Holiness Manifesto

'The Holiness Manifesto', from in the current issue of Christianity Today Is an interesting read. It is a re-statement of the Wesleyan Doctrine of Holiness that has been released by the working participants of the Wesleyan Holiness Study Project. This group of theologians includes Salvationists who also serve on our international doctrine council, Lt. Colonel Lyell Rader, Dr. Roger Green and Dr. Jonathon Raymond, and are all committed to addressing the need for the clear and compelling articulation of the message of holiness in our churches today.

A quote from it that stood out to me was :
"Holy people are not legalistic or judgmental. They do not pursue an exclusive, private state of being better than others. Holiness is not flawlessness but the fulfillment of God's intention for us. The pursuit of holiness can never cease because love can never be exhausted. God wants us to be, think, speak, and act in the world in a Christ-like manner."

The whole article is worth the read! Let me know what you think...

Vacation Photos

I just uploaded some photos from our vacation on Flicker.

Take a moment to share the cruise with us!

reflections of vacation

We can ride upon indigo seas
To islands colored emerald green.
Where warm sun rays kiss our skin
Where soft sea breezes stir within
Where waves carve caves and soften rocks.
Where reality fades, imaginations spark

We can dance beneath with fish in schools
And touch the stars that lay in pools
Where little turtles swim on by
Where sting rays look as if they fly
Where translucent jelly fish bob and float
Where people smile and never gloat

We can soar on motors over hills
Racing friends and seeking thrills
Where women hold on with all their might
Where men set hearts on higher sights
Where a thousand butterflies live on a farm
Where friends can laugh and memories form.

Vacations are a gift from God
His beauty shared, we stand in awe
From the sunrises to the sunsets
From the warm blue skies and the ocean depths
To think that all my eyes drank in
Was imagined,
Was created ……all by Him.

Vacation

I am going on vacation for 10 days. Snorkeling, sun bathing, adventures await me! My in-laws are at my house ready to watch the girls. I have bought my flip flops, suntan lotion and my husband has our passports! Will you forgive me if I do not update for awhile? We sail out of New York harbor as pictured above and will travel to the eastern Caribbean.

FOOTLOOSE!

Sequence of events:

Mhairi born in 1983
Footloose movie premiered in 1984
Carole graduated High School in 1985

I am going this Friday to a high school performance of FOOTLOOSE the musical. A friend of mine is in the musical and I am very excited to see her perform. I saw the move when it premiered in 1984! I was in High School at the time. So the idea of now watching a High School play that was in the movies when I was in High School has made me feel a little….shall we say uncomfortable! ;)
When I discussed this with my lovely Scottish friend Mhairi she said “those were great years the 80’s!”, seeing as she was born then!
Add in the fact that on Sunday I will be one year closer to a new decade (not in the new decade.... just closer!) and you can see where I am going with this!

Looking up

I saw two men today standing at a bus stop. Both of the men were wearing suits, warm coats, winter hats and gloves. They were both waiting for the bus into New York City. One looked impatiently up the street in the direction the bus would arrive and the other one was looking up. I only saw them for a moment because I was driving past them in my mini van. But in that moment I saw something that made me smile. The man, who was looking up, had a glint in his eye and a grin on his face. It had just started to snow and the flakes were big and fluffy. It was cold but instead of becoming miserable and impatient…..he looked up and watched the snow flakes fall. He looked like a kid and I imagined him wishing he could catch the snow flakes on his tongue! He was enjoying the moment and it made me smile.
As I continued down the road to my destination, I thought of the two men and the lesson of perspective. Both at the same spot in life, both with the same circumstances yet one was impatient longing for something better to come along and the other found something beautiful right where he was waiting.
Perspective is powerful!