During a phone conversation, my nephew mentioned that he was taking a psychology course at university.
"Oh, great," I said, "Now you'll be analyzing everyone in the family."
"No, no," he replied. "I don't take abnormal psychology until next semester."
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Friday, March 05, 2010
New Altar Arriving
Do you remember what it was like when you were little and just couldn't wait for Christmas to arrive so you could open your wonderful, awesome, totally great, beautiful, fantastic presents?
Like Pastor said Wednesday night at choir practice, it felt like Christmas Eve. The new chancel furnishings were due to arrive Thursday morning after Bible class.
Mark and Jim putting the new cabinet into place under the old altar, which stands against the back wall.
Jim, who did a lot of the work on the chancel renovations last spring. (Maybe his wife or daughters will provide some input as to what he helped with on the furnishings.)
The new pulpit.
Mark and Jim carry in the base of the new altar.
Al, Pastor, Mark, and Jim putting the altar into place.
Quite the crowd stayed to watch after Bible class. The excitement and the awe was sure something! Here we have Judy and Bonnie (with Ralph, Kurt, and Frederick the Wise in the background).
And here we have Judy, Erma, Guenther, Shirley, Luise, Bernice, Jim, and Ed.
By the way, just for the record, I'd like to point out something. All y'all who buy CCA materials, take a look at these pictures. These are the folks who collate and bind your books. Some publishing houses have machines to assemble their materials. But we have this crew of saints who do an awful lot of the work by hand, fueled by coffee and laughter and Marcie's baked goods.
Adjusting something for leveling.
Janelle and Marcie. (Aren't they just SO darn cute??)
Andrew, Leah, Maggie, and Bryce.
Kara, looking more serious and ponderous than you normally see her. Maybe it's time for a serious caption, like "Jesus, I will ponder now on Thy holy passion... Grant that I in love and faith may the image cherish of Thy suffering, pain, and death, that I may not perish."
Kara, Kathy, and Jeannine.
And, for the craftsmen...
applause and thanks and
awe-struck dropped jaws and gratitude
(and whatever other words a thesaurus might supply for "thanks") ...
Allan the master, and Mark who helped.
Like Pastor said Wednesday night at choir practice, it felt like Christmas Eve. The new chancel furnishings were due to arrive Thursday morning after Bible class.
Mark and Jim putting the new cabinet into place under the old altar, which stands against the back wall.
Jim, who did a lot of the work on the chancel renovations last spring. (Maybe his wife or daughters will provide some input as to what he helped with on the furnishings.)
The new pulpit.
Mark and Jim carry in the base of the new altar.
Al, Pastor, Mark, and Jim putting the altar into place.
Quite the crowd stayed to watch after Bible class. The excitement and the awe was sure something! Here we have Judy and Bonnie (with Ralph, Kurt, and Frederick the Wise in the background).
And here we have Judy, Erma, Guenther, Shirley, Luise, Bernice, Jim, and Ed.
By the way, just for the record, I'd like to point out something. All y'all who buy CCA materials, take a look at these pictures. These are the folks who collate and bind your books. Some publishing houses have machines to assemble their materials. But we have this crew of saints who do an awful lot of the work by hand, fueled by coffee and laughter and Marcie's baked goods.
Adjusting something for leveling.
Janelle and Marcie. (Aren't they just SO darn cute??)
Andrew, Leah, Maggie, and Bryce.
Kara, looking more serious and ponderous than you normally see her. Maybe it's time for a serious caption, like "Jesus, I will ponder now on Thy holy passion... Grant that I in love and faith may the image cherish of Thy suffering, pain, and death, that I may not perish."
Kara, Kathy, and Jeannine.
And, for the craftsmen...
applause and thanks and
awe-struck dropped jaws and gratitude
(and whatever other words a thesaurus might supply for "thanks") ...
Allan the master, and Mark who helped.
Today's Laugh
Paddy and Mick were nailing up the side of a wooden house. Mick noticed that Paddy was examining the nails and throwing away every second and third. "What's wrong with the nails?" he asked.
"Sure, the heads are at the wrong end."
"You are stupid, you idiot. Can't you see they are for the other side of the house?"
"Sure, the heads are at the wrong end."
"You are stupid, you idiot. Can't you see they are for the other side of the house?"
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Psalm 94:12-13
Blessed is the man whom You instruct, o Lord,
and teach out of Your law,
that You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
until the pit is dug for the wicked.
We so often think that verses like these mean that God instructs us in how to be good, how to follow rules like the Ten Commandments, how to be nice.
But that's not where we find rest.
When we actually look at the law in Exodus and Leviticus, it's full of stuff about sacrifices. It tells about God's arrangements for worship. It tells how God provides the sacrificial system, as well as the animals for the sacrifices. There's atoning blood all over the place in the Law. There are pictures of Jesus all over the Law: the altar, the lampstand, the priests, the sacrificial lamb, the tabernacle, etc.
When we are taught from the Law, we see how there is always need for forgiveness, how we cannot obey the laws of God, how the blood of another must be shed on our behalf. When we are taught from the Law, we are shown the God of the Promise of Salvation.
And that's where we find rest from adversity.
If I say, "My foot slips,"
Your mercy, o Lord, will hold me up.
and teach out of Your law,
that You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
until the pit is dug for the wicked.
We so often think that verses like these mean that God instructs us in how to be good, how to follow rules like the Ten Commandments, how to be nice.
But that's not where we find rest.
When we actually look at the law in Exodus and Leviticus, it's full of stuff about sacrifices. It tells about God's arrangements for worship. It tells how God provides the sacrificial system, as well as the animals for the sacrifices. There's atoning blood all over the place in the Law. There are pictures of Jesus all over the Law: the altar, the lampstand, the priests, the sacrificial lamb, the tabernacle, etc.
When we are taught from the Law, we see how there is always need for forgiveness, how we cannot obey the laws of God, how the blood of another must be shed on our behalf. When we are taught from the Law, we are shown the God of the Promise of Salvation.
And that's where we find rest from adversity.
If I say, "My foot slips,"
Your mercy, o Lord, will hold me up.
Today's Laugh
A little boy at school asks the teacher if he can go to the washroom.
"Okay" says the teacher. "But first you've got to say the alphabet."
They boy says the alphabet: "a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z."
"What happened to the 'p'?" asked the teacher.
"It's leaking out of my boots now."
"Okay" says the teacher. "But first you've got to say the alphabet."
They boy says the alphabet: "a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z."
"What happened to the 'p'?" asked the teacher.
"It's leaking out of my boots now."
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Quarry Coffee
Gary took today off work because he needed to take care of some business at one of those government departments where the wait is usually 2-3 hours around here. (He drove to Elkhorn and took care of the renewal there. Quicker to drive than to stand in line in Milwaukee or Waukesha. And he fetched my piggy from the butcher.) He also wanted to attend the pollworker training that our township conducted this afternoon. We did go on a "date" for the training of how to set up the voting machines. I can't believe how humongous the instruction guide is for how to deal with various situations that will arise on election day!
We started the day with a breakfast date at Quarry Coffee. Our friend Randy took Gary there a couple of weeks ago, and Gary was so impressed that he wanted to take me. (Actually, he wanted to introduce me to baked oatmeal so that I could make some at home; the date was just the excuse. Lucky for me that Erin has a recipe for baked oatmeal.)
Quarry Coffee is a lovely little place. With real food. And a great atmosphere. I kept thinking, "This is the kind of restaurant I want to have." Someday. In my dreams. Either when the government cuts back on the hoop-jumping, or when I resign myself to jumping through a gazillion hoops. I would love to have a restaurant like that: a limited menu that has a bit of variety each day, quality ingredients, and a warm & friendly ambiance. Ah, dreaming ....
We started the day with a breakfast date at Quarry Coffee. Our friend Randy took Gary there a couple of weeks ago, and Gary was so impressed that he wanted to take me. (Actually, he wanted to introduce me to baked oatmeal so that I could make some at home; the date was just the excuse. Lucky for me that Erin has a recipe for baked oatmeal.)
Quarry Coffee is a lovely little place. With real food. And a great atmosphere. I kept thinking, "This is the kind of restaurant I want to have." Someday. In my dreams. Either when the government cuts back on the hoop-jumping, or when I resign myself to jumping through a gazillion hoops. I would love to have a restaurant like that: a limited menu that has a bit of variety each day, quality ingredients, and a warm & friendly ambiance. Ah, dreaming ....
American Players Theatre
Anxious for Richard III this summer. APT-lovers can check out the APT Channel on you-tube.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Today's Laugh
A man died and was greeted by St Peter at the gates of heaven.
"Well, I don't have much data on you. Please tell me what you've done that you think you belong in heaven," St Peter said.
"Three Hell's Angels types had stopped a car with a woman in it. I stopped my car and ran up to them. I told them that if they didn't leave immediately, I would stomp them and send them home with their tails between their legs."
St. Peter was a little skeptical about the story and asked, "When did this happen?"
The man replied, "About two minutes ago."
"Well, I don't have much data on you. Please tell me what you've done that you think you belong in heaven," St Peter said.
"Three Hell's Angels types had stopped a car with a woman in it. I stopped my car and ran up to them. I told them that if they didn't leave immediately, I would stomp them and send them home with their tails between their legs."
St. Peter was a little skeptical about the story and asked, "When did this happen?"
The man replied, "About two minutes ago."
Monday, March 01, 2010
Unchangeable Law
In our Bible story today, we heard that Daniel would not pray to King Darius but continued to pray to the Lord. When Darius found out he'd been tricked into condemning Daniel, he "set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored to the going down of the sun to deliver him" (Daniel 6). But the laws and statutes and decrees could not be changed. So Darius had no option left but to commend Daniel to his God.
Like the laws of the Medes and the Persians, God's law cannot be altered. The law could not be set aside simply because it was going to have ugly consequences; it had to stand. But God is greater than Darius. When the Lord set His heart on us to deliver us, when He labored to the going down of the sun that one Friday, He was able to deliver us.
Like the laws of the Medes and the Persians, God's law cannot be altered. The law could not be set aside simply because it was going to have ugly consequences; it had to stand. But God is greater than Darius. When the Lord set His heart on us to deliver us, when He labored to the going down of the sun that one Friday, He was able to deliver us.
Swelled Head
School auction yesterday. This is a cruddy picture of Vanna Emma, the "MC," and the auctioneer, but hey, it was dark and this is the best shot I got.
Having never been to one of these before, I wasn't sure how it all worked, so what I offered was small: just two loaves of bread a month for four months. But good golly, it went for a lot more money than I expected. And so many different people bid on it ... like as if they anticipate yummy bread from me. Oh boy!
It's going to be fun to bake loaves for the purchaser along with our regular just-for-toast loaves, knowing they will enjoy it.
Having never been to one of these before, I wasn't sure how it all worked, so what I offered was small: just two loaves of bread a month for four months. But good golly, it went for a lot more money than I expected. And so many different people bid on it ... like as if they anticipate yummy bread from me. Oh boy!
It's going to be fun to bake loaves for the purchaser along with our regular just-for-toast loaves, knowing they will enjoy it.
Today's Laugh
If you can't get rid of the family skeleton,
you may as well make it dance.
HT: Kari
you may as well make it dance.
- George Bernard Shaw
HT: Kari
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Rahab
As we read the first couple of chapters of Joshua today in Sunday school, we talked about the spies' escape from Jericho. Rahab hid the spies because she believed in the Promise (Genesis 12 & 15). But what I thought was really nifty was the scarlet cord she used to sneak the spies out of the city, letting them down from the window on the city wall. It was almost like Passover, what with the red sign marking the entry into the home, and the red sign meant everyone in that household would be spared.
See, His blood doth mark our door.
Faith points to it;
Death passes o'er,
And Satan cannot harm us. Alleluia!
See, His blood doth mark our door.
Faith points to it;
Death passes o'er,
And Satan cannot harm us. Alleluia!
Today's Laugh
A nursing home resident, suffering from dementia, decided to shed all her clothes and "streak."
She passed two male residents sitting in their wheel chairs in the hallway. The first male asked the second, "Who was that?"
"I THINK it was Miss Rita," answered his friend.
"Well, what was that she had on?"
"I don't know," he considered, "but I think it needs ironing."
She passed two male residents sitting in their wheel chairs in the hallway. The first male asked the second, "Who was that?"
"I THINK it was Miss Rita," answered his friend.
"Well, what was that she had on?"
"I don't know," he considered, "but I think it needs ironing."
Saturday, February 27, 2010
I Confess
We watched I Confess again last week.
This time I was struck by two things I hadn't noticed before. (Warning: spoilers follow.)
First, everybody knew that the seal of the confessional was not to be violated. The murderer relied on the fact that the priest could not and would not tell. The murderer's wife wasn't completely sure that the priest would keep his mouth shut, but with the reminder about the seal of the confessional, she was pretty sure he would abide by it. The detective pressed the priest for information, but he did not know that he was asking Father Logan to reveal what he'd heard in confession. The priest's former girlfriend and the blackmailer both know that the priest will not tell about sins he knows of. Today we have pastors telling other pastors that there are times when they must reveal what they've heard in confession. But in years past, people had a better sense that the ordination vow, "Do you promise never to divulge the sins confessed to you?" actually meant never.
Second, what brought about Alma's confession? She went through the movie worried that her husband's crime would come to light. She sat through the priest's trial without a word, watching with increased discomfort as her husband lied. But still she bore her own guilt. It was Father Logan's sacrifice and love which finally moved her to confess. It wasn't guilt. It wasn't the law. It wasn't threats that moved her. Her heart was changed as she was the recipient of sacrificial love, as she saw this man silently and patiently bear their sin.
Wow! Compare Hitchcock's theology to much of what we run across today.
This time I was struck by two things I hadn't noticed before. (Warning: spoilers follow.)
First, everybody knew that the seal of the confessional was not to be violated. The murderer relied on the fact that the priest could not and would not tell. The murderer's wife wasn't completely sure that the priest would keep his mouth shut, but with the reminder about the seal of the confessional, she was pretty sure he would abide by it. The detective pressed the priest for information, but he did not know that he was asking Father Logan to reveal what he'd heard in confession. The priest's former girlfriend and the blackmailer both know that the priest will not tell about sins he knows of. Today we have pastors telling other pastors that there are times when they must reveal what they've heard in confession. But in years past, people had a better sense that the ordination vow, "Do you promise never to divulge the sins confessed to you?" actually meant never.
Second, what brought about Alma's confession? She went through the movie worried that her husband's crime would come to light. She sat through the priest's trial without a word, watching with increased discomfort as her husband lied. But still she bore her own guilt. It was Father Logan's sacrifice and love which finally moved her to confess. It wasn't guilt. It wasn't the law. It wasn't threats that moved her. Her heart was changed as she was the recipient of sacrificial love, as she saw this man silently and patiently bear their sin.
Wow! Compare Hitchcock's theology to much of what we run across today.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hoarding
Why is it that I hate using that last of something?
It doesn't bother me to use hamburger and rice and canned tomatoes freely. I'm fine with getting out plenty of potatoes or tuna or pasta. But using the ONE salmon steak in the freezer? Eeek. Opening those precious jars of chicken meat that came from Katie's pantry? Well, well, ... I might need those later. I can use lettuce freely in summer when I can get gobs from the garden, but using lettuce at this time of year means that it will be gone from the fridge, and there wouldn't be any if I want some tomorrow on my sandwich.
So if there's just a little, I don't touch it. And risk letting it go bad. How dumb is that?
It doesn't bother me to use hamburger and rice and canned tomatoes freely. I'm fine with getting out plenty of potatoes or tuna or pasta. But using the ONE salmon steak in the freezer? Eeek. Opening those precious jars of chicken meat that came from Katie's pantry? Well, well, ... I might need those later. I can use lettuce freely in summer when I can get gobs from the garden, but using lettuce at this time of year means that it will be gone from the fridge, and there wouldn't be any if I want some tomorrow on my sandwich.
So if there's just a little, I don't touch it. And risk letting it go bad. How dumb is that?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
God Works for Good
On this St Matthias Day, Pr Eckardt writes on whether the Eleven should have chosen a successor to Judas so that they would again be the Twelve, or if they should have waited until God gave them Paul to be the twelfth.
The important point, though, is not about who picked whom and when.
What matters is that the Lord blesses what we do. He even blesses our mistakes. Even when we screw up in the offices into which He has placed us, He does good to those we have been called to serve. I love Pastor Eckardt's conclusion: we too may learn to live without regret. If we might have made decisions that in retrospect could be called ill-advised, we may take confidence in this, that God assumes them into the course of our grace-laden lives, and moves forward with us in His unspeakable mercy.
The important point, though, is not about who picked whom and when.
What matters is that the Lord blesses what we do. He even blesses our mistakes. Even when we screw up in the offices into which He has placed us, He does good to those we have been called to serve. I love Pastor Eckardt's conclusion: we too may learn to live without regret. If we might have made decisions that in retrospect could be called ill-advised, we may take confidence in this, that God assumes them into the course of our grace-laden lives, and moves forward with us in His unspeakable mercy.
Today's Laugh
From Kari, who has some of the best laughs!
LETTER FROM AN EXCELLENT BOSS
Dear Employees:
As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, our prices would have to increase by about 10%. But since we can not increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead.
This has really been bothering me since I believe we are family here, and I didn't know how to choose who would have to go. So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lots and found sixty Obama bumper stickers on our employees' cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for change ... I gave it to them.
I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.
THE BOSS
LETTER FROM AN EXCELLENT BOSS
Dear Employees:
As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, our prices would have to increase by about 10%. But since we can not increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead.
This has really been bothering me since I believe we are family here, and I didn't know how to choose who would have to go. So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lots and found sixty Obama bumper stickers on our employees' cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for change ... I gave it to them.
I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.
THE BOSS
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Embroidery
Mag mentioned last night wanting to learn to sew. I wasn't sure whether to start with the machine or hand-sewing.
Last night while we read Betsy-Tacy, she embroidered a simple heart on some scrap cloth and did an awesome job! Today we downloaded a simple coloring-book picture of a bird on the branch of a cherry tree, traced it onto a piece of scrap cloth, and she's outlining it in appropriate colors.
We're going to need to buy more colors of thread or floss. Pretty quickly she's going to run through what little I have. Nifty, eh?
Last night while we read Betsy-Tacy, she embroidered a simple heart on some scrap cloth and did an awesome job! Today we downloaded a simple coloring-book picture of a bird on the branch of a cherry tree, traced it onto a piece of scrap cloth, and she's outlining it in appropriate colors.
We're going to need to buy more colors of thread or floss. Pretty quickly she's going to run through what little I have. Nifty, eh?
FOMS
Fear Of Missing Something. It's a fear that I share with a lot of my friends. Online friends and some in-real-life friends.
As I try [again!!!] to get my computer addiction under control, it crossed my mind that I miss something no matter which way I turn. I may miss the online conversations. But if I participate in them to my heart's content, then I'm missing something at home -- the time reading with Maggie, the math play-time with Andrew*, the cleanliness of keeping the kitchen floor properly mopped, watching a movie with Gary, phone chats with Mom & Katie & Paul, etc.
* Okay, so Andrew thinks it's torture. Give me an algebra book and I can't help but think "play-time"!
As I try [again!!!] to get my computer addiction under control, it crossed my mind that I miss something no matter which way I turn. I may miss the online conversations. But if I participate in them to my heart's content, then I'm missing something at home -- the time reading with Maggie, the math play-time with Andrew*, the cleanliness of keeping the kitchen floor properly mopped, watching a movie with Gary, phone chats with Mom & Katie & Paul, etc.
* Okay, so Andrew thinks it's torture. Give me an algebra book and I can't help but think "play-time"!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
