Not Surly Anymore: The Nut Job HOLY WEEK Reflection

I recently saw an animated movie with my children called THE NUT JOB. Now, it's no PIXAR movie, but it did get my mind thinking. IMDB summary: In a city park, Surly the Squirrel has finally gone too far with his latest caper leading to the animal community's winter food cache being destroyed. Now exiled, Surly and his rat buddy's, Buddy, collective nightmare on the streets ends when they discover a nut store to raid. Meanwhile, the squirrels, the heroic Andie and the ditsy Grayson, are charged by Raccoon to find a new food source and Andie runs into Surly. With no other options, she arranges a deal to help in Surly's heist for the colony, even while Surly fully intends to betray it. However, there is more going on with the nut store being a front for bank robbers while Raccoon has his own agenda to ensure his own power. In the mayhem to come, Surly finds himself challenged in ways he never expected and discovering the real prize to treasure in this adventure. 

I remember when I first heard the definition of the term: Surly and I was wondering if any of my children were thinking what I was thinking...This squirrel started out moody and mean, but he transformed his attitude and the name doesn't fit. When we got home, I asked my sons, "Does anybody know what SURLY means?" They made all types of guesses but nothing close so we looked up the definition which i simplified down to the basics: UNFRIENDLY. All the children exclaimed: "But THAT's not what he was like at the end of the movie! He needs to change his name!"

MIND TWIST:

This name scenario reminds me of a few people from the BIBLE! There are many people who had name changes. Now, these were not haphazard changes due to marriage or boredom. No, God changed changed Abram's ("High Father") name to "Abraham" ("father of many nations"), when it seemed highly unlikely that this childless man whose age was a little short of a century would ever become what this new name implied. Jacob was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel, and his name meant "holder of the heel" or "supplanter."After he spent a tiresome night wrestling with God, he got a new name. In Genesis 32:28  "Jacob" would instead be known as "Israel" ("God contended") "because he struggled with God and men and won." A third example is Peter. In John 1:42 Jesus changed Simon's ("God has heard") name to Peter ("rock" or, more properly, "stone"). Again, the name seems inappropriate because this "rock" wasn't so strong when Jesus was arrested and Peter ran for his life. But Jesus knew the changes in store for this big fisherman, and He named the man accordingly. 

This is more of a reflective post. Surly in the movie was indeed surly at the beginning, but after working with the other animals he lost that selfish edge. He really needed a new name for the type of person, or squirrel, he had become. God changed the names of folks who were not quite living in that revelation yet, but they did eventually. This makes me think of my own name. I remember being 10 or 11 in  a speciality store that had products with name or origin on it. Kimberly is of English origin and means 'Cyneburg's field', 'royal forest' or 'leader of the warriors.' I remember reading that and instantly feeling empowered, strong, and confirmed in my mind that I was a leader. I know this may sound strange, but I remember it to this day. It's like I lived up to my name. 

But this is bigger than a name. This is about the wonderful gift of being saved: being a new creature. See, Surly was a different squirrel because he became conscious of his actions and realized he didn't want to act like that anymore. Glory be to God that I am a new creature in Christ! I'm not a superhuman or anything, but I am able to bury the old ways and conform more to the example of Jesus. This reconciliation with God through Christ would not be possible without His ultimate sacrifice to redeem me. I want to live up to that sacrifice for me, live up to my new life, my new name! It cannot be about getting away with things because you know God will forgive you, but about making God happy because I love HIM!

Just like the children said about the name SURLY not fitting this character anymore, my behaviors and thoughts should not fit my OLD man. My mind is transformed and I am committed to this walk! AMEN!

LOVE PEACE AND HAIR GREASE!  KIM

Go GET DRESSED! Compassion: Intel Science Talent Search

Hi everyone, I know it's been a few weeks, but I had not seen anything inspiring until EARLY this morning on the 3:30AM news. . . couldn't sleep!

Today I saw a news broadcast about the Intel Science Talent Search. I have not ever heard of this event before and was quite intrigued for many reasons. 

The Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS), a program of Society for Science & the Public, is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition. It honors exceptional high school seniors for their scientific research and their potential as future leaders in the scientific community." Basically, the science field invites these teenagers, heralded as the next generation of scientific leaders, to compete in science and math innovation. Historically, some of the winners of this Talent Search have won awards from Nobel Prize to National Medals of Science. http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/education/competitions/science-talent-search.html

The Grand Prize, for a TEENAGER, is $100,000. This year money goes to Eric Chen, a senior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, won for his microbiology research, which targets possible medicines for treating the flu. He leaned on both computer modeling and biology to find drugs that are inhibitors of endonuclease, an enzyme that allows viruses to spread to pandemic proportions.
Additionally, each finalist receives:

• An all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
• An opportunity to meet with government officials, including the President or Vice President of the United States
• A chance to interact with distinguished scientists and display science project research at the National Geographic Society

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/innovation/these-teenagers-have-already-accomplished-more-than-you-ever-will-180950059/

This is incredible, right? Teenagers who are already working on medicine for the flu and cures to cancer. But I don't want to focus on this event, but the comment of one specific young lady's comment. This girl said that due to the death of 4 of her family members to breast cancer, she (at age 15) has started trying to find a cure. She said she was moved by to do something about epidemic and she has already done more in her lifetime then some of us ever will.

MY MIND makes its own connections and this girl, the tone in her voice, and the expressions on her face as she described all of what she's discovered and how much difference this work will make, made me think about Jesus. HUH? I believe she was moved out of compassion, not fear of it happening to her. We frequently hear and read the scriptures about Jesus being moved with compassion

What is compassion? It is defined as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

What does it mean that Jesus was MOVED? Yes, move can mean go in a specified direction or manner; change position BUT is also means change or cause to change from one state, opinion, sphere, or activity to another. ACTIVITY! He did something. He didn't just sit there and pray over people. 

Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Jesus' COMPASSION MOVED HIM to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and raised the dead. If Jesus is our example, then we should also be moved by compassion. How do you know when you are moved by compassion? When you have a concern for the others and you feel a need to ACT. 

Compassion should move us to do whatever we are able to do when we feel a deep sensitivity and caring nudge. But Kim, you may be asking, How do I know I'm moved with compassion? And if I am, what can I do?  I cannot tell you what you will feel, but I can share a personal testimony of a time I quenched the spirit in this very area. I recall years ago being in a restaurant talking to a patron who was affected very badly by Hurricane Isabel. I felt so connected to her and was led by a nudging in my spirit to give her some money, but I let her leave and did not do anything. I was wondering to myself, "What in the world?! I don't know this lady. I don't have any money and what I have won't help her."

 I was so baffled by what I was experiencing and of course hindsight I realize that was the Holy Spirit moving me and I should have responded. Boy did I get a spiritual spanking and I really had to pray for sin of omission because I felt it so strongly. 

Colossians 3:12a  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

We Christians but on compassion like clothing! so ...GO GET DRESSED! Cover yourself with COMPASSION, let it move you. Do whatever you can do. We can make a phone call, send a card, make a meal, give a hug, give some money,  share God's word or do whatever you are lead to do. Give from your heart, not a feeling of obligation or for praise or attention. GO GET DRESSED!

PEACE LOVE AND HAIR GREASE! KIM

Your Purpose: CVS

No movie or television show discussion this week everyone:)  My blog is MEDIA and ENTERTAINMENT and some recent news has probed my thoughts that resulted in this post. Enjoy!

We saw the new story this week regarding CVS and tobacco: 

http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/05/news/companies/cvs-walgreens-cigarettes/

"Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health," Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, said in a statement. 
Here is the quote that changed the game for me, "Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose." 


pur·pose noun: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. in·con·sist·ent adjective not staying the same throughout.



According to their website, CVSs purpose statement is: HELPING PEOPLE ON THEIR PATH TO BETTER HEALTH. So someone eventually realized that having cigarettes in the front of the store and Nicorette in the back was a bit backwards. It's not just backwards, but buying cigarettes does not help people on their path to better health. It seems like this should have been realized a lot sooner. 
This story is particularly meaningful to me. I remember my very first job was at CVS. I had to get cigarettes for people. I had never touched a pack, let alone been exposed to the varied types (menthol, light, all the brands, etc.) I was always a bit uncomfortable about that part of my job and I never understood where or how it fit. 


So what is your purpose? "Kim," you may say, "I don't know what my purpose is." Well as a believer, we have four focuses for our life: 

• TO CENTER YOUR LIFE AROUND GOD: (Worship)

• TO CONNECT WITH OTHER BELIEVERS: (Fellowship)

• TO CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL MATURITY: (Discipleship)

• TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION WITH YOUR LIFE: (Service)

Source: Daily Hope 2002. 

What is stopping your worship? Waking up too late to have quiet time? What is blocking your fellowship? Excuses about church service being too crowded too long, too short, too early too late? What is preventing your discipleship? "I'm not mature enough, I don't have the temperament to give a testimony." Why not serve? Don't tell yourself there are too many causes or you don't have anything to give. 


Is anyone or anything CONTRARY to your personal or Christian purpose in your life? Has anyone ever looked at you and compared some inconsistent practice, person, or component of your life and thought about the lyrics "Things that Make you GO HUMMMM" If so, have you thought about why it or she or he is in your life in the first place? Are you willing to get rid of it? 



Proverbs 19:21 New International Version (NIV)
     Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails


I thought I had a spectacular plan for my life when I graduated high school. I was going to college, I would meet my husband there, we would get married the week after graduation and start our lives. I would teach until I retired and we would have two children, design my own house, etc. I bet you are laughing because you had thoughts like that too! I thought I had the right friends that I picked. But as God began to reveal His plans for me, in very small chunks, I had to make adjustments to my world. I did so kicking and screaming at first. HE made some of those first moves by EJECTING people out of my life. I had to lose some very close people because the relationship revealed itself to be contrary to the direction I was now going. It hurts, this is not a comfortable process. I'm sure CVS will feel the pain of losing billions of dollars because of an inconsistency in pursuing their purpose. Not millions y'all BILLIONS. However, they are willing to take that loss to stay ALIGNED to their purpose. I am sure they realized that the direction they wanted to go in could not include tobacco sales any longer. My life is no where near what I planned, but it is so much better. I am truly blessed and I can now in faith say, "Wherever you lead me Lord, I'm there!"





Let's get aligned with our purpose, let's go in the right direction and not stray. Let's take a loss and get rid of anything contrary to the PLAN, whatever yours is, IN CHRIST.

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me..."

 Psalm 138:8a

AND I AM SO GLAD ABOUT IT! GLORY BE TO GOD!!!

LOVE PEACE AND HAIR GREASE! KIM

Sanctuary: Steel Magnolias

Whether you saw the 1989 version of Steel Magnolias movie starring Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, Darryl Hannah, Sally Field, Julia Roberts or the 2012 contemporary remake starring Adepero Oduye, Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott,  Condola and mom Phylicia Rashad, this beloved classic film is the subject of this post! I hope you enjoy!




I just rewatched the 2012 version of this movie on Lifetime in December. Sorry, I have no time for  a full summary. I will skip to the end. At the end of the movie, M'Lynn (Queen Latifah) and the gang were gathered at Truvy's Beauty Parlor in a small parish in modern-day Louisiana after attending her daughter Shelby's funeral. 





M'Lynn breaks down in hysterics in front of Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and Annelle stating that she was supposed to "go first", for which she was always ready. She also wonders if Jack Jr. will ever know just how wonderful his mother was, and she also wonders if he'll ever know what she went through just to bring him into the world, and that she wants to hit someone until they feel just as bad as she does, but soon, the other women (mostly Clairee) give support to M'Lynn through both humor and love. M'Lynn then apologized for her stray from southern lady likeness and Clairee (I think) says,  " DON'T EVER BE SORRY FOR ANYTHING IN HERE..."




In HERE, where? Truvy's Salon. THE SALON to me is a type of SANCTUARY for the women in this movie. What Clairee was saying was that the salon was a place where they could be themselves, cry, laugh, not put on any airs, not apologize for breaking down after one's daughter died. A Sanctuary is a place of safety. The ladies could just BE without adverse consequences from each other. The salon is designed for women only, it serves as a type of barrier from the men in their lives. They can take risks in their conversations with each other. 

 I used to go to the salon, before my natural hairdo :) Saturday morning meant getting your hair done! But it means more than that to so many women. You were going to see your group of people who you saw every week (two weeks, monthly, etc.) Saturday morning was meeting gathering.   There were many times I would stay well past the time I was done. I would sit back, relax, and enjoy the fellowship because it was just a time of security, friendship, and love. We would just have wonderful conversation. Joking, laughing, crying, and listening were all part of the agenda. 

This portion of the movie and my story remind me of Hebrews 10. The New International Version of the Bible titled the section containing verses 19-25: A Call to Persevere. The apostle is telling the believers to continue to hold on the the confession of Christ Jesus. He gives three ways of how to do this: 
1) by considering one another to provoke to love and to good work,  (I know I am out of order) 
3) to exhort one another, ourselves and each other to warn ourselves and one another of sin and backsliding and... 

2) by NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Interestingly enough in verse 25, the saints are told to continue to gather together and then to do so even more.  The communion of the church is a way to mutually strengthen ourselves. 

Just like the women in Truvy's Hair Salon, we are a community in church protected in a special haven. So whether we feel like going to church or not, we really should go.  

Just like being at the salon, Sunday morning church service is a gathering time.  I love going to church! I cannot wait to see everyone because it is time for our weekly Celebration of God! We pray together, praise together, hear the Word together.

Our motivation for going to church should not be so the pastor can notice you or for you to walk down the aisle stylin' and profiling your new outfit! No, we the saints of God must understand that this special forum, the assembling of ourselves, is one way of helping us persevere. 

Have you ever noticed that those who fall away from the church start to do so by missing a Sunday? Then that becomes a few Sundays. Their low attendance is a dangerous practice because it usually means folks' faith is wobbly and unstable and leads to a decrease in the faith, not just leaving the church.

LESSON LEARNED

Remember how important it is to congregate and worship together to edify each other.  It doesn't matter if you meet on Saturday or Sunday or whenever, just get there! It helps us to stay connected to our faith, it reminds us of our duties and enables us to watch over each other in love. 

Love, Peace, and Hair Grease! KIM 

Love Jones: A Time for Everything

BET aired a throwback love story a couple of weeks ago on December 14; Love Jones starring Larenz Tate and Nia Long. This movie came out in 1997 and is a member of BETs Top 25 Black Love Movies. However,  for my post today, the race of these character do no matter to the takeaway I had from this particular viewing.

Quick Synopsis:

Darius and Nina meet in a blues club in Chicago and the movie deals with their inability to decide what to do about their attraction. Nina is fresh out of a relationship and is trying to get a job in photography. Darius is a writer and is trying to finish a book. In the mist of trying to reach these personal achievements, they dance in and out of a relationship that just doesn't work out. Bad timing. Long story short Nina gets her job in NY and Darius publishes his book in Chicago. Nina returns to Chicago and realizes that she wants to be with him. Here the dialogue from the end of the movie:

Darius: "I enjoyed your poem up there... look, there have been a lot of mistakes and we both made them and I apologize for my part in that, but all that nonsense I don't give a damn about that anymore. . . I want us to be together again for as long as we can." Nina: "As usual your timing couldn't be worse. You always want what you want when you want it, why is everything so urgent with you?" Darius: "Let me tell you something. This here, right now, at this very moment is all that matters to me. I love you, and that's urgent as hell." Nina: "How do we do this?" Darius: "I don't know."Nina: "I live in NY." Darius: "I don't care."

My Reality:

Movie critic Ebert loved the fact that this movie didn't have a perfect ending. Yes, they loved each other and NO we have no idea how it worked out. I can completely relate to trying love at the wrong time. My husband and I tried to date three different times before the last time leading to our engagement. I wanted him then it was the wrong time for him because he was in school. He wanted me but it was the wrong time for me because I was thinking I wanted someone else. We both wanted each other and it was horrible timing for both of us for so many many reasons. But there was finally a time when we realized that this was the right thing, at the right time.

Have you ever been there? Have you ever known you are supposed to be with someone, or have something, or be somewhere but it just will not happen? You cannot shake the fact that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that is supposed to be, but it is not the right time.

The Word:
This part of the movie brought to my remembrance of a very familiar passage of scripture. Thank God for Ecclesiastes 3:1. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. The following verses go on to list all of the events we encounter in life. Everyone is going to experience love, harvest, death, and laughter. We in Christ have to know that our time and our seasons are in God's hands and there is an appropriate time for every activity.

And This Means What?

Don't give up, maybe it's just not the right time. Pray God's will be done, trust that His timing for this earth is perfect, and surrender your will. Just know that everything will work out for your good! This is saying that God arranges even the smallest details of our surroundings.

Love Peace and Hairgrease! KIM

Coyote and Road Runner: No Weapon

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I say, "That's ALL Folks!"as a farewell to 2013 and a welcome to my 2014 post on a classic Looney Tunes episode.

Monday, I saw one of my favorite episodes with the famous Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, titled Fast and Furry-ous, that originally aired on September 17, 1949. We all know the ongoing plot of these two characters: The coyote watches the roadrunner running through the desert with his binoculars, licking his lips with a napkin around his neck as he dreams about catching that road runner for dinner. He paces back and forth thinking of what he could do to to catch him and he devises some incredibly ingenious ideas to do so. But, no matter what crazy scheme that coyote would design up to try to catch the road runner, it wouldn't work.  Wile E Coyote would work so hard to carry out his well thought out plans, but they were never successful. 

What tickled me as a child yet peaked by curiosity as an adult was the fact that there were unimaginable things that the road runner could do to escape the coyote. However, if Wile tried to do the same thing, it would not work. For example, in this episode the coyote painted a tunnel on the wall of a rock, intending for the road runner to run and smash himself into the rock. Instead, the road runner ran down this illustrated tunnel road. When Coyote tried to chase after him, HE ran and smashed himself into the rock. He was even run over by the roadrunner on his return trip out of this tunnel and out of the rock. Go figure!

Fortunately, I have an artist for a son (Hi Malcolm!) and found out that the creator of these animated creatures wrote a book entitled The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist.  (Jones, Chuck. Chuck Amuck: The life and times of an animated cartoonist. Macmillan, 1999.) Interestingly enough, he exposed that there were unwritten "rules" that were in place for the storylines of all of the Coyote and Road Runner Cartoons. Some of the rules were:

1. The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going "beep, beep."
2. No outside force can harm the Coyote. 

There are many others, however, there is one rule that I will focus on for my post today: The Coyote is not allowed to catch or eat the Road Runner, unless he (the road runner) escapes from the grasp. Are you thinking what I am thinking????!!!!


Let's talk about ourselves shall we?! We ARE road runners, running on our own roads of life. Let's refer to those ROADS as PATHS. THE BIBLE speaks about the path of righteousness the path of life, the narrow path, the path of prudence, the broad path, the upright path, and the straight path. We may be busy running our path, and on top of that, there is a coyote called the devil out there watching us, waiting, plotting, thinking, designing: trying to steal kill and destroy us. But thanks be to God that, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." Isaiah 54:17a.  Isaiah 54 has an important message from this prophet: Isaiah speaks to the Gentiles regarding God's covenant and promises of His protection and righteousness. Isaiah shares God's declarations and professes their safety, their deliverance, and their preservation.  Different Bible translations use the term prosper (to become very successful ) or succeed (to do what you are trying to do : to achieve the correct or desired result) or prevail (to defeat an opponent especially in a long or difficult contest.) Nonetheless, I love the International Standard Version, "No weapon that is forged against you will be effective." Effective is defined as:  producing a result that is wanted : having an intended effect. Basically, God will protect, deliver, and/or deliver us from the successful effect of a weapon. 



AND THIS MEANS WHAT?
That darned Wile E. Coyote tried to make a weapon effective in catching or killing the roadrunner. He would make traps that would end up not operating correctly. He would draw blueprint plans that did not represent what the final product was. In spite of all of that EFFORT, none of the plans had the desired effect he wanted. Wile E. Coyote had an unlimited supply of ACME products and boulders in the desert,  he set up every trap, spring, or tried to find every hiding place. His weapons did NOT WORK. The devil does the same thing. He watches us, he designs traps for us, he sets up weapons to destroy us, but none of it will NOT work. Satan has to follow the rules, just like the unwritten rules of the cartoon.  The Coyote is not allowed to catch or eat the Road Runner, unless he escapes from the grasp. 

LESSON LEARNED:

Whatever weapon is raised against you will not work. GOD can remove the weapon right out of the devil's hand. GOD can have the weapon destroy itself. GOD can even allow the weapon to strike, but to no avail. Or GOD could even have the weapon bring about some greater good that eliminates the pain from the blow. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

That devil can try every crazy trick, but we are able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us! We, with God, can break the rules, run through rocks, and confound the enemy as to how we are still alive! 




So I leave you with a LOUD BEEP BEEP! (That means Hallelujah and Thank you Jesus that no weapon will prosper Think of that every time you hear the road runner.)

Love, Peace, and Hair Grease! KIM