Romans 12:2...in progress

Closing Down Shop

2008-09-15T18:52:00.001-05:00

...And re-opening over here. C'mon over, the water feels great!

Fullness

2007-10-14T22:51:00.000-05:00

And from His fullness we have all received. John 1:16

Fullness of essential Deity - Colossians 2:9
Fullness of atoning efficacy in His blood - 1 John 1:7
Fullness of justifying righteousness in His life - Romans 8:1
Fullness of divine prevalence in His plea - Hebrews 7:25
Fullness of efficacy in His resurrection from the dead - 1 Peter 1:3
Fullness of triumph in His ascension - Ephesians 4:8
Fullness of blessings
~fullness of grace to pardon
~fullness of grace to regenerate
~fullness of grace to sanctify
~fullness of grace to preserve
~fullness of grace to perfect
Fullness at all times
~of comfort in affliction
~of guidance in prosperity
Fullness of every divine attribute - Colossians 1:19
~of wisdom
~of power
~of love

Fullness: impossible to survey

From Minneapolis to El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula

2007-10-09T00:12:00.000-05:00

Living Quarters - Two days after moving to California, I found a beautiful place to live with a wonderful family in North Hills (on the border of Northridge). I live in a lovely blue Colonial house with a mom and dad; their 16-year-old son (I finally get to "try out" that brother I've always wanted); and their dog, Champ. Currently there is work being done in the backyard as they are putting in a pool, hot tub, and grotto. Should be done by Christmas!

Job - It took me a little longer to find work. But three weeks ago, OfficeTeam placed me in a Temp-to-Hire position at a Jewish High School. I'm the Front Receptionist in the office where my main job description is multi-tasking! But what a neat environment. I'm also learning / teaching myself Hebrew and currently working on learning the alphabet. (Thankfully, I have many resources to assist me...many teachers at the school are fluent.)

Seasons...? - While Minnesota has two seasons (Winter & Construction), California has two seasons as well. Summer & Summerer. A week after arriving here, it reached highs of 117. At night, we found relief when it cooled down to somewhere in the range of 89-91 degrees F. It's now mid-90-ish during the day, but cools down to about 70-ish at night.

A month ago, when I walked into a Starbucks and found they were promoting their seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte, I smirked thinking, they totally put their Fall drink out waaaay too early. It's nowhere near Autumn yet. Oh, wait!... It still feels like the middle of summer here! Not only that, but ridiculous of all ridiculous, stores have had Christmas decorations up for three weeks now! It's just so wrong in 90-degree weather.

Church - Now attending Grace Community Church, home of John MacArthur, I am adjusting to a new "church schedule" (Sunday morning services, Sunday School, Sunday Evening services, and Wednesday night services - all with different messages), as well as trying to get plugged in with a new church group, Hillside, my Bible Study within Crossroads, the Young Adults Ministry at Grace. I'm also starting to remember Bethlehem as the "little" church I used to attend, as Grace is about 9,000-strong. It's wonderful to sit under the teaching of Pastor John, No. 2. And Rick Holland is a fantastic College Pastor; I appreciate his teaching so much! (I miss Pastor John [Piper] terribly.)

Language Barrier - There are two, actually. Being Minnesooooootan, I talk a particular way...and, like, totally not like I'm from, like, the West Coast, or anything! Yeah, duh! No one seems to process the word 'pop.' They all cock their heads to the side and give me a wary look until I realize that I am, in fact, having 'soda.' (I will not convert to saying soda. It is pop and always will be.)

The other is far more prominent due to the overwhelming population of zero-English-speaking-Mexicans who somehow landed a job that services the public. Consider the following conversation:
Armchair: Hi, I'd like to find out how much a man's haircut costs.
Lady: Y'u wan' haircut?
A: No, I'd like to know how much one costs.
L: Ok. Haircut?
A: No, how much?
L: One o'clock haircut, ok?

Gym - After frequenting World Gym for about a month with Armchair, it has become a favorite activity several days a week. My most recent accomplishment was 4 pie (360 lbs.) on seated leg press. YEAH BUDDY!

Appearance - The aim of this paragraph is to announce the new addition to my face: a pierced nose!

Any more updates? - I'm sure there's much more to share, but that's all for tonight. Hope that catches many up on where I've been the last...several...days.

Titus 2:11-14

2007-07-04T22:03:00.000-05:00

-Why must I renounce ungodliness and worldly passions?
Because of my blessed hope of the appearing of the glory of my great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

[-What significance does He have?
He gave Himself for me in order to redeem me from all lawlessness and to purify me--to be zealous for good works--for Himself for his own possession.]

-And to what end do I repudiate ungodliness and worldly passions?
To live with self-control, uprightness, and godliness in the present age.

-How am I able to do this?
By the grace of God which was effectual to bring me salvation.

There's a rainbow in all of us

2007-05-01T08:43:00.000-05:00

This is certainly a different take on the whole "Noah story" than I've ever heard. Not realizing it was about planet-care, I had always thought it was an account of how God destroyed the wicked on the earth, displaying God's holiness and intolerance of evil, and then it being a display of God's faithfulness that He keeps covenant and keeps for Himself a remnant. Meh, my mistake. I guess it's actually a story to teach us about caring for the earth and "building a better world."

Tid bit from the Robb Report

2007-04-16T18:14:00.000-05:00

It doesn't get more superlative than this. One of the most elite, limited-edition cell phones made by GoldVish Illusion, Le Million Piece Unique, is composed of at least 150 grams of 18-karat gold and covered with 1,800 diamonds. The price tag for this little charmer comes in at a swanky $1.26 million.

Adds new meaning to the phrase, "Dang, I lost my phone!"

Who let that thought in?!

2007-03-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

As I was here at work, singing under my breath O, Church Arise by the Getty's, while performing one of the mundane tasks associated with my job, I thought happily to myself, I like my job.

What?! My face dropped in surprise, and I almost laughed out loud. Where did that come from?

Astonishing! I just had to document this day. When God comes in, changes a heart, renews a mind through the truth of Scripture, and adjusts an attitude...there is no doubting that it was Him that brought about such a change.

Teach me, my God and King, in all things Thee to see;
And what I do in anything to do it as to Thee.
All may of Thee partake, nothing can be so mean,
Which with this tincture, for Thy sake, will not grow bright and clean.
A servant with the clause makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws, makes that and the action fine.

Dry dog

2007-03-27T14:28:00.000-05:00

In response to Craver's post, I have been thinking about prayer. I loved what was said in one of my favorite books, Valley of Vision, regarding this topic. Consider the following:

"The soul learns to pray by praying; for prayer is communion with a transcendent and immanent God who on the ground of his nature and attributes calls forth all the powers of the redeemed soul in acts of total adoration and dedication."
(Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions - Preface)

Does anyone else find it difficult to learn praying by praying? It's a tough, but sweet, lesson.

Rink Rats

2007-03-21T15:51:00.000-05:00

An inspiring image

Jersey #7 - Jon Schiedel, right wing, in action!

The winning team

The Great Canadian Experience

2007-03-20T10:03:00.000-05:00

O Canada.

What a weekend! Beginning last Friday after work, Daasy and I started our great trek Nort'. We were going up to watch, support, and cheer for the Rink Rats in a hockey tournament. As is consistent with "typical Bethlehem women," we popped in a CD of a John Piper sermon as we booked it up to Dryden, Ontario. With little to no point of interest the entire distance of Minnesota, we found our way to the border, which is nestled right in a paper mill. It felt funny to be driving through something that felt like a back alley to make our way to a different country.

Approaching customs, a stench assailed our senses. We looked at each other, shocked. What is that?! Just as we looked forward, a large mural came into view, trumpeting The Great Canadian Experience. I don't know, but they might want to rethink the placement of that sign on the wall of a paper mill.

Upon giving the curt man at customs our drivers licenses and answering his pointed questions, we were asked to pull around the corner where our licenses would be returned. We did so, and Daasy quickly turned to me, thinking we were going to be asked to pass a Canadian Knowledge Test to get in, and asked who the president of Canada was. After informing her that Canada doesn't have a president, two guards walk towards us, armed with rifles. I mean flashlights. (Sorry, it's not that interesting of a story.) They asked us to step out as they poked through our belongings and asked us further questions. I found it hilarious as I watched the guy on my side of the car pick up my CD case and all it contains are CDs upon CDs of sermons. I wonder how often they see that.

After they wished us a good trip in Canada, we were sent on our way. After a couple hours of driving on a winding road...in pitch black darkness...while it began to snow, we finally arrived at the Best Western in Dryden. At 3:30 in the morning. We crashed, hoping to get a little sleep before the Rink Rats' second game of the weekend at 10.

We awoke at 9, and headed down for a sit-down breakfast. Unfortunately, because they wouldn't bus any of their tables, it took us 15 minutes to be seated, then another 20 minutes for the waitress to join us and hand us menus. We looked nervously at our watches and ordered our breakfasts "to go." After another 20 minutes went by and still no sign of our food, I began to wonder.

"What's taking so long?"
"Hibby, you did order French toast."
"What? Did they have to go to France for it?"
"We're in Canada..."
"So, they went to Quebec for it?"

(Sorry, Armchair. I just had to include this conversation in the post.)

Once our breakfast was brought to us, we quickly took it back to our room and ate while simultaneously putting our shoes on and brushing our teeth. We made it over to the arena just in time to not see the first game of the day. But after hearing about the disappointing lose the night before, it was great to hear they had won 8-0.

The day went by too quickly. Watching fabulous hockey games; explaining the game a bit to Daasy; heckling with fans of opposing teams; cheering with Lex, the 6-year-old son of one of the Rink Rats; hanging out with the Rats between games; exploring Dryden; buying Coffee Crisp...the list could go on. Of course the spike in adrenaline certainly followed the Rink Rats bringing home the victory of the tournament.

Our weekend (day) in Canada seemed to end too quickly. After heading to bed later than we probably should have, we woke up the next morning at 5:30. Jon, our B-Bapper friend on the team, joined us for the return expedition. Driving through the beautiful terrain of Southern Ontario, we sang hymns together that came to mind watching the stunning sunrise. After a couple hours on the road, we made a quick stop, and Daasy and I were officially introduced to Tim Horton's. Back on the road, there was a lot of sleeping and a lot of Cross Movement. We got into Minneapolis about seven hours after leaving Dryden.

The weekend, in summation, really was a Great Canadian Experience.

"Psst, anyone still here?" she wondered.

2007-03-15T14:27:00.000-05:00

After a relatively lengthy sabbatical (for a blog writer), Jennifer once again returns to the blogosphere for what she hopes is not merely a cameo. Though, after so long an absence, she is rather intimidated in knowing how to begin her post. So much has happened in the recent weeks that she is at a loss as to where to begin.

Hundreds of thoughts run through her mind. Should she mention her aversion to this new-fangled Blogger? She proudly considers herself an old fashioned girl, and she misses the "old fashioned" Blogger. She decides against saying anything about it, however; no one would be interested.

She considers what else has transpired since February 8th. Why, the beginning of March! Perchance one would be intrigued by her discourse on the "in like a lion, out like a lamb" March weather. But no, that would be far more suited to parlor banter.

She smiles as she considers her scant remaining audience being amused as they read her anecdote from yesterday afternoon. She regales herself by replaying the scene in her mind.

There she had sat at her desk at work, so very tired. All she had wanted to do was sleep. Proceeding to zone out, her eyes glazed over and her body relaxed into the supposedly ergonomic office chair she occupied. How could she have known that it was possible to fall into a semi-sleeping state (or a "long blink" as she preferred to call it) with eyes wide open? Suddenly, she had jerked to attention, only to realize that she had just been "dreaming" of amillennialism vs. premillennialism. As she had shaken the fogginess from her mind, she avowed not to tell anyone of this. No one would understand. Who dreams of differentiating eschatological views?

Jennifer bites her lip as she remembers that that account is not supposed to be shared with anyone for fear of being labeled as one of those crazy theological geeks, and she supposes a blog entry featuring that story would not be permissible.

Oh! She could speak of her exciting, event-filled weekend, beginning with the mini-trip to Canada! It is going to be a blast. She is looking forward to road-trippin' it up to Ontario with her dear friend, Daasy, while the two of them will be jamming to some solid theology-packed Christian rap and headbanging to John Piper sermons. As seems to be tradition for road trips, Jennifer hopes to have time to bake banana bread for the ride up. Once in Ontario, the two will enjoy a rousing day filled with hockey tournament games and fellowship with some dear brothers.

Upon returning to the Twin Cities on Sunday evening, she will be heading over to Bethlehem for OneAnother's Variety Show. In the course of said Variety Show, a video will be shown featuring her as a "Typical Bethlehem Woman." The movie narrates how and why it is so challenging to get a date with those Bethlehem women. Apparently, they're a different sort of breed. Jennifer chuckled smugly over that fact. She also decided not to delve into divulging her weekend plans. Too long of a story, she determined.

After dismissing a few more thoughts that came to mind of potential bloggable moments, she decided on a very ascetic approach to her first post in over a month...she will simply pose the question:

Hey, does anybody still read this thing?

Dial M for Mental

2007-02-08T13:05:00.000-06:00

While watching the tail end of a Magnum P.I. show, my sisters and I made some observations, comparing and contrasting Magnum with MacGyver. Consider the following:

1. MacGyver enjoys the great outdoors; Magnum drives a 308 GTS Ferrari.
2. Magnum is a war vet; MacGyver shies away from every gun.
3. MacGyver is interested in the environment; Magnum like the ladies.
4. Magnum is the only man on earth that can pull off the “mustache-only” look; MacGyver is the only man to actually look attractive in a mullet.
5. MacGyver can make a bomb out of a paper clip and a shoelace…and then defuse it with duct tape and his pocket knife; Magnum wear really short shorts.
6. Magnum never seems to find the right woman to “complete” him; MacGyver finds her every show.

Obviously, these observations of those two great heroes of the 80s serve a grand purpose. Let me know if you think of one.

Another one for the books

2007-02-01T16:57:00.000-06:00

Consider the alternative:
"Babe, your name must be 'Mr. Saint' because putting up with you definitely takes perseverance!"

Happy Anniversary...

2007-01-26T23:07:00.000-06:00

...To me! I "celebrated" my third-year work anniversary today. Wow.

Love and Centrum Silver

2007-01-18T14:04:00.000-06:00

A fond pastime of mine is watching old people--particularly old married couples. Some I see are unmistakably senile, some are quirky...like the couple that wears the matching golf caps or the brilliantly white tennis shoes (how do they keep them so white in slushy winter weather?!). Some seem nearly oblivious to the presence of the other, while others are still so evidently in love with each other.

While watching them, I often wonder, How long have they been married? what have they gone through together in the course of their marriage? what are the dynamics in their relationship? do they love Jesus? It leads me to wonder what I will be like as a little old, white-haired ancient along with my old, wrinkly husband.

Today at lunch (Perkins - the perfect old-people-watching place), one couple sparked my interest and attention...maybe it was because I was already thinking about that stalwart, sacrificial love needed to sustain a marriage.

I was "introduced" to the wife first. She walked in slowly due to twisted legs and bad feet. She lowered herself into the chair next to the window as she informed the host that she would soon be joined by a tall man...Bob was his name. She didn't have to wait long. Soon thereafter, Bob walked in and nearly immediately had a scowl on his face.

"Let's get a booth; I wanted to sit in a booth," he growled.
"Oh, I so wanted to sit by the window," she said as she looked out at the falling snow.

As I watched the display, all I could think was 'Bob! love your wife! love your wife! die to self!' After a while of him refusing to sit at that table, he walked across the room to a different (though identical) table opposite of the one his wife occupied and hung his coat on one of the chairs. As he sat, he announced to his wife sitting alone at the original table, "We're sitting here."

Not so much as assisting her to their newly chosen table, he looked out the window as she laboriously lifted herself out of her chair and slowly ambled over to the new table.

The demonstration of that small peek into their marriage astounded me, and it made me wonder what patterns had they set early on in their marriage that made that interaction apparently the norm. Sacrificial love certainly isn't the norm--for anyone. I've heard it put pithily that marriage is the continual process of discovering how selfish you are. Hm, I pray for my future marriage - that we would so exemplify Christ and the church in loving and submitting to each other; I pray for my future husband - that even now he would be grown in that regard of Christ-like love. I pray for myself - that I might learn how to truly love and respect others now and later my husband.

I hope one day, my husband and I are the cute old couple that is still so in love by the grace of God because we have learned how to love each other and die to self.

2007-01-10T12:17:00.000-06:00

To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of
none effect.
-John Owen

Contemplation on a certain Colossians' concept

2007-01-03T11:52:00.000-06:00

For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Having been meditating on these couple verses, I have a few questions I'd like to work through (via typing "out loud"). And so I thought I might as well put my mental meanderings up for discussion, so if any of you have anything to add or correct to my Spartan thoughts, please jump in! (Additionally, this was to avoid a hefty fine to the blog police for announcing my 'coming out of retirement,' only to appear absent once again.)

One frustration of mine that I will put forward first is that I took a very brief overview class of Diagramming and Arcing the Bible many months ago (and freaking loved it!), but have since forgotten the few techniques I gleaned. I wonder if I'd be able to root through my moving boxes to find my papers on the subject to refresh my memory... At any rate, remnants of the class remained with me and, if not marginally, influences the way I look at and meditate on a passage of Scripture.

A few things I remember most about the class is the beginning exercise of dividing the passage up into propositional chunks (in order to find the basis of what is being said), and "for" and "therefore" are, respectively, grounding and inferring neon signs in a given passage. So with what terribly primitive familiarity I have with this concept, I took on Colossians 2:5-7, captioned above.

My trial run through of putting these verses in some semblance of order produced this. If you find this to be incorrect or having the potential to be ordered in a better fashion, I'd love to hear any edifying thoughts.

There are those two neon signs in this passage: for and therefore.

For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, (should those be two separate propositions?)

Preliminarily, I took this for as grounding the statement of his rejoicing to see both their good order and firmness of faith--in Christ.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,

I think the therefore is an inference to the base statement, the next proposition, so walk in him. Beacuse we received Christ, we should consequently walk in him.

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith,

This, describing how we are to walk in him.

just as you were taught,

Taught, I took as harking back to the statement "so walk in him." Or could it possibly be in cahoots with the following proposition...

abounding in thanksgiving.

This little guy nearly blindsided me (to be dramatic about it). I'm wondering where this came from and what it is qualifying. Is it directly tied with "just as you were taught" or is it going all the way back to walking in him while abounding in thanksgiving?

It's just a guess, but I think this theme of thanksgiving is kind of potent one. How often am I abounding in thanksgiving? Or is it more often than not merely a quaint effort of formality? Honestly, how could I dare to NOT be abounding in thanksgiving and giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?! We are to pray and being watchful in it with thanksgiving, and with thanksgiving, letting our requests be made known to God. And coming into the presence of God with thanksgiving and magnifying and glorifying Him with the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Hm. Interesting thought to let my brain sit on for a while. I would love to hear other thoughts to further my own as this post has been really nothing more than a mish-mash of rather inarticulate thoughts (though I do hope it appeases the blog cops).

Welcome Back, Blogger

2006-12-27T08:55:00.000-06:00

For not having posted in nigh a month, this may be poor resurrection to my blogging habit and a disappointment to anyone who might still read my blog. I just wanted to make the public announcement that today is Wednesday, and yesterday was definitely Monday. Having the unfortunate fate of not living in Canada (where they celebrate that wonderful holiday, Boxing Day), I had to return to work the day after Christmas.

Yesterday began as normally as expected in that I awoke and drove to work. The day didn't waste any time, however, in presenting the possibility of it being "one of those days." It only took me stepping onto the elevator for the opportunity to present itself. The elevator was relatively crowded and I boarded and stepped to the side. The side with the buttons. As I turned around (so I wouldn't be facing the wall on the way up), my purse struck the emergency call button. Suddenly the entire elevator was filled with dialing and beeping. I lunged for the button as if to withdraw my misstep but was crestfallen to discover that one isn't able to "uncall" an emergency call. Laughter and snickers joined the sounds of chaos in the little elevator as I stammered incoherently and frantically looked around for some way to make it stop. A man in the back put my search to rest as he assured me that as soon as the call was answered, we would simply tell them we were fine. So we rode up the six stories all the while the "call was being placed."

When the car arrived at sixth floor (where I get off), the emergency call had still not been answered (glad to know there's a rapid response, eh?). As I exited, I turned to the rest remaining in the car, and in a comically exaggerated voice, I pleasantly chirped, "Bye! [I'm leaving; have fun dealing with this yourselves]"

That, among other dull and tedious occurrences of calamity, permeated the beginning of my work week (granted, my day was much improved for some time in the afternoon).

Still, I awoke to a song this morning, singing:
Every breath I take I want my life to bring You praise
I am so amazed by Your never-ending grace
Nothing in this world could separate me from Your love
You're the Wonderful One

Praying that's true of my actions and attitude today, I am so thankful for this morning. Imagine! New mercies! I pray that every breath is to God's glory today and that with each breath, I am reminded of the sweet graces that I have received while so entirely contemptible.

Praise to the Wonderful One.

Me against the world

2006-12-06T17:54:00.000-06:00

There are two (secular) points of contention between me and the rest of the world. And that would be in the form of two directly opposing views on a couple movies.

1. Forrest Gump
Are you ready for this one? I hate this movie. Actually, would "loathe" be too strong? I don't know that I have met one person who shares my perspective on this movie ever (except for a commenter on this post who had shockingly similar feelings as my own). I've seen the movie once and that was three times too many.

2. A Christmas Story
Again, I've never met anyone who doesn't like this movie, aside from my dad. This movie just bugs me. Watch a real Christmas classic - like White Christmas. Or Miracle on 34th Street (the old one!). I can't say "ugh" more vehemently to convey my censure of this flick.
Note to Lee, who seems to have an unfortunate "festive" picture as his profile photo: I'll be praying for you. Ha!

And...there's that.

Google

2006-12-04T16:26:00.000-06:00

Heidi: "Google now owns that too..."
Jen: "Yeah, they seem to be trying to take over the world."
Heidi: "And rightly so!"

Pertinent thoughts for today

2006-11-20T16:41:00.000-06:00

These thoughts were just what I needed to hear today.

Os Guinness writes in his book, God in the Dark, "To believe in God is to 'let God be God'...In trusting God, we are living out our assumptions, putting them into practice all that we say he is in theory so that who God is and what he has done can make the difference in every part of our lives...This means that the accuracy of our pictures of God is not tested by our orthodoxy or our testimonies but by the truths we count on in real life. It is demonstrated when the heat is on, the chips are down, and reality seems to be breathing down our necks." (page 61)

Isaiah 30:20-21
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

It is from the Lord that the bread of adversity and the water of affliction are given. And yet, God reveals Himself in the allocation of these. He is made known to the partakers of these bitter victuals. While I gnaw on this stale, tough adversity-bread and wash it down with my pungent affliction-water, I find myself desperately pouring over the Word, aggressively seeking - while resting in the promise - that my eyes might see my Teacher.

Tough love from Exodus

2006-11-16T10:21:00.000-06:00

Reading through the book of Exodus has really been working me over. As I've been reading, I've had the feeling of that akin to a spiritual Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the face in that it's been slapping me around and hitting me hard. That's never pleasant, and yet, it's so good. It's an unpleasantly good experience. It produces sober happiness. It calls for me to be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. And it couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

Remembering the years long ago when I would read Exodus and find myself giggling at the evident stupidity of the Israelites exposed in this book, I realized we clearly must be born with an innate sense of a Pharisaic posture. For it had come as a shock to me when one day I realized I was just as the Israelites in their stupidity, in their stumbling. The following are some verses that have loudly echoed in my own heart, and made me cling ever so much nearer to the Lord for His mercy. He surely is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Beginning with a snapshot of Moses while talking to the LORD, who appeared to him through a burning bush, we see Moses shying away from the directive from the LORD to bring His people out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 4:10
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

And the LORD responds to this excuse of Moses' in Exodus 4:11-12
Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

The LORD's first response to this inane question is 'it's not about you, Moses. Let's remember who I am, shall we?'

Continuing on, we see the incredible power the LORD exerts in the form of plagues in Egypt in the passages Exodus 7:14-10:29 and 12:29-32. And not only so, but also the act of the LORD's in the hardening of Pharaoh's heart (so that He might show His power in him and that His name might be proclaimed in all the earth, Romans 9:17).

Then, in Exodus 12:51, we read the attestation of, might I say, the mightiest work of the LORD in salvation (until that of final salvation through Christ Jesus.)
And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

The LORD brought them out. He brought them out of their slavery from the freaking mightiest nation in all the Ancient Near East. Egypt, at the time of the exodus, was not only the biggest and strongest of any nations in the world at that time, they were at the height of their own country's dominion, as well as being the biggest country thus far in the history of the world. And the people of Israel were told to remember it. How could one not?! Indeed, how could one not? And yet, the instruction is given in Exodus 13:3 that they not forget.
Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.”

An assuring evidence that the LORD was ever present with them is stated in Exodus 13:21-22.
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

And yet, here it comes...

The grumbling. The derisive complaining, recorded in Exodus 14:11-12.
They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Wait--what? They wanted to...go back? They were envying their life of slavery? Did they not recall the centuries-long wailing and crying out for salvation? (This is one of the places that I would slap my forehead at their complete ignorance and foolish doubt.)

And oh! One of the sweetest verses, in Exodus 14:14, on the all-sufficiency of God and our own weakness and incapability.
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

And the LORD did fight for Israel and saved them, and Israel saw God's great power which evoked a holy fear in the people, as cited in Exodus 14:30-31.
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

After they praised God and sang to the LORD, the next thing we read, in Exodus 15:23-24, is that because they had happened upon bitter water, they grumbled against Moses.
When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

The LORD's recent history of water-related miracles, notwithstanding.

Yet, the LORD's mercy is shown evident in the following verse 25.
And [Moses] cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

Oh, that the grumbling was put to rest, but no. Again, the people of Israel start to grumble in Exodus 16:2-3.
And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Died by the hand of the LORD? They were just saved by the hand of the LORD! This would be another one of those forehead-slapping moments. Did they not remember the spectacular display of God's glory in leading them out of captivity? Their contemptuous belligerence had me in censorious astonishment.

But again, YHWH's merciful patience is displayed in Exodus 16:4-5, accompanied by faith-testing guidelines.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

And the reason for this grace is made clear in verses 6-7. Soli deo gloria.
So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?”

The following definition of grumbling, in Exodus 16:8, is nothing if not terrifying.
And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”

And what grumbling isn't against the LORD? Any form of grumbling is made with an unthankful heart. Grumbling against the LORD. That's frightening. His response?

Exodus 16:11-12
And the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”

"I am the LORD your God." That's it. The Israelites response? Unbelieving disobedience to the LORD's instruction.

Exodus 16:20
But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

And they weren't finished. More grumbling in Exodus 17:3.
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

Unbelievable. But then in verse 6, we see GOD's faithfulness in mercy by providing for these grumbling people.
Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Reading the acts of the Israelites makes my heart quake. In righteous anger and amazed shock at their lack of trust, disobedience, self-reliance, disbelief, unbelief, unthankfulness, and pride. It becomes unrighteous anger when I think myself guiltless of this baseness. Only when I realize that I have the corner market on the execution of these sins, and am given a humble heart, and by God's grace given the attitude of the publican, I can beat my breast and beg forgiveness and mercy.

Rawr.

2006-11-13T22:27:00.000-06:00

I just got home from church...

För Sverige I Tiden

2006-11-07T09:12:00.000-06:00

Thank you. That will be all.

Go Lamplighters

2006-10-30T12:30:00.000-06:00

Below you will see my hockey game schedule that has finally been determined (I can't believe I'm doing this--posting this, that is). My home ice is Augsburg College ice arena.

November 4th -- home, 6:30
November 11th -- home, 8:30
November 17th -- away (STMA), 9:15
November 20th -- away (Edison), 8:45
November 28th -- away (Pleasant), 8:50

December 2nd -- home, 7:45
December 8th -- away (Mounds Pond), 10:00
December 9th -- home, 8:00
December 16th -- home, 6:00

January 13th -- home, 7:15
January 20th -- home, 6:00
January 27th -- home, 6:00
January 28th -- away (Richfield), 2:30

February 20th -- away (Apple Valley), 9:45
February 23rd -- away (Richfield), 6:15
February 24th -- away (Chaska), 10:15

To My Dearest Daasy (and Hen) (and Frank)

2006-10-25T17:26:00.000-05:00

A quote.

Jen1: "Hm, it says PDT...What does that mean again?"
Jen2: "Puff. Daddy."

UPDATE
Hen: "My throat isn't sore, my glands aren't enlarged, and my liver isn't swollen. I think I'm ok."

Apparently, this is my "you had to be there" quote post. Here's another one I've been inclined to repeat all day.

Get Fuzzy: "Blimey, this is a cracking banger, innit? Right, wrap your laughing gear 'round this, mate."

Having no idea what this jolly means, I can't help but smile and swoon as it sounds fantastic in a British accent.

UPDATE YET AGAIN
Frank: "I'm going to get on this quote board one of these days."

How's that? That quote was just added 'in a pinch.' You've had far better quotes that I would have added were they readily accessible to me at this current time.

A Garden of Theology

2006-10-19T12:14:00.000-05:00

Though not knowing what prompted me to start this (maybe Tim's post on Redefining Arminianism, or possibly a recent conversation I've had with a newly acquired friend), I decided to record some thoughts on a topic that is rather prevalent in my estimation. I'm not even sure where this post will end up by the time I'm finished. It may be a narrative of my recent history, or perhaps it'll simply be my take on what may be referred to as "The Fine Line."
Actually, it'll probably be a little of both.

A background of my Christian walk, I suppose, is in due order.

I grew up in a wonderful home with my parents and younger sisters. Beginning in my family with my great-great(-great?)-grandparents, my lineage has been raised to know Christ. How wonderful to be brought up with Christian parents and grandparents, and to hear stories of their parents and grandparents loving Jesus and serving the Lord. I am so thankful!

Growing up and going to my family's "home church," I naturally assumed that what I learned there about God and our relationship to Him, the Bible, and salvation, over the course of my 10-year attendance, was the "norm," the truth of Christianity. It was what I heard everywhere in the Christian community. I learned that salvation is predominantly about us. We can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus because of the work done on the cross...for the principal purpose of...having a relationship with God. That was the end for which salvation worked. It was about us. We accepted Jesus into our hearts because God was a little needy. Maybe so much as lonely. He loved us to the extent of loving us because of ourselves.

An example would be in my early years in Sunday school and learning about Noah and the Ark--it was a story about Noah and the Ark. Not about the holiness of God and the vileness of man--it was not a relaying of "God judges the world and sends a flood." There was a smidgeon mentioned about the mercy of God in keeping for Himself a "remnant," but for the most part that portion was as a "backdrop" to the main character of the story. At the same time, we also learned about the omniscience and omnipotence and omnipresence of our God. Hm, confusing...not that I realized the paradox at the time.

On a personal level, during my youth, my Bible was a crack-open-twice-a-week-while-at-church book for a verse here and there. Additionally, I would have the quintessential summer church camp highs, but they would slowly diminish back into the prosaic manner of living the "good church girl" life of outward form and inward lukewarness. This continued primarily through highschool and college years.

A few years ago, I started to attend a College and Career Bible study group unassociated with my church. Learning so much from the teaching pastor there and being surrounded by Christians very passionate about the Word of God, I began to grow in my faith. A desire was lit in my heart to read the Word more and memorize Scripture. I also increasingly loved learning about Biblical things. Though not entirely solid in their theology, my time in this group was certainly a catalyst to where God was then leading me.

Though not knowing a great deal about the church or its pastor, I decided to check out Bethlehem Baptist. And I simply fell in love. With the church. With the people. With the passion there for stating, unabashedly, solid Biblical truths. I'd go to church on Sunday mornings and Pastor John Piper would get up in the pulpit and candidly, fervently lay down truth like I had never heard before that struck me to my core.

Concurrently, I joined a brand new BBC small group, as well as faithfully listened to Desiring God on the radio (when it was actually aired on the radio) in the mornings. These two things brought about my acceptance and embracing love of the doctrines of grace, commonly abbreviated in the word Calvinism.

Upon joining the small group, I heard the word "Arminian" for the very first time. After having it explained to me, I realized that that was what I had grown up learning for the most part. It was then presented to me how that view is unbiblical and how Calvinism gloriously abides by the truth of Scripture, as well as duly brings the most glory to God. The nail that powerfully "drove it home" was one half hour sermon clip one morning on DG radio. Is God for Us or for Himself? It was the first time that I had heard that everything everything was solely for the glory of God. It was the first time hearing about God's own God-centeredness--and it was simply magnificent! It floored me. This is the God to be praised and worshipped - He will not give His glory to another.

Having embraced Calvinism, helpfully remembered by the acronym
T U L I P, I recalled to mind what I had been raised to believe. I realized that I had held to the "Fine Line" concept, wherein God played a major role in my salvation, but I held the remaining 1% responsibility in choosing God, in choosing salvation. Apparently, I believed that I was Mostly Dead, or terminally ill, in my trespasses (but wait, that's not it). Put another way, I held to D A I S Y.

Depraved, but not so bad really
Atonement for all
Inclining myself to grace
Salvation unless I blow it
You meet the conditions and you're elect

(Mad props to Mr. Larsen for brilliantly composing this tongue-in-cheek riposte.)

The situation wherein we carry partial responsibility in claiming our salvation, we also receive partial glory. It also renders Ezekiel 36:22-32 as null and void. Hearts of stone do not have the ability - by definition - to transfuse life into themselves. Salvation is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit in quickening our hearts to the truth of the Gospel - replacing those cold, indifferent hearts lodged in our rotting corpses with hearts of flesh.

Additionally, a man-centered belief of salvation is blasphemous. Numerously, God makes perfectly clear His intention for saving His people - His namesake. His namesake, His glory (and our joy, but that's a different post). How can we say "far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (in essence, I have no basis of boasting; I boast only in the cross [my weakness and inability to obtain righteousness before God without a savior and mediator]), if we are yet insistently trying to boast in our fractional ability to acquire salvation? It doesn't make sense.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Romans 8:29-30
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Psalm 106:8
Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.

Life -- it's happening right now

2006-10-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

It's presently occurring. There'll be no "take two."

Sometimes I get in the mindset that "once things settle down in my life and I can get my feet on the ground a bit more, then 1.) my relationship with God will be far more vibrant, or 2.) I will really start to get very vocal about my faith to co-workers, or 3.) my character will improve in spades, or 4.) I can start concentrating on certain other things" or something along those lines. Only problem with this thinking is that, first of all, I can't bank on the future, far less so a pat and comfortable future. God never promised me tomorrow. Additionally, He never promised me clear sailing while here on earth.

There was a good point I was going to make and I completely forgot it. How about you guys? Have any good points you can make with the start of my post?

Today is the last and only October 18, 2006 we're ever going to get. How have we spent it?

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

First Snow of the Year

2006-10-11T16:13:00.000-05:00

IT WAS SNOWING TODAY!!

Who saw the blizzardy snow this afternoon? It was thrashing white out there! When I finally realized it was snowing outside - and just how hard it was falling, I had an 8.5 reaction on the Richter Scale in terms of what some might call a "giggly moment." Which of course was more than slightly awkward seeing as how I am here among the prairie dogs of Corporate America. They just don't understand. (How emo was that?)

Actually, I'm still kind of reeling. When one gets that high of an adrenaline rush, it doesn't hastily fade.

I hustled to the window and accidentally smacked my forehead against the glass in my exhileration. (Should I be embarrassed about admitting that?) Then I rushed back to Tracy standing at the file shelves who, upon seeing me approach her with little decorum or restraint in my enthusiasm - fearing I might just tackle her, exclaimed in jest, "Don't touch me! Get away from me, Jen!"

Tracy and I often tease each other regarding our tastes in seasons - one in abhorrence of summer heat/humidity (me), and the other in repugnance of winter chill/precipitation...which just happens to be snow here (Trace).

Today she said to me, "I'm happy for you, but I'm sad for me." (I win...I usually do about this time of year.)

And in honor of my family's tradition - on the first snow of the year, tonight we will build a cozy fire, and all set in to watch White Christmas (with Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby). We've done this every year since as long as I can remember.

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know..."
(Fun thing is - I know that song in Swedish too!)

It is very exciting to see it snow just knowing that snowboarding season is just around the bend. More over, I love the first snow that stays on the ground and accumulates and turns my city into a breathtaking winter wonderland.

Though far and above those thoughts is this: that every single snowflake is matchless. The creativity of our God is positively astounding. And to think that I was capable of finding delight in the flurry of snow this afternoon because 2000 years ago Jesus the King humbled himself, came to earth, and died on the cross - for my sin in my place before the righteously wrathful Father, and then rose again - victorious over death. Because of this, snow seems so much sweeter.

Submission

2006-10-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

Eagerly awaiting to someday experience the joys of marriage, I occasionally find myself thinking fondly on the delight I imagine it will be submitting to my husband.

A juncture that transpired within this last week prompted closer examination of these aspiring thoughts--more specifically, noting the direct connection between submission to my parental units now and submission to my husband in the future. Taken from the book Her Hand in Marriage by Doug Wilson is a quote that was brought to mind.

We sometimes assume that as girls grow up they are to be treated in the same fashion as sons. This is false--in scripture, sons leave home, daughters are given. This is the scriptural pattern. A son leaves in order to take a wife, and establish a new home. A daughter is given to a young man who is establishing such a home. The idea that a girl can get to the age of 18 or 19, and leave her father's house in order to be out on her own is not scriptural. She remains under the authority of her father--even if she is physically away from home--and then when she is given in marriage, she comes under the authority of her husband. This is the normal scriptural pattern. (p. 21)

Having not yet been "given in marriage," my role right now is submitting to my parents, as I am still under their authority, as well as under the command of 'honor your father and your mother.' Realizing the distinct correlation between my submitting in my father's house and later in my husband's house, I perceived a general lacking in the execution of the former. When directed to do something (or to not do something), often my heart attitude is to feel wronged and stifled. Yet with the head knowledge of the parental honoring commandment, I would "submit," resentful, and simply acquiesce to their instruction.

When I was startlingly convicted of this last week, I reluctantly looked at my heart and attitude that I've developed towards many of my parents' instructions. Yielding acrimoniously is not submission. Done in a wrongful attitude of bitter indignation, the act of assent should not be thought of as an act of submission, but rather as a self-righteous move of compliance, as if in order to "fulfill the Law."

(I'm defining "comply" as an action of following orders simply for the reasoning that it is required obedience -- done with anger, distinctly separate or opposing desires from those that are instructing, eagerness for "liberation" from strict dictation, &c.)

Now, it is not my intention to split hairs or to get wrapped up in the semantics of the English language, but rather to address the heart of the issue...which would be the heart.

I think a true, though probably not entirely comprehensive, definition of submission would be that done "as to the Lord" (that's a tough one to figure out, huh?), respectful and pure motives, actions done with a gentle and quiet spirit, devoid of grumbling, and done with joyfulness and gladness of heart!

Also, directly opposing the prideful attitude of "fulfilling the Law" with the outward motions of compliance, would be an attitude of humility, knowing that submission is not a humanly possible act to manufacture, yet one required of us. It is one done only out of a lowly spirit, dependant on the grace of God through the Holy Spirit, possible because of Jesus' substitutionary, atoning work on the cross. (What? The Gospel's applicable in this too? Nooo...)

These thoughts, this whole concept really shouldn't be so noteworthy as to provoke me to write about it as if I'm newly discovering something, because it seems to me so basic a lesson to the core of (feminine) Christian living that it's almost disturbing that I haven't long ago mastered the art. And yet, it's something I am surely in need of further learning and living out day-to-day.

Ahh, let the abiding work of sanctification continue, Lord...

Yup, another fluffy one

2006-10-06T14:33:00.000-05:00

These last few autumn days have been incredibly gorgeous. The epitome of perfect weather. So mind you, I am not ready for these days to be over. But I am so ready...

This is what the corner of my desk at work has looked like since the beginning of August.

And Micah, praise and glory be to God, with utmost thankfulness, for your heart transplant this day, five years ago.
Ephesians 1:3-14

Do jokes work through the blogsphere?

2006-10-04T12:27:00.000-05:00

Well, we're going to give it a shot. I don't know why, but I just feel like posting this one. Stop me if you've heard this one before.

_____

One day, a husband and wife were arguing about who would be responsible for making the coffee in the mornings. The husband was adamant: "You should be the one making the coffee; you're the woman!" The wife responded: "You're the first one up in the morning; why don't you just make it when you get up?" He replied: "The kitchen is woman's work..." Her retort: "Pfft, the Bible even says the man should make the coffee!"

This he had to see. "Prove it!" he challenged her. She went and retrieved her Bible, flipped back a couple pages, and there in big, bold, black letters - it read...

Ahh, what a little black tea can't do for the soul...

2006-10-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

Ok, so, a lot. It has no redeeming power, it has no inherent truth, and its comforting grasp reaches only so far.... But, oh! A little loose leaf British Breakfast tea from The Republic of Tea brand does wonders in that "little touch" when eyelids are fixedly at half-mast and others can almost perceptively hear the whirring of your brain trying to function past the cobwebs that have comfortably lodged themselves among the folds of the gray matter.

"Gaaack!"

2006-10-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

'Twas my reaction upon realizing I was on the back of my church's weekly newsletter.

How awkward.

So, I have a "PO Box" address for my snail mail, and I hadn't gone and picked it up in three weeks. (Oops.) So I had three Bethlehem Stars waiting for me yesterday when I retrieved my mail from the Post Office.

Upon arriving home, I began to look at the three different Stars. As I turned the September 12th one over (it was like it happened in slow-motion), I came to recognize a picture taken this past summer. Granted, no one else would probably recognize me as the picture quality wasn't exeptional; it wasn't even good. But there I was, front and center, among a few others of my small group, posed in front of a Walk for Life banner.

And then I found 20 dollars.

You may now refer to me as....

2006-10-02T21:22:00.000-05:00

Lady Agnew of Lochnaw

Don't Waste Your Circumstances

2006-09-27T10:29:00.000-05:00

Taken from Pastor John's article Don't Waste Your Cancer, I've altered his 10 points slightly into what I have been thinking on lately...and hopefully putting into practice.

I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I do not believe it is designed for me by God.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I believe it is a curse and not a gift.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I seek comfort from stability of housing or income rather than from God.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I refuse to think about death.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I think that coming out of this with a residence and sanity means having a roof over my head and reaching ‘normalcy’ rather than cherishing Christ.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I spend too much time thinking about the present difficulties and not enough time thinking about God.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I let it drive me into solitude instead of deepening my relationships with manifest affection.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I grieve as those who have no hope.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I treat sin as casually as before.
I will waste these last five years and present circumstances in which I find myself if I fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.

Earnestly, I pray these 10 would shape and define my attitude and state of mind in reaction to that which is presently occurring in my life.

Calvinist clothing

2006-09-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

Do your clothes adhere to the Reformed persuasion? Be sure you're Calvinist-clad this fall with TULIP, or the "five requirements of Reformed apparel."

Total washability
Unconditional size selection
Limited tone and tint
Irresistable to embrace
Perseverance against stains

Thanks Lee for the laugh - this was great!

Who's up for a good laugh?

2006-09-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

First, read this (or if you prefer visuals).

Then, with that in mind, check this out.

How can thoughts of our own self-importance even dare plague our minds?

Edit: This link had to be added and must be read. It is so well-written and very poignant in light of the topic at hand.

Senior Moment, Spinach, Stingrays, and Sleep

2006-09-25T14:52:00.000-05:00

Don't you hate it when you're thinking about something (and rather enjoyably so), then you blink, and you can't - for the life of you - even remember what you were just thinking about?!

I'm fully convinced the assembly of a fabulous post was underway in the old primary control center for the peripheral nervous system, and it just died in synaptic transit. Consequently, you'll have to put up with this one until next time.

On a completely different note, I've been noticing increasingly more how this blasted e. coli epidemic is affecting my daily living. C'mon, you think we can move a little faster in ridding ourselves of this calamitous occasion of contamination in the leafy green realm?! Please.

Ladies and gentlemen, my life has taken on new form. I am bold, daring, and adventursome; I live on the edge and push the limits. Ok, so I pet a stingray this passed weekend at the Great Lakes Aquarium, along with my partner in crime. It was fun, and we both got a sticker. It says "I touched a stingray!" The entire escapade was the ultimate in photo ops; we didn't get one, but the memory lives on in our minds...

On a final note, I'm in dire need of a little beauty sleep here.
Ciao.

Funniest blog post titles ever (this isn't one of them)

2006-09-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

Such cleverness displayed in the blogshpere, as to make me laugh or, at the very least, crack a smirk, deserves to be recognized. The judging of this is based on the sole criteria of having a humorous title - I cannot vouch for the comicality found or otherwise lacking in any of the following posts, though it must be said that the content of most of these found herein equal in humor represented by their respective titles.

Pomp and Circumstance on an untuned piano, and throw a few wrong notes in for good measure...
Such vivid imagery, while the length in and of itself was droll enough to make the list.

Dead Man Blogging and An Open Letter to the Spider that Lives in My Shower
Each vying for a spot on my blog, neither of these could prevail over the other...I decided to spring for a dual award on behalf of this jocose blogger.

Have you ever been led to Kiss someone?
Enough to raise a quizzical eyebrow...

Woot on vacation
She used the word 'woot.' Immediate qualification.

p for papal craziness
Sorry, but that's funny.

A Downside to Nail Polish
Cleverness reigns in this post title.

The Successor®
Oh, I knew this would happen! A sneaky little bugger...the placement of this post has more to do with the content of the post than the actual title. However, I'm sure it can squeak by, simply because of the R in a circle after the name - it does add a lot to the title.

I Believe in Phlifterofftenopf
Me too.

Just STOP "it's" !!
Any grammartarian will appreciate this title...and post. (While considering myself among said "grammartarians," is it right of me to make up a word not found in Webster's?)

Go To Hell Footnote
Humorous, because honestly? Who hasn't thought that?

Why I Am Not an Armenian
...It's because I'm a Calvanist.

People hate kids.
This, more for the shock value.

Dave Hunt Denies Original Sin
I couldn't tell if this was more funny or sad...I think it's erring on the side of 'sad.'

Coming Soon in 2006
This is only funny because there has not yet been a post claiming the date "2006." And it's rapidly approaching 2007.

And I thought it was quite apropos to end with this:

Poking fun, because... well... it's funny
Quite. Clearly.

...blink, blink...

2006-09-20T09:55:00.000-05:00

There are currently so many unruly and disorganized thoughts ramming themselves through my cerebral cortex lately that I wish I could blog about...if only I had the wherewithal to form and develop a coherent thought.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4

All I got.

Yesterday

2006-09-19T11:53:00.000-05:00

Aside from a wonderful, much-needed chat with Oats, yesterday was...long. Rough.

Oh, on a completely different note, my mom turned 47 yesterday (what a perfect age to be turning, too)!

It's a funny family tradition that we go to IKEA for birthdays (who, but my family, would go to a Swedish furniture store for birthday celebrations? Ok, they do have a cafe too..). So after work, I met up with the family, along with my Aunt Mary and Gram. They had already started eating when I came back to the table with my Swedish meatballs. As I was sitting down, my zipper got in my plate and got gravy all over my sweatshirt. At the same time, my sister leaned forward and asked how my day had been going. I just looked up at her. We both nodded at the implied assertion of the state of my day. She cocked her head and said, "Well, your hair looks good!"

Quote of the Evening

2006-09-18T00:09:00.000-05:00

"It's a good thing life doesn't center around snowboarding..."

-Frank Martens

By the way, it's the second tier of life.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

2006-09-15T11:59:00.000-05:00

Wait--what?!

Where on earth did this taunt come from anyway? I don't know about you, but for me personally, I have found that bruises by the occasional stray rock heal much faster than a stray word. Have there been words said to you that seem to echo in your mind, maybe for years? I have recently been thinking on this myself.

One bright spring day when I was little (I'm not sure exactly how old but I was very young), I was happily singing in the kitchen with my mom. At the end of the song, we struck the last note and the small kitchen filled with one of the coolest sounds my little ears had ever heard. It had a sort of vibrating buzz to it. I felt it was possibly one of the most amazing things I had ever heard in my young life; I didn't want it to end, thinking it could never be reproduced. I eagerly looked to my mother - "Did you hear that?!" I asked, fascinated by the distinct sound yet tingling in my ears. "Yes," she replied, "that's because you were singing off-key."

Those few words made such an impact to me that, even now, I can still vividly picture the exact way we were facing, and were both standing, on the linoleum flooring in our tiny kitchen. I love singing, but, largely due to those careless words said, even now I'm terrified of singing by myself or loud enough that anyone can distinctly hear my voice.

How powerful the product of our tongue can be! I myself was convicted of this, after thinking about this very topic, and then with the perfect timing of this post over at Solo Femininity. I haven't read through all the links yet, but I intend to. I have skimmed a few, and from the looks of it, that's going to be...fun (ok, read: sanctifyingly painful). And what's the deal? This seems to be at the forefront of everyone's mind as of late. How ironic is it that the verse in Proverbs 31, pertaining to this very topic of words and gracious use thereof, is the very one displayed on my name plaque?

O that God, through His Holy Spirit, would grant me the grace, gentleness, and strength to harness my wildly flapping tongue and use it only for His good purposes - for praising and worshiping Him, for the building up of the Church, and for boldly proclaiming His name until He comes.

A blast from the past

2006-09-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

A plaque, identical to the very one pictured in this photograph, hung above my crib, and then my bed, when when I was little. I'd go to bed looking at it every night.

When I was much younger (about 3 years old), I remember (and have heard stories of) when my mother would take me to the grocery store. I was a very gregarious child (I have since grown out of that phase). I would happily greet everyone and anyone I could.

My standard greeting consisted of the following: "HI! Hi, my name is Jennifer Noelle, Fair Lady. 'She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.' Proverbs 31:26. What's your name?" The strangers that I would greet thus typically did not know how to respond. They'd stare dumbfounded, either at me or my mom, and stutter out a response. I'm sure it was just because they couldn't remember the verse that went along with their name...

Five years...yesterday

2006-09-12T23:51:00.000-05:00

This "shape" poem was written a couple days after the events of September 11, 2001. I thought'd I'd dig it out for the five-year marker. And in 15 minutes, it'll be posted two days late. (No, I didn't forget - I'm just dropping the ball.)

..
.....
.........
..................
It looks like snow --
It isn't snow; it's filthy ash.
People rush about their daily
routine. If you look closer, though,
you would see pain, agony, and confusion
etched on their faces. Some walk around in
dazed disbelief, while others gaze longingly
at an empty skyline... Over in a cemetary
stands a lone tree - white with ash and
dust... Strong and bravely we will
stand... So many questions
without answers. All this
ash, and so many
tears...

Ahh, sweet September; 'tis upon us

2006-09-05T13:40:00.000-05:00

Sitting along the river in Stillwater this past Sunday, a friend and I began talking about the glory of God and (either unnoticed or uncharted) nature going unseen by man and how glory is brought (and will be brought) to Him by such unobserved works of His hand. Our conversation turned more specifically to leaves.

Consider one leaf: the stem; the shape, each specific to its kind; each tiny vein; the exacting detail devoted to a single leaf; and in certain climes with the rotation of seasons, the change of color; and new leaves then budding, being brought forth into existence with the same exacting detail. Now consider one tree, replete with thousands of these leaves. Consider a forest.

Our thoughts ensued subsequently toward how God creates, so consistently, each leaf in the spring, sustains them, and (here in Minnesota) turns them into a glorious burst of color in the fall. And there are leaves all over the world consistently being made with exacting detail -- that no eye has seen, and yet they are still being created each spring. What a testament to the faithfulness of God! How I wish to be amazed out of my complacency and boredom with faithfulness. May I see each leaf as a marvelous tribute to God's character of faithfulness and so ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.

Now, allow me to close with a quote most apropos to my first blog post of September, and that which is quite in concurrence with my own thoughts toward the season in which we find ourselves.

Delicious autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
-George Eliot

Do it again, Daddy!

2006-08-30T10:08:00.000-05:00

Yesterday as I was waking up, I peeked my eyes open and the first thing to greet me was the morning outside. My bedroom faces east and I leave my shade open a crack at the bottom just for mornings such as these. I opened my eyes all the way and reveled in the beauty just outside my window.

The sky was a clear, bracing blue marred only by sparse wispy white clouds. Poking up just far enough to be part of the scene, was the aspen tree with shimmering, dancing leaves, reflecting the fresh sunshine. The beauty of the morning was consuming; I could hardly drink it in enough to be adequate. From the recesses of my mind, fighting the morning cobwebs, came forth the first thoughts upon awaking: The heavens declare the glory of God.....

What a way to wake up! From the glory of God being declared and trumpeted by such a morning - in the heavens - visible to all, to my first thoughts in recognition of such an assertion. I note that I had no power within myself to concede such thoughts.

As I continued to just lie in bed, marveling at the morning display, I flung my hand over to the side of my bed where my Bible sat. Hoisting it over to myself (why are Bibles so heavy in the morning??), I flipped it open to Psalm 19.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

These were just parts of the chapter that I was specifically meditating on yesterday.

I regretted the time that I had to spend in rushing around, getting ready for work. Also, it's a dangerous thing to be amazed at the handiwork of God while driving...

Last night, after a very encouraging and wonderful time with some of the small group gals, Jen2 and I were talking (late into the night). A full range of topics were covered in our discussion, including child-like faith. Unreserved dependence and unabashed confidence in God. Last night, I went to sleep, asking for child-like faith and asking that I might wake up to full appreciation and thankfulness to my God for His mercy.

This morning, after hitting the snooze button a couple times and resetting my phone alarm (I can reset that thing without ever opening my eyes. I know, scary thought), I finally cracked my eyes open. I looked out to the sky, visible from my window. It was overcast, gloomy, foggy and gray. Clouds had just settled over the earth and were setting up camp. It wasn't exactly the beginnings of a gloriously bright and beautiful day. But I smiled to myself as the latter half of Nahum 1:3 was sparked to memory.

His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Ha! Ha! He did it again! God not only awakened me a believer this morning, but let the first thoughts form in my mind to settle on His greatness. May I cling to this gratefulness like a small child - awed at the simple pleasure of being my Father's.

If only Heidi had a blog...

2006-08-30T10:01:00.000-05:00

As she doesn't (and doesn't plan on getting one anytime soon), I told her that should she ever have any "bloggy" thoughts, she could feel free to sound off on mine. This is the first of what I hope is many more installments of "Heidi's Thoughts."

I was out over lunch today trying to enjoy late August for what it is (I miss the heat and humidity!) and found that I was able to do so. Thanks for appreciating the coming of fall, Jen. I've always said that since I complain about the cold I'm not allowed to complain about the heat, but why complain about any of it? God made all the seasons knowing what they would be, didn't He? I always love the transitions...the first buds of spring, the first smells of grilling and cut grass of summer, the changing of the leaves, and the magical first snow. But as the seasons wear on, I let my mind forget the beauty. I suppose in the same way I get annoyed with situations in my life that go on and on, forgetting that God knows, hears my prayers, and lets them continue anyway.

Fare thee well, Ol' Rusty

2006-08-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

A lone, emo tear runs down my face as I contemplate what I just did.

I just returned Ol' Rusty, my surfboard of one? two? years. Actually, it was an old school longboard. About twice my size, wooden core, the back of the fin went straight down (instead of having any curvature), old faded coloring, and it desperately needed a new waxing. But I loved it.

I would stick it in my pool and as I was teaching myself how to surf. Yes, that's right. Here in landlocked Minnesota. No, I'm not kidding. Much of surfing is learning balance and building up arm strength for paddling - and you don't need waves to learn either of those. Plus, Minnesotans are known as the most hardcore surfers of the world! Don't think you can surf in good ol' M-N? Think again.

It's a little place I lovingly call "Lake Superior." It's true that few surfers venture up there to surf, but they can be found! It's actually a prime place for wave-hunting. Swells can reach up to 13 feet (and this is on a lake!). However, the reason for the minimal number of these surfers, is that the season for surfing in said body of water is October through March.

Yikes.

Hot cocoa, anyone? The water temperature can reach as low as -12 degrees. I have a friend (who's actually been in Surfer magazine) who is one of the elite Superior surfers. He's regaled me with tales of water so cold that your face feels like it's going to fall off, and of getting out of the water cased in ice - the board, their faces, their wetsuits. Crazy.

Anyway, all that to say, I will miss the bragging rights of one of the few Minnesotans to own a longboard...

Question of the Day

2006-08-25T16:36:00.000-05:00

"How long do you think a roll of frozen cookie dough will last in a car?"

-Gretch

This is probably not funny in the least bit, but it really hit my funny bone at just the right angle today....

Don't even get me started on this...

2006-08-24T13:24:00.000-05:00

So...Tim beat me to it.

I had been thinking for quite a while now about reviewing or plugging for the Valley of Vision CD. I mean, I do nearly have all the lyrics memorized by now, and I've had it--what?--two weeks now? Never mind; maybe that's not too impressive.

But in all seriousness, this CD is absolutely enrapturing. It was in my car stereo for an indefinite period of time and it played through, wrapped around, played through again, repeated as necessary. I had to keep telling myself, Jen - take the CD out now! You're going to get sick of it. Now! Hit the button. Eject. It's right there; that's it... Noooooo, it doesn't matter that the next song just came on! I know, I know; it's one of your favorite songs of all times - but seriously? It's going to get old; I can guarantee it.

I finally made the move two days ago. I jabbed the eject button before the strains of music wafted through my speakers for the next song. And I haven't been able to put a different CD in after it. The CD currently sits right next to me in my cup holder, and every time I get in the car I see it and think, I can just stick it in now...listen to it one time through. I won't get sick of it... (Yes, I do know that it would end up not being one time through the compact-disc; that's why I haven't acted on my thoughts.) But you know, after work, I plan on following through with it. I'm just going to stick it in!

And it all started so innocently when JoAnna plugged for the Valley of Vision book, which prompted me to re-buy it (funny story there) and start reading it. I was hooked! Then Frank divulged the information that there was a CD coming out soon, with the songs written off the Puritan prayers. Thanks, team!
And, there ya have it. Buy both of them. They both come highly recommended!

Fun Fact of the Day

2006-08-24T13:06:00.000-05:00

Velveeta is one molecule away from being vinyl.

As quoted from my dear friend, Heidi,
"I wouldn't want to raise my kids on that! 'Here, grow up on plastic.'"

Nice.

Turn Signals

2006-08-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

They are so passé.

No one uses them anymore. They have simply become superfluous. If you're driving, and your driving becomes an impediment to another driver because of a planned turn or lane-shift, whatever you do, don't use your turn signal! You'll only look old school. And not the kind of old school that's so "in" right now either. You'll look dowdy, and there's nothing like flipping on the turn signal to immediately classify you to all drivers within visual range as a "square."

Who wants to be a square these days??

It's alright; there is hope for those left in the dark days of blinking car lights and courtesy. It may be hard to pull yourself out of the rut (particularly if you're accustomed to adhering to the unwritten rules of Minnesota Nice - but no one told you? Those times are quickly fading into the oblivion of past glory).

Here, I have compiled a 5-step program - free of charge! - to combat that ghastly stereotype, "Square Signaler."

1. Depending on your level of confidence of delving into this foray of New Driving Techniques, you'll want to proceed cautiously. Not too cautiously, mind you, because that would defeat the whole purpose, now wouldn't it?

2. As a beginner, first note how, as you start to contemplate a lane-change, your movements become more attentive to the traffic immediately surrounding your car. You crane your neck around to check for a vehicle immediately to the side of your car; you may lean forward to check side mirrors for any blind spots you might have missed; your hand reaches out for the turn signal and--stop there. Don't do it. And relax, already. Glancing into side mirrors should do it, and you may either glide into the adjoining lane or swerve in. It's dependant on your confidence level, assertiveness, and the year of your car model.

3. Once you have worked your way up to that point, and feel comfortable with moving forward, the next step is rounding right-corners - particularly those corners that are unadorned with "right turn lanes." The trick to these is to just slow down. This takes a certain amount of finesse. If the corner has a stoplight and the light is green, you may get a few looks, but down worry about those. They're probably from those squares that you're now disassociating yourself from. So just slow down, and kind of creep around the corner slowly. This may take a while to get the flow of it. Be patient.

4. On a much more advanced level - one that I've seen executed rather infrequently, and only then by sheer professionals - is the left turn across on-coming traffic without a turn lane or exclusive arrow light. To not use a turn signal while waiting for an opening in on-coming traffic while a line of cars wait behind you, confused as to what the hold-up is, would be considered truly heinous merely a few years ago. But that was then, this is now. As you sit there waiting for an opportunity to turn and you start feeling a twinge of compunction for stopping up the farthest left lane of the street, you may inch forward into the intersection. That will give the cars behind you--who pulled up a little too close to you that they can't get into the other lane--an occasion to get around you. If you choose not to do that, that's fine too. It's completely your prerogative.

5. You would think we've covered everything there is to cover, but wait; there's more! To make a complete transition from prude to rude--I mean, hip--you must shirk the turn signal mind-set. Thus, in reverse method, if while in traffic and someone is waiting to merge into your lane directly in front of you and they happen to have their turn signal on, you must ignore it. They obviously don't want it bad enough, otherwise they would have followed this 5-step program and just swerved into the lane. If they try to weasel their way into the lane thinking their turn signal gives them some sort of allowance or understanding, honking at them might encourage them in the direction of self-improvement.

I hope working through these few steps will help you in looking cooler and feeling a little more free-spirited behind the wheel. Just always remember:

Blinkers: they're a thing of the past.

What's black and yellow and sure to sting?

2006-08-22T14:46:00.000-05:00

I hate bees.

With a passion.

I'm not technically allergic or anything, but I have a morbid hatred of the little buggers - when I see one, or worse yet, when one dares to fly within a three-foot radius of me, terror strikes my heart. Bring out the smelling salts.

Over my lunch breaks, I like to spend the time in the Word, in quiet fellowship with God. And as today was absolutely breath-takingly beautiful, I made sure to find some place outdoors. So I headed in the direction of Centennial Lakes - and it was simply lovely there today. I found a table right on the water but just as I was getting settled, I noticed a lone black and yellow pest buzzing around my table, around me, around my Bible (who did he think he was?)!

My heart sank because I knew: it was a table covered, no doubt, with "bee-food," or remnants of food left behind by the last occupants, and he was sure to be flying around me for the entirety of my lunch break. There was no way I was going to be able to concentrate and submit myself to God's Word - I was going to be reading with one eye constantly roving, keeping watch for The Bee.

Suddenly realizing this as the distraction it was, I prayed earnestly that I would not be distracted from my reading and praying, that either the bee would stay away from me while I was at the table or that my focus would not be thwarted by the afore mentioned stinger-adorned flying insect. God was mighty to close the ravenous lions' mouths in the presence of Daniel; He's sovereign over something as...dinky as the flight of bees.

As I started reading, I noted no distraction. The bee was nowhere to be seen; my heart swelled in thankfulness. Soon after this realization however, I heard the two little girls at the next table over started to shout. "Shoo! Shoo, bee!! SHOOOO!! Go away, bee! Shooooo!!!" they screamed. As their mother tried to calm their excited exclamations by explaining that bees don't have ears, I smugly smiled to myself, thinking, Heh heh heh. I prayed about the bee bothering me, and now, ahh. No bee. And now I'm reading the Bible without any disturbance. Ha!

How revolting.

The thoughts had hardly formed in my mind when a bee zipped past my face and hovered over my table. How easily and sneakily can the sin of pride weasel its way in to take hold of a heart. I mean, c'mon - I was reading the Bible and I had prayed....and I was proud of that.

And by the sweet power of the Holy Spirit, I was convicted as I realized that, just as I wouldn't be able to fully submit myself to reading God's Word and concentrate with the distraction of the bee right there, similarily I wasn't going to be able to do likewise with the hinderance of pride in my heart.

I repented and spent my lunch break reading about boasting in our weaknesses...

A perspicacious observation

2006-08-20T23:13:00.000-05:00

This morning, after church, a friend and I were meandering around our church's bookstore, and I was telling him about fundraiser opportunities for my hockey team. In speaking of one, he mentioned 'that would be good blogging material!' I readily agreed.

I think it was at that moment that we turned and looked at each other - both noting what was just realized.

Our lives are appraised by the bloggableness of each occasion.

Yes, I thought our conversation from this morning was quite bloggable...

Beauty?

2006-08-18T14:38:00.000-05:00

Here at work, we never seem to tire of talking about hair, hairstyles, or anything pertaining to such. (I work with mostly women, in case you were curious.) Today was no different. We have a woman in our department, we'll call her Ronia, who will be going to have her hair cut tomorrow - she's nervous about it. As she was standing in my cubicle, leaning against my file drawers, we were talking about her upcoming appointment and how she might like it styled.

Only briefly into this discussion, she stated disdainfully, "I'm going to tell him to cut it no shorter than my jaw line - I don't want it short like yours! I don't want to look like a boy! ...I want to be a woman." She scrunched up her nose and snickered like she had just said something quite clever. I forced a tight smile. After replaying this a few times in my head, I cannot - for the life of me - ascertain whether she deliberately insulted me to my face or if the remark was said in sheer ignorance of the implication.

This is not the first time I've had a "'boy' quip" aimed in my general direction. And from as many times as I can remember, they're only generated in reference to the way I keep my hair. And the funniest thing - despite having heard nearly every variation of insult, it never ceases to be very hurtful.

All I can do is sigh dramatically and jab my finger in the direction of Proverbs 31:30 - I don't know what version I memorized, but it says beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

But far sweeter than even that for which my response is utmost thankfulness, is the fact that when God looks on me, all He sees is the beauty of Christ. He does not see the ugliness of my sinful heart which is far more repulsive than any "male-like veneer" I may or may not possess. No; for having been covered by the precious blood of Jesus, I have escaped the wrath of God I'd earned.

And while I was thinking about death yesterday, this was the passage on which my thoughts were dwelling. I think it's even greater in light of the events of today.

1 Corinthians 15:42-49

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Paul sure knows how to throw down

2006-08-17T14:39:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 15:33-34

"Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame."

Dude.

....

This is a cool one - check out those prepositions:

1 Corinthians 8:6

"...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist."

Whoa, yeh??

2006-08-15T15:00:00.000-05:00

This voice she hears in the fields, in the sough of the wind among the trees, when measured and distant sounds fall upon her ears.

-- Ernest Renan, The Poetry of the Celtic Races
It has such a lilting, wistful sound, doesn't it? It's simply beautiful. It stirs the Romantic heart in me.

Ironically, I found this - sentence? poem? line? - at dictionary.com in their word of the day archive. I'm a Nerdy Romantic.

...Exegesis, anyone?

2006-08-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

While reading Matthew 16:24-25 or Luke 9:23-24, where Jesus is saying "take up your cross and follow me...," I always just blew right past it. "Yeah, yeah, take up cross, gotcha." But a few months ago, while reading this, I realized - or rather wondered - to what extent Jesus was saying this.

As we current-day, 21st century, American (Gentile) Christians read these passages, we know what it means - Jesus took up his cross and died for our sins, so we need to, likewise, take up our crosses and daily follow him sacrificially. Yeah, good. But when Jesus was saying these words to his disciples, he hadn't died on the cross yet. And he was telling these Jews to take up their crosses?! Crosses certainly weren't a symbol of God's love and mercy to believers at that time – and weren’t an example of the sacrificial work of Jesus--yet. They were...the crudest, most grotesque, and vile of all punishments of the day. They were used as a mockery and to make an example of foul criminals along the road.

BUT

A couple weeks ago, my pastor in a sermon instructed us to "read the Gospels backwards," to keep in mind the end while reading everything preceeding the end of each book, as that is what each of the four books is pointing to from the beginning - ultimately when Jesus the Christ would be sacrificed as the Spotless Lamb... So in doing so, it would seem to completely obliterate this deliberation.

I'm just curious if the mind-set of the disciples in hearing, and those reading these words, "back then" would have any influence on how we should be reading the words currently...

Now Jesus had just been telling them in the few preceding verses that he was facing impending suffering and death, but that he would be raised again on the third day. He may or may not have said explicitly anything about a cross, but either way, Peter wasn't too happy about the prospect as it was, forgetting his place as disciple and rebuking Jesus, his rabbi.
_______________

As was characteristic of the day, there were multiple rabbis running around Israel, thus there were multiple disciples of other rabbis. (As an aside - when I was little, I thought the word 'disciples' was to be strictly adhered to as followers of Jesus...I always thought it scandalous that John the Baptist had disciples. Ha.) Arduous work went behind being able to even become a disciple of any rabbi and when the sufficient amount of schooling and learning had transpired, and students had "interviewed" with a rabbi they admired, if said rabbi wanted to accept them to be one of his disciples, he would say the words "Follow me." Thus began the journey of close pursuing and copying of the rabbi. Everywhere he went, everything he did, his disciples desperately wanted to go and do. A saying of the time was "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." Meaning, may you follow so closely, the dust being kicked up by his sandals cake to your Bible-time dress thingy with a sash...or whatever they wore back then.

All that to say, when Jesus says "take up your cross and follow me...," was he specifically using those words to invoke their recollection of him calling them to be his disciples and to say, 'as my disciples, you'll be following me to death - one even of humiliation and suffering, as you should expect, even pursue by way of denying yourself to come after me'?
_______________

Any thoughts either way on this? Should the history and setting be considered while reading these words or since we already do know what happens, should we be reading these words as already "knowlegable" of the end? Hmm...

Quote book!

2006-08-13T02:03:00.000-05:00

When I was about six-years-old, my mom wrote down a conversation between my younger sister and me. Here's what she wrote:

The girls were talking in the back of the van...
Emily - "When I grow up I'm going to be seven!"
Jennifer - "When I grow up I'm going to be a queen, a nurse, and a mom."

2006-08-12T19:04:00.000-05:00

Oh, isn't he cute??

"DRA-GON! I don't do that tongue-thing."

2006-08-11T20:12:00.000-05:00

Ahh, Mushu. The little dragon from Mulan. He is now the name sake for my new little Japanese fighting fish.

It was a lovely day going and getting him yesterday.
I took many pictures (big surprise) but if I post them, they're all going to appear out of order (thank you blogger)...

He is the most brilliant blue/torquoise/with shimmery holographic-looking green/aquamarine/unbelievable explosion of color fish I have ever seen. And he has little red fins in front. He was the prettiest fish of the bunch!

I got him a little black bush-thing with silver tipped leaves.

I also nearly killed him within three minutes of owning the poor little thing. Ha, lovely.

I just plopped him into a big bowl of cold tap water. Good heavens. (Not good.) So I had to rush into the kitchen at work at scoop him out with a styrofoam cup and purify the water and then dump him back in.

You know, it seemed much more eventful while it was happening...

A Bit of This and That

2006-08-10T11:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my entire office building, along with a couple blocks in either direction, was completely devoid of any artificial lighting. Or electricity at all. On my way to work, I had briefly noted that none of the stoplights were working. I went into to work and it was dark! It was weird walking the halls to my desk having to squint, feeling like I was working the night shift...

I got to my desk and realized it had just recently gone out. As we all nearly couldn't see a thing, and in no way could try proofreading contracts, there was nothing much to be done at work. Some people's eyes were hurting from the glare of the computer screen being the only thing sending a dim light into their cubicle. I didn't mind at all...it felt like an adventure! My co-workers have no problem referring to me as a dork. It probably didn't help that I kept referring to the situation and the condition of the building as akin to "a big fort."

Well, the afternoon finally rolled around and the building had a lunch put on for all the businesses occupying the building. They said we could take an extra long lunch because of the loss of electricity; this announcement came together with the instructions that, as my company presides in the top floors, no one was to use the upstairs "water closets," as it takes electricity to bring the water up this high. Plus, there was no circulation in the building for lack of ventilation and air conditioning. Some fort, indeed.

Well, after our enjoyable, "Taste of Tuscany" lunch, we made our way back up to work. No one felt like working, especially after finding out 3:00 would be the earliest the problem would be fixed...and even that was no guarantee. For lack of air conditioning, the top floors were getting stuffy. Tracy in a mock panic said, "Heat makes people crazy...and that's when crimes happen!"

After a while of fanning ourselves with FedEx envelopes, we get the brilliant idea to see how far our heavy-duty rubberbands shoot. Tracy and I arm up and start firing away, aiming for a co-worker four cubes and two aisles away. (It's so fun to do this in a dark office building - you have no idea.) We couldn't seem to hit this innocent co-worker, but we kept trying. They were falling willy-nilly around in his cubicle, but he was too fully engrossed in whatever he was doing to give a satisfactory response to being under-fire. Tracy and I kept ducking and laughing every time we thought we'd been found out, but he never looked up; we kept firing away. She chirped up, "See?? Crimes do happen!!" One finally struck him on the shoulder and we ducked.

He came over to replenish my rubberband stash, saying "The funniest thing..I think there's rubber in these florescent lights and with them not being in working order, it's congealing and dropping these bands into my desk..." Yeah, that's it, Fred...

The lights are back on today, I'm sad to say. Maybe that's a good thing for the Minneapolis crime statistics...

_____________________________________

So lately, I've been just dead-dog tired. School, small group, school, etc. - I've just been busy and staying up late to prove it.

That carries over into work. Today is a perfect example.

I slunched down in my "ergonomically-correct" office chair and, consciously unbeknownst to me, proceed to take a "long blink." And who knew one could dream while at work???

It was an intense part - I was hacking through some underbrush of some kind, and my hand touched a creepy fungus (otherwise known as a mushroom) sprouting from the end of a branch. I quickly jerked my hand away from the spore-producing structure. And suddenly awoke with a start as I realized I had just yanked my mouse off my desk in a bumbling crash.

Resembling the "falling of a cliff" feeling, beware of "feeling like you're touching a mushroom" feeling. It can have disastrous (or simply embarrassing) effects. Though I don't believe anyone was privy to this short hiatus in la-la-land.

_____________________________________

So you know how songs can sometimes get stuck in your head? I have a word stuck in my head. Yeah, the word?

Leviathan.

Who gets the word leviathan stuck in their head?? I wasn't even reading Isaiah 27 today! Honest.

Leviathan...

....Leviathan...

_____________________________________

I love banana bread.

Especially in a star-loaf shape. I came into work and my boss had left a star-shaped loaf of banana bread on my desk.

I love my boss.

I am a C

2006-08-09T12:40:00.000-05:00

I am a C
I am a C-H
I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N,
And I have C-H-R-I-S-T in my H-E-A-R-T,
And I will L-I-V-E E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y!

I am a C
I am a C-A
I am a C-A-L-V-I-N-S-T,
Memorize T-U-L-I-P and R-O-M-A-N-S;
And S-O-L-I D-E-O G-L-O-R-I-A!

Before the throne absolved we stand

2006-08-08T11:04:00.000-05:00

I was encouraged to write about the sermon from Sunday morning, and I think it’s a fabulous idea. I just wish I knew where to start... I will say one thing – Jennifer was all over in that sermon Pastor John preached Sunday. He all but shouted out my name, substituting it for the Pharisee.

Two truths that I must include:
When Pastor John spoke about when Christ is used to sell worldly or secular inspirational business agendas/books, he said it makes him “want to throw up!”

And when speaking on the four little words: “rather than the other,” Pastor John stated vehemently and passionately that he hopes, when people read it, it “scares the Hell out of them!”

Whenever I hear things like these, my breath catches in my throat and something inside me just bubbles up and I want to laugh from the sheer joy of hearing TRUTH! I love it.

Anyway, here are a few of my (stilted) thoughts on the sermon, taken from the below captioned text.

Luke 18:
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The crux of the sermon was that the Pharisee, who really had it all together – yet trusted in his own righteousness, even though giving thanks to God for it (accrediting God for his righteousness –- was not Pelagian), was not justified, while the tax collector who felt his shame and unworthiness and looked away from himself, went down to his house justified.

When I was younger, I grew up thinking Pharisee = Bad Guy. But they probably wouldn’t have worn the black cowboy hat; they were really, really on top of the ball. They were moral, and, though legalistically, upright. And yes, their heart was far from God, but man, they sure put on a nice show!

I didn’t realize just how “good” they were – particularly this guy spoken of here in Luke. He was faithful to his wife and just in his rulings and didn’t take advantage of anybody. And here, he even gives God the glory of these qualities. Doesn’t take personal credit for somehow producing them himself, he gives God honor for the work done in his life. (I think that’s what surprised me the most.) BUT this imparted righteousness is what he places on the table in the judgment courtroom as the basis of his salvation – it’s what he’s trusting in.

The tax collector, knowing his sinfulness and unworthiness, shamefully beat on his breast and looked to God (and in reading the Gospels backwards as instructed by Pastor John, looking to Christ), his only hope of salvation, for mercy. And he’s the one that went down to his house justified.

Rather than the other.

The Pharisee was not justified. Pastor John said that Luke could have remained silent on the resulting condition of ‘the other.’ He didn’t have to tell us what happened to the Pharisee, but he did. He made it clear he was not justified. Those who look to themselves and find pride and reason for their justification in their lives, thoughts, or actions are not justified.

All this was hitting close to home. As I was talking with a friend afterwards, we agreed on how recalcitrant we can be in wanting to look to ourselves, to our knowledge of the Bible, or even when we start looking to Christ, we take a peek back at ourselves looking away and are delighted to see how humble and focused-on-Christ we are – and surely that’ll be good for justification! Ugh. No, no, no.

On another facet of relevance, I hadn’t even realized the full application until a comment was made by my friend… As a Calvinist, I can start looking down on Arminians and think that I am so glad I’m not like them! Hm. …

In summation, it was an unbelievable sermon (disclaimer: that I – in no way – gave it justice in my rendition), and I will be thinking on this for some time to come. Excuse me; I need to go and weep – adoring Christ’s beauty, horrified at my grotesqueness. How amazing and sweet that we have a strong and perfect plea before the throne of God!

2006-08-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

Well, this is a first. I'm a little nervous...

1. One book that changed your life (other than the Bible):
I'm sorry, that's confidential intel on need-to-know basis only; I'll have to see your security clearance...
2. One book you've read more than once:
Do you want the list? I have no shame - I have closed a book, flipped it over and started it again. Of course these were fiction and when I was a bit younger. One that comes to mind specifically is Mara, Daughter of the Nile.
3. One book you'd want on a Desert Island:
Is the Bible a prohibited answer to all of these? Then something quite extensive and mentally stimulating...I have heard Freedom of the Will falls under this category - I'll go with that one.
4. One book that made you laugh:
The Phantom Tollbooth (basically, it's a book about grammar and words and usage, etc - and it is funny!).
5. One book that made you cry (or feel really sad):
Isaiah, 1 Choronicles (16!), non-Bible? - Grace Triumphant, maybe...no, Valley of Vision...
6. One book that you wish had been written:
I'm currently writing it.
7. One book that you wish had never been written:
There are a couple books I think the world could have done without, but if they are here because of God's sovereign design, and He ultimately gets the glory (even from them having been written), then - no comment.
8. One Book You're Currently Reading:
"Book" is capitalized...does this indicate the Bible as an answer, per chance? I suppose not. Then Microsoft Access 2003, I think. What a read! The plot just sucks you in - I mean, it's for school.
9. One Book you've been meaning to read:
Again, the list?? I have many, many books all lined up to read - I even own most of them. So as soon as December 2007 rolls around, I hope this list will drastically diminish. Current authors on the list: whole lotta Piper, lotta Edwards, a couple Owen, bit of Spurgeon, pinch of Pink, Grudem, Nancy Wilson, maybe Doug Wilson too, et cetera and so forth.
10. Now tag five people:
I seriously doubt anyone is going to even see this. But if you have run across this...you're it!

My Personal Favorite Words of the Week

2006-08-04T14:58:00.000-05:00

Commiserate

Abjure

Mochaspressochinofrappazappaalpacino

TULiP...

2006-08-03T16:47:00.000-05:00

Frank expressed appreciation for this work of art when this was posted on my small group's blog. He's very cultured when it comes to fine art, you know. And nothing could be better than this...

Dedicated to Micah

2006-08-03T16:39:00.000-05:00

Upon his suggestion that I put this on my new blog, I have now made the transplant complete. This was my first ever blog post...taken from my small group blog, OneAnother.

One of the dorkier moments in my life...

Ok, a blog can't only be all about announcement postings...so I'm now going to blog a "bloggable moment."
_______________________________________
The setting
My office in Bloomington, 6th floor, Contract Writing department
The characters*
Yen (uh huh, I can be a bit of a character at times), and
Eleanor - a woman at my office who I would say is maybe early 40s, walks around the office with her head tilted back like she's trying to look at people from under the bottom rim of her glasses, and talks kind of quietly (not quite a Low-Talker but nearly)
*names have been changed to protect the innocent
The Story Begins
Whenever Eleanor passes me in the hallways, without fail she greets me by saying Hi Jennifer in a very low, raspy, breathy voice. If I see her approaching me and I know we will be passing each other, I usually rehearse what she will say in my head. I'm not entirely sure why I do that. Maybe it's because her greeting is so unique; maybe it's because it's rather fun talking like that; maybe it's simply habit. And in the attempt to be Minnesota-nice without being over-bearing, I match her style in greeting. So in a rather low, raspy, breathy voice I respond Hi Eleanor whenever we pass each other.
Well, today that all changed. I was leaving for lunch and on my way out I saw Eleanor walking towards me. And as we passed each other, in a low, raspy, breathy voice, I said Hi Jennifer.
Suddenly, I felt dizzy; colors became more vivid; I felt light-headed and out of breath...as I realized: I had just greeted myself.
_______________________________________
Needless to say, that proved to be rather awkward. Next time I pass Eleanor, I think I'll just smile and nod.

T-storm convo

2006-08-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

This transaction occurred somewhere in the general vicinity of 1:30am...

Me: What is it about a good rain that just makes you want to cuddle?

Mom: What is it about a good rain that makes me think you should be in bed?

Fish are friends, not food

2006-08-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

Coming back from lunch, I was in the elevator and about to step out onto my floor, when the screen on the mini television changed. It caught my eye.

Supposedly, it's shark week this week...? As a general rule when I was younger, all things permanently wet and ocean-related - sea, fish, coral, plankton - creeped me out. In fact, I have been noted to have said when I was newly 5, regarding my future occupation, "I wouldn't want to be a scooper-diver because I don't like scooper-diving; I like nurses." ...I have since overcome this unseemly distaste for bodies of salt water and its inhabitants (I still like nurses, but I'm not going to be one). In fact, the world of underwater is somewhat of a fascination to me now. So the mini-TV had my attention.

A random shark fact popped up declaring the size range of these fish. A pygmy shark is the smallest, coming in at about 4 inches. And the largest shark can reach up to 50 feet or more. 50 feet! Well, I had to know just how long 50 feet actually was. (I'm not too good at spatial visualization. By the way, try saying that two times fast.) So I got to my desk, and immediately asked my neighbor cube-indweller if she was any good at estimating lengths and if she knew what 50 feet would look like in our office space. She replied, "Propably like 50 feet anywhere else." Ha. Ha.

So I turned and asked another co-worker if she knew what 50 feet would equal in terms of our office. She started speculating. "Well, Mike is about 6 feet..." So we both marched over to his office (he's one of the head-honchos) and asked him to stand up (well, I asked if he would be so kind as to lie down head to toe across the floor of our department so we could measure something out, but he declined, stating he felt vulnerable while laying down). He stood up. Well, that didn't help me one bit. I still had to try and visualize the full extent of the length - I wanted something a bit more concrete. So I looked at our cubicles. We have four in a row and each are about 8 feet wide. So I deduced (using my brilliant detective skills) that 50 feet was longer than the length of the set of cubicles - and still longer even if we would've had another cubicle on the end! (Basically, 50 feet is really long!)

By that time, the three that I had involved in this snowballing account, and others observing the hoopla from afar, were wondering what on earth I wanted to know the length of 50 feet for - and they were not vocalizing this query all too quietly. I tried to skirt the question, suddenly feeling quite inane. Well, there was no avoiding the interogation. So I ducked my head and said rather sheepishly, "I--I just wanted to know how big the biggest shark is..."

They looked at me quizzically and then laughed. Then we went and googled "Great White Shark" - which is what grows to such lengths.

Looking at the pictures, and having 'set' the distance in my mind of just how large one of those can get, the sense of awe overwhelmed me as I tried to imagine the immensity of this great creature, swimming around in an even larger ocean. And then as I contemplated the awesomeness of its Creator.

It made me think of Psalm 95. It says "In His hands are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand..."

I love the contrast of the greatness, hugeness, omnipotence of God, and yet, the intimate portrayal of us being the sheep of His hand (where it was just said are containing - and upholding - the depths and heights themselves). How comforting to see that He who created the sea and dry land, and the vast terrain of the earth is--our God!

He made the enormity of the ocean, and filled it with teeming life. To think that this enormous fish was created to bring God glory - may it do just that. Yes! Let's worship and bow down - let us kneel before the LORD!

Hi, this is me -

2006-08-01T12:33:00.000-05:00

HOLY LORD,

I have sinned times without number,
and been guilty of pride and unbelief,
of failure to find thy mind in thy Word,
of neglect to seek thee in my daily life.

My transgressions and short-comings
present me with a list of accusations,

But I bless thee that they will not stand against me,
for all have ben laid on Christ;

Go on to subdue my corruptions,
and grant me grace to live among them.

Let not the passions of the flesh nor the lustings of the mind
bring my spirit into subjection,
but do thou rule over me in liberty and power.

I thank thee that many of my prayers have been refused--
I have asked amiss and do not have,
I have prayed from lusts and been rejected,
I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness.

Go on with thy patient work,
answering 'no' to my wrongful prayers and fitting me to accept it.

Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration,
everything contrary to thy rule.

I thank thee for thy wisdom and thy love,
for which all the acts of discipline to which I am subject,
for sometimes putting me into the furnace
to refine my gold and remove my dross.

No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin.

If thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins,
or to have them burnt away with trial,
give me sanctified affliction.

Deliver me from every evil habit; every accretion of former sins,
everything that dims the brightness of thy grace in me,
everything that prevents me taking delight in thee.

Then I shall bless thee, God of Jeshurun, for helping me to be upright.
_______

I was thinking I was going to boldface the parts that just struck me straight to my sinful heart and, in turn, make my heart swell in praise to God for His mercy and work of sanctification in my life - but as I was going through this prayer, everything but the conjunction words were in bold...

(This prayer was taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)

An Arminian summer wedding...?

2006-07-31T09:45:00.000-05:00

There was a wedding I attended this weekend. Two friends of mine were getting married. Two of the sweetest, Christian people I know - they compliment each other so well. He is kind and mild-tempered and she is caring and even-keeled. The best part is they both love the Lord completely. And it was a lovely ceremony (as far as summer weddings go). Green was the theme color and the flowers were simple and bright Gerbera daisies.

While the ceremony was Biblical, it was surprisingly rather man-centered. The pastor officiating spent the majority of the time focusing his talk around the couple. So they, the couple, were the center of the marriage they were about to enter into, they were the producing effects of lighting fires in the hearts of others.

I just sat there, on edge, waiting, praying that it would come, where God would be given the full glory of this union - that He would be commended to the couple to run to first and only - that it would be acknowledged that there is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying Him - and that maybe the tone would be set for their new life together to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of the people they will come into contact through the course of their covenant marriage. But it never came.

It made me think that, if God has predestined me for marriage, I want my wedding ceremony to be simply dripping with the doctrines of grace. I want the Gospel boldly proclaimed in my wedding that God would be exalted and magnified by the ceremony...and likewise glorified in the marriage.

2006-07-30T01:47:00.000-05:00

I was predestined, before the foundations of the world, to wear this shirt to church last night.

Incessant

2006-07-27T14:34:00.000-05:00

Nice word. Perfect, in fact.

Here's a definition: What we are experiencing in the amount of media/entertainment bombardment on a daily basis.

How did I find this nifty little word? Well, I was coming back to work after lunch and rode up one of our elevators with another lady (she doesn't work in our building and had never before been in one of our elevators). It is the exact word she used upon realizing that we have mini televisions in our elevators. Yes...we do. They relay breaking news headlines, stock updates, advertisements, celebrity factoids, random facts, etc. ...Because none of us can handle standing in silence - subject to the wanderings of our own thoughts - for two minutes.

I know there have been many others who have gone before me and written on this common subject, so I shall not add too much more to the pot, for fear of sounding redundant and at a much lesser level than my peers.

But...incessant....
How right you are Elevator Lady.

God-ordained genocide?

2006-07-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

An interesting question and one we had to answer in essay form for class, among a few other questions.

The History of God's People in the Bible was the terribly creative title of my paper. We had to answer questions about the role and/or significance of the Creation, Ten Commandments, Tabernacle, and sacrificial system. Why God had the Israelites "utterly destroy" the Canaanites, and if it was morally right (morally right? What kind of a question is that?!). And the events that transpired in the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah.

Particularly enjoyable to write on was when the Israelites destroyed the Canaanites, because I knew my class, in its entirety, disagreed with me (my classmates insisted this God-ordered destruction was unfair - "against our principles"). I was thankful for a study my small group leader, Jon, had done on this just a little while back that had me already thinking about this. Basically what I got from the study we did for small group, and what I expounded on in my paper, was this:

It was the wickedness of the nations (not the righteousness of the people of Israel) that it was necessary.
God was keeping promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Complete destruction was required in order to keep Israel from being corrupted by the nations' wickedness.
Unchecked depravity is the cruelest form of retribution - sin left to itself always destroys.
God revealed Himself - His character - by showing punishment to wicked nations, showing absolute intolerence of sin. We have a God we can know - we have a holy God.
It also served to put fear into the hearts of the Israelites to keep them from following like patterns.
Using this, God pointed them back to Himself, which was their ultimate good.
And God using Israel for the punishment and destruction of wickedness in the nations, showed the only source of salvation is a sufficient Savior. And through Israel, comes final salvation.

Holiness: check!

2006-07-25T10:37:00.000-05:00

I am a "list girl."

No doubt about it. I love lists! I make lists for pretty much anything I can. I wasn't always this hard-core about list-making (though I'm pretty sure the tendency was just lying dormant inside of me). Growing up, my dad would insist my sisters and I (and mom too!) make lists. If any of us forgot something, say, when we went camping, it was always: "Well, did you make a list?" If I had made a list, I probably wouldn't have forgotten anything.

I grew up loving to write (since the time I was 9, I had at least two novels started - though I never finished any...). But I kept journals full of lists of names I loved and could use in my next novel. I had pages full of girls' names, boys' names, and last names. I've made lists of places I'd love to travel and then in a parallel column in sub-lists, the reasons why I wanted to travel to that particular place. I also love to make lists to check things off the list. When cleaning my room, I sometimes make a list of what I need to get done, and I find such satisfaction scratching something off the list. When in highschool, I got into the habit of making a list of checkpoints for finishing my homework. Now at work, I find I stay on task best when there is a comprehensive list of things I need to get done, even though the first five jobs I put down are ones I do every morning upon arriving at work. I just like to see what I've accomplished (so even if I have already done the job, I write it on the list simply to check it off).

This is where it gets complicated.

Though the Bible is full of lists (Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 5:2-12, Romans 5:3-5, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:12-17), righteousness and holy living is not simply obtained by checking items or goals off the "list." My tendency when I read 1 Peter 1:15-16 (“but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”) is to get out the ol' legal pad and start a list of "Holy how-to." Or when I listen to Pastor John's "How to fight for joy" message, I get excited because it's in list form. I think, "Great! I just have to write down that list and I'll have joy."

Unfortunately (or not so unfortunately), lists are not what God requires of us - of me. Living in the time of the New Covenant, He doesn't put lists in the Bible as the way for us to commune with Him. If it were this way, I could get satisfaction in myself as I achieved the next task and checked it off the list. I'd have ample reason to boast. "Yup! I just got down goodness; on to faithfulness now!" In Isaiah 66:2, the LORD says He created the heavens and the earth, but He will look to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at His word.

Also, in Mark 10:13-16, when Jesus brings the little kids to himself and blesses them. Does that passage seem funny to anybody? Why would the disciples be so put out with kids, particularly if nowadays, politicians like to use children somewhere in all their ad campaigns? I think it's because of the image our culture holds of them these days. They're innocent, trusting. But back in Jesus' time, they didn't have that image. They were kids, weren't worth too much until they were older. They didn't have anything to offer. And yet, Jesus didn't see it as a waste of time to hold and bless the children - even saying that to those such as children does the kingdom of God belong! Those with child-like faith. Those with nothing to offer.

So if lists are not what God requires of me to have full joy in Him and to be satisfied in Him, what exactly?

I must be broken of myself and go to Him with a humble and contrite spirit with nothing to offer from myself, desperate for Him to work in me that which is pleasing to Him. And it is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that I could be broken in my sinful state. So there is nothing that I can produce to bring me closer to God. Only, only, only because of the work Jesus did on the cross, and God sending His Spirit do I have any hope of righteousness.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Directionally-challenged

2006-07-25T09:43:00.000-05:00

The other day, I was planning on meeting up with my hockey team to play a little Ultimate Frisbee at Long Lake Park in the New Brighton area. I had been there once before - and thus I thought I could find it again. I got off on Silver Lake Road and immediately knew something was amiss...I didn't really recognize the surrounding area. I knew it was the wrong exit, but I didn't turn around. I kept driving. For some reason, I kept thinking that road might just get me to where I was hoping to end up; it might eventually lead me to the right place. Well, it didn't. It wasn't the right road. I had to turn around, get back on 394, return to 35W, and find the right exit (94). (Yeah, I was way off.)

But it made me think of people these days who try to get to heaven, or to God, by any way but Jesus. They want to pick their own way, sure that eventually it will lead them to where they hope to end up.

To those who insist on pursuing their end via "Silver Lake Road" (or a weak, false god; or self-righteousness; or Buddism/Hinduism/etc; or an experiential, free-spirited, free-flowing, fluffy, tolerant of evil, pop-culture-created, but not defined religion): John 14:6. Does it get any more self-explanitory than that? "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

Unless you know Jesus as your Savior and trust in Him alone, you'll be way off...

Arrrrrrg!

2006-07-18T16:16:00.000-05:00

After having lunch at Chipotle, I walked over to Northwestern bookstore to see what I could spend my remaining store credit on. I think I found something. It's sure to be deep, theologically speaking, and it's sure to contain, as Pastor John puts it, "mind-boggling, category-shattering truths."

Or not.

Nestled among much lesser titles and one shelf down and a little to the left from the literary magnum opus, The Purpose Driven Life, sat the book Swashbuckling Faith: Exploring for Treasure with Pirates of the Caribbean. It joins the ranks of "Finding God" in: Narnia, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. I didn't know Hollywood was so adamant about portraying the Gospel in their new releases! That's reassuring to know...that "even a pirate movie, looked at through new lenses, can point the way to tangible riches of Biblical truth." (Wesemann, 2006)

Edit: Wow, just saw this post on Adam's (A Calvinist's) blog......EXACTLY!

To Him be glory forever. Amen.

2006-07-17T13:18:00.000-05:00

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2