Change of Address

Please visit me at the new blogging home of Out of My Alleged Mind: http://outofmyallegedmind.com

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Thanks for reading--you are a blessing to me!

Under Construction

Update: Of course, the day I announce I'm under construction is the day my dear friend Diana Trautwein includes me here among some truly spectacular bloggers. If you're visiting from either Diana or Sarah's place, I do apologize about all the dust and dirt. Might I suggest a peak at my post about Habakkuk and Miracle Max? (from The Princess Bride)

Thanks for stopping by. And abundant thanks to both Diana and Sarah Bessey.

Can't you just hear the hammers pounding and power tools buzzing? (And me, periodically using my angry words when I smash my thumb with one of those hammers?)

I'm really doing it. I'm on the move to Word Press under the capable supervision of Peter Pollock of New Blog Hosting. He's capable, more patient with me than a human being should have to be and, through his work, is helping to build wells in Africa.

Kinda makes you want to break stuff on your blog just to hire him, doesn't it?

Anyway. I'll be offline for a couple of days while I'm unpacking boxes and rearranging furniture at the new place. When the site goes live, magical internet wizards should automatically direct you over to the new place.

For those who have been following me via Google Friend Connect (if your picture is in that nifty little box on the sidebar) you won't be able to follow me that way anymore. Please keep in touch, though. You can:

Subscribe to posts,

Like my Facebook Page,

Or follow me on the Twitter.

See you on the other side. (Now where did I put my duct tape and Philips head screwdriver?)

The Prophet Habakkuk and Miracle Max

She and I were engaging in the delightful kind of online banter which has become typical in our relationship.  A comment I’d left on her blog reminded her of a scene from The Princess Bride, so of course she posted a video clip. I responded,

It is my firm belief that there isn’t a conversation in the world that can’t be enriched by a quote from The Princess Bride.

(True story: the first time my daughter brought my son-in-law-to-be home for a visit, before going to bed I hugged him and said, “Good night. Sleep well. I’ll most likely kill you in the morning.”)

So it should come as a surprise to no one that as I was reading through Habakkuk, Miracle Max sprang to mind.

Habakkuk is a tiny little book of prophecy, tucked near the end of the Old Testament, the pronunciation of which, I’m sure, has tripped up many a young person trying to memorize the books of the Bible in order to win a Sunday school award. Not much is known about this prophet, but his words are mostly an argument with God about why he wouldn’t just hurry up and do something already about the violence and wickedness that were troubling his people.

Habakkuk launched two complaints before God and, after the second one, waited for God to answer him. Rendered in these beautiful words from The Message, God spoke:

Write this.  Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.

(And, if I might hazard a guess, so that generations later when people like Nancy Franson stumbled across it she wouldn’t miss the point)

This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.  Look at that man, bloated by self-importance—full of himself but soul-empty.

But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive. Habakkuk 2:3, 4

Then because I’m terribly irreverent, or quite possibly because I have way too much useless trivia stored in my head, these words of Miracle Max sprang to mind:

It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.

For Westley, erstwhile farm boy and dread pirate wannabe, Miracle Max’s words represented good news. He was still slightly alive.

But for Easter people, those of us staking everything on the reality that death could not hold Jesus and that his resurrection changed everything, slightly alive hardly seems like cause for celebration. God says he offers me more.

In truth, on the day I read those words I felt as though I was merely ambling through life, neither all dead nor fully alive; somewhere in between.  I was existing--going through motions, rearranging bathroom cabinets. Waiting for something—I don’t know what—a shoe to drop?

Not really living up to my full potential.

So what did the good prophet Habakkuk have to say to someone like me? How am I supposed to do this living fully thing? Two things:

Be in right standing before God. That’s the good news-gospel part, the part that says because of Christ’s work on the cross I am, by faith, declared righteous before God.

Loyal and steady believing.  In order to live fully I need to keep believing this Easter story, day after day. Jesus conquered death. He rose, and he reigns. And he is good.

On Easter Sunday my pastor read these words from David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, singing about what the reign of the risen Christ looks like:

When one rules justly over men,
    ruling in the fear of God,
 he dawns on them like the morning light,
    like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
    like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

“For does not my house stand so with God?
     For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
    ordered in all things and secure.
For will he not cause to prosper
    all my help and my desire?

2 Samuel 23:2-5, ESV

The reign of the risen Jesus is characterized by the dawn of morning light, sun shining and rain falling; abundant, fruitful, life-giving things. He offers plenty of evidence through his word and all about me that he is present, his promises are secure, and he is good.

So maybe when I’m ambling about, feeling as though I’m waiting for a shoe to drop, I need to get out and muck around in this world where Jesus reigns; see, touch, taste, and feel all the way up to my head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Perhaps this is the invitation God is writing for me in big block letters. And he waits for my response:

As you wish.

Linking with Michelle @ Graceful:

And with Jen and the sisterhood:

Sunday: Mountains

Tetons, 2008

 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations. 

  Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
     from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

 Psalm 90:1,2 ESV

Quietly joining Deidra @ Jumping Tandem in her Sunday community:

UBP Like It's 2012

 

It’s that time of year again, time for Ultimate Blog Party 2012. If this is your first visit, welcome. Let me show you around. (And if you’re an old friend, you’re welcome to stay, too. Just don’t eat all the snacks)

My name’s Nancy Franson, and I’m Out of My Alleged Mind. As I told my future son-in-law the first time we met, you never can be quite sure about me; whether I’m trying to be funny or I’m just plain crazy. And that’s my edge. This post: About the Blog Title explains, well, pretty much what you’d expect it to explain.

I wanted to have the place all cleaned up in time for the party, but I’m in the process of moving. I’ve been threatening since the fall to transfer my blog over to Word Press. But, as I often say about all things technical, “Things did not go as planned.”

Then again if I were to invite you over to my house, I may or may not have all the laundry neatly folded and put away. I’ve reached a point in my life where I’ve quit trying to hide all the mess, and this is a place where I invite folks to enter into it. I’m convinced that one of the chief purposes of my life is to tell my stories as a cautionary tale for others.

And through my stories, I hope to bear witness to God’s faithfulness in meeting me in my mess.

I’ve written this post about what I believe.  On my blog I sometimes make jokes about being a Presbyterian, because that’s what I am. Sometimes I wonder if there aren’t folks in my church who secretly wish I’d just run off and join the Methodists. But they’re stuck with me. It’s probably predestined.

I’m a freelance writer; and because that’s what it says on my business card, it must be true. I homeschooled my kids for many years and, as they began leaving home, I started looking for writing projects to give me something to do. One of my first was a series of interviews with an elderly friend who was losing her memory to dementia. We gave bound copies of her story to her friends and family members the Christmas before she died.

Another early project was interviewing some folks who are part of the Coalition for Christian Outreach, (CCO). The CCO is a Pittsburgh-based college ministry which, in my completely unbiased opinion, is about the most happening one on the planet.

I love telling stories, my own and those of others who cross my path. My brother, who reads my blog, said he imagines most people think I make up the stories I tell here. He can confirm, however, that they are (mostly) true.

Although I homeschooled for many years, I don’t often write about my experience. I think I need some distance to gain some perspective on those years. I didn’t always love it, and writing about it now might just come across as mean. I hope that when I do tell those stories; the good, the bad, and the ugly, I can tell them with honesty and grace.

Both of my children are adopted, and I gladly tell the stories of God’s goodness in bringing to me the exact ones he knew I needed. I sponsor, through the good work of Compassion International,  a child from the Philippines out of gratitude for my son who was born there.

I love the beach, I love Christmas, and I love my friend Ethel. I’m a huge fan of hijinks, shenanigans, feather boas, and guacamole. I prefer pie to cake. I’m originally from the Pittsburgh area and, yes, I do bleed black and gold for my Steelers. And the mere existence of the Baltimore Ravens makes me sad.

Me with Michelle DeRusha, Deidra Riggs, and Mary Bonner

I often refer to the people I’ve met in blog world as my imaginary friends. It’s been my privilege to meet several of them in real life, and they have demonstrated themselves to be as genuine as folks can be. Some of the communities where I like to hang out on the internet include:  The Wellspring, Graceful, Finding Heaven, Imperfect Prose, Jumping Tandem, and Faith Barista.

Me with Jodi from Curious Acorn

I’m also honored to have been featured at The High Calling, a community of some of the most thoughtful people on the internet discussing the connection between faith and work.

Yes, I am available to guest post. Please ask.

I strongly believe that one of the privileges of being a follower of Christ is getting to speak words of blessing over one another, so may God’s grace and peace be upon you. Thanks for stopping by.

If you’ve enjoyed your visit here, won’t you consider subscribing by email, liking my Facebook page, or following me on Twitter (@nancyfranson) or Pinterest?

UBP2011 Post