Daily Mug Shot :: Newspring

Good Morning Monkey's ~

for a limited time only...I am the Daily Mug Shot!...but only because Nick Charalambous asked me to document the impact that Newspring Church in South Carolina & on the internet has had on my life over the last year. The view of one's self from an extended arm with a , flip camera facing in doesn't really do it justice...unless I'm considering running to the salon for bangs or a the nearest botox injection....

I'm a follower for the "Cause of Chirst" inspired by, and led over the last year by a group of amazing folks on a screen who I've never sat in a room with or ever shared a meal. Yet, their impact and dedication to reaching others & "making Jesus famous" really can not be measured this side of Heaven.

Never underestimate the power of 140 characters through a tweet, twitter ...that's how I landed in the web service as "givelovecoffee" interacting with folks from all other the world in a chatroom alongside a message given on a stage in South Carolina. WHAT...RELLY church online!
You bet'cha and don't knock it...til you see others come to Christ right before your eyes...:90 minutes of a life revealed, led and surrendered to Jesus one at a time "never gets old"

Impersonal, really, I beg your Southern pardon! Screens and keyborads, fingers dance, hearts open and pour out pain, victory and encouragement. The connnections don't end on Sunday...or Tuesday, they "just begin" their/there. The webservice is not for whimps! more conversation takes place, lifes are transformed and we are just beginning to know the impact of the efforts to share the Love of Christ online & off by one anothering.

So gather around the screen this Christmas invite others, turn it up, plug in & connect......and I promise I won't say "I told you so". Newspring

Merry Christmas
love
@givelovecoffee

Daily Mug Shot

Can't believe it's been since September since I have posted to the blog....gearing up to bless others with the monkey for the holidays. Over the last several monthes Moon Monkey has become a family business our family farm....holding others, holding dreams & mugs of love! It's amazing what the Lord will do in your life if you just hold on & wait on him to move. The picture above is one of my favorite people Kim behind the Espresso bar of our orginal location on Main Street in Bourbonnais. Life Happens over coffee lean & learn from the edge of every opportunity.

Daily Mug Shot

Lost/Found

Recently I discovered that I had lost my wedding ring. I know, that sounds horrible. How can you loose your wedding ring and not know about it? All I can say is I have 4 little kids, am in school full time and work 25 hours a week! I do things like that.I have misplaced my wedding ring many times before. I'll take it off to do dishes or for bedtime and haphazardly lay it somewhere - the dresser, bathroom sink, kitchen windowsill, the computer desk.Times before when I lost it I would just "keep my eye out" for it and it would usually appear within a few hours. When I realized it hadn't appeared in 3 days I began to be concerned. I played over the last time I remembered seeing it...Friday night when I showed it to our baby sitter's mom. Did I put it back on? Set it on the dresser? I really couldn't remember.Finally on Monday night the search turned official. I was determined to find my ring! Beginning casually ... I organized the computer desk. No luck. When I laid my 2 year old down I pulled out her toddler bed and prayed I didn't find it there ... I didn't.I pulled out the flashlight and looked under the stove and fridge ... I wasn't brave enough to venture into what I saw. I pulled apart our furniture ... I even cut a small hole in our couch and chair to pull loose items that were otherwise unreachable. I found game pieces, tinker toys, Runts, and a word search book, but no ring.In desperation I looked through my dirty clothes pile hoping it would fall out ... 6 cents did, but no ring. At the bottom of the pile was the jeans I wore that weekend. My mind full of doubt, I reached into the pocket ... and pulled out ... my ring. Safe all along, just waiting for me to pull it out and return it to its rightful home ... my left ring finger.We're all have lost things in our lives. Old relationships, dreams we have set aside, a courageous choice God asked us to make long ago, a New Years Resolution. How long will it need to be missing before our search turns into all out panic and for once we are willing to lay aside everything else until you can proclaim "The lost has been found?(Guest blog post by Abbie Mantor, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. http://www.abbiemantor.blogspot.com/)

Daily Mug Shot

I have always enjoyed classical literature. There is just something richer about a book written during the print era (before the radio, television, or internet). Back when the written word ruled, authors mastered the art of description and plot development.

As great as these old novels are, I rarely have time to sit down and enjoy a good book. Casual reading falls victim to juggling kid schedules and laundry. While commuting to work last year I discovered the Classic Tales Podcast.

Created by the very talented BJ Harrison, the Classic Tales Podcast brings great short stories from the past to life – in a mobile format. Each Friday a new, unabridged story is available as well as full-length stories for purchase (such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Treasure Island). BJ doesn’t merely read the stories, he performs them. He brilliantly develops each character, bringing out their personalities and emotions.

Now as you are running errands, cleaning your house, or just relaxing you can allow the classics to “awaken your better self,” as BJ puts it. Take a listen and let me know what you think!

(Guest blog post by Abbie Mantor, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. http://www.abbiemantor.blogspot.com/)

Daily Mug Shot

"believe in this life" taken by Kary Shay spray painted
ground zero on 9/11

celebrating my seven- year itch to my beloved Michael on 09 20 09. giving hope to staying married despite the up's & downs...and giving hope to those without clean water $20 dollars @ a time. http://www.mycharitywater.org/

this is significant for me because as I'm struggling to put up fences and boundaries in many areas in my life personally. One of those areas is in the way of "spending". On any given year of our anniversary I would spend $500 plus dollars creating an experience to celebrate our anniversary together by booking overnight stay @ an expensive hotel, lavish dinner etc. While enjoyed. Neither Michael or I have the $$$ to do that this year. We are in counseling struggleing to stay committed to each other in marriage. It's working! We are "mending" fences.

Why would I post such a personal subject on my "company blog" Moon Monkey Coffee Company....because Moon Monkey is one of my favorite things aside from my (2) children he gave me Nicole & Benjamin. The Monkey turns 5 in just a few days...has taken it's toll on our 7 year marriage...but it was a gift from Michael!

So this year, join us in celebrating our 7 year itch!~ committed to staying married...& giving hope to others $20 dollars @ a time on 092009 by donating to "clean water"

What's the bull dog got to do with it? well, with dog-like determination...anything is possible....this bull dog was on the back of a motorcycle on Michael & I's last trip to Nashville so with Dog like determination and DOG spelled backwards..."GOD" we are staying married! & providing living water....for both our marriage $20.00 at a time and giving hope to those without clean water!

092009 our 7 year itch!~

http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/09/18/15-ways-to-destroy-your-marriage/
Don't miss Sunday's webcampus Service 092009

Mug Shot

If I were a little better at science I would become a CSI, just like on TV. My days would include searching out clues and catching criminals! But, alas, I’m but a student of the bible. But what if the bible was my “crime scene” and good interpretation was my goal? Wouldn’t the bible become much more interesting when approached as a great mystery to be solved?

Methodical Bible Study by Dr. Robert Traina portrays the bible as just that – a mystery in need of great detectives (Horatio Caine sunglasses & Hummer optional). A CSI would never approach a crime scene haphazardly, hoping the clues would just jump out at them. Real investigators bring the right tools and carefully scan the scene in a methodical approach – to avoid missing even the smallest piece of evidence.

Studying the bible should be done in the same way.

Dr. Traina lays out a thorough 4-step approach to help avoid missing any of the clues in the bible. The book is written for students of biblical study, but there is much to be learned for all readers.

1.) Observation – As you are reading a book of the bible, or section, make note of every detail you can find – even the obvious. When you are done observing the passage, observe some more. The details you uncover will amaze you! Some key things to look for include: context, relationship between words, literary forms (think back to middle school English), and atmosphere.

2.) Interpretation – This step involves determining the meaning and importance of all the details you collected. Think of it as taking the evidence back to the lab. This step can become a long, drawn-out process (sorry, no short one hour episodes here). It includes discovering the basic meaning of the evidence collected, the reasons those clues were placed in the passage, and what those clues imply about the passage as a whole.

A very important part of interpretation is to put yourself in the shoes of the author. Who were they writing to? Why were they writing? What was going on around them politically, socially, and culturally? Many clues can be taken from the text, but sometimes outside resources will be needed for full understanding. Just make sure to START with the actual text and utilize it as the MAIN source of evidence.

3.)Evaluation and Application – During this phase of study, the reader determines the value of a particular passage, not based on their own opinion, but based on the facts they have gathered. The reader must also ask if the passage is applicable to contemporary life. Some passages were written to a specific audience for specific purposes and are not applicable (consider the dietary laws of the Old Testament), but others are timeless truths to be applied.

4.) Correlation – the final step is really an on-going step. To further the CSI analogy, this is cataloguing all of the cases you have investigated to enhance future cases. Keep a journal or blog of your insights so that as you study other passages you can make connections throughout the bible.

This isn’t an approach to read through the bible in a year and it’s not a process that will ever be completed, but let me know how it’s going. What amazing insights is God revealing to you as you methodically investigate His word?

(Guest blog post by Abbie Mantor, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. http://www.abbiemantor.blogspot.com/)

Daily Mug Shot :: Andy Stanley

PRINCIPLE OF THE PATH ANDY STANLEY

Summary: PRINCIPLE OF THE PATH by Andy Stanley is book about the heart of each person’s path and the principle that operates within a life. Here’s the principle: Direction- not intention- determines destination. The gist of the book can be found in this except taken from page 3 of PRINCIPLE OF THE PATH

…”this is a principle because it isn’t a rule you follow. Truth is, the principle of the path follows you. It’s not a law. You can break a law. But the principle of the path has the power to break you. It is not an idea or concept you choose to apply. As we discover, it is being applied to you every moment of everyday.

Reaction:

PRINCIPLE OF THE PATH by Andy Stanley, should not be read if you do not want to challenge the status quo in your life…or perhaps revisit past decisions in your life…that you never intended to make… rather the path make them for you. Principle was challenging @ best to read as a 40 something who never intended many things that now shape my life. However, it is full of outstanding examples, personal observations from Andy’s life & rich with biblical truth along with a study guide. These examples, observations, and biblical truth offer hope for the future and make the case to “pay attention to the path you intend for your life.

Personal reflections in the margin: (I often write in margin of books as I read here are some of them)

Decisions made with reckless abandon in your youth lead to regret & path you never intended to follow.

Prayer: Lord help me to choose the divine direction to leverage choice as an advantage: a path that leads to the life you died for me to have…

This book is a must read regardless of your age and where you find yourself on the path of life!