Tulip in the Thicket

How Long Has It Been?

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 21:40:00 +0000

It has been long enough that I may be starting over!

Malinowski, Jazz Listening Exercise #2

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 03:25:00 +0000

"Mother in the Graveyard" performed by Anna and Elizabeth

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 22:22:00 +0000

Sad, yet hopeful!

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:57:00 +0000

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:5-8

George Bailey Lassos Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 13:03:00 +0000

A scene from the 1946 Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life’ has run and rerun through my mind concerning this year’s election. I know it’s just a movie and 1946 was a long time ago, but when I fast forward to 2016, I consider how the vibe in America has changed. America now seems aggressively divided and fueled by an ideology that believes this division will make America great again! In one scene, our hero, George Bailey and his bride are leaving Bedford Falls to take a honeymoon, but while driving past his business, The Baily Brothers Building and Loan, he realizes there has been a run on the bank! Duty and honor compel him to forego his honeymoon and to intercede for the people. While George tries to gain control of his customers, Mary, his newlywed wife steps in to offer all of their honeymoon money! (George Bailey lassos money!) One by one, the customers request the amount they need. And they’re encouraged to take just enough to get by until the bank reopens. At one point, a customer comes in to announce Mr. Potter’s offer to pay .50 cents on the dollar! The people begin to flock up to take Potter’s bait, but George replies, “Can't you understand what's happening here? Don't you see what's happening? Potter isn't selling. Potter's buying! And why? Because we're panicky and he's not. That's why. He's pickin' up some bargain.” And then in the spirit of the times (1946, post WWll) George rallies the frenzied crowd by encouraging, “Now, we can get through this thing all right. We've, we've got to stick together, though. We've got to have faith in each other.” Imagine that.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:11:00 +0000

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, "nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Your steady, solid hope

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:09:00 +0000

"Your steady, solid hope [this morning] – and it is the only lasting hope – is that if you will trust Christ as your precious Savior and your supremely-valued King, then you will be folded into the love of God in a way that no terrorist, no torture, no demons, no disasters, no disease, no man, no microbe, no government, and no grave can destroy. That's the hope of this text. (Romans 8:35-39) That's the hope of the Christian life. It is not a political hope, or a military hope, or a financial hope, or a geographical hope, or a psychological hope, or an escapist hope. It is a blood-bought, Spirit-wrought, Christ-exalting, God-centered, fear-destroying, death-defeating hope." John Piper

The purpose of the cross

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:07:00 +0000

"The purpose of the cross was to bring together people from many nations, not to prioritize a single political state.

American adults might love to sing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and cheer about the Red, White and Blue around this time of year, but the children’s song about color holds true eternally: “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither American nor Pakistani (Galatians 3:28). Diverse ethnicity and sundry nationality finds spiritual unity in Him.” Josh Hayes

The American political system is not imperishable....

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 22:04:00 +0000

"The American political system is not imperishable.... American military CANNOT protect us from every destructive force. The financial future is NOT certain; You may lose all your investment. The midwest is NOT safe from the next kind of terrorist attack which may be more pervasive and more deadly. The pschycological efforts to feel competent and avoid regret are NOT healing, they’re fatal! And an eschatological scenario that promises your escape from the sufferings under the providence of God did not work for the Christians in the World Trade Center on Tuesday and it won’t work for you!" John Piper's reflections on terror and hope.

Rodney Mullen Video via Vogue 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 22:43:00 +0000

"Rodney Mullen, who three decades ago invented many of the tricks on which modern skateboarding is based, steps inside fashion photographer Steven Sebring’s revolutionary 360 studio for his first major release of footage in 12 years, including several never seen before moves. Watch the exclusive short film Liminal ":

Here's The Thing: A soul sort of diet / "The Weight" by Judy Collins and Ari Hest

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 20:20:00 +0000

"I will soak my soul

Let the river take control (the river take control)

I know it's not too late

to let go the weight, let go the weight."

Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 16:22:00 +0000

"This tenderness comes as a surprise

Drinking where the riverbed was dry

Trees in the wind tremble for love"

"Sometimes I feel I'm gonna give it up; Maybe someday, but not today!"

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:02:00 +0000

Sometimes the mountains seem too sorely high

So hand in hand we pray to God

Sometimes I feel I’m gonna give it up

Maybe one day, but not today.

Sometimes the island seems too far away

So hand in hand we pray to God

Sometimes I feel I’m gonna give it up

Maybe one day, but not today

Raging the storms of the warring times

He leaves me peace that is real

Sometimes I feel I’m gonna give it up

Maybe one day, but not today

"Making America Skate Again!"

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sun, 29 May 2016 13:29:00 +0000

"Making America Skate Again!"
Check out “The Skateboarder's Guide to the 2016 US Presidential Election”!
I use wheels to get around, so in some ways I identify with skateboarders. Sure, there are obvious differences in the design and function of a skateboard compared to a wheelchair! And I understand that identifying WITH a skateboarder is different than identifying AS a skateboarder. But skateboards and wheelchairs have this in common: Both run into obstacles. You don't have to be a skateboarder or use a wheelchair to understand that obstacles are common to everyone!

It's been said that in skateboarding, "an obstacle is any object that you can incorporate into a skateboarding trick”!
Skater, Rodney Mullen says, "The biggest obstacle to creativity is breaking through the barrier of disbelief."

"The Skateboarder's Guide to the 2016 Presidential Election” offers unique perspective, so I won't get my "ollie" in a "nollie" over it, but the section on "Disability" was surprising! I hope it wasn't designed to offend! I'll assume ignorance about the daily challenges of those who rely on wheels for mobility.

I continue to suspect “The Donald” of being a "poser", a "fakie", a "snake" flipping tricks and desiring high roller deals to make America "rad" again. Maybe I should be "stoked" about his insistence on a wild "wallride", but his wall could just as easily "slam", "bail" or "bomb a hill". Maybe I should be pleased that he’s his own "sponsor", but my "stance" is that his "drop-in" is "sketchy", and I’d rather not see him get any more gnarly "air" or continue his "Alley-oop"!
And that's my skater scoop!

“Skateboarder's Guide to the 2016 US Presidential Election”:http://www.jenkemmag.com/…/the-skateboarders-guide-to-the-…/

Oh Pep! The Race!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 19 May 2016 22:41:00 +0000

Thinking of Mom (Mother's Day comes again!)

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 05 May 2016 20:11:00 +0000

Dad and Mom 1980s

Mom was usually shy around the camera,

so this is a treasure!

She was comfortable in her kitchen

and she liked serving her family!

Mom, Grandma and I had taken a short vacation to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

I was pregnant with Tabitha, feeling hormonal and emotional.

My mom, my friend... I miss her so.

The world is covered by our trails...

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 19:54:00 +0000

The world is covered by our trails
Scars we cover up with paint
Watch them preach in sour lies
I would rather see this world through the eyes of a child
Through the eyes of a child

Darker times will come and go
Times you need to see her smile
And mothers hands are warm and mild
I would rather feel this world through the skin of a child
Through the skin of a child

When a human strokes your skin
That is when you let them in
Let them in before they go
I would rather feel alive with a childlike soul
With a childlike soul

The Devil's Toy-1966 Canadian Skateboard Film from 1966

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 18:44:00 +0000

Skateboarding History from a Canadian film with an ominous and humorous beginning and a smooth and jazzy ending:

The Devil's Toy by Claude Jutra, National Film Board of Canada

Ode To April Fools

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 19:36:00 +0000

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself a fool."

— William Shakespeare

Music Muse: Aurora sings "Warrior"

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:52:00 +0000

I'm reminded of Zephaniah 3:17:
"The Lord your God is in your midst:
A Warrior who saves!
He will renew you in His love.
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy!"

Good To Me

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:45:00 +0000

Right Wing rant has a way of unsettling sheep.

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:39:00 +0000

Christian re-constructionist Kevin Swanson says, "America needs time to repent."
I cringe at the unorthodox notion that a nation's repentance is even possible!
Why do the scribes and Pharisees come to mind!?

Jesus died and rose from the dead not for the purpose of establishing a Christian political nation on earth, but to redeem His people for heavenly bliss.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." John 5:24

Link to Kevin Swanson's confounded rant:http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/kevin-swanson-no-death-penalty-gays-until-they-have-time-repent

La La La

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 21:26:00 +0000

Aurora

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 15:57:00 +0000

Street Skate Spain

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:50:00 +0000