A small change for Lent in "The Order of Service for Doing Laundry"

One of my most popular posts last year had to do with the discovery that the Episcopalian Facebook world seems to all do their laundry on Saturday. Many of you remember this post.

Last week my friend Robert reminded me that we can't do the opening hymn during Lent, because it has the liturgical "A" word (A@#$%uia) in it. So the pressure was on to create a new one.

Here it is, sung to the tune of "Rock of Ages":

Rock of Ages, clean for me,
Cheer and Tide I give to Thee;
Let the water and the suds,
Clean my grass stains, dirt and blood,
Give my laundry double cure;
Save from wrath and make it pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill my laundry's demands;
Could my shirts no respite know,
Clean my undies white as snow,
Tighty whities, Bali bras;
Lingerie, you save them all.

Dryer sheets my hands now bring,
To prevent the static cling;
Naked, 'cuz my clothes are spent;
If they weren't soiled, my clothes I'd rend;
Loads of laundry, by and by;
Wash them, Savior, or I die.

While I spend my Saturday,
Laundering my life away,
Watching ball games on TV,
Facebook friends, they comfort me,
Rock of Ages, clean for me,
Cheer and Tide I give to Thee.

Maori Tattoos

Ever wonder about Maori tattoos? Well, then let me give you a little background on these great designs. Maori tattoos have their own unique identity compared to their Polynesian counterparts. Their spirals and curved shapes form a very intricate pattern that very distinctive to the Maori tribes. Legend said that a young warrior learned the art of the Maori tribal tattoos from My Tattoo My Love

Tribal Dragon Tattoos

I don’t like this tattoo not having some long talons or claws. I thought all tribal dragon tattoos had very long razor sharp claws. The red eye really makes this dragon look totally menacing. Most of the tribal dragon tattoos I have seen locally have been on the small side, I want to get one that is on the bigger side. I might even think about getting a couple tribal dragon tattoos next to each

Cherry Blossom Tattoo

There are few designs which are as delicate and beautiful as the cherry blossom tattoo. In Asian cultures, particularly Japan, cherry blossoms are metaphors for life. Cherry blossom is a symbol of female beauty and sexuality. Additionally, the cherry blossom is the Chinese symbol of feminine principal it also symbolized love in the language of herbs. Bushido, the samurai’s code, takes the cherry

Second Station--Jesus Takes Up His Cross

(From the Stations of the Cross in Lodwar Cathedral, Kenya)

Leader: O holy Christ, we worship you, we adore you;
People: You carried the instrument of your death through the crowded streets.

Jesus left the place called "The Pavement," carrying his cross up to the hill of Golgotha, known as "The Skull," as if God's Son were a common criminal. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined this? Yet the Father allowed his own son to be crushed with pain, spat upon, mocked.

Leader: The Lord laid upon him the iniquity of the world;
People: For sins the people of the world committed in thought, word, and deed; things done, and things left undone.

Lord God, author of the universe;
your beloved Son carried a cross hewn of the wood of our iniquities;
grant us strength and courage to take up our crosses and follow him,
although the way is narrow, and the journey arduous.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
who lives and reigns in your heavenly kingdom.

People: Amen.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.

"How did it feel to be on the other side of the ashes?"

That was the question posed of me by our Priest Associate, and I have to confess I had to ponder her question a while before thinking.

This year, since I was also acolyte and chalice bearer for our Ash Wednesday service, she also asked me to help impose ashes. As I thought about it, I realized the answer to her question is actually a three part answer, and it actually starts a day or so before Ash Wednesday. As with anything I ever do in serving at church in any capacity, thoughts about my role, whether it is serving as acolyte, lector, leader or Prayers of the People, has a "mechanical" component, a "projecting liturgically" component, and a "spiritual" component.

Any new task I am asked to do, inside or outside of church, you can bet that I think three-dimensionally about the actual physical task itself, and am very self-conscious that I do it smoothly and imperceptibly. At first, in preparation for the day, I thought about things like, "How much do I need to put on my thumb? How hard do I press? How big do I make the little crosses?"

I thought to myself, "I need practice doing this." So I practiced on the most available victims--my dogs. Boomer was very cooperative, and was very good at displaying the look of a penitent. Little Eddie, on the other hand, was fairly annoyed with the process. But at least it warmed me up to the possibility that the worst thing that could happen--jumping off the altar and rubbing one's head on the floor to rub the ashes off--probably wasn't going to happen.

Once freed from my obsessions and compulsions about "the mechanics," I could move on to the more serious stuff. In the Episcopal Church, anyone can impose ashes. It's not a job consigned solely to the ordained. But it IS a job that recognizes "the priesthood of all believers." I thought for a while about what the liturgy is trying to say to us. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The first day of a 40 day preparation for 50 days of resurrection. A day to be most mindful of all the things that stand in our way of our own resurrections.

One day a year, the ashes become an outward and visible sign of the smudges on our own souls--the things we walk around and hide and hope no one sees. I thought about how there is a certain amount of discomfort with being out in public with a black, cross-shaped smudge on one's forehead. I thought about how everyone thinks a little differently about this, and the different ways people think about it. Some folks don't even go to Ash Wednesday services. I've heard people tell me, "I'm not going to go to church to have someone remind me I'm sinful." That's their right; I'm okay with that. Some folks wipe them off right after getting out of church because they simply don't want dirt on their face in public. That's okay too. Some folks have been taught not to wear them out in public because it is a little like being a Pharisee--showing your piety in public. There's some truth to that, and I can understand that. Some wear them the rest of the day, and the most common reason I've heard is, "Well, it's a tradition of the Church, and I'm not ashamed of it, so I just wear it." My own personal behavior is probably a variant of that one.

I do tend to wear my smudge. Oh, a couple of times I've removed it when I had to be in a public venue where I don't think it's proper to mix church and state. But mostly I wear mine. My thought process is to remind myself that every day of my life, I walk around with those invisible smudges on my soul anyway, and wearing one on my forehead makes me consider a new possibility--"Would I behave differently if I knew everyone could see my "smudges"? What are those things I'd rather not have people see? What ought I change about those things?"

The other thing I thought about was "What is the message I am conveying by being one of the "appliers" of the ashes?" Part of me said, "It's not my place to do it. It feels weird to be a lay person doing it. People associate it with a priestly thing. I'm not very priestly. It feels a little bit like I am telling others, "Here's what I've got to say to you about YOUR sins. So there." I have no right to tell people that."

But then I realized that, because our church does not make this a "priests only" sort of thing, this is about that business of "the priesthood of all believers." I am going to get them put on me same as I will be putting them on others. I have always allowed someone to impose ashes on me. It's no different than allowing the sins of others to impose upon me. All of humankind shares a commonality with sin, and it is, in a lot of ways like ashes--it's messy and we get it all over things we never intended to put it." I thought about how during "the mud season" in the country, I often track mud in places I never intended, show up to work with mud on my pants that I have no clue how it got there, or look at my own hand and think, "Where in the world did I stick my hand in mud? I don't remember."

But prior to the service, I felt a bit of self-conscious discomfort about this "Who am I to do this, who am I to send an unspoken message from God about the sins of others, when my sins are ever before ME?" But just as the liturgy sometimes creates spots of discomfort in me, it also took it away. At the point just prior to the prayer where the celebrant blesses the ashes, our priest associate and I had worked out what she wanted for the mechanics. I was to hold the two pyxes out in my palm, and she would put her hand over them and say the prayer.

Then something happened that caught me off guard. In my mind, I had expected her to hover her hand over them, much as how she hovers her hands over the bread and wine in the epiclesis. But she didn't. She PLACED her hand on the tops of the two pyxes and her fingers were brushing my palm. My mind is so prone to flashing instant messages when the Holy Spirit hits me in the head with the "holy 2x4," and this time was no exception. In big black letters, the whiteboard of my brain saw the message:

"This is not about the human hands that do this; this is about the ashes being the center of what is surrounded by human flesh, with no boundaries between priests and parishioners, and God speaks to us with whatever hands happen to be in the way."

Suddenly, I felt okay with the process. It totally switched my mode from one of "self-consciousness" to being just another unique piece in that grand and mysterious puzzle that is "The Liturgy."

I became aware of two things. One was that I consciously put my hand on each person's forehead to pull back their hair a little bit to apply the ashes with my thumb. I thought about how, when I'm sick, it's always so comforting for someone to simply feel my forehead to see if I have a fever. That simple little form of physical touch acknowledges my weakness, and shows love and care. In my mind, God cradles our heads in our hands, even when we are soul-sick. I realized I wanted others to feel "cradled," not "punished."

The other thing I became conscious of was to start the line "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," independent of when our priest associate started it. I didn't want to "ride her coattails." I didn't want there to be this "dual voice." I wanted it to become a single voice of all humanity, like singing a round or doing a monastic chant. It seemed right to me that the continuous sound of that line could become in itself a prayer of contemplation, and to keep it going like a round created "prayer space," so people didn't hear the words as spoken, but could go BEHIND the words and find God in their own spaces. I realized my own love of "creating" wanted to give room for others to create things in themselves, and I would just ride the wave and enjoy the view.

So the answer to her question was not what I expected. I wasn't "on the other side" of the ashes. I was in the middle of them.

Styles and Types of Flower Tattoos

For anyone because accepting annual tattoos, there are a cardinal of assets out there to advance in your search. You ability anticipate you appetite a atramentous rose for example, but it is important that you acquisition out that the atramentous rose stands for death. Apprentice added about how annual tattoos are advised and what they represent below.

Different types of Annual Tattoos

When you aboriginal alpha allotment your annual boom styles, you should apprentice what your boom is activity to say. Here are a few of the added accepted flowers that bodies get active to their bodies and what they tend to mean:

o Roses - Roses are about advised a adventurous flower, but back you amalgamate them with added colors they alpha to booty on new meanings. Yellow roses are abounding of joy area as orange roses are affection and atramentous roses are death.

o Lilies - Lilies are a assurance of abstention and renewal, a bounce annual that is generally associated with adoration and birth.

o Daffodils - Daffodils can beggarly a abundant cardinal of things, from the alpha of a accord to the acme of a abundant accord of adamantine assignment and accomplishment on your allotment in a admirable thing.

o Hibiscus - Hibiscuses represent all the adorableness and joy in the apple and tend to accept a abundant accord of bottom meanings depending on who wears them.

o Lotus - The lotus stands for abiding accord and calmness and is an eastern attribute of religious acquirements and spirituality.

When you apprentice the differences amid the types of annual tattoos you accord yourself a abundant accord of elbowroom to get started in the action of allotment what your boom will attending like. Just accomplish abiding to research, be abiding of your final accommodation and analysis with the boom artisan afore bond added adumbration into your annual tattoo, lest you actualize article that has alike added alternating meanings that what you intended.

Tattoo Design

Thinking about your next great tattoo design? Here are a few tips to help you on your quest. Choose colors that are appropriate for the tattoo, but also appropriate for you. This is generally a permanent venture, so you want something that you like and will enjoy seeing on your body for the rest of your life. What colors are your spirit? If you are commemorating an event, what are its colors? If

Mermaid Tattoos

Here we have a whole sheet of mermaid tattoos. The three on top that are totally different and them the ones on the bottom that appear to be three versions of the same tattoo in different stages of its completion. Mermaid tattoos are always fun and pretty cool. They will almost always be a good conversation starter in any situation. Most all of the mermaid tattoos feature these half-women,

Tribal Tattoos

Throughout recorded history tribal tattoos had various purposes but were mainly a means of identifying members of a particular group or clan. This enabled you to easily identify one another, or recognize distant relatives. But it was also generally believed that your tattoos would allow you to find your tribe and join it again in the afterlife. Today, fraternal orders, gangs, members of the

Tips For Tattoo Artists and Galleries

Tattoo artist

Is it a accepted convenance to accord a tip to a boom artisan for a assignment able-bodied done? Getting a boom is not a accepted and accepted account consumers get, but to some bodies who do get tattoos, they are consistently allurement whether it would be nice to action a tip to their boom artisan to appearance acknowledgment for the account done. Not far from the catechism is addition one, which asks how abundant tip is appropriate and is ethical. Surely, we all accord tips to cab drivers, bartenders, commitment cadre and restaurant waiters, and because such a convenance is able-bodied adopted, bodies accept account on how abundant ambit they could ethically and accurately offer.

In truth, no one is banishment anyone to accord a tip to the boom artist. The boom artisan himself or herself is not usually expecting. As an accepted aphorism of thumb, you should stick to how abundant you could allow and how abundant you anticipate the account and boom aftereffect is account back alms to accord a tip to a boom artist. Tips to boom artists are usually emblematic your acknowledgment and acknowledgment for the art architecture that was aloof put on your body. A 5% to 10% tip based on the all-embracing bulk would be appreciated. Boom artists apperceive for a actuality that the tip bulk would already bulk so abundant because accepted ante of acceptable tattoos nowadays bulk about $200 on the average.

Did you apperceive that tips accustomed to your boom artisan could additionally accept abounding forms added than monetary? For example, you could accord out appurtenances as a badge of appreciation. It may be a bit odd, but some boom audience accompany accolade or chocolates to the boom artisan in acknowledgment of a acceptable boom session. What added anatomy of tip could be greater than apropos the boom artisan to all your friends, who additionally aim to accept a tattoo. You can action to administer the calling cards of a boom artisan or put his sticker into your car.

On top of it all, the greatest tip you could possibly action is the best priceless of them all. And what could that be? Appreciation. A simple action of acknowledgment and simple praises advertence how you adulation the boom would be the greatest badge of acknowledgment a boom artisan could anytime have. That way, you should be acceptable in airing your appreciation. Back you acknowledgment for addition boom someday, your boom artisan would appropriately serve you as he or she remembers you as the acceptable applicant that gets to acknowledge a boom architecture actual well.

First Station--Jesus is Condemned to Death

(Victor Challendor, Challwood Studio, New York, "Jesus is Condemned to Death", 1998, from the Episcopal Church Visual Arts online collection)

As promised, my Lenten project is to write my own Stations of the Cross. I am essentially following what appears to be the rubric in Enriching our Worship's "Way of the Cross;" namely a short opening responsive prayer, a paraphrase of that portion of the Biblical account, a longer responsive concluding prayer, and the Trisagion.

So here we go...

Opening Prayers:

Leader: ✠In the name of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our sustainer and redeemer,
People: Amen.

Leader: Lord, have mercy.
People: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Lord, have mercy.

Leader and People:

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Leader: Pour your grace upon our hearts, O Lord, that the cross and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen us in all goodness and mercy.
People: Save us from the time of trial, O Lord, and bring us to the glory and resurrection of your blessed Son. Amen.


The First Station--Jesus is condemned to death

Leader: O holy Christ, we worship you, we adore you;
People: You stood in judgment without blemish as you were handed your fate.

In the early light of morning, the chief priests and scribes conferred in the waning darkness to bring about your death. You were bound, led away, and delivered to Pilate. As the sun rose higher in the sky, your blamelessness was revealed to the point Pilate could find no fault with you. When interrogated, you gave no answer. But the people clamored for darkness. They cried, "Give us Barabbas. Give us Barabbas and crucify this man." The voice of Pilate's wife whispered in his ear, "Have nothing to do with this man." As a riot began to build, Pilate took water and washed his hands. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he declared. "See to it yourselves," and he handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Leader: God did not spare the life of his own Son;
People: But handed Him to the mob for crucifixion.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

Holy and immortal God,
Your own Son was stripped, mocked, scourged and beaten
Before dying on the cross.
Grant that in your eternal mercy
That in his enduring humiliation and pain
We seek justice and peace in this world
When none seems to be had.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.

People: Amen.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy immortal one,
Have mercy on us.

Who is Behind Celebrities' Tattoo Designs?

You may not accept a abundant assessment about celebrities, their activity style, their I.Q. - but I anticipate cipher can abjure the best admirable tattoos are active on their bodies. Maybe it's easier (and abundant added pleasant) for a boom artisan to draw a nice boom designs on Angelina Jolie or Megan Fox' aback than on mine. Or maybe those tattoos are not a bit bigger than mine, they aloof attending bigger because of their admirable backgrounds such as Megan Fox amateur or Britney Spears lower back. Anyhow, I accept aloof noticed that we all apperceive a lot about celebrity tattoos and their admirable design, but we usually apperceive annihilation about the artists. Who did them? Who created such admirable (sometimes abhorrent or aloof funny) boom designs?

The best acclaimed and best acknowledged amid boom artists nowadays is accepted as Mr. Cartoon. Mark Machado (this is his absolute name) is a Mexican American boom and graffiti artisan based in Los Angeles. He has become one of the best approved afterwards boom artists on the planet. He is the architect of some of the best admirable boom designs you can adore on some of our favourite Stars: Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé, aloof to name the best acclaimed ones. But he is not aloof a tattooist. You can additionally admit his actualization in some works acclimated by Nike, Toyota and the videogame Grand Theft Auto. He has additionally accounting comic-books and clear novels and created a cast alleged Joker to advertise T-shirts and baseball caps with his boom designs style.

Another able-bodied accepted artisan at the moment is Kat von D. I don't apperceive if she is bigger accepted for her art or her appearance, but she has additionally formed for abounding celebrities like Kirk Hammett (Metallica), the Green Day and Jenna Jameson (who has a nice boom on her aback answer why she does what she does for a living: "I was built-in to do it").

Louis Molloy is addition one of celebrities' favourite boom artists. He did the best of David Beckham Body-art works, cartoon some of the best amazing religious boom designs on his back. I additionally heard an absorbing rumour about Molloy absorb claims on David Beckham's tattoos. But that is addition story.

Do you like Rihanna's new gun boom designs? Or the "Shhh!!!" boom on her finger? Able-bodied there's a boom flat in New York alleged BangBang which could advice you accepting agnate boom designs.

The aftermost Celebrity Boom Artisan I would like to allocution about is Kevin Quinn. Not alone because I adulation his actualization but additionally because he was the one who active my all favourite Hollywood Star, Julia Roberts. She wears a little boom on her lower aback with the names of her kids. Kevin Quinn's boom designs are additionally to be apparent on some of the best Rock Bands of all times - like Guns n' Roses for archetype - and some Pop music stars like Mel C.

These are the best acclaimed boom artisan about at the moment. You may anticipate it is accessible to get nice boom designs if you can allow to pay the best tattooist on the market, but it is not consistently that easy. Money does not consistently agreement you the best aftereffect of a boom session. Megan Fox, for example, did already get an abominable affiliated boom architecture on her wrist. She says her tattooist was bashed that day. Well, what can we say: bits happens - alike to celebrities!

Matching Tattoos

The great thing about tattoos are you can express yourself in your own unique way. Its a technique of using small needles covered with ink to pierce the skin and color it, thereby displaying some sort of picture or logo on one’s skin. A matching tattoo may have quite some character about it. When thinking about getting a matching tattoo design for your body, its essential that you take into

Upper Back Tattoos

When you think about upper back tattoos I would guess pretty much anything can come to mind. The first type of tattoos I think of are the tribal style tattoos. And this tattoo does have some of that style mixed into it. Although this one is primarily red in color and it carries the name ‘Leadfoot’ right in its center. Now ‘Leadfoot’ is probably there for the southern band called ‘Leadfoot’.

Virgo Tattoos

If you were born under the sign of Virgo then a Virgo tattoo may just be up your alley. In tropical astrology it symbolizes the fertility and abundance of harvest time. In sidereal astrology it is associated with a number of fertility goddesses including Ishtar, Isis, Cybele, Mary mother of Jesus, and Athena. Since Virgo is identified with the feminine, so is true with the Virgo tattoo. Virgo’s

Sayonara, hot sauce x40 days...

(Photo from the Cleveland Yuppie)

This photo is from a bar in Cleveland, but it might as well be from the third shelf down on my refrigerator door.

As I've told you before, one of my Lenten disciplines is I give up hot sauce. I always do a "take away" discipline for Lent, and an "add" discipline. This year, my "add" discipline is I am going to write my own version of the Stations of the Cross, and post them here. (Stay tuned for that!)

What you may not realize about my hot sauce abstinence, though, is it creates moral dilemmas. In those moral dilemmas becomes a microcosm for a lot of moral dilemmas in my life--where, exactly do the boundaries reside in the gray areas?

Now, the initial boundary is easy. For 40 days, I will not pick up any bottle that looks like the one in the picture, open the cap, and shake it on my food. Now, that's not easy, since I put hot sauce on just about everything from eggs to oatmeal. (Yes, oatmeal. You might eat your oatmeal with milk and cinnamon and sugar, but I eat mine with hot sauce and garlic.) But that boundary is pretty well defined.

But then what always throws a monkey wrench in it for me is...salsa.

What do I do with salsa?

Now, technically, it's NOT "hot sauce." If I were in an ascetic sort of mood, I might say, "no salsa, either." If I were in a legalistic mood, I might say, "Well, it's not hot sauce proper, so it's okay." Salsa is tricky. It's close to hot sauce but actually isn't hot sauce. It has some of the same ingredients and properties of hot sauce but it is not created the same way as hot sauce.

I find I bend a little to peer pressure about salsa. If someone knows I gave up hot sauce for Lent, and I eat a chip with salsa, and they go, "Eh, eh eh! I thought you gave up hot sauce for Lent!" rather than sound legalistic and say it isn't hot sauce, I just go, "Oops. Oh, yeah." Even if I realize technically it isn't, I have just let them define MY boundaries. Or, if they don't know, and I'm in the mood for salsa, I might eat it. Or I might not. It kind of depends on whether I feel ascetic or legalistic that day.

I have another gray area when it comes to "knowing if hot sauce was put in it." If I know someone put hot sauce in it during Lent, I won't eat it. If I don't know, I will. If I eat it and suspect it's in there, I might ask if it is or surmise that it is and quit eating it. I don't make others NOT put it in there, though, if that is their custom. I simply deal with doing without it. But then sometimes I wonder..."If I don't ask, does that mean I am sort of allowing myself to 'cheat' on it?"

But like I said, this is a microcosm of all the things in our lives that constitute "boundaries." I have professional boundaries I maintain as carefully as I can. I have personal boundaries that I have to sort through every day. What I find, when I start thinking about the boundaries of my Lenten discipline, is I start thinking about other boundaries in my life where maybe I am "cutting it too close" or others where I've been "ridiculously rigid." I realize some of my ridiculously rigid ones, I have let others define them--things like feeling guilty I spent too much money on something, or my tendency to "hoard"--both things and emotions.

It is making me understand what I am doing is developing a Rule of Life without actually calling it a Rule of Life.

A lot of people don't "give up something for Lent" anymore. It's been kind of poo-pooed as "old fashioned," "punitive," or "doesn't make you consider the real meaning of Lent." I'd disagree. I think if one goes into the spirit of "giving up" in a way that offers opportunities to muse and ponder the things in our life that God would like to tell us, things where we might need to re-orient ourselves to His plan for us, I think giving things up works fine as a spiritual discipline. So pass the hot sauce...for a couple more days, anyway!

Graffiti Tattoos

If your interested in getting a graffiti tattoo there are a number of things to keep in mind, especially if your looking to get a custom design. The first thing is to observe as much urban art as you can. Pay attention to the designs you see painted in city neighborhoods. Carry a disposable camera and snap shots of art that impresses you. Check the library for books that display urban art. Look

Unique Tattoos

Most everyone who is looking to get inked wants to find that one special and unique tattoo. And each person’s concept of what makes a tattoo unique is as different as the designs available. Some people believe that the placement of the tattoo makes it unique. Other people believe that the coloring or shading is the key. There are those who use ancient symbols to add personality to their designs

Hearts Tattoos

A lot of people are familiar with heart tattoos. But, not too many people know what the sacred heart tattoo means or even what it is. The heart tattoo is the classic example of a sacred heart depiction. The Sacred Heart is one of the most easily recognized symbols of the Christianity, and represents the love of Jesus Christ for every man, woman and child. This heart tattoo appears as a heart in

Asking to see their portofolio

This is an important step before you use the tattoo, because it is one to judge that whether that will make your tattoo is an expert, should not you been tattooed by someone who was not an expert

In view of their portfolio are some things to note include: design own tattoo pictures (if there are designs that make you are interested), a combination of colors (to be seen whether the color is drawn according to images painted on the customer's own skin), line drawings ( whether the lines are etched image makers tattoo was perfect in the sense that no errors), do not hesitate to ask them you been tattooed process, whether they are nervous or shaky when making a tattoo
It is a few things you should consider before using the services tattoo maker

Female Tattoo Gallery - Where Are the Great Ones?

You can usually absorb about ten acceptable account and appear up a changeable boom arcade on your computer. It's not that it's a actual difficult affair to do. The difficult allotment is award the absolutely abundant galleries that absolutely accept tattoos account browsing through. It's alike harder if you (like 95% of females) use a search-engine to try to acquisition them. That's why I appetite to allotment some analytical tips that will advice you acquisition bags f the changeable boom arcade sites you've been missing out on.

There is no rockets science bare in adjustment to chase for a changeable boom arcade online. You artlessly cull up your admired search-engine and go to work, right? That's what best females and males do. The affair is that this is apparently the affliction way to try and acquisition a acceptable changeable boom gallery. It's not that you won't acquisition a agglomeration of bisected way appropriate ones. It's aloof that search-engines consistently assume to leave out the absolutely superb galleries. I accept no abstraction why the do that, but it's a shame, because abounding females never get to see bisected of the affection artwork that is out there.

Ok, abundant of that mess. Let's see how you can absolutely acquisition a abundant changeable boom arcade by addition method...

It's a simple adjustment and one which you ability be accustomed with. It involves application internet forums, which are a breeze to browse through. You can alike acquisition accomplished forums that are alone committed to tattoos and the artwork for them. It's the absolute fit because there are consistently capacity revolving about area the best galleries are. You can use this advice to acquisition any acceptable changeable boom arcade you want. The best allotment is that you accept apparently never apparent a acceptable 80% of them while application a search-engine to acquisition them.

It's aloof a simpler adjustment for award a superb changeable boom arcade that you ability accept never begin out about.

"Stop fretting. Come and eat."

"Stop fretting. Come and eat."

That was my late grandmother's general cure for any difficult situation. Just drop it for now, come sit down at the table, and we'll all eat together. THEN we'll work through it.

Mind you, this was the advice from the person in my family "most likely to clash with you." No doubt, my granny was a fiery woman. She was a highly opinionated, not easily persuaded person. But she understood the need to call a truce at the dinner table.

The dinner table is an interesting place for me. It's my source of greatest comfort and the source of my greatest baggage. Growing up in an alcoholic family, it was the place most likely to erupt at my house. My parents' table was a far different place than my grandparents' table. It was like two different worlds. My parents' table was a battlefield; my grandparents' table was an oasis.

The magic of my grandparents' table was probably what drew me to the full meaning of the Eucharist. My grandparents' table had one rule: NO FIGHTING. I firmly belived that the main reason her generation survived the Depression was they sat together at the table and shared what they had.

Even living alone, I realize that a "shared meal" is important to me. Home alone, I share with my dogs. At the homes of others, I share good conversation, respectful debate, compliments to the chef. If you gave me the choice of sharing leftovers at your house, vs. a meal at the fanciest restaurant in town, I'd pick the leftovers at the homes of friends. My guess is that the level to which it touches my heart for someone to invite me to put my feet under their dinner table would surprise them. When I think about certain friends of mine, the images that often come into play in my mind are images of "sitting at their kitchen table." Likewise, my fondest memories of "good days at church" center around the altar and the sharing the Eucharistic table.

Now, that doesn't mean my entire experience has been happy happy joy joy. As I mentioned earlier, I have those fond memories DESPITE some very traumatic dinner table memories, and the Eucharistic table is no exception. There have been times I did NOT feel welcome at God's table, or made to feel less of a full participant in the process. Suffice it to say it had more to do with experiences in my past where I learned that there are people out there who use God's table as punishment, or a way to separate and classify, or a way to create guilt. There are times I might have felt so uncomfortable about myself that I did not feel worthy of God's table. But these are all feelings, that, the only way they are ever overcome is to keep coming to the table anyway.

As I alluded to in my previous post, Ash Wednesday is the time we go to the altar twice--one to get the ashes on our forehead, and once to share the sacramental meal. I think it's important to recognize we return that second time, "dirty." Our being holy and squeaky clean is NOT a requirement to share the body and blood of Christ. In fact, if that were the case, why would we need it at all? The truth of the matter is, every week, whether we recognize it or not, we ARE coming to the table with dirt under our fingernails, or with the tar of a weary world smeared on us, or with dog doo on our shoes. Ash Wednesday is the only day where we wear a visible and outward sign of that "dirt."

It's the time I feel the most unsure, the most separated, the most out of place that I have to remember my grandmother's voice--"Stop fretting. Come and eat."

Democracy Interrupted

This painting was commissioned by someone working in Afghanistan and he wanted to immortalise his time over there. His request coincided perfectly with the shambles that was the elections and the announcement of Karzai's eventual and somewhat unconstitutional (perhaps?) victory and re-election to President. Hurrah for democracy! Though thats all in the past now, quickly forgotten about and life goes on.

Palms to ashes, crush 'em to dust

(Photo from the author of Staying Awake)

For three years now, I've taken it upon myself to be "The Burner of the Palms" for Ash Wednesday. Tradition holds that the ashes for Ash Wednesday be the ashes from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Now, it doesn't matter that I end up each year making enough ashes to smear crosses on half of Kirksville--I like to make them every year simply because I like keeping with the ancient tradition. It doesn't matter that you can actually buy palm ashes from religious supply houses--I just like the notion of our parish getting smeared with "our" ashes.

I took on this ministry of sorts to make our late "queen of the Altar Guild's" wish come true. We had been using "store-bought ashes" until three years ago, and it sort of galled her. She would wrinkle up her nose at the little package of store-bought ashes and grunt, "These are not very good ashes. We really should be making our own." (Now, I don't really know what qualifies as "not very good ashes," but I took her at her word.) So the next Palm Sunday, I grabbed all the leftover palms and put them out in my garage.

The first year was kind of a comedy of errors. I didn't let them dry out long enough, and tried to burn them late that summer, experimenting with a few in a coffee can. After throwing lighter fluid and, eventually motor oil, I got them burned, but they didn't smell like anything anyone would want on their forehead. So I let them dry out a few more months and tried again. This time I got the bright idea to put them on the gas grill and let them start to smoke a little before lighting them. Success! The only problem was I had the fire under them too hot, and burned a hole in the cheap roasting pan, and lost about half the ashes. It was a very embarrassing display for someone who loves fire and "burning stuff" as much as I do!

The second year, however, I was ready. I knew enough to let the palms "smoke" on the higher rack in the gas grill. I suddenly appeared to be a "professional palm burner." This year went without a hitch.

This year, I pondered the therapeutic nature of my annual duty. Burning the palms carries a lot of positive symbolism for me. The palms slated for burning represent a year's worth of things in my life that were "not quite right." They are the old things, the dried out things, the dessicated things, the things I'd like to have a do-over. They are the things worth repenting, the things worth burying, the things worth dispersing. It's good to watch them burn.

After they are burned, the next step is to pulverize them to dust. I usually use something like the bottom of an old coffee cup to grind them down. It feels renewing, somehow, to take those burned leaves and crush them to a fine powder. I put my weight into my arm and put a little "oomph" to it. I think about the Second Law of Thermodynamics--that everything, over time, becomes more random. The things that mattered last year and got in my way, or hampered my faith journey in some way are becoming more random, more unrecognizable. Again, there's a sense of renewal with that, a feeling that we really can start over, if we so choose.

I remember the first year "my" ashes were used. Lots of people commented on how nice and black they were. The "store bought" ones of previous years were a little on the gray side. I got an odd satisfaction about that--that my work, even in a somber moment such as Ash Wednesday, made others feel that they got the "real deal", the full experience of the tradition.

But for me, burning and pulverizing the ashes gives me a fuller sense of what it means for our sins to be forgiven, for God to no longer remember them, for them to be flung as far as east is from west. I think about how everyone walks out of the service on Ash Wednesday with the "same dirt" on them. My sins are not so unique. They're the same as everyone else's. We bear the corporate burden of each other's sins. We're not so much our brother's keeper as we are our brother's sibling. All our sins are made up of the same DNA, so to speak.

What makes the Ash Wednesday service unique is it's the one time we go forward twice--the first time to accept our common sins, and the second time to receive a common meal. There's a tendency, I think, to think of the "sins" part, the "From dust you came and to dust you will return" part as a solo adventure, but in reality, it's just as common and corporate as the meal.

Stay tuned--I'll blog about the meal next.

Tattoo - Exciting Alternative to Art Expression

The Boom has fabricated a improvement in agreement of popularity, abnormally in America, Europe and Japan. With the advancements in the accessories and boom pigments actuality acclimated as able-bodied as the access into the industry of new artists who acquire backgrounds in accomplished arts, the access of boom designs, colors and beheading has admiring enthusiasts all over the world.

The access of the boom in pop ability is fabricated axiomatic in television shows such as Miami Ink, LA Ink and abounding others. Popular singers, actors and actresses antic tattoos paved the way for the accepting of boom as an art. The west has consistently been the aboriginal to acquire nontraditional announcement of art. In Europe, decidedly Russia, the boom is advised an basic allotment of the mafia culture. Although the boom has additionally enjoyed a new begin accepting in Europe, historically it has apparent a abatement in periods of history area Christianity or any added adoration which holds tattooing as a agnostic convenance is widespread.

Various blast and online surveys acquire been conducted with commendations to the prevalence of tattoos. Results showed that men acquire a bigger addiction to acquire a boom than women. Gay and lesbian populations acquire the best absorption of boom enthusiasts and the west seems to advance in the advance and convenance of the boom as an art. When celebrities began antic the tattoo, the mindset of the masses boring started changing. Notable celebrities like Angelina Jolie, whose abutment to assorted accommodating institutions is sending a absolute bulletin to the apple that tattoo-sporting men and women do acquire acceptable sides. Even admitting she never approved for the advance of the boom as an art, her connected abutment of tattooing makes her a patron.

Even with the boundless accepting of the boom as an art of anatomy modification, still it makes it difficult for some to acquire advantageous application abnormally if the tattoos are conspicuous. A boom that dominates the face and anatomy of the alone possesses abrogating connotations to some sections of society. In Japan, those with tattoos are sometimes banned from accessible places for abhorrence that they may be allotment of the alarming Yakuza. In the United States, it is a accepted convenance amid inmates to acquire tattoos.

Lower Back Tattoo

Somewhere in the 1990s the lower back tattoo started to become very popular with young women in many parts of the world. While there are many different styles of a lower back tattoo they are usually something that goes across the lowest part of a girls back and highlights the curves of her body and emphasizing her sexual attractiveness. They are usually colorful in nature and have become commonly

Tribal Cross Tattoos

There are many tribal cross tattoos out there which one can choose from. So many in fact, that the choosing can become the hardest part of the entire tattoo process. It really can. You can spend days looking at these things on the internet and you will see thousands of them, which will just give you more to think about. But because tattoos are permanent rather then temporary it is very important

Tattoo Patterns

Here is a whole sheet of different tattoo patterns to look over. They are all pretty much in the same style of things but are still very much their own designs. Each one of them of course having something quite unique about them. They all seem to have a bit of tribal influence in them as well but it is hard to tell, without being an expert on tribal tattoos, how deep that influence might run.

Upper Back Tattoos- An Ideal Introduction to Body Art

The animal aback makes an ideal canvas for a boom artist’s needles. If you are because your aboriginal boom could do worse than to accept it be an high aback tattoo. Why?

Upper aback tattoos can ambit from baby and simple to ample and elaborate, and can angle abandoned or be the foundations for beyond and added busy boom assignment if you like the aftereffect and appetite to add to it. High aback tattoos are, added generally than not, covered in calm settings so they won’t be an affair in able environments.

Women because high aback tattoos will accept to adjudge if their amusing activity is a deterrent; backless academic gowns may be out of the account already high aback boom access it. But a baby tasteful boom has begin its way to abounding a changeable celebrity’s high back, so the bent adjoin changeable tattoos in high amusing circles may be fading. Tank acme and bating apparel will additionally be a betrayal for high aback tattoos, but in the accidental ambiance at poolside they are not alone accepted; they are generally admired.

Any high aback tattoos you are because should be a affair of chat amid you and your boom artisan afore you accomplish any decisions. Placement is key, so that you can absorb you architecture into a afterwards abounding aback boom if you so desire. At the aforementioned time, you don’t appetite you high aback boom to be so abnormally positioned that it sticks out like a abscessed thumb.

You’ll additionally accept to accede the bulk of time you are acclimatized to spending shirtless in the sun. You should be application sunscreen anyway, alike if you don’t accept tattoos, but sun acknowledgment is a big contributor in the crumbling of tattoos. Your high aback boom is activity to fade, because that is what tattoos do, but here’s no acumen for you to acceleration the action artlessly because you carelessness the sunscreen.

One big absolute to accepting an high aback boom as you aboriginal is that they are abundant beneath decumbent to infection than tattoos in added areas. But you’ll still be amenable for afterward your boom artist’s afterwards affliction directions, which will accommodate periods of absolution your boom be apparent to the air to advice it dry. So accede the time of year aback you get your tattoo; accompany shirtless in January in your allotment of the apple ability get uncomfortable.

Nicolas Cage, with a top-hat cutting adviser lizard, David Beckham, with his son's name aloft a Crucifixion scene; LeBron James, with Called 1; Fabio Cannovaro, with his daughter’s name; Melanie Chisholm, with a phoenix; and Laura Headley, with a lotus blossom, are aloof a scattering of celebrities who accept called high aback tattoos to say article about themselves or the things that amount to them.

If you do an online chase for high aback boom designs, you’re abiding to be afraid at the array of designs from baby and simple to apperception blowingly intricate, and about amid them acquisition the one which is absolute for you!

What kind of colors can i get?

Worried that your tattoo will end in no good a time?? Most tattoo inks are metal salt-based pigments that are not designed to
used under the skin, and not yet approved
The idea is that for most people, these pigments are inert and do not cause problems.
some artists use acrylic-based
pigment, which he felt might be more difficult than the metal-based pigments
for some with sensitive skin. Best to ask your artist first

Whatever color you choose Do not be ashamed to talk first with the expert because you will create a tattoo for a very long time

The Jesus Guy

He only carries a Bible, a rosary, and a toothbrush. He won't wear sandals or shoes. He walks everywhere, only accepting rides when he feels the Holy Spirit wants him to ride. He's the Jesus Guy.

Around 1999 or 2000 or so, an unusual stranger started showing up in coal mining towns in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. His real name is Carl J. Joseph, but he's mostly known as "The Jesus Guy," or "What's your name?" The latter moniker came from the man's penchant for answering in the way Jesus addressed the demoniac of the Gospels. Last anyone knew of him, he was seen in Alabama. He asked for no money, just a place to stay, or the most basic of physical needs. He's spoken to crowds as large as 2000 people. He's had teenaged boys taunt him with threats of crucifixion. Still, after 10 years of a road ministry as a "Jesus lookalike," he remains a rather enigmatic figure.

Now, obviously, folks know he's not Jesus. yet after roughly 20 years, The Jesus Guy still draws crowds, causes people to come to a dead stop on the highway, and people still claim their lives were changed by his presence. What causes people to see him as "for real," and not simply a variant of an Elvis impersonator?

My theory is a very simple one. I think that the reason the Jesus Guy is mostly well-received, is because many people have an inner desire to "have Jesus live among us." We simply want to hang with Him. The Jesus Guy becomes a living symbol that Jesus can, and does, live among us. He reminds us that we walk in the shadow of the Almighty.

Our desire to be like what The Jesus Guy represents make him bigger than Santa Claus, bigger than a Las Vegas Elvis. That is not only a "good" thing, it's an empowering thing. Thanks be to God!

Chinese Symbol Tattoos

These chinese symbol tattoos have always been of interest to me. Their language is such that just a single or double lettered image can mean a whole phrase so it is possible to use just these symbols for tattoos that stand for something. And that means you can get a very small tattoo that will mean nearly anything you might want, power, funny, pretty, dangerous, trustworthy and most anything else

Scorpion Tattoo

Here we have an image of a scorpion tattoo. The small creature with the big sting. This is a pretty big tattoo on a guys back and that means it was probably put there to show people that this guy may be small or seem peaceful but he wants to let people know he can handle himself and that there could be an awful wrath coming to those who decide to ignore that and press him too hard. In essence it

Zodiac Tattoos

The popularity of zodiac tattoos can be easily attributed to mankind’s fascination with astrology. There’s a real romanticism and magnetism to the idea that our lives and actions are all influenced by the celestial heavens and humanity has been fascinated by the zodiac for millennia, since we first seeing symbols in the heavens and started giving the constellations names. Each of the zodiac

Choosing the Right Lower Back Tribal Tattoo For Your Lower Back

Have you anytime apparent Angelina Jolie or Britney Spears in movies? Do you beam similarities with these two? Well, abreast from actuality pretty, these two celebrities both accept tattoos in their lower backs. Angelina has 3 tattoos all in all, a Bengal tiger, a dragon and a tribal. While on the added hand, Britney spears accept a bogie boom on her lower back. Do you appetite to accept lower aback affiliated boom like some celebrities? You're chargeless to accept it as continued as you accept the alertness and commitment.

Tattoos are greatest forms of art. Before, these allusive abstracts are alone apparent to men. But as technology advances, artists accept additionally created designs for women. Best of these designs are lower aback boom patterns, which can be commutual to low cut jeans and bright bikinis. Best women get tattoos in their backs to allure men and attending sexier.

Designs to accept from

Lower aback boom is accessible in assorted designs including flowers, affiliated art, dragons and Gothic names. There are additionally designs alluringly fabricated to betoken religious adherence like Celtic crosses and crucifix from Christians. Although, not all individuals accept the aptitude to actualize accomplished designs, anyone can attending fashionable and contemporary application these accepted images.

For attributes lovers

For a woman who's addicted of nature, beastly designs can are abundant options to choose. Whether you appetite to accept a boom in your aback like Angelina or any added celebrities out there, you should accede its absolute acceptation first. You should buck in apperception that tattoos are actuality committed to aftermost for a activity time. In case you don't like the design, it will booty time and accomplishment to abolish it.

Roses are fairies are additionally abundant designs. These are bright images acclimated to enhance sex appeal. Instead of accepting buttocks and added adorning methods, tattoos are ideal options to alarm absorption in specific areas of your body. Tattoos additionally alter in sizes. It you're lower aback is absolutely baby you can additionally accept baby designs to apparel for the size. While added the added hand, you can additionally accept abounding added designs for ample backs.

Tattoos are not aloof fabricated to actualize an address to the body. Actually, these abstracts are created to amplitude the skin. Getting a lower aback affiliated boom architecture can be a difficult task. There sad affair is that best designs are bombastic and it's absolutely difficult to accept a different designs. When allotment designs, accomplish abiding to accept article that you can adulation so that you can abstain abjure in the end.

Why do I want one?

every person who has been tattooed reason, these are some reasons people use tattoos
whether to please a partner?
whether for comfort? , To manhood, to prove something, to believe in yourself, environmental influences,

all acceptable reasons, all depending on the user's own tattoo

and this applies to you, you should have been tattooed for a reason ..

or you make a tattoo for your confidence or you into adulthood, there are several reasons to use a tattoo, but was back on each person's own, you should have the right reasons

Tattoo Copycat

I've been cerebration about this for a little bit, apprehensive if bodies anticipate there is article amiss with artful someone's boom design. The acumen I accompany this up is because there are a lot of bodies out there that will see a boom that a celebrity or added acclaimed being has and will go out and get the actual aforementioned one. I alone don't anticipate it is such a acceptable idea. I beggarly tattoos are meant to be aboriginal and accept acceptation to the being that has them. To get a boom aloof because you admired celebrity has it is a little ridiculous.

However, I do not see annihilation amiss with addition accepting a boom in the aforementioned abode as addition else. Like for instance aback I was in aerial academy I was out arcade and I saw this absolutely appealing babe out arcade as able-bodied and she had her beard pulled up and there was a boom on her close in some Chinese writing. I anticipation it looked absolutely air-conditioned and capital to get on there too. Of advance I never did get a boom on the aback of my close but if I get addition one it will best absolutely be there. I additionally attending to celebrities to see area they accept their tattoos because best of the time you don't alike apperceive they accept one. And I'm all about accepting a boom in a none apparent place. Because let's face it if you accept too abounding tattoos or arresting tattoos bodies still attending bottomward aloft you.

Breaking up the big freeze

(Photo from the author of Staying Awake)

Job 28:25-30:

Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt, ²⁶to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on the desert, which is empty of human life, ²⁷to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground put forth grass? ²⁸“Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? ²⁹From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven? ³⁰The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

If you're wondering what the photograph above is, it's a rather up close and personal view of the auger blades of the new snow blower our church recently purchased. This was something that we went back and forth on for years on whether it was "worth it" to purchase one. We would bring it up now and then at church, and rarely at vestry meetings, and then always talk ourselves out of it. "Oh, we could buy it, and end up only using it once or twice some winters. It's just another thing to break down."

Another problem is, I'm the person who normally shovels the snow, partially because I'm the junior warden, but partially because I have always enjoyed the quiet time doing it, in a "monastic work" sort of way. For most folks, the snow magically disappeared, so the need for a snow blower didn't seem apparent. Since I liked doing it, and I had the time, it was not a big deal.

Last year, however, things changed. I started having less time, as some things with my work schedule changed. Also, for some reason, we always seemed to have snow on Friday or Saturday, and last winter it was almost like every Saturday I was shoveling, to get church ready for Sunday. For a lot of reasons, it got to be something that started "owning me." I had created an expectation that was partly real, partly my own projections of others' expectations upon me, and partly a few real expectations that I get it done to a certain set of specifics. I started being in situations where I had been tied down at the last minute and had to hurry through the job, and was feeling certain levels of disapproval now and then. It made me feel caught in the middle, knowing what I needed but really uncomfortable to say so.

I realized a snow blower would make my life easier, but I had a lot of reasons why I felt "now's not the time to ask." So I didn't. I could have asked others to help, but I seldom did. My life (at least on the weekends) is more flexible than folks who are "householders." I didn't feel right asking others to change their plans on the weekends for something I used to have time to be solely responsible for. I also knew you can only cry "help" so many times before people get tired of it.

But you know the old saying..."better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know." So, like the ice that collects on the sidewalks, I was "frozen." Frozen as in that passage in Job. It wasn't a crisis, it wasn't even anything that I can put my finger on as good/bad/indifferent. It was just frozen. I was okay with the job (I like the exercise, frankly), but the time frames were freezing me in place and freezing my imagination. I could not bring myself to ask the church for a snow blower. I was afraid it would seem "all about me." After all, I would be the one to use it 95% of the time.

It took our interim priest to point it out. He was quite surprised that the church in the northernmost reaches of our diocesese, the place in the diocese "most likely to get snow", didn't own a snow blower. He simply said, "you all need to get one." So we did.

Take a look at that picture of the auger blades. That thing breaks up the ice like you would not believe! We got a good snow blower, a two stage one, that has a powerful auger and a blower driven by a powerful motor. What I discovered is, well, honestly, driving it is a blast! It has taken what used to be a two hour job and turned it into a 45 minute job for me.

But the truth was, "the face of my deep was frozen." It took an outside observer to see it, and to give me permission to ask for what I needed.

How many times in our own prayer lives are we afraid to ask for something for ourselves? How many times do we get ourselves in a life rut, and accept it, often even without complaint or an awareness that it IS a rut, until the rut becomes so deep it's hard to drive out of it? The heck of it is, so many times, we would do it gladly and willingly. We might not be a single bit resentful of the rut. But we freeze. We convince ourselves, "it's just not gonna happen, so why wish for what you know you can't have?" We are mostly content and occasionally unhappy. It's not "that bad," so we don't worry about it.

This, I believe, is the value of the prayers of others. It's the value of a community of faith. What we no longer see as us having a need for "deliverance," others see right away. It's easy to see the "major" things from which we need to be delivered. But the "minor" ones are more obscure, more veiled. We might not see them, but those who care for us and pray about us, do. In that "seeing the frozen parts of others," we deliver them...and they deliver us. Those "minor deliverances" add up, and our being relieved of them renews not just our souls, but the souls of those who care for us--thanks be to God!

Dragon Tattoo

This is an incredible example of a Japanese dragon tattoo. It’s powerful blue color with highlights of yellow and orange make for a very striking design indeed. But, this is only one example of what fantastic design possibilities you have with a dragon tattoo. There are a wide variety of different tattoo possibilities with the dragon. There are the issues of location, size and design to consider.

Butterfly Tattoo Designs

This is an entire sheet of butterfly tattoo designs to choose from. And it has just about every butterfly that one could imagine, including moths, plus a few beetles, a dragonfly and even a small lady bug down near the bottom. There’s even a butterfly with a skull in the middle of it and that’s a new one even on me. like looking at butterfly tattoo designs because they represent a free spirit or

Free Tattoo

These seven versions of what appear to be tribal influenced drawings of possible butterfly tattoos. Ones they call free tattoo. But I am not at all sure why. I suppose they mean you don’t have to pay to use one of these. Really? I never knew you had to pay to use someone’s drawing but I guess it makes sense. It is someone’s intellectual property after all. These style of tattoos are the sort that

Tattoos and Women - A Double Dose of Art

Over the years, the assessment of tattoos has appreciably increased. The accepting of boom in boilerplate association has fabricated it accessible for women to embrace it as an another self-expression. Celebrities antic tattoos like Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and accepted admired Megan Fox has added answer boom to the acquaintance of the masses. Worthy of acknowledgment is Angelina Jolie because of her accommodating activities and advancement all over the apple and best decidedly in Africa and Asia. While it cannot be argued that she already and apparently still is a agrarian child, her advancement has somehow afford a absolute ablaze to boom antic women all over the world.

A woman's anatomy is consistently an art. She has been the accountable of so abounding works of art aback man has apparent painting and sculpture. Boom is additionally an art, arguably so. Art has consistently been about self-expression. What bigger way than for assertive blazon of artisan to accurate it on a alive canvass, the skin?

Most women adopt boom designs which are baby and sexy. Best acclaimed of these designs are the star, butterfly, chaplet beads, and angel wings, roses amidst by acid wire, vines, allegorical creatures and added floral designs. The best accepted locations for women to accept tattoos are the wrist, ankle, aback of the neck, abreast the abdomen button and the lower back.

The application for boom adjustment is if it is partially exposed. There is article absorbing about seeing article partially hidden to accessible eye. It is for this acumen that the best accepted atom for women to get active is the lower back.

Although adequate communities accept yet to embrace tattooed women as the norm, the abstraction is boring accepting acceptance. Finally, boom is no best the access for cocky announcement of lesbians, gangs and added agitator group. Celebrities who accept accommodating advocates are arch the beginning as boom enthusiasts. Even admitting these celebrities are not announcement anatomy markings, still their absolute activity has afflicted accessible assessment for boom as adequate self-expression. Truly, tattooing is no best a man's world.

If Clergy Could Bill for Weddings like Physicians

We are in the middle of a snowstorm here in Kirksville, so I'm in a bit of a silly, giddy mood. Here is another bit of humor for my clergy friends!

If Clergy Could Bill for Weddings like Physicians
by Kirkepiscatoid

Recent studies show that the average wedding has increased not only in price, but complexity, in the last four decades; unfortunately, although weddings can now run in the tens of thousands of dollars, couples still seem to think that $25 or $50 slipped in the officiating clergy person's hand is sufficient payment for services rendered. This document is a more realistic breakdown of the complete gamut of services rendered by clergy in wedding participation. Clergy are encouraged to create a base fee for "unit of service" and in this billing sheet, consider the top item in each category as the "basic unit of service." As you work down the levels of each category in the Clergy Encounter Form for each category, we have provided a suggested increase in unit of service for each level of clergy encounter. Circle the units of service for each category as applicable. Then, simply add the units of service times your base fee for a single unit of service and present the bill to the happy couple, making checks payable to your discretionary fund.

Clergy Wedding Encounter Form

Part A. Pre-Nuptial Counseling

Units of Service and Description of Encounter

1 Unremarkable counseling experience for couple and clergy

2 Couple seems ignorant or unaware counseling required; thought they wanted to get married there "because it's a cute little church" or "they wanted to get married at the Cathedral," etc.

2 Unremarkable counseling experience for clergy; minor issues discovered by couple that were easily resolved in session(s)

2 Minor blow-up between couple with minimal clergy consternation

3 Unremarkable/minor issues for couple; clergy begins to get sick feeling tip of iceberg has been touched on major issue but couple seems to blow this issue off

3 Moderate issues between couple uncovered in counseling with no additional sessions required

4 Moderate or major issues uncovered in counseling requiring additional sessions or postponement of wedding date

5 One or both of couple bursts into tears, runs crying/screaming from rectory, squeals off in car, possibly leaving one of the couple crying in front of clergy

_____ Other counseling mishap, not otherwise specified (please document)

Note: If either "5" is circled, or a NOS mishap carries a value of "5" or greater, submit billing. Pray they do not suddenly make up and find a Justice of the Peace or take a trip to Las Vegas.


Part B: Pre-wedding Planning

B1: The Bride
Units of Service and Description of Encounter

1 Normal mature female

2 Naive, blushing, possibly virginal

2 Slightly immature in chronological and/or psychological age

2 Normal with somewhat annoying parent(s)

2 Slightly bossy

3 Pregnant

3 Normal with "helicopter" parents

3 Seems to think wedding is "all about me" but parents relatively normal

4 Spoiled with indulgent and/or "helicopter" parents

4 Seems to think wedding is "all about me"; parents indulgent; tend not to challenge bride

4 Unaware she is being grossly abused or manipulated by betrothed

5 Bridezilla

B2: The Groom
Units of Service and Description of Encounter

1 Normal mature male

2 Nerdy/geeky, possibly virginal

2 Slightly immature in chronological and/or psychological age

2 Normal with somewhat annoying parent(s)

2 Relatively normal but appears to be thinking with his "little head" rather than his "big head" about some issues

3 Normal with mother who does not think betrothed is "good enough for her son"

3 Seems somewhat absent, distant, or unwilling to challenge bride-to-be on plans

4 Parents running the show; groom-to-be just shrugs and looks sheepish

4 Combative with betrothed, parents from either side, or clergy

4 Unaware he is being grossly abused or manipulated by betrothed

4 Unaware bride-to-be is pregnant

5 Flaming southbound end of northbound horse


Part C: The rehearsal/rehearsal dinner
Units of Service and Description of Encounter

1 Goes off without a hitch

2 Minor last minute changes and/or issues

2 Issues with small children

3 Seating chart(s) definitely need to be changed, most likely due to "ex-es"

3 Issues with really poorly behaved small children

3 Clergy has to explain to couple that songs with vague or overt references to nookie are generally not appropriate for a wedding

4 Hazard pay for dealing with overly drunken/stoned members of wedding party or clergy required to break up verbal altercation

5 Full blown hissy fit by any member of wedding party or clergy required to break up physical altercation

6 Law enforcement personnel called, or relative offers clergy large sum of money to refuse to perform the service

Part D: The Wedding (NOTE: Unlike parts A-C, and E, circle ANY and ALL service levels that apply rather than "best level of service")
Units of Service and Description of Encounter

1 Beautiful, touching and/or meaningful

2 Beautiful and touching but someone committed minor flub or children in service got flustered

2 Annoying photographer

2 Bad Soloist

2 Annoying parents/relatives/members of wedding party except bride/groom

3 Annoying bride/groom

3 Annoying photographer who totally ignored clergy instructions about what parts of the service may not be photographed

4 Badly behaved small children

4 REALLY bad soloist

4 Clergy retreats to rectory shortly afterward to smoke or say, "My God, I'm glad that's over"

5 Bride's water breaks or delivers baby during service

5 Wedding from Hell


Part E: The Reception

1 Clergy only required to give short opening prayer, meet and greet

2 Clergy performs minor pastoral care/counseling for less than 4 relatives/friends

3 Clergy performs minor pastoral care/counseling for 4 or more relatives/friends

3 Clergy provides minor pastoral care/counseling to ex-flame who attended wedding to pretend he/she is "happy for them."

4 Attendee suddenly feels need to confess something to clergy

5 Drunken melee/food fight/law enforcement called


Summary:

Dear Couple:

I provided ______ units of pastoral care at the base rate of $__________ per pastoral care unit. This totals up to $_________________ worth of pastoral and clergy services. Please make your check to _______________________and write "Discretionary Fund" in the memo line. Thank you for choosing me and my church for your wedding. I know you promised back in the counseling phase to be regular attendees of my church, but please remit in 30 days because I am pretty sure that's not going to happen, despite your good intentions. I was born in the dark, but it wasn't last night!

If Hospice Chaplains could bill like physicians...

I got to visiting with our parish's Priest Associate via e-mail today, and we sort of got on the subject of "coding and billing," being as how her "paying job" is the local Hospice chaplain. Evidently Medicare pays a flat rate ($120.00, it appears) for "per diem" Hospice service. We got to talking about how it's too bad she doesn't get to bill like physicians. So in the spirit of a post I did a while back on "Eucharistic Coding and Billing," here's how I'd break up Hospice chaplain billing for Medicare!

Hospice Chaplain Coding and Billing
(by Kirkepiscatoid)

Here's how we could build in "Level of Service" if only the government would take the cue that hospice chaplains should get to bill more like physicians!

Hospice Chaplain Level of Service Billing

Instructions: For each patient encounter, choose the level of pastoral service, geographic modifier, and clinical demographic modifier that best represents the normal and customary level of service provided in the patient encounter. Remember: For proper reimbursement, level of service must be documented in hospice chaplain notes.

Pastoral Service codes:

_____P66601: Talked with patient but did not pray with patient
_____P66602: Prayed with patient (e.g., comatose, unresponsive) but did not talk with patient
_____P66603: Talked and prayed with patient
_____P66604: Provided Eucharistic services with liquid substance other than wine with at least 10% alcohol content
_____P66605: Provided Eucharistic services with wine containing at least 10% alcohol content
_____P66606: Patient died before arrival of chaplain; discussions/prayer with family
_____P66607: Funeral planning with input from not-quite-dead-yet patient
_____P66608: Funeral planning with patient already dead
_____PS6600: Level of pastoral service not otherwise specified (provide documentation)

Geographic Modifier Codes:

_____GPS001: Usual and customary ability to find patient's house
_____GPS002: Difficulty finding patient's house (e.g., faulty directions, missing road signs/street signs, very remote location)
_____GPS003: Got hopelessly lost finding patient's house, requiring use of cell phone
_____GPS004: Got hopelessly lost finding patient's house, requiring use of cell phone, in "dead cell phone" area
_____GPS005: Visit required extraordinary vehicular measures (e.g., studded snow tires, four wheel drive)
_____GPS006: Chaplain got stuck en route to visit
_____GPS000: Other geographic modifier not otherwise specified (provide documentation)

(NOTE: A 10% PENALTY exists on GPS code billing if chaplain is female and visit requires being chauffeured by a male. A 10% BONUS exists if chaplain is male and visit requires being chauffeured by a female, as most male chaplains would not admit this.)

Clinical Demographic Modifiers:

_____CH23001: Pastoral services provided to under 4 total family members in room, in addition to patient
_____CH23002: Pastoral services provided to 4 or more family members in room, in addition to patient
_____CH23003: Patient divulges deep dark family secret under the influence of narcotics during visit
_____CH23004: Chaplain breaks up verbal altercation between relatives
_____CH23005: Chaplain breaks up physical altercation between relatives
_____CH23006: Living arrangements for patient has worse than usual smells or sights associated with typical dying patient or typical home
_____CH23007: Family member "hits on" chaplain, desiring inappropriate psychological, financial, or physical relationship
_____CH23008: Chaplain visit occurs while patient, spouse/significant other and object of covert romantic relationship are all in the same room
_____CH23000: Other clinical history modifier not otherwise specified (provide documentation)

Tattoos Of Stars

Tattoos Of StarsTattoos of stars are generally connected with masculine groups but the powerful emotions of strength and unity are also very strong among lesbians who have now also adopted the star tattoo and tailored the design to their identity. The most commonly used tattoos of stars are the 4 and 5 pointed designs, but also Moon and Star designs are also popular and can look more feminine

Shoulder Tattoo

Shoulder TattooThere are two areas on the shoulder a tattoo can be and still be classified as a shoulder tattoo: on the back of the shoulder on or near the shoulder blade, and on the upper arm part of the shoulder. Getting a tattoo on either part of the shoulder looks good, and they are both easily hidden in instances where having a tattoo is not appropriate. Men have traditionally had more

Scorpion Tattoos

Scorpion TattoosMany individuals get tattoos today and while sometimes the meanings behind their art run beyond skin deep, many times it does not. When it comes to scorpion tattoos there is really not a lot to choose from as far as individual meanings to people go. Either Scorpio is your astrological sign or you like what scorpions represent. And what that is, is a sense of both power and healing

Women and Tattoo Fashions

With so abounding coupons out there, did you anytime anticipate that there could be some for boom shops? Now that tattoos are acceptable so accepted with women, there is no acumen why you wouldn't alpha seeing such situations. Alike admitting fifty years ago women were alone ten percent of the tattooed population, tattoos are now acceptable added accepted amid women. Alike attractive aback aloof into the 1980's, women were beheld as abject if they had tattoos so absolute few had art tattooed assimilate their skin.

But now tattoos on women are added popular. In fact, women accomplish up sixty bristles percent of the tattoos that are actuality placed. It is said that one in four women accept a boom and that cardinal will allegedly abound with time. Since there are abounding places a woman can accept a boom and be able to adumbrate it aback wanted, there is no acumen to doubtable that the cardinal of women accepting tattoos will do annihilation but grow.

The Adjustment of the Tattoo

It is the adjustment of the boom that is generally times advised to be added important again the absolute angel actuality tattooed on the skin. The abdomen and the aback are absolute accepted places on women for tattoos as they are calmly hidden and able to be apparent aback adapted through the advice of altered kinds of shirts and bathing suits. Ankles and on the advanced of the achievement are two added places that are absolute accepted for boom adjustment on women.

The Designs

Many years back, the few women who would get tattoos were accepted for accepting alone baby flowers, a name, or some added baby beautiful boom that was absolute feminine looking. Now though, with so abounding boom options out there and women acceptable added adequate in their skin, the designs of the tattoos accept developed widely.

Unicorns, butterflies, fairies, cutting stars, affiliated and Celtic designs are acutely popular. Alike admitting you may see abounding women with a butterfly tattoo, there is a acceptable adventitious that anniversary of the tattoos is hardly different. This is because women tend to be added in tune with appetite they appetite and how what they get will accomplish them feel. Also, women are added accommodating and accommodating to delay to appear up with a custom architecture so that they are not walking about with the aforementioned exact boom that millions of added women have. Everyone accepting the aforementioned appearance is not article that abounding women enjoy.

This allegedly comes from the actuality that abounding of the aforementioned women abhorrence seeing addition cutting the aforementioned outfit, shoes, or alike accustomed the aforementioned purse. Women appetite the latest in appearance and they appetite their appearance to be a little altered again others and they appetite it to be better. This attitude has allegedly agitated over in the apple of tattoos. While some may accede this to be a captious woman, this is activity to be a woman who will not affliction her boom best and architecture as a lot of anticipation and activity was put into it.