You might be a pastor if:

10. You are incapable of giving a simple "yes" or "no" answer to a question about the Bible
9. You not only own several different Bible translations but you've read them all
8. Your job responsibilities range from unclogging toilets to praying on Sunday mornings.
7. You see great sermon illustrations in random movies and songs. (Bonus points if they involve Lady Gaga).
6. It's not uncommon for you to be booked every night in a week.
5. People think you know everything about everything and so constantly ask you questions.
4. In reality, you know about 75% of 75% of everything, but you often can't answer questions due to confidentiality.
3. Your spouse refers to you as his "full-time ministry."
2. You spend random Thursday nights driving relative strangers to shelters and other institutions.
1. You think that these institutions look like pretty cool places to volunteer, in all your "spare" time...

progress

One final proof-read and book cover revision and my book will be OUT! Very exciting stuff!!

Nerves

Tonight I read the first draft of my first chapter of my novel. And MAN, I was a nervous wreck! Every time I take a step to make this book a reality, it becomes scarier. The writing was well received, but I'm still jittery. One of the writers stated why I'm so nervous pretty succinctly. She noted that it's ballsy to write about abortion, since no matter what I say, half my audience will hate it. And that's true. People in my own church will find it difficult to support me and this book. But if I ever felt like God was telling me something specific - it is to write this particular book at this particular time. And maybe it won't get published - but I sure think God wants me to try to publish it.
Whew!

Ignorance

There are many things I know nothing about. I know nothing about raising children. i know nothing about owning an indoor dog. I know nothing about brain surgery. I know nothing about cooking Asian food. I am willing to admit my ignorance in these areas.
Recently, on my FB page we've been discussing a rude person who has left gigantic dog poop in our lawn twice in the last 6 months. And it's been left multiple days - so this wasn't a case of someone who just forgot a bag and then came back - it is someone who is deliberately leaving behind dog poop, in my yard.
I was speaking with a friend who dogsits, and he pointed out that one time, he had already used the bag and the dog pooped a second time. Now, he's a conscientious person, so he came back with a second bag and cleaned up that same day. But it got me wondering - how hard is it to reuse a bag that has dog poop in it? Opinions?

Who's telling us what to wear?

It seems to me that for centuries, men have been telling women what to wear. Now this includes gay men telling us both what to wear and what not to wear. Additionally, women have been telling ourselves what to weigh and how to look: weigh less, wear makeup. And what have men been primarily telling us about clothes? Don't wear our clothes. Don't wear comfortable, practical clothing that is tailored to your body without being too tight (ie, I wish I could buy a shirt tailored to my neck and arm sizes!).
I wish I could be like Diane Keaton or Ellen and rock the man clothing look. And maybe one day I will be confident enough to do so. Right now I'm too invested in the myth of being pretty and feminine. I like it. How much of that is cultural vs. my own personality, I don't know.

But you know what: let's stop letting other people tell us what to wear and what not to wear. Let's wear comfortable shoes and practical clothing. Let's weigh a healthy amount and not worry about gaining a few pounds for the winter. Real men, worthwhile men (at least all the ones I know), couldn't care less about sexy clothes. They see our beauty regardless.