Great NPR Story this morning - Sermon Illustration Lived Out

I have a terrible cold and so am taking the day kind of slow today.

As I was waking up this morning I heard the a great story on Morning Edition and their periodic airing of Story Corp. I love the Story Corp project because it is real life stories of real people. Real life is so much more interesting than fiction and today's story just proved that to me more.

Today's story by Juilo Diaz, A Victim Treats His Mugger Right was a pefect illustation and embodiment of Jesus' admonishment to turn the other check, found in Matthew 5: 38-42 I cannot wait to use this story as part of a sermon illustration next time I preach this text.

But what is even more amazing is that our world is a really good place made of wonderful people, but our new media doesn't ofetn tell us the good stories of life. That is what I love about Story Corp. It's good news in the midst of a culture that focuses on the bad and sentational.

This story inspired me, made me forget about my cold and how lousey I am feeling and reminded me that we need to live as blessed creatures in the creation.

Oh, and the sun is shining today...

Me as a Knitter - an Intro

I have found a knitting group that I try to meet with on a weekly basis. These women have saved my sanity and I so enjoy the conversations and exposure to other knitters. This of course is in addition to my membership on Ravelry. A great place for knitters and crocheters.

Chelle, who is one of the women in the local knitting group, that is currently meetin at Borders in Lee's Summit at 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoons, created these great questions to get us all aquainted. I thought I'd post my answers on my blog.

Do you knit using the English or Continental Method? Continental Method

Loose, normal or tight knitter? Normal (when I first started I was a tight knitter)

How long ago did you learn to knit? I was in 4th or 5th grade

Who taught you how? My neighbor across the street - Hazel Vadnais

What was your first FO? A yellow headband for a 4-H project

First FO? First Object?

Favorite yarn? Oh that's a hard one....

Any yarn you don't like? Caron had a terry cloth cotton yarn out several years ago I hated.

Projects tend to be what color(s) if knitting for yourself? green, blue and brown

If you knit socks, what is your preferred method (i.e. toe up/cuff down, double pointed needles, 2 circs, Magic Loop etc.) I'm just learning to knit socks so this pair is a cuff down on DP needles

Favorite pattern you’ve knit so far? The sweater I knit my husband, but there was a Tabard I knit in College I really loved too and a sweater I pulled out an old issue of Women's Day that I ended up giving away (Dumb, dumb, dumb thing to do)

Favorite pattern source? I don't have one, but love the internet

Favorite needles? My favorite DPs are Clover. I don't really have a favorite needle yet.

Favorite type of knitting? One big project and then a couple of little projects. In terms of technique, I want to learn a couple of new things every month or so, so am always trying something. I like to do cables.

Are you on Ravelry? If so, favorite thing about it? Ravelry Screen Name: I am Carbby64 on Ravelry. There is so much to like about Ravelry. Patterns are great - a place to organize everything is great - I think my favorite thing is Swaps. I've done three and two more are in the works.

Nicest thing you’ve ever knit: The sweater I gave away! Anthony's sweater is a close second.
Project you get the most compliments on: Anthony's sweater. My Ruana that I finished in January.

Most hated project and why: I knit a striped (a woman my size should not wear horizontal stripes) sweater out of Caron Terry yarn and I hated it. Ended up giving that sweater away too. I hated the yarn. I also am not real happy with the sweater I finished up in November, but I don't hate it so much I won't wear it, it's just not my favorite.