Expensive Pens

After a week-long conference on Forensic Nursing, I certainly feel the need for some pen shopping. I need some happy thoughts.

Wedgewood isn't just dishes and bowls anymore! I personally like the Wedgewood chocolate pen, but it also comes in the classic blue.

If you have $800 or so just laying around burning a hole in your pocket, you could go for a lovely YOL Viceroy Grand in a Victorian style. Wonderful as it would be I just can't imagine myself using this pen at work. Where WOULD someone use an $800 pen?

Normally, I would advise against having a pen that costs roughly a mortgage payment, but the Montegrappa Stradivari is a pen that deserves at least a momentary drool.

Believe it or not, there are more expensive pens on Joon.com. I didn't think it possible, but there is one offered for $8800. The Namiki Special Edition pen is rather cute, but I'll just have to live vicariously through the idle rich. ;-)

Just when you thought you'd seen almost everything, something comes around to prove you wrong. Behold, the Swiss Army Pen. Wagner has combined the famous pocketknives with a pen that writes at almost any angle in three trendy colors.

Need a fine writing instrument for a Mason friend? Believe it or not, there is a Mason Pen for the Mason who has everything.

For those of us who hear "Dave Ramsey says..." every time a pen is mentioned in a sentence that does not begin with, "Do you have...", Dalys Pen Shop offers the wonderful pens for a discount. I've never ordered from them (yet, mind you) but I heartily suggest a look-see.

Remember, God made you with a purpose that only you can fulfill. Persue your passion.

RT@carlhancock:If you watch the NFL today be sure to think about Pat Tillman. He gave up football riches to fight for his country. #hero

Four frogs rescued, basement squeegeed, outside drain de-mucked of debris, 27 mosquito bites & a new slug friend later, I'm done.

*WAIL!* My momma won't let me play in the flooded basement!!

Wait...I Have Spiritual Gifts? I Don't Remember Unwrapping Anything...

Labor Day, Labor Day...where for art thou, Labor Day? The mythical weekend of the last hurrah of summer...of backyard barbeque, pulled pork and corn on the cob...last weekend to savor the freedom of summer before the responsibilities of fall move in and take over. And hit a good sale or two while you're at it.

While you're savoring the pulled pork pushing the reality of the upcoming season (practices, after school activities and PTA meetings, anyone?) take a moment to think on your spiritual gifts.

You know those things. Paul talks about them in 1 Corinthians 12. They're not for hardcore church weirdos, you know. Everyone has at least one gift (& no, the gift of buying pens doesn't count as much as I like to joke that it's the most important).

Pens aside (perish the thought, but I have a point), God did give you at least one spiritual gift be it teaching, healing, preaching, faith, wise advice, hospitality, discernment, and much more.

'Yeah, but what is it?' you may ask. The question is easier to ask than answer. The discovery process where you dive deep within yourself and seek the gifts given to you is not quick but the journey is well worth it. Its a far cry better than wandering aimlessly through your spiritual life waiting to be fed the occasional nugget of wisdom gleaned from the Sundays you manage to stay awake.

'Ok, but if I find out what my gifts are, won't I hafta use them?' Probably. Open your heart and mind to the Spirit and you'll likely want to.

Where to start? Lifeway has a good pen and paper survey that you can print out, write on and tally up on your own. That taxes my poor ADHD addled brain too much. Its an excellent survey for those of you not distracted by every wee little thing that comes anywhere close by. Plus it involves math (simple as it may be) at the end. I rarely say no to any chance to use a pen. ;-)

Team Ministry has an interactive 108 question survey that allows you to point and click the answers to your questions. Unlike the Lifeway survey which gives you a scale of 1-5, Team Ministry has three response range. They also have a group survey if you're giving such a thing to more than one person.

Another interactive spiritual gifts test is from Kodachrome. Their test has 140 questions and will tally it for you at the end. A nice plus is that they have one geared for younger users so the youth aren't on the sidelines in this one. It'll take a few minutes, but isn't gaining some insight to your spiritual gifts worth the time? This survey asks you about praying in tongues, so if the more charismatic stuff freaks you out, be aware its there.

Give a survey or two a go. You might find out something about yourself that you didn't know.

Who knows? You also might find yourself using your gifts at your church sometime soon.

For inquiring minds, my top gifts are shepherding, discernment, faith and helps.