Andrew cut his finger yesterday. It was a bloody mess. Usually we bandage those things at home and deal with it. But when it's on a knuckle, and when you know it's going to keep breaking open over and over, you just figure it's going to be a week of bleeding and scabbing and bleeding and scabbing, over and over.
At work last night, though, Andrew's cut broke open. Now, if you bleed on your own cutting board at home, you clean it up, get a new bandaid, and go back to cooking. If you bleed on a cutting board at a restaurant, you practically need a haz-mat team to clean up. Andrew was sent home from work because he kept bleeding and they couldn't have him there. Given the economy, and given that it was only his third evening on the job, being sent home is kinda scary.
So I dragged him off to urgent care in spite of the fact that we could've dealt with the injury at home. Thing is, Andrew wasn't going to be just at home, but also at work. The doctor glued the two sides of his split finger together; it was a spot too boney for stitches. They gave him a splint in hopes of preventing the cut from breaking open. And they gave him a note for his boss, saying that he should be able to return to work on Monday. Hooray that the folks at work appeared concerned about his well-being and not angry about being left short-staffed on Friday night!!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Today's Laugh
A bunch of cows and bulls are standing in a field. A huge gust of wind comes along and all the cows fall over, but the bulls just stand there, bracing themselves against the gale. So all the cows stand up and brush themselves off and go back to their business.
Pretty soon, a tornado blows through and all of the cows are knocked to the ground, but the bulls just munch on the grass.
Next, a hurricane comes through and all the cows are knocked into the next pasture. The bulls just say "moo."
Finally, one of the cows walks up to one of the bulls and says, "'Moo?' What's the mooing deal? How come the wind always knocks us for a loop and you just stand there unharmed?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the bull replies. "We bulls wobble, but we don't fall down."
Pretty soon, a tornado blows through and all of the cows are knocked to the ground, but the bulls just munch on the grass.
Next, a hurricane comes through and all the cows are knocked into the next pasture. The bulls just say "moo."
Finally, one of the cows walks up to one of the bulls and says, "'Moo?' What's the mooing deal? How come the wind always knocks us for a loop and you just stand there unharmed?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the bull replies. "We bulls wobble, but we don't fall down."
Friday, August 20, 2010
Bringing Peace
It struck me as odd that we sang the song of the angels on Sunday morning: "Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth, goodwill to men...." And then Pastor reads the Gospel where Jesus says, "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth?" (Luke 12)
Well, actually, that is sorta what it sounded like the angels said a few decades earlier. These paradoxes drive me nuts.
Interestingly, though, a few verses later (12:53) we see examples of the division which Jesus brings. And the very first one listed was "father will be divided against son, son against father."
Well, actually, that is sorta what it sounded like the angels said a few decades earlier. These paradoxes drive me nuts.
Interestingly, though, a few verses later (12:53) we see examples of the division which Jesus brings. And the very first one listed was "father will be divided against son, son against father."
Col 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father
that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
whether things in earth or things in heaven,
having made peace
through the blood of His cross.
that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
whether things in earth or things in heaven,
having made peace
through the blood of His cross.
Today's Laugh
Recently a guy in Paris nearly got away with stealing several paintings from the Louvre. However, after planning the crime, getting in and out past security, he was captured only two blocks away when his Econoline ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied: "I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh."
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Fasting
A few years ago, the discipline of fasting came up in Bible class. One of the things we discussed was wrong reasons to fast. Obviously, we do not fast to be extra good and make God like us. Likewise, fasting would be harmful if we're doing it so that other people think, "Isn't he a good Christian to be fasting!"
Some people think that fasting helps to cleanse the soul. That wouldn't be true: only Jesus' blood can cleanse us from our sin and guilt.
Fasting isn't about giving up sinful things. It's about abstaining from some of the good gifts God gives. But why would we do that? Because even the blessings God gives are subject to corruption; even His gifts to us can become our idols. It's easy to say that temporal goods or health or relationships are not our idols; it's easy to say that we trust in Christ. But when we lose those blessings, we see that we relied on them much more than we realized. Such losses would be like a "fast" imposed upon us by God. Similarly, when we freely undertake a fast, we see how much these things are our idols. In the context of a fast, the law shows us our idolatry and how much we need a Savior.
The cross is about killing. The cross is not something that's uncomfortable-but-endurable. It is about death. Killing the Old Adam is a process. (As Korby said, "The old Adam may have been drowned, but he's a good swimmer." He needs to be killed again and again.) In America, our affluence skews our view of the truth that we are needy and dependent and dying. But through the struggle with sin and the temptations of Satan and the world's false teachings, God kills the Old Adam.
Our faith is in Christ's forgiveness, not in His word of law. Sanctification flows from the word of forgiveness. But it doesn't happen until we're killed. Pastor said, "The outcome of the cross is always infinitely better than the satisfaction we thought we would receive from our idols."
Jesus was baptized to die. So are we. The word which sustained Him in the darkness of the cross and suffering was "this is My beloved Son." The word which sustains us in the darkness of our cross and suffering is also "you are My beloved son."
Sorry if this sounds disjointed. If I tried to take my notes from that class and explain them, this would be a terribly long post.
Some people think that fasting helps to cleanse the soul. That wouldn't be true: only Jesus' blood can cleanse us from our sin and guilt.
Fasting isn't about giving up sinful things. It's about abstaining from some of the good gifts God gives. But why would we do that? Because even the blessings God gives are subject to corruption; even His gifts to us can become our idols. It's easy to say that temporal goods or health or relationships are not our idols; it's easy to say that we trust in Christ. But when we lose those blessings, we see that we relied on them much more than we realized. Such losses would be like a "fast" imposed upon us by God. Similarly, when we freely undertake a fast, we see how much these things are our idols. In the context of a fast, the law shows us our idolatry and how much we need a Savior.
The cross is about killing. The cross is not something that's uncomfortable-but-endurable. It is about death. Killing the Old Adam is a process. (As Korby said, "The old Adam may have been drowned, but he's a good swimmer." He needs to be killed again and again.) In America, our affluence skews our view of the truth that we are needy and dependent and dying. But through the struggle with sin and the temptations of Satan and the world's false teachings, God kills the Old Adam.
Our faith is in Christ's forgiveness, not in His word of law. Sanctification flows from the word of forgiveness. But it doesn't happen until we're killed. Pastor said, "The outcome of the cross is always infinitely better than the satisfaction we thought we would receive from our idols."
Jesus was baptized to die. So are we. The word which sustained Him in the darkness of the cross and suffering was "this is My beloved Son." The word which sustains us in the darkness of our cross and suffering is also "you are My beloved son."
Sorry if this sounds disjointed. If I tried to take my notes from that class and explain them, this would be a terribly long post.
Red-Shirted Girls
Late in the morning yesterday, Maggie noticed all the red shirts. Not only Maggie, Alia, and Katie happened to be in red shirts, but even the babysitter for the kids next door had donned the same color.
Today's Laugh
A policeman stops a lady and asks for her license. He says "Lady, it says here that you should be wearing glasses."
The woman answered "Well, I have contacts."
The policeman replied, "I don't care who you know! You're getting a ticket!"
The woman answered "Well, I have contacts."
The policeman replied, "I don't care who you know! You're getting a ticket!"
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pizza Chef
Andrew's first day at work. He said there were three pizzas left over at the end of the night (people who canceled their orders) so he brought home one. Oh my goodness -- the Tony Maronni Special tastes even better than it sounded! [drool] 
Chef hat and chef jacket. What a cook!
And proud momma wants to report that the boss today said that Andrew picked up on things faster than other newbies and was more helpful on his first day than they expected. Hooray!
Chef hat and chef jacket. What a cook!And proud momma wants to report that the boss today said that Andrew picked up on things faster than other newbies and was more helpful on his first day than they expected. Hooray!
Salsa
After picking this morning --
These ten pints used up a hefty amount of the tomatoes. Another canning session or two and I might be able to see the counter again.
These ten pints used up a hefty amount of the tomatoes. Another canning session or two and I might be able to see the counter again.
Driveway Project
I suspected the flooding rains had messed up the patching I'd done on the driveway, but I wasn't sure. Sunday, Andrew pulled the car into the parking spot and drove on top of the patches. The patching compound attached itself to the wheels and pulled right off the pavement. Sure enough, water had seeped down into the patch while it was curing and just couldn't dry. Now I have ugly, ripped-up patches. I have no idea how to fix it. It looks like I might just have to take it all out and start over with another type of repair -- probably slowly layering crack-filler. Right now, I'm avoiding thinking about it by focusing on bookshelves and art supplies and other indoor projects.
Today's Laugh
Some men in a pickup truck drove into a lumberyard. One of the men walked into the office and said, "We need some four-by-twos."
The clerk asked, "You mean two-by-fours, don't you?"
The man said, "I'll go check," and went back to the truck. He returned and said, "Yeah, I meant two-by-fours."
The clerk said, "All right. How long do you need them?" The customer paused for a minute and said, "I'd better go check."
After a while, the customer returned to the office and said, "A long time. We're gonna build a house."
The clerk asked, "You mean two-by-fours, don't you?"
The man said, "I'll go check," and went back to the truck. He returned and said, "Yeah, I meant two-by-fours."
The clerk said, "All right. How long do you need them?" The customer paused for a minute and said, "I'd better go check."
After a while, the customer returned to the office and said, "A long time. We're gonna build a house."
Monday, August 16, 2010
Today's Laugh
A doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party. Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice.
After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"
"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try. The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills. When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.
After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"
"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try. The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills. When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
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