We recently watched the Jimmy Stewart movie about the fellow who had a 6'-tall invisible rabbit for a pal. Watching something like that makes you wonder about how society --then and now-- responded/responds to those who are mentally ill. Did society used to have more tolerance of people who were odd or melancholy or hallucinating?
I have a theory. Crimes used to be punished. Violence was not allowed to get out of hand. If someone was weird --but not a threat to others-- then that guy was allowed to be weird. But if he was a danger to others (such as someone with lots of knives, who had made threats) then there was no dinking around with his rights. If he was threatening other folks' rights, he was locked up. Because we are accustomed to the breakdown of society and our unwillingness to call sin sin, does that make us unwilling to deal swiftly and firmly with the mentally ill when they are dangerous? And does that make us uncomfortable being around anyone odd or quirky ... never knowing whether this is a safe person or not?
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Mission Province in Sweden
The news is not good.
It's debatable whether the state church in Sweden is even Christian. Some of the pastors who love their Lord and yearn to preach His gospel purely have associated themselves with the Mission Province. Among the many theological problems in the state church, some of the outwardly obvious are women's ordination and the blessing of homosexuality. The state church (aka, the government) warned pastors not to officiate in services of the Mission Province's koinonias, and not to perform ecclesiastical acts, at risk of being defrocked. Not only does this threaten the pastors' office and income, but it threatens the laymen with the loss of their shepherds.
Please pray for our Scandinavian brothers.
It's debatable whether the state church in Sweden is even Christian. Some of the pastors who love their Lord and yearn to preach His gospel purely have associated themselves with the Mission Province. Among the many theological problems in the state church, some of the outwardly obvious are women's ordination and the blessing of homosexuality. The state church (aka, the government) warned pastors not to officiate in services of the Mission Province's koinonias, and not to perform ecclesiastical acts, at risk of being defrocked. Not only does this threaten the pastors' office and income, but it threatens the laymen with the loss of their shepherds.
Please pray for our Scandinavian brothers.
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Tell No One
Jesus kept telling them, "Tell no one." After miracles. After the confession of Peter. After the transfiguration. "Tell no one."
As we studied the last chapter of Luke, Pastor pointed out the verse where Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit was poured out and they were "endued with power from on high."
All through Jesus' ministry, the apostles were botching it up. They argued over who was the greatest. They told the Canaanite woman to get lost. They tried to shoo away the parents bringing their kids to Jesus. They wanted to fight with swords to defend Jesus. Even after the resurrection: "Lord, will You now restore the kingdom to Israel?" Even after three years of hanging around with Jesus in His peripatetic seminary, they couldn't get it right until Pentecost when they were filled with the Spirit and He brought to their remembrance everything Jesus had said and done.
It kinda sorta makes sense that Jesus had been telling them not to say anything.
As we studied the last chapter of Luke, Pastor pointed out the verse where Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit was poured out and they were "endued with power from on high."
All through Jesus' ministry, the apostles were botching it up. They argued over who was the greatest. They told the Canaanite woman to get lost. They tried to shoo away the parents bringing their kids to Jesus. They wanted to fight with swords to defend Jesus. Even after the resurrection: "Lord, will You now restore the kingdom to Israel?" Even after three years of hanging around with Jesus in His peripatetic seminary, they couldn't get it right until Pentecost when they were filled with the Spirit and He brought to their remembrance everything Jesus had said and done.
It kinda sorta makes sense that Jesus had been telling them not to say anything.
Heart Recipe
Cover the heart with water and soak overnight in the refrigerator.
Drain. Trim away the connective tissue and any other icky stuff. Chop into cubes, about 1-2" square.
Sprinkle with seasoned salt.
Cover with water again, and let soak several more hours.
Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
Dredge meat cubes in white flour seasoned with pepper and Emeril's Essence.
In batches small enough to fit in your Dutch oven, brown cubes in bacon fat. This will take about 5 minutes per batch. Remove meat to a bowl and set aside for a few minutes.
Chop 3 large onions. Saute them in the same Dutch oven. I used bacon fat and a splash of sesame oil. While the onions are cooking, roughly chop 1 rib of celery and 1 carrot. Give them a whirl in the food processor to mince them, and then add them to the onions. When the onions are soft and beginning to brown, return the meat to the pot.
Add about 3-5 teaspoons of beef Better-than-Bouillon, stirred into 1/2 cup of water. Or you could use bouillon if you fail to buy the yummy stuff, about 3-5 cubes. Then add about 1 cup of wine. I used Madeira this time. Add any other seasonings you might desire, such as garlic. Put the lid on the Dutch oven, and bake it for 3 hours in a 350 oven, until meat is tender. Check occasionally to stir and to see if stew needs more liquid.
Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes.
Drain. Trim away the connective tissue and any other icky stuff. Chop into cubes, about 1-2" square.
Sprinkle with seasoned salt.
Cover with water again, and let soak several more hours.
Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
Dredge meat cubes in white flour seasoned with pepper and Emeril's Essence.
In batches small enough to fit in your Dutch oven, brown cubes in bacon fat. This will take about 5 minutes per batch. Remove meat to a bowl and set aside for a few minutes.
Chop 3 large onions. Saute them in the same Dutch oven. I used bacon fat and a splash of sesame oil. While the onions are cooking, roughly chop 1 rib of celery and 1 carrot. Give them a whirl in the food processor to mince them, and then add them to the onions. When the onions are soft and beginning to brown, return the meat to the pot.
Add about 3-5 teaspoons of beef Better-than-Bouillon, stirred into 1/2 cup of water. Or you could use bouillon if you fail to buy the yummy stuff, about 3-5 cubes. Then add about 1 cup of wine. I used Madeira this time. Add any other seasonings you might desire, such as garlic. Put the lid on the Dutch oven, and bake it for 3 hours in a 350 oven, until meat is tender. Check occasionally to stir and to see if stew needs more liquid.
Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes.
Monday, March 05, 2012
You Shall Not Make Any Graven Image
A friend asked once, "Who is the man in the picture with you, on the sidebar of your blog?" I told him, "That's my dad." That's what he expected me to say.
Those Wiccans knew that Pastor Wiest didn't think that the little piece of metal hanging over his heart was, itself, his god. They knew he meant that it depicted his God. Just like you and I know that my dad is not an arrangement of electricity and pixels on a computer screen. He's a flesh-and-blood person who begat me and taught me to bowl and ate supper with me. Still, we say of the photo, "That's my dad."
That was the only response I ever had for the iconoclasts (the people who disapprove of crucifixes, icons, stained glass windows in churches, and creches at Christmastime). But a friend's blog yesterday mentioned something from the 700's. St John of Damascus (whom we Lutherans might know because of his hymns "The Day of Resurrection" and "Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain") said that we can make graven images now. (Aside: I'm not saying I agree with everything at this link. Some Orthodox writers talk about icons as representations of salvation history and the saints, while others talk about icons as a way to have a mystical encounter with the saints. Representations I understand; it kinda creeps me out to hear talk of icons being a means to communicate with those who've gone on before.)
Anyway, back to John's point. In the Old Testament times, God did not have a body. But in Christ's incarnation, God took on flesh. And if Jesus has a face, we are able to draw pictures of it, based on the pictures drawn by the guys who hung out with Him a couple of millenia ago. If God has a body, we can make a statue depicting it, especially when it shows what He has done to save us.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Saving the Environment
So, there are people in this country who are opposed to drilling for oil or building nuclear power plants. Man is the bad guy. Man ruins the environment. Man is the enemy of the animals. Everything in nature is good ... except for man. Man is evil.
But aren't these the same folks who don't believe in original sin?
But aren't these the same folks who don't believe in original sin?
Friday, March 02, 2012
Prayer, and the Fall of Jerusalem
Pastor's always telling us that God never tells us to pray for something unless He promises to give it. It sounds reasonable. God promises to forgive our sins, and thus we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." He promises to provide for our temporal needs, and so He bids us pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."
But sometimes I still wonder. Really? If God tells us to pray for something, does that really mean He's promising it too? Always? Or is this valid only for the Our Father?
So, anyway, we're reading along in Matthew about the warnings of the approaching fall of Jerusalem and how it's connected to the end times. In that section where Jesus is telling His followers about escaping the destruction, there's a verse (24:20) where He says, "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." Hey! How does this fit with the rubric that God's invitation to pray for something is also a promise to provide it for us? After all, escaping Jerusalem was merely a temporal situation. Surely it wasn't a promise too?
Guess what? You look up the history of the Fall of Jerusalem, and you find that the Roman siege of the city began at Passover and ended in late summer.
I shouldn't find that freakily delightful. But I do.
But sometimes I still wonder. Really? If God tells us to pray for something, does that really mean He's promising it too? Always? Or is this valid only for the Our Father?
So, anyway, we're reading along in Matthew about the warnings of the approaching fall of Jerusalem and how it's connected to the end times. In that section where Jesus is telling His followers about escaping the destruction, there's a verse (24:20) where He says, "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." Hey! How does this fit with the rubric that God's invitation to pray for something is also a promise to provide it for us? After all, escaping Jerusalem was merely a temporal situation. Surely it wasn't a promise too?
Guess what? You look up the history of the Fall of Jerusalem, and you find that the Roman siege of the city began at Passover and ended in late summer.
I shouldn't find that freakily delightful. But I do.
I should be certain
that these petitions are pleasing
to our Father in heaven,
and are heard by Him,
for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way
and has promised to hear us.
"Amen, amen" means "yes, yes, it shall be so."
Still Getting Stuck
Shouldn't Christians overcome sin?
You'd think so. We're not in favor of sin. The Spirit dwells in us. Shouldn't we just be done with it? Maybe the problem is we're not trying hard enough. Maybe there's another problem that we haven't figured out. Maybe, if we could figure it out, we could take care of the problem.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. (Psalm 25:15)
"Shall"? That a future-tense verb. But the person praying the psalm is already a Christian who has lifted up his/our soul to the Lord. Somehow, it appears that my Christian feet are going to get themselves tangled in the net, in spite the Lord's instructing me. Even though I will become snarled in the mess, still He will pluck me out of it.
And where is our focus through all of this? On my feet? On my efforts? On my obedience? No. My eyes are ever, always, perpetually, unrelentingly, toward the Lord.
You'd think so. We're not in favor of sin. The Spirit dwells in us. Shouldn't we just be done with it? Maybe the problem is we're not trying hard enough. Maybe there's another problem that we haven't figured out. Maybe, if we could figure it out, we could take care of the problem.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. (Psalm 25:15)
"Shall"? That a future-tense verb. But the person praying the psalm is already a Christian who has lifted up his/our soul to the Lord. Somehow, it appears that my Christian feet are going to get themselves tangled in the net, in spite the Lord's instructing me. Even though I will become snarled in the mess, still He will pluck me out of it.
And where is our focus through all of this? On my feet? On my efforts? On my obedience? No. My eyes are ever, always, perpetually, unrelentingly, toward the Lord.
Psssst: And when my eyes go somewhere
else, that seems to be when I am tripped up
and have to be rescued.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Homeschool Story
At last Saturday's graduation ceremony, Milwaukee School of Engineering gave the Very Influential Person Award to some homeschooling parents. The award usually goes to a high school teacher. Logan Gill, whose parents homeschool(-ed) all 17 of their kids, chose his parents for the VIP Award. The Journal-Sentinel had a lovely story. More pictures are at another link. Looky there, a happy, functional family, Christians, successful at school, and they even like each other. And it showed up in the newspaper! Cool!
Oh, Those Dirty Dishes!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Original Sin
In Psalm 58, we read about some bad guys. Verse 3 mentions, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies." I always thought that was just showing how very bad they were: they've been rotten their whole lives!
From the womb?
Sinners from the time they were born?
Maybe it's not about their badness and how early they started in on being rotten dudes. Maybe it's about the inborn sin.
From the womb?
Sinners from the time they were born?
Maybe it's not about their badness and how early they started in on being rotten dudes. Maybe it's about the inborn sin.
They Received the Word with Joy
When we studied Acts, we observed that the apostles always went first to the synagogues. Sometimes the people would just eat up everything the apostles preached. Other times the people listening got all hacked off and decided that murdering the preacher was a good plan.
When Jesus sent out the seventy, He told them to go preach. He warned them that in some towns they would not be received.
Jesus said on several occasions that the Old Testament Scriptures were about Him. They testified of Him. They told what the Messiah would do. And yet, somehow, the Jewish leaders of His day didn't want that. They had a different concept of what the Messiah would be ... and it certainly included some pats on the back for them and their self-made holiness.
It makes me wonder if the response to the preachers might have been indicative of the faith beforehand. Yes, I know that the preaching could and did soften hearts. I know that the preaching of the Gospel created faith where there was no fear, love, and trust in God before. But do we also see people in the Bible who were firmly committed to a [false] faith in how good/nice/helpful/obedient they were? If Jesus or an apostle came and had no regard for their self-made goodness, people would be ticked. On the other hand, Jews who already believed in the promise of the Gospel shown forth in the Old Testament, the ones who trusted that the Messiah would save them, those folks would receive the apostles' Word with joy.
When Jesus sent out the seventy, He told them to go preach. He warned them that in some towns they would not be received.
Jesus said on several occasions that the Old Testament Scriptures were about Him. They testified of Him. They told what the Messiah would do. And yet, somehow, the Jewish leaders of His day didn't want that. They had a different concept of what the Messiah would be ... and it certainly included some pats on the back for them and their self-made holiness.
It makes me wonder if the response to the preachers might have been indicative of the faith beforehand. Yes, I know that the preaching could and did soften hearts. I know that the preaching of the Gospel created faith where there was no fear, love, and trust in God before. But do we also see people in the Bible who were firmly committed to a [false] faith in how good/nice/helpful/obedient they were? If Jesus or an apostle came and had no regard for their self-made goodness, people would be ticked. On the other hand, Jews who already believed in the promise of the Gospel shown forth in the Old Testament, the ones who trusted that the Messiah would save them, those folks would receive the apostles' Word with joy.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Thy Blood My Royal Robe Shall Be
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve hid. They sinned. They hid. God came. He called to them. They said they were hiding because they were naked and ashamed.
Gerhardt wrote:
Thy blood my royal robe shall be,
my joy beyond all measure.
When I appear before Thy throne,
Thy righteousness shall be my crown.
With these I need not hide me. (TLH 142:6)
Adam and Eve didn't really confess to God so much as they blamed somebody else. Nevertheless, our God, who is full of compassion, killed a lamb. Blood was shed. God made the lamb's skin into a garment, a robe, to cover their shame. And they didn't have to keep hiding.
"Drink of it all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." "Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress." With these I need not hide me.
Gerhardt wrote:
Thy blood my royal robe shall be,
my joy beyond all measure.
When I appear before Thy throne,
Thy righteousness shall be my crown.
With these I need not hide me. (TLH 142:6)
Adam and Eve didn't really confess to God so much as they blamed somebody else. Nevertheless, our God, who is full of compassion, killed a lamb. Blood was shed. God made the lamb's skin into a garment, a robe, to cover their shame. And they didn't have to keep hiding.
"Drink of it all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." "Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress." With these I need not hide me.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Baklava
I did some online hunting for baklava prices at restaurants and through online sales. It looks like I came up with a good size to fit the appointed price-tag. And worst-case scenario is that people look at the price, avoid it, and I have to bring it home and eat it myself.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Science and Christianity
Most of us learned in school that science disproves Christianity.
But when we begin to look at science, it doesn't disprove anything in the Bible. This year at church, we've been watching some documentaries. They aren't apologetics, intended to "prove" details of the biblical record. But they are neat! God made things that we are only now discovering (and presumably things that we have not yet --and may never-- discover). But it delighted Him to create the intricacies of mathematics and the universe, the varieties of plant life, the loveliness of all the animal life, whether it's in our back yard or in the depths of the Pacific.
Christians revel in the beauties of creation. Science is something that Christians DO. Throughout history, the vast majority of scientists were Christians, spurred on by their faith in the God of the Bible.
So what happened?
Pastor suggested that the devil had to attack scientific knowledge and true scientific pursuit. If science is what Christians do, then that's something the devil can't let stand. Well, of course! Why didn't I see that?
Oh. Yeah. Because I'm still imbued with the brainwashing we got in public schools and from books and from the museums.
But the tide is turning. Christians are no longer shunning the sciences like we did for so many years.
But when we begin to look at science, it doesn't disprove anything in the Bible. This year at church, we've been watching some documentaries. They aren't apologetics, intended to "prove" details of the biblical record. But they are neat! God made things that we are only now discovering (and presumably things that we have not yet --and may never-- discover). But it delighted Him to create the intricacies of mathematics and the universe, the varieties of plant life, the loveliness of all the animal life, whether it's in our back yard or in the depths of the Pacific.
Christians revel in the beauties of creation. Science is something that Christians DO. Throughout history, the vast majority of scientists were Christians, spurred on by their faith in the God of the Bible.
So what happened?
Pastor suggested that the devil had to attack scientific knowledge and true scientific pursuit. If science is what Christians do, then that's something the devil can't let stand. Well, of course! Why didn't I see that?
Oh. Yeah. Because I'm still imbued with the brainwashing we got in public schools and from books and from the museums.
But the tide is turning. Christians are no longer shunning the sciences like we did for so many years.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Rescued Pizza
Let's say a pizzeria was going to trash a pizza because the person who ordered it didn't bother to pick it up for hours and hours, and it was finally time for the restaurant to close. Which emotion rules? Gratitude that you are allowed to dumpster-dive the pizza (before it splashed into the garbage can)? Or disgust with the people who would do that to a business owner?
Few people would use a gun to threaten someone into handing over 20 bucks from a cash register. And yet it's very common for people to steal from a businessman by requesting services and then not coming in to pay for it.
Few people would use a gun to threaten someone into handing over 20 bucks from a cash register. And yet it's very common for people to steal from a businessman by requesting services and then not coming in to pay for it.
A Holiness in Uncleanness?
It's rather oxymoronic, isn't it? And yet, where do we most clearly see God's holiness? In His separateness? In His perfect awesomeness? In His awesome perfectness?
No. His holiness is that He is willing to be contaminated by my uncleanness.
No. His holiness is that He is willing to be contaminated by my uncleanness.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Let the Little Children Come to Me
I'm used to seeing the pastor lay his hands on adults and speak to them. It might be an ordination or installation. It might be while you're waiting in line for private confession. It might be in the hospital when a family member is ill. It might just be Bible class with an animated pastor.
But the children. There is something so dear and precious about seeing the man dressed in the stole and chasuble, down with one knee on the ground, placing his hands on the head of a toddler or preschooler, to speak Jesus' word of forgiveness into the child's ear -- a picture of Jesus' tenderness and compassion.
But the children. There is something so dear and precious about seeing the man dressed in the stole and chasuble, down with one knee on the ground, placing his hands on the head of a toddler or preschooler, to speak Jesus' word of forgiveness into the child's ear -- a picture of Jesus' tenderness and compassion.
When Your Conscience Troubles You
Luther, on the Lord's Supper:
You've sinned here. And you've sinned there. When you want to be free from your trouble, then go to the Sacrament. Say, "Although I have sinned, this body has not sinned. This body is without guilt. This body is offered for me, and this blood is shed for me for the remission of sins. This I believe, and as a token of it I will receive the Sacrament." When you do this, your sins are taken away and can cause you no more distress. For who can then do any harm to you?
Sermons, volume 2, published by Baker, page 229, paraphrased
You've sinned here. And you've sinned there. When you want to be free from your trouble, then go to the Sacrament. Say, "Although I have sinned, this body has not sinned. This body is without guilt. This body is offered for me, and this blood is shed for me for the remission of sins. This I believe, and as a token of it I will receive the Sacrament." When you do this, your sins are taken away and can cause you no more distress. For who can then do any harm to you?
Sermons, volume 2, published by Baker, page 229, paraphrased
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fat Tuesday
Fat.
There was a Fat Tuesday party planned for today at Gary's work place. Something else came up. The party was not canceled. It was rescheduled. For Thursday.
???
A few of my co-workers brought goodies to work today. After all, it's Fat Tuesday.
I heard the DJ's on the radio wishing people a fabulous Fat Tuesday.
When I was growing up, I'd never heard of Fat Tuesday. I had some awareness that Mardi Gras was going wild in New Orleans. But nobody we knew lived it up prior to Lent. (That might've had something to do with Lutherans not fasting like the Catholics.) I don't know if it's a cultural difference because of living in a different state or living in a different decade now. But Fat Tuesday sure is a bigger deal than it used to be.
What blew me away this week, though, was the utter lack of understanding as to what it IS. People think it's a day to eat treats and get fat. Hence, Fat Tuesday.
[head shaking in astonishment....]
There was a Fat Tuesday party planned for today at Gary's work place. Something else came up. The party was not canceled. It was rescheduled. For Thursday.
???
A few of my co-workers brought goodies to work today. After all, it's Fat Tuesday.
I heard the DJ's on the radio wishing people a fabulous Fat Tuesday.
When I was growing up, I'd never heard of Fat Tuesday. I had some awareness that Mardi Gras was going wild in New Orleans. But nobody we knew lived it up prior to Lent. (That might've had something to do with Lutherans not fasting like the Catholics.) I don't know if it's a cultural difference because of living in a different state or living in a different decade now. But Fat Tuesday sure is a bigger deal than it used to be.
What blew me away this week, though, was the utter lack of understanding as to what it IS. People think it's a day to eat treats and get fat. Hence, Fat Tuesday.
[head shaking in astonishment....]
Monday, February 20, 2012
Presidents' Day
It turns out that it's not really Presidents' Day after. It's Washington's birthday.
People had been celebrating Washington's birthday for nearly a century when Congress made it an official, legal holiday. Then in the late 1960's, Congress was discussing the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill. (That's the law that bopped nearly all the holidays to Monday, so now there are few people who actually know when Columbus landed in the Americas or when Washington's birthday is or when MLK's birthday is or when Memorial Day was.)
Along with the UMHBill, Congress debated whether to change Washington's Birthday to a celebration of Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. I remember the fuss in Illinois from government workers who would be cut from two paid holidays to one, should this legislation pass. That part of the bill failed.
But "Washington's Birthday" was no longer celebrated on Washington's birthday. Somehow, as the years passed, Washington's birthday began to be known as Presidents' Day. Part of it was because of teachers wanting to touch on more history than just the one president. Part of it was advertisers. There were probably other influences too. Whatever the causes, the creation of "Presidents' Day" was something that grew out of society instead from a declaration of the government.
People had been celebrating Washington's birthday for nearly a century when Congress made it an official, legal holiday. Then in the late 1960's, Congress was discussing the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill. (That's the law that bopped nearly all the holidays to Monday, so now there are few people who actually know when Columbus landed in the Americas or when Washington's birthday is or when MLK's birthday is or when Memorial Day was.)
Along with the UMHBill, Congress debated whether to change Washington's Birthday to a celebration of Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. I remember the fuss in Illinois from government workers who would be cut from two paid holidays to one, should this legislation pass. That part of the bill failed.
But "Washington's Birthday" was no longer celebrated on Washington's birthday. Somehow, as the years passed, Washington's birthday began to be known as Presidents' Day. Part of it was because of teachers wanting to touch on more history than just the one president. Part of it was advertisers. There were probably other influences too. Whatever the causes, the creation of "Presidents' Day" was something that grew out of society instead from a declaration of the government.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Chariots and Horses of Fire
In the story of Elijah's ascension (2 Kings 2), Elisha and Elijah are separated by the chariot and horses of fire, and then the whirlwind whisks away the senior prophet into heaven.
Interestingly, a few chapters later we read about the Syrians trying to continue their attacks against Israel. But Elisha kept telling the Israelite king where the Syrians would be sneaking in, so the king kept putting watchmen in those spots. When the Syrian king found out who was thwarting his attacks, he decided to take down Elisha. He sent chariots and horses and a great army to surround Dothan. When Elisha's servant woke up the next day and saw the armies, he flipped out. But Elisha told him to chill because "there's more on our side than on theirs." Then Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant, and the fellow saw hordes of chariots of fire and horses of fire.
I couldn't find anywhere else in the Bible where it spoke of chariots of fire and horses of fire. The fact that these stories both happened to Elisha means something. I don't know what. At least, not yet. (If you know, give me a hint.)
Interestingly, a few chapters later we read about the Syrians trying to continue their attacks against Israel. But Elisha kept telling the Israelite king where the Syrians would be sneaking in, so the king kept putting watchmen in those spots. When the Syrian king found out who was thwarting his attacks, he decided to take down Elisha. He sent chariots and horses and a great army to surround Dothan. When Elisha's servant woke up the next day and saw the armies, he flipped out. But Elisha told him to chill because "there's more on our side than on theirs." Then Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant, and the fellow saw hordes of chariots of fire and horses of fire.
I couldn't find anywhere else in the Bible where it spoke of chariots of fire and horses of fire. The fact that these stories both happened to Elisha means something. I don't know what. At least, not yet. (If you know, give me a hint.)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Dirt Devil Hand Vacuum
One of my Christmas gifts was a hand vacuum for making it easier to clean the upholstered furniture and vacuum out the vehicles.
What a bust!
The air filter clogs in a few minutes. The filter can be cleaned and reused, but it cannot merely be tapped to knock dust loose. I had to use a dry toothbrush to remove dust from the folds of the filter, and every time I used the machine, I spent as much time cleaning the filter as I did vacuuming. The owner's manual says to change the air filter every 3-6 months. It seems like changing it every hour would be the outside limit. And these filters are $8 each.
When I asked for a refund, the company told me that I only had 30 days to return it. A Christmas present that is purchased in early December means you have only a week or two to discover the problem and request your refund. So now I have a machine that is fit only for the trash can. I'd hate to take it to Goodwill and inflict it upon an unsuspecting customer there.
I spent half a year looking at Goodwill for a used Dirt Devil. I finally stumbled upon one two days after buying this one online. I didn't buy it. Now I wish I'd nabbed that one anyway. Those old ones actually worked!
What a bust!
The air filter clogs in a few minutes. The filter can be cleaned and reused, but it cannot merely be tapped to knock dust loose. I had to use a dry toothbrush to remove dust from the folds of the filter, and every time I used the machine, I spent as much time cleaning the filter as I did vacuuming. The owner's manual says to change the air filter every 3-6 months. It seems like changing it every hour would be the outside limit. And these filters are $8 each.
When I asked for a refund, the company told me that I only had 30 days to return it. A Christmas present that is purchased in early December means you have only a week or two to discover the problem and request your refund. So now I have a machine that is fit only for the trash can. I'd hate to take it to Goodwill and inflict it upon an unsuspecting customer there.
I spent half a year looking at Goodwill for a used Dirt Devil. I finally stumbled upon one two days after buying this one online. I didn't buy it. Now I wish I'd nabbed that one anyway. Those old ones actually worked!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Violating Consciences -- What's the Big Deal Anyway?
Don't make me sin. The laws of the government ought not force people to transgress God's laws.
Why not?
Is it because I want to keep my holiness? (Picture me with my nose in the air and my chest puffed up.) "Oh, I'm so good and so pure. I don't want to do anything naughty so that God would zot me."
Rubbish.
The reason Christians don't want to be forced to sin is because of the other guy. We don't want other people damaged. We want to show mercy. We yearn for others to know joy. We desire that they live in peace.
Is God going to send me to hell because my taxes are helping to pay for abortions? Of course not. But babies are dying. When the government forces me to sin, it's not my own personal problem, but it's even more about the damage that is inflicted upon my neighbor.
Why not?
Is it because I want to keep my holiness? (Picture me with my nose in the air and my chest puffed up.) "Oh, I'm so good and so pure. I don't want to do anything naughty so that God would zot me."
Rubbish.
The reason Christians don't want to be forced to sin is because of the other guy. We don't want other people damaged. We want to show mercy. We yearn for others to know joy. We desire that they live in peace.
Is God going to send me to hell because my taxes are helping to pay for abortions? Of course not. But babies are dying. When the government forces me to sin, it's not my own personal problem, but it's even more about the damage that is inflicted upon my neighbor.
I Didn't Cry
Gary's installation is scheduled for the early service on the day of the Goods and Services Auction. That's an annual fund raiser for our congregation's school, and because of the time-frame for the auction, early service is VERY heavily attended that day, and late service has abnormally light attendance. This makes the planning ideal: many people will be able to attend the installation.
It also means the "celebration dinner" will be just part of the party atmosphere at the auction. Our first couple of years we didn't attend the auction. One year we volunteered to work but didn't eat dinner at the country club. Another year we were invited as guests of another family. It sure is fun to be there!
So this morning, I'm filling out the reservation for our table and hauling out my checkbook to pay for our tickets. Someone came along and saw what I was up to. "NO," she said. She told me I couldn't do that. She told me it would be nonsense for us to pay for tickets for "our own party." I don't quite know what happened. I'm not sure who's paying for our dinners. But we aren't.
I remember discussions about the turkey-dinner fund raiser at our former congregation. I remember being told we had to attend, that it was outlandish when someone suggested tickets be given to the pastor's family, and that this whole thing occurred when the congregation owed the pastor nearly two thousand dollars in back pay and mileage reimbursements.
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more.
Is this heaven?
(I know that this congregation is full of sinners. Sometimes we bump into each other and grate on each other. But forgiveness reigns. And somehow, that actually makes a difference in people's lives and the entire atmosphere around the place. This is a weird weird congregation, full of laughs and love and kindness. Once in a while I have to blink back tears.)
It also means the "celebration dinner" will be just part of the party atmosphere at the auction. Our first couple of years we didn't attend the auction. One year we volunteered to work but didn't eat dinner at the country club. Another year we were invited as guests of another family. It sure is fun to be there!
So this morning, I'm filling out the reservation for our table and hauling out my checkbook to pay for our tickets. Someone came along and saw what I was up to. "NO," she said. She told me I couldn't do that. She told me it would be nonsense for us to pay for tickets for "our own party." I don't quite know what happened. I'm not sure who's paying for our dinners. But we aren't.
I remember discussions about the turkey-dinner fund raiser at our former congregation. I remember being told we had to attend, that it was outlandish when someone suggested tickets be given to the pastor's family, and that this whole thing occurred when the congregation owed the pastor nearly two thousand dollars in back pay and mileage reimbursements.
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more.
Is this heaven?
(I know that this congregation is full of sinners. Sometimes we bump into each other and grate on each other. But forgiveness reigns. And somehow, that actually makes a difference in people's lives and the entire atmosphere around the place. This is a weird weird congregation, full of laughs and love and kindness. Once in a while I have to blink back tears.)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Do You Really BELIEVE It?
I saw a bumper sticker the other day: "You don't have to believe everything you think."
Huh?
Because of an event earlier that day, I've been pondering that bumper sticker. Throw in the political events of the last week, with the government saying that they're going to force religious organizations to violate their beliefs, and there is yet more to ponder.
On the day-of-the-bumper-sticker, things were slow at work. In the drive-ups, tellers are allowed to read or do puzzles if and when all the work is done and there are no customers. My co-worker was finishing The Invisible Wall, a book about the dividing line between Jews and Christians in a British village nearly 100 years ago. At one point my co-worker gasped. She was at the point of the story where the Jewish girl had married the Christian boy, and the Jewish family was in mourning. The newly married couple walked into her parents' home, and it was as if she did not exist. My friend could not believe the horror of it. "Can you even imagine this?" she cried.
Not knowing whether the "this" was the mourning or the shunning, I floundered. "Well, if you really believe what you believe, then I can understand the mourning. I mean, if you just 'believe' it and don't really believe it, then there would be no mourning over a child who abandons what he's been taught. After all, it's just opinion to you, just a preference or a ritual, just a tradition from your culture. But if you truly believe it, then how could a parent NOT mourn when a child gives up the truth?"
She hadn't thought of that. Then she wondered if Lutherans would shut out a child who left the faith. I emphatically answered "no" and told her why. She understood what I said about continuing to be full of love for a person who rejects everything we hold dear, but I'm not sure she understood that there might still be great grief.
Somehow, I don't think that bumper sticker was referring to "I think the living room might look better if the couch were against this wall instead of that one." Even though I think granola tastes better when I put in black raspberry schnapps instead of vanilla, that's not something I believe.
Do Americans today even recognize "beliefs"? Liberals are not okay with Christians having those old-fashioned beliefs. But do liberals recognize that they too have beliefs? It's just that they [ahem] believe their beliefs (in science or humanism or consumerism or whatever), and take those beliefs for granted, so they don't even exactly see them for what they are. They just think their way of seeing things is true. And self-obvious. And how could anybody ever disagree?
Isn't that what it IS to believe something?
Huh?
Because of an event earlier that day, I've been pondering that bumper sticker. Throw in the political events of the last week, with the government saying that they're going to force religious organizations to violate their beliefs, and there is yet more to ponder.
On the day-of-the-bumper-sticker, things were slow at work. In the drive-ups, tellers are allowed to read or do puzzles if and when all the work is done and there are no customers. My co-worker was finishing The Invisible Wall, a book about the dividing line between Jews and Christians in a British village nearly 100 years ago. At one point my co-worker gasped. She was at the point of the story where the Jewish girl had married the Christian boy, and the Jewish family was in mourning. The newly married couple walked into her parents' home, and it was as if she did not exist. My friend could not believe the horror of it. "Can you even imagine this?" she cried.
Not knowing whether the "this" was the mourning or the shunning, I floundered. "Well, if you really believe what you believe, then I can understand the mourning. I mean, if you just 'believe' it and don't really believe it, then there would be no mourning over a child who abandons what he's been taught. After all, it's just opinion to you, just a preference or a ritual, just a tradition from your culture. But if you truly believe it, then how could a parent NOT mourn when a child gives up the truth?"
She hadn't thought of that. Then she wondered if Lutherans would shut out a child who left the faith. I emphatically answered "no" and told her why. She understood what I said about continuing to be full of love for a person who rejects everything we hold dear, but I'm not sure she understood that there might still be great grief.
Somehow, I don't think that bumper sticker was referring to "I think the living room might look better if the couch were against this wall instead of that one." Even though I think granola tastes better when I put in black raspberry schnapps instead of vanilla, that's not something I believe.
Do Americans today even recognize "beliefs"? Liberals are not okay with Christians having those old-fashioned beliefs. But do liberals recognize that they too have beliefs? It's just that they [ahem] believe their beliefs (in science or humanism or consumerism or whatever), and take those beliefs for granted, so they don't even exactly see them for what they are. They just think their way of seeing things is true. And self-obvious. And how could anybody ever disagree?
Isn't that what it IS to believe something?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
For Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory
God has spoken once,
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and to You, O Lord, belongs mercy. (Psalm 62)
Suppose the one who is merciful and loving is also the one who has all the power. Suppose the one who is full of gut-wrenching compassion is the one who controls everything in the universe.
If that's the guy who promised to preserve you in the true faith, and if He is the one who has the power, then what can thwart His plan?
"For Thine is the kingdom and the power and glory" isn't just telling me that "our God is an awesome God." Rather, it makes the claim that no power is greater than the power of His will to save me.
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and to You, O Lord, belongs mercy. (Psalm 62)
Suppose the one who is merciful and loving is also the one who has all the power. Suppose the one who is full of gut-wrenching compassion is the one who controls everything in the universe.
If that's the guy who promised to preserve you in the true faith, and if He is the one who has the power, then what can thwart His plan?
"For Thine is the kingdom and the power and glory" isn't just telling me that "our God is an awesome God." Rather, it makes the claim that no power is greater than the power of His will to save me.
The Healing of the Leper
Our story in chapel today was from Mark 1, where Jesus healed the leprous man. Pastor asked the children why Jesus sent the man to the priests to offer the sacrifices commanded in the law. Jesus said, "As a testimony to them." Testimony to what? A testimony that He had not come to set aside the Law. It was not to be abolished. But it was fulfilled in Him.
He also asked the children to tell him when the man was healed, and to be careful to use the words in the text. The first answer was "when Jesus touched him." Not really, though. The text actually says, "As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him." When the little kids found this in their Bibles, they answered, "It was when Jesus SAID."
There's just something that makes your heart bubble with joy, and thankful tears come to your eyes, to hear these little ones speaking out of their utter faith in the words which proceed from Jesus' mouth. What He says surely comes true! And they know it.
He also asked the children to tell him when the man was healed, and to be careful to use the words in the text. The first answer was "when Jesus touched him." Not really, though. The text actually says, "As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him." When the little kids found this in their Bibles, they answered, "It was when Jesus SAID."
There's just something that makes your heart bubble with joy, and thankful tears come to your eyes, to hear these little ones speaking out of their utter faith in the words which proceed from Jesus' mouth. What He says surely comes true! And they know it.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Exercise?
After reading Katie's blogpost the other day, extolling how much better she feels when she exercises, I remembered. I remembered what it was like before I started. I remembered what it was like when I had the energy to run two or three or five miles whenever I wanted. I remembered how my stamina waned when I had to stop the jogging. I keep trying to armtwist myself into returning to my exercise regimen, but there's just not the time for it. Today I woke up and figured that 10 minutes was better than nothing. (Right? Isn't it? I'm the queen of "if I can't do it perfectly, why bother doing it at all?" So I am insisting to myself that 10 minutes four or five times a week is better than nothing. I'm not sure I believe it, but it makes logical sense....)
Anyway, in the 60 minutes that passed from the time my little eyelids first fluttered open, I said my prayers, bundled up to go outside, jogged/walked a mile, returned home, showered, and dressed. Not bad. I don't think I can pull it off on days I open at work, but most days, this should be doable. Maggie too got up, exercised, showered, and dressed, all in time to leave for chapel. We both noticed how much quicker our minds woke up today.
Of course, by early evening we were yawning uncontrollably.
We'll work on that.
Anyway, in the 60 minutes that passed from the time my little eyelids first fluttered open, I said my prayers, bundled up to go outside, jogged/walked a mile, returned home, showered, and dressed. Not bad. I don't think I can pull it off on days I open at work, but most days, this should be doable. Maggie too got up, exercised, showered, and dressed, all in time to leave for chapel. We both noticed how much quicker our minds woke up today.
Of course, by early evening we were yawning uncontrollably.
We'll work on that.
Meal Plans
~ lasagna
~ Maggie makes hamburgers and frozen veggies
~ beef vegetable barley soup
~ chicken marsala
~ leftovers, and maybe egg-&-ham sandwiches
~ crab and screw noodles*
~ ham & bean soup
~ baked beans
~ baked potato bar
Gee with that line-up, I'm thinking that it would be getting high time for some meat. And the next day is Ash Wednesday. Hmmm.
* Crab and screw noodles is a quick pasta dish. Thaw the fake crab. In one pot, boil up a package of California blend vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower). In another pot, boil up a package of rotini, preferably the multi-colored kind. Drain the water from both pots. Slop a bunch of butter on the noodles so they don't get sticky. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried onion flakes, parsley!, and parmesan. Toss crab and veggies into the buttery spiced-up noodles, and enjoy.
~ Maggie makes hamburgers and frozen veggies
~ beef vegetable barley soup
~ chicken marsala
~ leftovers, and maybe egg-&-ham sandwiches
~ crab and screw noodles*
~ ham & bean soup
~ baked beans
~ baked potato bar
Gee with that line-up, I'm thinking that it would be getting high time for some meat. And the next day is Ash Wednesday. Hmmm.
* Crab and screw noodles is a quick pasta dish. Thaw the fake crab. In one pot, boil up a package of California blend vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower). In another pot, boil up a package of rotini, preferably the multi-colored kind. Drain the water from both pots. Slop a bunch of butter on the noodles so they don't get sticky. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried onion flakes, parsley!, and parmesan. Toss crab and veggies into the buttery spiced-up noodles, and enjoy.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Call for Gary
On January 31, the voters of our congregation extended a call to Gary to serve part-time as assistant pastor. This morning, his letter of acceptance was read to the congregation.
Installation is scheduled for early service (7:45) on Sunday, February 26. There's already a dinner scheduled for that day [Goods and Services Auction] so we'll be celebrating his installation while we're bidding on wine bottles and babysitters and bookshelves and pie and stuff.
For those who've asked, yes, Gary will still be working full-time at his day-job. This is part-time, preaching when Pastor is out of town, assisting sometimes with hospital or shut-in visits, and helping out in some other ways on an as-needed basis.
Installation is scheduled for early service (7:45) on Sunday, February 26. There's already a dinner scheduled for that day [Goods and Services Auction] so we'll be celebrating his installation while we're bidding on wine bottles and babysitters and bookshelves and pie and stuff.
For those who've asked, yes, Gary will still be working full-time at his day-job. This is part-time, preaching when Pastor is out of town, assisting sometimes with hospital or shut-in visits, and helping out in some other ways on an as-needed basis.
Polished Shoes
After a shoe-shopping ordeal before starting my job, I finally ordered a humongous box of shoes from Zappo's and found a pair that fit, didn't cause too much pain, would accommodate my orthoses, and met the dress-code for the job. I've worn those shoes about 180 times by now.
I finally polished them.
For being boat-sized Mary Janes, they are actually kind of cute. They were charcoal-grey, almost black, but had some pretty little white stitching on them to make them look more charming. I knew they needed to be polished, but how can you blacken and buff your shoes without wiping out that little white accent? (If any of you know how, it's too late for me now, at least with this pair of shoes. But maybe you could tell me for when I have to buy a replacement pair someday.)
Well, at least they're shiny and clean-looking again.
More boring-looking, to be sure. But shiny.
I finally polished them.
For being boat-sized Mary Janes, they are actually kind of cute. They were charcoal-grey, almost black, but had some pretty little white stitching on them to make them look more charming. I knew they needed to be polished, but how can you blacken and buff your shoes without wiping out that little white accent? (If any of you know how, it's too late for me now, at least with this pair of shoes. But maybe you could tell me for when I have to buy a replacement pair someday.)
Well, at least they're shiny and clean-looking again.
More boring-looking, to be sure. But shiny.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
No Condemnation
Paul has this big ol' discussion about how he can't act/think as holy as he desires (Romans 7) and how he just keeps sinning even though he hates it. Then chapter 8 starts with "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Where did he get that idea?
Maybe? possibly? it might have come from something he heard earlier. Paul was a pharisee in Jerusalem during Jesus' ministry, and he likely witnessed (albeit without faith) some of Jesus' miracles and teaching. Do you remember the story in John 8, where the woman was caught in adultery, and the scribes and pharisees wanted to stone her? They brought her to Jesus. They were trying to pit Moses' law against Jesus' teaching that just kept forgivin' people. This story happened in Jerusalem.
And what did Jesus tell this sinful woman? "Neither do I condemn you."
Where did he get that idea?
Maybe? possibly? it might have come from something he heard earlier. Paul was a pharisee in Jerusalem during Jesus' ministry, and he likely witnessed (albeit without faith) some of Jesus' miracles and teaching. Do you remember the story in John 8, where the woman was caught in adultery, and the scribes and pharisees wanted to stone her? They brought her to Jesus. They were trying to pit Moses' law against Jesus' teaching that just kept forgivin' people. This story happened in Jerusalem.
And what did Jesus tell this sinful woman? "Neither do I condemn you."
A PG Rating
From what we'd heard about Marley and Me, the movie was appropriate for entire families, including little kids. Yes, there's the sad ending that you get in all dog-stories, but scuttlebutt suggested that it was a nice, decent, heart-warming story.
We watched the movie last night. I don't know what I'd be thinking right now if the container had been labeled as a PG-13 instead. Probably I'd be thinking it was a pretty nice little story.
But all I can think is, "THIS film was rated PG? THIS?" There was language. No, not much, probably less than I hear at work or at the grocery store. But if I were watching this with my granddaughter or with an 8-yr-old, I'd be perturbed about the language. And the sex. There was way too much suggestiveness, including the main character's womanizing pal. Yes, I realize the married couple was ... well ... married, but look how far things have changed on-screen from when Lucy and Desi, when Rob and Laura, slept in separate twin beds.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just in a puritanical mood at the moment.
Or maybe this explains why I'm happier with Leave It to Beaver and Hogan's Heroes.
We watched the movie last night. I don't know what I'd be thinking right now if the container had been labeled as a PG-13 instead. Probably I'd be thinking it was a pretty nice little story.
But all I can think is, "THIS film was rated PG? THIS?" There was language. No, not much, probably less than I hear at work or at the grocery store. But if I were watching this with my granddaughter or with an 8-yr-old, I'd be perturbed about the language. And the sex. There was way too much suggestiveness, including the main character's womanizing pal. Yes, I realize the married couple was ... well ... married, but look how far things have changed on-screen from when Lucy and Desi, when Rob and Laura, slept in separate twin beds.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just in a puritanical mood at the moment.
Or maybe this explains why I'm happier with Leave It to Beaver and Hogan's Heroes.
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Problem of Sin
Woe is us! The church is plagued with bad practice and bad doctrine. Maybe we could solve it by electing the right guy as synodical president. What if that doesn't work? Maybe we could go to a different church body which has a cardinal or a patriarch that will enforce the rules properly.
Woe is me! I'm a sinner. I keep on being a sinner. Even when I can control my behavior, my thoughts don't comply with my self-improvement plan. I guess I need a new self-improvement plan since the one I have seems to be such a failure.
Sin in the world.
Sin in the Church.
Sin in our relationships.
Sin in our selves.
This is a problem.
There is ONE solution to sin. Only one.
But we protest: No, surely not. Jesus' blood shed on the cross isn't enough. I have to do something. I have to find something else. I have to help. I have to try harder. Forgiveness of sins just doesn't cut it; it doesn't do enough to rid me and my world and my home and my church of sin.
If the blood of God, who made me and you and everything else, if His love and mercy and His death ain't enough to solve the problem of sin, does it make any sense whatsoever to think that something I can do will fix the problem? Do we really think the absolution is that impotent?
Woe is me! I'm a sinner. I keep on being a sinner. Even when I can control my behavior, my thoughts don't comply with my self-improvement plan. I guess I need a new self-improvement plan since the one I have seems to be such a failure.
Sin in the world.
Sin in the Church.
Sin in our relationships.
Sin in our selves.
This is a problem.
There is ONE solution to sin. Only one.
But we protest: No, surely not. Jesus' blood shed on the cross isn't enough. I have to do something. I have to find something else. I have to help. I have to try harder. Forgiveness of sins just doesn't cut it; it doesn't do enough to rid me and my world and my home and my church of sin.
If the blood of God, who made me and you and everything else, if His love and mercy and His death ain't enough to solve the problem of sin, does it make any sense whatsoever to think that something I can do will fix the problem? Do we really think the absolution is that impotent?
So Cold. So Tired.
The last week I've been freezing. It had been especially warm, so why the chills? I'm suspicious that the warmth at work might be making the 65-68° at home feel uncomfortable. I also suspect that my lack of daily outdoor exercise -- whether it's 25° or -10° -- has made me wussy.
Haven't been able to stay awake recently either. I was actually grateful for a big ol' problem at work earlier this week: it required my mind to stay aware and engaged at the time of day where I'd be snoozing on the couch were I at home.
With a calendar that looked exceedingly bare this week (woo hoo!) I had toyed with the idea of a visit in central Illinois, squeezed in between my days at work. But after a few afternoons of daily naps and being so so cold, my brain said, "You idiot, you're on the verge of getting sick. Don't drive ten hours. Stay home and get extra rest." So with sadness I dismissed the idea of visiting my mommy (who probably wasn't up to company this week anyhow).
After driving home from chapel this morning and watching cars fishtail all around me, maybe it's just as well that I didn't make the trip. The flurries forecast for today are no mere flurries.
Haven't been able to stay awake recently either. I was actually grateful for a big ol' problem at work earlier this week: it required my mind to stay aware and engaged at the time of day where I'd be snoozing on the couch were I at home.
With a calendar that looked exceedingly bare this week (woo hoo!) I had toyed with the idea of a visit in central Illinois, squeezed in between my days at work. But after a few afternoons of daily naps and being so so cold, my brain said, "You idiot, you're on the verge of getting sick. Don't drive ten hours. Stay home and get extra rest." So with sadness I dismissed the idea of visiting my mommy (who probably wasn't up to company this week anyhow).
After driving home from chapel this morning and watching cars fishtail all around me, maybe it's just as well that I didn't make the trip. The flurries forecast for today are no mere flurries.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
An Impression
A customer came in today. I've waited on the mom but never the daughter. I knew the daughter's name without being told and called up her account to begin filling out the deposit ticket. They were impressed that I remembered.
But it's not me that was being impressive.
I started thinking about the customers who made an impression on me when I started the job. There was the one to whom I gave $20 too much. An hour later she showed up with a $20 bill and said, "I think you counted wrong." I was so grateful for her honesty. She made a huge impression on me.
Another customer saw The New Girl and made sure to heckle me and give me the Trial-By-Fire, handing me a transaction that was none too simple, right at the start. "Break 'er in right," he plotted. The heckling is consistent with his fun and constantly upbeat demeanor. He made a big impression on me.
Then there was the customer that chewed me out royally for not wanting to cash a check that I wasn't supposed to cash, and taking the time to consult with the boss. The yeller made an impression on me too.
And then there was this family that came in today. When I first started work, Maggie was sick, and getting sicker. Just when I was wondering day-by-day whether we could keep her unhospitalized for another day or two, a man (who turned out to be a regular, frequent customer) came in and said his daughter was hospitalized. He started to cry. A grown man. In the bank. His strength for his wife and daughter had been holding up fine through the ordeal. But when he was running an errand, when someone asked how things were going, it was suddenly too much. His worries and the depth of his love got the better of his composure. And hitting so close to home with my own worries for my own daughter, that family too made an impression on me.
But it's not me that was being impressive.
I started thinking about the customers who made an impression on me when I started the job. There was the one to whom I gave $20 too much. An hour later she showed up with a $20 bill and said, "I think you counted wrong." I was so grateful for her honesty. She made a huge impression on me.
Another customer saw The New Girl and made sure to heckle me and give me the Trial-By-Fire, handing me a transaction that was none too simple, right at the start. "Break 'er in right," he plotted. The heckling is consistent with his fun and constantly upbeat demeanor. He made a big impression on me.
Then there was the customer that chewed me out royally for not wanting to cash a check that I wasn't supposed to cash, and taking the time to consult with the boss. The yeller made an impression on me too.
And then there was this family that came in today. When I first started work, Maggie was sick, and getting sicker. Just when I was wondering day-by-day whether we could keep her unhospitalized for another day or two, a man (who turned out to be a regular, frequent customer) came in and said his daughter was hospitalized. He started to cry. A grown man. In the bank. His strength for his wife and daughter had been holding up fine through the ordeal. But when he was running an errand, when someone asked how things were going, it was suddenly too much. His worries and the depth of his love got the better of his composure. And hitting so close to home with my own worries for my own daughter, that family too made an impression on me.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Upon This Your Confession
In the Divine Service, after the congregation confesses sin, the pastor says, "Upon this your confession, I ... forgive you all your sins ...."
There were times Pastor would be teaching, making the point that what instigates God's forgiveness is not our confessing but His love and mercy. Pastor would ask, "Do you think God forgives you because you say you're sorry?" You could tell from the way he asked the question that the answer was supposed to be, "Duuuuh. NO!" But it didn't seem like a no-brainer to me. "Yeah," I would think or say sheepishly, "that was kinda sorta the impression I had." Of course, I knew that God forgives sin for Jesus' sake. But doesn't it depend on our being sorry too?
Oh, he would talk again and again about how my repentance doesn't cajole God into being forgiving. And I do believe him. (Do you detect a subtle "but ..." in there somewhere?)
Last night when he was talking about such things again, the liturgy came to mind. "Upon this your confession ...." That's what we hear, week after week. I had tried to make sense of it for myself. But last night, I finally asked. And now I can finally say, "Duh! Of course!!"
"Upon WHAT confession?" In the confession we first confess that we are poor, miserable sinners who have offended God and deserved His punishment. We are sorry for our sins. But then what? We beg "of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ" that God would forgive. And THEN Pastor says, "Upon this your confession ...."
What confession is the basis for the absolution he's about to bestow? Not "I'm a sinner and I'm sorry." But the pastor forgives on the basis of the truth [that is, the confession] that God is merciful because of Jesus' death on on the cross.
Wow! So all along, the liturgy has been saying just what Pastor had been explaining. How 'bout that?
There were times Pastor would be teaching, making the point that what instigates God's forgiveness is not our confessing but His love and mercy. Pastor would ask, "Do you think God forgives you because you say you're sorry?" You could tell from the way he asked the question that the answer was supposed to be, "Duuuuh. NO!" But it didn't seem like a no-brainer to me. "Yeah," I would think or say sheepishly, "that was kinda sorta the impression I had." Of course, I knew that God forgives sin for Jesus' sake. But doesn't it depend on our being sorry too?
Oh, he would talk again and again about how my repentance doesn't cajole God into being forgiving. And I do believe him. (Do you detect a subtle "but ..." in there somewhere?)
Last night when he was talking about such things again, the liturgy came to mind. "Upon this your confession ...." That's what we hear, week after week. I had tried to make sense of it for myself. But last night, I finally asked. And now I can finally say, "Duh! Of course!!"
"Upon WHAT confession?" In the confession we first confess that we are poor, miserable sinners who have offended God and deserved His punishment. We are sorry for our sins. But then what? We beg "of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ" that God would forgive. And THEN Pastor says, "Upon this your confession ...."
What confession is the basis for the absolution he's about to bestow? Not "I'm a sinner and I'm sorry." But the pastor forgives on the basis of the truth [that is, the confession] that God is merciful because of Jesus' death on on the cross.
Wow! So all along, the liturgy has been saying just what Pastor had been explaining. How 'bout that?
Monday, February 06, 2012
Jesus Hushing the Demons
I finally heard the answer to a question I've been wondering about for over forty years.
In Mark 1, there was that demon crabbing about Jesus being the Holy One of Israel and about not wanting to have anything to do with Jesus. Jesus told him to shut up. Then later in the chapter, after Jesus had been healing all sorts of people and casting out demons, we hear that He would "not allow the demons to speak because they knew Him."
So why not let them speak? After all, what they were saying was true: this guy was indeed the Holy One of Israel. It was true that the demons didn't want to have anything to do with Him. It was true that He did come to destroy them. So what's the problem?
In the past I've been told that it would be unseemly of Jesus to have demons telling who He was. Y'know, bad company, bad reputation, and all that. But this is Jesus, for crying out loud. He hung out with tax collectors and sinners. He didn't seem to worry too much about His reputation getting sullied.
But Pastor pointed out the answer in last week's sermon and this morning's chapel. And it makes complete sense!
The demons always get it wrong. They can't speak God's word without twisting it, perverting it, putting a works-righteous spin on it. Even though they may say many true things, it's never fully true. So Jesus orders them to shut up.
In Mark 1, there was that demon crabbing about Jesus being the Holy One of Israel and about not wanting to have anything to do with Jesus. Jesus told him to shut up. Then later in the chapter, after Jesus had been healing all sorts of people and casting out demons, we hear that He would "not allow the demons to speak because they knew Him."
So why not let them speak? After all, what they were saying was true: this guy was indeed the Holy One of Israel. It was true that the demons didn't want to have anything to do with Him. It was true that He did come to destroy them. So what's the problem?
In the past I've been told that it would be unseemly of Jesus to have demons telling who He was. Y'know, bad company, bad reputation, and all that. But this is Jesus, for crying out loud. He hung out with tax collectors and sinners. He didn't seem to worry too much about His reputation getting sullied.
But Pastor pointed out the answer in last week's sermon and this morning's chapel. And it makes complete sense!
The demons always get it wrong. They can't speak God's word without twisting it, perverting it, putting a works-righteous spin on it. Even though they may say many true things, it's never fully true. So Jesus orders them to shut up.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Eventful Day
On the way home from work, I wanted so badly to open the sun roof ... which doesn't exist on the car I was driving. And this afternoon we sold the car with the sunroof. I will miss it. But one of those old cars needed to go.
Andrew and Bryce are all spiffed up, on their way to fetch the girls for the dance tonight. Aren't they a couple of handsome fellows?!
Peter Walks on the Water
So after reading the story to us from Matthew 14, Pastor asks the school-children, "Could Peter walk on the water?"
Hannah answered, "No."
"Why not, Hannah?"
"He was a sinner. He sunk."
But Joey's hand was still raised. He answered, "Yes, Peter could walk on the water."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Jesus told him to. And whatever Jesus says, happens."
Perfect.
They're both right!
In our own strength, we can't do nuthin'.
But whatever Jesus says, happens!
If He says "walk on the water," Peter could do it.
If He says "I declare you holy and righteous," then we be holy and righteous, no matter what it looks like to us.
Hannah answered, "No."
"Why not, Hannah?"
"He was a sinner. He sunk."
But Joey's hand was still raised. He answered, "Yes, Peter could walk on the water."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Jesus told him to. And whatever Jesus says, happens."
Perfect.
They're both right!
In our own strength, we can't do nuthin'.
But whatever Jesus says, happens!
If He says "walk on the water," Peter could do it.
If He says "I declare you holy and righteous," then we be holy and righteous, no matter what it looks like to us.
Friday, February 03, 2012
My Apparent Need for a Hair Product That Will Tame the Unruliness
A man I know is sweet, gentle, kind, and patient. He has some mental illness, but he is no more ashamed of coping with his health than if he had cancer or heart disease. So, yesterday when I saw him, we exchanged superficial pleasantries, and then took care of the business we needed to exchange.
Then he says, in such a kind and affirming voice, "Susan, you have on that long, flowing, beautiful skirt. I just had a vision of you as a Greek goddess."
Oh. Okay. How do you respond to someone who's not your husband who says something like that? I really don't think he was hitting on me. He just saw it as a simple fact that he might mention. With an uneasy and questioning voice, I respond, "Oh? Really?"
"Oh, yes. You know ... the one that has snakes for her hair."
"MEDUSA?"
"Yes! That's the one," he says with an encouraging smile.
Well.
Okay then.
Y'know, most people aren't that honest.
Then he says, in such a kind and affirming voice, "Susan, you have on that long, flowing, beautiful skirt. I just had a vision of you as a Greek goddess."
Oh. Okay. How do you respond to someone who's not your husband who says something like that? I really don't think he was hitting on me. He just saw it as a simple fact that he might mention. With an uneasy and questioning voice, I respond, "Oh? Really?"
"Oh, yes. You know ... the one that has snakes for her hair."
"MEDUSA?"
"Yes! That's the one," he says with an encouraging smile.
Well.
Okay then.
Y'know, most people aren't that honest.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
The Demon-Possessed Man in the Synagogue
The story this past Sunday (in the three-year series) was about Jesus' preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. They were all astonished because He taught with authority, not as the scribes and the pharisees. And there was this guy in their synagogue who started making a scene: "Hey, I know who You are. You're the Holy One of God. Did You come here to destroy us?" And Jesus cast out the unclean spirit. (It's Mark 1, if you're hunting for it.)
Pastor pointed out a small detail from the story that is easily missed. This guy was a member of the synagogue. Think about it. You know what your church is like. Visitors are noticed. Somebody who is "in our church" is a member, not just somebody who happened to stop by for the day. (And yes, I realize that the Bible doesn't unequivocally state this as an indisputable fact. But still, it makes loads more sense than the alternative: "in their synagogue" would have more to do with being "in the congregation" than "in the building.")
So why did the demon throw his tantrum in response to Jesus' preaching?
Because He taught a different message than did the scribes and pharisees.
The demons are content to keep quiet when the churches are telling people how to be nice, how to be good citizens, how to improve themselves and their spirituality. But when Jesus comes along with a weird and different message --forgiving people who don't deserve it-- the demons get hacked off.
The same thing happens today. The devil is just hunky-dory with pastors who preach self-help messages, eco-loving messages, penance, etc. But when the pastor calls people to repentance and extends God's mercy and peace to them, well, that's something the demons and the self-righteous just ain't gonna put up with.
Pastor pointed out a small detail from the story that is easily missed. This guy was a member of the synagogue. Think about it. You know what your church is like. Visitors are noticed. Somebody who is "in our church" is a member, not just somebody who happened to stop by for the day. (And yes, I realize that the Bible doesn't unequivocally state this as an indisputable fact. But still, it makes loads more sense than the alternative: "in their synagogue" would have more to do with being "in the congregation" than "in the building.")
So why did the demon throw his tantrum in response to Jesus' preaching?
Because He taught a different message than did the scribes and pharisees.
The demons are content to keep quiet when the churches are telling people how to be nice, how to be good citizens, how to improve themselves and their spirituality. But when Jesus comes along with a weird and different message --forgiving people who don't deserve it-- the demons get hacked off.
The same thing happens today. The devil is just hunky-dory with pastors who preach self-help messages, eco-loving messages, penance, etc. But when the pastor calls people to repentance and extends God's mercy and peace to them, well, that's something the demons and the self-righteous just ain't gonna put up with.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Superficiality
Superficiality makes the world go round.
I've never been keen on that. I like real. I like genuine. I like honest. But that requires trust and love and commitment.
Customers come into the bank. "Hi, how are you today?" "Just fine. And you?" "Pretty good, thanks." There are certain conversations that are acceptable: the weather, the Packers, gardens, the Brewers, the Badgers, and plans for upcoming holidays (if there's one around the corner). If you really want to push the envelope and go a step closer to real conversation, you might say, "You been keeping busy?"
People say they're "fine" when they're not; they know this is all superficial. Sometimes you bump into someone who's very alone, and you learn not to ask about holiday plans because the loneliness is overwhelming and they can't respond according to the rules of The Superficial Game.
And yet, I'm beginning to see that this is necessary. "Have a great afternoon." "Thanks. You too." "Well, thank you." It's what we do. It keeps things pleasant. It may be shallow. We may not be connecting with those hundreds of neighbors that cross our path. But the other option is grumpiness and incivility.
This pervasive superficiality leaves a person yearning for a real relationship. But so many times, in so many places, that's not an option. So I guess the superficial pleasantries are better than complete aloofness or general crabbiness.
I've never been keen on that. I like real. I like genuine. I like honest. But that requires trust and love and commitment.
Customers come into the bank. "Hi, how are you today?" "Just fine. And you?" "Pretty good, thanks." There are certain conversations that are acceptable: the weather, the Packers, gardens, the Brewers, the Badgers, and plans for upcoming holidays (if there's one around the corner). If you really want to push the envelope and go a step closer to real conversation, you might say, "You been keeping busy?"
People say they're "fine" when they're not; they know this is all superficial. Sometimes you bump into someone who's very alone, and you learn not to ask about holiday plans because the loneliness is overwhelming and they can't respond according to the rules of The Superficial Game.
And yet, I'm beginning to see that this is necessary. "Have a great afternoon." "Thanks. You too." "Well, thank you." It's what we do. It keeps things pleasant. It may be shallow. We may not be connecting with those hundreds of neighbors that cross our path. But the other option is grumpiness and incivility.
This pervasive superficiality leaves a person yearning for a real relationship. But so many times, in so many places, that's not an option. So I guess the superficial pleasantries are better than complete aloofness or general crabbiness.
The Will of the Christian
If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
This is our verse for the week. Notice the verb "desires." Paul tells us more in Romans. In chapter 7, Paul uses the word repeatedly as he describes how he wills to follow Christ but is stymied by his sinful flesh. The desire to belong to Jesus and to live the holy life sure ain't gonna show as it ought. But still, Jesus invites us to hold fast to Him.
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
This is our verse for the week. Notice the verb "desires." Paul tells us more in Romans. In chapter 7, Paul uses the word repeatedly as he describes how he wills to follow Christ but is stymied by his sinful flesh. The desire to belong to Jesus and to live the holy life sure ain't gonna show as it ought. But still, Jesus invites us to hold fast to Him.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Take Up Your Cross Daily
If anyone desire to come after Me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
If we have to take up our cross daily, that would mean we are not going to become free of the cross any time in this life. Every. single. day. we're going to be back at it, living with that sinful nature, bearing the burden of not being as pure and holy as we'd like, and finding our only hope and rest in what Jesus has done to forgive that icky sinfulness.
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
If we have to take up our cross daily, that would mean we are not going to become free of the cross any time in this life. Every. single. day. we're going to be back at it, living with that sinful nature, bearing the burden of not being as pure and holy as we'd like, and finding our only hope and rest in what Jesus has done to forgive that icky sinfulness.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Luxury or Freedom?
Cedric the Saxon, to Athelstane (only remaining descendent of the royal Saxon line), remembering the days when their prison was the Great Hall still in Saxon control, before the Normans conquered the land --
Will Americans come to the same conclusion some day soon? Or is it already too late?
Far better was our homely diet, eaten in peace and liberty, than the luxurious dainties, the love of which has delivered us as bondsmen to the conqueror!From Ivanhoe, chapter 21.
Will Americans come to the same conclusion some day soon? Or is it already too late?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Being a Grandma
Church is ending. Time to leave. Little Miss Punky holds up her finger, says "Here, Nanna, you hold my booger," wipes the booger on her finger off onto my finger, and goes on her merry way.
Oh.
Gee, thanks, kid.
:-)
Oh.
Gee, thanks, kid.
:-)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
What's in the Creed
Many segments of Christendom care a lot about sanctification. They often spend more time talking about how a person becomes holy than proclaiming that a person is declared righteous because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross.*
So what do we find in the Creed?
In the Apostles' Creed, we pray "I believe in ... the forgiveness of sins." In the Nicene Creed, we pray, "I believe in ... one baptism for the remission of sins." But no mention of my progress in holiness.
I suspect that means something.
* Footnote: Now, by no means am I saying that sanctification is unimportant. I am saying, however, that if the focus is genuinely on the call to repentance and justification, sanctification will of necessity follow, even without anybody haranguing people to be holier.
So what do we find in the Creed?
In the Apostles' Creed, we pray "I believe in ... the forgiveness of sins." In the Nicene Creed, we pray, "I believe in ... one baptism for the remission of sins." But no mention of my progress in holiness.
I suspect that means something.
* Footnote: Now, by no means am I saying that sanctification is unimportant. I am saying, however, that if the focus is genuinely on the call to repentance and justification, sanctification will of necessity follow, even without anybody haranguing people to be holier.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Is Profanity Sinful?
For some unknown reason, out of the blue, one of my co-workers begged me (out of the bosses' earshot) to say a naughty word on Tuesday. "Please? I never heard you say anything bad. Please, just one bad word?"
"No," I answered, confused.
"Please? I've been having a really bad day, and that would just cheer up my whole week. For me? Please!"
"Why?"
"I just want to hear you say a naughty word."
I was lost as to where this came from, and so was my partner that day. We thought our co-worker was being quite silly. Eventually, she suggested, "Hell? Could you say 'hell' for me?"
Now, I don't know about you, but to me, hell is not a swear word. Think about it: the word is a theological term and is even in the Creed. Confused that she would ask for that word, I asked, "Hell?" She giggled maniacally and then asked for "another" swear word.
When she finally went back to her area, my partner-for-the-day suggested to me, "But 'hell' isn't really a swear word, is it?"
"No. It's a place."
"Yeah, that's kinda what I thought."
So I have been thinking about this interchange. I knew she would pester again for a swear word. And sure enough, she has.
I really don't know what I think about whether profanity is sinful. I do know that cursing and swearing is sinful: the second commandment tells me that. But the profanity that is merely "coarse language"? I've heard discussions about why it is sinful and about why it's not sinful. I've heard discussions about whether "gee whiz" and "golly" and "darn" are sinful, and other arguments as to why they're not sinful. And honestly, I just don't care. Those conversations always seem to end up steeped in legalism or antinomianism.
But here's what I noticed. My co-worker does think profanity is sinful. She may think that she doesn't; after all, she is not opposed to cursing, swearing, and profanity coming out of her mouth occasionally. But there is some drive in her to get me to say something "naughty." Isn't that a tacit admission that she thinks it would be sinful of me to toss out some of those four-letter words? And here's what I'm wondering: If even the world, in all her revelry and self-indulgence, considers profanity sinful, would that mean it is?
"No," I answered, confused.
"Please? I've been having a really bad day, and that would just cheer up my whole week. For me? Please!"
"Why?"
"I just want to hear you say a naughty word."
I was lost as to where this came from, and so was my partner that day. We thought our co-worker was being quite silly. Eventually, she suggested, "Hell? Could you say 'hell' for me?"
Now, I don't know about you, but to me, hell is not a swear word. Think about it: the word is a theological term and is even in the Creed. Confused that she would ask for that word, I asked, "Hell?" She giggled maniacally and then asked for "another" swear word.
When she finally went back to her area, my partner-for-the-day suggested to me, "But 'hell' isn't really a swear word, is it?"
"No. It's a place."
"Yeah, that's kinda what I thought."
So I have been thinking about this interchange. I knew she would pester again for a swear word. And sure enough, she has.
I really don't know what I think about whether profanity is sinful. I do know that cursing and swearing is sinful: the second commandment tells me that. But the profanity that is merely "coarse language"? I've heard discussions about why it is sinful and about why it's not sinful. I've heard discussions about whether "gee whiz" and "golly" and "darn" are sinful, and other arguments as to why they're not sinful. And honestly, I just don't care. Those conversations always seem to end up steeped in legalism or antinomianism.
But here's what I noticed. My co-worker does think profanity is sinful. She may think that she doesn't; after all, she is not opposed to cursing, swearing, and profanity coming out of her mouth occasionally. But there is some drive in her to get me to say something "naughty." Isn't that a tacit admission that she thinks it would be sinful of me to toss out some of those four-letter words? And here's what I'm wondering: If even the world, in all her revelry and self-indulgence, considers profanity sinful, would that mean it is?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
When the Laundry Met Up with Gasoline
Sometimes you think something goes without saying. But it doesn't. Thus Maggie ended up with gasoline all over her best pair of jeans, because I failed to tell her that you can't be squeezing the gas pump when you take the nozzle out of the gas can.
If I knew then what I know now, I think the jeans would have gone straight into the trash. It probably would have been cheaper to replace them than to try the variety of remedies I attempted. So here's my conclusion based on all sorts of failures:
Don't immediately bring them home and soak them or pre-wash them in the wash machine. Remember? Oil and water do not mix. Even soaking them in very soapy water won't do much. Besides, if you try to wash the jeans first thing, you'll just contaminate your washer with gasoline. Then not only do you have to clean the clothes, but you have to clean the washer too.
Coco-cola is effective. One bucket with the jeans jammed into it. A 2L bottle of real Coke poured over it. A good long soak. That sucked a lot of the odor out of the jeans. A second 2L bottle for a few more hours helped even more.
Hanging outdoors! The gas will evaporate into the air. I'd already tried various cleaning methods when Jenny advised me to air the jeans. It happened to be a rainy day. Y'know how rain does a better job of washing your car's windshield than does the windshield washer fluid? Well, between the fresh air and 24 hours of drizzly rain, the stint on the clothesline pretty well eliminated the rest of the gas-stink.
Dawn! I can't use Dawn in the kitchen: it eats up my hands and leaves itchiness and raw skin and sores. But in the laundry room! Oh, Dawn in the laundry room is my new BFF. Dawn doesn't just cut chicken grease off your dinner plate. It gets grease stains out of clothes. It cleans mozzarella and marinara off Mr Pizza-Pants' work clothes. Undiluated Dawn in copious quantities cuts right through gasoline in your daughter's blue jeans.
Next time I'll know what to do.
But there'd better not be a next time....
If I knew then what I know now, I think the jeans would have gone straight into the trash. It probably would have been cheaper to replace them than to try the variety of remedies I attempted. So here's my conclusion based on all sorts of failures:
Don't immediately bring them home and soak them or pre-wash them in the wash machine. Remember? Oil and water do not mix. Even soaking them in very soapy water won't do much. Besides, if you try to wash the jeans first thing, you'll just contaminate your washer with gasoline. Then not only do you have to clean the clothes, but you have to clean the washer too.
Coco-cola is effective. One bucket with the jeans jammed into it. A 2L bottle of real Coke poured over it. A good long soak. That sucked a lot of the odor out of the jeans. A second 2L bottle for a few more hours helped even more.
Hanging outdoors! The gas will evaporate into the air. I'd already tried various cleaning methods when Jenny advised me to air the jeans. It happened to be a rainy day. Y'know how rain does a better job of washing your car's windshield than does the windshield washer fluid? Well, between the fresh air and 24 hours of drizzly rain, the stint on the clothesline pretty well eliminated the rest of the gas-stink.
Dawn! I can't use Dawn in the kitchen: it eats up my hands and leaves itchiness and raw skin and sores. But in the laundry room! Oh, Dawn in the laundry room is my new BFF. Dawn doesn't just cut chicken grease off your dinner plate. It gets grease stains out of clothes. It cleans mozzarella and marinara off Mr Pizza-Pants' work clothes. Undiluated Dawn in copious quantities cuts right through gasoline in your daughter's blue jeans.
Next time I'll know what to do.
But there'd better not be a next time....
Monday, January 23, 2012
Firm in the Faith
You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. Jesus' name means "the Lord is salvation." That means we are not. Salvation is entirely from Him, and not at all from us.
Even when we believe that Jesus has done everything to save us, the adamic nature manages to twist "faith" into "my believingness" by which we are saved. (I guess that's what it is to be simultaneously saint and sinner: we trust in Jesus, and yet at the same time we refuse to let go of our own works meriting something, somehow, some way, even if only a smidge.)
"The God of peace Himself will sanctify you wholly and keep your spirit, soul, and body sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." He will do it.
We sing in "Jesus, Priceless Treasure,"
Pain or loss or shame or cross
shall not from my Savior move me
since He deigns to love me.
Why will the cross of affliction not tear me away from my Savior? Because I love Him so much? Because I'm a good Christian? No. Because HE condescends to love me.
The catechism quotes Titus chapter 3: "... so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." This is a trustworthy saying!
And what else does Paul call a trustworthy saying? "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Sinners? He saves sinners? For real? Wouldn't it make more sense if God helped the good people? Trouble is, sinners are incapable of keeping themselves firm in the faith.
But with God, all things are possible. And His reputation is on the line. "He who called you is faithful, and He will do it." He will!
Even when we believe that Jesus has done everything to save us, the adamic nature manages to twist "faith" into "my believingness" by which we are saved. (I guess that's what it is to be simultaneously saint and sinner: we trust in Jesus, and yet at the same time we refuse to let go of our own works meriting something, somehow, some way, even if only a smidge.)
"The God of peace Himself will sanctify you wholly and keep your spirit, soul, and body sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." He will do it.
We sing in "Jesus, Priceless Treasure,"
Pain or loss or shame or cross
shall not from my Savior move me
since He deigns to love me.
Why will the cross of affliction not tear me away from my Savior? Because I love Him so much? Because I'm a good Christian? No. Because HE condescends to love me.
The catechism quotes Titus chapter 3: "... so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." This is a trustworthy saying!
And what else does Paul call a trustworthy saying? "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Sinners? He saves sinners? For real? Wouldn't it make more sense if God helped the good people? Trouble is, sinners are incapable of keeping themselves firm in the faith.
But with God, all things are possible. And His reputation is on the line. "He who called you is faithful, and He will do it." He will!
Scary Beards
Alia doesn't want to talk to Papa or hug him or let him kiss her.
A few weeks ago, Alia mentioned to her mommy that "beards are scary." Oh. Gary grew his winter beard to keep his face warm when he's walking outdoors in the wind. And that's about when Papa changed from a super guy to Someone To Be Ignored.
Alia doesn't have much to do with Uncle Philip either. He too "has a scary beard." Come to think of it, she's not real keen on Pastor either.
Pogonophobia.
When it's time for Gary to shave off his beard in another two months, I think he ought to let Alia watch him do it. Might it help? Or is there no reasoning with an unreasonable fear?
A few weeks ago, Alia mentioned to her mommy that "beards are scary." Oh. Gary grew his winter beard to keep his face warm when he's walking outdoors in the wind. And that's about when Papa changed from a super guy to Someone To Be Ignored.
Alia doesn't have much to do with Uncle Philip either. He too "has a scary beard." Come to think of it, she's not real keen on Pastor either.
Pogonophobia.
When it's time for Gary to shave off his beard in another two months, I think he ought to let Alia watch him do it. Might it help? Or is there no reasoning with an unreasonable fear?
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday Afternoon
Too many good options. First on the calendar for today: a homeschool get-together where I'd get to see a precious friend that I almost never see ... and my god-daughter and her sibs. Second on the calendar for today: the husband of an online acquaintance was being installed in a nearby congregation. Could I fit them both in? Would I regret it tomorrow if I tried to cram too many events into one day?
Both slots were usurped.
Paul called last night at 9:30. From Atlanta. He'd arrived in in the States from Haiti, but foul weather screwed up the flights back to Minnesota. The airline figured they'd fly him and Kristen (the other person from MN who went on this trip) to Minnesota by way of Milwaukee. Oh, but they'd have to be in Wisconsin overnight. Milwaukee? Really? That's the plan the airline came up with? Woo hoo! "Mom, do you think you could pick us up at the airport at midnight?" Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I can pull that off! Woo hoo!
Quick nap. Drive to the south side in the middle of the night. Pick up two "kids." (Yes, I know they're grown-ups. I'm old. It's my prerogative to call them kids for another 40 years.) Four more hours of sleep. An hour of trying to drag myself out of bed. Church. Then home for lunch with the crew.
And how many were in the crew? EVERYBODY. Philip usually comes over for Sunday dinner. Rachel & Matt happened to be in town this weekend, and they consented to join us for lunch. So Katie's family came over too. Gary and I were trying to remember, and we think this might be the first time the whole family has been together in one place since Zoe was born. And Kristen was a joy to have with us too.
After some naps and visiting this afternoon, we deposited Kristen and Paul at the doors of the airport, assuming that the black ice on side-streets is nothing that impacts the airport runways.
I can't believe it! All the kids in the same church at the same service this morning! All the kids at the same dinner table at lunch today!
That's good stuff.
Both slots were usurped.
Paul called last night at 9:30. From Atlanta. He'd arrived in in the States from Haiti, but foul weather screwed up the flights back to Minnesota. The airline figured they'd fly him and Kristen (the other person from MN who went on this trip) to Minnesota by way of Milwaukee. Oh, but they'd have to be in Wisconsin overnight. Milwaukee? Really? That's the plan the airline came up with? Woo hoo! "Mom, do you think you could pick us up at the airport at midnight?" Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I can pull that off! Woo hoo!
Quick nap. Drive to the south side in the middle of the night. Pick up two "kids." (Yes, I know they're grown-ups. I'm old. It's my prerogative to call them kids for another 40 years.) Four more hours of sleep. An hour of trying to drag myself out of bed. Church. Then home for lunch with the crew.
And how many were in the crew? EVERYBODY. Philip usually comes over for Sunday dinner. Rachel & Matt happened to be in town this weekend, and they consented to join us for lunch. So Katie's family came over too. Gary and I were trying to remember, and we think this might be the first time the whole family has been together in one place since Zoe was born. And Kristen was a joy to have with us too.
After some naps and visiting this afternoon, we deposited Kristen and Paul at the doors of the airport, assuming that the black ice on side-streets is nothing that impacts the airport runways.
I can't believe it! All the kids in the same church at the same service this morning! All the kids at the same dinner table at lunch today!
That's good stuff.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Psalm 107
Have you ever noticed the pattern in Psalm 107? There are four different sections in the interior of the psalm: those who are lost in the wilderness, those who sit in darkness, fools in need of healing, and those who are overwhelmed by the wind and waves.
Each section starts with their angst and their need. Then we hear "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses." We hear what God did for them. Then again we have repetition: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Each section then has one verse of conclusion.
I don't know why I think that's so nifty. I probably read the psalm a couple of dozen times before I recognized the pattern. But now there's something about it that thrills my heart. (I guess you can laugh at my oddities now. Oh well, I still think it's really cool. And I thought maybe somebody out there somewhere might also be tickled to see the pattern.)
Each section starts with their angst and their need. Then we hear "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses." We hear what God did for them. Then again we have repetition: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Each section then has one verse of conclusion.
I don't know why I think that's so nifty. I probably read the psalm a couple of dozen times before I recognized the pattern. But now there's something about it that thrills my heart. (I guess you can laugh at my oddities now. Oh well, I still think it's really cool. And I thought maybe somebody out there somewhere might also be tickled to see the pattern.)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Plumbing
In past years, reading history to the kids, I remember my shock at the reaction of people when toilets were invented. "What? You'd do THAT in your house? Oh, it would stink. Clean people wouldn't give up their outhouses."
It's a whoppin' 1 degree this morning.
I am thankful today for indoor plumbing that flushes.
It's a whoppin' 1 degree this morning.
I am thankful today for indoor plumbing that flushes.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
New Stove ... and other stuff
I should have realized sooner. But I finally got the message when it took four hours to roast a 3# chicken. We spent two days shopping for a stove, both in stores and online. It was delivered when I was at work one day.
The first thing I noticed was that it sits against the wall. The old stove had a flat back, which meant it had to sit in front of the gas pipe and the electrical outlet. But this one is somewhat concave on the back, so that the plug and the gas pipe fit where the indentation is. There's no longer a 6" gap behind my stove. This means the stove door is nearly flush with the cabinet-fronts. It also means bottles of olive oil and spatulas are not diving to the floor behind the stove.
Second thing I noticed: light. I crab at people to turn the lights on "low" on the stove vent. The [not inexpensive] LED light bulbs last much longer if they're on "low" instead of "high." Once we got the new, white stove, I thought people were running the lights on "high." They weren't. Y'know, you learn things about lightwaves in your physics classes, but it still astounds you to see the difference in brightness when you have a white stove versus a black stove.
Third thing I noticed. The knobs for the burners are in different places. I suppose y'all should be placing bets on how long it will take me to burn down the house. I get so frustrated with a pot taking forever to come to a boil ... and it turns out I've got fire on an uncovered burner while the pot is sitting in an unheated spot. Yikes! I've gotta work on that!
Fourth thing I noticed (and maybe even better than the first thing I noticed) -- it cooks so nicely. The first batch of bread seemed exquisite. I attributed that to chance. But the second batch of bread rose beautifully, with a lovely crust, no cracking, no toughness. Hmmm. Maybe there was more wrong with the old stove than I had realized.
On the day the stove was installed, we found water in the basement. It's happened twice. Both times were with a hot load of laundry. No leaking when the shower is used. No leaking when the kitchen sink is used. No leaking when the laundry is set to "warm." Now, how can the water heater know to leak onto the basement floor only when the washer is turned on to a hot load? With some detective work, we are suspecting that there's a problem with a valve. I'll have to do some more sleuthing, including turning on the washer and sitting there with my eyes constantly on the water heater for 20 minutes or so. Not the most exciting spy-work. But we're on our way to solving the mystery.
Picnic lunch last week at work. Seriously. Outdoors. Picnic blanket. Sack lunch. Magazine. Granted, I was wearing my coat, but I had no mittens or hat, and wasn't in the least bit chilled on my face. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. The snow came the next day.
We found a buyer for the car. We'll be making the transaction on Saturday. I hope it serves him well. And I hope the van gives us a few more good years.
Car stuff. Large appliance stuff. Doing a little shopping for a suit for a massive-chested young man. Hoo boy. No wonder I haven't had time to blog. Now we're on to more suit-shopping and figuring the taxes and a couple of editing projects. And I really ought to teach Andrew to drive stickshift. (How do we make it all slllllooooooww dooowwwwn?)
The first thing I noticed was that it sits against the wall. The old stove had a flat back, which meant it had to sit in front of the gas pipe and the electrical outlet. But this one is somewhat concave on the back, so that the plug and the gas pipe fit where the indentation is. There's no longer a 6" gap behind my stove. This means the stove door is nearly flush with the cabinet-fronts. It also means bottles of olive oil and spatulas are not diving to the floor behind the stove.
Second thing I noticed: light. I crab at people to turn the lights on "low" on the stove vent. The [not inexpensive] LED light bulbs last much longer if they're on "low" instead of "high." Once we got the new, white stove, I thought people were running the lights on "high." They weren't. Y'know, you learn things about lightwaves in your physics classes, but it still astounds you to see the difference in brightness when you have a white stove versus a black stove.
Third thing I noticed. The knobs for the burners are in different places. I suppose y'all should be placing bets on how long it will take me to burn down the house. I get so frustrated with a pot taking forever to come to a boil ... and it turns out I've got fire on an uncovered burner while the pot is sitting in an unheated spot. Yikes! I've gotta work on that!
Fourth thing I noticed (and maybe even better than the first thing I noticed) -- it cooks so nicely. The first batch of bread seemed exquisite. I attributed that to chance. But the second batch of bread rose beautifully, with a lovely crust, no cracking, no toughness. Hmmm. Maybe there was more wrong with the old stove than I had realized.
On the day the stove was installed, we found water in the basement. It's happened twice. Both times were with a hot load of laundry. No leaking when the shower is used. No leaking when the kitchen sink is used. No leaking when the laundry is set to "warm." Now, how can the water heater know to leak onto the basement floor only when the washer is turned on to a hot load? With some detective work, we are suspecting that there's a problem with a valve. I'll have to do some more sleuthing, including turning on the washer and sitting there with my eyes constantly on the water heater for 20 minutes or so. Not the most exciting spy-work. But we're on our way to solving the mystery.
Picnic lunch last week at work. Seriously. Outdoors. Picnic blanket. Sack lunch. Magazine. Granted, I was wearing my coat, but I had no mittens or hat, and wasn't in the least bit chilled on my face. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. The snow came the next day.
We found a buyer for the car. We'll be making the transaction on Saturday. I hope it serves him well. And I hope the van gives us a few more good years.
Car stuff. Large appliance stuff. Doing a little shopping for a suit for a massive-chested young man. Hoo boy. No wonder I haven't had time to blog. Now we're on to more suit-shopping and figuring the taxes and a couple of editing projects. And I really ought to teach Andrew to drive stickshift. (How do we make it all slllllooooooww dooowwwwn?)
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Second String
What a fun movie! Thank you to whoever recommended Second String. It's got all the feel-good aspects of a typical sports movie that shows a win for the underdogs, as well as making you smile at creative, thinking-out-of-the-box problem-solving. The story may be a bit predictable, but it makes you laugh and cheer, and that's a good thing.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Craigslist
Wariness reigns.
We finally took care of the hauling job that's been on hold until after the holidays. So the van is now expendable. We cleaned both the van and the old car. I posted them on Craigslist. And now I have to wonder.
Several people offered to buy the van, sight unseen. Suspicious? Yes. Some of them were from other states, and not even neighboring states. Even more suspicious? Yes.
Because people often wonder why a car is being sold, I mentioned that we bought a newer vehicle because our two were very old, and now one of the old ones has to go. I had three offers to buy both my Camry and my van. "Excuse me. Did you people read what I wrote?"
The van was totaled four years ago. We bought it back from the insurance company. I made sure to state clearly that the van had a salvage title, and why. I had people from Illinois interested in the van, even though you can't license a salvaged vehicle in that state. Fishy? Yes.
I feel rude, but I haven't responded to most of these people who claim to be interested in my cars. I don't want to give them my email address; I don't want to give them my phone number. I called one from my tracfone which is nearly always turned off and which has no voice-mail. I set up a new hotmail account which I used to respond to another inquirer. I hope my suspicions don't prevent me from recognizing when a normal person from around our normal area is looking for a car for normal reasons. This fishy stuff gives me the creeps.
We finally took care of the hauling job that's been on hold until after the holidays. So the van is now expendable. We cleaned both the van and the old car. I posted them on Craigslist. And now I have to wonder.
Several people offered to buy the van, sight unseen. Suspicious? Yes. Some of them were from other states, and not even neighboring states. Even more suspicious? Yes.
Because people often wonder why a car is being sold, I mentioned that we bought a newer vehicle because our two were very old, and now one of the old ones has to go. I had three offers to buy both my Camry and my van. "Excuse me. Did you people read what I wrote?"
The van was totaled four years ago. We bought it back from the insurance company. I made sure to state clearly that the van had a salvage title, and why. I had people from Illinois interested in the van, even though you can't license a salvaged vehicle in that state. Fishy? Yes.
I feel rude, but I haven't responded to most of these people who claim to be interested in my cars. I don't want to give them my email address; I don't want to give them my phone number. I called one from my tracfone which is nearly always turned off and which has no voice-mail. I set up a new hotmail account which I used to respond to another inquirer. I hope my suspicions don't prevent me from recognizing when a normal person from around our normal area is looking for a car for normal reasons. This fishy stuff gives me the creeps.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Sojourners
As we were studying 1 Peter this morning, we came upon the verse (2:11) where Peter refers to us as sojourners and pilgrims.
This week, Pastor has been stressing that point that we are children of God.
So, what do all sojourning children say? What's the perennial refrain from the back seat of the car while you're on a trip? "Are we there yet? How much longer?"
How 'bout that?
It fits, doesn't it?
"Come, Lord Jesus."
This week, Pastor has been stressing that point that we are children of God.
So, what do all sojourning children say? What's the perennial refrain from the back seat of the car while you're on a trip? "Are we there yet? How much longer?"
How 'bout that?
It fits, doesn't it?
"Come, Lord Jesus."
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Understanding Derivatives 101
What's played into the spiral of economic catastrophe in our country and the world? When I saw this analogy online, I thought it helped explain a few not-so-simple machinations and the ripple effects ... which wouldn't've degenerated so badly if everybody (individuals, businesses, and government) held to some simple economic principles like paying your bills.
Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit ...
She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar. To solve this problem, she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later. Heidi keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).
Word gets around about Heidi's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in Detroit. By providing her customers freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages.
Consequently, Heidi's gross sales volume increases massively. A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for any undue concern because he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral!
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make huge commissions, and transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS. These "securities" then are bundled and traded on international securities markets. Naive investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as "AAA Secured Bonds" really are debts of unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb, and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.
One day, even though the bond prices still are climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar. He so informs Heidi. Heidi then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons. But, being unemployed alcoholics, they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Since Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and Heidi's 11 employees lose their jobs.
Overnight, DRINKBOND prices drop by 90%. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the bank's liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community. The suppliers of Heidi's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the BOND securities. They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds. Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations. Her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.
Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multi-billion-dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government. The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, nondrinkers who have never been in Heidi's bar.
Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Detroit ...
She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar. To solve this problem, she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later. Heidi keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).
Word gets around about Heidi's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Heidi's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in Detroit. By providing her customers freedom from immediate payment demands, Heidi gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer, the most consumed beverages.
Consequently, Heidi's gross sales volume increases massively. A young and dynamic vice-president at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Heidi's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for any undue concern because he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral!
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make huge commissions, and transform these customer loans into DRINKBONDS. These "securities" then are bundled and traded on international securities markets. Naive investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as "AAA Secured Bonds" really are debts of unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb, and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.
One day, even though the bond prices still are climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Heidi's bar. He so informs Heidi. Heidi then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons. But, being unemployed alcoholics, they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Since Heidi cannot fulfill her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and Heidi's 11 employees lose their jobs.
Overnight, DRINKBOND prices drop by 90%. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the bank's liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community. The suppliers of Heidi's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the BOND securities. They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds. Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations. Her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.
Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multi-billion-dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government. The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, nondrinkers who have never been in Heidi's bar.
TBR
Jenny and Jane and Katie are gathering To-Be-Read lists. All my smart friends, reading stuff that intrigues me. But my list has to fit around work and homeschooling and garden and stuff at church. Only part of this list is my plan; most of it is merely my wishlist.
Finishing the Mitford series I started this summer.
The rest of Ivanhoe with Maggie.
Luther on Galatians.
Kleinig's Grace Upon Grace
Wingrin's Luther on Vocation
Maybe reading the Anne of Green Gables series with Maggie next.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Forde's On Being a Theologian of the Cross
Maybe some Gillian Bradshaw or Janette Oke re-reads, unless y'all have some suggestions that are like the Mitford books, not too weighty, that can be read for 10 minutes and put down and left for a week before being picked up again.
I know there are all sorts of reading challenges out there for the new year, often with 100 books listed for the year. No way on earth could I do that. I'll be way ahead of my expectations if I read five books this year.
I feel compelled to apologize. Once upon a time I was a voracious reader.
Finishing the Mitford series I started this summer.
The rest of Ivanhoe with Maggie.
Luther on Galatians.
Kleinig's Grace Upon Grace
Wingrin's Luther on Vocation
Maybe reading the Anne of Green Gables series with Maggie next.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Forde's On Being a Theologian of the Cross
Maybe some Gillian Bradshaw or Janette Oke re-reads, unless y'all have some suggestions that are like the Mitford books, not too weighty, that can be read for 10 minutes and put down and left for a week before being picked up again.
I know there are all sorts of reading challenges out there for the new year, often with 100 books listed for the year. No way on earth could I do that. I'll be way ahead of my expectations if I read five books this year.
I feel compelled to apologize. Once upon a time I was a voracious reader.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
A Story and My Picnics
A picnic blanket lived in the trunk of my car this past year. During my lunch break at work, I would nuke my leftovers (or grab my sandwich and fruit) and then head outside. There's a sitting spot outside, relatively shielded from wind and passers-by. I'd sit in the sun, on my blankie, take off my work-shoes, and read my Backwoods Home Magazine while nibbling my lunch.
I had more picnics this year than any other year in my life. I think I had more picnics this past summer/fall than I had in the last couple of decades put together.
Eventually I noticed that I was reading magazines regularly. (Hey, I was three years behind on my BHM and now I'm only two years behind.) Reading regularly might (maybe? possibly?) mean that I could read a [gasp -- hold onto your hat!] a BOOK.
Jan Karon's Mitford series came out about 15 years ago. Oodles of friends and family had recommended it to me for about 14 and 3/4 years. Now I know why! It was perfect! Short sections, some only half a page, so it was easy to put down when my lunch-minutes were depleted. Funny. Light. Love story without being mushy or indecent. Set in a parsonage in Podunkville. It made my heart rejoice to plunk down on my blankie and eat a big fat tomato sandwich and immerse myself in Mrs Karon's village of Mitford.
Since the weather changed, I haven't continued the series. But in March or April, my picnic blanket and I will be eager to start on Book #4. Only three months to go! It makes my heart pitter-patter just to think of it.
I had more picnics this year than any other year in my life. I think I had more picnics this past summer/fall than I had in the last couple of decades put together.
Eventually I noticed that I was reading magazines regularly. (Hey, I was three years behind on my BHM and now I'm only two years behind.) Reading regularly might (maybe? possibly?) mean that I could read a [gasp -- hold onto your hat!] a BOOK.
Jan Karon's Mitford series came out about 15 years ago. Oodles of friends and family had recommended it to me for about 14 and 3/4 years. Now I know why! It was perfect! Short sections, some only half a page, so it was easy to put down when my lunch-minutes were depleted. Funny. Light. Love story without being mushy or indecent. Set in a parsonage in Podunkville. It made my heart rejoice to plunk down on my blankie and eat a big fat tomato sandwich and immerse myself in Mrs Karon's village of Mitford.
Since the weather changed, I haven't continued the series. But in March or April, my picnic blanket and I will be eager to start on Book #4. Only three months to go! It makes my heart pitter-patter just to think of it.
Parthenon
Working on a project to ferret out all the "words" and "preached" and "spoke" in Luke's Christmas stories, I can across the word "parthenon" in the Greek. Parthenon? Didn't recognize it. Well, I mean, in Greek it didn't ring a bell, even though the image of the building's ruins immediately popped into my mind's eye. Turned out that "parthenon" is the word for "virgin," as in, Mary was a virgin, a parthenon.
Looking it up, I found that the pagan temple was so named because it's dedicated to Diana, a virgin goddess who looked after virgins and young women.
Sometimes two different subjects just seem to click into one factoid out of nowhere.
Looking it up, I found that the pagan temple was so named because it's dedicated to Diana, a virgin goddess who looked after virgins and young women.
Sometimes two different subjects just seem to click into one factoid out of nowhere.
Today's Laugh
The policeman was called to a busy intersection downtown where a mutt was giving birth to puppies. The officer didn't know what to do as the closest thing he had in his ordinance book was to give the dog a citation for "littering."
[groan....]
[groan....]
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
More Christmas Photos
A purple tutu!
The riding toy wasn't a present. It came out of storage in the garage because it seemed like Zoe might be getting big enough for it. It might've been her favorite thing of the week.
"Uncle Paul, do you know how to read?" He does know how to read! "Read to me."
Handsome!
Christmas Photos
(This one was from two weeks earlier, for the Sunday School Christmas program.)
Pretty!
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