Abraham

Today's sermon was on Genesis 22. It's the familiar story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Reread it if you haven't in awhile. It reminded me of 2 things this morning:

God always has a plan. It might not fit our exact image or our precise timetable, but His plan is always good, best in fact, and right on time. Abraham trusted God and was willing to obey by sacrificing his son, even if it didn't make sense to him. Can you imagine the relief Abraham must have felt when he heard the Lord's voice telling him not to lay a hand on Isaac? And the Lord responded to his faith by providing a ram for sacrifice and making his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

It gets messy when we try to do things on our own without God. Abraham is a great hero of the faith, but his faith wasn't perfect all the time. At first he was impatient and didn't believe he would ever have a son with Sarah, so he took matters under his own hands and had a son with Hagar. Can you imagine how Abraham must have felt when He realized the Lord had a better plan?

Abraham's life experience provides a good life lesson: We won't get it right all the time. We might not always head the "right direction." But we can rest assured that our God is bigger than our faulty plans. He amazingly works through the lives and experiences of prideful human beings to work out His plans for the nations. Can you imagine how blessed and thankful Abraham must have been whenever he looked back and remembered the many ways the Lord took care of him throughout his life?

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." -- Hebrews 10:23

It's Just Wrong

When I was in Texas, someone brought up a term I had never heard before: "glamping". Apparently it's short for "glamour camping".

"For a number of people, their first camping experience often becomes their last, but there is now a camping option growing in popularity. Welcome to the world of glamorous camping, otherwise known as glamping. Organized glamping trips feature all of the exposure to the great outdoors as traditional camping trips, but the amenities found at the campsite far exceed anything most campers have ever experienced.

During a typical glamping trip, for example, the tents are often designed with bright designer colors and materials, not the olive drab canvas tents of yesteryear. These tents can be rigged for electrical power, which means occupants can operate appliances, reading lamps and climate controls. Forget about smelly sleeping bags placed on rocky or insect-infested ground, as well. Those who have gone glamping may sleep on full-size air mattresses, or even regular spring mattresses provided by the outfitters."

[read more] or [see pictures]

I'm usually all about compromise to suit people's needs and keep people happy, but seriously, this is just wrong! If you want to go camping, do it right: Set up a tent, make a campfire, enjoy nature. If you want the amenities of a hotel, go to a hotel. Actually I saw one of these "glamping type" tents in person in Shenandoah last year -- They certainly were nice, but I certainly wouldn't call it camping. I guess that's why they call it glamping.

Change...

Change is inevitable. Just when I get used to the way things are, things change on me, forcing me to stay on my toes and keep my priorities in check. Winston Churchill once said "There is nothing wrong with change, as long as it is change in the right direction." Which leads me to ask, how do you know you're headed in the right direction? Faith and trust. That's the only answer I can come up with to that question.

Unfailing Love by Chris Tomlin
You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love

You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." -- Hebrews 13:8

Attitude

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.” -- Chuck Swindoll

Relational People

I suppose I can't let a Valentine's Day pass by without blogging about something sentimental. I've been reading Donald Miller's book, "Searching For God Knows What". If you've ever read anything by Donald Miller before, you'll understand that I really can't sum up the book, because it's mainly a series of stories, thoughts, witty comments, and pondering, which somehow comes together to make you feel like you've successfully gone on a journey with Donald Miller. Anyways, I'll include a somewhat lengthy clip about this thoughts on Adam and Eve:

"And then I began to wonder about Eve, what the scene might have looked like when she and Adam first met...I noticed Adam and Eve didn't meet right away. Moses said God knew Adam was lonely or incomplete or however you want to say it, but God did not create Eve directly after He stated Adam was lonely. This struck me as funny because a lot of times when I think about life before the Fall, I don't think of people going around lonely. But that thought also comforted me because I realized loneliness in my own life doesn't mean I am a complete screwup, rather that God made me this way. You always picture the perfect human being as somebody who doesn't need anybody, like a guy on a horse out in Colorado or whatever. But here is Adam, the only perfect guy in the world, and he is going around wanting to be with somebody else, needing another person to fulfill a certain emptiness in his life. And as I said, when God saw this, He did not create Eve right away. He did not give Adam what he needed immediately. He waited. He told Adam to name the animals.

Now I had read this a thousand times...but this time, I actually thought about what would be involved in a job as big as naming the animals. In my mind this had been such an effortless action...But could it really have been so effortless? ... If it took John Muir the better portion of his life to realize his theory about the landscape in small Yosemite, I wondered, then, how much longer it must have taken Adam to name the animals in all the earth?...So even if you believe in evolution, that means there were between one million and fifty million species around in the time of the Garden, and Adam, apparently, had to name all of them. And the entire time he was lonely.

I never thought of Adam the same again...This was a man who, despite feeling a certain need for a companion, performed what must have been nearly one hundred years of work, naming and perhaps even categorizing the animals. It would have taken him nearly a year just to name the species of snakes alone. Moses said that Eve didn't give birth to their 3rd child until Adam was well into his hundreds, which means they would have had Cain and Abel some 30 or so years before, which also means either it took Adam more than 100 years to name the animals, or he and Eve didn't conceive for a good long century.

The thing is, when Adam finished naming the animals, after all his work and effort, God put him to sleep, took a rib out of his side, and fashioned a woman. I had read that part a thousand times, too, but I don't think I quite realized how beautiful this moment was. Moses said the whole time Adam was naming the animals, that entire 100 years, he couldn't find a helpmate suitable for him...So here was this guy who was intensely relational, needing other people, and in order to cause him to appreciate the gift of companionship, God had him hang out with chimps for 100 years. It's quite beautiful, really. God directed Adam's steps so that when He created Eve, Adam would have the utmost appreciation, respect, and gratitude.

...And then I thought how very beautiful it was that God made Adam work for so long because there is no way, after 100 years of being alone, looking for somebody whom you could connect with in your soul, that you would take advantage of a woman once you met one. She would be the most precious creation in all the world, and you probably would wake up every morning and look at her and wonder at her beauty, or the gentle, silent way she sleeps.

...For the first time in his life, Adam was seeing a person who was like him, only more beautiful, and smarter in the ways of love and encouragement, and more deliberate in the ways of relationships. He must have thought to himself that she was perfect, and after a few days of just talking and getting to know each other, they must have fallen deeply in love....[After which point, Adam] must have gone on a long walk with God and thanked Him, and I'll bet that was a very beautiful conversation. I'll bet Adam felt loved by God, like he was somebody God was always trying to bless and surprise with amazing experiences, and I'll bet they talked together about how beautiful Eve was and how wonderful it was that the two of them could know her, and I would imagine that Eve felt safe, loved, not used or gawked, but appreciated and admired.

...Considering this couple, and what Adam went through to appreciate Eve to the utmost, I wondered at how beautiful it is that you and I were created to need each other. The romantic need is just the beginning, because we need our families and we need our friends. In this way, we are made in God's image. Certainly God does not need people in the way you and I do, but He feels a joy at being loved, and He feels a joy at delivering love. It is a striking thought to realize that, in paradise, a human is incomplete without a host of other people. We are relational indeed. And this book, the Bible, with all its understanding of the relational needs of humans, was becoming more meaningful to me as I turned the pages. God made me, He knows me, He understands me, and He wants community."

Focus

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3

Fellowship

I've been digging into the topic of Fellowship lately, and it's reminded me how much I like Bonhoeffer's "Life Together" book. Here's an interesting sermon that discusses parts of that book.

Good friends, the Christian community, it turns out, is not about construction our own corner of heaven or our personal image of the promised land over here in Medford. It’s not about coming up with the best ideas and then being as mad as a hatter when things don’t turn out my way. Bonhoeffer knows, and so do we, that having these ideals of a community that we want to construct in our own image, as well-meaning as that image may be, is all about us and not much about God. And so we should be happy when God frustrates our attempts at perfection in our image. We should glad when God lets the community disappoint our best intentions. We should be glad because then we can start about the business of becoming a real Christian community, not some skin-deep version of one.

Will

My friend Brian posted this article about God's will on his blog.

Mother Theresa, on the other hand, once refused a man's request that she pray for him to have clarity. Surprisingly, she responded with, "I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God."

Peace comes not from knowing what lies ahead, but knowing that God is the same before, during and after whatever it is.

Mice

A great way to combine the dissection skills you learned in high school science class with the techie skills you learned in computer class:

Step by Step instructions to create a Mouse Mouse!
Hacked travel-size (hardware) mouse + taxidermied (wetware) mouse = Mouse Mouse!
Fully functional, and furry!

Warning: this project involves taxidermy, dremels, and sometimes graphic pictures of dead animals. While there are no guts in this tutorial, viewer discretion is still advised.

Football

Sad but true. And hilarious.
Hitler's Aggie Football Rant

Uncle Harold

Harold Charles (Hal) Kieschnick

KIESCHNICK Harold (Hal) Charles Kieschnick, 74, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died on January 12, 2009 at his home, surrounded by his family. Hal was born in Walburg, Texas on May 18, 1934, to Oscar and Lina (Doering) Kieschnick. He attended Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, Texas, and received a Master of Education Degree from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois. Hal married Henrietta (Hank; Schmidt) Kieschnick on June 29, 1958 in Jefferson City, Missouri. During their teaching careers, Hal and Hank served as Christian educators at Lutheran elementary schools around the country. Hal was the principal of Lutheran schools in New Orleans, Hinsdale, Ill., and Houston, Texas. In 1976 he was called to direct the "Teaching Assistance Project", where he served more than a dozen Lutheran elementary schools in under-served communities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He then served as Executive Secretary for Parish Services for the Southern District, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod from 1982-1999. In this position he assisted schools, organized Youth events, and was a mentor to uncounted pastors and teachers in the south and around the country. In retirement Hal served as interim Executive Secretary for Mission Services from 2000-2001. Throughout his career Hal was an advocate for under-served and marginalized communities, seeking to raise educational and spiritual expectations with the love of Jesus. Mr. Kieschnick was an upbeat, gracious man who treated everyone he met with sincere respect. He liked to laugh and was known for his signature greeting of "keep smilin'!" in letters and phone conversations. Hal is survived by his wife of 50 years, Hank (Schmidt) Kieschnick of Baton Rouge. He has three grown children Kathy (Johnson), with her husband Jon Schwartz of Lake Worth, FL., Kevin and his wife Christie (Orth) Kieschnick of New Orleans, and Kurt and his wife Cherri (Graff) Kieschnick of Baton Rouge. He dearly loved all of his 9 grandchildren, Austin (22) and Jacob (18) Johnson, Sophie (6) and Brennan (4) Schwartz, Layne (11) and Renni (8) Kieschnick, and Kade (11), Keller (8), and Kace (3) Kieschnick. He is also survived by 8 siblings Erna, Mel, Leona, Miriam, Doris, Ethel, John, and Darlene, and a number of their spouses, Jane, Ray, Elaine, and Lee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Lina Kieschnick, as well as in-law siblings Art Kollmeyer, Victor Kokel, Ardell Kalmbach, and Herb Wottrich. Harold Kieschnick dedicated his life to serving his Lord Jesus Christ by serving people. Family and friends will celebrate the sure promise of resurrection in a service at Trinity Lutheran Church, 10925 Florida Blvd. in Baton Rouge, on Thursday, January 15th at 11:00 a.m. There will be a time of visitation for 2 hours prior in the sanctuary. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in Hal's name to Baton Rouge Lutheran School Scholarship Fund, (10925 Florida Blvd., BR, LA 70815) LINCNewOrleans, (6230 Paris Ave., NOLA 70122), or the Recruitment and Scholarship fund of the Southern District, LCMS (68446 Tammany Trace Dr., Suite 5, Mandeville, LA 70471). "And these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Stars

The thing I loved about being on grandma's farm in Texas was how amazing the stars are. When there's no city lights to drown them out, I could just stare at the stars forever.

David Crowder Band - Stars:
you should see the stars tonight
how they shimmer shine so bright
against the black they look so white
comin down from such a height
to reach me now, reach me now

you should see the moon in the flight
cuttin cross the misty night
softly dancin in sunshine
reflections of this light
reach me now, you reach me now

and how could such a thing
shine its light on me
and make everything beautiful again

and you should feel the sun in the spring
comin out after a rain
suddenly all is green
sunshine on everything
i can feel it now, i feel you now

and how could such a thing
shine its light on me
and make everything beautiful

and you should hear the angels sing
all gathered round their king
more beautiful than you could dream
i've been quietly listening
you can hear 'em now, i hear em now

and how could such a king
shine His light on me
and make everything beautiful
and i wanna shine
i wanna be light
i wanna tell you it'll be alright
and i wanna shine and i wanna fly
just to tell you now
it'll be alright, it'll be alright
it'll be alright.

cus i got nothing of my own to give to you
but this light that shines
on me shines on you
and makes everything beautiful, again.
it'll be alright, it'll be alright.

Hats off to you!

Although I never wear them (except for when they're functional in the winter for warmth and the summer for sun), I really do love hats. Check out this super cool hat!!

12 Days of Texas

I was able to take a long break from work and go home to Texas for 12 days this Christmas! I traveled 762 miles around Texas (map, kinda looks like a lasso!). Thankfully I was with my Mom in her Prius, so we had each other's company and saved gasoline (Getting 45 mpg, we used less than 17 gallons. At $1.38/gal average, the whole trip was only $23.37!). It was a blast. Here are some highlights:

DAY 1 - Christmas Eve
Location: Baltimore, MD to Houston, TX
I worked a half-day (and surprisingly got LOTS done! There's no better time to upload new code changes than the day you leave for a long trip...) My flight was an hour delayed 'waiting for aircraft to arrive from Houston', but eventually I left BWI and ended up in H-town, welcoming the warm weather.

DAY 2 - Christmas Day
Location: Houston, TX
Christmas Day was just me and the folks this year. We went to church at Trinity-Klein so I could see their new sanctuary, very nice! Dad went all out making a Turkey dinner （In TX, dinner==lunch, supper==dinner).

DAY 3 - Shopping
Location: Houston, TX
Mom and I went shopping so I could pick up some last minute Christmas gifts that I didn't want to fly with. Dad made great steak tenderloins for supper.

DAY 4 - Big Family Christmas at Grandma's Farm
Location: Walburg, TX
The whole family got together at Grandma's, except for cousin Rachel who's in Argentina. Instead of Aunt Sylvia using Gma's out-of-tune piano, cousin Philip and I played 2 Christmas carols on guitar. We'll have to practice more for next year... I'll also have to do more pickle hunting practice. I won my prelim round and made it into the Championship Pickle Round, but I wasn't successful in defending my title. Cousin Denise ended up being the Pickle Champ. Group photo:



DAY 5 - Immediate Family Christmas
Location: Stephenville, TX
We had our family Christmas at my brother's. The nieces had their first sleepover.

DAY 6 - Brother's House
Location: Stephenville, TX
Yummy BBQ at Hard Eight, where you order right from the pit. I drank LOTS of Dublin Dr. Pepper.



Day 7 - Travel Day
Location: Stephenville, TX to Hurst, TX
Beth and Riley showed us their trail in the woods behind their house. We headed off to Hurst to meet up with my sister again at her house.

Day 8 - New Year's Eve
Location: Hurst, TX
Babysat niece and nephew during the day. Rang in the New Year 2009 Eastern Standard Time with ice cream cake and cheap Wal*Mart champagne.

Day 9 - ICE!
Location: Hurst, TX
Saw the ice sculptures at the Gaylord Texan, 9 degrees inside the building. The sculptures were VERY cool! Went shopping afterwards in 70 degree weather.


Day 10 - Mom Birthday
Location: Hurst, TX
Celebrated Mom's birthday. Thankfully her bday present arrived in the mail JUST in time. Ate at Rev K's favorite Mexican place in Ft. Worth with Tiff and David!

Day 11 - O.K. Ranch
Location: Lincoln, TX
Drove out to my parent's land in the country to help Dad build 2x4 picnic tables, which we got him for Christmas. Turned out looking good! Record high tempatures in the 80s today!! Tried to eat BBQ at the best BBQ joint in all of TX, but they were already out of BBQ. Had good chicken-fried steak at "Granny's" instead.



Day 12 - Parents
Location: Houston, TX
Church at Salem, my folk's church. Also the oldest Lutheran church in Texas, although you wouldn't guess that b/c they are quite contemporary these days. I fixed a bunch of computer stuff for my Dad and helped Mom take down Christmas decorations. Also, ate LOTS of Blue Bell ice cream!

Day 13 - Okay, so it's a baker's dozen of days...
Location: Texas to Maryland
Early early flight back to Maryland. Guess it's back to normal again, at least if you consider MD 'normal'....

Clear the Stage

I pulled out an old Ross King CD the other day. Ross King was the worship leader at Breakaway when I first started attending A&M. Breakaway was a Worship Service held on campus where about 2000 Aggies gathered to worship weekly. Ross King was awesome, and totally impacted my impression of praise music and what it means to worship. His song "Clear the Stage" is really good and impacted me once again while listening to it. Listen to it on YouTube or read the lyrics:

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that’s the measure You must take to crush the idols
Jerk the pews and all the decorations too
Until the congregation’s few, then have revival
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends
Until you’re broken for your sins you can’t be social
Then seek the Lord and wait for what He has in store
And know that great is your reward and just be hopeful

Cause you can sing all you want to
Yes you can sing all you want to
You can sing all you want to
And don’t get me wrong, worship is more than a song

Take a break from all the plans that you have made
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper
Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak
And pray for real upon your knees until they blister
Shine the light on every corner of your life
Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open
Then read the word and put to test the things you’ve heard
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken

Cause you can sing all you want to
Yes you can sing all you want to
You can sing all you want to
And don’t get me wrong, worship is more than a song

Anything I put before my God is an idol
And anything I want with all my heart is an idol
Anything I can’t stop thinking of is an idol
And anything that I give all my love is an idol
We must not worship something that’s not even worth it
Clear the stage and make some space for the One who deserves it

Cause I can sing all I want to
Yes I can sing all I want to
I can sing all I want to
And still get it wrong

And you can sing all you want to
Yes you can sing all you want to
You can sing all you want to
But don’t get me wrong, worship is more than a song

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that’s the measure You must take to crush the idols

Thankful

I was reacquainted with this song tonight. Read the lyrics. It's great.

You know I ran across an old box of letters
While I was bagging up some clothes for Goodwill
But you Know I had to laugh at the same old struggles
That plagued me then are plaguing me still
I know the road is long from the ground to glory
But a boy can hope he's getting some place
But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing
And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase

'Cause no, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, I said no not one

So I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause we're all stillborn and dead in our transgressions
We're shackled up to the sin we hold so dear
So what part can I play in the work of redemption
I can't refuse, I cannot add a thing

'Cause I am just like Lazarus and I can hear your voice
I stand and rub my eyes and walk to You
Because I have no choice

I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own
I'm so thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause by grace I have been saved
Through faith that's not my own
It is a gift of God and not by works
Lest anyone should boast

BBQ Saturday

The Saturday before Thanksgiving has been officially designated as "BBQ Saturday". Last year we ventured down to Capital Q in DC for BBQ. This year, we went to Urban BBQ in Silver Spring. Now that we've done it twice, it's a tradition! And a great one at that.

NOTE: You are allowed to eat BBQ any other day as well, but BBQ must be consumed on BBQ Saturday from here on out.

Derek Webb

On how to engage culture

On his live verse

Interview

Jadon Lavik

I bought Jadin Lavik's CD a while back and got addicted to it right away. I picked it up off my shelf a few weeks ago, and now I'm addicted to it again. And I found out that he has a new CD now, with an e-card if you want to check it out!

"Meant to Be"
Look around what could i do
This place is unfamiliar and new
So i try to look beyond what’s right in front of me
Hope to be found how could this be true
Comfort came and left in such a hurry
So then what’s on the other side of this tragedy

You wake up to find that you’re right where supposed to be
Trapped in uncertainty each day’s a mystery
You wake up to find that you’re right where you’re supposed to be
The past is unveiled and you see you’re right where you’re meant to be

Look behind oh how we’ve grown
All the places we’ve been
The places I’ll never never go back again
If I had only known that all was not lost
It always comes around again round again round again
Patiently waiting just waiting

til one day you find that you’re right where supposed to be
Trapped in uncertainty each day’s a mystery
You wake up to find that you’re right where you’re supposed to be
The past is unveiled and you see you’re right where you’re meant to be

Now I see the reasons for all of those seasons wondering just how my life would connect
My life would connect but you knew all along all along

You wake up to find that you’re right where you’re supposed to be
Your heart’s running wild and free each day’s a mystery

You wake up to find that you’re right where you’re supposed to be
Trapped in uncertainty each day’s a mystery
You wake up to find that you’re right where you’re supposed to be
The past is unveiled and you see you’re right where you’re meant to be

Waitin'

I think this song and music video is so sweet:

Waitin' on a Woman

Gotta love Brad Paisley. And Andy Griffith.

Costumes

For Halloween, I wore a shirt that said Canada, a Mexican sombrero, and an American flag lapel pin. Can you guess what I was?

Holding hands.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23

It's the Journey, Man.

“We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.”

Sweet Mercies

Guitar Tutorial

It’s our confession Lord, that we are weak
So very weak, but You are strong
And though we’ve nothing Lord, to lay at your feet
We come to Your feet and say, “Help us along”

A broken heart and a contrite spirit
You have yet to deny
Your heart of mercy beats with love’s strong current
Let the river flow by your Spirit now, Lord we cry

Let Your mercies fall from heaven
Sweet mercies flow from heaven
New mercies for today
Shower them down Lord as we pray
Let Your mercies fall from heaven
Sweet mercies flow from heaven
New mercies for today
Shower them down Lord as we pray

Why Not Try Something New?

Google has a web browser now. Check it out.

http://www.google.com/chrome

Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2003, WHOOP!

The Freedom From Terrorism Memorial, placed near the area of the Texas A&M campus housing the Corps of Cadets, is a gift from Texas A&M’s classes of 1968 and 2003. The memorial, designed by Texas A&M graduate architecture students, is dedicated to Texas Aggies “who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who will continue to make sacrifices in the effort to provide U.S. citizens ‘Freedom From Terrorism.’” The memorial also includes the acknowledgement and thanks to the many Texas Aggies who guard and protect the United States from terrorist attacks.

http://www.aggienetwork.com/CampusNews/TerrorMemorial/

Complete

I've been reading Don Miller's book Through Painted Deserts. It's a tale of his travels across the States, starting in Houston, Texas. It's quite humorous and yet thought-provoking. Something about this book reminds me a lot of conversations with my good friend Fuwjax, whom I miss dearly. For no reason in particular, the following quote prompted me to blog:

I've heard it said there are two types of men in this world -- one is looking for a woman to make his life complete and the other is looking for a woman to join his complete life. I don't think one is any better than the other, but Paul is definitely the latter. It becomes obvious to me that Michael Ann is not the one for Paul. It is one thing to have a woman join your complete life and another to have her tag along.

Rollercoaster, oh yeah...

I've confirmed that I do in fact like rollercoasters! I went up to Hershey Park this weekend and had a blast. Rode all the big rollercoasters, and only one gave me a headache. Mandy would be proud! :)

Buy shoes online? Are you crazy?

Not if you're buying them from Zappos.com. No one around here sells Volleyball shoes, so I took a chance and ordered some through Zappos. Best thing about Zappos is that you aren't taking any chances when you order online. You can return items for a full refund for 365 days, as long as shoes are in the original condition. And shipping is free, BOTH ways. I ordered a pair of VB shoes that were too narrow, and sent them back without any problems. I ordered a new pair that should be wider, and it's on the way. Hopefully they'll be a good fit, but if not, no worries. I'll just send them back for a full refund. I know I sound like a marketing campaign, but really I'm just impressed by their business model and good customer service.

Hurricane Ike

Check out the following video clip about cattle dying due to Ike. First there's a commercial, then there's a story intro, then there's my great-uncle "Walburg Rancher Ray Mickan", driving the tractor and explaining why he's helping donate hay:
Video Clip

I heart my family.

Faithfulness

We sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in church this morning, and it was such a great reminder of the fact that God is faithful and is always there. I love that hymn.

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

- Lamentations 3

Trajectory

It doesn't really matter what we conclude about the extent of God's power. His power is absolute and infinite. There is nothing we can do to control God, stop God, or cause God to act as we want Him to act. What we can do is line up our lives with God's plan and purpose. We can choose to put our faith in what God can do and what God says He will do, rather than discount His Word or dismiss it as invalid. We cannot fully control the trajectory of any relationship, career, or ministry effort. Only God determines the outcome of seeds we plant and the faith we voice.

I Can Hear

I just heard David Crowder's version of "I Can Hear the Angels Singing" and I really liked it. Different, as to be expected from Mr. Crowder, but well done. I heard it on Pandora, so you might have to dig around if you want to listen to it yourself.

I can hear the angels singing
As I walk this rocky road
For my thoughts are all of heaven
And my Savior's blest abode

Oh, I can hear the angels singing
I can hear my Savior's voice
And I'll soon be singing with them
Though endless ages we'll rejoice

I can hear the angels singing
Of my Savior's blessed love
How he died to build a mansion
For his children up above

And it was followed by by "You Never Let Go". This is why I love Pandora. It plays stuff I like!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus.

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Chorus. (2x’s)

Cigar

Brad Paisley is one fine songwriter.

Well I'm a sucker for fine Cuban cigars
The problem is I can't afford 'em
But last year I went and got myself a whole box
And just to be safe I insured 'em

I took out a policy against fire and theft
And then I hurried on home
With a fifty-cent lighter I sat on my back steps
And I smoked 'em one by one

Two weeks later I went to see that insurance man
And I handed in my claim
With a straight face I told him that through a series of small fires
They'd all gone up in flames

They reviewed my case and they had no choice
But to pay me for what I'd done
And I took that check and bought a whole new box
And I smoked 'em one by one

Two weeks later this detective shows up
Tells me that company's pressin' charges
One speedy trial later they locked me up
On twenty-four separate counts of arson

And now I sit and I stare at a blank brick wall
Lookin' back on what I've done
To pass the time I've got some ten-cent cigars
And I smoke 'em one by one
Yeah, I smoke 'em one by one

Stories

I have to write a research paper for my online class. I haven't written one of these in AGES, so I dug up some old papers from school to remind myself how to write a bibliography. I ended up coming across some old files I wrote in elementary school, and started wondering why I went into computer science and math instead of becoming a writer. Like this one that I wrote when I was 10. Pay attention to the character development.

The Unsuccessful Trip

One day Mr. Yaglad decided to go to El Paso, Texas. He took his knapsack and headed that way. He was half way there when he stopped at a house and said "Howdy. I'm Mr. Yaglad, but you can call me Orange. I'm headed for El Paso, but it's too late to keep going. Can I stay here for the night?"

"Sure. I'm Mr. Hay, but you can call me Lotsa. This is my daughter Loada," Mr. Hay said.
"Nice suit," Orange said. "Where'd ya get it?"
"Wellll, one day I was sittin' in a tree when all o' the sudden a 12 point buck walked right under me. I fell right on top o' it and I jabbed it in the stomach with my foot. Then I drug it all the way back here," Mr. Hay replied.
"That's not true," Loada said. "Grandma made it for you. Don't lie!"
"Go and round up the horse, Rocken, like you're supposed to," said Lotsa.
"Where'd ya get it?" Orange asked after he saw the horse.
"Wellll, I was ropin' cattle when this horse came jumpin' at me. I threwed my rope and caught it by the neck. Then I rode it bareback all the way here," Lotsa said.
Loada, who had overheard, said, "That's not true. Mom got it for your birthday. Don't lie!"
"That's enough," Lotsa said. Then he picked her up and threw her in the hay.
Mr. Yaglad wondered if that was why his last name was Hay. He ended up going back home because he didn't want to get thrown in the hay or meet another person like Mr. Hay.

Nephew

I'm the proud aunt of my first nephew: Joshua Chase! Can't wait until I'm in Texas and get to hold him!

Your Grace is Enough

Great is Your faithfulness Oh God
You wrestle with the sinner's heart
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice God
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I see your grace is enough
I'm covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me

Radio Trivia

To any single girls out there, here's something I heard on the radio this morning:
The average woman kisses 29 men before they get married.

First off, what kind of statistic is that? Who's job is it sit around and think up some crazy statistic and then go out and measure it? Let's see, I wonder how many pairs of jeans the average woman goes through in a lifetime. I wonder how many flavors of ice cream the average woman has tasted. I wonder how many minutes it takes the average woman to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I can whip out a batch of cookies in less than 28 minutes, and that's only using 1 pan at a time in the oven so the cookies bake evenly. I wonder if that's good. I should contact a Gallup Poll Consultant and get answers to these burning questions!!

Second, I don't even want to think about how long it would take me to reach that statistic. Good thing I'm not an average woman!

Here are some other ridicuously silly kissing "statistics" for your entertainment:
- The average person spends 336 hours of his or her life kissing. For you non-math types, that's 14 days.

- Ever wonder how an “X” came to represent a kiss? Starting in the Middle Ages, people who could not read used an X as a signature. They would kiss this mark as a sign of sincerity. Eventually, the X came to represent the kiss itself.

- Talk about a rush! Kissing releases the same neurotransmitters in our brains as parachuting, bungee jumping, and running. Personally, I hate running. But parachuting, now that would be cool!

- Men who kiss their partners before leaving for work average higher incomes than those who don’t.

Great Love

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

Rainbows

The thing about rainbows is that it has to rain before you can see and appreciate the beauty of a rainbow.

12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

He Will Watch Over Your Life

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Don Miller

I love Chapter 13 of Blue Like Jazz.

Cars!

Today I learned that my Mustang has a vacuum hose. And I learned that it is very important for it to be properly connected. Else, the engine doesn't run well, or at all for that matter! Thanks to the super nice tow truck guy who took care of me and got me going again, and for Drew who stuck with me to make sure things turned out okay. I wish I knew more about cars.... maybe someday I'll find someone to teach me.

And finally, thanks to Samir for your kind words this evening. You are a softy, but I won't tell anyone! :-P

Passion

I had dinner with my friend's parents tonight, and they were so adorable! They are both from Texas, so that gave them major brownie points. They are fans of t.u., so that lost a few points, but that's okay. Their conversation really made an impact on me. They were telling stories, reminsicing about the days of their youth and the first time they met. It was so cute. I'm not in a hurry to "grow up", but I do hope that when I am "more seasoned" in life, I will speak with such passion and excitement about days gone by.

They gave us young'uns a little advice: Do what you love. Don't build a life that you feel stuck in and can't get out of. Don't work in a job you aren't passionate about or interested in. Keep money stored away for a rainy day, so that if you need to take time to find something new or take a refreshing break, you can do just that. Ask yourself if you feel trapped. If you do, evaluate why and work toward your passions. You can't take it with you when you're gone, and life is too short to waste. Dream big. Don't settle.

"Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it."

"Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion."

"A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position."

"Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, the romance and you find out you still care for that person."

Psalm 145

8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.

11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,

12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.

14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

Encouragement

For those of you fortunate enough to know "rev k", I know you will back me up when I say he is an amazing servant of the Lord. Rev K and Sally are like second parents to me, and I honestly do not know what I would do without them. Yes, life has taken us down different paths from those "Old Army" glory days at A&M, but through all the changes, Rev K and Sally have provided an unending supply of unconditional love and encouragement. I am forever grateful that the Lord has put them in my life.

And guess what: rev k is having a birthday on Saturday, June 7th. Happy Birthday, rev k!!!

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

Good Time

So, I'm on a country music kick. Yeah, that's right. I got Alan Jackson's new "Good Time" CD, and I love it! It's been in my CD player since I bought it. I love the fact that he wrote every song on the album, and there's 17 songs on it!

i wish i could back up
and start all over

but it's never too late
to wanna do better
love's never easy
changes just like the weather

some days it's raining
some are sunny and blue
there's never perfect
but there's faithful and true

time takes you places
you never knew you'd be goin'
it softens the edges
of memories you're towin'

Love can hurt
Love can scar you
At times it's best to turn away

But love can heal
And love can save you
Today is not like yesterday

Family

I just received the agenda for our upcoming family reunion. The title of the page was the following:



Yeah, so puns run in the family... I love it!

Rome wasn't built in a day

We live in a society where everything is replaceable. Did your toaster go out? Don't fix it, buy a new one. Did your vacuum die? Don't waste time figuring out why, just buy a new one. It's a prime opportunity to buy an upgraded model, one with all the bells and whistles and gadgets you can ever need and probably never imagine. Why not trade in that 6 year old car for a shiny new vehicle? Do kids these days even know what it means to darn socks?

I have to admit I don't darn my socks when they get a hole. And I don't reuse my Ziploc bags. And I have thrown away my fair share of toasters, and lamps. We're running into a problem where it's much cheaper to mass produce large quantities of items than it is to spend man hours repairing a single item.

And I started thinking about how that mentality begins to seep into other aspects of our lives as well. Like instead of working out at the gym and eating healthy, people turn to quick alternatives like crazy diets, liposuction, or even cosmetic surgery to get what they're looking for. Or instead of nurturing and mending the friendships that really matter, we settle for acquaintances who don't really know who we are, what we value, or what drives us to keep going each day.

Maybe that's why I'm not a big fan of using a microwave. Sure, it's quick, easy, and efficient. But quick and easy doesn't usually equate to high-quality. And I'll take quality over quantity any day. Don't get me wrong, I love the conveniences of this modern world. I just think sometimes it causes us to go through life too quickly, become impatient, and forget that things that are truly worthwhile usually require a fair bit of quality time.

Recycle

Did you know you can send your gently used running shoes to Africa?

If your athletic shoes are no longer useable, you can donate them to Reuse A Shoe and they turn it into Nike Grind for use in various track and field surfaces.

I found all this out in this 10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Recycle article.

Movie Time

I got to watch "Batman Begins" and "Live Free or Die Hard" this weekend. Loved 'em both.



"Why do we fall, sir? So that we might learn to pick ourselves up."



"Oh, it's a myth? Really? Please tell me she's only here for show and she's actually not in charge of anything."

Habitat

This weekend, I worked on a Habitat for Humanity house sponsored by Thrivent. It was a blast! Makes me wish I hadn't been so busy over the past year and could have gotten around to doing this sooner. Everytime I help with Habitat, I'm impressed by the organization, the homeowners, and the volunteers. In Anne Arundel County, Habitat is fixing up houses in a rough part of Baltimore. I think it's proof that people can indeed make things better one person at a time.

But on to the specs: I got to help put up siding this weekend. Being from Texas where most houses are made of brick, I didn't know the first thing about siding. But, now I'm an expert with the snips and the crimper. I know all about J channels and siding panels. My only regret was not getting a chance to go up on the scaffolding. But there's always next time! If you're interested in helping with Habitat next time, let me know!

Modern Parables

This Modern Parables site looks really interesting. Essentially, they've "spruced up" the parables, set them in modern time, and put them in short film format, accompanied by Bible study guides. I'm really intrigued, but haven't gotten a chance to watch the trailers yet. If done well, with Biblically sound teachings, this could be a really cool resource.

Inaugural Event

DC is all about inaugural events. I think it's just an excuse to use a silly sounding English word. But nonetheless, this weekend I attended a Washington Nationals baseball game, this being the "Inaugural Season" in the brand new Nationals Park. The Park was really nice, and I loved the fact that it does not have a corporate name in the park name. The Park was smaller than others I've been to. But then, most of the ballparks I've been to are in Texas, and we all know that everything is bigger in Texas. But I digress.

Betsy, you would be proud of me: I kept score at the baseball game. And you know what? It was a blast! It reminded me of my freshman year in high school when I kept stats for the baseball team with my friend Laurie. Granted, the main reason Laurie and I did it was so we could sit in the dugout with the guys. But, the game really makes a lot more sense when you follow along with the plays and the scorecard.

I'm proud to say I kept score the whole game. Hmm, ok, well there was the first inning that I missed because I was reading the directions on how to keep score. Then there were a few batters in the 3rd inning that I missed b/c Joel was telling a funny joke. And then in the 6th inning I went in search of some hot chocolate because it was freezing. My search was unsuccessful. Apparently everyone else wanted hot chocolate too and all the booths had run out by the time I thought of it. But aside from those few minor distractions, I paid attention, kept score, and had a blast! If y'all come visit during baseball season, we'll have to go to a Nationals game. Or maybe an Orioles game. Or maybe both! :-)

Read!

I rediscovered how great the public library is. Not only does it save you from shelling out all your money to Barnes & Noble, but they have great online audio and video as well. Gotta love technology. Thanks to the public library, I know am armed with information about the 50 best hikes in Maryland. Now I just have to get some hiking boots, a tent, and some camping buddies one of these weekends! Whoop for good Spring weather and the outdoors!

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

When's the last time you went to the library?

Lessons in Target

I was shopping in Target the other day, walking down the chip aisle. I was completely content with buying my Tostitos tortilla chips and eating them with Layne-recommended Safeway brand Southwest Salsa, until I saw a can of Bean Dip! "Bean Dip?" I thought. "Man, that brings back memories of good nachos and good times. Yes, I must rekindle those memories and enjoy some good old fashioned Bean Dip." Reaching for the can of Bean Dip, I realized that something was amiss. A close inspection revealed that this was not my much cherished Bean Dip. No, it was very similar, but quite different. Something called "Jalapeno Cheddar Dip". What?!? Why mess with Bean Dip?? Well, okay, so it's okay to offer variety, I thought. I'm sure they have the normal yummy stuff here as well. But my search ended up beanless. Alas, there was no regular Bean Dip in sight. In fact, I checked it out at another grocery store, and the result was the same: Plenty of jalapeno cheddar dip, no regular bean dip. I just don't get Marylander's taste in food. Shrug, oh well. The lesson, you ask? Things change, and they won't always be the way you remember them. So, enjoy your Bean Dip while you can!

In case you're wondering:

Real Bean Dip:


Imposter Dip:



A second lesson was learned in Target that day: There was a cute little girl just singing her heart out while following her mom down the aisle. She didn't care what people thought of her, she didn't care who saw her enjoying her time in the store. I want to be more like that little girl. I write this as I sing my lungs out to Pandora's Counting Crows Station, with my roommate downstairs, probably thinking I'm crazy ;)

Mighty to Save

I've had some extra time on my hands lately, so I decided to finally pick up my guitar again. I'm typically not a fan of YouTube, but it's certainly helped me attempt to learn a few more praise songs. Apparently there's quite a few people out there who have posted instructional videos for chord and strumming-challenged people like myself. My current favorite praise song is "Mighty to Save" by Hillsong. The chords aren't too tough, and this YouTube video of it is really up my alley.

Easter!

Although I didn't get to go home for Easter, sniff sniff, I still managed to have a great time. My friends got together for an egg hunt and Easter dinner. We had a blast. My favorite part was getting to tell corny jokes all night long. Literally, jokes about corn. It was great. Although I suspect some folks might roll their eyes when I say that...

In closing,

What do you call 10 rabbits marching backwards?


A receding hareline!

Traveling Salesman

Haha, my friend Colin sent me this one:

One more quote

Quote from the book I'm reading tonight:

But the question to precede all others, which finally determines the course of our lives, is What do I really want? Is it to love what God commands and to desire what He promises? Do I want what I want, or do I want what He wants, no matter what it might cost? Until the will and the affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not begun to understand, let alone to accept, His Lordship. The Cross will reveal the heart's truth.

Family

I just ran across this sermon that my great-uncle gave about my great-granddad...

Lessons from Long Ago

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" Alice asked.

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don't much care where--" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

"--so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.

"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) (1832-1898)

Feet

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:14-15

Summer...

I'm looking to use some vacation time to go on a mission trip this Summer. Any suggestions on where to go and what group to go with?

Burn the Ships

My roommie took me to a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert for my birthday, and we had a great time. He sang a song with a message that stuck in my head, so I looked up the lyrics when I got home:

Burn the Ships

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying

CHORUS
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you know"
But the one who led us here is saying

(Chorus)

BRIDGE
Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone

(Chorus)

Can you imagine how it must have felt to be one of Cortez's people and watch the ships you came to a foreign land on burn up, on purpose, thereby eliminating your chances of returning back to where you came from, back to your comfort zone? How many times do we try to go back or look back, instead of forging full steam ahead with Christ who goes before us? How often do we hold on to our old selves, instead of remembering that we are a new creation and that God has great plans in store for His children? "The BEST is yet to come!"

Birthday Cake

My friend Aurlie made me an ice cream cake for my birthday, and it was AMAZING! And yep, the candles don't lie: I'm getting old, but still trying to stay young at heart!

Youth Retreat

The theme for this weekend's retreat was "Let Go" and the theme verse was:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

Bob Lenz was the speaker. He did a great job, and he was very real.

ESV

Apparently the English Standard Version is the "unofficial" official translation of the Bible for the LCMS. The LCMS doesn't want people to throw out their existing translations and upgrade, but ESV will used in the new hymnals and in pastoral reference materials. Apparently it "reads in a familiar voice."

My first encounter with this version was John 1:1-3:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Ok, yes, that sounds familiar. I'm with ya.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

Hmm, that's an interesting way to phrase it, but it makes sense. Moving on...

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

What was that again? "without him was not anything made that was made." Wow. Is it just me, or is that a funky way to phrase that verse?

But, hey, every translation has something good and bad about it. Short of learning Greek and Hebrew, a translation of God's word is the best thing I have to go on. Plus, I appreciate multiple translations, and sites like biblegateway.com that let you view multiple translations at once.

Thinking

When you're sick for 2 days with the stomach flu, you have a lot of time on your hands to think:

- I think the East Coast is different, but it's where I'm supposed to be right now. I'm learning more out here than I ever could have learned in Texas.

- I think I miss good old country music. Like Alan Jackson. Even his new stuff like Small Town Southern Man.

- I think I like pink again.

- Ever listened to Pandora Radio? It only plays music you like. I think you'd like it. I like the David Crowder Band Station and the Counting Crows Station.

- I'm going to Virginia Beach with the Youth Group this weekend, and I think it's going to be a BLAST!

- I wish it would have snowed more this winter. And I wish I would have gone skiing more than just once this season.

- If it's not going to snow, then the weather needs to get nice fast, so I can go camping, hiking, etc. This year, I want to go to Assateague Island National Park on the beach with the wild horses. It's supposed to be cool.

- I think I need to go back to bed and kick this flu thing or whatever it is...

Laughter the Best Medicine

"What do ducks eat for a snack?" "Quackers"

"Where do cookies sleep?" "On a cookie sheet"


I feel better, do you?

Pondering

If a person is in the right relationship, shouldn't they feel like the luckiest person alive?

Sigh, I'm so confused.

Math and Relationships

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, thought I'd post this link, which is a creative use of mathematical terms.

LCMS World Mission: Kenya

TOP STORIES - January 7, 2008
Archives: www.lcmsworldmission.org/news

LCMS missionaries OK in Kenya, rioters burn Lutheran church ____________________________________________

Two Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod missionary couples stationed outside of Nairobi, Kenya, are safe and do not appear to be in harm's way despite five days of post-election rioting in the city that has led to more than 300 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and the displacement of more than 100,000 people. Springs of Life Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, an LCMS partner, was reportedly looted and set afire today, Jan. 3. No injuries were reported at the church, which includes a medical clinic funded by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and a nursery school.

In a Jan. 3 e-mail to LCMS World Mission staff, Rev. David Chuchu, project coordinator with the Kenyan Lutheran church body, said a "humanitarian crisis is unfolding as thousands of displaced Kenyans [are] running out of food and water. Houses have been burnt, churches and property burnt or destroyed. Thousands of people are sleeping in the cold at various police stations countrywide. Others are camping in churches." A police station in Kisumu is sheltering more than 2,000 people without so much as blankets, he said. "People need food, water, and blankets."

The violent protest was sparked by Kenya's disputed Dec. 27 election that returned President Mwai Kibaki to office. Much of the violence is between those who support Kibaki, from the majority Kikuyu tribe, and supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who is from the Luo tribe, according to news reports.

"The sad part is that politicians continue to harden their position as the nation is bleeding, people are weeping as the entire country is heading toward destruction, something we are not used to," Chuchu said.

Springs of Life Pastor Rev. Dennis Meeker said via e-mail that the medical clinic, Luther Health Facility, "suffered severe damage as rioters looted everything and then set it on fire," and that the nursery school also was looted and burned.

"Please continue to pray for us," Meeker said. "We thank God our faith is not in material possessions. Our faith will stand firm and we pray God's intervention for the sake of Kenya. ... We rejoice in the fact that faith does not burn and the church is never destroyed."

Dr. Paul Mueller, regional director for Africa with LCMS World Mission, and his wife, Joy, a staff member with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, and missionaries Rev. Claude and Rhoda Houge live within blocks of each other in Karen, a suburb southwest of Nairobi.

Both couples have been in daily contact via telephone and e-mail with LCMS World Mission Personnel Care Manager Travis Torblaa, who says the missionaries told him their community is quiet and they feel safe. Torblaa is based at the Synod's International Center in St. Louis.

"The violence appears to be in isolated pockets right now," Torblaa told Reporter, the Synod's national newspaper. "We are prepared to evacuate the missionaries, if needed, but at this point they are not in danger."

Also reported safe in Kenya is Dr. Carlos Walter Winterle and his wife, Lidia. Winterle, former president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, has been serving for more than a year as English-speaking pastor of Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral, an international congregation in downtown Nairobi. The ministry is a partnership of the LCMS and its partner church bodies in Kenya and Brazil.

Torblaa said the situation in Kenya will continue to be monitored closely, as it "does remain unpredictable."

"Join us in praying for a peaceful resolution to the current conflict in Kenya," he said.

Mechanics

If you ever find yourself north of Austin in need of car repairs, I know where you should go: Mickan Motors. Tell 'em a Kokel sent you, and they'll take good care of you. But then, they'd take good care of you even if you didn't.

While I'm on the subject of mechanics, if you're ever in College Station and need a mechanic, I highly recommend Brazos Valley Automotive. The owner, Gordon Wilhelm, is great. But then, that's just to be expected from someone from the Wilhelm clan.

Aaron Shust

I first heard of Aaron Shust when his song "My Savior My God" came out a few years ago. Its first line "I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed, what God has planned" is one of those lines that just speaks to me and makes me nod my head in agreement, yet shake my head remembering all the times I try to figure God out anyways. Aaron just came out with a new album, Whispered & Shouted and I absolutely recommend it.

Not only do I like Aaron's lyrics, but I like the fact that he includes "Stories behind the songs" in his album leaflet. He shares what was going on in his life when he wrote the songs, what point he's trying to get across, and he includes Bible references with his lyrics, to show that they are based in Scripture. It helps me understand and appreciate the lyrics more, and brings more life to the songs.

My favorite song on the album is a tie between #5 "Give Me Words to Speak" and #8 "I Will Wait". Currently my favorite lyrics on the album are

I love You more than life itself
Lord, You are so good to me
I need You more with every breath
So won't You breathe some life in me?

Todd

In December 2005, my cousin Todd passed away, somewhat unexpectedly, after struggling with an arterio-venous malformation (AVM) in his brain. He left behind a wife and 2 kids. As sad as it was that Todd had left us, his funeral was an uplifting celebration of his life, but more importantly, the life he found through Jesus. There is no doubt where Todd is today, and while the Lord gave him time on earth, he sure did his best to be a light in this dark world.

Todd donated his liver and his lungs (and possibly other organs). One year after his passing, his family received a uplifting letter from the man who received his liver. Now, two years later, his family got to meet the man who now has his lungs. Todd's family writes "It is once again a reminder of God's work in seeing how he used a piece of Todd to sustain another life. To finally meet the family and see them face to face was joyous, amazing and affirming of God's great plan."

Two Marriageable People

I've had multiple conversations with friends about whether or not a single guy and single girl can really be good friends, or if things always end up getting messy. I like to read different people's perspective on the matter, and happened to read this article "Two Marriageable People" last night by Elizabeth Elliot. The topic came up again today talking with a friend, so I thought I'd post a link to it here. It's long, but interesting. I like her advice at the end:

Now a few words, and only a few, for you women. I know--oh, how well I know--your position. Because we are women we are made to be responders, not initiators (see Let Me Be a Woman). This means that the burden of responsibility of seeking and wooing a mate does not belong to us. To us belongs the waiting.

This does not mean inactivity. It means first of all a positive, active placing of our trust in him who loves us, does all things well, and promises to crown us with everlasting joy. It means next a continued obedience in whatever God has given us to do today, without allowing our longing to "slay the appetite of our living," as Jim Elliot once wrote to me, long before God gave us the green light to marry. It means just what Paul meant when he wrote from prison to the Philippian Christians, "Don't worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God, which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus."

And if you're still up for reading, check out my friend Betsy's post for some more food for thought.

Shepherds

With the Christmas season comes to a close, I include a point to ponder from LCMS President Keischnick:

"As you are preparing your heart and mind for witness and worship this Christmas, I invite you to ponder the following question: "What would have been different if the shepherds had not responded to the angels' message by saying, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us?'...

In all likelihood, many people would not have heard about the birth of Christ. In essence, the angels' message about the Child would have been silenced.

Isn't the same true today when the message of Christmas is not shared with the world? Many people do not hear about the birth of Jesus. Many have no opportunity to ponder the meaning of our Lord's redemption of His people or come to faith in Him. Without the message of the Christ, people are void of any reason to glorify and praise God."

Kokel Potluck

In the spirit of family and tradition during this Christmas spirit, I invite you to visit and take part in the Kokel Potluck blog. I think this will be a great way to share recipes and cooking experiences. Whether you are a Kokel yourself, an honorary Kokel, or a friend of a Kokel, you are invited to join in on this great tradition!

And in honor of the Victor Kokel clan, here's a picture of the ENTIRE crew. What a blessing that all of us were able to meet up at Grandma's farm this Christmas:

Snow!

There are benefits to living up north, the snow being one of them. I awoke this morning to a lovely snowfall, which accumulated on the ground throughout the day, making for some good snowballs. Mustangs with rear-wheel drive aren't the best in the snow, but with the help of snow plows and salt for the roads, it wasn't too bad. I feel like a kid, all giddy because it snowed! :-)

Intellidating?

What will they think of next?

Young professionals, artists, young cosmopolitans, and recent Ivy-League graduates are taking dating to a new level....A level of dating that is more about the stimulation of the mind than it is about anything else. A level called "intellidating."

Young professionals of all kinds are noticing the fact that going to a rave, club or house party is not the most rewarding when it comes meeting new people and garnering new relationships. Instead, they are electing to go to events where stimulating the mind is the objective, and where the sexiest person in the room is the one with the most to intelligence on display.

It is a strong northeastern phenomenon due to the abundance of Ivy-League and upper tier universities that can be found in the colonial states. One hot spot for young singles and couples is the New York Public Library, where intellectually inclined daters are paying $15 covers to take part in intellectual debates and lectures over some of society's most controversial issues.

The website RightStuffDating.com caters only to Ivy-League and upper-tier college graduates and provides an online matchmaking service that puts singles interested in meeting people with "the right stuff." The right stuff being an educated mind, a love for academics, and an intellectually stimulating presence. The site requires that you provide documentation of your attendance at your stated alma mater with proof of graduation requirements as strict as providing a copy of your diploma. The site then conjures up inquiries for singles and the rest is down hill.

Prayer

From Foster's "Prayer" book that I've been reading:

Before proceeding, I must offer a caution. We should not overstate the place of prayer in the formation of "holy habits". Prayer is by itself severly limited in the good it can accomplish. It is only a part--albeit an important part--of a much larger whole.

Dallas Willard speaks of the three major areas god uses in our continuing transformation--a "golden triangle" of formation, if you will. The first area is the classical disciplin of the spiritual life: solitude, fasting, worship, celebration, and the like. The second area is our continual interaction with the movings of the Spirit of God: resistance, disobedience, repentance, submission, faith, obedience, and more. The third major area is the patient endurance God develops in us by means of the various frustrations, trials, and temptations we face daily.

Therefore, we must never isolate prayer from the rest of Christian devotion and claim more for it than god intended. No, instead we want to see the dynamic interaction of prayer in concert with an overall spiritual life.

...

Solitude is the first and most foundational of these approaches. "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life," writes Henri Nouwen. The reason for this is simple to see: by means of solitude God frees us from our bondage to people and our own inner compulsions.

To enter solitude, we must disregard what others think of us. Who will understand this call? Even our closest friends will see it as a waste of precious time and rather self-centered. But, oh the liberty that is released in our hearts when we let go of the opinions of others! The less we are mesmerized by human voices, the more we are able to hear the Divine Voice. The less we are manipulated by the expectations of others, the more we are open to the expectations of God.

In solitude, however, we die not only to others but also to ourselves. To be sure, at first we thought solitude was a way to recharge our batteries in order to enter life's many competitions with new vigor and strength. In time, however, we find that solidtude gives us power not to win the rat race but to ignore the rat race altogther. Slowly, we find ourselves letting go of our inner compulsions to acquire more wealth than we need, look more youthful than we are, attain more status than is wise. In the stillness, our false, busy selves are unmasked and seen for the imposters they truly are.

I love the way Foster writes. At A&M, I used to go up to church late at night for my moments of solitude. I'll always remember that wooden cross, with the blue and green lights. Oh, the countless prayers I offered up to God at the foot of that cross over the years... Up here in Maryland, I have to be more creative in finding a place of solitude to reflect and pray. But that's a good thing, because it reminds me that God is in every moment and every location. "For I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -- Matthew 28:20

Human Rights

I have been extremely impressed by the non-profit organization International Justice Mission For those of you who are still students, or who have an interest in law, consider visiting this link and viewing this video from Urbana 2006.

Foxtrot

Sometimes I really think we should just switch to the metric system
Foxtrot Comic

Crowder

Tonight I went to a David Crowder Band concert at the 9:30 Club in downtown DC. The 9:30 Club is typically a place for alternative music and the like; I think this was one of the rare Christian events they host. But it was a cool setting, and let me tell you, it was a blast! If you ever get a chance to go to a David Crowder Band concert, I *highly* recommend it. But don't be fooled, you'll really be attending a worship service more than a concert, with some David Crowder humor to boot. Highlights included Guitar Hero, Mario Brothers, and even a Texas Hoe-Down. No joke. I was lovin' it.

I'm a big fan of his "Everything Glorious" song. But I also want to check out his new CD.

And I like this this interview. "Music is simply us trying to articulate faith and what it means to live intentionally, trying to be like Christ."

NOOMA

Heard of Rob Bell? We've been showing Nooma videos to the high schoolers for Sunday School. They are short ~10 minute videos that address an issue and are a good way to get the kids thinking and talking. He has an interesting style and usage of video/music/message. Here's a clip or two.

Apples

I'm thinking of trying this with some extra apples I have...
Apple Heads

Parked

I was walking to my car after work tonight. I had worked late, so it was about 7pm. It was dark, the night was cool, and the parking lot was almost empty. It reminded me exactly of the night I was walking to my car at A&M, pondering whether or not God wanted me to move out of Texas. I remember looking up at the stars that night and saying something to the effect of "I'm following You, God. You lead me where you need me. I won't stay here for selfish reasons. If you want me somewhere else, send me there." And I remember how I was filled with peace back then.

Cut back to the parking lot tonight. My thoughts were a bit different, along the lines of "Are you really using me Lord? What happened to the way I used to feel? I'm trying to follow You, trying to do Your will, trying to do all the right things, but sometimes I just feel nothing. What is going on here?" I left rather perplexed and confused.

I had started reading "Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home" by Richard Foster. Before going to bed tonight, I read Chapter 2, which happens to be titled "The Prayer of the Forsaken". It talks about how to pray when we feel like we are in the desert. I wish I could quote the whole chapter, because I'm afraid the point will be misunderstood if I just summarize. Foster's point is that, although we can be certain that God is always with us, sometimes He withdraws our consciousness of His presence and we feel forsaken or empty, so that He can grow us more.

A living relationship with God begins and develops in mutual freedom. God grants us perfect freedom because he desires creatures who freely choose to be in relationship with him. Through the Prayer of the Forsaken, we are learning to give God the same freedom. Relationships of this kind can never be manipulated or forced...

If we could make the Creator of heaven and earth instantly appear at our beck and call, we would not be in communion with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We do that with objects, with things, with idols. But God, the great iconoclast, is constantly smashing our false images of who He is and what He is like...By refusing to be a puppet on our string or a genie in our bottle, God frees us from our false, idolatrous images...

Saint John of the Cross says that two purifications occur in the dark night of the soul. The first involves stripping us of dependence upon exterior results. We find ourselves less and less impressed with the religion of the "big deal"---big buildings, big budgets, big production, big miracles. Not that there is anything wrong with big things, but they are no longer what impresses us. Nor are we drawn to praise and adulation. Not that there is anything wrong with kind and gracious remarks, but they are no longer what moves us...

For me [Foster] the greatest value in my lack of control was the intimate and ultimate awareness that I could not manage God. God refused to jump when I said "Jump!" Neither by theological acumen nor by religious technique could I conquer God. God was, in fact, to conquer me.

The second purifying of Saint John involves stripping us of dependence upon interior results. This is more disturbing and painful than the first purification because it threatens us at the root of all we believe in and have given ourselves to... We discover that the workings of faith, hope, and love become themselves subject to doubt. Our personal motivations become suspect... We worry whether this act or that thought is inspired by fear, vanity, and arrogance, rather than faith, hope, and love...

Slowly we are being taken off of vain securities and false allegiances. Our trust in all exterior and interior results is being shattered so that we can learn faith in God alone...

I [Foster] would like to offer one more counsel to those who find themselves in this place. It is this: wait on God. Wait, silent and still. Wait, attentive and responsive. Learn that trust precedes faith. Trust is confidence in the character of God. Firmly and deliberately you say "I do not understand what God is doing or even where God is, but I know that He is out to do me good." This is trust. This is how to wait.

It's good to be reminded that we don't have to have it all together all the time. It's good to know that the Heroes of the Faith who have gone before us have also had moments where they struggled to see what God was up to. It's good to realize yet again that God's ways are higher than our own, and we must wait on Him, for He has the best in mind for us, even if we can't always see it.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. --Psalm 130:5

Uncle John

My great-uncle John retired last week, after being a pastor for 37 years. The more I learn about Uncle John, the more I am amazed at how God works through people. And the more I am so thankful for my family. I couldn't attend his retirement service in person, but his retirement sermon is online:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. --Philippians 1:3-6

Some of his other sermons are available online. I started listening to them, partly to hear some good Texas drawl, but mainly because they are just good messages. I particularly like this one entitled Let's Go Fishing.

UPDATE: Here's a Houston Chronicle article on Uncle John.