Davids' Homage to Squares

This is a fun photo for me.... I took it at a clients home and was thrilled to see it used in the staging process.

Renaissances' Michelangelo 'face of David' gazing at Modernist Josep Albers: Homage to the Square. Hmm! What would your caption say?

Photo by: Chandra Brown
'mind- boggling simple'

Click the below articles for more art fun

David

Josep Albers

The Humbling Continues....

This is my prayer for you from the bottom of my heart with no strings attached and may the clarity of the purity I want to convey in it shine through any misperceptions that want to attach their filters to it.

My Prayer

May you always know who you are in Christ and live in that truth to the fullest. May the autonomy of living in Christ protect your heart and give you the strength to withstand when anything outside Jesus tries to conform you, control you or manipulate you to that standard, whether intentions be from the source of what seems good or from ignorance.

May you find joy in following God's purpose for your life without the shackles of expectation from others. May you understand the only voice you obey is the Holy Spirit. Let God define you, let God shape and mold you and through it all may you remain humble.

Ask those bold questions, let your light shine, don't be afraid to be YOU. Be willing to make mistakes but always be ready to correct when they are made and keep moving forward. Know the value in truly being sorry and saying it when you know you were wrong, even partially wrong. It has healing abilities that far exceed therapy, addictions, or the perpetual cycle of sadness. Saying the word 'sorry' and truly meaning it is far more valuable than personal affirmations or material gifts. It is the truest act of kindness. It is the only bridge maker in relationships when there is chasm. Verbally saying these words is a humbling act that opens the doors of forgiveness wide. Even if the receiver of those words doesn't fully accept, do it anyway, for yourself.

Put yourself out there for the world to behold, through your talents may they see God's handiwork and give Him glory for it.

It's OK to be silly, to dance, to sing, to get messy, to make mistakes. Value people above things, be willing to give the 'shirt' off your back to those less fortunate. Plan for those big ideas, dreams and things you do want and enjoy the benefits when you reach the goal. Love working hard but love playing too.

May you always find balance in your life through your relationships. First, God, then family, then friends. When you need advice seek those three in that order and then trust yourself for the final decision. May you understand the dynamics of communication without fear, assumption or judgment but in the full operation of openness, patience and love.

May you always be soft and moldable in the presence of God and may that shine through your countenance and actions. When you are soft and moldable in His presence, you come out with an unbendable strength against anything that is not of Him.

My prayer for you is to live abundantly in Christ and share His shaping of you with others so they can rejoice with you as you become exactly what He meant you to be.

All my Love,
Chandra

GALATIONS= FREEDOM... don't let anyone diminish what you have in Christ.

Have a 'Punny' Christmas

Get ready to groan, moan and sigh at this lame gift attempt to make you laugh, let loose and giggle. At least the traditional family care package has a little more flare than just sending the items wrapped in paper.

Ok, I admit I probably had more fun making these puns for the Christmas gifts than the receivers will have opening them but hey, my intentions are all bound up in the joys of giving. I had a blast and I hope my sweet friends and family will at the minimum break a smile at my feeble attempt to make a small offering bigger than what it is. I made it somewhat of a game to add to the fun.

So, without further malarkey, I present to you...

The How To Have 'Pun' On Christmas Care Package

Materials:

1. Scissors
2. Paper
3. Tape
4. Glue
5. Hole punch
6. Markers
7. 'Punny' Words to manipulate to your hearts content
8. Items to match the word puns
9. Tissue paper
10. Box for sending the 'pun' to your friends and family

'Let the Pun Begin'
By Chandra Brown

NOTE: I showed the front and back of the card. (It's just one card you'll use)

The Christmas Card

Cheese

Nuts

Latte

Money

Company Marketing Quip: RefreshIt, Fresh Water Bidet

MEMO

Posted by: Betty Bidet, Head of Sales

December 3, 2016

MEMO: You Can Sell ANYTHING! Encouragement for those behind in Sales

Dear Sale Representatives,

I understand the all encompassing concerns for the promotion of our product. I saw many of you inching towards the back door as we discussed the sales goals and product qualities in our last meeting. The following is an article we published in consumer reports to help our latest money maker gain ground in the market as we do not want to be back sided and in arrears over this new product launch. Read it and use the information to help you on the sales floor. No objection is too strong for you! Our product will 'tukhus' to the next level. Remember, Christmas bonuses hang in the balance and I'm routing for you.

Sincerely,

Betty

ARTICLE: RefreshIt For The Fundaments Of Your Family, by: Fanny Applebottom, Consumer Reports, December 1, 2016. Reprinted with permission.

RefreshIt For The Fundaments Of Your Family

Are you privy to the latest addition to the comfort station? Do you need to spruce up your oval office?     This product will help you take command of your lavatory. Quick, easy installation will send you on your way to derriere heaven. Just sit back, dial in your specific setting at your pleasure and let RefreshIt do the dirty work. If you need a little nudge in the morning, just RefreshIt, a cool spritz will do. For best results, use full measure. 

For a nominal price of 38.99, you can own the luxury of a traditional bidet without the needed extra space and back breaking installation. With a savings of a couple hundred dollars and the fact you do not need to move from one commode to another is priceless. Not only will you save on time and effort, you will literally be pirating the booty on toilet roll consumption.  Just think about those with young children in potty training, RefreshIt will make going to the loo a sought reward, speeding the process to success. 

Isn't it time to high tail it to your local handy store and revel in the callipygian savings? Don't be a donk and miss out on this revolutionary product your family will be sure to thank you for later. In fact, we are so confident you won't regret this purchase, we bet you'll be slapping your haunches and think to yourself, "Why didn't I do this sooner?" 

COMMENTS (12)

Hillary Duff 2 days ago

"I'm so bummed I didn't have this product in my washroom sooner."

Joe Plumber 1 day ago

"RefreshIt has given my plumber's crack a whole new outlook on life."

Booteus Maximus 15 hours ago

"Does it come with a cheek spreader?"

         (comment may need modification)

Cheekie 14 hours ago

"I had a crappy experience!"

     reply Fanny: "Should I be sorry or happy for you?"

Shootie Patootie 13 hours ago

"There was no more junk on my trunk!"

Soggy Biscuits 13 hours ago

"Not a happy camper! My buns got swamped."

     reply Fanny: "Umm, that's the point. Did you read the user's manual?"

Blue Moon 10 hours ago

"Talk about shooting the moon. WOWZA! The top setting on this thing strip mined my arse."

     reply Cool Keister: " Hey, Blue Moon! 'A nudge' from the 'cool spritz' was more like a fire hose      supplied by the Arctic Ocean.

     reply Blue Moon: "Hey, Cool Keister... LMAO!"

Happy Heinie 9 hours ago

"Now that I've got my RefreshIt, I don't need my morning coffee fix."

RefreshIt Command Station
Photo by: Chandra Brown

FOR FUN: How many 'BUTT' references can you find in this silly post?

A Humbling

The only way I know how to write about this is from the heart. It won't make sense to everyone and that is fine. The Lord has been extremely active in the molding and shaping of my heart lately it is almost too hard to keep it all straight. I do like to journal about the things He teaches me so I can look back in remembrance and be thankful. So here is my feeble attempt to keep events clear.

I must give a little personal background so the telling of recent happenings makes sense. I have always been somewhat of an outsider. The girl looking through the window, observing, taking notes, applying what I see if it is worthy and good and rejecting what I believe to be wrong and full of holes. I enjoy alone time and reflection so I can gather my thoughts about a subject. I've never been the cookie cutter girl who follows the crowd.  I definitely live life to the beat of my own drum but know the dangers of being too independent and have always kept strong, authority figures I respect in my realm of vision to keep me balanced.  I'm not a supporter of institutions or any of the sorority social clubs. I like getting down to the root of an issue and love blunt answers to questions. I'm not a girl who needs decorum, pomp and circumstance or ceremonial tradition to understand principles.

Being Chandra over my life span has helped labels stick to me that don't necessarily match my personality.  It has not been uncommon for new people in my life after getting to know me admit, "I thought you were aloof, but your just a quiet person who is really nice" or I thought you were a snob but you are not even close."

I've heard it enough that I actually sigh and can laugh. I'm pretty comfortable with who I am although it can still be hard when others' perception of you casts a light that isn't true over your identity. I recently had someone say after my character went through a mini onslaught that ruffled me more than it should have, "Chandra, you have to be careful of how your perceived."

I thought about that statement long and hard. How can I help how others view me from the outside when they don't really take the time to listen and get to know me or have a log so big in their eye they view me through that instead of taking the log out and viewing me that way. Not my problem. I can never help how others view me, it is an outside variable I can not control. (And this works vice versa, I too, have to be careful I do not judge unjustly) God also gave me Psalms 69 as my vindication and comfort.

Jesus was misunderstood, perceived incorrectly throughout His entire life.  His family at one time thought He was crazy, His disciples didn't fully realize what He meant when He spoke truth until much later in their lives. The world certainly got Jesus wrong and still does.

That's when God told me to love and view others through the lens of HIM. He said, since you know how it feels to be misunderstood, thought of in incorrect ways, you know how I feel.

Oh what a struggle this is for fallen humans. I told God, I am not perfect like you.  I can't see others like you do without YOU doing it for me. I am WEAK! (In my weakness, HE is made strong, to show HIS glory.)

So what does God have me do.... He told me to go to the institution that can hold many misperceptions, can be a foothold for deceptions and stagnancy, can be fraught with error whether intentional or not. He told me to go to Church. The building where people on many levels of walking with Him go to seek Him. Where people are not perfect, where people are real or fake in their pursuit or lack thereof of God. He sent me to the place I could judge harshly, I could scrutinize from the outside, where I could pick apart to the last detail and told me to humble myself in the assembly where others feared Him. (Psalms 22:25).The institutional church is where He wants to help me put on His lens of how to love people.  Imperfect people, just like me.

The Temple

Jesus in fact, didn't abandon the Temple but was sent there by God for various purposes. He was found at the Temple when his parents lost him as a boy (Luke 2:41-51). He got mad at the misuse of the Temple in Matthew 21:12. Paul cleansed himself through a ceremonial tradition in the Temple (Acts 21:26) Yes, I know the arguments on if Paul should have done this or not... I do not question it and think Paul's heart was in accordance with what God wanted Him to do.

I look at the Old Testament and see the plan given by God for the construction of the Temple. The time, effort, cost that went into the House of the Lord. The Dedication ceremony given by Solomon was astounding in the feat to get the celebration and sacrifices in order.  (I Kings 8) It took many people and several days to accomplish this. It took an assembly of like minded people working together to accomplish the goal. Their service, rubbing elbows and making sweat for the House of the Lord was in fact, a community activity, one they found joy in.

On the principle of the matter, I know we do not need a building, props, sound systems to have church. Church can happen in a house, it can be in passing for a few seconds or during the day at work in the midst of a conversation. The Holy Spirit has no bounds and as believers who are part of a body scattered throughout the land, having church is when we obey the promptings of the Spirit no matter where we are. On the flip side of the coin, Church can also happen in a building, with props, sound systems and a gathering of that scattered body in one place where individuals can come to rejuvenate, repair, give thanks and praise amongst those who are like minded.

The fact is, the church is imperfect, it's made up of imperfect people. Does it matter if some are there for dating, some are there for social purposes or business connections. These are all perceptions that may or may not be true but are to be left up to the Holy Spirit to work with not for us to get hung up on.

The church will always be imperfect because people are imperfect. God does care and wants us to mature and grow. That is what the New Testament is all about. The church figuring out, through relationship with God how to love each other as the babes in Christ learn and grow, how the mature can lead those babes in Christ through life examples and how leadership can teach the truth in love to correct and edify as the world's ways are sloughed off. The church is a bunch of individuals running the race side by side towards the goal of eternity. Sometimes that race involves rough spots, bruises, failures and re-starts. Where else can individuals go to patch-up, gain strength and keep going spiritually but in a body called the church.

Paul's love for the church is astounding. It is a fact, that God gave him a special love for those imperfect people he once used to persecute. He was an outsider, who knew the Word of God and Jewish custom by heart (Pharisee - Philippians 3:4-8), more than a bit religious. God took his background of knowledge, removed his spiritual blindness through a temporary physical blinding and equipped his heart for the service of the people (church).  I'm pretty certain God gave him an extra dose of love because the following part of his life after meeting Jesus was not one would plan for themselves.

Paul had his work cut out for him, correcting, admonishing, teaching, getting beat-up, threatened etc. I'm sure he had hushed scandalous talk follow him from city to city. I can hear it now, the perceptions and misunderstandings surrounding his presence, "Isn't he the Christian murderer?" "I bet he's made up this ruse of loving the Christians to get close and kill them, he can't be trusted." (Ananias certainly had to trust God's word about Paul and love him through this event in his life) Ananias probably got a ration of accusations too, "He hangs out with that guy?" (what a friend)

So here it is, I understand misperceptions and how that can effect the soul and it isn't easy. I understand following God instead of man can get you put in a corner with man because they don't fully understand what is happening. I fully trust God and where He leads me. If he leads me into an institutional church where pitfalls and imperfections will certainly be there (we are human) (whether it is for a season or longer), I am willing to be misunderstood for the benefit of what God has in store for my heart.

I Peter 5:6
(Thanks Dad for giving this verse to me at the right time)


John 14:27 is such a comfort...

This Article explains beautifully why I don't think Paul was out of the will of God when he ritually purified himself at the temple...

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/699-did-paul-sin-in-submitting-to-the-temple-ritual

The Substitute

Fake, additives, derivatives, fillers, enhancers, substitutes. Oh, the adulteration of things pure. The less than real is found in our food, beauty and social culture. There are full-time jobs, careers and research labs associated with the world of the fake. Faux is the new true.

Take a moment to think about the products and food found in your home. Look at those labels and do a quick tally of things unreal. I think you'd find a very high percentage of your daily living has been touched by the false fairy. OK, let's not think about that too much, one could go a little batty with all the unnatural ways we get through life.

The fact is, it's a part of us. Our human nature just can't help it. I'll even go as far to say true purity is just too much for the make up of man. Well, I'm getting ahead of myself again, I better start to get to my real thoughts before the tangent monster takes me on another adventure.

I believe we all have within us an innate sense to get back to Eden. We just know that things in the world just aren't the way they should be. We start off strong in our attempts to nobly hold onto the innocence we seem to understand in childhood only to find ourselves in a tangled up mess of half-truths, deceit and compromises.  Life is tough in this faux, faux world.

Pseudo Spirituality

I was reading Judges 17 and 18 and the topic of idols jutted out at me as something that needed to be added to the long list of fake things we battle in this world. As I read further I realized the times were not much different than what we experience now. It was said that the people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6). Essentially the blind leading the blind.  The story shows a man in his feeble attempts ended up choosing the fake, the dead, the non-life giving substitute in place of reality.

The story begins with (I assume a middle aged man) named Micah stealing silver from his own Mother. He over hears her anger over the trespass and decides to give it back to her.  She then blesses her son and asks that the silver be made into two idols no doubt as a sign of piety. Micah even goes to the extent to try and be accurate by recreating the ephod. Micah then sets his son up as the priest of the household.

Maybe things weren't going too well with the son being the priest because along comes a 'gypsy' Levite (Levites were the tribe chosen by God to be His representatives - The priestly tribe) and Micah seeing his credentials, offers him room and board along with an annual salary for his priestly services. They get along really well and Micah thinks of him as a son.

Explorers from the Danite tribe come across Micah's house and find the idols and the priest. They figure why not ask the man of God if they will be successful in their quest to take over the land they are seeking. The priest says, 'Yes, they will accomplish their goal.'

Word travels fast. Six hundred warriors show up at Micah's house from the Danite tribe and they persuade the priest that overseeing a clan was better than a household. They secretly bagged the idols and left to raze the city of Laish, whose people were peaceful and kept to themselves. Micah pursues the warriors in order to try and retrieve his idols and his priest but went back home empty-handed. The Danites then took over the city and set up the idols that were once Micah's.

This story made me ask so many questions? Why did the Danites have to war against a peaceful city, couldn't they have built their own city especially with 600 strong warriors? It sure seems that the Levite priest was in it for the perks, why didn't he tell Micah to get rid of the idols and start worshiping God? He so willingly followed the clan and didn't even tell Micah he was leaving, he didn't seem too concerned about the spiritual welfare of Micah and his household.

garnetppl:Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Mica

The story of Micah just seems to go from bad to worse. Anytime I read it I always think of the sheet silicate mineral we call Mica and how easily it flakes and crumbles. Under a time of 'do whatever floats your boat' and man living on his own whims; searching for truth in anything other than the true source just causes our life to fall apart.

Micah is a great picture of man's search for God in religious traditions and focusing on the superficial outward rules. I strongly believe Micah even made his priest his idol. What Micah had was a package deal. He had pretty, expensive items along with a human figure head to make his attempts to look and feel righteous seem like a reality.

The Substitute

The word 'idol' gives off an ancient vibe as if those things don't exist anymore. They are just relics we read about, in fact, we know they are just statues. How easily we forget the word 'idol' also consists of ANYTHING that takes the place of God.  With that extended definition, I think it makes the term quite modern and up-to-date.  Idols now can be related in terms of: money, husbands, wives, kids, friends, careers, the self, hobbies. OUCH! Too close to home.

Idolatry and priorities when working in a symbiotic relationship cause havoc on our relationship with God and other people. The minute we get our priorities straight and keep God as our focus, the potential idols in our lives take the proper role, time and energy necessary for balanced living (John 7:38). Let's face it, anything that takes first place on our priority list other than God is a substitute, one that won't fulfill.

Idols don't offer anything and they don't deliver on any promises, or if we substitute people in the place of God our expectations of them will never measure up and cause us to be disappointed and angry.

Our substitutes are dead ends, yet we create them, we hold on to them, we spend our time, effort and money on them. We become emotionally attached to these dead icons and end up empty handed and not understanding why, just like Micah.

Quintessence

This is where I get a little teary eyed and my heart finds that small sliver of Eden staring back at my soul in the form of hope. Hope in the reality of God extending himself through all the universe and time to be the purity we search for while we live out the life sentence of a fallen world full of distracting substitutes.

The inerrant Word of God tells the story of God's intervention in mans' mistakes with the end result of good thwarting harm, God's name being glorified and man coming out smelling like a rose when he probably should smell a little more like a titan arum flower (corpse flower).  He offers that to all of us through the pages of time. We just have to make Him our priority. Every day!

My struggle to try to be close to God, please Him and allow Him to make my life straight has been a journey I can relate to 'a camel passing through a needle'. (Mat. 19:24). It is a narrow road (Mat. 7:14) that I can only stay on by relying on My savior, Jesus. I can truly say, because of His purity and His sacrifice, I am lucky enough to be washed clean and experience what real life is. I have not arrived and still experience encounters with the 'fake' but know that when that occurs, I've got the pure source for what is right, good and beneficial for my growth, JESUS!

Thank you Lord for your example of Purity, only found in Your Son! (John 14:6)



This Sermon SAYS IT ALL

My Man Gave Me Fresh Cut Flowers

The simple joys in life are found in flowers...

I was standing in the long grocery store check out line which gave me time to observe what others were purchasing. A few men had bouquets of flowers as the main course in their basket. I wondered to what occasions these little bundles were going to be given. I did know whatever the occasion a smile is what they should bring. This little exercise got me wondering about the bouquet.

The typical scene of 'man gives flowers to woman' abounds in novels, film and the not so kind world of the cliche. The bouquet has a universal pull on everyone's psyche. The bouquet can be generalized by calling it a bunch of flowers, it can be used as a relationship opener and rejection diffuser or an apology smoother. The most sought after bouquets are those given in love.

Our human emotions play a big role in the act of giving natural beauty which acts as a voice to our intentions. We owe a lot to these relationship builders God created for our good. So let's take the bouquet back from the grips of banality and habitual monotony and laud what these botanical creatures can really do.

My '18 Year' Bouquet

What My Bouquet 'Said' to Me

1. When my husband came through the door with the wild array in his hands. My heart jumped a little knowing he was one of those men I observed in the grocery store choosing a specific arrangement for the love in his life. He took time out of his day to think of me in a specific way.

2. I looked at the varietal blooms and each one was vibrant with color. The visual beauty was stunning. The textures, shades and hues added a new interest to the same old surroundings.

3. I immediately wanted to touch the soft petals of the Carnation, feel the brain-like structure of the Celosia and gaze long at the purple variation of the Amaranth. With daily chores that bespatter the typical day, the silky contrast was welcomed.

4. The Cockscomb (Celosia) was my favorite, it is suggestive of a highly colored brain. Something I'd like to feel I can lay some claim too. A woman likes to be loved for her brain as well as her body.

5. This floral offering was in no way mundane. I put it on the bedside table and when I awoke this morning something alive and beautiful was staring back at me. As I go about my day's work, I'll occasionally pass it and an appreciative thought towards my husband dances through my mind.

I sure hope that the five things I listed can help those hard working, providing, love mates with a new perspective on the bouquet. They really aren't cliches unless your heart says they are.

A little ditty to Feeling Good! Sing it Nina!

(Analogy, not pantheism or deep ecology intended)