Great Week-End

Friday

Sunday

We went to a Fundraiser benefitting MS Research.  ^The laughing guy above is our neighbor, Bryan.  He's the Archangel Raphael Ministries Director at a local Orthodox church.

He's also got some acting skills and law enforcement experience.  We've got friends in high places :)

Elijah Stone gave us a lesson in perseverance.

and.......Chet Solomon is such a BIG BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Am A Mother to 10 Children

5 are in the presence of the Lord.  It will be wonderful to see them face to face one day.

5 are here with us in North Hollywood.

Braverjah Sage age 21.  He is a peacemaker.  Even tempered & teachable.  He is kind and wise.

Mcabe Justus Gregg age 19.  He is a deep feeler.  Serious & fun loving.  He is passionate and forgiving.

Galilee Polina Gregg age 17.  She is emotional.  Persistent & determined.  She is a fighter and ever searching.

Jemima Bakytgul Gregg age 15.  She's comfortable in her own skin.  Hardworking & motivated.  She is tender and a teacher.

Zion Evangeline Gregg age 9.  She is confident.  Loving & discerning.  She is strong and sensitive.

Mother's Day

God help the person who does not know the love of a mother like ours.

New Representation

I am happy to say that I am now representing Bradley Gregg.  I have been a fan of his work and am thrilled to be representing him now that he is in Los Angeles and ready to dive back into the industry.

He is such a gifted actor and my goal is to re-introduce him to the industry and to the people who know him, and to create new fans among those who are less familiar.  As someone who knows him and his work, I do hope you will keep him in mind and help us ignite his career once again.

Bradley Gregg

Bradley is a contemporary of actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, River Phoenix, Ethan Hawke, Giovanni Ribisi, Johnny Depp, and Michael Rapaport, having worked with them and had equally successful starts to his career.  Bradley’s first notable role was as Eyeball Chambers inStand By Me.  His career catapulted from there with roles in features such as Nightmare on Elm Street 3, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Fisher King and recurring roles on TV in Lonesome Dove , E.R. and O Pioneers among others.   Bradley has worked with Rob Reiner, Wes Craven, Steven Spielberg, Terry Gilliam, and opposite actors David Morse, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Robert Patrick, Kiefer Sutherland, Dennis Hopper and Lara Flynn Boyle.  After taking a hiatus to raise a family, Bradley is back in Los Angeles, and positioned to once again bring his talent’s to the big and small screen.

BRIANNA BARCUS  

CLEAR TALENT GROUP | VICE PRESIDENT

 10950 Ventura Blvd. | Studio City, CA 91604

818 509-0121 (o) | 818 509-7729 (f) | CTGBrianna (aim)

cleartalentgroup.com

Sabbath Rest

Fight for Life

These warriors were out this week-end at the Americana in Glendale...fighting for life.

What an enormous blessing to bump into them.

I asked Zion what she thought after seeing the above image.

Zion:  I would say to people..."What if someone wanted to do that to you?"

Ready to Go

Remember this?

Well tonight...Bradley and I got to go out on a date!

The above allocated "Birthday" $$$ joined together with the "special purpose audition fund" allowed us an evening at the theatre.

On the playbill....Proof.

Starring James Whitmore Jr....alongside others.

Back in the day...JWjr..... a director as well.... hired Bradley.

Twice.

Once for a role on 21 Jump Street.  And again for a role on The Pretender.

The time period during The Pretender gig was one of the worst time periods of our lives.  The boys were young...and we were not doing well as a couple.  Brad was in a bad way which must have been somewhat obvious to JWjr  because on set one day ...he decided to discuss with Brad...the story of a very well known older actor who had faced challenges and hadn't made the wisest decisions etc. etc. etc.  At the time, Brad wasn't really sure why he was being told what he was being told.

After Christ...after salvation...after the Lord began to open Brad's eyes...he realized that JWjr had been trying to warn him...help him...steer him out of harms way.

Years later....Bradley wrote him a letter.    Thanking him.




Upon our relocation to LA...Bradley reached out to JWjr and they planned to meet for coffee.  That meeting never took place.  People are busy.  Life is distracting.  All sorts of things came up.

Well, this past week...out of the clear blue sky...Bradley received a phone call.  From JWjr....inviting us to come see a play he was starring in...his daughter was directing...etc. etc. etc.  He mentioned that he also wanted to catch up.  My gut told me he wanted to get a look at Brad.  To check in on where he's at...how he's doing.

Things like this don't get us too excited anymore.  The Lord is in the business of throwing curve balls into every imaginable scenario...so who knows what it means if anything at all???

The night was fun.  The performances moving.  And our brief encounter with JWjr afterwards (lots of people to talk to) was sweet.

He has a straight forward no nonsense way about him.

As we left he said...."Yeah yeah...alright...you look good.  You're ready to go."

then

"I'll call you tomorrow."

He does direct lots of good stuff.

We'll see.


On the drivehome...we passed many homeless...but this guy's set up really stood out.

I was reminded of the "food for the homeless" $$$ that was so generously donated and thought about what I will purchase with it.

And as we drove past the Hollywood Bowl...cluttered with traffic due to an event that was letting out...I was reminded of just how much God loves us.  So much so that while we were yet lost in our sin...He sent His son, Jesus...Jeshua...Israel's long awaited Messiah...to die for us...taking our place on a Roman cross.  Then He rose victorious on the third day...conquering death and sin & bringing hope to all those who call on His name.

Cultural Christianity

A while ago I came across a blog post on facebook that put in to words what I had been processing about the issue of the purity ring movement.

This week...again on facebook...I came across a link posted by a friend that put into words what I had been processing about the teaching of tithing trend.

Again on facebook...I was introduced to a Christianity Today article... which put into words what I had been processing about breast feeding in church circles.

^  That one...the breastfeeding one ...partnered with living life in proximity to those who may not be fully like-minded in the modesty area...caused me to think deeper and again about the topic.

I came across this story...over at aol entertainment...which ...

led to.....

me posting a photo over on facebook...

...and asking.... appropriate or inappropriate?  Why or why not?

I've got a wide variety of friends...with varying worldviews from all walks of life.... so I was curious to see the responses.

Pretty much no surprises.

The responses caused me to think deeper.  In my ponderings.... I re-visted a few of my older blog posts.

This post on wearing bikinis.

This post dealing somewhat with breasts.

This post on our night at The Abbey.

_______________________________________

As of today I've come to the conclusion that the above mentioned things...purity rings...tithing...breastfeeding...modesty...

and just now....right this minute....I thought of another old post of mine on....side hugs...

...& our ideas of how to deal with them are often navigated culturally...rather than Biblically.

At one time...these ^ lovely ladies would have been considered by some to be quite risque.

Especially compared to ...

...these ^ dear creatures.  And ^ they would have been quite scandalous compared to...

this awe inspiring example of societal decorum and propriety.

Wait...or is she flamboyant?

I'm so confused.

Not.

All this talk about fashion led me to thoughts about Downton Abbey...specifically to Edith who is by all predictions most likely going to turn into a floosie soon...

...what with her bobbed hair and short dresses!!!!!

Talk about attention seeking.

That led me to Jemima...who is currently donning lavendar locks....

Downton Abbey and Jemima led me to our friend Thomas....who is pretty much a perfect example of appropriate modesty.

When we arrived in his backyard to find him wearing a white leather banana hammock...he discreetly excused himself to throw on the ever acceptable pair of board shorts.

I love him for that.

I will leave you with this...

Does the Bible change?

Does culture change the Bible?

Does the Bible change culture?

Is man in the business of trying to fit the Bible into life....
...or...is man in the business of living life according to the Bible?

One thing is for certain...the Lord is in the business of nudging...shoving...and dragging man out of self imposed comfort zones.

And.... Jesus is way more radical than any of us ever could have imagined.

& my last comment in a long line of comments on the facebook thread.....

JUST ADDED:

What about this?  Inappropriate?

Judging from the comments over on my facebook wall...I'd say some would think so.

She doesn't though and her parents certainly don't.

And we are all three walking closely with our Lord.

So that's that.

Home-Education

What does a 9 year old girl do while her mother is occupied running lines (in a Southern accent :) with her brother for a Civil War era project?

She makes a geisha costume out of a ripped sheet and paints her face.

I love Home-Education.

Yahweh

Mcabe and I were walking down the auditorium aisle headed for the spot where the Lord's Table elements were waiting.  Just as we got to the front of the line...we saw him off to the right.  A jittery man...with a backpack.  As he placed the backpack down and stepped back from it... Mcabe and I made eye contact.  I noticed the man directly behind the jittery man take notice too.   I actually saw the double take.  It happened in slow motion.

The man was jittery.

He had placed a backpack on the ground and moved away from it.

It was a camouflage backpack.  Khaki in color.

His hair was cropped very short and he was of a darker complexion.  Middle Eastern?  Possibly Hispanic?  The lights were down.

Mcabe and I moved back to our seats.  I told Brave and Brad what we had witnessed.

Twice during the second worship set...I made my way back down the aisle to check to see if the jittery man was still somewhat near his backpack.

He was.

A few things went through my mind.....

Hollywood Blvd. had been shut down due to a bomb threat a few days before.

I know there are undercover security guys at Reality LA...but who knows how many and where they were at????  They are undercover.

Galilee and Jemima were unaware.  Zion was in another area.

Bradley had asked for his phone/camera and moved closer to the jittery man with the backpack.

There was an unspoken agreement between the boys and I.  Times are crazy.  God is sovereign and worthy of our praise.  Be alert.  Remain hopeful.

I thought of Israel...especially during the singing of......

Yahweh (video) 

I decided to video believers praising the Lord in what might have been an act of defiance.  I was not going to fear anything but the Lord.  Maybe it was an act of submission though?  Cuz I do think my doing so was Spirit led.

20 minutes later the service ended.

Brad returned to us.

The jittery guy left with his backpack without incident.  A hard street life was most likely part of his story...maybe he was in recovery.

I hope to God the jittery man with the backpack was a foolish brother who gave no thought to his actions...clueless to his insensitivity.

There is the possibility that he was troubled and trying to get a rise out of people..... which would be mean spirited.

Something similar to this happened a few years ago in Scottsdale.  A huge red flag went up for a person who wandered into Reformed Living.  As the Lord would have it...this blue collar type Caucasian guy sat behind me and opened up a conversation which revealed very quickly how unstable he actually was.  Brad kept a close eye on him during the sermon....actually following him out midway...and for weeks...I looked to see if he was hanging around.  I always made sure the girls went to the rest room in pairs...even though this church campus was like a second home to them...but for a few weeks I was super diligent about keeping an eye on them.  That man who caused me to feel physically threatened never appeared again.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3:28 * Sweetest thing ever....in recounting the events of the jittery guy with the backpack...Braverijah tells us how he was ready to get busy holding some arteries for someone.

Welcome Them Home

Is home-educating your children difficult?

Depends.  Not all the time.

Is it fun?

Depends.  Not all the time.

Is it worth it?

Yes.  All the time.

Welcome them home.

I was introduced to this link on facebook and fell in love with the message.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev who I am praying for today.  I am praying that the Lord would interrupt his life and save him from himself.  I'm praying that like Saul he would have a Damascus Road encounter.   

According to the Lord's perfect will.   

Oh that he would be transformed into a Paul.

When you have been given the spiritual gift of discernment...everything tends to play out as an epic battle.

Praying with this sermon in mind  this Sunday morning.

Praying for an American citizen...an Islamic terrorist lying in a Jewish hospital being treated by Israeli doctors.  

Also praying that the plans of other terrorists would be thwarted and anticipating with hope the day when all will be made right.  

Weeping and feeling as if I could vomit.

I am also very open to the idea of praying that if the Lord reveals Dzhokhar is not of the elect that his waterboarded pansy ass would squeal like a little girl.

Boston

This may sound like a rambling mess...it's cuz I am processing as I am writing.

I am amazed by the way the Lord uses His church to glorify Himself and encourage one another.  If you know me...I am a big picture person.  I see the end result clearly...but not always the forest for the trees.

I am able to boldly proclaim the destination ...but need others to set the course if you will.  To mapquest the route.

I have a vision for what a home-educating co-op should be but not for scheduling the calendar.

In Christ...each of us is part of a body.  The body of Christ.

I have a sister in Christ who is very good with details.  In fact...her strength is in the details.

This morning...she dropped a bit of very important information into my lap...without even blinking an eye.  Effortlessly...she connected all the puzzle pieces scattered on the tabletop of my mind.

Rambling might get worse here......Remember I am processing as I type....

When Dan Cathay, the President of Chick-fil-A was asked his position on marriage he confirmed that he was indeed pro traditional marriage.

He was attacked for his answer.

Many in the gay community claimed they were being terrorized by organizations who defended traditional marriage.

The mayor of Boston said he did not want Chick-fil-A's in Boston.

Some in conservative circles pointed out the hypocrisy  of the mayor's position...given the fact that he made it super easy for a Muslim mosque to be built in Boston.  Knowing something about Islamic teaching in regards to homosexuals...they knew that the Koran would have gays beheaded for their lifestyle.

OhMYGOODNESS!!!!!!!  I was so distracted by the recent terrorist attacks in Boston...weeping for and praying for the victims...praying for law enforcement...praying that the terrorists would be identified ....killed or captured...that I did not connect the dots that the mayor of that Boston is this mayor of this Boston.

And now I learn that the mosque he helped build by his PC tolerance is the same mosque the two coward terrorists attended in Boston!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the mayor of Boston who did not want Chick-fil-A's in Boston because it's President...a Christian man...held to certain religious beliefs...

....more or less (w/other elected and appointed officials) aided and abetted the Islamic terrorists who attacked his own city in a religious act.  Jihad.

Weeping.  And feeling as if I am going to vomit.

Green

This is a fun exercise you can do with the kids anywhere/anytime.  Downtown...at the library...in the grocery store...in your own home...on a nature walk...by the sea...

Choose a color...a shape...a thing (clouds/flowers/hats/animals/jewels etc) ...and go on a search.
Snap photos with your camera or phone and then organize the images into a collage. 

We chose GREEN as our subject.  It kept the girls alert & on their toes and now we have a one-of-a-kind keepsake from our day at the Getty. 

Siblings

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." 

Matthew 19:29-30

The Lord has been gracious to both Bradley and I.  He has provided loving & caring non biological sibling relationships.

Humbled and encouraged.