus? lol (If you don't know what that means, come next time and find out!)

I miss you girls...just had to tell you one more time...your presence was so healing to me...you and Jesus were a powerful combination. At this Unstoppable, I received as much as I gave. Thank you.

Wear the Coat!

Here's my monthly column, "Survive and Thrive Ministry Wives" on Take Root and Write for September.

I know some of my readers are already acquainted with TRW, and CWTR, but for those who aren't...here you go!

Don't ever call me overly emotional because I'm a Pentecostal!

Emotional Hippies - Crying Over Dead Trees - Watch more free videos

This video is going to absolutely blow your mind. All I have to say is, the emotion we show on behalf of a God who saved, healed and delivered us totally makes sense...while some tree hugging hippies are crying over...a tree that has been cut down?

Does anyone else see how absolutely screwed up some people's thinking is in this world? And that some of their weird logic is actually listened to by educators, politicians, and just everyday people? My daughter has come home from school talking about how we must "save the trees." I've GOT to have a talk with that girl! I see how this 'save the whales, save the trees' really is affecting some of our kids, and meanwhile we are not focused on the most important thing which is helping human lives. There are so many needy people in this world. God doesn't want me crying out for a tree, when there are lost, hungry and hurting people!

We are told in Genesis 1 that God said to man “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28).

This means that yes, man and woman do have dominion over animals -- and trees! This command was first given to Adam and Eve and was to be the for the whole human race (Psalms 8:6-8). The world WAS designed for us to have place over animals and plants. We are not the same -- because we are made in God's image and plants and animals are not.

What really gets me is that these people are so emotionally whipped up and spending their time on this, when a loving God wants so much for them to cry out to Him and spend their lives for His purposes.

What a waste.

Reflections from last day of Unstoppable

I was planning on a whopper of a post tonight, but I am just way too wiped out and wanting very, very, very, very much (did I say very) to spend some time with my husband. :-) Um, I haven't been home in three nights...can you tell? lol

This will be a short post again...with the plan of blogging tomorrow night more extensively if my emotions can handle it. It was hard saying goodbye to Tara today. I did great until the last few minutes and then sort of fell apart saying goodbye and a few parting words. It was just way, way, way too short.

My heart is so full from so many treasures this weekend. God has been so good, so faithful.

I can breathe a little more now that the conference is over, however I miss my sisters in ministry so much! There is nothing, nothing, nothing like being with other women who are on this journey. I am blessed to know so many incredible women of God and to have them in my life.

I miss you all...especially Tara (of course!) Melissa, Jessica S., Jessica L., and Carrie. I love ALL of the women who came but I mention these particular women because they came SO FAR to come to Unstoppable...they traveled by air thousands of miles to be with those they are connected with in spirit all throughout the year.

Truly this year's Unstoppable absolutely outdid last year's in every way possible, and I never imagined that happening! I'll share more as time and my heart permits (still processing so much) and I'm sure other bloggers from Unstoppable are going to write about it and give their own reviews.

I'm so over-the-top happy with how it went but now have an awful aching in my heart of missing people...

Only thing that will make this better is spending some special time with Teeb before I go to sleep. Blessings...

Tara was off the chain tonight...

Man, oh man.

Tara Sloan flowed in the prophetic amazingly tonight. God showed up in the place! Right now it's already 1:30 on Saturday morning and we're just getting settled in our room. After an incredible service we went to the hotel restaurant with a WHOLE LOT of women and ate together and laughed uproariously for HOURS. It was SO much fun. It was amazing for all of the people to be together who have only known one another on line, and for many who do know each other in person to connect. I have so much more to tell but have to go over my notes one more time for in the morning and Tara is reminding me of how anal retentive I am... (lol) She gets so amused with my compulsive tendencies to have everything planned. :-) Will blog more when I get home tomorrow.

We're off and running!

To an incredible Unstoppable! Man, I'm in heaven!

Fantastic opening night...

So much love in the place... hey check out this picture of me above with Melissa from Illinois, (The Diaperheads blog) and Jessica, from Oklahoma City.



Tara's sitting here beside me and says, "tell them it's FABULOUS!!!"

And we've just begun...this was only opening night. The best is yet to come.

I'm meeting so many people I've never met face to face -- from pastoring partners message board & blogging friends. I was so excited to meet Jessica, Carrie, Melissa and another Jessica, face to face!!!


There's so much I could say right now, but...I'm not going to because, it's like this -- Tara and I have this suite all to ourselves and we are talking ourselves senseless...and that a lotta talking because you know, we're two women with a ton of sense. :-) lol

Just posting a few pics that Savanna took tonight.
Gotta run...having much fun right now discussing everything in the world with Tara .

It's here!

Can't believe the day has finally come! Mmmmm...I feel like it's a mixture of Christmas morning and a family reunion!

(I have wireless internet in the room, btw...yippee!) Will be able to update though probably not long ones til' Saturday night as I want to spend every waking moment with the wonderful friends who have come for this weekend.

Pastor T, my husband, and I came to Hilton last night at 10 pm, and worked on the initial set up of the media stuff and finished up around 1 am. I spent the night here last night, and Larry went back home after spending some time with me. He had to go back to take care of the kids and get everyone off to school this morning.

After Teeb left last night, I couldn't resist turning on the TV and watching the re-run of Guiliani and Palin's speeches at the RNC. I had already heard snippets of it on talk radio on the way over to the Hilton, and it only wet my appetite even more to stay up and catch the re-cap. So far I haven't missed a night of the DNC or the RNC. I suppose I will miss tomorrow night but I'm sure Larry will tivo it for me and Saturday night when I get home I'll catch up.

Going over notes for the big night again tonight (opening of Unstoppable!) This morning will be another busy time right up until the opening tonight. Registration begins this afternoon and the band and worship team will arrive to set up and get their sound checks, and all displays put up outside the hall, and then I'll see some of my best friends in the world...

only a few more hours until Tara Sloan gets here...

I CAN'T WAIT...

can you tell I'm just a lih-tle excited?

The two peas in a pod...the kindred hearts...will once again be together in the same location and able to actually eat out of the SAME box of Cheerios! Woo hoo!

You heard it here first!

I could be wrong...that's been known to happen before.

But if this happens, just remember you heard it here first. I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton doesn't soon step up to the plate and tell people to lay off of Sarah Palin on this whole issue. I'm serious. Even though she made it clear Obama is her candidate, and even if she makes it clear as a bell that she's not voting for McCain/Palin, I predict she will not stay silent on this issue with Palin. IMHO, Clinton is too much a supporter of the equality of women to stay silent on this issue, so I truly would not be one bit shocked if Hillary doesn't come to her defense. I could be wrong, but if I'm right, you heard it here first, on September 3, 2008 at 1:58 pm.

Remember as well that although Clinton is endorsing Obama, they are not exactly best friends. All the more reason she might be a little inclined to step up and give a word on behalf of the the sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits.

Okay, Unstoppable is seriously pressing down right now and I'm at a 90 to nothing speed to get it all done. I just had to have a little break here for a sec and drop in to give you my opinion on what's going to happen next regarding this issue as it relates to women. I probably won't be back much to give updates unless I am not too tired to log on after services at night, but we'll see. If Tara and I are able to get on line in our room, I'm sure we'll update everybody and if not...Sunday night's update will be a whopper!

Love to all, and thank for all of you who have sent prayers and well wishes who couldn't be here, nevertheless, I know your hearts are here.

My thoughts on yesterday's political landscape

We interrupt the craziness of the last day of preparation for the Unstoppable Conference for this briefing from it's founder, Deanna Shrodes, on insights from the last 24 hours of what has suddenly become, a most interesting presidential race.

Major kudos to how the Obama/Biden camp is dealing with the situation with Bristol Palin. I was very impressed the first day the news broke when Obama said the kids shouldn't be in the media spotlight. Then yesterday he announced that if he heard that anything about Bristol had come from anyone working in his campaign, the person doing it would be fired immediately. I was impressed that he was that committed to handling it that way. Great decision. Then I turned on Fox News when I woke up to see Biden say the following in a news interview:

“With regard to the stuff that you’re talking about, I have a simple proposition: children are off limits. Children are off limits,” he said to applause.“We’ve all been through things with our children, and it’s about common decency. Just treat people with common decency. That’s all I know that I can say.”

Awesome. I'm glad to see the mature way the Obama campaign has handled this.

Now, on this thing about Todd Palin's DWI that happened 22 years ago...

* sigh *

Who doesn't have something 22 years ago that they aren't proud of? Um, only somebody who's...22. LOL

Who out there doesn't have ANY skeleton in their closet, that is truly past and has nothing to do with their life TODAY? I would venture to say probably none of us. I mean, seriously if this is the criteria, I don't know many of my friends who are pastors who could run for office. I know, I know what you're thinking...they probably don't belong in the pastorate either? Well then none of us do! We should all step down in that case.

I guess if by some miracle my husband ran for VP, we would be all over the news because we broke Bible College rules and drove to Atlantic City, and stayed out all night the night of the spring banquet! (Nothing happened, but still...it didn't look good to roll back on campus at 7 am in the same clothes we left in. All we did was walk on the beach, and eat grapes. And, yeah, some kissing here and there...but nothing major.) Still, we had to go before the (gasp!) student council! Yikes! Yep, my friends, that was 22 years ago, and if anybody found out...well, maybe they wouldn't consider us suitable candidates for a church. It's a miracle we're pastoring, ladies and gentlemen. The fact that we got written up for "lap sitting" like...um, 10 times? (Note, I said lap sitting, not lap dancing. ha ha!) Believe it or not, at that time sitting on another's lap was expressly against school policies. Seriously. Yep, broke that rule too. Thank God nobody dredged up that old bible college record before we candidated for a church.

Seriously there are unfortunately worse lapses in judgment that we've both made in our youth much greater than that, and haven't most people? Blows my mind that they are bringing up this one DWI twenty two years ago when the other night on the Saddleback Civic forum, Obama admitted to doing drugs when he was younger, but nobody has seemed to bring that up or compare it. Let's see...having a few too many beers and getting a DWI...doing cocaine...yep, I'd say that's pretty much at least equal, wouldn't you say?

I'm just amazed. Personally I don't think anybody should bring up Obama or Palin's dirt from when they were punks in college and twenty somethings doing the same idiotic things that a lot of people that age do. I guess my point is, what have they done in these many years since, as adults, in public service? What has their track record been now, long term?

I really hope tomorrow we don't see CNN reporting that Obama stole a cookie out of the cookie jar at grandma's house when he was six years old, and Palin got in a fight and clocked a kid on the playground in kindergarten. This is getting to be a bit too much, folks.

I also think it's amazing that after Tara and I did our posts on the issues of how Palin is being treated on this motherhood issue, and her fitness to run for VP, it's suddenly become the hot topic on radio, TV and everywhere you turn! All the talk is about how liberals, particularly women, are absolutely circling like phiranas to try to eat this woman alive. For some reason, her running for such a powerful position while raising kids is really threatening them. I just can't believe women are doing this to each other. Well, yes I can, but I still can't understand it for the life of me.

I've heard some great newscasters and commentators talking about how crazy it is that women are attacking "their own". I dunno, I think Tara and I started this whole revolution and got people talking about it. LOL!!! Just kidding, but the truth is, when we both saw what was happening, before we even saw it reported on the news, both of us had the same strong reaction because of our sensitivity to women's issues and our beliefs. I'm just fascinated at the response to this especially by extremely liberal women. You know there's something really peculiar going on in America when bra-burning-abortion-advocating-same-sex-marriage-supporting-liberal-chicks are coming against this woman's candidacy but John Piper is FOR it! Hello, bizzarro world! (I read today on a blog that although it is well known that John Piper is against women in leadership, he has come out in support of Palin because biblically he believes the abortion issue trumps the woman issue. Interesting way of looking at it...) I just stand in awe of people's way of looking at the issues, but to each his own. This is the land of the free, home of the brave. And let's hope whoever we elect is committed to keep it that way.

By the way, also in yesterday's news in my circle of friends, Leanne had some great posts yesterday on women's issues. Loved it.

Aromatherapy helps maintain sanity

I knew it was going to be difficult for me to take off from working yesterday but I did. We closed the office for Labor Day (yes, I know that's an oxymoron, right -- working on labor day ? But hey, it's a holiday. And most people take it.) With Unstoppable coming Thursday, it's a serious challenge to rest at all. Actually the conference starts for me at 10 pm Wednesday night. That's the time when the group before us at Hilton clears the ballroom and we get into the room after church and start setting up. We work a few hours and then I'll crash there at the Hilton, get up the next morning and start again. Yesterday, I thought to myself, "I can't afford to take this day off" - yet I also couldn't afford not to. Not only does every normal person need a day off at least once a week and occasional holidays to be sane, but right now I'm not really normal. (Some think I was never normal, lol!) As I've said in many of my posts the past month, I am in a place of healing right now and that's a huge challenge in the midst of one of the busiest times of my life. Yes, I'm doing better - much better. But it has been so hard to get to this point without slowing down. I've been hanging on. I can't wait until this Monday because truly a lot will be different then when the conference is over. I hear what some of you in ministry are thinking, "no Deanna, no it won't because the holidays are coming." Yes, yes it will. It has to for me for at least a few months. I'm committed to it.

To make a long story longer I worked a lot both Saturday and Sunday to squeeze my regular work initiatives in, and I have done so today as well to take the holiday yesterday. I slept in as late as I wanted to and then spent time reading and writing at my leisure while my family slept. (They had all come in from a youth lock in and slept until 2-3 pm.) Once everyone was up and ready we went to International Mall and met up with our good friends Pastors Peter and Tammy Young from Church of Hope, Sarasota and our families ate dinner together at the Cheesecake Factory. The Young's have two children, Wes and Christie, both teenagers, who are friends with our kids as well.

Tammy and I got the bang bang chicken and shrimp and shared it and I'm telling you, oh my word, it's one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life!!! We stayed for hours and talked while the kids walked the mall, and shared coffee and cheesecake too. I needed it. They needed it. (Yes, the conversation most of all, but yeah, the cheesecake and coffee as well!) It was so good to share, to laugh, to bear burdens, to be together. I love my friends.

Tammy also brought me a gift. She's famous for doing that. One of her "gifts" in life is giving. She's literally gifted at giving and anybody who knows her knows that. She brought me some Bath and Body works "Pink Grapefruit" bubble bath and lotion, a candle and handsoap. Yumm!!! She knows the details of stuff I've been going through and said, "you really need this right now..." and even emailed today to see if I'd taken my pink grapefruit bubble bath yet. Shortly after she emailed, I decided to take her advice. Tuesday is my day to work from home and I start right after the kids leave for school at about 7:30 am and just crank out work in my PJ's...message writing, service orders, writing music charts, making power points for messages, working on ezines, returning correspondence, follow up phone calls, yada yada, you name it. I sit there with toast and a cup of tea in my jammies and pretty much don't move from my phone or computer for usually about four or five hours until I can't stand it anymore and have to eat lunch or keel over. Today I not only ate lunch, I started my grapefruit bubble bath since Tammy suggested it. It was wonderful. Ah...the aroma!! I savored every second of it. It came at such a needed time because I had quite a few REALLY stressful situations to deal with today. But Tammy's advice combined with a few exhortations from Tara throughout the day were what I needed. Friends! What would I do without them?

Tomorrow will be the finishing touches on Unstoppable that I have to do at the office, then preach tomorrow night at church, then head to the Hilton. I'll be without my hubby for three nights, so he can look forward to our 4,162th honeymoon on Saturday night. :-) I say 4,162 because we are WAY beyond second honeymoons. We have had so many by now and just keep on havin' em. That's what a good marriage should be like, right? I think every week should be a honeymoon. I will miss him greatly although he'll be dropping in at Unstoppable throughout the conference, but the good news is, I get to be with Tara!!! We will have plenty of time to talk ourselves into oblivion as we're rooming together, but I'll also see so many other friends near and dear that mean the world to me. Can't wait, but I'm not quite ready yet...

Back to the drawing board...I have three more projects to finish today before I can call it a day. Then I'm going to enjoy my family since I'll be gone from home for a few days. I'll miss them. But Teeb will keep the home front going excellently as always.

Candidates kids should be off limits!!!

Should Palin's daughter's pregnancy change anything in the political landscape? No, no, no, a thousand times no. What's the news story here? The kid made a mistake, plain and simple. All our kids make mistakes, just some not so public and visible. Bristol Palin is not the candidate, her mother is.

I'm pretty sensitive to this because although on a much smaller (actually miniscule in comparison) scale, I've gone through it in the ministry. All pastors with kids have. Many times our children are singled out because of our position, when in reality it's not them that received or accepted the call to the ministry or the pastorate, it's us. While we in leadership are scrutinized and even criticized to a higher degree (and we learn to expect that as it comes with the territory) our kids shouldn't have to deal with it. Yet many expect more out of pastor's kids than other children. Everything they do is magnified, and truly, that is not right. I know my sisters in ministry who are reading this understand and know how important it is to protect our kids from this type of undue pressure. Should Bristol Palin have to face the consequences of her decision to have sex out of wedlock? Yes, and she is. However my point is, let her face those ramifications outside of the media spotlight. Leave the poor girl alone.

Regarding her mother, I've already read blogs that say, "Isn't this hypocritical? Doesn't Palin preach abstinence?" Yes, and I'm sure she still does. But although we raise our kids with the right values, sometimes they still make mistakes. They have this thing called free will, as much as it bothers me sometimes. (SMILE)

If anything I think this further solidifies that Palin lives what she preaches. She is strongly pro-life. Now not only has she gone through with having a Down's Syndrome child after having been told this while pregnant and give the option of abortion, but she, along with her husband, is also now helping her daughter navigate the difficult waters of a pregnancy out of wedlock. She's having to live "pro-life" when faced with the very real ramifications of it. She didn't sneak off with her daughter to get an abortion and "make this problem go away". Believe me, I unfortunately know for a fact that there are some Christians and even church leaders that have done that with their children when faced with this situation. Even with a high profile position, Palin did not fall into the trap of doing that. She did the Godly thing and is facing this issue head on. What's the scandal here? She's doing what any right thinking Christian would do.

Yes her daughter has made a mistake, a sin in fact. However, as parents we can impart to our children the truth of God's Word as best we can and then hope they follow it. When they do not there are consequences but it is not necessarily reflective of the way we have raised them.

Barack Obama made it clear early on in the process that his girls were off limits and aside from the DNC, they have been out of the spotlight. For the record, he's also said in a news conference today that he believes Bristol Palin should be off limits to the media. It's very admirable that he is not taking any shots at all at Palin over this and is handling it with the utmost of grace and integrity. I hope all Americans will take Obama's lead on this. I'm impressed with how he's handled it. Kudos to Obama and to Palin.