"So my friend is gay. He's a really nice guy, and he goes to church and reads his Bible and everything. Surely God won't send him to hell just because he's a homosexual?"
Forget the friend for a minute. What does this question show about the one who's asking?
"Just because" he's a homosexual? "Just because" she sassed her mom and wouldn't pick up her toys when she was a toddler? "Just because" they committed acts of aggression against Europe and the whole world, resulting in the death of millions of soldiers, and exterminated six million Jews?
Big sins or little sins ... any sin is still sin. Any imperfection -- no matter how slight -- is Not Being Perfect. And God requires complete and total and utter perfection for those entering His heaven.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Movies
After several friends suggested "Mirror Mirror" (a Snow White story) we watched it and fell in love with the movie. Adventure, laughs, and romance. One of the best we've seen in a long time! And Maggie and I weren't even watching it with kids.
We also watched "Temple Grandin," a movie about a woman with autism, and how she (and her family) built on her strengths. She ended up working with butchers and slaughterhouses; it may sound weird when you first hear it, but she cared about making the slaughtering more humane. I don't know how the story will strike you if you don't know anyone on-the-spectrum, but for me it was an engaging story on so many levels!
Both are good enough to watch again and again.
We also watched "Temple Grandin," a movie about a woman with autism, and how she (and her family) built on her strengths. She ended up working with butchers and slaughterhouses; it may sound weird when you first hear it, but she cared about making the slaughtering more humane. I don't know how the story will strike you if you don't know anyone on-the-spectrum, but for me it was an engaging story on so many levels!
Both are good enough to watch again and again.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
DAILY Bread? Not Monthly? Or Yearly Bread?
Any person who does not know what insecurity is
does not know what faith is.
Wingren, Luther on Vocation, page 36
referring to Luther WA 6, 8
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Please Be Petty About the Pennies
If you're honest, you point out to the clerk* or the bank teller when you've been given too much change. But some of us don't want to appear greedy by complaining if we were shorted a dime or a dollar. Go ahead -- be "greedy" about such things: the bank tellers will be appreciative that you helped them avoid the mistake which would have their drawer out-of-balance at the end of the day.
* Footnote: I doubt it is as strict for clerks as it is for bank tellers. When I worked in stores or restaurants, it wasn't exactly okay but wasn't a humongous deal if your cash register was off by a quarter or a dollar.
* Footnote: I doubt it is as strict for clerks as it is for bank tellers. When I worked in stores or restaurants, it wasn't exactly okay but wasn't a humongous deal if your cash register was off by a quarter or a dollar.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Recently
Symposium last week. Lots of friends. Some fun house guests. Parties. Theology lectures. Good times!
Work. Boy, the job sure gets in the way of my to-do list.
Washing the eaves. Seems dumb. But, hey, during winter's roof-raking I noticed spots that could've been dirt or could've been mildew on the eaves. After living in the parsonage, I passionately hate mildew. Kids washed half the eaves one week and I finished the other half this week with a bleach/soap solution.
Grass seed scattered and being watered daily in one portion of the lawn burned in last summer's drought. (Funny. Last year "they" kept telling us that the grass would survive just fine. Don't water it. It will be fine. Don't waste water on the lawn. This spring, the landscapers were all offering to fix lawns which obviously need fixing. If the government propagandizes about something piddly like lawn-watering, why should we believe what "they" say about anything else?)
The lettuces are finally coming up. So are the turnips, beets, basil, zucchini, cucumber, and cilantro. Memo to self: forget the seed-saving. The germination rate is awful. Short of catastrophe, just buy the seeds new each year.
Fewer strawberry plants + fewer rows = bigger berries. Nice. Clusters on the grape vines look great at this early stage. Blackberries have been pruned, but still need more whacking back. One cherry tree looks to be nearly ready for a nice harvest.
Loads of weeding to do. Katie and Maggie have helped a lot. I need mulch. Tons of mulch. The strawberry bed this year (with the between-spaces covered with a few layers of newspaper and many inches autumn leaves) has been quite easy to weed. I want everything else covered in that much mulch. But mulch is heavy. We can go at it slowly, though, with free wood chips and free compost from the town's compost site. The mulching may be a huge amount of work, but the weeding is its own frustration, especially in the front where the flowers are, where the previous owners put layers of gravel which is now under a bit of soil. It just plain needs to be fixed!
Pretty boring, huh? That's the way we like it!
Work. Boy, the job sure gets in the way of my to-do list.
Washing the eaves. Seems dumb. But, hey, during winter's roof-raking I noticed spots that could've been dirt or could've been mildew on the eaves. After living in the parsonage, I passionately hate mildew. Kids washed half the eaves one week and I finished the other half this week with a bleach/soap solution.
Grass seed scattered and being watered daily in one portion of the lawn burned in last summer's drought. (Funny. Last year "they" kept telling us that the grass would survive just fine. Don't water it. It will be fine. Don't waste water on the lawn. This spring, the landscapers were all offering to fix lawns which obviously need fixing. If the government propagandizes about something piddly like lawn-watering, why should we believe what "they" say about anything else?)
The lettuces are finally coming up. So are the turnips, beets, basil, zucchini, cucumber, and cilantro. Memo to self: forget the seed-saving. The germination rate is awful. Short of catastrophe, just buy the seeds new each year.
Fewer strawberry plants + fewer rows = bigger berries. Nice. Clusters on the grape vines look great at this early stage. Blackberries have been pruned, but still need more whacking back. One cherry tree looks to be nearly ready for a nice harvest.
Loads of weeding to do. Katie and Maggie have helped a lot. I need mulch. Tons of mulch. The strawberry bed this year (with the between-spaces covered with a few layers of newspaper and many inches autumn leaves) has been quite easy to weed. I want everything else covered in that much mulch. But mulch is heavy. We can go at it slowly, though, with free wood chips and free compost from the town's compost site. The mulching may be a huge amount of work, but the weeding is its own frustration, especially in the front where the flowers are, where the previous owners put layers of gravel which is now under a bit of soil. It just plain needs to be fixed!
Pretty boring, huh? That's the way we like it!
Two Kingdoms
There is a spiritual kingdom "through the word and without the sword, through which men might become devout and righteous, so that along with this righteousness they might receive eternal life." The earthly kingdom, which is administered by the sword (that is, with punishments), exists "in order that they who refuse to be made devout and righteous unto life eternal shall by such earthly government be compelled to be devout and righteous before the world.... Though [God] does not reward this righteousness with life eternal, He nevertheless insists on it, in order that peace may be maintained among men; and He does reward it with temporal gifts."
Luther, WA 19, 629
in Wingren's Luther on Vocation, page 24
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Wedding Pictures -- the cute little girls
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| When the bubble-passer-outers ran out of bubbles, they began gathering petals that the flower girls had dropped during the processional. |
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| Alia |
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| Zoe and her bubble-basket |
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| Waiting patiently during picture-time. |
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Where Does Preaching Belong?
In the Lutheran church, preaching comes after the Bible readings and before the Lord's Supper. We visited a church once where the Lord's Supper comes first, with preaching afterward. What difference does it make?
If preaching is about converting sinners (over and over and over again), then it belongs prior to the Supper. I am called to repentance for my sin; Jesus' mercy is lavished upon me; this makes me able to receive His body rightly.
But if the Holy Communion comes first and then preaching, that's because they believe the Supper is to give you the power, the oomph, the motivation, to be Jesus' follower. And the point of the sermon is to instruct you in your behavior.
So the difference is whether the sermon is seen as comfort or guidance.
And that ultimately indicates whether we trust in the law or the gospel.
If preaching is about converting sinners (over and over and over again), then it belongs prior to the Supper. I am called to repentance for my sin; Jesus' mercy is lavished upon me; this makes me able to receive His body rightly.
But if the Holy Communion comes first and then preaching, that's because they believe the Supper is to give you the power, the oomph, the motivation, to be Jesus' follower. And the point of the sermon is to instruct you in your behavior.
So the difference is whether the sermon is seen as comfort or guidance.
And that ultimately indicates whether we trust in the law or the gospel.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Clean and Holy
I used to think it was so unfair of God to have those rules about being clean and unclean. How could the Jews ever keep those rules? For example, touching a dead body rendered a person unclean ... but somebody had to prepare the body for burial. How could God makes rules and expect us to keep them when the rules were unkeepable??
But that's not what holiness is about. Holiness isn't about doing all the right things and keeping ourselves oh-so-pure. It's about being contaminated as the helpless unclean one is served and helped and made clean. Again and again, Jesus' miracles show Him getting dirty by touching the lepers and the ill and the bleeding and the dead.
God sure does seem fond of oxymorons.
But that's not what holiness is about. Holiness isn't about doing all the right things and keeping ourselves oh-so-pure. It's about being contaminated as the helpless unclean one is served and helped and made clean. Again and again, Jesus' miracles show Him getting dirty by touching the lepers and the ill and the bleeding and the dead.
God sure does seem fond of oxymorons.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
School Accountability
"Private and voucher schools do not have the same accountability standards that exist in the public schools." This time the quote was from the Pewaukee school board president, but you've heard that talking point a gazillion times before.
"They don't have the same accountability!" They say it like it's a bad thing.
Why doesn't anybody ever respond, "Darn tootin'. And maybe that's actually part of the reason they provide a better education than do the public schools"?
"They don't have the same accountability!" They say it like it's a bad thing.
Why doesn't anybody ever respond, "Darn tootin'. And maybe that's actually part of the reason they provide a better education than do the public schools"?
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A Sad Side-Effect of Cell Phones
Once upon a time, when I called my mom to ask a quick question, sometimes my dad would answer. Then we'd chat for a few minutes. Or if my in-laws called to talk to Gary, sometimes I'd answer the phone. When the kids grew old enough to answer the phone, they might catch a few minutes to say hi to Grandma and chat for a minute or two.
With cell phones, that doesn't happen.
When I call Rachel, I don't bump into Matt. Calling Paul to ask a question won't provide the opportunity to shoot the breeze with Mandy. I have to choose which number to dial.
Even with landlines, the caller-ID provides a heads-up of which person should answer the phone. So when I call Katie, Nathan seldom answers, assuming (usually rightly) that I'm calling to talk to her.
In the last couple of weeks, I'm recognizing these technological "advancements" as unpleasant barriers.
With cell phones, that doesn't happen.
When I call Rachel, I don't bump into Matt. Calling Paul to ask a question won't provide the opportunity to shoot the breeze with Mandy. I have to choose which number to dial.
Even with landlines, the caller-ID provides a heads-up of which person should answer the phone. So when I call Katie, Nathan seldom answers, assuming (usually rightly) that I'm calling to talk to her.
In the last couple of weeks, I'm recognizing these technological "advancements" as unpleasant barriers.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Cleaning Silver
Put down that bottle of silver polish. Back away from it slowly. It is bad.
I didn't know any better. Those pretty silver-plated things we received as wedding gifts? When they tarnished, I used silver polish. I have ruined them.
Watching Downton Abbey, I saw servants polishing silver. In centuries past, people didn't have high-powered chemicals with noxious smells, liquids for which you need rubber gloves and a mask when you open the bottle. There had to be another way to clean silver. And those secrets are what the internet is good for!
A large pot made of non-reactive metal
(or even the kitchen sink).
A piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Hot water.
Salt and/or baking soda.
Fill the pot or sink with enough hot water to cover the vase or tray or spoons. Place the foil (shiny side up) on the bottom of the pot. Add several tablespoons of salt or baking soda (or both) and dissolve it. Place the silver into the water, making contact with the foil. Wait for a minute or two (or five) as the tarnish dissolves away. It is okay for the water to simmer gently on the stove.
When you take the silver out of the water, polish it up a bit to dry it well. Use a touch of olive oil on a soft cotton cloth or cotton ball to rub onto the silver to keep it from tarnishing too fast again.
If you have a piece of cheap silver that's in cruddy horrible awful shape, simply leaving it in the water longer won't be enough to clean it. After 10 minutes or so, take it out of the water, and use some elbow grease and a rag to rub it well. When you've gotten off as much blackness as possible, get fresh water, fresh foil, and fresh salt, and do it again. If you've already used traditional hardware-store chemical silver polish on your silver gazillions of times, the silver may be damaged enough that it can't be cleaned nicely. But you sure can make it better this way. And it sure does seem to me that it takes longer for the tarnish to return when the silver is cleaned this simple, non-toxic way.
I didn't know any better. Those pretty silver-plated things we received as wedding gifts? When they tarnished, I used silver polish. I have ruined them.
Watching Downton Abbey, I saw servants polishing silver. In centuries past, people didn't have high-powered chemicals with noxious smells, liquids for which you need rubber gloves and a mask when you open the bottle. There had to be another way to clean silver. And those secrets are what the internet is good for!
A large pot made of non-reactive metal
(or even the kitchen sink).
A piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Hot water.
Salt and/or baking soda.
Fill the pot or sink with enough hot water to cover the vase or tray or spoons. Place the foil (shiny side up) on the bottom of the pot. Add several tablespoons of salt or baking soda (or both) and dissolve it. Place the silver into the water, making contact with the foil. Wait for a minute or two (or five) as the tarnish dissolves away. It is okay for the water to simmer gently on the stove.
When you take the silver out of the water, polish it up a bit to dry it well. Use a touch of olive oil on a soft cotton cloth or cotton ball to rub onto the silver to keep it from tarnishing too fast again.
If you have a piece of cheap silver that's in cruddy horrible awful shape, simply leaving it in the water longer won't be enough to clean it. After 10 minutes or so, take it out of the water, and use some elbow grease and a rag to rub it well. When you've gotten off as much blackness as possible, get fresh water, fresh foil, and fresh salt, and do it again. If you've already used traditional hardware-store chemical silver polish on your silver gazillions of times, the silver may be damaged enough that it can't be cleaned nicely. But you sure can make it better this way. And it sure does seem to me that it takes longer for the tarnish to return when the silver is cleaned this simple, non-toxic way.
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Longevity of Homemade Soap
One bar of Yardley soap came into our house as a party favor from a baby shower. (Isn't that the cutest idea?! Soap for a shower!!) As Maggie and I tend to develop rashes when using store-soap, we looked up the ingredients online. Yardley is real soap. And it smells fabulous. We used it without any negative reactions. Woo hoo!
Maybe I wouldn't have to keep making soap after all. Granted, it's pricey soap. But it would save me the trouble of making my own.
And then it disappeared. It took nine days for that four-ounce bar of soap to be used up. That seemed unreasonably fast. So I timed the longevity of my next bar of homemade. A five-ounce bar lasted 25 days. That means the el-cheapo homemade also lasts twice as long as store-soap.
I guess I'll keep making soap.
Maybe I wouldn't have to keep making soap after all. Granted, it's pricey soap. But it would save me the trouble of making my own.
And then it disappeared. It took nine days for that four-ounce bar of soap to be used up. That seemed unreasonably fast. So I timed the longevity of my next bar of homemade. A five-ounce bar lasted 25 days. That means the el-cheapo homemade also lasts twice as long as store-soap.
I guess I'll keep making soap.
My Three Sons
It's fuzzy, but I like the expressions on their faces.
(Taken at the wedding rehearsal.)
Friday, June 07, 2013
Such Great Faith
Many Christians want to have "great faith." So when we hear that Jesus marveled at the great faith of the centurion in last Sunday's story (3-yr series: Luke 7), we wonder what that is. And we wonder how we can have great faith. Do people notice our prayers, our good works, our level of holiness? Surely that would show great faith, right?
Notice the difference between the Jews and this Gentile. So often the Jews would come to Jesus on the basis of their own merit. "We have Abraham for our father." "All these commandments I have kept from my youth." "Lord, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector. I fast. I tithe...." Even when the Jews came to Jesus on behalf of the centurion, they said he deserved help because he'd done so many good things for them.
But what did the Gentile say? "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof."
And when Jesus praised the great faith of the Canaanite woman, it was when she'd just agreed that she was an unworthy little dog.
(I'm still pondering what "little faith" is. It always seems to be in the context of "God, You don't care about us" or "Eeeeks -- bad stuff is happening to us." Do you suppose it too has something to do with whether I'm "worthy" enough that Bad Stuff shouldn't happen to me? And if Bad Stuff does happen, then it must somehow be up to me to resolve it?)
Notice the difference between the Jews and this Gentile. So often the Jews would come to Jesus on the basis of their own merit. "We have Abraham for our father." "All these commandments I have kept from my youth." "Lord, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector. I fast. I tithe...." Even when the Jews came to Jesus on behalf of the centurion, they said he deserved help because he'd done so many good things for them.
But what did the Gentile say? "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof."
And when Jesus praised the great faith of the Canaanite woman, it was when she'd just agreed that she was an unworthy little dog.
(I'm still pondering what "little faith" is. It always seems to be in the context of "God, You don't care about us" or "Eeeeks -- bad stuff is happening to us." Do you suppose it too has something to do with whether I'm "worthy" enough that Bad Stuff shouldn't happen to me? And if Bad Stuff does happen, then it must somehow be up to me to resolve it?)
Great faith = I have no standing
but Jesus saves me anyway
and lifts me up to be His brother
Some Pictures from the Rehearsal Dinner
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| Alia, Paul, Mandy, Zoe |
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| Ring around the rosie ... |
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| Doing what I do best -- cooking! |
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| Papa and his littlest girl |
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| Paul and Gary-in-Viking-purple |
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| Playing the steal-the-pacifier game |
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| The salad bar and the toppings for the potatoes |
I think these were all pictures from Katie's camera. I didn't take very many pictures, so I keep stealing from other people's Facebook pages.
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Too Busy to Take Care of Yourself
Slowing down with meals, then, is symbolic of relaxing into our body, our career, our fears and desires, and anything life presents. It’s about granting ourselves the right to share in the simplicity of joyous moments on Earth. It’s about reclaiming our time, our dignity, and the sanctity of self-care.
My friend recently posted this quote
Since we moved five years ago, our meals have changed drastically. Part of it is getting home late from work, and part of it is having activities in the evening, and part of it is the lack of a dining room. Whereas we used to sit down and eat meals together 10-18 times a week, moving cut that number in half. When I started my job, it got worse. And our commitment to mealtime continues to wane. People grab food for themselves because we're not having mealtimes together. When we are all together at a meal, too often we eat in the living room (with the tv on) because the kitchen table is too cluttered with mail and projects and other items.
"The sanctity of self-care." I've been thinking about that ever since I saw the quote above. "Sharing in the simplicity of joyous moments." As we have fallen away from mealtimes together, I've noticed that it's harder to tend to other aspects of self-care: getting exercise, making sure my heels don't crack and split, flossing, etc.
And what's worse is that this makes me less attuned to caring for the needs of others. After all, if there's not enough time for me to take care of my hair, then I'm not motivated to help Maggie fix her hair all pretty and nice either. If there's not enough time for me to sit on the Homedic massager to knead the knots out of my back, neither am I bothering to knead the knots out of Gary's shoulders and neck.
When we place little importance on mealtime---when we eat in the car, when we snatch bites of lunch while trying to work on a project, when we eat alone without setting the table for ourselves---does that cause callousness to grow in us? Or maybe it's just a symptom of what's wrong. I think a lot of health and happiness could be gained by going back to the mealtime practices we had before moving.
But I don't know how to do it.
Too many other things would go by the wayside.
And yet, should they, maybe?
Labeling Your Homeschooling Method
Not only do we separate ourselves from other homeschoolers when we label our methodology, but we also mess with our own minds. "Can I use this textbook for science? It wouldn't really fit with my unschooling perspective." Or "It seems like the kids would prefer choosing their own books to read, but I'm a classical homeschooler and therefore the kids must read the books on this particular list." Just teach your kids already! What works for others may not work for you, and what works for you may not benefit another family. And what works this month may not work for you next year. That's okay. Just teach your kids.
My friend EC explains it beautifully!! Really. Go read it.
My friend EC explains it beautifully!! Really. Go read it.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Dad
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| Minocqua. Fishing. A quiet screened-in porch. |
What more could anyone want? Well, I mean, besides a plate of cheese, crackers, summer sausage, and tomato wedges while sitting on the pier with your feet dangling in the lake?
God's Love or God's Wrath?
"Just as God’s favor cannot be measured by the good things one person
has, so His wrath over sin cannot be measured and determined by the
afflictions one suffers. Those whose homes were not destroyed [in the
Moore, OK, tragedy] were not any less sinful than those who suffered
devastation. Drawing a conclusion about whom God loves by their life
circumstances is simply wrong."
(taken from Steve Blakey's FB page)
David P. Scaer
Professor and Chairman of
Systematic Theology
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne,
Indiana
(taken from Steve Blakey's FB page)
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Supperless Sunday
"This is the feast of victory for our God ..."
WHAT is the feast?
Why are we singing this when the feast is not offered?
"I will take the cup of salvation ...."
But the chalice isn't on the altar today.
"I will pay my vows to the Lord now
in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord's house,
in the midst of you, o Jerusalem."
I'm still pondering this: IS the chancel heaven-on-earth when the Lord's Supper is not being celebrated? When we're in church for prayers and preaching, are the saints and angels in heaven joined with us in the same way that they are joined with us for the Holy Communion?
I like Matins and Vespers and Evening Prayer.
If there's no Supper, the prayer offices are good.
So why pray the liturgy that goes with the Supper and then not celebrate the Supper?
WHAT is the feast?
Why are we singing this when the feast is not offered?
"I will take the cup of salvation ...."
But the chalice isn't on the altar today.
"I will pay my vows to the Lord now
in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord's house,
in the midst of you, o Jerusalem."
I'm still pondering this: IS the chancel heaven-on-earth when the Lord's Supper is not being celebrated? When we're in church for prayers and preaching, are the saints and angels in heaven joined with us in the same way that they are joined with us for the Holy Communion?
I like Matins and Vespers and Evening Prayer.
If there's no Supper, the prayer offices are good.
So why pray the liturgy that goes with the Supper and then not celebrate the Supper?
Sunday, June 02, 2013
Dinner for 40
I was serving dinner for 40-45 people, some of whom had special dietary needs. And I was doing it far from home where I had limited access to a kitchen. The menu was a potato bar and a salad bar. I seriously over-estimated how much food was necessary. So that I have records for another time, these are the amounts we should have bought and prepared:
20# baked potatoes
2# butter
24 oz sour cream
3# onions, caramelized
4# mushrooms, sauteed
4 bags (12 oz each) steam-in-bag frozen broccoli
2 quarts thick chili
8# bacon, cooked and chopped
2# shredded cheddar
2 quarts cole slaw
1 quart corn-&-black-bean salad
1 bag fresh spinach
6 bags (5-8 oz each) mixed salad greens
1 cucumber
4 pints cherry tomatoes
3 large bell peppers
2 large carrots, grated
16 oz raw, sliced mushrooms
1 pint black olives
1 bunch green onions
6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
8 oz cashews
6 oz sunflower nuts
4 bottles of various salad dressings
1 watermelon
1 large cantaloupe
3 pineapples
1 loaf of homemade bread
2 pans of bars/cookies (13x9" each)
2 gallons lemonade
2 gallons iced tea
12 cups coffee
water
20# baked potatoes
2# butter
24 oz sour cream
3# onions, caramelized
4# mushrooms, sauteed
4 bags (12 oz each) steam-in-bag frozen broccoli
2 quarts thick chili
8# bacon, cooked and chopped
2# shredded cheddar
2 quarts cole slaw
1 quart corn-&-black-bean salad
1 bag fresh spinach
6 bags (5-8 oz each) mixed salad greens
1 cucumber
4 pints cherry tomatoes
3 large bell peppers
2 large carrots, grated
16 oz raw, sliced mushrooms
1 pint black olives
1 bunch green onions
6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
8 oz cashews
6 oz sunflower nuts
4 bottles of various salad dressings
1 watermelon
1 large cantaloupe
3 pineapples
1 loaf of homemade bread
2 pans of bars/cookies (13x9" each)
2 gallons lemonade
2 gallons iced tea
12 cups coffee
water
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
The Rocking Chair on the Front Porch
Chapter 10 of To Kill a Mockingbird starts with the line:
"Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty." I busted a gut laughing when I saw it. Why? Beats me. Sympathy, maybe?
Would it be so bad for people (including me!) to think we CAN'T, instead of expectations that we should keep up the energy-level and accomplishment-level of younger folks?
Several weeks ago I was having hamburger cravings alongside a recognition that I was trying to accomplish more than was accomplishable. So I gave myself permission to serve hamburgers every night for dinner. Not interesting hamburgers -- no. Just plain old boring patties on a slice of bread. Wow -- what a relief! Now, as it turns out, we haven't had hamburgers every night, even though we've had them a lot. Somehow, the lowered mealtime expectations have relieved some stress. The next step is figuring out how to connive myself into lowering other expectations of myself.
Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty.Then the paragraph goes on to explain how all the other kids had parents who were much younger, parents who could play football or go fishing or hunting or work in the garage.
"Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty." I busted a gut laughing when I saw it. Why? Beats me. Sympathy, maybe?
Would it be so bad for people (including me!) to think we CAN'T, instead of expectations that we should keep up the energy-level and accomplishment-level of younger folks?
Several weeks ago I was having hamburger cravings alongside a recognition that I was trying to accomplish more than was accomplishable. So I gave myself permission to serve hamburgers every night for dinner. Not interesting hamburgers -- no. Just plain old boring patties on a slice of bread. Wow -- what a relief! Now, as it turns out, we haven't had hamburgers every night, even though we've had them a lot. Somehow, the lowered mealtime expectations have relieved some stress. The next step is figuring out how to connive myself into lowering other expectations of myself.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Futility
The dress I bought for the wedding could use some slight alterations. When I sat down to tackle that, it didn't work out as planned. And I couldn't put the dress back as it had been before, because the sewing-machine needle had put some snags in the fabric. Wasted money; wasted time.
Twice last week I tried renting a tiller. It didn't work. The first time I didn't even get it home and had to change plans for the day. The second time, I brought it home, tilled about 6', and then it stopped and refused to restart. Therefore, everything that's been done in the garden has been done with a hand spade. Suffice it to say, the work is not yet done. And there was lots of unnecessary running back and forth to town.
Very little of what I've planted in the garden has germinated. One batch of greens and herbs was planted 10 days ago, the other batch four weeks ago. Several heads of romaine have gotten to be 2" tall. That's it. Nothing else. Wasted time.
Maggie and I spent hours on the phone and filling out paperwork to apply for SSI for her so that she would have health insurance. The money wasn't important, but the insurance is. Her claim was denied. Now we have to figure out some other avenue of taking care of her special needs. Wasted time; loss of money; need for lawyers to help with guardianship issues and dependency.
In the space of 24 hours, there were three whammies, saying, "Why do you even bother to TRY?"
Twice last week I tried renting a tiller. It didn't work. The first time I didn't even get it home and had to change plans for the day. The second time, I brought it home, tilled about 6', and then it stopped and refused to restart. Therefore, everything that's been done in the garden has been done with a hand spade. Suffice it to say, the work is not yet done. And there was lots of unnecessary running back and forth to town.
Very little of what I've planted in the garden has germinated. One batch of greens and herbs was planted 10 days ago, the other batch four weeks ago. Several heads of romaine have gotten to be 2" tall. That's it. Nothing else. Wasted time.
Maggie and I spent hours on the phone and filling out paperwork to apply for SSI for her so that she would have health insurance. The money wasn't important, but the insurance is. Her claim was denied. Now we have to figure out some other avenue of taking care of her special needs. Wasted time; loss of money; need for lawyers to help with guardianship issues and dependency.
In the space of 24 hours, there were three whammies, saying, "Why do you even bother to TRY?"
Friday, May 24, 2013
The Wedding Rings
Wedding rings. For some reason I always thought my ring was a reminder of my promises at the wedding.
But what I've heard from my pastor is different. My wedding ring was given to me. And it was given with a promise to me. The ring isn't a reminder of what I said I'd do. Rather, it's the reminder of what my husband promised. My wedding ring is not the symbol of my duties; it is the symbol of a promise given freely that he will love me and be faithful to me. That's gospel, not law.
But what I've heard from my pastor is different. My wedding ring was given to me. And it was given with a promise to me. The ring isn't a reminder of what I said I'd do. Rather, it's the reminder of what my husband promised. My wedding ring is not the symbol of my duties; it is the symbol of a promise given freely that he will love me and be faithful to me. That's gospel, not law.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Huh? What Are YOU Talking About?
We were both baffled.
Expectations and assumptions -- they sure do affect communication.
A very sweet Methodist co-worker (a mom of soldiers) cheerily asked today if our church service on Sunday would be in celebration of soldiers.
I can't imagine how confused my face must have looked. "Sunday?? Soldiers?? Uh, we'll be celebrating the Feast of the Holy Trinity."
Then it was her turn to be confused. It's Memorial Day weekend. Why wouldn't we be honoring the soldiers? She wasn't negative, she certainly didn't accuse or anything, but she seemed bewildered by my answer.
"Last Sunday was Pentecost. This Sunday is Trinity. It's a high feast of the Church." My statements sounded more like questions because I thought these things went without saying.
And then a customer arrived and the conversation was cut short, as so often happens.
I'm such a misfit.
Expectations and assumptions -- they sure do affect communication.
A very sweet Methodist co-worker (a mom of soldiers) cheerily asked today if our church service on Sunday would be in celebration of soldiers.
I can't imagine how confused my face must have looked. "Sunday?? Soldiers?? Uh, we'll be celebrating the Feast of the Holy Trinity."
Then it was her turn to be confused. It's Memorial Day weekend. Why wouldn't we be honoring the soldiers? She wasn't negative, she certainly didn't accuse or anything, but she seemed bewildered by my answer.
"Last Sunday was Pentecost. This Sunday is Trinity. It's a high feast of the Church." My statements sounded more like questions because I thought these things went without saying.
And then a customer arrived and the conversation was cut short, as so often happens.
I'm such a misfit.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Swishy Skirt
Last week, on the day of dance class, I had to work. Work means wearing a dress. That day I wore something with a rather full, round skirt.
Oh my goodness! It is SO much more fun to dance in a full skirt than in jeans. The skirt flows and swishes.
I thought I was being silly about it. But when I mentioned to Gary how pretty the skirt looked, he said he'd noticed too. He said that was why he was spinning me in turns more than normal. Hee hee hee -- fun stuff!
Oh my goodness! It is SO much more fun to dance in a full skirt than in jeans. The skirt flows and swishes.
I thought I was being silly about it. But when I mentioned to Gary how pretty the skirt looked, he said he'd noticed too. He said that was why he was spinning me in turns more than normal. Hee hee hee -- fun stuff!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Wedding Prep
Menu plans for the rehearsal dinner are in place: baked-potato bar and salad bar, with all the details excruciatingly listed on paper, anticipating my forgetfulness. Paul and Mandy said pop wasn't necessary, and the church doesn't allow alcohol, so the drinks will be coffee, iced tea, lemonade, and water. Fruit, brownies, and caramel bars for dessert. Nothing fancy.
I bought 20# of bacon on Monday. So far I've cooked-&-crumbled 11# of it. Smells good in here.
I'm trying very hard to give myself speeches that it will indeed be okay to buy lettuce already washed and cut and bagged. Right now I'm telling myself what all I'm going to do to prep dinner-for-40, but I think there may have to be some cheating (i.e., buying packages of food that merely need to be opened instead of prepared entirely from scratch).
Still need to slightly alter the dress I bought at Goodwill. Seams are ripped but not tucked to size and put back aright.
Bought the paper goods today. Again I prove that I "don't do pretty." I bought blue, square, plastic, disposable plates. Red cups. Napkins with brightly colored balloons. I doubt there will be decorations of any sort. I'm better at cooking than at beautifying. (Maybe I'll dazzle them with food so that they don't notice the lack of streamers and flowers and tablecloths??)
Still have garden and a word-processing project on which to make headway in the next few weeks.
I bought 20# of bacon on Monday. So far I've cooked-&-crumbled 11# of it. Smells good in here.
I'm trying very hard to give myself speeches that it will indeed be okay to buy lettuce already washed and cut and bagged. Right now I'm telling myself what all I'm going to do to prep dinner-for-40, but I think there may have to be some cheating (i.e., buying packages of food that merely need to be opened instead of prepared entirely from scratch).
Still need to slightly alter the dress I bought at Goodwill. Seams are ripped but not tucked to size and put back aright.
Bought the paper goods today. Again I prove that I "don't do pretty." I bought blue, square, plastic, disposable plates. Red cups. Napkins with brightly colored balloons. I doubt there will be decorations of any sort. I'm better at cooking than at beautifying. (Maybe I'll dazzle them with food so that they don't notice the lack of streamers and flowers and tablecloths??)
Still have garden and a word-processing project on which to make headway in the next few weeks.
Friday, May 17, 2013
The German Homeschool Family Seeking Asylum in U.S.
Some of you have heard about the German family who came to the United States because it's illegal to homeschool in Germany and they were opposed to enrolling their children in a public school which teaches contrary to the family's beliefs. The family overstayed their visa. It was time to go home. They didn't leave America, claiming religious persecution awaited them in Germany.
Not surprisingly, the Home School Legal Defense Association is involved.
The Inappropriate Homeschooler posted information on the case. Is this case really about the US government trying to destroy homeschoolering? Or might it be yet another case of HSLDA "helping" homeschoolers in a way that will benefit their organization, increasing membership, increasing our need to be "protected," and thus increasing their own power?
Not surprisingly, the Home School Legal Defense Association is involved.
The Inappropriate Homeschooler posted information on the case. Is this case really about the US government trying to destroy homeschoolering? Or might it be yet another case of HSLDA "helping" homeschoolers in a way that will benefit their organization, increasing membership, increasing our need to be "protected," and thus increasing their own power?
Thursday, May 16, 2013
What Loopers Means to Me
My homeschool email list brought me friends. I used to be able to leave my locale and visit them two or more times annually. Now I cannot. I miss that and continue to grieve over it even though there are wonderful friends right here close.
But there are things in life that shape you. And my in-real-life friends (the ones with whom I usually interact via our onlines discussions) have been a huge part of my life. And Lora describes it SO well.
But there are things in life that shape you. And my in-real-life friends (the ones with whom I usually interact via our onlines discussions) have been a huge part of my life. And Lora describes it SO well.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Common Core
First it was "A Nation at Risk." Then under Pres Bush it was "outcome-based education" with nation-wide curriculum goals. Then during Clinton's term, the name was "Goals 2000." Then came the younger Bush's "No Child Left Behind." The current reincarnation of national standards is "Common Core." I'm sure the proponents of these plans think each plan is different and unique and wonderful, while the Other Guy's Plan is bad bad bad.
But all I see is the feds taking control of education. Whether the nationalized goals are excellent or wretched -- it doesn't matter. Control of education should be LOCAL.
In Indiana two moms got involved in fighting the Common Core, encouraging their state to back out of the program and say "no thank you" to the wad of cash with which the feds are attempting to bribe the states to go along with the program.
Two comments:
Got that? These moms didn't even have their kids in public school. But the school voucher system (which many conservatives are FOR) was what allowed the State to dictate curriculum to the private schools.
That's critical. It's critical to decision-making in our parochial schools, our private secular schools, and our homeschools. Taking government money is setting you up for submitting to government testing and government standards.
So conservatives are concerned with lousy results from the school system. They cry for higher standards and more control. But "more control" means putting the federal government in charge. And then ... look what we get. But because people have made up their minds that they're in favor of "higher standards" and school-choice vouchers, they continue to support programs that are costly (both in terms of children's educations and in terms of tax-dollars). And thus, the liberals and the conservatives both fight for more federal regulation of what happens day-by-day and hour-by-hour in kids' schools.
Something is wrong.
But all I see is the feds taking control of education. Whether the nationalized goals are excellent or wretched -- it doesn't matter. Control of education should be LOCAL.
In Indiana two moms got involved in fighting the Common Core, encouraging their state to back out of the program and say "no thank you" to the wad of cash with which the feds are attempting to bribe the states to go along with the program.
Two comments:
Heather Crossin and Erin Tuttle did not get involved in opposing Common Core because of anything Michelle Malkin or Glenn Beck said to rile them up, but because of what they saw happening in their own children’s Catholic school. When experts or politicians said that Common Core would not lead to a surrender of local control over curriculum, Heather and Erin knew better. (Ironically, the leverage in Indiana was Tony Bennett’s school-choice program, which made state vouchers available to religious schools, but only if they adopted state tests — which were later quietly switched from ISTEP to the untried Common Core assessments.)
Got that? These moms didn't even have their kids in public school. But the school voucher system (which many conservatives are FOR) was what allowed the State to dictate curriculum to the private schools.
That's critical. It's critical to decision-making in our parochial schools, our private secular schools, and our homeschools. Taking government money is setting you up for submitting to government testing and government standards.
So why are so many good conservatives, from Jeb Bush to Rick Snyder, supporting Common Core? Many conservatives signed on to a clever strategy that asked them to endorse, not the specific standards, but the idea of high “internationally benchmarked” national standards. It is a principle of psychological persuasion that, once you act, in however small a manner, you will feel cognitively compelled to justify your action.
So conservatives are concerned with lousy results from the school system. They cry for higher standards and more control. But "more control" means putting the federal government in charge. And then ... look what we get. But because people have made up their minds that they're in favor of "higher standards" and school-choice vouchers, they continue to support programs that are costly (both in terms of children's educations and in terms of tax-dollars). And thus, the liberals and the conservatives both fight for more federal regulation of what happens day-by-day and hour-by-hour in kids' schools.
Something is wrong.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Starting the Sit-Ups Habit
When we were kids and took the Presidential Fitness Test, there were a lot of areas in which I did not excel, and some "strengths" in which I had no strength. But sit-ups? I could do sit-ups. "How many can you do?" "How long will you give me?" I did sit-ups until they told me to stop and go to my next class. No biggie.
Decades pass. The Child-of-Strong-Stomach-Muscles becomes the woman who can only do two or three (or maybe four!) sit-ups.
So when Anthea wrote about her attempt to start some new good habits, I thought about getting into shape. Being a person who does well with lists and the Awesome Wonderful Reward of checking things off, I printed out two Don't Break the Chain calendars.
Calendar 1: Sit ups. Ten per day. Oh, the agony .... But after 10 days of daily sit-ups, it was easy to do 7, and possible to do [gasp] more than 10. So the next month's goal was twelve sit-ups. The following month's goal will be 15 sit-ups daily. Hey! This is working!
Calendar 2: Going for an exercise walk. Not working so well. If I realize at bedtime that I didn't fit in a walk, I'm not going to get dressed again and go out in the dark (and the cold -- brrrrr!) to earn my check mark. (A dozen sit-ups is easier to squeeze in at the last minute. I can see why Anthea set herself a goal of reading for just five minutes.)
Right now there are a gazillion ideas I have for habit-starting calendars. But I don't have enough space to hang 'em all. Or ... enough brain-power and will-power to obey the calendars. So for now, just two, with hopes of making habits.
Decades pass. The Child-of-Strong-Stomach-Muscles becomes the woman who can only do two or three (or maybe four!) sit-ups.
So when Anthea wrote about her attempt to start some new good habits, I thought about getting into shape. Being a person who does well with lists and the Awesome Wonderful Reward of checking things off, I printed out two Don't Break the Chain calendars.
Calendar 1: Sit ups. Ten per day. Oh, the agony .... But after 10 days of daily sit-ups, it was easy to do 7, and possible to do [gasp] more than 10. So the next month's goal was twelve sit-ups. The following month's goal will be 15 sit-ups daily. Hey! This is working!
Calendar 2: Going for an exercise walk. Not working so well. If I realize at bedtime that I didn't fit in a walk, I'm not going to get dressed again and go out in the dark (and the cold -- brrrrr!) to earn my check mark. (A dozen sit-ups is easier to squeeze in at the last minute. I can see why Anthea set herself a goal of reading for just five minutes.)
Right now there are a gazillion ideas I have for habit-starting calendars. But I don't have enough space to hang 'em all. Or ... enough brain-power and will-power to obey the calendars. So for now, just two, with hopes of making habits.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Hay
Two lawnmowers. Three workers. Total of nearly five man-hours. And the lawn is a little more than half done.
[sigh]
Moral of the story: No matter how busy we are, no matter how tired and/or ill we are, no matter how cold it is next November, the lawn must be mowed One Last Time in fall.
[sigh]
Moral of the story: No matter how busy we are, no matter how tired and/or ill we are, no matter how cold it is next November, the lawn must be mowed One Last Time in fall.
Caramel without HFCS
I was recently making Glenda's Most Evil Dessert as a thank-you treat for some of my co-workers. Of course, it never crossed my mind to buy a bag or two of caramels (which is one of the main ingredients). So Maggie and I determined to mix up some caramels right-quick. That's when we discovered we had no corn syrup either (a main ingredient in the caramels).
So I substituted honey. Y'know -- real honey. Made by bees. Instead of chemists.
Guess what? Those were darn good caramels!
So I substituted honey. Y'know -- real honey. Made by bees. Instead of chemists.
Guess what? Those were darn good caramels!
Finally, A Warm Day!
That was last weekend. This weekend we're back to closed windows, jackets outdoors, and the furnace turned on.
My friend Jenny has been vindicated once again. She says you never take off the winter bedding until the peonies bloom. But we were tired of getting so HOT under that comforter. And we were a full week into May, for cryin' out loud. The peonies weren't blooming; surely Jenny had to be wrong. I swapped out the down comforter for a thin quilt.
Jenny wasn't wrong. We slept comfortably for two nights without the down comforter. Now it's cold again.
But at least it is NOT snowing! Whew!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Murder Mystery
 |
| Jasmoor, the Arabian Princess |
Costume cobbled together from
a) the granddaughters' dress-up box
b) the tiara I bought for Anthea's International Tiara Day
c) old clothes that weren't even fit for giving to Goodwill
d) remnants from JoAnn Fabric's moving sale
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Reading Challenge: Update
"A Little Help from My Friends"
Reading Challenge
Get a list of book suggestions from your friends. From those suggestions choose between five and ten books that you will read in 2013. Make a list of the books that you will read and a few alternates.
And the other instructions can be found on Jane's site.
My list:
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery January 24
Anne of Avonlea (these two with Maggie) February 24
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Love Divine by Alan Kornacki
Mitford's Out to Canaan by Jan Karon
Christ Have Mercy by Matt Harrison April 7
The list that someone else made for me:
Lutheran Catechesis by Bender Dec 27, 2012
Old Testament Catechesis by Bender March 1
New Testament Catechesis by Bender
Bible Stories for Daily Prayer by Fabrizius
Alternates:
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee May 8
Luther, the Reformer by James Kittelson
The Right to Be Wrong by Seamus Hasson
On Being a Theologian of the Cross by Forde
Luther on Vocation by Wingren
Additional books (not on the original list):
A Long Way from Chicago by R Peck audio book April 16
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck audio book April 18
And She Was a Christian: Why Do Believers
Commit Suicide by Peter Preus May 7
Wow: the count thus far is 5 paper books, 2 audio books, and 2 for proofreading. That's more than a year's worth in normal-booktime. Even if I don't read anything else for the rest of the year, I'm going to claim (??) that I met my goal. Hey, I read five books!
Reading Challenge
Get a list of book suggestions from your friends. From those suggestions choose between five and ten books that you will read in 2013. Make a list of the books that you will read and a few alternates.
And the other instructions can be found on Jane's site.
My list:
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Love Divine by Alan Kornacki
Mitford's Out to Canaan by Jan Karon
The list that someone else made for me:
New Testament Catechesis by Bender
Bible Stories for Daily Prayer by Fabrizius
Alternates:
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
Luther, the Reformer by James Kittelson
The Right to Be Wrong by Seamus Hasson
On Being a Theologian of the Cross by Forde
Luther on Vocation by Wingren
Additional books (not on the original list):
Commit Suicide by Peter Preus
Wow: the count thus far is 5 paper books, 2 audio books, and 2 for proofreading. That's more than a year's worth in normal-booktime. Even if I don't read anything else for the rest of the year, I'm going to claim (??) that I met my goal. Hey, I read five books!
Saturday, May 04, 2013
But What About Eating Bacon?
It doesn't matter whether the subject is women's ordination or homosexuality or abortion. Often, when a Christian brings up, "The Bible says ..." the rejoinder will be, "But the Bible has all these dietary rules. And you eat bacon. And you eat shrimp and crab. See? You don't really care what the Bible says."
And that's supposed to be the proof that everything scriptural can be jettisoned.
Well, for just a moment, let's set aside the lengthier discussions of moral law and natural law as over against dietary law. Let's set aside the whole thing about Christ being the fulfillment of the law, and how the law shows us what love is, and why God made those rules about what the Jews were to avoid eating.
For just a moment, let's look at Acts 11, where God Himself tells Peter in a vision to eat the unclean animals. So God Himself gave the go-ahead to set aside the Old Testament's dietary laws. We're eating bacon-wrapped lobster tail not because we decided to set aside those laws, but because God said to.
Footnote 1: Yes, I realize that's not the main point of Acts 11.
Footnote 2: Wouldn't it be great to have a grocery budget that allowed for bacon-wrapped lobster tails periodically? Mmmmm.
And that's supposed to be the proof that everything scriptural can be jettisoned.
Well, for just a moment, let's set aside the lengthier discussions of moral law and natural law as over against dietary law. Let's set aside the whole thing about Christ being the fulfillment of the law, and how the law shows us what love is, and why God made those rules about what the Jews were to avoid eating.
For just a moment, let's look at Acts 11, where God Himself tells Peter in a vision to eat the unclean animals. So God Himself gave the go-ahead to set aside the Old Testament's dietary laws. We're eating bacon-wrapped lobster tail not because we decided to set aside those laws, but because God said to.
Footnote 1: Yes, I realize that's not the main point of Acts 11.
Footnote 2: Wouldn't it be great to have a grocery budget that allowed for bacon-wrapped lobster tails periodically? Mmmmm.
Friday, May 03, 2013
Measuring Cups
When all the contents of a house have to GO [due to down-sizing or moving to a nursing home or because of death] ... the stuff has to go someplace. To grandkids? To a resale shop? To the dump?
What about pictures and once-treasured possessions? What happens when the next generations don't cherish the things I cherish? What will become of those items? And should it matter?
A bunch of stuff is finding its way into our home these days. I can't cherish everything that could arrive here from grandparents, parents, and in-laws. What's odd is the things that I do enjoy.
For all my adult life, I have owned one set of measuring cups and one set of measuring spoons. For someone who cooks and bakes from scratch, that's been a little inconvenient. Now I have my mother-in-law's metal measuring cups and spoons. If my 1-cup measure is floury from baking bread, I have another cup [gasp] to measure sugar for kombucha. Whoa -- this is nice.
What about pictures and once-treasured possessions? What happens when the next generations don't cherish the things I cherish? What will become of those items? And should it matter?
A bunch of stuff is finding its way into our home these days. I can't cherish everything that could arrive here from grandparents, parents, and in-laws. What's odd is the things that I do enjoy.
For all my adult life, I have owned one set of measuring cups and one set of measuring spoons. For someone who cooks and bakes from scratch, that's been a little inconvenient. Now I have my mother-in-law's metal measuring cups and spoons. If my 1-cup measure is floury from baking bread, I have another cup [gasp] to measure sugar for kombucha. Whoa -- this is nice.
Thursday, May 02, 2013
The Law Is the Final Word
At least, it is according to almost everybody in the whole wide world.
Other religions teach that works are how we please the god or how we gain heaven or nirvana or whatever. Be good; get a reward. When I was having a conversation with a Jehovah's Witness about eating turkey on Thanksgiving and celebrating birthdays, that's what it came down to: "follow the rules, get a blessing from god."
Other Christian denominations too teach the same thing. Yes, they admit that the Lord (the eternal God of the promise of salvation, the God who is triune and whose nature is love) helps us be good. And yes, they admit that the Lord forgives our screw-ups for when we're not good. But the point of religion is still to Be Good. That's essentially what the Roman Catholic's purgatory and the Eastern Orthodox's theosis end up being about. (Of course, most of them would deny it.) And it's what most Protestants teach. (And I'm sure they too would deny it. And that's a good thing; it means their rational minds are conflicted against the saving faith worked in them by the Holy Spirit.)
It's even a controversy among Lutherans. While no Lutheran would disagree with the necessity for good works, and while no Lutheran would disagree with the truth that we are saved by God's grace in Christ through no merit of our own, there are still many who (somehow) come off sounding like the point of the Gospel/forgiveness is to make us able to do a better job of following the Law.
In Bible class last Sunday we were discussing Luke 5. The Pharisees and teachers of the law had come from all over the place, from Galilee, but also from way down in Judea and from Jerusalem. They wanted to check out this Jesus dude and the stories they'd been hearing. And when he forgave the sins of the paralyzed man, they were hacked off. "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Pastor had other points to make, but for the most part, I got lost, thinking and thinking about why the legalists were there and why they were perturbed. We live in a [ahem] diverse society today. Everybody thinks they should be able to do whatever they want. Everybody should be able to think whatever they want. Children grow up and reject what was imparted to them.
SO ... what does it hurt anybody for Christians to believe in grace?
Why do people fuss about it?
Okay, okay, IF we purportedly believe in grace and then live in sin that hurts other people, then I can understand people saying, "Whoa, hold up! Your so-called freedom in the Gospel is damaging me." And that would be valid. But if the law is being preached rightly, and the gospel is forgiving sinners, then licentiousness can result only through rejection of true doctrine.
So why the objection to people trusting in grace?
Atheists object. People of other religions object. And even Christians want to convert other Christians to a belief that they have to Do SOMEthing to be real Christians.
If you don't want to trust only in God's grace in Jesus' blood shed to save you, if you want to depend to some extent on your own works, I can't change your heart. But what skin is it off your nose if I believe that?
I don't understand.
Other religions teach that works are how we please the god or how we gain heaven or nirvana or whatever. Be good; get a reward. When I was having a conversation with a Jehovah's Witness about eating turkey on Thanksgiving and celebrating birthdays, that's what it came down to: "follow the rules, get a blessing from god."
Other Christian denominations too teach the same thing. Yes, they admit that the Lord (the eternal God of the promise of salvation, the God who is triune and whose nature is love) helps us be good. And yes, they admit that the Lord forgives our screw-ups for when we're not good. But the point of religion is still to Be Good. That's essentially what the Roman Catholic's purgatory and the Eastern Orthodox's theosis end up being about. (Of course, most of them would deny it.) And it's what most Protestants teach. (And I'm sure they too would deny it. And that's a good thing; it means their rational minds are conflicted against the saving faith worked in them by the Holy Spirit.)
It's even a controversy among Lutherans. While no Lutheran would disagree with the necessity for good works, and while no Lutheran would disagree with the truth that we are saved by God's grace in Christ through no merit of our own, there are still many who (somehow) come off sounding like the point of the Gospel/forgiveness is to make us able to do a better job of following the Law.
In Bible class last Sunday we were discussing Luke 5. The Pharisees and teachers of the law had come from all over the place, from Galilee, but also from way down in Judea and from Jerusalem. They wanted to check out this Jesus dude and the stories they'd been hearing. And when he forgave the sins of the paralyzed man, they were hacked off. "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Pastor had other points to make, but for the most part, I got lost, thinking and thinking about why the legalists were there and why they were perturbed. We live in a [ahem] diverse society today. Everybody thinks they should be able to do whatever they want. Everybody should be able to think whatever they want. Children grow up and reject what was imparted to them.
SO ... what does it hurt anybody for Christians to believe in grace?
Why do people fuss about it?
Okay, okay, IF we purportedly believe in grace and then live in sin that hurts other people, then I can understand people saying, "Whoa, hold up! Your so-called freedom in the Gospel is damaging me." And that would be valid. But if the law is being preached rightly, and the gospel is forgiving sinners, then licentiousness can result only through rejection of true doctrine.
So why the objection to people trusting in grace?
Atheists object. People of other religions object. And even Christians want to convert other Christians to a belief that they have to Do SOMEthing to be real Christians.
If you don't want to trust only in God's grace in Jesus' blood shed to save you, if you want to depend to some extent on your own works, I can't change your heart. But what skin is it off your nose if I believe that?
I don't understand.
Who's Hiding in the Closet?
So a gay basketball player comes out of the closet and is lauded for it. In the wake of the announcement, a sports analyst mentions that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin as is any sexual activity outside of marriage. Oh my goodness -- the horrors of what he said! The station apologizes. The sports analyst is forced to apologize.
And then the news release about how the government is looking into enforcing anti-proselytizing regulations, thus forbidding soldiers from telling others about their faith, even to the point of being able to court-martial them.
Wow.
And then the news release about how the government is looking into enforcing anti-proselytizing regulations, thus forbidding soldiers from telling others about their faith, even to the point of being able to court-martial them.
Wow.
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Do Your Sins Pile Up?
Some Christians think that we commit sins, and then we go to confession or go to church or go to the Lord's Supper, and [zap] Jesus wipes away our sins. And then we go about life, oops, here-a-sin, there-a-sin, everywhere-a-sin-sin. So we're dirtied up, and we have to go to church to be cleaned up again, ... and the cycle repeats itself.
Pastor often tells us, "NO, that's not what it is." If it were, that would mean our confessing was the thing meriting God's forgiveness. Also it would be denying original sin, as if there were days (or hours) (or moments) when we could be spiffied-up and sin-free. Also it would mean we could have no certainty about our salvation because we could never know whether we'd [oops] sin and then die before having a chance to Get It Fixed At Church (or at least in our personal verbal prayers). Pastor likes to use an example from a M*A*S*H episode, where Frank Burns is jumping back and forth across the threshold of the tent's door, chanting, "I'm in. I'm out. I'm in. I'm out." Being in God's grace is not like that; it's not like we're covered by His forgiveness, and then are out, and then are back in after the absolution in the Divine Service, and then back out again next time we lose our temper.
Hearing "I forgive you all your sins" does not mean a pile of sins is erased, brought down to zero-level, before we start piling up sins again. No. Because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross, God sees utter perfection, holiness, righteousness, purity. Going to confession or going to the Lord's Supper doesn't change our status in God's eyes. What absolution does is to reorient our blind eyes from our navel-gazing, and open our eyes to see ourselves as God sees us, as He declares us to be.
Pastor often tells us, "NO, that's not what it is." If it were, that would mean our confessing was the thing meriting God's forgiveness. Also it would be denying original sin, as if there were days (or hours) (or moments) when we could be spiffied-up and sin-free. Also it would mean we could have no certainty about our salvation because we could never know whether we'd [oops] sin and then die before having a chance to Get It Fixed At Church (or at least in our personal verbal prayers). Pastor likes to use an example from a M*A*S*H episode, where Frank Burns is jumping back and forth across the threshold of the tent's door, chanting, "I'm in. I'm out. I'm in. I'm out." Being in God's grace is not like that; it's not like we're covered by His forgiveness, and then are out, and then are back in after the absolution in the Divine Service, and then back out again next time we lose our temper.
Hearing "I forgive you all your sins" does not mean a pile of sins is erased, brought down to zero-level, before we start piling up sins again. No. Because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross, God sees utter perfection, holiness, righteousness, purity. Going to confession or going to the Lord's Supper doesn't change our status in God's eyes. What absolution does is to reorient our blind eyes from our navel-gazing, and open our eyes to see ourselves as God sees us, as He declares us to be.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Express
Ernie Davis -- 1961 Heisman trophy winner -- first black guy to do that.
The movie made a great story. Gary and I enjoy sports movies. This had the added themes of history-and-racism, as well as showing a strong family.
[For those bothered by Language, there is some. But it's not gratuitous; it's practically necessary with what's happening in the story.]
The movie made a great story. Gary and I enjoy sports movies. This had the added themes of history-and-racism, as well as showing a strong family.
[For those bothered by Language, there is some. But it's not gratuitous; it's practically necessary with what's happening in the story.]
Monday, April 29, 2013
That Radio Is Driving Me Nuts
So an old heavy-metal rock band is coming out with a new album pretty soon. On three different days since this song debuted recently, I've been at work listening to the DJ's push this song. It plays repeatedly! And it's long. And very very repetitive. "God is dead. God is dead. God is dead." I tried looking up the lyrics to count how many "God is deads" are in the song. I couldn't find the lyrics online, but I'm guessing at least five dozen "God is deads" each time this thing gets air-time, which puts me at 200-400 "God is deads" per day.
As I drove home from work, I wondered what would be an appropriate and allowable response.
If I'm not busy I could walk over to the radio and turn down the volume. I'd have to explain to my partner why, and tell him he could turn the volume back up in eight minutes or so.
I could sing out loud what I've been singing to myself -- a Good Friday hymn. "O sorrow dread. Our God is dead, but by His expiation of our guilt upon the cross, gained for us salvation" and subsequent stanzas.
I could sing out loud a response: "He lives, all glory to His name. He lives, my Jesus still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives."
Or I could just continue to bite my lip and pray. I've listened to shocking and putrid things on that radio station -- both songs and the talk/banter. But until now I haven't considered anything so drastic as turning off the radio and forcing the other person to listen to the dreaded Quiet.
As I drove home from work, I wondered what would be an appropriate and allowable response.
If I'm not busy I could walk over to the radio and turn down the volume. I'd have to explain to my partner why, and tell him he could turn the volume back up in eight minutes or so.
I could sing out loud what I've been singing to myself -- a Good Friday hymn. "O sorrow dread. Our God is dead, but by His expiation of our guilt upon the cross, gained for us salvation" and subsequent stanzas.
I could sing out loud a response: "He lives, all glory to His name. He lives, my Jesus still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives."
Or I could just continue to bite my lip and pray. I've listened to shocking and putrid things on that radio station -- both songs and the talk/banter. But until now I haven't considered anything so drastic as turning off the radio and forcing the other person to listen to the dreaded Quiet.
Third Use of the Law
My friend Cheryl recently pointed out a blog post. In spite of trying to curtail my computer-time, I went and read. I clicked on a link in the post, skimmed another blog post, clicked on another link, etc. Apparently there is (again!) quite the ruckus in the Lutheran blogosphere about the place of "preaching sanctification." But one thing became apparent to me in the 10 minutes that I bopped around a few sites (that is, before I grabbed control of myself and headed to the laundry room to wash sheets).
Much of the "Woe is us! We need to preach more sanctification!" is motivated by the decaying culture out there in society. There's political pressure for homosexual "marriage." People kill babies unborn ... and born. Foul language is prevalent. Sleeping around is common. Terrorists and madmen go on killing sprees. This is terrible, and we want it fixed. If the preachers preached more law, maybe it would change.
It sounds to me like what we're clamoring for is actually more "First Use of the Law." Not more "third use." But then again, maybe that's a clue that we don't use the law: if it's preached, it will function as the Holy Spirit wills.
Much of the "Woe is us! We need to preach more sanctification!" is motivated by the decaying culture out there in society. There's political pressure for homosexual "marriage." People kill babies unborn ... and born. Foul language is prevalent. Sleeping around is common. Terrorists and madmen go on killing sprees. This is terrible, and we want it fixed. If the preachers preached more law, maybe it would change.
It sounds to me like what we're clamoring for is actually more "First Use of the Law." Not more "third use." But then again, maybe that's a clue that we don't use the law: if it's preached, it will function as the Holy Spirit wills.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Garden Report
It's that time of year when we go through a LOT of hand soap, trying (somewhat in vain) to clean hands when we come in from the garden.
Two raised beds have been cleared of overgrown walking-onions, shoveled, fluffed with half-rotted leaves underneath, and the soil on top raked smooth. A couple of mini-rows of lettuces have been planted.
The compost pile has been turned into a potato bed. Last year we accidentally grew a nice batch of potatoes from some Yukon Gold that were supposed to be rotting in the compost pile. Because the compost pile was lighter, airier, fluffier than typical garden dirt, the potatoes grew bigger, cleaner, and prettier-shaped. Hey, I could use an accident like that again! So I put a 15" layer of last fall's leaves on top of the compost bed. In each spot where I was going to plant the potatoes, I put a pint of dried manure, the potato, and another pint of manure. I then sprinkled a very thin layer of manure across the top of the leaf bed, just to finish off the bag. On top of that, another 8" of leaves. On top of that, about 3" of gunk off the burn pile (wood ash, dried leaves, leaf ash, and lovely rich dirt from stuff that had been at the bottom of the pile for a few years). Now, will it work? Will I grow a lovely batch of organic potatoes? Or have I spent my energy today for no food, but just a day outside, enjoying the fresh air and the SUNshine and the birds singing? Oh, and some sure-to-be-sore muscles. ;-)
Eighty-percent-dead cherry tree is down. Gary managed to knock it over without a chainsaw or ax or anything; that poor thing was in sorry shape (and yet somehow still quite productive). The baby next to it is up and budding. It was a sucker that we left to grow, and for two years it bore fruit just like the parent-tree.
I gathered the icky, wet, half-rotted, gucky leaves off the garden and put them in black 30-gallon garbage bags. I hear tell that in the space of several months they should rot into leaf mold. A) Now the garden soil can begin drying a bit. B) Stunning that I can be so hyped over the prospect of rotting leaves -- woo hoo!
One of the lilacs looked pretty rotted-out too. So I knocked that over. Boy howdy, we have a LOT of wood to burn!
Two raised beds have been cleared of overgrown walking-onions, shoveled, fluffed with half-rotted leaves underneath, and the soil on top raked smooth. A couple of mini-rows of lettuces have been planted.
The compost pile has been turned into a potato bed. Last year we accidentally grew a nice batch of potatoes from some Yukon Gold that were supposed to be rotting in the compost pile. Because the compost pile was lighter, airier, fluffier than typical garden dirt, the potatoes grew bigger, cleaner, and prettier-shaped. Hey, I could use an accident like that again! So I put a 15" layer of last fall's leaves on top of the compost bed. In each spot where I was going to plant the potatoes, I put a pint of dried manure, the potato, and another pint of manure. I then sprinkled a very thin layer of manure across the top of the leaf bed, just to finish off the bag. On top of that, another 8" of leaves. On top of that, about 3" of gunk off the burn pile (wood ash, dried leaves, leaf ash, and lovely rich dirt from stuff that had been at the bottom of the pile for a few years). Now, will it work? Will I grow a lovely batch of organic potatoes? Or have I spent my energy today for no food, but just a day outside, enjoying the fresh air and the SUNshine and the birds singing? Oh, and some sure-to-be-sore muscles. ;-)
Eighty-percent-dead cherry tree is down. Gary managed to knock it over without a chainsaw or ax or anything; that poor thing was in sorry shape (and yet somehow still quite productive). The baby next to it is up and budding. It was a sucker that we left to grow, and for two years it bore fruit just like the parent-tree.
I gathered the icky, wet, half-rotted, gucky leaves off the garden and put them in black 30-gallon garbage bags. I hear tell that in the space of several months they should rot into leaf mold. A) Now the garden soil can begin drying a bit. B) Stunning that I can be so hyped over the prospect of rotting leaves -- woo hoo!
One of the lilacs looked pretty rotted-out too. So I knocked that over. Boy howdy, we have a LOT of wood to burn!
A Long Way From Chicago
The whole idea of "coming-of-age novels" makes me want to barf.
But maybe that's because of how those have been written in the wake of the Hippy 60's.
On the other hand, I suppose you could call the Little House books "coming-of-age novels" too, and I'm crazy about those.
A few years ago, a friend insisted we had toread listen to the Richard Peck novels, A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder. The audio-book is read by Ron McLarty ... and is a hoot. A long car ride recently gave me the opportunity --finally!-- to listen to these stories. These books are so good (and funny) (and heartwarming) (and great for grown-ups too) that it's almost hard to believe how new they are.
Mom, I think you'd like these. Because of the Newbery awards, they're widely available in libraries. And they're set in Piatt County, during the Depression years, with occasional references to places such as Bement and Decatur and Farmer City. Fun fun fun!
(Warning to Katie, though. It's not time for you to read them ... just like it's not time for you to be reading Ramona out loud in your house.)
But maybe that's because of how those have been written in the wake of the Hippy 60's.
On the other hand, I suppose you could call the Little House books "coming-of-age novels" too, and I'm crazy about those.
A few years ago, a friend insisted we had to
Mom, I think you'd like these. Because of the Newbery awards, they're widely available in libraries. And they're set in Piatt County, during the Depression years, with occasional references to places such as Bement and Decatur and Farmer City. Fun fun fun!
(Warning to Katie, though. It's not time for you to read them ... just like it's not time for you to be reading Ramona out loud in your house.)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Praying FOR People
I can wash the dishes "for you" because it will benefit you to have clean dishes. Or I can wash the dishes "for you" because it's your job but I can do it instead of you.
Usually we think of praying "for somebody" something we do on their behalf, something that will benefit them.
But maybe sometimes we also pray "for somebody" by speaking to God prayers as if we were the other guy praying for himself. Praying "in his stead," as it were. Putting ourselves in the other guy's shoes and then begging God for what's good for that neighbor.
This may not be the way we usually think of "praying for him." But maybe it's one of the ways we learn (experientially) about the words "substitutionary" and "vicarious" and "priestly."
Usually we think of praying "for somebody" something we do on their behalf, something that will benefit them.
But maybe sometimes we also pray "for somebody" by speaking to God prayers as if we were the other guy praying for himself. Praying "in his stead," as it were. Putting ourselves in the other guy's shoes and then begging God for what's good for that neighbor.
This may not be the way we usually think of "praying for him." But maybe it's one of the ways we learn (experientially) about the words "substitutionary" and "vicarious" and "priestly."
Friday, April 26, 2013
Best Thing Ever
Every time we've sung "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" this Easter, I remembered my mother-in-law's funeral. It was the final hymn. The casket was escorted out by the funeral director, and the pall bearers (including my sons) followed.
The guys put their hymnals back in the pew rack and filed out, singing the hymn (from memory) with the rest of the congregation.
Is there anything in this earthly life that's better than that?
The guys put their hymnals back in the pew rack and filed out, singing the hymn (from memory) with the rest of the congregation.
Is there anything in this earthly life that's better than that?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Liturgy as Teacher
How does a pastor know what to say when he's teaching somebody?
I've seen my pastor do it in numerous contexts: teaching from the liturgy. Somebody is getting married? My kids tell me he went through the vows and the wedding rite, talking about what it means, what it teaches, what it shows, what God does in that rite. Or maybe a young pastor wants to know how to be a pastor, what to do. So Pastor uses the ordination vows as a guideline to discuss the work of a pastor. Or maybe people have questions about death. He may start discussing the funeral rites.
I like that. Not only does the liturgy tell us what we need to know when we're asking, but it also means that every time you're there again (a baptism, a wedding, a first communion, etc) you've got all that fleshed-out and expanded-upon discussion to illuminate what God is doing & saying in those rites.
I've seen my pastor do it in numerous contexts: teaching from the liturgy. Somebody is getting married? My kids tell me he went through the vows and the wedding rite, talking about what it means, what it teaches, what it shows, what God does in that rite. Or maybe a young pastor wants to know how to be a pastor, what to do. So Pastor uses the ordination vows as a guideline to discuss the work of a pastor. Or maybe people have questions about death. He may start discussing the funeral rites.
I like that. Not only does the liturgy tell us what we need to know when we're asking, but it also means that every time you're there again (a baptism, a wedding, a first communion, etc) you've got all that fleshed-out and expanded-upon discussion to illuminate what God is doing & saying in those rites.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Culture's Attitude Toward the Church
Archbishop Francis Cardinal George said a couple of years ago, "I expect to die in bed, my
successor will die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr in the
public square."
President Matt Harrison quoted this yesterday on Issues Etc and added one more clause: "And his successor will help rebuild from the ashes."
President Matt Harrison quoted this yesterday on Issues Etc and added one more clause: "And his successor will help rebuild from the ashes."
Don't Break the Playmobiles
Zoe (age 2) was playing Playmobiles at our house. She declared the little brunette to be Alia. The little red-head was Zoe. The man was Daddy. The woman was Mommy.
But Zoe kept yanking at the Mommy's left hand. "Zoe, don't do that. You don't want to break the Mommy." You see, Playmobile aprons come off and on. Playmobile boots come off and on. Playmobile hats come off and on. Zoe was stymied: she could not take the left hand off. "Mommy. Hand. Mommy. Hand. Hand. Off."
Oh. Sometimes it takes a while for me to get it.
The child finally consented to imagine that the Playmobile-Mommy's hand was off.
But Zoe kept yanking at the Mommy's left hand. "Zoe, don't do that. You don't want to break the Mommy." You see, Playmobile aprons come off and on. Playmobile boots come off and on. Playmobile hats come off and on. Zoe was stymied: she could not take the left hand off. "Mommy. Hand. Mommy. Hand. Hand. Off."
Oh. Sometimes it takes a while for me to get it.
The child finally consented to imagine that the Playmobile-Mommy's hand was off.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Holy Gho... Spiri.... Ghos.... Spirit!
Andrew has scolded me for saying "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" at the start of prayers. "Mommmmm, how long is it going to take for you to quit doing that?!"
Last week Maggie was distracted when she said "Holy Ghost" to match what she expected to be my mistake, but I got it right and said "Spirit." So we clashed anyway.
So I busted a gut when David Scaer (who has a bit of the same problem) mentioned what his pastor told him:
"The Holy Ghost is scary."
Oh, bad puns. How I love them!
Last week Maggie was distracted when she said "Holy Ghost" to match what she expected to be my mistake, but I got it right and said "Spirit." So we clashed anyway.
So I busted a gut when David Scaer (who has a bit of the same problem) mentioned what his pastor told him:
"The Holy Ghost is scary."
Oh, bad puns. How I love them!
Monday, April 22, 2013
My Talents
People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.
spoken by Miss Maudie
(end of chapter 10 of To Kill a Mockingbird)
as to why Atticus's children didn't know
about his awesome on-target shooting skills
Thing is, don't people take pride in their talents? Miss Maudie's statement makes perfect sense -- our talents have been given to us by God and are nothing to take credit for. But we do.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Recent Doings
Maggie and I began sewing some aprons last week. Well, "began" "sewing" I guess. I bought the fabric months ago. We pinned and cut out the pieces. Then it all sat. Maybe we'll haul out the sewing machine later this week and begin again.
Snow in April. Over and over. Bah humbug.
Took all my days off last week to head off to Minnesota. One evening with Paul and Mandy, enjoying supper and conversation and seeing their workplaces.
Spent a whole morning relaxing in a Starbucks, all by myself, drinking tea and reading the Formula of Concord in preparation for attending three-quarters of the "It's the Law -- Or Is It?" conference put on by the Association of Confessional Lutherans. As much as I love my family, my introverted self is yearning for another few days of self-indulgent quiet and reading ... and maybe movies.
Most of the speakers at the conference were great. Rolf Preus especially. I intend (?) to blog about my notes, not because anybody out there in cyberspace cares, but because this blog is where I keep my notes for myself. But boy, I've been doing a lousy job blogging recently. I want to, but there are other responsibilities.
Thoroughly enjoyed an evening out with friends. It was an early evening: the other three had early flights that morning, and I was expecting a late night of driving the following evening. But, oh, dinner was delicious, company was delightful, and conversation was interesting and encouraging.
The drive home from Minnesota was stressful. My aging body doesn't take long drives well in the first place. But because of the snowstorm, there was a huge accident with a three-hour delay. Three hours -- that means by the time I hit Wisconsin, I should have been well over halfway home. This is the rare instance when a person begins to wonder about GPS... (No, I don't want GPS. When we've used Andrew's, it kind of drives me nuts. Ha ha ... drives me nuts.....)
Little girls are coming over tonight for a sleep-over. Nathan has surgery tomorrow to remove one of the pins in his broken-but-healing ankle, and it will be early.
An attack of Murphy's Law: A mere two hours after cleaning the oven, the meatloaf fat spilled over the edge of the pan and smoked up the kitchen. Two weeks later, pizza-cheese fell off the pizza and burned onto the bottom of the oven, smoking up the kitchen. Hey! That'll teach me to clean the oven!!
New plan I should try for my goofing-off-on-computer time: what if I went on Facebook only once a week? Being away from the computer, I determined to catch up on FB this afternoon, but do it quickly, with light skimming. Not exactly like exercising self-control as I ought, but it might be a better use of time without cutting off contact with loved ones who aren't Right Here In Person.
Snow in April. Over and over. Bah humbug.
Took all my days off last week to head off to Minnesota. One evening with Paul and Mandy, enjoying supper and conversation and seeing their workplaces.
Spent a whole morning relaxing in a Starbucks, all by myself, drinking tea and reading the Formula of Concord in preparation for attending three-quarters of the "It's the Law -- Or Is It?" conference put on by the Association of Confessional Lutherans. As much as I love my family, my introverted self is yearning for another few days of self-indulgent quiet and reading ... and maybe movies.
Most of the speakers at the conference were great. Rolf Preus especially. I intend (?) to blog about my notes, not because anybody out there in cyberspace cares, but because this blog is where I keep my notes for myself. But boy, I've been doing a lousy job blogging recently. I want to, but there are other responsibilities.
Thoroughly enjoyed an evening out with friends. It was an early evening: the other three had early flights that morning, and I was expecting a late night of driving the following evening. But, oh, dinner was delicious, company was delightful, and conversation was interesting and encouraging.
The drive home from Minnesota was stressful. My aging body doesn't take long drives well in the first place. But because of the snowstorm, there was a huge accident with a three-hour delay. Three hours -- that means by the time I hit Wisconsin, I should have been well over halfway home. This is the rare instance when a person begins to wonder about GPS... (No, I don't want GPS. When we've used Andrew's, it kind of drives me nuts. Ha ha ... drives me nuts.....)
Little girls are coming over tonight for a sleep-over. Nathan has surgery tomorrow to remove one of the pins in his broken-but-healing ankle, and it will be early.
An attack of Murphy's Law: A mere two hours after cleaning the oven, the meatloaf fat spilled over the edge of the pan and smoked up the kitchen. Two weeks later, pizza-cheese fell off the pizza and burned onto the bottom of the oven, smoking up the kitchen. Hey! That'll teach me to clean the oven!!
New plan I should try for my goofing-off-on-computer time: what if I went on Facebook only once a week? Being away from the computer, I determined to catch up on FB this afternoon, but do it quickly, with light skimming. Not exactly like exercising self-control as I ought, but it might be a better use of time without cutting off contact with loved ones who aren't Right Here In Person.
Oh, Poop!
Stealing a story that my son-in-law told about my granddaughters recently:
Alia and Zoe wouldn't stop talking about poop. So Dad finally put an end to it: "No more using the word poop!"
Alia wanted to know if they could talk about pee. No, that wasn't acceptable either.
Could they talk about food? Of course.
Could they talk about people? Why, yes.
"Well, you know, Daddy, when food goes through people it becomes ..."
Alia and Zoe wouldn't stop talking about poop. So Dad finally put an end to it: "No more using the word poop!"
Alia wanted to know if they could talk about pee. No, that wasn't acceptable either.
Could they talk about food? Of course.
Could they talk about people? Why, yes.
"Well, you know, Daddy, when food goes through people it becomes ..."
Monday, April 15, 2013
Bye-Bye Van
This past week we found a Corolla and bought it (even without taking it to our mechanic for a once-over ... still afraid that we may come to regret that). The jury is still out on whether the new car will be driven primarily by Andrew or Gary. They're probably going to trade back and forth until they decide. The junk man came to haul away the van this weekend. It is entirely unreasonable how sad it made me to see the van leave. I had to fight back tears. We owned it for 13 years; we took it on vacations; we drove it on gazillions of errands; we no longer have a vehicle with which to haul small furniture or bicycles. Even though it was in cruddy shape, I miss it. That's dumb, but that's the way it is.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Oh, Foolish Ones
When Jesus meets the disciples on the road to Emmaus that Sunday afternoon, they tell Him everything that had happened that weekend. They had all the facts: their teacher's death, an empty tomb, women who heard a message from angels, Peter and John seeing that the body was missing. "Too bad He didn't turn out to be the redeemer as we'd hoped."
And Jesus tells them, "Oh, foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." And then He proceeded to tell them AGAIN what the Old Testament taught about the Messiah. And He proceeds to preach the Gospel to them. He proceeds to tell them about the forgiveness won in the blood of the Messiah to save sinners.
Do you have that kind of patience when people are that tuned out to what you've been telling them? I sure don't.
When I am foolish and slow of heart to believe, Jesus doesn't scold. He doesn't reason. And He certainly doesn't give up in frustration because I didn't believe Him before. He treats us just as He treated the Emmaus disciples.
He gives more.
And forgives yet again.
And Jesus tells them, "Oh, foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." And then He proceeded to tell them AGAIN what the Old Testament taught about the Messiah. And He proceeds to preach the Gospel to them. He proceeds to tell them about the forgiveness won in the blood of the Messiah to save sinners.
Do you have that kind of patience when people are that tuned out to what you've been telling them? I sure don't.
When I am foolish and slow of heart to believe, Jesus doesn't scold. He doesn't reason. And He certainly doesn't give up in frustration because I didn't believe Him before. He treats us just as He treated the Emmaus disciples.
He gives more.
And forgives yet again.
Purging and Cleaning and De-Cluttering, Oh My!
Why is there such a huge internal struggle between "We could use this" and "We need this"? It's easy for my head to know which is which. But to get rid of something we "could use" is a booger!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Skittle Bowl
It belonged to my cousins, and it came to us when my aunt (Katie's godmother) was moving and thus decluttering. Seeing the game in the show reminded Maggie of its existence. She hauled it out and has been playing a lot. She's figuring out how to "roll" the ball to obtain better scores.
And she's learning to score bowling. Tsk tsk tsk -- the kids these days don't get to learn how to keep score in bowling because the computers do all the work for them. But she seems to be figuring it out nicely this week at home.
I love the clatter of those wood pins falling -- it's such a pretty sound!
Snow
Snow-mixed-with-rain every day this week. But we've comforted ourselves with "At least it's not sticking."
And this morning, middle of April, I look out the window ...
and it's sticking.
It's not deep enough to shovel yet.
But the grass, the deck, the neighbors' roofs -- snow.
Intellectually I know that I'll be leaving the house without a winter coat in, oh, say, a month. But in my gut I don't believe it will ever happen: I'll be wearing a winter coat for the rest of my life ....
And this morning, middle of April, I look out the window ...
and it's sticking.
It's not deep enough to shovel yet.
But the grass, the deck, the neighbors' roofs -- snow.
Intellectually I know that I'll be leaving the house without a winter coat in, oh, say, a month. But in my gut I don't believe it will ever happen: I'll be wearing a winter coat for the rest of my life ....
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Well, I sure was schnookered by that review.
The reviewer wrote that "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" was a movie about an unconventional school teacher in Scotland in the 1930's; she wanted to inculcate in her students the love of "goodness, truth, and beauty." Hmm. Sounds kind of like me. And yet there were niggling remembrances from my childhood that this was a "bad movie" that grown-ups whispered about. Really? It was "bad" because she was an unconventional teacher?
So we ordered it from Netflix. Put it in the DVD player. And began to wonder if the movie might be going somewhere in spite of how it was stacking up.
After 30 minutes, I turned it off because the "unconventional teacher" was having multiple affairs with men and brainwashing the girls with liberal politics. Not wanting to Give Up On It Too Early, I checked Wiki. Sure enough, this teacher's "unconventionality" is worlds --universes-- different from my "unconventionality."
Yeah, the DVD is back in the mailbox even though I didn't see the end of the movie.
And for those of you who know how much I hate stopping a book or magazine or movie or lecture in the middle, you know that's a drastic step!
The reviewer wrote that "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" was a movie about an unconventional school teacher in Scotland in the 1930's; she wanted to inculcate in her students the love of "goodness, truth, and beauty." Hmm. Sounds kind of like me. And yet there were niggling remembrances from my childhood that this was a "bad movie" that grown-ups whispered about. Really? It was "bad" because she was an unconventional teacher?
So we ordered it from Netflix. Put it in the DVD player. And began to wonder if the movie might be going somewhere in spite of how it was stacking up.
After 30 minutes, I turned it off because the "unconventional teacher" was having multiple affairs with men and brainwashing the girls with liberal politics. Not wanting to Give Up On It Too Early, I checked Wiki. Sure enough, this teacher's "unconventionality" is worlds --universes-- different from my "unconventionality."
Yeah, the DVD is back in the mailbox even though I didn't see the end of the movie.
And for those of you who know how much I hate stopping a book or magazine or movie or lecture in the middle, you know that's a drastic step!
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Chilly Easter
So I think this was the first Easter Vigil ever where I sang the Song of the Three Young Men (including the lines "You frost and cold, bless the Lord; you ice and snow, bless the Lord") when there was ice and snow right outside the window next to me.
And then shortly before sundown on Easter, after all the kids had left, I looked out the window, and what did I see? Snow. More snow than mere flurries. Snow dumping out of the sky. It had been warm enough that it didn't stick to the deck for more than a few minutes. But still.
Yoo hoo! Spring? Where are you?
But you know what was cool? On Easter morning, with all the grey skies and the cloud cover, there was not a hint of being able to tell where the sun was hiding behind those thick clouds. And as the organist was playing the intro to "Thanks to Thee, O Christ Victorious" I was hearing the [ahem] real first verse to that hymn (TLH 207) which is:
Like the golden sun ascending,
breaking through gloom of night,
on the earth its glory spending
so that darkness takes to flight,
thus my Jesus from the grave
and death's dismal dreadful cave
rose triumphant Easter morning
at the early purple dawning.
And that was when the sun broke through for all of about two minutes. Just long enough to shed light on that hymn! Like the sun and the creation just had to bust in and join the celebration indoors at the altar!
And then shortly before sundown on Easter, after all the kids had left, I looked out the window, and what did I see? Snow. More snow than mere flurries. Snow dumping out of the sky. It had been warm enough that it didn't stick to the deck for more than a few minutes. But still.
Yoo hoo! Spring? Where are you?
But you know what was cool? On Easter morning, with all the grey skies and the cloud cover, there was not a hint of being able to tell where the sun was hiding behind those thick clouds. And as the organist was playing the intro to "Thanks to Thee, O Christ Victorious" I was hearing the [ahem] real first verse to that hymn (TLH 207) which is:
Like the golden sun ascending,
breaking through gloom of night,
on the earth its glory spending
so that darkness takes to flight,
thus my Jesus from the grave
and death's dismal dreadful cave
rose triumphant Easter morning
at the early purple dawning.
And that was when the sun broke through for all of about two minutes. Just long enough to shed light on that hymn! Like the sun and the creation just had to bust in and join the celebration indoors at the altar!
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