Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
The Kitchen Help
The Turkey
The Feast
The Guests
The King & Queen made an appearance . . .
Sarah (fellow Houghton grad)
Job and Emma (friend from church)Sunday, November 22, 2009
Elisabeth just made my day
And she's not even awake.
I needed the hymnal for something just now and couldn't find it on the shelf or in any of the other places where I'm apt to leave it.
Finding it on her bed with all of her other reading material delighted me much more than the search had frustrated me.
Praise the Lord!
I needed the hymnal for something just now and couldn't find it on the shelf or in any of the other places where I'm apt to leave it.
Finding it on her bed with all of her other reading material delighted me much more than the search had frustrated me.
Praise the Lord!
Lust
While doing sermon preparation I came across this quote which has nothing to do with my sermon topic but seems too good not to pass along. It is from the Vermont pastor and writer, Frederick Buechner. "Lust is the craving for salt of a man who is dying of thirst."
I love that quote.
I love that quote.
Friday, November 20, 2009
All His Waves and Breakers
Are washing over us.
On Monday the van broke down but we were blessed to have the use of Job's car at the time.
Job's car broke down yesterday.
Our family of six has been reduced to relying on the '96 Chevy S-10 formerly of Sanel Auto Parts for transportation. But we're laughing and happy, if a bit philosiphically grim.
God is good, after all, and we're feeling that as keenly as ever. God's providence has a way of obscuring his goodness. When the checking account, the refrigerator, and the driveway are all pleasantly full we begin to think that things are only as they're supposed to be. That happy condition becomes the baseline and we think that if God wants to prove his goodness he must improve our condition, rather than simply take credit for it.
But in the absence of his providence I'm left with his goodness. And he is good. The Psalmist says "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:7b-8)
Amen
On Monday the van broke down but we were blessed to have the use of Job's car at the time.
Job's car broke down yesterday.
Our family of six has been reduced to relying on the '96 Chevy S-10 formerly of Sanel Auto Parts for transportation. But we're laughing and happy, if a bit philosiphically grim.
God is good, after all, and we're feeling that as keenly as ever. God's providence has a way of obscuring his goodness. When the checking account, the refrigerator, and the driveway are all pleasantly full we begin to think that things are only as they're supposed to be. That happy condition becomes the baseline and we think that if God wants to prove his goodness he must improve our condition, rather than simply take credit for it.
But in the absence of his providence I'm left with his goodness. And he is good. The Psalmist says "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:7b-8)
Amen
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Is God Fair?
This was the question I posed tonight at prayer meeting. It was an interesting and lively discussion. I took the position that God is not fair, even though he is just.
Everyone disagreed with me, even though they saw the distinction I was making. They all insisted that if God appeared to be unfair it was only because we couldn't "see the big picture." As we talked I began to suspect that they were trying to harmonize two competing commitments: God is good and being unfair is bad. Therefore God must be fair.
But there is so much evidence to the contrary and where in scripture are we told that God is not permitted to be unfair, that being unfair is, in fact, bad?
I'm not just saying this to be a provocateur. I really, really believe that God is not fair. He is something far better than fair. Praise the Lord!
Everyone disagreed with me, even though they saw the distinction I was making. They all insisted that if God appeared to be unfair it was only because we couldn't "see the big picture." As we talked I began to suspect that they were trying to harmonize two competing commitments: God is good and being unfair is bad. Therefore God must be fair.
But there is so much evidence to the contrary and where in scripture are we told that God is not permitted to be unfair, that being unfair is, in fact, bad?
I'm not just saying this to be a provocateur. I really, really believe that God is not fair. He is something far better than fair. Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
New Floor!
Pulling up the kitchen floor. We also tore out the laminate floor in the dining area (the floor behind Lucy).
There was roofing material underneath the kitchen floor . . . interesting.
We had lots of helpers.
Our friend Brian was the one who really did all the work. We just watched. Thank you Brian!
The finished product!
We still need to put the fridge and the island back in.
Monday, November 9, 2009
To Do list
Today, Monday November 10, I have a great many things on my to do list. I thought I would share a few with you. Why? G.K. Chesterton observed that a list is one of the simplest and most powerful forms of poetry. And such a list can say a lot about a person. (By the way, this is only a partial list and I don't expect to accomplish all of it today.)
Send check to New York State Thruway Authority
Call a man about some wood
Mow the lawn one last time
Drop off some goose meat for a curious neighbor
Exercise
Select the Scripture readings
Make shelves in the cold cellar
Pick up the ordered music
Catch up on laundry
Start memorizing James, Chapter 3
Make my phone calls
Yesterday I mentioned in my sermon the need to sanctify the whole calendar. Looking at this partial list, which doesn't take into account the scheduled obligations like work this afternoon and the morning chapel at RACS, I realize I am in danger of slipping into hypocrisy at the first opportunity.
Send check to New York State Thruway Authority
Call a man about some wood
Mow the lawn one last time
Drop off some goose meat for a curious neighbor
Exercise
Select the Scripture readings
Make shelves in the cold cellar
Pick up the ordered music
Catch up on laundry
Start memorizing James, Chapter 3
Make my phone calls
Yesterday I mentioned in my sermon the need to sanctify the whole calendar. Looking at this partial list, which doesn't take into account the scheduled obligations like work this afternoon and the morning chapel at RACS, I realize I am in danger of slipping into hypocrisy at the first opportunity.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY
The Butterfly Garden
The Berenstein Bear Village
The Diner in Bear Town
The Barn in Bear Town
Mama Bear's Quilt Shop
Papa Bear's Workshop
Wegman's Grocery Store: For Children
The News Station
Cooking with Elisabeth & Ruthie
The Weather with Lucy Joy
Sesame Street
I know this is fuzzy but it is Grace talking to Abby Cadabby
Elmo & Reba
"Sunny days keeping the clouds away . . .
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street."
Riding the Taxi
Fixing the Taxi (We really could use a mechanic in this family)
I know this is fuzzy but it is Grace talking to Abby Cadabby
Elmo & Reba
"Sunny days keeping the clouds away . . .
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street."
Riding the Taxi
Fixing the Taxi (We really could use a mechanic in this family)
More play throughout the museum . . .
Big man in a little car . . .
Big man in a little car . . .
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