Welcome to my virtual home!

In the developed countries there is a poverty of intimacy, a poverty of spirit, of loneliness, of lack of love. There is no greater sickness in the world today than that one.

first off, if you like to meld music with word, play Joshua Radin's " Brand New Day " as you read. we all live in a fallen world where tragedy invades the solace and perfection we endeavor to create -- a perfection that seems so fleeting, shall never exist in this fallen world, and will forever be beyond our abilities to create. we long for that Garden of Eden experience and never quite manage to get there. but we have moments, don't we? moments when the sun is shining and yes, it IS a brand new day. i've recently taken up Crossfit with vigor and enjoy my Crossfit affiliate's daily repartees that inspire me to run faster, lift more, and complain less, pearls of wisdom often coming via our fearless leader, Lisbeth . the most recent inspiration is to eat the wolf . stop complaining, stop letting the world "eat you" and go out and hunt the wolf rather than being the boy who cried wolf. re-framing is a useful exercise, keeping in mind that this w

here @ Love146, we take care in how we communicate prostitution in our own backyards. it's a messy, awful, horrendous business and it surprises even me to read about its realities. here are a couple excerpts from a recent article about a prostitution ring in CT: " a common theme with every victim is that they came from a dysfunctional home with no positive male role model." " if you get weepy-eyed about a young girl in Cambodia, why not feel the same way about the girl trafficked from Iowa?" " His attitude was ‘I was their Jesus and their savior, their knight in shining armor. I gave them food and shelter.’ And he believes it." (comment regarding a pimp's attitude towards the girls he trafficked) " I went to a psychiatrist and told her my whole story, and she said, ‘Don’t you think you did anything wrong? I can’t help you—you have too many problems.’" (shared by a survivor) " As of 1999, johns [in Sweden] are punished by up to six

Today, I read from survivors of sexual exploitation responses to this question: " If you were face to face with God right now and He was listening to you, what would you tell or ask Him?" May their answers break your heart as they did mine...then cause you to remember that a broken heart is worth celebrating when it changes the world. ~ Broken Heart Club " God, was I a bad child and that is why this happened to me? I know I have done many wrongs against you and I did not obey your commandments, but God, I have suffered so much and I don’t know what to tell you anymore." " You know, Lord, I am happy because you chose me in this world to provide with trials, but also with hope. Lord...Lord I am both happy and sad I do not know why but I know that you know all." " God, I really want to change and I ask why is it so hard for me and why does my heart seem so callous and why do I feel so far away from you...I know it’s hard to understand my prayers to you.

Bacon, " After the Storm ," chai tea, Phil 3:13-14 , Skype date, Sai Baba , gardening, the CRY for intimacy

Thanks, Stephanie (VP of Programs @ Love146) for this reminder. "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." II Chronicles 16:9

Here's a thought I just read somewhere around 30,000 feet (&, no, I'm nowhere near Everest, just on a plane): "I believe that God is closer to suffering than to happiness, and that finding God in this way brings peace and repose and a strong, courageous heart." ~Bonhoeffer Other random thoughts on this flight include memories from a blissful 10-day holiday. Here are a few glimpses...huddling (cuddling) on Mt. Snow to preserve body warmth after plunging ourselves into 45 degree water...reminding ourselves how AWESOME we Tough Mudders were as our teeth chattered and our lips matched the blue war paint streaking our faces...discovering how delicious Cara Cara oranges are at the Torrance Farmers' Mkt...searching for some way to encourage a troubled woman on the streets of Pedro...discovering that there are actually "correct" answers when playing Apples to Apples AND that penguins *may* be more graceful than Grace Kelly :) ...plunging into a cold Pacific