8/30/09 Church/Islam, N.M., Dinner w Em and Bobby

Got up for Church and I'm so glad.  Sometimes I'm tired.  The service began with one of my favorite hymns--"Here I Am,  Lord."  The hymn speaks to me about striving to walk in His shoes.  Striving to come closer to Him in mind,  body and spirit.  It just makes me cry.  

 The theme of the sermon was, " Our Neighbor's Faith: Islam" A gentleman came who is the leader of the "Holy Dove Society."  He spoke about his background and how he came to Indianapolis.  Luke and I love the Holy Dove Society--they sponsered several programs at St Luke's where they shared Sufi dancing.  Sufi dancing at it's best is prayer in motion.  Beautiful,  reverant prayer.  

Pastor is one of my heroes.  He never stops working to bring holiness and goodness into God's world--the whole world.  He's truly inspired.  

He is doing his best to bring community and grace between religions.  

He told the story that in school his college room mate practiced Islam.  In this religion,  you pray 5 times ago.  His roommate got up early for his first prayer.  Pastor thought hummmm I'm studying to be a pastor,  my roomie is in business studies . . .  he gets up early to pray and I sleep in.  What's wrong with this picture and he began to get up for prayer as well.  

Pastor talked about prayer and giving of alms--two points of community between Islam and Christianity.  

He told a miracle story about prayer.  A woman in our Church went to the hospital for a prodecure and had a bad reaction.  She went into a coma and the docs only gave her a 10% chance of recovery.  Our church prayed and all her friends also formed prayer chains and she recovered against all odds.  The power of prayer.  

There was a lot to share.  So much.  It's late and I can't finish.  

I went right to NM.  My goal is to create a customer base of happy,  healthy people who want to come to NM weekly to improve their health and their appearance.  We have awesome skin care and make-up.  Many people came in to see us.  I tease Jeff and say they come in because Matt and I are "cute."  

Dinner at Em and Bobby's was wonderful as always.  Little adorable Noah was there.  Honestly he's so sweet and loving with everyone.  Like his mom and dad.  I brought him a little present.  It had a figure of Elmo (his fav character in it)  He enjoyed it and his little face lit up.  When he left I hugged him and said,  "I love you,  Noah."  And he hugged me right back and said,  "Love you too.  "

At home,  I called Nana.  When we send flowers she usually calls to thank us.  She loved the flowers but she hasn't been at all well.  She had to see the doc and you know,  they don't know what to do with old people and most don't give a care.  No body does.  Old people are annoying.  

I know Nana says the same things again and again,  but I don't think she's annoying.  I'm sad for her because she's lonely and scared.  I try to listen and then when she's done talking I try to share the most uplifting things I can think of.  Nana says that I'm a comfort to her,  and I take that as the highest compliment.  What could be greater than to comfort an old person.