If Mary and Joseph Used Facebook.

Ever wondered how the Nativity story would have played out if Joseph and Mary used Facebook?

if you cannot see the video below, click HERE!

Revenge!

After a husband taught his wife how to handle a gun, he told her not to play with it. This is his revenge on her after she disobeyed his warnings...

If you cannot see the video, click HERE!

A Greatful Heart

The Africa Mercy docked in the port of Freetown, Sierra Leone (as seen from the port towers). I am very grateful for every opportunity that we had to impact and help someone in this great nation.

BAD Nativity sets!

A very piggy nativity, certainly not kosher…

Ready to cough up a hairball anyone?

Yep, chickens... WOW!

yeah, the cat nativity is probably worse. but these dogs ain’t much better…

this one is a craft kit, using marshmallows to make a nativity. yum.

Speechless!

the nativity kitchen timer:

Happy feet?

Source: http://whyismarko.com/2011/27-worst-nativity-sets-the-annual-growing-list/

Stand By Me - Japan

In the summer of 2011 the Playing For Change Band was invited to perform at Jazz Fest in New Orleans.  While they were in town long-time friend of the project, Jimmy Buffett, invited them to a jam session on the roof of Margaritaville that rocked into the wee hours of the morning.  The PFC Band kicked off the night with this tribute to the people of Japan who have been a affected by this past spring's Tsunami.

If you cannot see the video below, click HERE.

Polka time!

I happened again, I got caught again while haphazardly channel surfing. I spent some more time this week watching RFD TV's (RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery, the name for the United States Postal Service's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons.) Molly B's Polka Party. Once again, I simply could not change channels.

Mollie Busta, popular performer from the Jim Busta Band and Squeezebox, is host of the weekly RFD-TV Polka show, the Mollie B Polka Party. The one-hour program features the nation’s top polka bands and a wide-variety of ethnic styles produced on location at music festivals from around the country. Along with Ted Lange, Mollie B serves as Creative Director in expanding and improving RFD-TV’s prime-time polka programming.

I seriously need to get to a Polka Show!

Below in the video is the Lenny Gomulka Chicago Push band being taped for the show, if you cannot see the video below, click HERE.



Source: Wikipedia, RFD-TV, Youtube

There she is!

Safely arrived and dockside in Galveston, TX!

Mariner of the Seas, Pier 28, Galveston, TX

...and there she goes on her first Caribbean run for the season! Thanks to Hook 'em Horns/RCCLTexasTeen for the video.

A Chance Encounter...

A friend sent me this incredible video of a chance encounter and shared moment with one of natures greatest and most fleeting phenomena.

A murmuration, which this is, consists of thousands of tiny starlings (birds) collectively flying and swirling about. The mesmerizing act is typically seen at the beginning of winter, right before dusk, as the birds look for a place to roost for the night.

If you cannot see the video below, click HERE to watch this incredible moment!

I highly suggest maximizing the screen to allow you to experience it as much as possible.


Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

United!

7 Billion People | 7 Billion Actions | 7billionactions.org

By the end of 2011 the world will have reached 7 billion people. The United Nations Population Fund is leading an innovative global campaign to bring awareness to the opportunities and challenges that this milestone presents. But 7 Billion people means 7 Billion hearts.

Music has always been the best way to speak to the hearts of the people. Playing For Change has partnered with the United Nations to present an original song around the world to serve as an anthem for such an important time: "United."

They traveled across the globe, put headphones on musicians, added them to the track, and created a video that can serve as a tangible example of something positive we can all do together as a human race.

Lets inspire each other. Lets everybody get involved and join us on in this journey, so that together we leave this world better than we found it. To learn more about how to be part of the "United" track go to 7BillionActions.org.

If you cannot see the video below, click HERE to view this amazing collaboration.

The Mayonnaise Jar

A colleague of mine used this in our departmental devotional today... I am not sure who to attribute it to, but enjoy anyway. Thanks for sharing Nancy!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.  When the class began, without a word, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and started to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly.  The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.  The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty spaces between the grains of sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided.  “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.”

“The golf balls are the important things – God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions.  Things that, if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”

“The pebbles are the things that matter – like your job, house and car.”

“The sand is everything else – the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.  The same goes for life.”

“If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.”

“So . . .

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness:

    * Play with your children.
    * Take time to get medical checkups.
    * Take your partner out to dinner.
    * There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping faucet.”

“Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter.  Set your priorities.  The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.  “I’m glad you asked.  It just goes to show you that, no matter now full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”