For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Pastor made the point last week that these sufferings are not primarily things like car accidents, lost jobs, illness, and broken relationships. It of course includes those things. But in the context of Paul's letter (with chapter 8 following on the heels of chapter 7!) the sufferings spoken of here are primarily the suffering with the sin of our flesh waging war against faith, bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. THAT suffering --a suffering more grievous than any suffering imposed from the outside-- is the suffering which still isn't worth comparing to the glory which shall be revealed in us at the Last Day.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
"100" -- Trees in Yard
Because my children are making me obey the rules about identifying species "within a mile of your home," they won't let me count this one. It's in the backyard of our old home. We planted it quite a few years ago. Last week I stopped and nabbed some MULBERRIES when I was in the neighborhood doing some errands. I'm sure Katie is jealous.
I can't tell the difference between the members of the rose family until they fruit. The peach trees, plums, apples, crab apples, apricots, cherries, and pears all look alike to me. (Hey, is there a parable about that: the way to tell what the thing is would be to look at its fruit??) Anyway, this one with the dark leaves is #20 on my list, a PLUM TREE.
21. BIRCH TREES always make me think of Wisconsin. I loved it, back when I was little, when we got far enough north on Highway 51 on our way to the northwoods, and there were birch trees everywhere!
22. The guys picked CHERRIES one day, but I never got around to finishing off the picking and doing something with the fruit. I feel so wasteful! Perfectly decent cherries and I let the critters have them instead of eating them ourselves. I intend to do better next year.
23. There is one LILAC by the garage and another by Maggie's bedroom window.
24. This CRAB APPLE TREE flowers so prettily and is placed near the corner for everyone to enjoy in May as they come into our little section of dead-end streets.
Walnut Cravings
I used to tolerate walnuts in the cookies or brownies. Sometimes I thought Mom would put nuts in the treats to slow their consumption by certain children. Even up till a year ago, when I had long since learned to like walnuts, I still preferred pecans and almonds. But I usually bought walnuts for the recipes where I needed nuts, simply because the walnuts were more economical.
For the last several months I've been having walnut cravings. I usually don't let myself get started because I just can't stop. When I make granola, I want to snitch as many for my mouth as I put into the whole recipe. Now when I put pecans in the granola, it's not the special treat it used to be ... because I WANT walnuts.
Then I went to the store to refill the walnut supply. Oh no! What happened? The walnuts are significantly more expensive than the pecans and almonds now. Oh dear. This is sad.
I suppose planting a walnut tree will not be a very speedy solution, eh?
For the last several months I've been having walnut cravings. I usually don't let myself get started because I just can't stop. When I make granola, I want to snitch as many for my mouth as I put into the whole recipe. Now when I put pecans in the granola, it's not the special treat it used to be ... because I WANT walnuts.
Then I went to the store to refill the walnut supply. Oh no! What happened? The walnuts are significantly more expensive than the pecans and almonds now. Oh dear. This is sad.
I suppose planting a walnut tree will not be a very speedy solution, eh?
Friday, July 25, 2008
1 John 3:6
Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.... He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.... Whoever is born of God does not sin.
Surely I'm not the only one who's heard the speech. "You are no Christian. You sin. You should work harder to get your life in order. You should quit sinning. If only you could be as sanctified as I am. I really don't think you're a Christian. You should commit your life to God, and make Him lord of your life."
Pastor pointed out in Bible class this week that the verse in chapter 3 cannot mean what these pharisees claim it means. After all, look back at chapter 1: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
The Sunday epistles recently (in 3-yr series) have been from Romans. Recently we heard, To will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. The good that I will to do, that I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. If anybody at church hadn't already memorized that section, I suspect they must have memorized it by now, after hearing it expounded upon so often in the sermons of recent weeks.
Interestingly, besides the third chapter of his first epistle, there is another place where John talks about children of the devil as differentiated from the children of God. It's near the end of John 8, the gospel for Judica. Jesus tells the pharisees, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do."
The desires of your father you want to do.
The children of the devil want to do his bidding. The Christian doesn't want to but nevertheless continues to fall into sin (a la Romans 7). There's something comforting there....
Surely I'm not the only one who's heard the speech. "You are no Christian. You sin. You should work harder to get your life in order. You should quit sinning. If only you could be as sanctified as I am. I really don't think you're a Christian. You should commit your life to God, and make Him lord of your life."
Pastor pointed out in Bible class this week that the verse in chapter 3 cannot mean what these pharisees claim it means. After all, look back at chapter 1: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
The Sunday epistles recently (in 3-yr series) have been from Romans. Recently we heard, To will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. The good that I will to do, that I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. If anybody at church hadn't already memorized that section, I suspect they must have memorized it by now, after hearing it expounded upon so often in the sermons of recent weeks.
Interestingly, besides the third chapter of his first epistle, there is another place where John talks about children of the devil as differentiated from the children of God. It's near the end of John 8, the gospel for Judica. Jesus tells the pharisees, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do."
The desires of your father you want to do.
The children of the devil want to do his bidding. The Christian doesn't want to but nevertheless continues to fall into sin (a la Romans 7). There's something comforting there....
Cafeteria
Information from Paul's college's cafeteria arrived recently. It touts the healthy food choices available, but the word "healthy" seemed to be used nearly interchangeably with "low fat." I don't agree with that. I think "healthy" and "minimally refined" are more synonymous than "healthy" and "low fat, low calorie."
So I asked the food-service director. He tells me they have whole grain breads. But is that what I call "whole grain"? Or is it the kind of bread that has a little whole grains, just enough for them to legally label it whole-grain bread? I asked about brown rice, and I was told they have it available. But is it real brown rice, or brown Minute Rice? I asked about peanut butter, and was not surprised to find that it's the standard kind, made with hydrogenated fats and high-fructose corn syrup. But when I asked about butter, I was surprised that they don't even have any of that. EEEEEEKS!
Philip, Katie, and Nathan -- none of them did well with cafeteria food. Paul cares more about eating right than any of them did when they headed off on their own. When Gary and I would face 4 days of cafeteria food (oh, say, at FtW sem for symposium, prior to the era when Jane and/or Katie would feed us part of the time while there), a person can get to feeling pretty cruddy in that short amount of time. It's going to take some careful choosing on Paul's part to get enough unrefined foods into him to feel fit.
So I asked the food-service director. He tells me they have whole grain breads. But is that what I call "whole grain"? Or is it the kind of bread that has a little whole grains, just enough for them to legally label it whole-grain bread? I asked about brown rice, and I was told they have it available. But is it real brown rice, or brown Minute Rice? I asked about peanut butter, and was not surprised to find that it's the standard kind, made with hydrogenated fats and high-fructose corn syrup. But when I asked about butter, I was surprised that they don't even have any of that. EEEEEEKS!
Philip, Katie, and Nathan -- none of them did well with cafeteria food. Paul cares more about eating right than any of them did when they headed off on their own. When Gary and I would face 4 days of cafeteria food (oh, say, at FtW sem for symposium, prior to the era when Jane and/or Katie would feed us part of the time while there), a person can get to feeling pretty cruddy in that short amount of time. It's going to take some careful choosing on Paul's part to get enough unrefined foods into him to feel fit.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
It's Not Fair
Last Sunday's epistle (3-year series) was from Romans 8.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Rosie Cotton, Andrew's kitty, has been sick. She started sneezing on Friday morning, after being uncharacteristically lazy on Thursday. By church on Sunday morning, I was honestly surprised that she was still alive -- sick eyes, lots of sneezing, barely moving, not having eaten nor drunk for over 48 hours. One sad sad kitty. (By the way, after forcing some water into her, and sneaking some lysine into her, and giving her some time, she began slowly to improve on Tuesday. Today she is beginning to be herself again. Whew!)
Remember in grade school, when the class was being naughty? If you were a disgusting goody-two-shoes like I was, it made you mad when the teacher canceled recess or some other fun activity as a punishment for the whole class. "I wasn't throwing erasers. I wasn't being noisy. I wasn't copying off the neighbor's paper. I am a goodshepherdess girl." [Sorry. The shepherdess comment was irresistible, and will make sense only to 10th Kingdom groupees.] Anyhow,... we don't like getting punished for transgressions committed by somebody else. It's not fair, after all.
Of course, Jesus was punished for transgressions committed by somebodies else. But we dismiss that altogether too easily. Ah, He's God. Ah, He wanted to. Ah, we take the atonement and the blessed exchange for granted.
But the rocks. The clouds. The rabbit that was nabbed by coyotes in the backyard last Wednesday night. The irises and daisies and the cherry tree. And poor little Rosie. They have been subjected to futility. They suffer with a world gone wrong. There are earthquakes and tornadoes. There is illness. There is death, some of it predatory and painful. It wasn't their fault. It was mine. And yours. The kitten did not sin. The sky did not sin. The dirt did not sin. But it suffers. And it waits for the Last Day when all things will be made new.
That is not fair.
Still, the rocks and the kitties and the snails and the moss take it. They wait. They suffer. Why? For our sake. God cursed the creation so that man would realize his need for a Savior. God cursed the creation so that we would know that things are not right. God cursed the creation to bring us to repentance.
So when I am tempted to say, "But I didn't vote for Clinton or Perot," or when I am tempted to say that I didn't want a particular synodical bureaucrat to win an election, or when I am tempted to say that I don't want to be bound by laws that restrict my freedoms that I can handle responsibly (but my neighbors have shown that maybe they cannot),
in other words, when I am thinking, "I don't deserve this punishment; it's meant for them"
maybe I need to be reminded of the rocks and Rosie and their sufferings for my sake. It wasn't fair that the Christians in 586 BC had to endure the siege of Jerusalem and suffer through the Babylonian exile; after all, it was the Baal worshipers that brought God's wrath on the nation. And it isn't fair that responsible American citizens must put up with government that is seen by some as a punishment, apunishment consequence brought down on our country because of folks with a welfare mentality that thinks somebody else owes them something. And it isn't fair that faithful pastors are fired.
But so what if it's not fair?
The wildflowers suffer for my sake. Rosie suffers for my sake. The oceans and mountains suffer for my sake. They are placed in a fallen world though they did nothing to deserve it.
(Assuming we can claim innocence.... quite the assumption!) can we do the same for our fellow citizens, or our fellow brothers in this synod, or our fellow family-members? Love for the neighbor and a longing for his heart to be turned in repentance to faith in the true God -- that kind of love makes it easy to bear the unfairness. (God give us that kind of love, because we sure ain't got it, in and of ourselves!)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Rosie Cotton, Andrew's kitty, has been sick. She started sneezing on Friday morning, after being uncharacteristically lazy on Thursday. By church on Sunday morning, I was honestly surprised that she was still alive -- sick eyes, lots of sneezing, barely moving, not having eaten nor drunk for over 48 hours. One sad sad kitty. (By the way, after forcing some water into her, and sneaking some lysine into her, and giving her some time, she began slowly to improve on Tuesday. Today she is beginning to be herself again. Whew!)
Remember in grade school, when the class was being naughty? If you were a disgusting goody-two-shoes like I was, it made you mad when the teacher canceled recess or some other fun activity as a punishment for the whole class. "I wasn't throwing erasers. I wasn't being noisy. I wasn't copying off the neighbor's paper. I am a good
Of course, Jesus was punished for transgressions committed by somebodies else. But we dismiss that altogether too easily. Ah, He's God. Ah, He wanted to. Ah, we take the atonement and the blessed exchange for granted.
But the rocks. The clouds. The rabbit that was nabbed by coyotes in the backyard last Wednesday night. The irises and daisies and the cherry tree. And poor little Rosie. They have been subjected to futility. They suffer with a world gone wrong. There are earthquakes and tornadoes. There is illness. There is death, some of it predatory and painful. It wasn't their fault. It was mine. And yours. The kitten did not sin. The sky did not sin. The dirt did not sin. But it suffers. And it waits for the Last Day when all things will be made new.
That is not fair.
Still, the rocks and the kitties and the snails and the moss take it. They wait. They suffer. Why? For our sake. God cursed the creation so that man would realize his need for a Savior. God cursed the creation so that we would know that things are not right. God cursed the creation to bring us to repentance.
So when I am tempted to say, "But I didn't vote for Clinton or Perot," or when I am tempted to say that I didn't want a particular synodical bureaucrat to win an election, or when I am tempted to say that I don't want to be bound by laws that restrict my freedoms that I can handle responsibly (but my neighbors have shown that maybe they cannot),
in other words, when I am thinking, "I don't deserve this punishment; it's meant for them"
maybe I need to be reminded of the rocks and Rosie and their sufferings for my sake. It wasn't fair that the Christians in 586 BC had to endure the siege of Jerusalem and suffer through the Babylonian exile; after all, it was the Baal worshipers that brought God's wrath on the nation. And it isn't fair that responsible American citizens must put up with government that is seen by some as a punishment, a
But so what if it's not fair?
The wildflowers suffer for my sake. Rosie suffers for my sake. The oceans and mountains suffer for my sake. They are placed in a fallen world though they did nothing to deserve it.
(Assuming we can claim innocence.... quite the assumption!) can we do the same for our fellow citizens, or our fellow brothers in this synod, or our fellow family-members? Love for the neighbor and a longing for his heart to be turned in repentance to faith in the true God -- that kind of love makes it easy to bear the unfairness. (God give us that kind of love, because we sure ain't got it, in and of ourselves!)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Baseball Movie
My husband tells me The Final Season was panned by the critics. Apparently, the critics don't approve of a movie that thinks small-town America is preferable to the Big City. Apparently, the critics don't approve of a movie that exalts discipline and CHORES for straying children. Apparently, the movie critics agree with the educrats that consolidation of high schools is a good thing, rather than keeping the local schools operating. Apparently, the critics don't appreciate the message that, in baseball, as in so many other endeavors, the fundamentals are ... well ... fundamental.
Sean Astin stars in this movie, and for me, that's reason enough to watch it. But the whole setting of the small-town baseball team excelling even when some are trying to squash 'em ... it's definitely an uplifting and fun movie! One of those movies where I find myself cheering, clapping, and wooo-hooo-ing along with the people in the bleachers in the movie.
This movie made me think of Hebron and their basketball water-tower. Except in this Iowa story about baseball, the place was a dynasty for two decades. And it was about the size of Sadorus.
Mom, Gary says Dad would like this one. It's got more language than you'd like, but not too bad. And other than that, it is outstanding!
Sean Astin stars in this movie, and for me, that's reason enough to watch it. But the whole setting of the small-town baseball team excelling even when some are trying to squash 'em ... it's definitely an uplifting and fun movie! One of those movies where I find myself cheering, clapping, and wooo-hooo-ing along with the people in the bleachers in the movie.
This movie made me think of Hebron and their basketball water-tower. Except in this Iowa story about baseball, the place was a dynasty for two decades. And it was about the size of Sadorus.
Mom, Gary says Dad would like this one. It's got more language than you'd like, but not too bad. And other than that, it is outstanding!
Church Signs
Pr Esget got something posted on "Crummy Church Signs." If you're not a reader of his blog, you may not have seen his link there. You gotta go look! It's hilarious!! (Second one on the page, submitted by "Christopher E.")
Psalm 37:28
For the Lord loves justice,
and does not forsake His saints.
The response of my works-righteous heart: If I practice justice, if I am fair, if I do right, then God will not forsake me. He will like me and stick with me if I am properly "doing justice" for fellow-humans.
A better way to hear this verse: Because the Lord loves justice, and does justice, and already meted out punishment on Jesus for my sin, He cannot punish a second time. That would not be just. Instead, He will justify me, declare me righteous for Jesus' sake. Because He is just and loves the justice He enacts, He will be faithful to His promises, and hang onto His saints forever, never leaving them nor forsaking them. (Even if they are sinners and do not practice justice like they ought.)
and does not forsake His saints.
The response of my works-righteous heart: If I practice justice, if I am fair, if I do right, then God will not forsake me. He will like me and stick with me if I am properly "doing justice" for fellow-humans.
A better way to hear this verse: Because the Lord loves justice, and does justice, and already meted out punishment on Jesus for my sin, He cannot punish a second time. That would not be just. Instead, He will justify me, declare me righteous for Jesus' sake. Because He is just and loves the justice He enacts, He will be faithful to His promises, and hang onto His saints forever, never leaving them nor forsaking them. (Even if they are sinners and do not practice justice like they ought.)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
More Wedding Pictures
The pictures from Katie and Nathan's wedding are now on the computer. Gary set up the screen saver to rotate through the pictures in the computer. And I can't even begin to express how CHEERFUL it is to have these pictures flitting past all day. I hate turning off the computer screen now! It was such a beautiful day as far as weather, and so relaxed, and I knew everybody there, and it was a fun party. The ultimate no-stress wedding. I love the greenness of the grapes and trees and lawn and Now, I just need to figure out how I get a hold of Rachel's wedding pictures and get them onto the computer too, so these wretched children of mine will quit pestering me about how Katie is my FAVORITE because all the pictures are of her and her wedding. But when I do get them, I think that I'll still have a special spot in my heart for the pictures of Kate's wedding, because they're just such happy pictures with the outdoors and the tent and the balloons and the silliness.
Wedding Pictures
Okay, so their second wedding anniversary is coming up in two weeks. Okay, so I'm not speedy at getting to wedding pictures. Now that I'm starting to figure out this whole digital-photo thing, I'm sure enjoying it!
Wart Removal
Thanks to the loan of a car from a friend, I managed to squeeze in a visit to my parents this week before Dad starts chemo. (Boy, their calendar is so full of doctor visits right now that it makes my head swim!) While there, the tv was on now and then. I noticed several ads for Compound W and other wart-removal schemes.
The real solution? VITAMIN E.
About 10-15 years ago, we were having problems with warts. A friend's family had problems with them too; she told me that they suspected there was a problem with the virus in their soil. We tried several different brands of wart removers. We tried going to the doctor to freeze them off. We tried the plan where you tape banana peel to the wart, putting on fresh banana peel several times a day. (Banana lovers thought this was a good plan. Somebody had to be eating these bananas so we could make medicinal use of the peel.)
Then somebody told us about vitamin E. It worked better than any of the alternatives. Much faster too. And way cheaper.
You just get a vitamin E capsule, poke a hole into it with a pin, and squeeze some of the oil out onto the wart and just a smidge onto the surrounding skin. Ideally you would apply the vitamin E oil 3-4 times per day. But sometimes we'd remember twice on one day, and only once on the next. Overall, though, it took only a week for the wart to simply fall off. No pain. No doctor visit. No stinky medicine. And far less likelihood of having the wart come back there or anywhere else on the body.
The real solution? VITAMIN E.
About 10-15 years ago, we were having problems with warts. A friend's family had problems with them too; she told me that they suspected there was a problem with the virus in their soil. We tried several different brands of wart removers. We tried going to the doctor to freeze them off. We tried the plan where you tape banana peel to the wart, putting on fresh banana peel several times a day. (Banana lovers thought this was a good plan. Somebody had to be eating these bananas so we could make medicinal use of the peel.)
Then somebody told us about vitamin E. It worked better than any of the alternatives. Much faster too. And way cheaper.
You just get a vitamin E capsule, poke a hole into it with a pin, and squeeze some of the oil out onto the wart and just a smidge onto the surrounding skin. Ideally you would apply the vitamin E oil 3-4 times per day. But sometimes we'd remember twice on one day, and only once on the next. Overall, though, it took only a week for the wart to simply fall off. No pain. No doctor visit. No stinky medicine. And far less likelihood of having the wart come back there or anywhere else on the body.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Marine Joke
This came from a Backwoods Home Magazine from a year ago. Check out the link; the blonde joke is a crack-up! But I thought the following one had some good Lutheran theology in it alongside the joke.
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.
One day the professor shocked the class when he came in.
He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you exactly 15 minutes.”
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.
Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, “Here I am God. I’m still waiting.” It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform.
The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.
The professor eventually come to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, “What is the matter with you? Why did you do that?”
The Marine calmly replied, “God was too busy today protecting America’s soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid things. So, He sent me.”
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.
One day the professor shocked the class when he came in.
He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you exactly 15 minutes.”
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.
Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, “Here I am God. I’m still waiting.” It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform.
The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.
The professor eventually come to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, “What is the matter with you? Why did you do that?”
The Marine calmly replied, “God was too busy today protecting America’s soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid things. So, He sent me.”
Lazy?
Once upon a time, several of us were sick. The sickest we'd been in a long time. We were resting, sitting on the couch for a whole week, aching, feverish, popping a couple of tylenol, and then two hours later some aspirin, and two hours later some more tylenol. A friend told us what we needed to do was get outside and work. She said that her family had been sick recently and they didn't have time to sit around and recuperate because there was work to do. So they did it. She said they "sweated it out" and got much better for having worked through the illness rather than resting.
It makes some sense to me, theoretically, because sweating does eliminate a lot of toxins from the body. But boy oh boy, when you're so sick you can hardly get to the kitchen for a drink of juice, the idea of going outside to shovel gobs of snow sounds ludicrous.
When a person gets older and the body shows more and more signs of the corruption of sin (weakness, lack of endurance, less flexibility, longer time to heal, etc), how does a person know when her "laziness" is just an unwillingness to work and when it's lack of ability? I think that I've been lazy recently, and I've been trying to gather my oomph to overcome it. I've been giving myself speeches. I've been trying to work harder, move faster, be organized and efficient. And I'm not managing it.
Do I need to try harder? Or would it be better to recognize that, as I'm trying to learn new things, it's going to simply take some time? And that my body cannot DO the things it could do when I was in my twenties?
You know what? Ten, fifteen, and twenty years ago, I was asking these questions about my children ... and their readiness for learning. In the kids, I could recognize that sometimes I could spend a HUGE amount of effort trying to teach them something before they were ready, or I could wait until they were physically and mentally capable of something, and then the educational task would be a breeze. Loads of homeschool moms face this: should we bash our heads against the wall trying to teach cursive or phonics or long division or how to use the potty (hopefully not in that order!) or do we admit that the child is simply not capable of this right now?
And now I'm wondering the same thing about myself -- but on the downhill slope.
It makes some sense to me, theoretically, because sweating does eliminate a lot of toxins from the body. But boy oh boy, when you're so sick you can hardly get to the kitchen for a drink of juice, the idea of going outside to shovel gobs of snow sounds ludicrous.
When a person gets older and the body shows more and more signs of the corruption of sin (weakness, lack of endurance, less flexibility, longer time to heal, etc), how does a person know when her "laziness" is just an unwillingness to work and when it's lack of ability? I think that I've been lazy recently, and I've been trying to gather my oomph to overcome it. I've been giving myself speeches. I've been trying to work harder, move faster, be organized and efficient. And I'm not managing it.
Do I need to try harder? Or would it be better to recognize that, as I'm trying to learn new things, it's going to simply take some time? And that my body cannot DO the things it could do when I was in my twenties?
You know what? Ten, fifteen, and twenty years ago, I was asking these questions about my children ... and their readiness for learning. In the kids, I could recognize that sometimes I could spend a HUGE amount of effort trying to teach them something before they were ready, or I could wait until they were physically and mentally capable of something, and then the educational task would be a breeze. Loads of homeschool moms face this: should we bash our heads against the wall trying to teach cursive or phonics or long division or how to use the potty (hopefully not in that order!) or do we admit that the child is simply not capable of this right now?
And now I'm wondering the same thing about myself -- but on the downhill slope.
"100" -- Around the House
15. A patch of DAY LILIES by the mailbox. Turns out there are lots of different kinds of day lilies; the most popular ones around here are a small yellow trumpet-shaped lily.
I'm not counting the WEIGELA as part of my 100 species. The only reason I can identify it is because it was planted recently by the previous owners, and the tag is still on it. Maybe in time, as it grows and I get used to seeing it, I'll be able to recognize weigela in other people's yards even if there is no tag to read the label!
16. I'm not sure why the RASPBERRIES are planted under the eaves, hiding next to and under the lilac. But that's where there are a few. I hope to put out a nice big long row of 'em next year, in the sun, where they belong.
17 & 18. RHUBARB is also planted under the eaves, where it doesn't get much rain. Not sure why. Maybe I can fix that in years to come.
The first spring at our old house, I thought we had rhubarb. We didn't. We had BURDOCK. Even now that I know the difference, it's really only the redness of the stem on the rhubarb that enables me to differentiate rhubarb and short burdock. If it's not in a place where you mow, once the burdock starts to grow really tall, that too helps distinguish the two. Oh, yeah, and the fact that rhubarb doesn't have burs that get stuck in the cats' coats.
19. We have four different kinds of HOSTAS planted next to the house, and many more varieties in the neighborhood. The one on the left is called "lemon lime" hosta because of the yellow and green colors. I don't know what kind of hosta is this particular blend of green & white.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Portals of Prayer
I absolutely love Day By Day We Magnify Thee, and have also benefited from using Every Day Will I Bless Thee (available from CCA). But yesterday I was invited to take a peek at this month's Portals of Prayer.
Oh. My. Goodness. Pick one up from your church narthex and use it for July! (Or click on the link at the end of the preceding paragraph.) This month's lovely devotions show us that JESUS and His work to forgive our sins is God's message throughout the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Epistles. Wow! Not only that, but the July devotions are written on the appointed daily readings found in LSB and thus in many congregations' prayer guides. When I saw this month's daily meditations, I checked out the previous volume of "Portals of Prayer" and found June's devotions sweetly comforting too. Wow!
Oh. My. Goodness. Pick one up from your church narthex and use it for July! (Or click on the link at the end of the preceding paragraph.) This month's lovely devotions show us that JESUS and His work to forgive our sins is God's message throughout the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Epistles. Wow! Not only that, but the July devotions are written on the appointed daily readings found in LSB and thus in many congregations' prayer guides. When I saw this month's daily meditations, I checked out the previous volume of "Portals of Prayer" and found June's devotions sweetly comforting too. Wow!
Swim Test
At the beach there are more rules than we're used to at a beach. My kids are accustomed to MY watching them, MY enforcing safety rules, and MY allowing or disallowing whatever activity. They're not used to there being lifeguards around to do those things. (I guess if that's all you've experienced in your swim-life, it's almost like the lifeguards are usurping Mom's place.)
So today Maggie and I are at the beach. There is a rule that kids under 14 must pass a swim test to go into the deep section of the lake, out to the raft, off the diving board. Okay, so Maggie goes out and swims and gets her little wristband and goes off happily to play in the water. Personally, I think it should be my problem if I'm dumb enough to let her go in above her head if'n she's an incompetent swimmer. But most people think it's the government's job to protect everybody, so the government has set up these rules about the swim test and have provided gobs of lifeguards at the lake.
And today I saw why.
Parent after parent questioned the lifeguards when their kids didn't pass the swim test. One little girl walked the path for the test, moving her arms in a swimming motion. Maybe she was trying to scam the lifeguards, or maybe she just is too little to know what swimming IS. Some kids couldn't even swim half the distance without stopping to stand up. When the lifeguards said "no" to giving the kids permission to go into the deep end, the parents questioned: Why won't you let my kid swim here? Uhhh, that would be because the water is 30' deep and when your kid tries to stand up because he can't swim that far, he'll drown; he can swim in the shallow sections. And the parents would get huffy about it.
I just don't get it.
So today Maggie and I are at the beach. There is a rule that kids under 14 must pass a swim test to go into the deep section of the lake, out to the raft, off the diving board. Okay, so Maggie goes out and swims and gets her little wristband and goes off happily to play in the water. Personally, I think it should be my problem if I'm dumb enough to let her go in above her head if'n she's an incompetent swimmer. But most people think it's the government's job to protect everybody, so the government has set up these rules about the swim test and have provided gobs of lifeguards at the lake.
And today I saw why.
Parent after parent questioned the lifeguards when their kids didn't pass the swim test. One little girl walked the path for the test, moving her arms in a swimming motion. Maybe she was trying to scam the lifeguards, or maybe she just is too little to know what swimming IS. Some kids couldn't even swim half the distance without stopping to stand up. When the lifeguards said "no" to giving the kids permission to go into the deep end, the parents questioned: Why won't you let my kid swim here? Uhhh, that would be because the water is 30' deep and when your kid tries to stand up because he can't swim that far, he'll drown; he can swim in the shallow sections. And the parents would get huffy about it.
I just don't get it.
And They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love
Bible class this morning was on the beginning of 1 John 3, particularly how we have the status as the children of God because we are IN the Son of God by virtue of His baptizing us.
Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (3:1)
Melynda asked about that, and somehow the old song came up. "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love." And Pastor made an interesting point. THEY will know we are Christians by our love. It isn't that WE will know we are Christians by our love. When we look at ourselves, we see only sin and corruption and struggle. We will look only to Christ and what He has done. That is where we see hope and salvation. WE "know we are Christians" by the declarative Word, in baptism and in the preaching of the absolution. If WE are looking to ourselves to see our love that is oh-so-winsome to the unbelievers (or not!) then we won't have the love such that THEY can be looking at us to see love. It is when our eyes are on Jesus that others will look at us and see the love that we may not be able to see in ourselves.
Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (3:1)
Melynda asked about that, and somehow the old song came up. "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love." And Pastor made an interesting point. THEY will know we are Christians by our love. It isn't that WE will know we are Christians by our love. When we look at ourselves, we see only sin and corruption and struggle. We will look only to Christ and what He has done. That is where we see hope and salvation. WE "know we are Christians" by the declarative Word, in baptism and in the preaching of the absolution. If WE are looking to ourselves to see our love that is oh-so-winsome to the unbelievers (or not!) then we won't have the love such that THEY can be looking at us to see love. It is when our eyes are on Jesus that others will look at us and see the love that we may not be able to see in ourselves.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
"100" -- Garden Patch
These are the five veggies I planted in my tiny little space on the sunny side of the garage.
10. CANTALOUPE
11. CUCUMBER
I have a hard time telling cucumber and cantaloupe apart. The seeds are nearly identical. The vines are quite similar. But I know which is which right now (before the fruit begins to be produced) because I planted the seeds from little baggies that had pictures on them.
12. There's something I just love about the smell of a TOMATO vine.
13. This LETTUCE is "black-seeded Simpson" which I know because I saw the seed packet. On the other hand, I've planted this enough times, and seen other kinds of lettuce, that maybe, just maybe, I'd be able to ID the particular kind of lettuce if I saw it elsewhere (but I'm not counting on it).
14. Cabbage leaves with a knobby base of the stem = KOHLRABI. The earwigs have been at my lettuce and kohlrabi.
10. CANTALOUPE
11. CUCUMBERI have a hard time telling cucumber and cantaloupe apart. The seeds are nearly identical. The vines are quite similar. But I know which is which right now (before the fruit begins to be produced) because I planted the seeds from little baggies that had pictures on them.
12. There's something I just love about the smell of a TOMATO vine.
13. This LETTUCE is "black-seeded Simpson" which I know because I saw the seed packet. On the other hand, I've planted this enough times, and seen other kinds of lettuce, that maybe, just maybe, I'd be able to ID the particular kind of lettuce if I saw it elsewhere (but I'm not counting on it).
14. Cabbage leaves with a knobby base of the stem = KOHLRABI. The earwigs have been at my lettuce and kohlrabi.
Warm
Philip went out back to haul some dirt this morning and came in feeling a mite hot. I noticed yesterday that the deck seems like an oven on hot days, blowing hot air in through the window of the breakfast nook. (That aspect of the deck might be nice in March or November, but I'm not sure what to do with it in August!)
We put the thermometer out in the backyard. 110°. Oh. So it IS warm! It's only 90 in the front yard where there's shade. Y'know, in days past, the whole point of a day like today was to just simply get through it without heat stroke and without the livestock suffering from the heat. Nowadays, most of us just crank up the AC, and the main inconvenience is when we get a glimpse of the electric bill. Some of us, though, continue to get by just by splashing water on ourselves and drinking a lot and being lazy on days like today. But, hey, there's an upside: the laundry is drying super-fast on the clothesline!
Is there anybody sitting in the air-conditioning today that would like to send me money for theirindulgences carbon credits???
We put the thermometer out in the backyard. 110°. Oh. So it IS warm! It's only 90 in the front yard where there's shade. Y'know, in days past, the whole point of a day like today was to just simply get through it without heat stroke and without the livestock suffering from the heat. Nowadays, most of us just crank up the AC, and the main inconvenience is when we get a glimpse of the electric bill. Some of us, though, continue to get by just by splashing water on ourselves and drinking a lot and being lazy on days like today. But, hey, there's an upside: the laundry is drying super-fast on the clothesline!
Is there anybody sitting in the air-conditioning today that would like to send me money for their
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