NEW SITE ANNOUNCEMENT: Same content, new location: http://pentriloquist.com.

Monday, January 7, 2013

New Site

I've completed the move to my new site.  I already miss the ease of the blogger site, but I'm learning lots!

Please join me Here  http://pentriloquist.com.

If you have any problems linking there, try this one - New Pentriloquist location - Salt & Light


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Salt and Light - It Is The Hope for 2013

Last night I watched 40 best feuds or some such ridiculous entertainment show about celebrities.  Reality shows received a lot of coverage and I hadn't watched any of those particular shows.  Women pulling each other's hair and showing their hiney as they wrestled on the floor in short dresses, couples shouting the most hurtful things at each other - completely abusing the trusting moments where they were trusted with that knowledge of their partner's vulnerabilities.  It was sickening. 

I can't understand the "entertainment" value of watching people be treated cruelly or exposing their cruelty toward others. 

I can't understand how anyone harms a child or their wife.  No compassion, empathy, moral compunction.

It twists me up inside when I become immobilized by that hopeless feeling that I can't change this... and then I get mad, and I read something like the quoted passage below and I feel energized.  I want to energize you.  I want us to go do this thing together...

"Our Christian habit is to bewail the world's deteriorating standards with an air of rather self-righteous dismay.  We criticize its violence, dishonesty, immorality, disregard for human life, and materialistic greed.  "The world is going down the drain," we say with a shrug.  But whose fault is it?  Who is to blame?  Let me put it like this.  If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house, that is what happens when the sun goes down.  The question to ask is "Where is the light?"  Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; that is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed.  The question to ask is "Where is the salt?"  Just so, if society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark night or a stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked.  The question to ask is "Where is the Church?  Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?"  It is sheer hypocrisy on our part to raise our eyebrows, shrug our shoulders, or wring our hands.  The Lord Jesus told us to be the world's salt and light.  If therefore darkness and rottenness abound, it is largely our fault and we must accept the blame. - John Stott  "Human Rights and Human Wrongs"

Monday, December 24, 2012

Holiday Greetings and News for Pentriloquist

I'll be taking a blogging break for the holidays.  This is always a time for me to evaluate where I plan to go in the next year, and this year is no different.

In addition to Christmas & New Years, my husband is having a couple basal skin cancer spots removed on the 28th.  It's weird to be grateful for a sort of cancer, but we were assured "If you're going to have skin cancer, this is the one you want."  !!!

I'll also be stretching my tiny little tech muscles for a lot of DIY work on the blog.  I believe I'll be moving to self hosting, learning Wordpress, acquiring a new layout and a new look. 

One of the Weeping Women Series
And if that all works like it should, I'll be giddy with excitement over the improvements.  OR my blog may look like a painting by Picasso when you stop back in January.  Perhaps this one, since I'll probably also be weeping. 

To my daughter, if you're reading this... I accept the possibility that I don't understand the genius of Picasso.  I'm OK with exposing that ignorance.  (I once joked at Picasso's expense and she shared some interesting information about him that I didn't know, and upon Googling him later I realized that not all his paintings fit the joke.  Still, I enjoy using him from time to time, so I'm going to go with that.)

So, please don't forget me.  I WILL be back.  The blog should be awesomely different with a prettier look, much more to offer and easier to navigate to amazing places within it.... I'll be excited if the new look is in place and I have a new post up - the rest will be a work in process.

Have a beautiful holiday season.  May you find people to bless with your presence, and may you be blessed by the presence of others.