Life Happenings, Picture Links, I Watched Oprah & Last Bit about Paul

Been staying fairly busy lately. Last Saturday we celebrated my dad's birthday at my brother's house.  Some of us took a walk and posed for some crazy pictures near the lake.   I went out with my dad, sister and Michael on Monday and my dad bought me and my sister new tennis shoes.  You can see mine on my foot here if you want. I know not everyone is into shoe pictures.  I generally don't take pictures of my clothes or shoes, but these are hot pink and a bit different from the kind I typically wear.  Thus, a picture is called for.   :)

Today I returned some library books and got three others.  The one I started discusses some history from the time Islam was formed. It promises to not focus on the bad aspects or the good aspects, but to be balanced. The author rightly said he grew up hearing one side so he wanted to learn the other. He said showing only the bad - as is often done in the United States media - is only giving part of the story.  But he also said showcasing only the good is inaccurate. I'll see if I learn some interesting tidbits from him that are worthy enough to share.  Let me go get the book so I can remember the author's name. 

*wanders off to find the book*

It's called Peace Be Upon You and it promises "The Story of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Coexistence" by Zachary Karabell.

Anyone who knows me well, knows I am not a movie person. I would much rather waste my life on the computer or reading a book than sitting in front of the TV or a movie screen.  That said, I did enjoy The Sound of Music when I was a kid and today I watched Oprah because she had the original cast together as they celebrate 45 years since the movie came out. Mind you, I was not around to see it fresh off the screen, but still The Sound of Music and I go waaaay back.   It was interesting to see how grown up the cast looked now.  Hehehe.  In case you didn't know and cared....Christopher Plummer was 34, Julie Andrews 28 and the girl who played Liesl was 21 when the movie was filmed in Austria.  I would not have known it was on except that I called my mom at 4 and she told me. So I ended up watching Oprah today.



I know, I know..the excitement never ends.

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Here is the last little bit from the book I just finished about Paul that I wanted to note.



"Religion took over the legacy of Paul as it did that of Jesus -- because they both opposed it.  They said that the worship of God is a matter of interior love, not based on external observances, on temples or churches, on hierarchies or priesthoods.  Both were at odds with those who impose the burdens of 'religion' and punish those who try to escape them.  They were radical egalitarians, though in ways that delved below and soared above conventional politics. They were on the side of the poor, and saw through the rich.  They saw only two basic moral duties, love of God and love of the neighbor. Both were liberators, not imprisoners - so they were imprisoned. So they were killed. Paul meant what Jesus meant, that love is the only law.  Paul's message to us is not one of guilt and dark constraint." 

It is this:

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.


Philippians 4

pg. 175, What Paul Meant by Garry Wills