I have been taking a craft class for a few months now. Usually, I'm not very good. Seriously, I'm not being self-depracating or fishing for compliments or anything. I am not craft inclined. I can scrapbook and I can cook; those are my two crafty or creative outlets. My work in class usually leaves a lot to be desired.

This week that all changed. I am so incredibly proud of my craft project this week. We made light plates (you know those plates that protect all the electrical outlets). Mine not only looks good but it almost looks kind of professional. I am just so proud that I had to share my accomplishment.

One Stitch, Two Stitch….In My Head

I currently have stitches in my head, in two different places actually. I am also currently bleeding from the head. Now that can’t be good. Let me break it down a bit.

I went to the dermatologist today. Lately my scalp has been acting up. It’s embarrassing. So, after trying lots of over the counter stuff to see if it would help, I decided to go to the doctor. The dermatologist came in, asked me what brought me in, glanced at my head (no kidding, glanced) and then said she wanted to take a swab of my scalp and send it to the lab. Okay, I’ve had swabs taken before. You know, a q-tip looking utensil is scrapped across whatever and voila, a swab has been taken. Turns out, this swab…not so much like what I just described.

The doctor leaves and says her assistant will come in to get started. Okay, no biggie. So, the assistant tells me that the worst part of the process is the numbing….she’ll be using a needle. Excuse me? A what? For a swab?

Incoming.

The assistant told me to prepare – there would be a “pinch and a burn” then proceeded to tell me when she was sticking the needle in my head and that I’d feel the burn. Oh yeah, felt the pinch and the burn. Then she went and did that on another part of my head. Pinch and burn. Then….she’s gone. I swear I felt like I was having an out of body experience. Was any of this really happening? I didn’t ask for you to stab my head with a needle.

The doctor comes back in and she literally scrapes away a part of my scalp. No, I’m not exaggerating. She scrapes one side, then the other. At this point I’m feeling a bit odd. The doctor asks if I feel like I’m going to pass out. Mmm, not quite…but I do feel like my head is a bit fuzzy (said like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail). At this point she has started to sew me back up. Just the oddest feeling. She asks again if I feel like I’m going to pass out and I said no but I was thinking about my head being sewed up. She suggested we change the subject and asked if I had lunch. So, I figured she was trying to get me to talk. I told her a little about my lunch. Turns out she wasn’t interested in conversation; she only wanted to make sure that I had eaten. Turns out if you eat, the chances of passing out while your head is being stitched up are minimal. Good to know.

I can’t even tell you how weird it is to touch your head and not feel a thing. That just doesn’t seem right. There really are no words to describe what it feels like. I hope you never have to know. I can only imagine what it will feel like when it starts to itch and I can feel it.

So, now I have stitches in my head that I have to put Neosporin on every day, yummy clumps of blood all around it and a headache. This is why I hate going to the doctor – you go in with a simple question and come out with a load of prescriptions, tests that were run that you’re not even sure your insurance will cover and pieces of your head missing. Okay, so that last one doesn’t always happen but any time it does just isn’t right.

Do you think stitches in the head qualify me for a sick day? I go back in two weeks to see the results from my swab aka the cutting open of my scalp. Can’t wait to hear what the results are. Let's hope she doesn't have to run more tests.

Offensive?

Today in church we had a guest preacher. Craig Gross, who is a youth pastor in Chicago, spoke. He is one of the founders of xxxchurch.com - the #1 Christian porn site. What a story this guy has. He shared a great message and an amazing testimony of God's love and heart for people. There are so many things I could write about what Craig spoke about today, so many stories I could tell. I'll stick with one for this post. For others, you can check out their website.

What these guys started out to do was to get people to start talking about porn and the addiction it can become and how it affects lives and families. They (Craig and his friend who had the idea together) decided to launch the website. They decided they needed to advertise so they felt led to go to the porn convention that happened every year in Vegas. To make a long story short, the coordinators of the convention loved these guys so much they invited them back the following year. They've been there 5 years running and will hit 4 conventions total this year - since the industry has exploded so much.

Side note - did you know that the porn industry pulls in more money than the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA combined? That's crazy.

Anyway, they had to create some sort of booth for the convention. So, they came up with the tagline "Jesus loves porn stars." They have t-shirts and they also decided to give away Bibles at the convention. They are New Testament Bibles with a cover that reads "Jesus loves porn stars." It's true - he loves them as much as he loves pastors, and children, and teachers, and....

Craig told story after story of conversations he's had with people in the industry and story after story of God being at work. At one point he made a reference to some of the super conservative Christians that are out there. I couldn't help but think if they are offended by their tagline and logo that 'Jesus loves porn stars.' I can just hear it now - that just promotes their lifestyle. Telling them about Jesus' love without telling them about his hatred of their sin is...well...sinful. I just couldn't help but wonder if they are supported by other prominent believers.

Every year so far they have run out of Bibles before the end of the convention. Craig and his friends don't lie about what they are offering. They are clear that the book you are about to pick up from the table is a Bible. People take it anyway. He said every year they look through the trash and not one Bible is thrown away. Of course he joked that people are afraid to throw the Bible away because it's bad luck and no one really wants to mess with God. So, some people do put the Bible on top of the trash can so they didn't really throw it away. We got a laugh at that but those that were left on top of the can end up going to someone else who decided to take a Bible home with them.

God's word is powerful. It can break the addiction. It can set the sinner free. You know, Jesus really does love porn stars.

For It's 1, 2, 3 Strikes You're Out...

My mom and Bob were in town visiting this past weekend. On Saturday we went to see the Phillies play the Mets. Although I grew up a Yankees fan and technically now that I live in Philly I'm "supposed" to be a Phillies fan, it was fun to see the Mets win. What a crowd. We ended up in the Mets section - or at least it seemed like it. Hearing their chants - so fun. Phillies fans are crazy too. The mascot is called the Phanatic if that says anything about the fans here. If only I lived my Christian life with the passion that either team's fans have. Of course, for many of them, the libations are helpful in increasing their passion. Alas, I digress.

Tim McGraw threw out the first pitch. He and Faith Hill were in concert right next door that night so he was in town already. Seemed only fitting since his dad Tug McGraw was a Philly. It was fun to have someone I 'know' throw out the first pitch. Personally I would have loved to play the role of catcher or even ball girl who got to bring him the baseball to throw but whatever. I know, can't always get what you want.

On Sunday the three of us went to one of my favorite places in all of Philadelphia - the Italian Market. Basically it's an open market with local farmers selling fresh fruits and veggies. There are also many butchers, fish markets, gourmet markets, cheeses, coffees and restaurants down there as well. I just love it. We ate lunch down in a section of Philly called Old City. We walked down to the water and got to eat ice cream. The weather both days was absolutely beautiful - really couldn't have asked for better - so we wanted to take advantage.

Times like this weekend make me grateful I moved back east to be closer to my family. They truly are a joy to be around. They are a gift.