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Birthday Boy!!!! May 20, 2008

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The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [Theatrical Release]
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It is Ibey’s birthday.

He’s ten.

Wow, that makes me feel old.  I remember when we brought him home!  Not too long afterwards he was hospitalized and had to have a spinal tap and all that fun junk.  I was not pleased… for the first time, I had to miss giving my little bro baths.  That was not cool.

What was cool was that he recognized our voices in the hallway when we came to visit him and got all happy. 

Ib was always a pretty happy dude.  He never realized that he was younger and littler than my friends from youth group, so he’d always be challenging them to basketball matches in the gym.  And then he’d challenge the college students at the track to a race.  Every now and then they let him win, but it never seemed to phase him.

Let’s see, what else.  Ibey was the most faithful follower of anything I wrote.  He listened to pretty much everything that I wrote about Lonya and lauded it as better than Tolkien.    Ya gotta love that kind of brother.

He keeps us all on our toes with music and sports… piano and Little League…

And he says the funniest things, and can make the strangest faces.  Especially Mr. Bean-like faces.  Ib is all around incredible.

So today my youngest brother turns ten.  I pray that he will always keep learning, and growing in wisdom, and in maturity, and that he will use his talents to serve God.

He’s a knight

And a pirate

Out to slay the dragons and get the treasure

He’s a crazy little boy

And I’m watching him grow up

Someday…

His dreams will take flight

Someday…

But for now I am watching him grow up

As he learns and as he plays…

We have been given this day

To prepare for the rest of life

This day…

To live.

Happy birthday, Ibey!

Spring is Here; Aslan Lives April 10, 2008

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Missing Link Found! January 25, 2008

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Those poor evolutionists who have been bashing their brains out trying to come up with the missing link between man and monkey… of course they can’t find him.

It’s okay, this came as a revelation to me, too. I mean, I had always assumed that they couldn’t find one because one didn’t exist.

Well. Tonight at snack the mystery suddenly became clear. Ib was making faces, as he is wont to do, in a fashion a cross between Mr. Bean and Cosmo Brown. He made a particularly odd one and I found myself saying to him (more of trying to say to him, but choking laughing), “And what if your face freezes like that?”

Then it came to me. If his face freezes like that, some fortunate archaeologist will think that they have found the missing link between man and monkeys.

My darling little brother.

Best (and Worst) of 2007… January 1, 2008

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Movies:

Best:

Pride and Prejudice (A & E version) — very nice, it obviously gets a lot of the detail in which shorter versions can’t. 

Facing the Giants is a good movie… and the bloopers are hilariously quotable. 

Mr. Bean’s Holiday is a hysterical movie.  I don’t recommend eating while you are watching it; if you do, I refuse to be held responsible for your death.  I’ve warned you. 

Worst:

Happy Feet.  The one movie that I purposely missed the end of.  BLECK.

Books:

Best:

Stephen Lawhead’s Pendragon Trilogy.  I love Myrddin Emrys.  It’s something that my friends just have to deal with.  And (bad me) I sprang it on Samwise pretty much like that, only at about two in the morning coming home from Florida.

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanuaken.  This book is absolutely incredible.  And… actually… it would be great if you stop reading my post, go read that book, and then get back to me. 

Heretics and Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton.  Wow.  Although he does a fair amount of Calvinism-bashing… could cause insanity in me since he just bashes it, and not really anything about it.  Other than believing in predestination (which apparently he had confused with fatalism.  Sigh.)  But that was the downside; other than that (in my never ever humble opinion!) they were excellent books.

Worst:

Unfortunately… the Kate Martinelli mysteries by Laurie King.  Gak.  Here I was thinking they’d be light, pleasant flashlight reading and they’re about a lesbian cop.  There went light.  And they have a lot of perverted details.  There went pleasant.  There went my reading.  Oh well.  I always have Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, right?

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger:  RUN AWAY!!!!  *GAGS*  Seriously, this book… BLECK.  Don’t read it.  If I was censoring it, it would be going from a 500+ page book to a five page brochure on the dangers of time travelling.  Totally immoral and… *walks away mumbling “And I thought the Canterbury Tales were bad.”)

C.D.s

Best:

As far as CCM CDs were concerned, this was a great year for me.  MercyMe’s Coming Up to Breathe, Sanctus Real’s Face of Love.  Newboys’ Go, Jars of Clay’s Good Monsters.  Aaron Shust’s Whispered and Shouted and The Swift’s Singing Back To You, Trace Bundy’s Adapt.  Derek Webb’s The Ringing Bell and Casting Crowns’ The Altar and the Door.

There wasn’t too much in the way of “worst”.  A few.  But you probably already heard rants about them.

Various other good stuff:  The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit.  Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Robot series.  Shaun Grove’s song Welcome Home,  Cover Me by Bebo Norman, Isn’t It Love by Andrew Peterson, and Protest to Praise by Down Here.

 And.  There we go.

 Goodnight!

One thing I find really fascinating abou the internet… December 10, 2007

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December 5, 2007

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It’s so hard to see with the glare coming down
It’s so hard to breathe
It’s so hard to tell what is lies and what’s truth
It’s so hard to believe
But I will stand in the rain and say
I still believe you
I will scream through the storms
I still believe you
I still believe youIt’s so hard to go on when I know I deserve death
It’s so hard to smile
It’s so hard to get up  when I’ve fallen again
It’s so hard to go onBut I will stand in the rain and say
I still believe you
I will scream through the storms
and the pain and the darkness
I still believe you
I still believe youIt’s so hard to trust you for myself
It’s so hard to lead
It’s so hard to find peace after all the shame
It’s so hard to be forgiven

And the screams turn to sobbing
And I will cry
I still believe you, I still believe you
The tears will turn to joy some day
I still believe you…

I think I wrote this sometime this spring, compromised mostly of various parts of IM convos.  There were a lot… talking about trusting God, about ways life changes, about trusting God, about salvation, about trusting God… you get the idea.

Anyway, I’ve found that it happens this way a lot, and with a lot more than the one person whom I was talking with.  Things happen that we don’t understand, that we hate, and we keep screaming through the storms that “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him… If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Job 13:15… Daniel 3:17-18)  It is not just a defiant scream, it is our trust.  We will live for it and die in this hope — that God is faithful and will bring to completion the good work which He began in us. (Philippians 1:6)

Even when the refining feels like it is turning our hearts into “tar”, as it was put this spring.

And the good news is that God also gives laughter, even in the midst of the storms.  There were things that were supposed to be funny and weren’t and thus became funny, arguments about who was ADD after all, and if “night night” is a blessing.

God is great and God is good.

Sometimes I wish I knew what to say… November 28, 2007

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What do you say when you find out that a friend’s mom is dying?  When the friend is a year younger than you and has five younger siblings?

So I say that I don’t know what to say, which is true, and remind him of John 16.

And pray.

And get Jars of Clay’s song Oh My God stuck in my head.

Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
You set the break and set the tone
Flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain
All fools say, “Oh my God”

Oh my God, Why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don’t bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase, and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend
Oh my God.

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools; sons and failures
Thieves will always say
Lost and found; ailing wanderers
Healers always say
Whores and angels; men with problems
Leavers always say
Broken hearted; separated
Orphans always say
War creators; racial haters
Preachers always say
Distant fathers; fallen warriors
Givers always say
Pilgrim saints; lonely widows
Users always say
Fearful mothers; watchful doubters
Saviors always say

Sometimes I cannot forgive
And these days, mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I dream we’re better,
Scales were gone and faces light
When we wake, we hate our brother
We still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes,
And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing,
What makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder
We all feel the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up
All the times I had to give
Babies underneath their beds
Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes,
All the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense

Oh my God
Oh my God
Oh my God

And then we talk about other things.  Is it just making background noise?  Or is it because life does still go on?  Or is it foreground noise, because we don’t want to hear what is going on in the background?  Is that cowardice, or bravery, or something else?  I don’t know.

But it’s what I do, because it’s the best thing I can think of.

Today’s Omnibus assignment September 17, 2007

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Evaluate Biblically the following suggesting that The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) gives for eliminating prejudice from your “House of Worship”: 

74 Urge your leaders to use the pulpit to condemn all forms of bigotry. 

The use of the pulpit is not supposed to be for political purposes.  Rather, those who preach are to “preach the Word; to be ready in season and out of season”. (II Tim 4:1)  They are to preach the good news, as Paul often spoke of.  Part of this good news is that all humans are made in the image of God (Gen 9:6) and should therefore be treated with dignity, but another part is that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father and to salvation.  (John 14:6, Acts 4:11-12)  Any other claims of ways of salvation are unequivocally false.

75 Encourage friends of other faiths to visit your religious services and share your religious knowledge with them. This is a perfectly sensible suggestion, since we have been commanded to “make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that [Christ] has commanded [us]”.  (Matt 28:18-20)  We are the ambassadors of God on earth to be used by Him to bring people from death to life, from darkness into light.  (Acts 26:16-18.)

76 Invite clergy representing religions different from your own to participate in services and deliver the sermon.  Rotten idea.  Paul condemns the preaching of any other gospel than the one which he had preached, which God had set forth, in Galatians 1:6-9.  Having so strongly declared the condemnation of anyone who preaches a different gospel in his absence, we can logically conclude that God would certainly not countenance inviting unbelievers to preach their lies as truth.  This is a hideous example of falsehood masquerading as truth, and that is extremely dangerous.  God blazingly condemned false shepherds and promises to care for His people Himself in Jeremiah 23:1-4.  77 Host a tour for elected and appointed city/town officials to learn more about your religion and the programs and activities your religious community offers.  That’s an interesting idea… but our purpose as a church is to worship God, not please men (Gal 1:10) by offering “programs and activities”.   78 Ensure that all faiths are represented accurately in existing library materials and religious school curricula This is a good suggestion.  If they truly mean this, they must support Christianity since any “faith” other than faith in Christ quickly is proven to be straw and rubble when it is tested. (I Cor 3:11-15)  79 Reach out to diverse religious communities to cosponsor festivals and holiday observances, such as ADL’s Interfaith Seders, that highlight and celebrate our common humanity.  This is a bit odd, and I don’t quite understand what the point is, other than to show that all religions are equal.  They are not.  There are plenty of chances to celebrate “our common humanity”, such as the 4th of July, Arts Festivals, the fair, and so forth.  However, to truly celebrate a holiday, we need to know why it is holy. 80 Be respectful of everyone who attends your religious services whether they are members of or visitors to your congregation. This is hardly an original idea.  James gives more detail on this practice in James 2:1-13.  Christians are to be conformed to Christ, which involves treating people with humanity and respect – but not compromising when they would degrade God.  (Matt 23)  It is not respectful to allow people to continue in damnable errors.  However, it is not always a good idea to be as abrasive as Jesus was, because we do not know exactly what is in a person’s heart, rather, we have been commanded “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (I Peter 3:14-16) 

81 Turn one bulletin board into a display space where newspaper/magazine clippings depicting current events related to anti-Semitism and other forms of religious persecution, or human rights violations, can be posted for all to read. This is overlooking the real purpose of the church.  We are not a civil rights group. 

82 Organize an interfaith retreat for young people to increase understanding of each other’s beliefs and build lasting friendships  This is an idea which is potentially dangerous.  We are to be in the world, but we aren’t supposed to try to make ourselves part of the world, because we aren’t.  As Paul asked in II Corinthians 6:14, “What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?  Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”  While we are to treat all people with integrity, we cannot have the sort of fellowship with them that we have with others whom Christ has redeemed, and we are not to flirt with other gods. 83 Plan an interfaith youth group trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in
Washington, DC. Raise funds to cover travel expenses with a community bake sale, car wash, service auction or other activity. Again, that’s a bit odd, and I really cannot see any good coming out of it; only contention and (at best) hurt feelings.  We are not to aspire to be part of the world; rather, the world should see our light and aspire to become like us, and like Christ.  (I John 2:15, Matt 5:16)  In Philippians 2:14-16, Paul writes, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe, as you hold out the word of life”.  We shine not because we are so tolerant of other religions, but because we have and hold out what they do not have and cannot hope to have apart from Christ – the Word of life.  (John 6:63, 68-69)  

So yes… I’m apparently quite intolerant.  MercyMe summed it up well… 

 I’m a one trick pony, if you will
I got a one track mind with a heart that’s real
And don’t forget I’ve got tunnel vision
For something much bigger than superstition
Call me hard headed for the One that changed me
Say what you will, it will not phase me
No need for anything up my sleeve
There’s just one thing that I’ll ever needYou are my One and Only
You are my One and Only
Oh, I’m a one trick ponyIf I hear just one more time
That I should try and be more open-minded
I think I just might scream
The world says this is all there is
Yet I believe the One who says there’s life after this
Now tell me how much more open can my mind be?

Antion August 4, 2007

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I know, I’m a day late here.  We were away all day yesterday, and I didn’t have this post ready to go because I couldn’t think of what to say.

What can you write about someone who has been a friend for half of your life?  There are far too many memories… yes, serious ones as well as silly ones (that may be hard to believe if you’re  a faithful follower of the quotes on my other blog)… to compress them into one blog entry. 

Antion has taught me a lot.  Some of these lessons have been taught to me in other ways, but he has managed to personify them.  Some of them were pretty unique.  That debating is good, but that having someone who agrees with you when you’re tired of debating is even better.  That searching after God means really searching, and sometimes really pushing through stuff that you’d rather leave buried.  That following God means giving up what you want and doing what He wants.  That ”when humans words fail, God’s words can start… but we have to stop trying to speak and be still before him in order for him to talk…but its the trying to stop speaking that always gets me”.  That Casting Crowns and Bible Quizzing are very cool things.  That there are other people crazy enough who will discuss original sin and Ivanhoe in the same night… in the swimming pool.  Yeah.  That things will be done in groups that you’d never do alone… whether that’s attempting to quiz in Spanish or introduce yourself to everyone in your hotel. 

There have been many other things that he’s taught me.  But some of the best things are just in the things he’s been willing to do.   Willing to spend three hours writing an email to remind me to trust God when I found out that my Grandpa had terminal cancer.  Willing to look silly in the middle of a serious conversation so that we could laugh.  Willing to just talk when we were both unhappy.

Antion’s been a good friend.  He makes me laugh.  We can have conversations that are serious and then funny and then funnier, because we’re just being random.  And then serious again.  A lovely section from a convo, and then I’ll end this post…

Antion (10:40:46 PM):well.. sounds kinda like me precellphone

 Me (10:41:02 PM):what do I do to get that reaction… you did the same thing to me when I called that one time about quiz practice?

Me (10:41:22 PM):oh yeah, now with the cell you’re talking on it AND to someone else at the same time!  Big improvement!

Antion (10:41:30 PM):lol oh yeah

Antion (10:41:31 PM):skill

Me (10:41:40 PM):ADD

Antion (10:43:22 PM):you or me?

Me (10:43:33 PM):haha

Me (10:43:38 PM):um… yes?

Antion (10:43:39 PM):lol

Antion (10:43:45 PM):i like salt on my steak

Antion (10:43:48 PM):do you?

Me (10:43:51 PM):although I don’t

Me (10:43:58 PM):Oooh shiney!

Me (10:43:59 PM):what?

Antion (10:44:26 PM):my paintball gun is covered with dirt

Me (10:44:33 PM):yay

Me (10:44:44 PM):(i shouldn’t have reminded him, should I?)

Antion (10:44:56 PM):lol

Me (10:45:00 PM):do you seriously like salt on steak?

Antion (10:45:00 PM):yeah i do

Antion (10:45:01 PM):dont you?

Me (10:45:15 PM):never occured to me to try it…

Me (10:45:23 PM):but peanut butter on fritos is good

Antion (10:46:30 PM):that sounds good

Antion (10:46:38 PM):peanut butter pickles sandwiches are good

Me (10:46:45 PM):yes they are!

Me (10:47:03 PM):who ever said we can’t cook?

Antion (10:48:29 PM):well… you know the cant make jello blowing stuff up in the microwave might have made them a little suspicious

More quotes July 22, 2007

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“I swore that all of them had either been in or remembered the Civil War.”  ~ Pastor M, about the people at one of the first Bible studies he went to.

“Grant, I just follow you!” ~ Nathan, trying to excuse himself for ending up on the girls’ singing side.

 ”We’re related to Alexander the Great?  I didn’t know that!” ~ Pastor L

*yawn*

Okay, so I didn’t say it was many more quotes.