Once upon a time, it was not uncommon for women to die from pregnancy or childbirth. Once upon a time, babies with birth defects died within their first year of life. Once upon a time, people died from infection.
Today we have drugs and bed-rest that can stop early labor. We have surgeries to save mothers whose lives are in danger during childbirth. Today we have surgeries that can repair birth defects that used to be fatal. Today we have antibiotics that can fend off otherwise deadly infection.
Once upon a time, when it was more routine for women and children to die, God was still there, still protecting, still guarding. When their last hour came, God graciously took them from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven. Furthermore, God certainly gave daily bread to their families even after mothers died. God did not abandon them, even when temporal life was ended prematurely.
Today doctors can prevent many of these deaths and defects. Doesn't God do this healing work through the doctors, through c-sections, through pitocin, through transplants, through transfusions, through penicillin? Do these medical procedures mean we're "playing God"? Jehovah's Witnesses might say so, but Christians don't.
So today we have women who have survived pregnancy and childbirth with scars. Decades ago, without medical intervention, such women would have perished. But today they live. Today we have parents caring for special-needs kids who, decades ago, would have perished. But today they live, and the parents rejoice.
Without medical intervention, these families would have been broken by death. It seems odd to me that there are Christians who receive some kinds of medical care with thanksgiving, but reject another type of medical care [that is, non-abortifacient contraceptives]. Why do we consider it "trusting God" when doctors do surgery to prevent imminent death, but think it's "not trusting God" to prevent a pregnancy that is quite likely to result in grave danger to mother and child?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Creation of the World
The Old Testament reading last Sunday [in the three-year series] was Genesis 1. It's about God making all the stuff.
This week I heard it differently. When God made the land, the dust, He was making the stuff of which He would make man, knowing that He would one day become Man. When He created the plants of the field, He was making the trees. Centuries later, some of those trees would be used to build an ark that saved Noah's family. Some more centuries later, one of those trees would be the cross on which He was hung to die. At the creation, He made grape vines which produced fruit after its own kind, so that today we still have grape vines, bearing grapes that become wine, that become His blood on the altar, that makes us immortal.
The stuff He was creating way back at the start isn't just the stuff that we see, that we use, that we eat, that we burn for fuel. The stuff He was making was HIS stuff, the stuff He uses to save, the stuff He uses to bring us to Himself.
This week I heard it differently. When God made the land, the dust, He was making the stuff of which He would make man, knowing that He would one day become Man. When He created the plants of the field, He was making the trees. Centuries later, some of those trees would be used to build an ark that saved Noah's family. Some more centuries later, one of those trees would be the cross on which He was hung to die. At the creation, He made grape vines which produced fruit after its own kind, so that today we still have grape vines, bearing grapes that become wine, that become His blood on the altar, that makes us immortal.
The stuff He was creating way back at the start isn't just the stuff that we see, that we use, that we eat, that we burn for fuel. The stuff He was making was HIS stuff, the stuff He uses to save, the stuff He uses to bring us to Himself.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Scummy Shower Curtain
No matter how often I washed that shower curtain, the hem of it just stayed icky.
Today I attacked with a three-pronged assault. First I squirted a thin line of Dawn (yes, the dishwashing detergent) on the bottom 12" of the shower curtain. Then I poured on a healthy dose of cheap white vinegar. I scrubbed briefly with a brush. Then I soaked the gooey mess (Dawn and vinegar and all) in a bucket of water for an hour or so. This time it came out of the laundry without the scum, without the yellow color, without the slimy feel.
I have no idea which one of those was the Magic Wand that broke through the nastiness. But at least I know one of them (or a combination of them) is effective.
Today I attacked with a three-pronged assault. First I squirted a thin line of Dawn (yes, the dishwashing detergent) on the bottom 12" of the shower curtain. Then I poured on a healthy dose of cheap white vinegar. I scrubbed briefly with a brush. Then I soaked the gooey mess (Dawn and vinegar and all) in a bucket of water for an hour or so. This time it came out of the laundry without the scum, without the yellow color, without the slimy feel.
I have no idea which one of those was the Magic Wand that broke through the nastiness. But at least I know one of them (or a combination of them) is effective.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Divorce
In Lutheran circles (and in many other denominations too) we often say that there are times when it's not sinful to get a divorce. We say that a spouse who is abused can divorce without sin. We say that, if someone cheats on his wife, she is not obligated to stay married to him.
This is based on the verse in Matthew 5 where Jesus says, "Anyone who divorces his wife (except for sexual immorality) causes her to commit adultery." Does that mean it is sin-free to divorce a philanderer? Someone pointed out to me that the passage says that the man who divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery ... unless she has already made herself an adulteress by committing sexual immorality. Maybe this passage isn't the exception-to-the-divorce-rule that we think it is. Maybe, instead, it's pointing out how corrupting it is to divorce -- how there's no wiggle-room in excusing ourselves.
When a person is enduring abuse or when illicit affairs have occurred, there is a need for pastoral care. Are the people able to remain married and forgive? Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing we do know. The Lord's bride went a-whoring. She abused Him. And still He loved. Still He sacrificed. Still He gave. Still He remained faithful even when she cheated on Him.
This is based on the verse in Matthew 5 where Jesus says, "Anyone who divorces his wife (except for sexual immorality) causes her to commit adultery." Does that mean it is sin-free to divorce a philanderer? Someone pointed out to me that the passage says that the man who divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery ... unless she has already made herself an adulteress by committing sexual immorality. Maybe this passage isn't the exception-to-the-divorce-rule that we think it is. Maybe, instead, it's pointing out how corrupting it is to divorce -- how there's no wiggle-room in excusing ourselves.
When a person is enduring abuse or when illicit affairs have occurred, there is a need for pastoral care. Are the people able to remain married and forgive? Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing we do know. The Lord's bride went a-whoring. She abused Him. And still He loved. Still He sacrificed. Still He gave. Still He remained faithful even when she cheated on Him.
Repentance
Is amendment of life a necessary part of repentance?
I was always taught that it was. After all, are you really sorry that you stole the candy bar if you keep on stealing candy bars? Are you really sorry that you cheated on the history test if you're still offering $10 to the A-student who sits next to you in math class if he'll let you look at his paper during that test?
Maybe amendment of life is easier when it's an action than when it's a sinful word or a sinful feeling or a sinful thought. Of course, there are actions that are vices, that are addictions. It seems to me that there are plenty of situations where we can hate our sin, regret our attitude, desire to be free from it, cling to Christ's forgiveness, and still be unable to Just Stop That Sin.
Didn't Paul say something about that? "The good that I would, that I fail to do...."?
In some cases, we can gather our oomph together and control how the sin bubbles out in our actions. That's good. But it won't change the heart's mistrust. "You don't trust God," says the accuser, "and so you commit thus-and-such a sin." Will the problem be solved if you stop doing the sin? Or is the sin that you "do" a symptom of the unbelief? If so, isn't the real solution to be assured again and again of what our Savior has done to save us and make us His own dear children? What brings about amendment-of-life anyway, the law or the gospel?
I was always taught that it was. After all, are you really sorry that you stole the candy bar if you keep on stealing candy bars? Are you really sorry that you cheated on the history test if you're still offering $10 to the A-student who sits next to you in math class if he'll let you look at his paper during that test?
Maybe amendment of life is easier when it's an action than when it's a sinful word or a sinful feeling or a sinful thought. Of course, there are actions that are vices, that are addictions. It seems to me that there are plenty of situations where we can hate our sin, regret our attitude, desire to be free from it, cling to Christ's forgiveness, and still be unable to Just Stop That Sin.
Didn't Paul say something about that? "The good that I would, that I fail to do...."?
In some cases, we can gather our oomph together and control how the sin bubbles out in our actions. That's good. But it won't change the heart's mistrust. "You don't trust God," says the accuser, "and so you commit thus-and-such a sin." Will the problem be solved if you stop doing the sin? Or is the sin that you "do" a symptom of the unbelief? If so, isn't the real solution to be assured again and again of what our Savior has done to save us and make us His own dear children? What brings about amendment-of-life anyway, the law or the gospel?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Depending on Electricity
Big storm blows through. Lights go out. What now?
I could clean, right? Nope. The vacuum won't run without electricity. I can't fill a bucket of water to mop unless I have electricity to run the pump on the well.
I could sit down with Maggie and watch our TV show. Oops. No television or computer without electricity.
I could call Mom and see if she's available for a nice long chat. Oh, wait. No power means no telephone.
How about taking a long soak in a bubble bath, and doing a sudoku or reading a chapter of a book? Oops. There's that water snafu again.
Well, I have the strawberries and the sugar, and I can use a match to light the stovetop. I could make the jam. Wait -- do I want to start jam when I have no water to wash up the stickiness? Oh, and then there's sterilizing the jars. Not gonna work.
I could go weed the garden. With all the rain, the weeds should pull nicely. Oh, wait. Think how long it takes me to wash the mud off myself when I come in normally. With this amount of mud, I wouldn't even be able to open the door myself. Sure ain't gonna muddify myself when there's no water to wash my hands.
Shall I start supper? We could grill the chicken instead of roasting it. Hmm. Raw chicken. No water to rinse the meat or to wash my hands and the cutting board. Not a good plan. I'm feeling very much in need of water....
NO! Do NOT open the refrigerator and let the cold out, you kids!
NO! Do NOT flush the toilet! We have only one flush left until the electricity comes back on.
Look at those squirrels out there, running around in the wet grass, playing in the recently returned sunshine. Look at the birds out there, nabbing worms, not at all confounded by the lack of electricity.
Hey, I need to change a load of laundry. As I head toward the steps, I remember that my washer and dryer run on electricity.
Maybe I should call the power company's automated line and see if they've figured out how long this outage is expected to last. As I pick up the phone and find a dead line, I remember that I have to haul out the tracfone and use a couple ofexpensive precious minutes. And ... I discover they have no clue how long it will be until the power is restored.
Maybe we should head to town, making use of the plumbing and computers at the library, and then eat at Tony's. We head to the car, reach for the garage-door opener, and then remember. I guess we'll drive the van that's sitting in the driveway.
It was always easier to get through a power outage when I was growing up. At least we still had phones and water.
I could clean, right? Nope. The vacuum won't run without electricity. I can't fill a bucket of water to mop unless I have electricity to run the pump on the well.
I could sit down with Maggie and watch our TV show. Oops. No television or computer without electricity.
I could call Mom and see if she's available for a nice long chat. Oh, wait. No power means no telephone.
How about taking a long soak in a bubble bath, and doing a sudoku or reading a chapter of a book? Oops. There's that water snafu again.
Well, I have the strawberries and the sugar, and I can use a match to light the stovetop. I could make the jam. Wait -- do I want to start jam when I have no water to wash up the stickiness? Oh, and then there's sterilizing the jars. Not gonna work.
I could go weed the garden. With all the rain, the weeds should pull nicely. Oh, wait. Think how long it takes me to wash the mud off myself when I come in normally. With this amount of mud, I wouldn't even be able to open the door myself. Sure ain't gonna muddify myself when there's no water to wash my hands.
Shall I start supper? We could grill the chicken instead of roasting it. Hmm. Raw chicken. No water to rinse the meat or to wash my hands and the cutting board. Not a good plan. I'm feeling very much in need of water....
NO! Do NOT open the refrigerator and let the cold out, you kids!
NO! Do NOT flush the toilet! We have only one flush left until the electricity comes back on.
Look at those squirrels out there, running around in the wet grass, playing in the recently returned sunshine. Look at the birds out there, nabbing worms, not at all confounded by the lack of electricity.
Hey, I need to change a load of laundry. As I head toward the steps, I remember that my washer and dryer run on electricity.
Maybe I should call the power company's automated line and see if they've figured out how long this outage is expected to last. As I pick up the phone and find a dead line, I remember that I have to haul out the tracfone and use a couple of
Maybe we should head to town, making use of the plumbing and computers at the library, and then eat at Tony's. We head to the car, reach for the garage-door opener, and then remember. I guess we'll drive the van that's sitting in the driveway.
It was always easier to get through a power outage when I was growing up. At least we still had phones and water.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Matthew 8:4
Jesus healed the leper and then told him not to tell anybody but to go show himself to the priest, and offer the sacrifice that the law required, "as a testimony to them."
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I know what is supposed to be the testimony (the healing? the sacrifice? the obedience?) nor to whom the testimony is given (the people nearby? the guy's family? the priests?).
But as I pondered those things, it crossed my mind that the priests must have been seeing an awful lot of healings. Yes, the priests had heard what was up with John's preaching. And then Jesus' preaching. And all those people going out to be baptized. But they also had all sorts of people coming to the temple to "show themselves to the priests" that the healings might be verified and the sacrifices might be made.
It almost makes a person suspect that God set up those purification laws in the Old Testament to ensure that the priests in Jesus' day would be faced with evidence after evidence after evidence that some dude was busy doing all those things that the scriptures said the messiah would do.
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I know what is supposed to be the testimony (the healing? the sacrifice? the obedience?) nor to whom the testimony is given (the people nearby? the guy's family? the priests?).
But as I pondered those things, it crossed my mind that the priests must have been seeing an awful lot of healings. Yes, the priests had heard what was up with John's preaching. And then Jesus' preaching. And all those people going out to be baptized. But they also had all sorts of people coming to the temple to "show themselves to the priests" that the healings might be verified and the sacrifices might be made.
It almost makes a person suspect that God set up those purification laws in the Old Testament to ensure that the priests in Jesus' day would be faced with evidence after evidence after evidence that some dude was busy doing all those things that the scriptures said the messiah would do.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Today's Laugh
Katie posted on her Facebook page
about what Alia (age 2½) was playing:
Today the mommy penguin said to the daddy penguin,
"We're doing the Y O N O"
to which the daddy responded,
"No, I like the S E S E S E S."
I'm thinking we maybe go to the P A R K and the L I B R A R Y too much.
Oh no, oh no. She's catching on to our scheming ways!
about what Alia (age 2½) was playing:
Today the mommy penguin said to the daddy penguin,
"We're doing the Y O N O"
to which the daddy responded,
"No, I like the S E S E S E S."
I'm thinking we maybe go to the P A R K and the L I B R A R Y too much.
Oh no, oh no. She's catching on to our scheming ways!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Math: Right-Brainers or Left-Brainers
For those of you who have a hard time keeping it straight, left-brained is the orderly, rule-oriented side of the brain, and right-brained is the creative, free-thinking side of the brain.
Conservative people tend to value the school-way to do math. "Do this step. Memorize these facts. Drill these facts like crazy. Follow this step next. No, you can't do it that way! Do it this way instead." When you're dealing with a classroom full of children whose needs must all be met as best as possible, when you have children who annually change from one teacher to the next, it helps to have standardization in the math program.
Some teachers and curriculum-planners have tried to bring reform to that staid, old-fashioned, rule-oriented way to do math. People may have conniption fits over the changes. "It won't work. That's not the way to teach." Both sides have their points. The old way of teaching math leaves most kids without understanding of what's truly going on with their computations. On the other hand, with the newer ways of teaching math, there are problems. There's too much instability as kids change teachers annually. Kids mature at different rates, and teachers become impatient for "results" (that is, good scores on the standardized tests) instead of developing math-brains and math-smarts. Occasionally, teachers will even go so far in wanting kids to "understand the process" that they give equal credence to right and wrong answers. If a teacher doesn't understand math, she's going to have a booger of a time helping kids to understand math. And so, sometimes the best a school can aim for is to give up on math, but to make sure the kids can manipulate their numbers and do their arithmetic.
And, YES, there is a difference between arithmetic and mathematics.
Arithmetic is a tool. Being adept at arithmetic involves not only some understanding of what's going on with the numbers and why they work the way they do, but it also involves memorizing addition tables and multiplication tables and some formulas. Becoming good at arithmetic involves enough practice and drill that processing those numbers becomes simple.
But math? Ahhhh. Math is beautiful. Math is like art. Math is creative. Mathematics explains and explores and delves and marvels.
Amazingly enough, arithmetic is NOT necessary to understanding mathematics. Kids can begin to understand decimals and negative numbers before they've done the grunt-work of learning their addition and multiplication facts. Kids may begin to toy with number theory before they can earn A's and B's on their third-grade math worksheets. Kids know something about fractions before they've learned to count to twenty. Kids can wonder at the concept of infinity before they've learned that 6x5=30.
Good math teachers want their kids to learn (eventually) to do their arithmetic painlessly. Arithmetic is a vital tool for mathematicians. But as Penrose and Marilyn Burns and Sir Cumference will show, mathematics is a treasure over which little hearts can delight ... even prior to having mastered simple arithmetic!
Teaching math is like teaching reading. You can teach a kid his phonics and he may be able to decode words, but the higher priority is to teach him to cherish books and reading. Phonics is merely a tool. Same for math. Teach the left-brained arithmetic (hopefully on a timetable that fits the individual child), but don't let arithmetic sap the child of his wonderment over mathematics.
Conservative people tend to value the school-way to do math. "Do this step. Memorize these facts. Drill these facts like crazy. Follow this step next. No, you can't do it that way! Do it this way instead." When you're dealing with a classroom full of children whose needs must all be met as best as possible, when you have children who annually change from one teacher to the next, it helps to have standardization in the math program.
Some teachers and curriculum-planners have tried to bring reform to that staid, old-fashioned, rule-oriented way to do math. People may have conniption fits over the changes. "It won't work. That's not the way to teach." Both sides have their points. The old way of teaching math leaves most kids without understanding of what's truly going on with their computations. On the other hand, with the newer ways of teaching math, there are problems. There's too much instability as kids change teachers annually. Kids mature at different rates, and teachers become impatient for "results" (that is, good scores on the standardized tests) instead of developing math-brains and math-smarts. Occasionally, teachers will even go so far in wanting kids to "understand the process" that they give equal credence to right and wrong answers. If a teacher doesn't understand math, she's going to have a booger of a time helping kids to understand math. And so, sometimes the best a school can aim for is to give up on math, but to make sure the kids can manipulate their numbers and do their arithmetic.
And, YES, there is a difference between arithmetic and mathematics.
Arithmetic is a tool. Being adept at arithmetic involves not only some understanding of what's going on with the numbers and why they work the way they do, but it also involves memorizing addition tables and multiplication tables and some formulas. Becoming good at arithmetic involves enough practice and drill that processing those numbers becomes simple.
But math? Ahhhh. Math is beautiful. Math is like art. Math is creative. Mathematics explains and explores and delves and marvels.
Amazingly enough, arithmetic is NOT necessary to understanding mathematics. Kids can begin to understand decimals and negative numbers before they've done the grunt-work of learning their addition and multiplication facts. Kids may begin to toy with number theory before they can earn A's and B's on their third-grade math worksheets. Kids know something about fractions before they've learned to count to twenty. Kids can wonder at the concept of infinity before they've learned that 6x5=30.
Good math teachers want their kids to learn (eventually) to do their arithmetic painlessly. Arithmetic is a vital tool for mathematicians. But as Penrose and Marilyn Burns and Sir Cumference will show, mathematics is a treasure over which little hearts can delight ... even prior to having mastered simple arithmetic!
Teaching math is like teaching reading. You can teach a kid his phonics and he may be able to decode words, but the higher priority is to teach him to cherish books and reading. Phonics is merely a tool. Same for math. Teach the left-brained arithmetic (hopefully on a timetable that fits the individual child), but don't let arithmetic sap the child of his wonderment over mathematics.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Classical Education
Ever since classical education became popular again, I've been trying to wrap my mind around what it is. Some people tell me that I'm a classical educator. Others say I'm not. I can't figure out who has the "naming rights" to say what is and isn't "classical."
One thing I do know. I like my congregation's school, and it's definitely known as a classical academy. I like how the teachers and students interact. I love how the staff recognizes that they draw their authority from the parents, and don't see the parents as the ones there to support the school. I like many of the materials they use at our school; their list of books looks remarkably similar to mine (except for math and grammar). I love that our school has chapel every day and great catechesis.
The last couple of weeks, I've been editing a project for the school. Over and over again, the materials talk about "training a child to think." Even when the materials tell about Latin class or memorizing math factoids, it's always with "teaching them to THINK" in view.
This makes me wonder if the ability to think critically is the main determinant of what constitutes "classical education." And if so, would those who consider themselves "classical" see others (who use very different methods to achieve thinkingness) as classical too?
One thing I do know. I like my congregation's school, and it's definitely known as a classical academy. I like how the teachers and students interact. I love how the staff recognizes that they draw their authority from the parents, and don't see the parents as the ones there to support the school. I like many of the materials they use at our school; their list of books looks remarkably similar to mine (except for math and grammar). I love that our school has chapel every day and great catechesis.
The last couple of weeks, I've been editing a project for the school. Over and over again, the materials talk about "training a child to think." Even when the materials tell about Latin class or memorizing math factoids, it's always with "teaching them to THINK" in view.
This makes me wonder if the ability to think critically is the main determinant of what constitutes "classical education." And if so, would those who consider themselves "classical" see others (who use very different methods to achieve thinkingness) as classical too?
Sunday, June 05, 2011
catch-all clutter
Andrew received his financial aid package from the college. His tuition will be covered, and he'll have plenty of money left over for books, commuting, and maybe even a little extra. Woo hoo!
Two years. "Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might. Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight. Thou in the darkness drear their one true light. Alleluia!"
My kombucha is taking 2-3 weeks to brew. I don't have enough brew jars, so I started a triple-batch this morning to go with the standard five jars sitting on the brewing shelf. That ought to catch me up.
What's up, anyway, with these budgets the college financial-aid guys allow for the kids? The budget has $100/week for a student's spending money. I mean, I realize people need to buy socks or go to the doctor or other stuff like that. But $100/week? I think that's a lot of Friday-night pizza and beer....
I used to be a news junkie. Now I'm an ostrich with my head in the sand. Pastor Esget explained it perfectly.
There are gobs and gobs of itty-bitty green strawberries out there in the garden amongst all the pretty little strawberry flowers. Yummy! The cherry tree is loaded too. Another bunch o' yummy! (But when am I going to have time to pick them and put them up? Trying to stave off panic....)
We're going to a graduation party this after. It's for a young man at our old church. I just love spending time with this family!
Do you know that if you don't go to the grocery store for 3 or 4 weeks, you end up very very short of food? (I know, I know, you're stunned with my discovery....)
Catechism Olympics (for the final day of school at our congregation's academy) was Friday morning. Before work, I had time to enjoy watching about 30 minutes worth. What a blast!
Gary bought a couple of parts for the old lawnmower that we were considering junking in fall of 2009. He said it took him a couple of minutes to install the parts, and now the machine is running like a dream. Hooray for Mr Handy-man!
I worked with a floater yesterday (someone who "floats" from branch to branch, substituting for people on vacation or ill). We'd never worked together before, so we were getting to know each other. She's in the teacher-ed program at her college, so a very interesting conversation ensued when she learned I'd spent 25+ years homeschooling.
I'm not done typing, but the people I live with are asking me, "Are you ready yet? Are you ready to go?" so I think I shall hush and head off to a party.
(I miss blogging. My brain is overfull and I want to download into my pensieve.)
Two years. "Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might. Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight. Thou in the darkness drear their one true light. Alleluia!"
My kombucha is taking 2-3 weeks to brew. I don't have enough brew jars, so I started a triple-batch this morning to go with the standard five jars sitting on the brewing shelf. That ought to catch me up.
What's up, anyway, with these budgets the college financial-aid guys allow for the kids? The budget has $100/week for a student's spending money. I mean, I realize people need to buy socks or go to the doctor or other stuff like that. But $100/week? I think that's a lot of Friday-night pizza and beer....
I used to be a news junkie. Now I'm an ostrich with my head in the sand. Pastor Esget explained it perfectly.
There are gobs and gobs of itty-bitty green strawberries out there in the garden amongst all the pretty little strawberry flowers. Yummy! The cherry tree is loaded too. Another bunch o' yummy! (But when am I going to have time to pick them and put them up? Trying to stave off panic....)
We're going to a graduation party this after. It's for a young man at our old church. I just love spending time with this family!
Do you know that if you don't go to the grocery store for 3 or 4 weeks, you end up very very short of food? (I know, I know, you're stunned with my discovery....)
Catechism Olympics (for the final day of school at our congregation's academy) was Friday morning. Before work, I had time to enjoy watching about 30 minutes worth. What a blast!
Gary bought a couple of parts for the old lawnmower that we were considering junking in fall of 2009. He said it took him a couple of minutes to install the parts, and now the machine is running like a dream. Hooray for Mr Handy-man!
I worked with a floater yesterday (someone who "floats" from branch to branch, substituting for people on vacation or ill). We'd never worked together before, so we were getting to know each other. She's in the teacher-ed program at her college, so a very interesting conversation ensued when she learned I'd spent 25+ years homeschooling.
I'm not done typing, but the people I live with are asking me, "Are you ready yet? Are you ready to go?" so I think I shall hush and head off to a party.
(I miss blogging. My brain is overfull and I want to download into my pensieve.)
Friday, June 03, 2011
Carpal Tunnel
Arnica is supposed to be very good for healing bruises. While looking for suggestions on dealing with carpal-tunnel pain, I ran across a recommendation for arnica ointment. Carpal tunnel isn't a bruise, but I can see why something that's good for bruises might be effective. I bought some Arniflora Arnica Gel from my friend's store.
This is wonderful stuff! I gave my partially used tube to my Daughter-of-the-Aching-Wrist, keeping a smidge in a container so that I'm not arnica-less until I can buy another tube. I'm becoming so accustomed to lack-of-pain recently that it's a rude awakening when I forget to smear on a bit of the ointment.
This is wonderful stuff! I gave my partially used tube to my Daughter-of-the-Aching-Wrist, keeping a smidge in a container so that I'm not arnica-less until I can buy another tube. I'm becoming so accustomed to lack-of-pain recently that it's a rude awakening when I forget to smear on a bit of the ointment.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Flexi-8
My friend Angie recently mentioned a hair accessory which I have quickly fallen in love with. The Flexi-8 comes in seven sizes, small enough to hold a tiny amount of hair (for pulling a small amount of hair back from your face), all the way up to a large enough clip to hold long, thick hair in a twisted French knot.
The clips are beautiful, long-lasting, and very easy to use.
I was also pleased with the company's service.
I'm done with short hair. I may look better with short hair, but it's too much trouble to keep getting the haircuts and doing the daily styling thing. Putting my hair up in a scrunchy looks too sporty for work. Putting my hair up in a bun takes too much finagling with bobby pins. Putting my hair up in a French braid is okay, but it takes a little longer than I want to spend [hey, I want to spend all of 23 seconds doing my hair each morning!] and a French braid is a pain to undo when you stupidly perch your glasses on the top of your head again, and the nose-pads get tangled in your locks again, and you can't get your glasses off the top of your head and back onto your face. (Bald guys don't realize how easy they have it when they approach Bifocals-Age!)
The Flexi-8 solves all these problems for me. I should be selling these things, I love 'em so much.
The clips are beautiful, long-lasting, and very easy to use.
I was also pleased with the company's service.
I'm done with short hair. I may look better with short hair, but it's too much trouble to keep getting the haircuts and doing the daily styling thing. Putting my hair up in a scrunchy looks too sporty for work. Putting my hair up in a bun takes too much finagling with bobby pins. Putting my hair up in a French braid is okay, but it takes a little longer than I want to spend [hey, I want to spend all of 23 seconds doing my hair each morning!] and a French braid is a pain to undo when you stupidly perch your glasses on the top of your head again, and the nose-pads get tangled in your locks again, and you can't get your glasses off the top of your head and back onto your face. (Bald guys don't realize how easy they have it when they approach Bifocals-Age!)
The Flexi-8 solves all these problems for me. I should be selling these things, I love 'em so much.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
A Housewife's Place
I recently noticed a "Morning Litany" found in Dr Korby's files. Here's one of the sections:
On all going out to work;
On all whose labor brings them into danger;
On all who will meet temptation;
On all who can find no employment;
On all children at home or at school;
On all who keep house;
And on all Christian homes:
SEND THY BLESSING, O LORD.
My first thought was "Yes, this is a good prayer. Send Thy blessing, O Lord. Amen."
My second thought was to notice that the housewife's work was included right in there with the employees, the unemployed, the students, and those doing dangerous work. I'm trying to remember how often we see such petitions today. In the Great Litany, we do pray for mothers of young children. But when do we pray for housewives? Do we pray for them in the keeping of their homes, even if they do not yet have children or if their children are grown? Yes, what they do is important too (even if unrecognized in a consumeristic society), and we ought to pray for them.
On all going out to work;
On all whose labor brings them into danger;
On all who will meet temptation;
On all who can find no employment;
On all children at home or at school;
On all who keep house;
And on all Christian homes:
SEND THY BLESSING, O LORD.
My first thought was "Yes, this is a good prayer. Send Thy blessing, O Lord. Amen."
My second thought was to notice that the housewife's work was included right in there with the employees, the unemployed, the students, and those doing dangerous work. I'm trying to remember how often we see such petitions today. In the Great Litany, we do pray for mothers of young children. But when do we pray for housewives? Do we pray for them in the keeping of their homes, even if they do not yet have children or if their children are grown? Yes, what they do is important too (even if unrecognized in a consumeristic society), and we ought to pray for them.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Their Eyes Were Restrained
I didn't recognize my son. My own son. It's shameful.
Paul had asked off for what he thought was Easter weekend. Classes were canceled. He didn't have to work at school, seeing as how Bethany shut down for those most holy days so that students and employees could worship. But he accidentally asked off from his restaurant job on the wrong days. Okay, so he wouldn't come home for Easter. Okay. Sad, but that's the way it goes.
Good Friday, after church, I was taking a quick look at Facebook and email while wolfing down some calories before bed. And in walks this guy. This guy I didn't recognize, and yet did, but didn't. My first thought was that it was my son-in-law Matt. But that wasn't right. And where was Rachel anyway? And the voice wasn't right. So my brain is rapidly rifling through possibilities. My second thought was my son Philip. But he had told us he was spending Thursday night and Saturday night with us -- not Friday night. And then it finally clicked. It's PAUL. No, it's not -- Paul isn't coming home. Yes, it is Paul! Nooooo....
Okay, this all transpired in the space of about 2.4 seconds. But the blankness in my eyes when I looked at my own son and didn't recognize him, right here, standing in my own kitchen ... that stabs my heart.
And yet, it shows how very strongly what we believe affects what we see. We think our eyes are objective: "I'll believe it when I see it." But it's not so cut-&-dried. I believed that Paul was in Mankato for the weekend. My eyes showed me he was standing before me. What I believed overruled what I objectively saw. (He explained soon enough that he found a substitute to take his shifts at the restaurant and scooted away as quick as he could.)
The Emmaus disciples' eyes were restrained on Easter afternoon. It wasn't "magic" that Jesus did to prevent them from recognizing. It wasn't some shape-shifting thing connected to His having a glorified, resurrected body. His disciples didn't recognize Him because they believed He was dead, in a tomb, rotting as corpses are wont to do.
Unbelief is a powerful blindness,
overwhelming even objective evidence.
And it's embarrassing that I understand that.
Paul had asked off for what he thought was Easter weekend. Classes were canceled. He didn't have to work at school, seeing as how Bethany shut down for those most holy days so that students and employees could worship. But he accidentally asked off from his restaurant job on the wrong days. Okay, so he wouldn't come home for Easter. Okay. Sad, but that's the way it goes.
Good Friday, after church, I was taking a quick look at Facebook and email while wolfing down some calories before bed. And in walks this guy. This guy I didn't recognize, and yet did, but didn't. My first thought was that it was my son-in-law Matt. But that wasn't right. And where was Rachel anyway? And the voice wasn't right. So my brain is rapidly rifling through possibilities. My second thought was my son Philip. But he had told us he was spending Thursday night and Saturday night with us -- not Friday night. And then it finally clicked. It's PAUL. No, it's not -- Paul isn't coming home. Yes, it is Paul! Nooooo....
Okay, this all transpired in the space of about 2.4 seconds. But the blankness in my eyes when I looked at my own son and didn't recognize him, right here, standing in my own kitchen ... that stabs my heart.
And yet, it shows how very strongly what we believe affects what we see. We think our eyes are objective: "I'll believe it when I see it." But it's not so cut-&-dried. I believed that Paul was in Mankato for the weekend. My eyes showed me he was standing before me. What I believed overruled what I objectively saw. (He explained soon enough that he found a substitute to take his shifts at the restaurant and scooted away as quick as he could.)
The Emmaus disciples' eyes were restrained on Easter afternoon. It wasn't "magic" that Jesus did to prevent them from recognizing. It wasn't some shape-shifting thing connected to His having a glorified, resurrected body. His disciples didn't recognize Him because they believed He was dead, in a tomb, rotting as corpses are wont to do.
Unbelief is a powerful blindness,
overwhelming even objective evidence.
And it's embarrassing that I understand that.
Andrew's Job
When Andrew gave notice to his boss that he'd be quitting in a few weeks because of beginning his college classes, the response was, "Nooooooo. You can't quit! We won't let you."
I think that means he's a valuable employee.
That's mighty nice to hear!
(Gary and I wish he didn't have to quit. We really like it when Andrew is forced to bring home a pizza that somebody ordered but failed to pick up.)
I think that means he's a valuable employee.
That's mighty nice to hear!
(Gary and I wish he didn't have to quit. We really like it when Andrew is forced to bring home a pizza that somebody ordered but failed to pick up.)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Psalm 7
If there is iniquity in my hands,
if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
or have plundered my enemy without cause,
let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
and lay my honor in the dust.
Does it seem odd to you that we sometimes pray words like these in the psalms as if we are entirely innocent, and we're being picked-on unjustly (which might possibly be true in the civil realm), and it's time for God to straighten things out? Unlike us, however, Jesus really could say that He was innocent and didn't deserve the enemies to be picking on Him.
And yet ...
He made Him who knew no sin to BE sin for us.
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him.
So these words from Psalm 7 really were Jesus' words. "If I have done evil" (for our evil deeds were imputed to Him so that He might bear the guilt of them) "then let the enemy destroy Me."
He was willing.
He was willing to be overtaken, trampled, and dishonored.
He was willing,
so that God would judge us according to Jesus' righteousness.
if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
or have plundered my enemy without cause,
let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
and lay my honor in the dust.
Does it seem odd to you that we sometimes pray words like these in the psalms as if we are entirely innocent, and we're being picked-on unjustly (which might possibly be true in the civil realm), and it's time for God to straighten things out? Unlike us, however, Jesus really could say that He was innocent and didn't deserve the enemies to be picking on Him.
And yet ...
He made Him who knew no sin to BE sin for us.
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him.
So these words from Psalm 7 really were Jesus' words. "If I have done evil" (for our evil deeds were imputed to Him so that He might bear the guilt of them) "then let the enemy destroy Me."
He was willing.
He was willing to be overtaken, trampled, and dishonored.
He was willing,
so that God would judge us according to Jesus' righteousness.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Mansions
Have you ever had need of a mansion? Have you ever gone shopping for a mansion?
John 14 is translated in a variety of ways. NKJV records Jesus' saying, "In My Father's house are many mansions." NASB says there are many dwelling places. ESV (which is in our funeral rite) says "many rooms." For the last few years, my pastor has been making sure to point out that "many mansions" is not about opulence and luxury. He says the word is better translated as "rooms" or "dwelling places." He says that the word "mansion" conjures up images of a humongous place where we rattle around, lonely.
I guess, when you think of the McMansions built in the 1990's and the first decade of this century, yup, there is a lot of emptiness in our idea of mansions. So many people have big houses and big yards, but are never there, living in those huge houses. And these big houses are often home to just a few people, with each kid having his own 18x25' bedroom.
But when I think of mansion-shopping, I think of hunting up a 16-bedroom house for a family reunion. That's the point of a mansion! You want to find a place big enough to cram everybody in. That way you can eat together, visit, play cards, play Apples-to-Apples, find somebody to go swimming with, and just generally revel in the company of your beloved family.
I guess that's exactly what Pastor's trying to get across when he brings up the topic of "mansions." It's about being in community, being made in the image of God, giving and receiving love. And conversation. And meals.
John 14 is translated in a variety of ways. NKJV records Jesus' saying, "In My Father's house are many mansions." NASB says there are many dwelling places. ESV (which is in our funeral rite) says "many rooms." For the last few years, my pastor has been making sure to point out that "many mansions" is not about opulence and luxury. He says the word is better translated as "rooms" or "dwelling places." He says that the word "mansion" conjures up images of a humongous place where we rattle around, lonely.
I guess, when you think of the McMansions built in the 1990's and the first decade of this century, yup, there is a lot of emptiness in our idea of mansions. So many people have big houses and big yards, but are never there, living in those huge houses. And these big houses are often home to just a few people, with each kid having his own 18x25' bedroom.
But when I think of mansion-shopping, I think of hunting up a 16-bedroom house for a family reunion. That's the point of a mansion! You want to find a place big enough to cram everybody in. That way you can eat together, visit, play cards, play Apples-to-Apples, find somebody to go swimming with, and just generally revel in the company of your beloved family.
I guess that's exactly what Pastor's trying to get across when he brings up the topic of "mansions." It's about being in community, being made in the image of God, giving and receiving love. And conversation. And meals.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Indoor People and Outdoor People
Some people love to be outdoors. My friend Karin wants to spend her whole summer outdoors and not come in. Last year, one of her kids lived outdoors for practically the whole summer.
I tend to be an indoor person, even though I know it's not good for me. I feel better when I go outside to exercise or work in the garden, or even just to sit and do schoolwork with the kids on the deck. I'm both physically and mentally stronger when I spend more time outside.
So why is it so hard to kick myself outdoors? If I enjoy going for a walk, why don't I do it? If it's uplifting to go pull weeds out of the garden, why not do it? Why does the indoor work always seem more important and pressing?
I tend to be an indoor person, even though I know it's not good for me. I feel better when I go outside to exercise or work in the garden, or even just to sit and do schoolwork with the kids on the deck. I'm both physically and mentally stronger when I spend more time outside.
So why is it so hard to kick myself outdoors? If I enjoy going for a walk, why don't I do it? If it's uplifting to go pull weeds out of the garden, why not do it? Why does the indoor work always seem more important and pressing?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Vicar
In our church body, the term "vicar" is used for seminary students who are doing their year of internship under the guidance of a pastor. Those of us who watch BBC or read British literature have heard the term "vicar" used for the guy we Americans might call "pastor" or "bishop" or "minister" or "priest" or "father" or "clergyman."
In the Lutheran church, we are also likely to run across the term "vicarious atonement" with great frequency. So we know that "vicarious" means "in the place of" or "substitutionary."
I didn't realize until this week that "vicar" is the same word as "vicarious." Sure, one's a noun and one's an adjective, but it's the same word. The pastor says, "In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins." And we sing, "When ministers lay on their hands, absolved by Christ the sinner stands." Jesus says to the pastors, "He who hears you hears Me."
VICAR is a very good word for who a pastor is and what he is called to be and do.
In the Lutheran church, we are also likely to run across the term "vicarious atonement" with great frequency. So we know that "vicarious" means "in the place of" or "substitutionary."
I didn't realize until this week that "vicar" is the same word as "vicarious." Sure, one's a noun and one's an adjective, but it's the same word. The pastor says, "In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins." And we sing, "When ministers lay on their hands, absolved by Christ the sinner stands." Jesus says to the pastors, "He who hears you hears Me."
VICAR is a very good word for who a pastor is and what he is called to be and do.
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