It is amazing to watch the girls grow up. Let me be honest and say that they are far from being perfect, and there are times that we parents are sorry for our responses to their imperfect actions and attitudes. But I am also so proud of them. They are a joy to spend time with. They have some wacky senses of comedic timing. They say some profound things sometimes. They behave well when we are busy talking with other adults. They have a zest for life, music, dancing, imagination, family interaction, animals, and friends.
God bless their little lives.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
One body many members
Yet it is still one body. A couple weeks ago I was gone Friday and Saturday and then I preached on Sunday morning. I asked the congregation if they missed me, or even knew if I was gone. Alyssa said she missed me:) Very few missed me, and so I said that I was glad that very few even knew that I was gone. I think it should be that way. The body of the Christ, the church, continues to be the hands and feet, ministering to others whether the paid pastor is present or absent. There is one person whose absence should negatively affect the body; the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Yet, Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 12 that each member must function with the gifts they are given. If they don't then the body suffers for lack of that essential sense or function. A great mystery. In the body of Christ guided by the Holy Spirit God is glorified.
There is false unity if diversity is not respected.
There is disruptive diversity if unity is not sought.
There is productive diversity in the presence of unity.
There is witnessing unity in the exercise of diversity.
Lord help us!
Yet, Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 12 that each member must function with the gifts they are given. If they don't then the body suffers for lack of that essential sense or function. A great mystery. In the body of Christ guided by the Holy Spirit God is glorified.
There is false unity if diversity is not respected.
There is disruptive diversity if unity is not sought.
There is productive diversity in the presence of unity.
There is witnessing unity in the exercise of diversity.
Lord help us!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Facebook rant:)
Okay, facebook, you tricked me into it! I am back on again. I stayed away from you for over a month, but you went deep. You coerced two friends into friending me on facebook. What could I do? I want to be their friend on your site, because I want to be their friend in real life. You may have got me to sign back in again, but I have learned discipline in how to resist your time sucking vacuum. I will control you! I will not be mastered by any code!!!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hopey New Year
Happy New Year! What is a new year, other than a flip of the calendar? And if your calendar is on the computer, it doesn't really flip, it is continuous. It just flows on without a big change.
What are we really getting excited about? I was struck by the lack of a ball drop at midnight here in CST. I watched the 11pm ball drop in New York City. There were people going crazy, yelling, screaming, dancing, and kissing. Everybody was elated!
Yet, it was only 11pm here. I couldn't get into it. Suzanne went to bed, and I stayed up waiting for the 12am ball drop and my 12:15am run.
Pretty soon it became clear to me that there wasn't going to be a ball drop. What was I staying up for now. Next year maybe we'll go running at 11:15pm and be in bed by midnight:)
Here are the reflections that I had. Everybody is going crazy about a moment in time that we have arbitrarily set as 12:00am on January 1st. Seriously, we invented this moment! Nothing magical or special happens at that moment, yet people prepare and celebrate that moment as miraculous! What is it? My conclusion, and correct me if your's is different, is that there is hope in the future, hope in a new beginning, hope in the possibilities, hope in the good intentions we have for ourselves, hope in the goodness of others intentions, hope that the world just might get better.
And it's all based on a moment that we have predetermined. So, here's my idea. If we can become hopeful, based on a moment that we've determined, why don't we create more of these moments? Why don't we take or make these moments monthly, or weekly, or daily, or even 3 times a day?
As a follower of Jesus, in relationship with God, I can determine each morning to be a moment of reflection on the past, and determine in the present, that the future has possibilities. I can see what needs improved or changed, and make a "resolution" to allow God to change me. I can allow God to change my view of the upcoming situations. I can allow God to change my perception of others. What do you think? Am I off of my rocker?!
Happy New Moment!
What are we really getting excited about? I was struck by the lack of a ball drop at midnight here in CST. I watched the 11pm ball drop in New York City. There were people going crazy, yelling, screaming, dancing, and kissing. Everybody was elated!
Yet, it was only 11pm here. I couldn't get into it. Suzanne went to bed, and I stayed up waiting for the 12am ball drop and my 12:15am run.
Pretty soon it became clear to me that there wasn't going to be a ball drop. What was I staying up for now. Next year maybe we'll go running at 11:15pm and be in bed by midnight:)
Here are the reflections that I had. Everybody is going crazy about a moment in time that we have arbitrarily set as 12:00am on January 1st. Seriously, we invented this moment! Nothing magical or special happens at that moment, yet people prepare and celebrate that moment as miraculous! What is it? My conclusion, and correct me if your's is different, is that there is hope in the future, hope in a new beginning, hope in the possibilities, hope in the good intentions we have for ourselves, hope in the goodness of others intentions, hope that the world just might get better.
And it's all based on a moment that we have predetermined. So, here's my idea. If we can become hopeful, based on a moment that we've determined, why don't we create more of these moments? Why don't we take or make these moments monthly, or weekly, or daily, or even 3 times a day?
As a follower of Jesus, in relationship with God, I can determine each morning to be a moment of reflection on the past, and determine in the present, that the future has possibilities. I can see what needs improved or changed, and make a "resolution" to allow God to change me. I can allow God to change my view of the upcoming situations. I can allow God to change my perception of others. What do you think? Am I off of my rocker?!
Happy New Moment!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Third annual New Years run
I just got back from my third annual New Years run. We began at 12:15am and ran 2 miles. Starting at Shickley Lumber Yard, south to Centennial, North to 74, and back south to Centennial, and finish going north to the Lumber Yard. My great friend Wes Hochstetler accompanied me.
This annual run began on our first week in Hesston, Kansas 2 years ago. We (Suzanne and I) joined Todd and Julie Lehman, Dennis and Jen LeFevre, Margaret Weibe and her sister and brother-in-law, and a couple other crazies.
Last year Todd Lehman and I found ourselves in Ohio at the same time so we ran in Kidron, Ohio.
This year it was time to start the tradition here in Shickley, Nebraska.
Three years, three states. Good memories and a great way to start off the New Year.
May you find God near, loving, and way more than you can ask or imagine in 2010.
God bless you!
This annual run began on our first week in Hesston, Kansas 2 years ago. We (Suzanne and I) joined Todd and Julie Lehman, Dennis and Jen LeFevre, Margaret Weibe and her sister and brother-in-law, and a couple other crazies.
Last year Todd Lehman and I found ourselves in Ohio at the same time so we ran in Kidron, Ohio.
This year it was time to start the tradition here in Shickley, Nebraska.
Three years, three states. Good memories and a great way to start off the New Year.
May you find God near, loving, and way more than you can ask or imagine in 2010.
God bless you!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Weather - Blizzard
http://www.1011now.com/weather
Blizzard. We went to some friends house for lunch Christmas day. About 24 hours later we got home:)
The drifts around their house are 2, 4, 6, and even 8 feet high. And you can walk on talk of them. We barely made it into the farm driveway across the road from their house. Today they are busy with tractors making their livestock slightly more comfortable.
We decided to come home, we got onto the road and about 30 feet later we were stuck in a drift. With the help of a shovel we brought along, someone behind us who was gonna get stuck with their little car, and a person coming toward us who decided to just go back home, we shoveled and pushed the van through.
We are home now. Looks like no church tomorrow. No power at the church, ice under the drifting snow in the parking lot, the roads blow shut right after being opened. Blizzard
Blizzard. We went to some friends house for lunch Christmas day. About 24 hours later we got home:)
The drifts around their house are 2, 4, 6, and even 8 feet high. And you can walk on talk of them. We barely made it into the farm driveway across the road from their house. Today they are busy with tractors making their livestock slightly more comfortable.
We decided to come home, we got onto the road and about 30 feet later we were stuck in a drift. With the help of a shovel we brought along, someone behind us who was gonna get stuck with their little car, and a person coming toward us who decided to just go back home, we shoveled and pushed the van through.
We are home now. Looks like no church tomorrow. No power at the church, ice under the drifting snow in the parking lot, the roads blow shut right after being opened. Blizzard
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Facebook?
I am wondering what could possibly be happening on facebook. For some reason, I have taken a break from facebook for the past 2 weeks. Cold turkey. The reason? I didn't want to press the "Continue to next step" on the new privacy announcement.
I almost did it today:)
I almost did it today:)
A little snow a little rain
We spent Monday and Tuesday in Omaha, NE on a family getaway. It was a very fulfilling time!
I enjoyed taking a break from work (email, phone calls, study, etc.) and instead focusing on being together.
Suzanne enjoyed having me fully present.
The girls enjoyed 24/7 attention from their loving parents.
We went to CoCo Key, an indoor water resort. We stayed in the Holiday Inn attached. We swam, floated, tubed, soaked, climbed, tagged, shot, gamed, and lounged... and came back exhausted. For those of you from Hesston, you'll remember how much our girls grew to love water. We've missed it a bit here. We went to the water park and the hotel pool both days, and logged nearly 9 hours of water time. I think we were literally water logged:)
How often do we get to Lincoln? Not often, so we stopped at Home Depot, the Mall, and Walmart on the way back. I spent about an hour of driving time feeling like it was too much energy to even talk. The girls didn't seem to have any problem with energy. However, they slept beautifully last night.
After arriving home on Tuesday evening, the drizzle continued and became slick roads and some snow coverage Wednesday morning. They are calling for 6-12 inches by Friday and some blizzard like conditions.
I enjoyed taking a break from work (email, phone calls, study, etc.) and instead focusing on being together.
Suzanne enjoyed having me fully present.
The girls enjoyed 24/7 attention from their loving parents.
We went to CoCo Key, an indoor water resort. We stayed in the Holiday Inn attached. We swam, floated, tubed, soaked, climbed, tagged, shot, gamed, and lounged... and came back exhausted. For those of you from Hesston, you'll remember how much our girls grew to love water. We've missed it a bit here. We went to the water park and the hotel pool both days, and logged nearly 9 hours of water time. I think we were literally water logged:)
How often do we get to Lincoln? Not often, so we stopped at Home Depot, the Mall, and Walmart on the way back. I spent about an hour of driving time feeling like it was too much energy to even talk. The girls didn't seem to have any problem with energy. However, they slept beautifully last night.
After arriving home on Tuesday evening, the drizzle continued and became slick roads and some snow coverage Wednesday morning. They are calling for 6-12 inches by Friday and some blizzard like conditions.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A little bit of snow
We got a bunch of snow since Sunday afternoon. We've enjoyed playing in it, building tunnels, shoveling it, sledding on it, and snow boarding. Today the temperature is about 5, with wind chill below zero, so we are staying in so far. I went out this morning and took a couple pictures of the drifts from last nights wind.
The girls have been off school Tuesday and Wednesday. And they are getting at each other a bit. I think it's time for them to go back to school:)
Monday, December 7, 2009
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