More grown folk conversations ...

As I write this The Jack Kemp Forum: Expanding Opportunity is being held in Columbia, South Carolina. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and House Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan will be the moderators.

Presidential Candidates, scholars, and community leaders have been discussing policy and proposals on how to fight poverty and expand opportunity.  Here is a list of the Republican Presidential candidates that will be present, Former Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. Kasich, Senator Marco Rubio, Former Gov. Huckabee, Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, and Gov. Chris Christie.

One of the presidential candidates that will not be present is Mr. Trump.

 Ground folk conversations requires serious and thoughtful proposal. Mr. Trump is not a thoughtful candidate. He talks about the looks of other candidates and most recently one candidate’s shoes.

He can grab a headline, but can he offer serious proposals?  

Pet of the week, Malty the Maltese

After a break, the pet of the week is back. The American Kennel Club describes the Maltese as gentle, playful, affectionate, fearless, and charming in a toy-dog way."  I met Malty last Sunday when we were at the airport.  Special thanks to her owner for allowing me to take these pictures.

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

This first Tuesday of the year is a perfect time to reconnect with girlfriends. It is also our regular time to meet for our Cooking Light Group. Our group decided to make a change this month. No cooking… meet at a restaurant.

Today’s lunch was delicious. What was the best part of the meal? It was the conversation and  laughter over our meal.

Monday Musings... solitude

"We live in a very tense society. We are all pulled apart ...  and we all need to learn to how to pull ourselves together ...  I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude. "
Helen Hayes

Sunday Scripture

"Therefore, I the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one Spirit -  just as you were called to one hope at your calling one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and the Father of all who is all above and through all and all."
Ephesians 4:1- 6 ( HCSB)

so last year...

What is your one word for 2016?

Margaret Feinberg’s book Fight Back with Joy may offer some insight on how others have selected their word. Here is what she writes …

“New Year’s resolutions are so last year, according to my friends. Many of them instead choose to live by a single word, one that embodies what they hope God would do in their lives in the coming year.

My friends Sarah selected love last year, which led her to mend ties with her estranged father. Then, there was John, who chose balance. He hung a chart on his kitchen wall to track his days and make sure he spends enough time with his family. And after Patty picked hope, she enlisted friends to help her see the sunny side of every situation. When her pessimistic tendencies emerge, her friends give her a “hope nudge.”

Are you thinking about what word you will select? While you are thinking, here are my thoughts on my word.

One word has been percolating in my heart and mind for the past, walk-worthy.

Why? My family and friends have seen me hobble around for the past few years.  I often had to limit my walking and activities because of knee pain. Yet, the phrase walk-worthy has deeper meaning to me.  It is how I live and conduct myself. In other words, it will compass my entire life.

The phrase walk worthy is found in four books in the Bible, Ephesians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and Revelation.  Depending on the translation, the phrase will vary.

This is the from Colossians 1:10 in the ESV version, “ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Will you select one word for 2016? If so, what will it be. Will you leave your word in the comment section?