We got this chickens at one day old. We lost several over the last few months, mainly due to a possum that Baba took care of over the holidays. Yesterday the kids and SIL went out to feed the animals and came back with 9 eggs! Whoohoo! Guess what we had for breakfast?
SIL has moved up her flight to Friday. It was supposed to be Saturday but that meant an 11-hour wait in Europe. With the outrageous prices in the airports there she would have been spending about the same amount for food and water during that time as the price to change the ticket. So, we get one less day with her but at least she'll have a much better trip and arrive at a much better hour. So it's good for her and I'll get a few hours at home without kids to get the house back into some kind of shape. We've been running all over the place and when I am home I'm pooped. Or running the Boss to taekwondo.
I'm hoping to get back on my normal routine as soon as possible and get back into the Bible reading.
Off to work on her scarf...I now have one less day to knit. Yikes!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Pluralism...inclusiveness...?
Warning: This post is not thought out. It's a collection of thoughts I've had swirling around in my brain the last few days and I'm basically putting them down here. So, if I sound odd, that's why. Or at least that's my excuse for today's post. Can't really explain all the others.
Lately there have been discussions about churches allowing Muslims to worship in their facilities. Perhaps not using the sanctuary or worshiping together as one, but using extra space they have as a form of outreach. I have to admit it is the neighborly thing to do.
If my neighbor across the street has a kitchen fire and they really can't afford to eat out every day until it's repaired, I would find it a great honor to offer the use of my kitchen. Together we could come up with freezer meals and hopefully she'd be able to have a way to heat them at home...or heat them here to take with her.
But in that scenario the religion of my neighbor (or perhaps her lack of one) does not factor in. When a church open its doors for Muslim worship, it does. Greatly.
Islam is a religion that as part of its daily prayers insults Christians and Jews. Blatantly. Now I'm a big person...and Christ is even bigger. We can take it. However, to open a church to a group of people denouncing them in their prayers doesn't make sense.
I'm not talking about refusing to work with Muslims for common good. Churches that have a strong pro-life stance, for example, could work toward a pro-life cause with a local mosque with the same idea. Same thing with any kind of community service that both congregations felt strongly about and where working together wouldn't involve either group compromising their beliefs. I'm all for this. We need more of it and to see it on the news.
Also, there is the issue of some mainstream churches going liberal. I don't mean they're all voting Democrat. I mean they are taking liberties with scripture and reinterpreting it to suit their own ends. They are reinterpreting it so as not to call a sin a sin. They are telling people living in open, public, unrepentant sin that it's OK...God didn't really mean that.
Oh, really? Before I continue, this has nothing to do with hate. This has nothing to do with denying sinners the grace and mercy of Christ. If it was, I'd have to be the first in line to get kicked out. Like all Christians I'm a miserable sinner in need of Christ's grace and mercy.
As a Lutheran I believe in the proper use of Law and Gospel. You can't have one without the other. The Law is there for a reason. It's a mirror that forces us to see the log in our eyes so we can get it out. We must stand on the edge of a cliff and see hell down there and realize we're about to fall head first. If we don't, then why on earth would we need a Gospel?
By the same token, we need the Gospel because the Law by itself is death. We would be constantly be striving to do something we can't and failing miserably. We would be under the delusion that our works, our lives, our decisions determined whether or not we're saved.
When you start to reinterpret scripture and take it upon yourself, as a sinful human being, to decide what God, the perfect, loving Father, really means, contrary to the words He used, you're doing something you have no right to do. As much as I love God and trust in His goodness, I'm scared to death at the idea of trying to explain away things He's made clear from the beginning. It's not my place and it's not yours.
Also, think this through to its logical conclusion...once you've started to tell people that the Bible isn't inerrant and there are things in there that are wrong, where do you stop? You've given people the idea that they can pick and choose what to believe and how to view it and it's OK. Then you notice that teachings of Buddha or Mohammad are creeping into your church. Wait a minute! How did that get in there? The Bible says that Christ is the Way, and the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except by Him. How can you be dragging in Buddha and Mohammad? Well, you said that the scripture isn't inerrant and it's open to interpretation. If it's wrong about homosexuality and other things, then maybe it's wrong about Christ too.
Once you start something like this, how do apply the brakes before the inevitable train wreck?
Is it hateful to tell sinners to cut it out? No. Christ Himself did it...remember the woman caught in adultery? "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." The only sin that can keep you out of heaven is the sin of unbelief. When a person continues in unrepentant sin because they just don't want to give it up, there are two problems there. First they are making their sin into an idol. Something they refuse to let go of. Second they're risking falling into unbelief. How long can you believe in something that runs counter to something you refuse to give up? Many churches think they're doing a great thing...but are they really?
I warned you this post would be muddled. A phone call in the middle didn't help the train of thought either. There's more I want to say more clearly. But for now I've put it out there. Comments?
Lately there have been discussions about churches allowing Muslims to worship in their facilities. Perhaps not using the sanctuary or worshiping together as one, but using extra space they have as a form of outreach. I have to admit it is the neighborly thing to do.
If my neighbor across the street has a kitchen fire and they really can't afford to eat out every day until it's repaired, I would find it a great honor to offer the use of my kitchen. Together we could come up with freezer meals and hopefully she'd be able to have a way to heat them at home...or heat them here to take with her.
But in that scenario the religion of my neighbor (or perhaps her lack of one) does not factor in. When a church open its doors for Muslim worship, it does. Greatly.
Islam is a religion that as part of its daily prayers insults Christians and Jews. Blatantly. Now I'm a big person...and Christ is even bigger. We can take it. However, to open a church to a group of people denouncing them in their prayers doesn't make sense.
I'm not talking about refusing to work with Muslims for common good. Churches that have a strong pro-life stance, for example, could work toward a pro-life cause with a local mosque with the same idea. Same thing with any kind of community service that both congregations felt strongly about and where working together wouldn't involve either group compromising their beliefs. I'm all for this. We need more of it and to see it on the news.
Also, there is the issue of some mainstream churches going liberal. I don't mean they're all voting Democrat. I mean they are taking liberties with scripture and reinterpreting it to suit their own ends. They are reinterpreting it so as not to call a sin a sin. They are telling people living in open, public, unrepentant sin that it's OK...God didn't really mean that.
Oh, really? Before I continue, this has nothing to do with hate. This has nothing to do with denying sinners the grace and mercy of Christ. If it was, I'd have to be the first in line to get kicked out. Like all Christians I'm a miserable sinner in need of Christ's grace and mercy.
As a Lutheran I believe in the proper use of Law and Gospel. You can't have one without the other. The Law is there for a reason. It's a mirror that forces us to see the log in our eyes so we can get it out. We must stand on the edge of a cliff and see hell down there and realize we're about to fall head first. If we don't, then why on earth would we need a Gospel?
By the same token, we need the Gospel because the Law by itself is death. We would be constantly be striving to do something we can't and failing miserably. We would be under the delusion that our works, our lives, our decisions determined whether or not we're saved.
When you start to reinterpret scripture and take it upon yourself, as a sinful human being, to decide what God, the perfect, loving Father, really means, contrary to the words He used, you're doing something you have no right to do. As much as I love God and trust in His goodness, I'm scared to death at the idea of trying to explain away things He's made clear from the beginning. It's not my place and it's not yours.
Also, think this through to its logical conclusion...once you've started to tell people that the Bible isn't inerrant and there are things in there that are wrong, where do you stop? You've given people the idea that they can pick and choose what to believe and how to view it and it's OK. Then you notice that teachings of Buddha or Mohammad are creeping into your church. Wait a minute! How did that get in there? The Bible says that Christ is the Way, and the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except by Him. How can you be dragging in Buddha and Mohammad? Well, you said that the scripture isn't inerrant and it's open to interpretation. If it's wrong about homosexuality and other things, then maybe it's wrong about Christ too.
Once you start something like this, how do apply the brakes before the inevitable train wreck?
Is it hateful to tell sinners to cut it out? No. Christ Himself did it...remember the woman caught in adultery? "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." The only sin that can keep you out of heaven is the sin of unbelief. When a person continues in unrepentant sin because they just don't want to give it up, there are two problems there. First they are making their sin into an idol. Something they refuse to let go of. Second they're risking falling into unbelief. How long can you believe in something that runs counter to something you refuse to give up? Many churches think they're doing a great thing...but are they really?
I warned you this post would be muddled. A phone call in the middle didn't help the train of thought either. There's more I want to say more clearly. But for now I've put it out there. Comments?
A little levity for Lent
Well, Lent doesn't really have much to do with it...just got this e-mail today and wanted to share. Enjoy!
AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES : THESE REALLY WORK!!
1. TO AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES, GET SOMEONE ELSE TO
HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.
2. TO AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT-
USE THE SINK.
3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A
FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. [REMEMBER TO USE A
TIMER.]
4.. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM
ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES - YOU'LL BE
AFRAID TO COUGH.
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T
MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE
DUCT TAPE.
7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY
BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN THE STAIRS.
AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES : THESE REALLY WORK!!
1. TO AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES, GET SOMEONE ELSE TO
HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.
2. TO AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT-
USE THE SINK.
3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A
FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. [REMEMBER TO USE A
TIMER.]
4.. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM
ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES - YOU'LL BE
AFRAID TO COUGH.
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T
MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE
DUCT TAPE.
7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY
BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN YOU PUSH THEM DOWN THE STAIRS.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
In Preparation for Lent...
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I love Lent. Not that there's anything to get to happy about. After all we're looking toward the cross. We're looking toward Christ's suffering with the sins of the whole world taken upon Him. However, there's something about Lent that I've always looked forward to. Part of it is that during the Lenten season we go from entering and leaving the church in the dark and cold, and by the time Holy Week arrives it's still light when we head to church and we might get away with a light jacket or even...none!
But Lent is, obviously, so much more. It's a very focused time. The focus is on the cross. It's one long reminder of the great price Christ paid for me and for my salvation. I do not deserve it. I do absolutely nothing to deserve it. I have no part in my salvation.
Here are a couple of posts I'd like to share with you. The first one is on praying the Litany every day during Lent. I posted it earlier today but here's the background.
The other is about two women in the Church history who were remembered this week. Their martyrdom is hard to read about but they're so inspiring. HERE is the blog post and HERE is the podcast from Issues, Etc.
Yes, I'm still wanting to read through the Bible in a year in chronological order. However, I think the "in a year" part isn't going to happen. But I do plan to read it chronologically. Last week was disrupted by a bus accident while the kids were on their way home from school. They're fine but the Boss was hurt, not seriously, and was home the rest of the week. My routine has been shot. This week I'm playing catch-up and preparing for a house guest for the next month. I fully expect to get even further behind than I already am. That's what mercy's for.
But Lent is, obviously, so much more. It's a very focused time. The focus is on the cross. It's one long reminder of the great price Christ paid for me and for my salvation. I do not deserve it. I do absolutely nothing to deserve it. I have no part in my salvation.
Here are a couple of posts I'd like to share with you. The first one is on praying the Litany every day during Lent. I posted it earlier today but here's the background.
The other is about two women in the Church history who were remembered this week. Their martyrdom is hard to read about but they're so inspiring. HERE is the blog post and HERE is the podcast from Issues, Etc.
Yes, I'm still wanting to read through the Bible in a year in chronological order. However, I think the "in a year" part isn't going to happen. But I do plan to read it chronologically. Last week was disrupted by a bus accident while the kids were on their way home from school. They're fine but the Boss was hurt, not seriously, and was home the rest of the week. My routine has been shot. This week I'm playing catch-up and preparing for a house guest for the next month. I fully expect to get even further behind than I already am. That's what mercy's for.
The Litany
L: O Lord,
C: have mercy.
L: O Christ,
C: have mercy.
L: O Lord,
C: have mercy.
L: O Christ,
C: hear us.
L: God the Father in heaven.
C: have mercy.
L: God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
C: have mercy.
L: God the Holy Spirit,
C: have mercy.
L: Be gracious to us.
C: Spare us, good Lord.
L: Be gracious to us.
C: Help us, good Lord.
L: From all sin, from all error, from all evil;
From the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death;
From pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion;
From lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water, and from everlasting death:
C: Good Lord, deliver us.
L: In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:
C: Help us, good Lord.
L: We poor sinners implore You
C: to hear us, O Lord.
L: To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your Church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living;
To put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived;
To beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of need;
To direct and defend our president and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people;
To watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel;
To grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessings; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them;
To strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all;
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
C: we implore You to hear us.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C: have mercy.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C: have mercy.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C: grant us Your peace.
L: O Christ,
C: hear us.
L: O Lord,
C: have mercy.
L: O Christ,
C: have mercy.
L: O Lord
C: have mercy. Amen.
C: have mercy.
L: O Christ,
C: have mercy.
L: O Lord,
C: have mercy.
L: O Christ,
C: hear us.
L: God the Father in heaven.
C: have mercy.
L: God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
C: have mercy.
L: God the Holy Spirit,
C: have mercy.
L: Be gracious to us.
C: Spare us, good Lord.
L: Be gracious to us.
C: Help us, good Lord.
L: From all sin, from all error, from all evil;
From the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death;
From pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion;
From lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water, and from everlasting death:
C: Good Lord, deliver us.
L: In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:
C: Help us, good Lord.
L: We poor sinners implore You
C: to hear us, O Lord.
L: To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your Church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living;
To put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived;
To beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of need;
To direct and defend our president and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people;
To watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel;
To grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in their blessings; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them;
To strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all;
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers:
C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
C: we implore You to hear us.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C: have mercy.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C: have mercy.
L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C: grant us Your peace.
L: O Christ,
C: hear us.
L: O Lord,
C: have mercy.
L: O Christ,
C: have mercy.
L: O Lord
C: have mercy. Amen.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Why am I not surprised?
Harassed entering the USA
I would have less of a problem with this if it were the standard practice for anyone entering our country who isn't a citizen. Or is a citizen with a questionable record. However, this is not the case. She was harassed because she's here to share the truth.
I would have less of a problem with this if it were the standard practice for anyone entering our country who isn't a citizen. Or is a citizen with a questionable record. However, this is not the case. She was harassed because she's here to share the truth.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A dear friend
A lady from our former congregation passed away earlier this week. Our families have been close since before I was born. My grandfather baptized 2 of her 3 daughters. Her youngest daughter was my babysitter. I babysat the oldest daughters oldest. My brother babysat all 3 of her kids.
Two of her granddaughters, sisters, sang a beautiful duet. The hand bells played "Children of the Heavenly Father" and "How Great Thou Art". They only practiced the latter this morning. Apparently it sounded harder than it actually was to play.
It was easy to imagine that she and my grandmother (dear friends) were sitting up there, drinking their coffee, and enjoying the music.
Two of her granddaughters, sisters, sang a beautiful duet. The hand bells played "Children of the Heavenly Father" and "How Great Thou Art". They only practiced the latter this morning. Apparently it sounded harder than it actually was to play.
It was easy to imagine that she and my grandmother (dear friends) were sitting up there, drinking their coffee, and enjoying the music.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Muslim Sheikh; If you don't cover your mouth during yawning, Satan will ...
I have a friend who one year before summer break declared, "I'm going back to England, sitting in a church, and eating a ham sandwich." I guess she should have added yawning with her mouth open to the list as well.
As for the bathroom, what better place to "fart at the devil"?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Yet another reason to question his authority...
Wrongly Convicted for Something She Never Uttered
As if we really need more reasons to reject the "example" and teachings of the Big M.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Best laid plans...
Today I thought I would try to catch up on my Bible reading. I should be wrapping up Job now if I'd managed to read each day as I'd intended. However I've gotten a call to sub so I'll be eating some lunch and then heading out. I did manage to read one day's worth, however.
Job 6-9
Poor Job. He feels the weight of the trials that he's been allowed to suffer. He's had to suffer as well through a friend's well-intentioned misunderstanding of sin and punishment. Today, while he is correct to find no comfort in the actual words of Eliphaz, he does make the mistake of not appreciating the desire of Eliphaz to offer comfort and sympathy, even if it wasn't the kind poor Job needed.
Job feels such despair. His sores heal in one place and get worse in another. He won't consider suicide but if God decided to just finish him off then and there he wouldn't complain. It couldn't be any worse than this, he figures.
Then Bildad gets his turn. He reminds me a little too much of many today, even Christians, who wrongly believe that any suffering you may have is a result of sin or lack of faith. How much of the Word of Faith theology is based upon this nonsense? While sin does cause suffering, it's not necessarily proportional. If you are suffering some type of affliction, of any sort, it isn't necessarily the result of sin in your life. If you're born with an affliction of some type, it's not due to sin on the part of your parents. But Bildad is certain that if Job's children died they must have died due to their sin. No, they died due to Adam's sin, the same reason we all die.
I'd like to think and write more, but I need to get ready to go. I need to talk to the teacher before she leaves for the day. At least we have something to mull over until next time.
Job 6-9
Poor Job. He feels the weight of the trials that he's been allowed to suffer. He's had to suffer as well through a friend's well-intentioned misunderstanding of sin and punishment. Today, while he is correct to find no comfort in the actual words of Eliphaz, he does make the mistake of not appreciating the desire of Eliphaz to offer comfort and sympathy, even if it wasn't the kind poor Job needed.
Job feels such despair. His sores heal in one place and get worse in another. He won't consider suicide but if God decided to just finish him off then and there he wouldn't complain. It couldn't be any worse than this, he figures.
Then Bildad gets his turn. He reminds me a little too much of many today, even Christians, who wrongly believe that any suffering you may have is a result of sin or lack of faith. How much of the Word of Faith theology is based upon this nonsense? While sin does cause suffering, it's not necessarily proportional. If you are suffering some type of affliction, of any sort, it isn't necessarily the result of sin in your life. If you're born with an affliction of some type, it's not due to sin on the part of your parents. But Bildad is certain that if Job's children died they must have died due to their sin. No, they died due to Adam's sin, the same reason we all die.
I'd like to think and write more, but I need to get ready to go. I need to talk to the teacher before she leaves for the day. At least we have something to mull over until next time.
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