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Thursday, July 28, 2011
Midweek snippets...
Had a wonderful three hour visit with my Mom on Sunday. I loved seeing the surprise on her face when I walked in...I realize it might not be too long before nothing will register when she sees me, but I hope that can be a long time from now. She was calmer and more coherent than she's been in months (at least when I've been around) and it was a joy to show her my needlework and look through hundreds of Facebook photos with her.
I've just ordered and received my copy of The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, on the recommendation of Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience. When I get home I'm going to work my way through it in 13 weeks per her suggestion.
Rick Perry looks closer to running every day, and it appears that Mitt Romney will be the loser. Ah well...
I believe I've mentioned YNAB budget software before, but if you're not familiar with it, here's a nice review by Tim Challies. If I swore, I'd swear by it.
My conversion to Apple gets more complete all the time. I'm now running a MacBook Pro, an iPhone4, and an iPad2. As soon as life slows down, I'll finish the conversion by getting a Windows platform on the Mac so that I can run all the programs I use that aren't compatible with Mac or that Mac just hasn't mastered yet. Like Office 2010.
For you natural history and biology buffs, this is simply astounding.
And despite the references to evolution, here's another fascinating study:
Researchers from Oxford University studied the eye sockets and brain capacity of 55 human skulls from 12 different populations across the world and found that the further human populations live from the equator, the bigger their brains.
It's not because they are smarter, however, but because they need bigger vision areas in the brain to cope with the low light levels at high latitudes, the scientists said in a report of their findings in the journal Biology Letters.My summer is flying by, and it's time to start getting serious about the school year. With just two students left, my workload is not what it used to be, but I am determined to finish well. This year I will be teaching geometry to my boys and assisting in their history (still Tapestry of Grace). The rest they'll be taking at co-op or, in the case of John Caleb, the community college. I think I'll be driving more than teaching. 26 years ago I could hardly have imagined where this journey would lead!
And now, it's time for me to cool off with (another) Diet Coke. Have a great weekend, y'all!
Labels: Decorating, Devotional, Homeschooling, Money, Political Observation, Science, Technology, Texas, Weather
Sunday, May 01, 2011
UPDATE: If you're interested in seeing the commercial I blogged about last week, it's here, under "piano".
Labels: Devotional, Health
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
May I share a little insight I just received from a quite unexpected source?
I try to be all about gratitude. I believe it's the missing element in a lot of Christians' lives, and I think it's a response to life that can never be overdone or overemphasized. I'd even go out on a limb and say that a lack of gratitude is at the heart of nearly all spiritual problems I've ever seen. Note I didn't say it's the heart of every problem...there are plenty of problems that won't be solved by gratitude. I can be tremendously grateful for my home, but if the bank forecloses on the mortgage, no amount of thankfulness is going to stop them or solve my problem of homelessness.
But when my misfortune becomes a spiritual problem, the heart of the issue is probably ingratitude for what I do have, a sense that what God has given isn't enough.
So I work at gratitude. Sometimes it flows easily, like a gushing spring. Sometimes I have to pump it out of myself like a well being drilled from a mile below parched ground. In the middle of last year's trauma and pain and debilitating nausea, I constantly looked for reasons for gratitude: a family who loved me and walked through this fire by my side; a bedroom on the ground floor; a (mostly) working laptop; antibiotics that successfully fought off my infections; a best friend who took vacation time to come and care for me in those first awful days; a doctor who prayed with and for me and made house calls. Chronic pain does strange things to your heart and mind. And finding nuggets for which I can be thankful in the midst of it is often a challenge. But today, in moments between grading algebra and helping with a resume, I looked up at the TV and saw a reason that has, so far, escaped me.
You've probably seen it. A pretty woman is sitting at the piano, playing a hauntingly lovely melody, when the keys and finally the entire piano begin to crumble under her fingers. The voice-over describes how a disease, in this case rheumatoid arthritis, can steal the life you love. I don't remember the exact wording, but the focus is on how all the meaningful things in one's life can crumble with the onset of RA.
And like a lightning bolt, I felt it. Another huge reason to be grateful: nothing I've been through -- no matter how painful, how inconvenient, how humiliating, how limiting, how expensive, how disappointing -- none of it has "stolen" anything of ultimate importance to me. Oh, there are things I'd like to do that I can't do anymore. There are experiences I won't be able to have. I may never have the stamina or the strength I once had. But God, in His severe mercy, never allowed my life to take the turns that might have been destroyed by arthritis, a dozen surgeries, raging infections, and limited mobility.
I was never a dancer. (Well, there was that ballet class in second grade, but let's don't go there.) I never had more than a passing fancy with running. I didn't develop a love for rock climbing or cycling or aerobics. I love to travel, but I had no desire to be a flight attendant or a tour guide. Yet when I survey all the things I am passionate about, they're all still part of my life. And for that, I must bow in thanksgiving.
There may be a time when God allows some other illness or accident to take away the things that I love: family, friendships, work, books, music, mentoring, teaching my kids, travel, writing. Without my eyesight, my hearing, or my fingers, some of these things would become impossible or severely limited. And perhaps then I'll have to pump harder for that sacrifice of praise and thankfulness. But today, a simple drug commercial let me take that next step in gratitude. I still have all the things I truly love.
Never underestimate God's ability or willingness to speak, or sing, today's life lessons in a very ordinary key...
Labels: Devotional, Health
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Labels: Devotional
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunday snippets...
So...what snippets do I have this week? Let's see. A lot of folks are going to work tomorrow who wondered for several days if they would. Glad to see that we averted a government shutdown for the sakes of those who would suffer (including, as it turns out, this family). But I can't say I'm jumping up and down at the meager concessions toward spending reductions. As Karl Rove said in the wee hours of Saturday morning, this only matters if it's the first step in a long road. Otherwise, it was a waste.And now on to the struggle over the debt limit. Let me see if I've got this. I've maxed out all my credit cards. I still want stuff. Good stuff, you know? Not just selfishly, but to help other people. But to be honest, I can't even come CLOSE to making the payments on all the stuff I've already borrowed. But if I don't borrow more, I can't keep doing all the good stuff I do. I can't feed hungry people or donate to charities or take my kids to the museum. So, maybe I can figure out a way to shame the credit card companies into raising my limit and giving me more money! After all, there are people depending on me, and those nasty scoundrels who have all the money need to just give it up! What do they need it for, anyway--they're filthy rich! If I make enough noise, and keep saying over and over that those fat cats should "pay their fair share," public opinion will turn against them and they'll have to cave! Especially if I can get on TV! (I'll let you know how that works out.)
Bethany (almost 21) and Tim (14) took off Saturday morning to drive north for a visit with the faraway siblings and other family members. Still seems funny that my kids are old enough to just take off on the interstate, but I'm very glad that they can and that they'd rather spend their time that way than in pretty much any other pursuit.
Peach salsa. It works.
We'll see how brave I end up being, but I'm planning to hit the theater Friday night for the opening of Atlas Shrugged. If I chicken out and don't feel like braving the crowd, I might wait a few days, but I definitely want to see it while it's still on the big screen. I've watched some of the trailers, and other than a level of business dress that's uncharacteristic of the era in which it was written and about which it was written, it is much like I've pictured. Go Dagny.
And who is John Galt, anyway? And where is he when we need him?
A big hug to those of you who have experienced some disappointments this week. You know who you are.
Update on my computer saga: this week, my second full week with the new MacBook Pro, the words "buyer's remorse" have been creeping into my consciousness. I've beaten them back a few times and I'm still not ready to admit to a complete mistake, but I will admit I am not thrilled. I can see the arguments that photographers and graphic designers and web developers use for the superiority of Macs, but I don't do those things. And most of the things I do are either clunkier or at least no better on the Mac. And for this, I paid 400% more than I would have spent on another PC. No, folks, not just a hundred dollars more...two thousand dollars more. I realize that I'm paying for terrific Apple support and Apple reliability, but I think this is a higher price than I would have paid had I known that the functionality, for me, just doesn't rate that kind of money. And so right now, with a very guilty look on my face, I'm typing this post on the HP with the brand new hard drive and staring over at the beautiful and very expensive Apple across the room. For those of you who ask me why I won't just run Windows on the Mac, it's easy: for me, it will be less stress to just use two computers. The reviews about what Windows does on a Mac are for the most part not encouraging. I use multiple high-RAM applications simultaneously, and I can't afford to have a platform like that (which I'd have to spend yet more big bucks for) drag down my speed. I'll just shuttle back and forth, thank you. (And speaking of dragging, the Mac is already dragging and spinning and acting like it's working too hard, and I have an appointment to take it back to the Apple "Genius" bar this week. Something else I didn't want to have to take time for.)
Okay, that was more than a snippet, I realize. That needed to be a separate post.
On the constant urging of friends and family, I have started in watching seasons of old (or not so old) TV shows via Netflix. When The Papa is gone, this is a nice way to spend late evenings. So here are my thoughts on the ones I've started and/or finished. Doctor Who: Not too far into this one yet, but I don't think I'll be able to hang with it very long. Having seen the original in the UK years ago, I thought I'd probably love this, but..... Monk: YES please. More. Pushing Daisies: I watched the first two and was in love, and by two more I was ready for a divorce. Not from The Papa, just from PD. Cute idea, very silly very fast. And not the kind of silly that holds my attention. Downton Abbey: I can't get enough of this! I'm mad at myself for watching Season 1 so quickly and now I have to wait nearly a year for Season 2. Maybe I'll just watch them again.
I'm loving the Bonhoeffer bio on audio. I know there's some controversy about this book, but just what's in the historical record sans any personal bias of the author is enough to move me to tears...
I'm nearing the home stretch of my goal to memorize the book of Philippians by Easter: just sixteen verses to go. God has been so good not only to lead me to this goal but to lead me through it. He's taught me so much directly from His word and also about my own brain and how it works best. I know more than I ever did about what times of day are best for me, which life circumstances and moods help and hurt my ability to retain what I learn, how sleep affects my memory, what the optimum size "chunk" is for me to remember in one day, etc. This wasn't meant to be an intellectual exercise, but it has hammered home to me how we are whole beings, and the same God who saved me and made me His own is the Creator of this brain that He's using to store up His word. Lovely lessons.
And now, I need a pot of coffee, ya'll. Not a cup. A whole pot. Have a great week!
Labels: Books, Devotional, Food, Kids, Money, Movies, Political Observation, Technology, Theater of the Absurd
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Here's a reasoned reminder that we can pray for God to protect our children, but our prayers do not obligate or constrain Him. Many of us want to trust God, but we want some sort of guarantee in exchange for the trust.
And that's not trust.
An Ultimate Question: Will God Protect My Kids?hat tip: Hillary
Labels: Children, Devotional, Family
Saturday, January 22, 2011
“When you’re tempted to doubt God’s love for you, stand before the cross and look at the wounded, dying, disfigured Savior, and realize why He is there. I believe His Father would whisper to us, ‘Isn’t this sufficient? I haven’t spared My own Son; I deformed and disfigured and crushed Him — for you. What more could I do to persuade you that I love you?’”
— C. J. Mahaney
Living the Cross Centered Life
(Sisters, Or.: Multnomah Books, 2006), 56
via Of First Importance
Labels: Devotional
Monday, January 17, 2011
Get yours. Slowly.
Labels: Books, Devotional, Good Stuff
Sunday, January 09, 2011
As I sit by the fire tonight with my glass of Pinot Grigio, I have little energy for writing. It's been a very full week, and the next one promises to be no different...and so I think I'll save some Snippets of time and energy for the week ahead, which starts early tomorrow with me monitoring study hall at our co-op. I'll use the time for some freelance work, getting ready to bring the lesson at HOPE tomorrow night, and a bit more reconstruction of my life on my "new" old computer. Hard drive crashes are never fun...and though Kelly S., one of my heroes, gave me all my data back, I still have a lot of software to reinstall and get running again.
Labels: Devotional
Thursday, January 06, 2011
I mentioned on Sunday that I have committed to memorize the book of Philippians by Easter. Today, I see that one of my favorite authors/bloggers, Ann Voskamp, has joined in a project to memorize the book of Colossians in a year, using much the same approach that the P2R project is using for Philippians. The materials for the Colossians work are just beautiful and make me wish I'd seen them first! Not really--I believe God led me to Philippians for a reason...but I want to pass this on for those of you who still haven't made a decision about memorizing Scripture in this new year. The Colossians materials have you memorizing at the rate of two verses per week, gentle enough that you could even do these with your children. Even if they don't end up memorizing the whole book, just think what precious treasures could be implanted in their hearts as they watch and hear you doing this!
If you've embarked on Scripture memory as part of your New Year's Goals, please let me know what you're doing and how you're doing it!
Labels: Devotional
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday snippets, Christmas edition
Well, here we are at Christmas week. The last Sunday of Advent, and a beautiful one it was in the Lord's house. Praise Him for beautiful music, meaningful communion, sweet baptism, the Word preached powerfully, and the loving family of God worshiping together...Nathan has now been in AF Basic Training for two full weeks. We miss him but are so proud of his commitment and his willingness to serve our country in this way while he finishes his education. We've talked to him twice, but only briefly, and not enough to get many details about his days. We're hoping to get some mail this week and/or another phone call. If you'd like to write to him, his address is:
AB Warren, Nathan J.
320 TRS / Flt 129 (Dorm A-4)
1320 Truemper St. Unit 364028
Lackland AFB TX 78236-6430
320 TRS / Flt 129 (Dorm A-4)
1320 Truemper St. Unit 364028
Lackland AFB TX 78236-6430
And speaking of the military, this week we have seen our country give its stamp of approval to the continuing degradation of our culture by the repeal of the already pathetically weak laws on allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the armed services. We took the kids out to eat today after church and had quite a vigorous discussion on the rationale and inevitable consequences of the repeal...a good chance to share our views and hear them out on where they are in the midst of a culture and social structure that are obviously changing.
I'm SO behind on Christmas tasks. And while I don't like that, at least I've had lots of time to dwell on Advent themes and follow Mary's example of "pondering in her heart" all that the incarnation of the Redeemer means in the story God has written...
I love my UPS man.
Why do I watch "Chopped"? I hate that show.
This week, a good friend loaned me her cello. She's going to be out of town for two or three months and wanted me to pick it up and see if I can recover some of my early skills so that perhaps I could join the lovely group of strings already contributing to our worship services. That remains to be seen, but just the sight of the instrument has taken me back in time over forty years to my first attempts to play and to the wonderful man who inspired me. I'd love to be able to regain some level of competence, but just the memories nourish my soul. Thank you, Julie.
Another friend loaned me some CDs with messages by R.C. Sproul on finding joy in suffering. She's been through a special brand of suffering in the past few years, and she knows that I've also experienced quite a bit and wanted to share some of Sproul's preaching in 1 Peter with me. It's priceless. Thank you, Robyn.
Every year I watch "Christmas in Washington", currently aired on TNT. What a disappointment this year, despite its gorgeous venue. One big political agenda set to really, REALLY bad music. On the other hand, this year's CMA Country Christmas on ABC (Nov. 29) was a pure delight!Is it too much to hope for an Alaskan cruise within the next 18 months?
It felt really weird to go out to a buffet today and look for a table for six. Some people probably looked at us and thought, "Wow, big family."
We're putting off our annual Cookie Day until after Christmas when the Slaughters and Longenbaughs will be with us. Something about a house with four teens/twenty-somethings makes it not as much fun...so we'll wait for elves to join us :-)
From this morning's worship:
Leaving riches without number
Born within a cattle stall
This the everlasting wonder
Christ was born the Lord of all
~"Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus"
Charles Wesley, 1745
Merry Christmas to all of you dear ones...Maranatha...Come, Lord Jesus!
Labels: Devotional, Family, Holidays, Memories, Music, Social Observation, TV
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
If you haven't already selected an Advent devotion to do by yourself or as a family this year, take a look at this fantastic resource. It's free, AND it's Ann Voskamp. It's bound to be a tremendous blessing!
hat tip: Lyric
Labels: Devotional, Holidays
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Sunday snippets, Wedding week edition...
The last sister will arrive, along with her sweet family, on Thursday, at which time our entire family will be present and accounted for. The groom arrives on Wednesday evening, along with his parents...and other extended family and friends will trickle in in the following two days.
We will, of course, be taking advantage of having all of our tribe in town to get family pictures done--the big group of 29 and then the individual families: Warrens, Russells, Slaughters, Weltys, and LONGENBAUGHS. Look to be inundated on Facebook ;-)
The Papa got only slightly choked up this morning as he thanked CJ for playing the piano and reminded everyone that this would be her last Sunday with us. *Gulp*
If you ever get married, you must have Cori Kyle as your wedding coordinator. I wasn't sure we'd all be sane by this week, but she's made it pure pleasure...I wake up thanking God for her about three times a week.
In the middle of the the increased pace of last week, my 3-year-old Dell laptop with the nasty Windows Vista entered death throes, and in the same 24 hours I realized my nearly 3-year-old iPhone was also giving up the ghost. So I replaced both in the same day. Rid of Dell forever, I hope, in favor of an HP and Windows 7...and I upgraded my iPhone to a 4 and wish I'd done it a lot sooner. I didn't want the stress or the expense of making these switches right now, but too much of my life is on these two machines to risk the mega-stress it would be to lose everything. Done.
Tomorrow, the house cleaners come. Do you know how much work it is to get ready for house cleaners? Especially when one person is moving out, other people are moving around, and guests are coming in? I know I'll be delighted to have it done, but it's causing me some stress!
We are grateful to have so many friends and family involved in helping with the festivities this week: Hollie Carnahan baking the cakes; Candace, Cheyenne, and Celeste Sabo doing the flowers; Julie Cohoon and Nicole LaSalle playing violin and viola; Jack Warren playing guitar and singing; Geoff Lupton on sound and lighting; Shane Kyle on photography (and his wife Cori Kyle telling us all what to do!); Danny (Lewis) King on videography; Teresa Fehrenbach making the (four!) flower girls' dresses; Garfield Green working with landscaping; Brandon and Blair Blair, Dirk and Aubrey Russell, and Christine LaSalle helping house family and friends; Steven Navarro, Hayden Fletcher, and Chris White helping our boys with parking cars; Dave Slaughter and Josh Russell for myriad building and outdoor tasks; Gloria Gonzales, giving her day to do hair; Cristen Gauthier, Cheyenne Sabo, Hannah Cisarik, and Courtney King assisting Cori and being available for errands and various last-minute tasks; Lehua Kamakawiwoole crafting the programs; Beth Warren and Cristen Gauthier on photo displays, lanyards, and guest book creations; Lyric Murphy (from afar) providing decor materials for the pergola; Dirk Russell performing the ceremony and Bill Warren assisting; and dozens of friends loaning us tables ice chests, etc. I'm sure I've left some folks off and I'm sure others will be pitching in to help at the last moment to make Saturday a day to remember. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!
UPDATE: See, I DID leave someone out--Penny Pitamber, addressing the wedding invitations. HUGE load off our shoulders! Thank you, Penny :-)
This morning in my quick scan of blogs on my reader, God was pleased to pierce me with His word in the form of an ancient prayer:
O my God,
let me, with thanksgiving,
remember, and confess unto you
your mercies on me.
Let my bones be soaked with your love,
and let them say unto you,
Who is like you, O Lord?
You have broken my chains in pieces.
I will offer unto you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
And how you have broken them, I will declare;
and all who worship you, when they hear this, will say:
Blessed is the Lord in heaven and in earth!
Great and wonderful is his name!
Augustine of Hippo, via Tim Challies
And He wasn't through with me yet, and I hadn't even reached the doors of church...a second "piercing" as He stopped me in my tracks to ponder the lyrics of this song...
...and all morning, all day today, all I hear are the words, "What do I know of Holy?"
I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life its name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?
~Allison Rogers and Jennifer Simmons for Addison Road
I hope your week is as joyful as ours promises to be!
Labels: Devotional, Family, Friendship, Music, Weddings
Monday, June 21, 2010
Praise Him, sun and moon...
The Bible contains many metaphors, literary devices that work as word pictures and increase our understanding of the Creator and His creation. Many of them are meant only as metaphors...no one really believes that a man can have a heart of stone, for instance. Stone is the word picture that helps us understand just how hard, cold and dead the human heart is without the life-giving touch of grace.
But when we look at every word picture in Scripture as no more than a metaphor, we may be missing truths that God has meant us to experience in the natural world.
Yesterday I ran across this story:
Astronomers at the University of Sheffield have managed to record for the first time the eerie musical harmonies produced by the magnetic field in the outer atmosphere of the sun.
They found that huge magnetic loops that have been observed coiling away from the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as coronal loops, vibrate like strings on a musical instrument.
In other cases they behave more like soundwaves as they travel through a wind instrument.
Using satellite images of these loops, which can be over 60,000 miles long, the scientists were able to recreate the sound by turning the visible vibrations into noises and speeding up the frequency so it is audible to the human ear.
Professor Robertus von Fáy-Siebenbürgen, head of the solar physics research group at Sheffield University, said: "It was strangely beautiful and exciting to hear these noises for the first time from such a large and powerful source.
While this may be a surprising finding, it should be totally believable to those familiar with the Psalmist's words:
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.(Psalm 148:2-4, NIV)
Why shouldn't this praise be literal music? We praise God with music, so why shouldn't we assume that the heavens could have been created to praise Him with music as well? And yet, for thousands of years, it's been heard by no one but the Creator and maybe His angels, just as all the brilliant colors in the deepest, darkest part of the sea have been visible only to His eyes until recently. He's now allowing us to hear the music of the heavens, but He created it for His own pleasure and is just now inviting us to share in His enjoyment!
It makes me wonder how many of the metaphors of the Bible (trees of the fields clapping their hands, heavens being glad, etc.) are also part of the natural order that we're just not aware of yet. What an opportunity it is for Christian astronomers, biologists, chemists, geologists to look for manifestations of God's voice and character in the arenas they study and to make them known to the world!
Labels: Devotional, Science
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sometimes a light surprises...
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing in His wings;
When comforts are declining
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining
To cheer it after rain.
Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit should bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there,
Yet, God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice,
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
~William Cowper (1731-1800)
Labels: Devotional, Music, Poems
Sunday, June 13, 2010
“When we go to the cross, we see our God dying for us. If you let any other god down, it will beat you up. If you live for people’s approval or your career or possessions or control or anything else and you don’t make it or you mess up, then you’ll be left feeling afraid, downcast, or bitter. But when you let Christ down, he still loves you. He doesn’t beat you up; he died for you.
Let his love win your love, and let that love replace all other affections. The secret of change is to renew your love for Christ as you see him crucified in your place.”
- Tim Chester, You Can Change (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway, 2010), 128.
Labels: Devotional
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
“Just as the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, as carbon is converted into diamond, as the grain of wheat upon dying in the ground produces other grains of wheat, as all of nature revives in the spring and dresses up in celebrative clothing, as the believing community is formed out of Adam’s fallen race, as the resurrection body is raised from the body that is dead and buried in the earth, so too, by the re-creating power of Christ, the new heaven and the new earth will one day emerge from the fire-purged elements of this world, radiant in enduring glory and forever set free from the ‘bondage to decay.’”
—Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics (Grand Rapids, MI: 2008), 4:720
Labels: Devotional
Saturday, April 03, 2010
This video, coming via Kevin DeYoung today, was a touch from God that I needed during this time of waiting...
It’s enough to drive a man crazy; it’ll break a man’s faith
It’s enough to make him wonder if he’s ever been sane
When he’s bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And the heaven’s only answer is the silence of God
It’ll shake a man’s timbers when he loses his heart
When he has to remember what broke him apart
This yoke may be easy, but this burden is not
When the crying fields are frozen by the silence of God
And if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mob
Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they’ve got
When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross
Then what about the times when even followers get lost?
‘Cause we all get lost sometimes…
There’s a statue of Jesus on a monastery knoll
In the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and cold
And He’s kneeling in the garden, as silent as a Stone
All His friends are sleeping and He’s weeping all alone
And the man of all sorrows, he never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that he bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God
Labels: Devotional
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Here is one of the most beautiful and, for me, encouraging testimonies I've ever read from someone who's dying. It's a bit long, but make sure you don't stop before the end...
You Will Call, I Will Answer
You Will Call, I Will Answer
Labels: Devotional, Health
Friday, January 22, 2010
Just when you thought you were going to check back here and see that picture of me, AGAIN, here I am proving that I haven't completely abandoned this space. No, I don't expect to be a daily poster again for a while, but I'll try to be better about updating.
I returned home from the hospital 48 hours ago, having spent 23 days there in the past month, including Christmas and New Year's. Three surgeries since December 24 have left me weak and more helpless than I care to explain, but at least I'm in my own own room and am eating things that were actually designed to BE eaten and I have the wonderful company of my family and my best friend. It's an infinite improvement over this time last week.
As for my current state, we'll call it super-sendentary. I have an antibiotic-coated spacer in place of my (new) old right hip, and I'm supposed to move it as little as possible. I'm in a semi-reclining position in a rented hospital bed, perfect for looking up at the TV and dozing but not much else. Twice a day, I get hooked up to an IV antibiotic and swallow a different antibiotic as well. And I wait. And wait. Yeah, for a couple of months.
Matter-of-fact as all this sounds, I'm not always this even-keeled about it. Some hours I lie here praying to hear whatever God has to teach me through this period, and the next hour I'm straining and resisting it with all I have, asking Him to just make it all go away and fast-forward me to real life again. And yet deep in the night, when there's nothing to do but pray and listen, I must admit that whether I like it or not, this is real life. Not the one I chose, but the one I live. And not an accidental one in the eyes of the One who holds me, but the current vehicle for turning me into the likeness of Jesus. Ultimately, can I ask for more?
Only for your prayers.
I returned home from the hospital 48 hours ago, having spent 23 days there in the past month, including Christmas and New Year's. Three surgeries since December 24 have left me weak and more helpless than I care to explain, but at least I'm in my own own room and am eating things that were actually designed to BE eaten and I have the wonderful company of my family and my best friend. It's an infinite improvement over this time last week.
As for my current state, we'll call it super-sendentary. I have an antibiotic-coated spacer in place of my (new) old right hip, and I'm supposed to move it as little as possible. I'm in a semi-reclining position in a rented hospital bed, perfect for looking up at the TV and dozing but not much else. Twice a day, I get hooked up to an IV antibiotic and swallow a different antibiotic as well. And I wait. And wait. Yeah, for a couple of months.
Matter-of-fact as all this sounds, I'm not always this even-keeled about it. Some hours I lie here praying to hear whatever God has to teach me through this period, and the next hour I'm straining and resisting it with all I have, asking Him to just make it all go away and fast-forward me to real life again. And yet deep in the night, when there's nothing to do but pray and listen, I must admit that whether I like it or not, this is real life. Not the one I chose, but the one I live. And not an accidental one in the eyes of the One who holds me, but the current vehicle for turning me into the likeness of Jesus. Ultimately, can I ask for more?
Only for your prayers.
Labels: Devotional, Health