One of the things that intrigues me is to watch people interact with others and study how culture changes with time and location. We are so constantly affected by our culture and constantly affecting our culture. I probably think about it a little too much sometimes, and allow those around me to affect me a lot.

With that introduction, I share a video that a coworker, Bob, shared with me the other week. The video below is from the early 1940’s and done by a famous percussion group. Two things I find interesting… the ladies’ dresses could fit in with the style of today (I think) which goes to show the cycles of styles that come and go. But the funniest thing about this video starts at about 1:10 into it. You can watch the upright bassist the whole time, but he really starts kickin! at the 1:10 mark! I tell you, culture may change, but every bass player I have known (upright or guitar) seem to have their own culture. I mean what is going on in the mind of that cat?? My brother-in-law Clint plays the upright and I think he can bring it too…although I don’t think I have ever seen him perform.

Enjoy!

So today is the first day of spring! And around here that means it is the seasonal grand opening of Rita’s Italian Ice! So we decided to celebrate with many others in the area by going to Rita’s because they give out FREE Italian Ice to everyone. (see the picture of my cup of Pina Colada)

Now the funny part of all this is that after dinner we began to get ready to go and had to get all bundled up to celebrate spring. I had long sleeve shirt, a fleece and my winter coat. Not only was it 40 degrees, but also had winds of 22 mph!! We got there to greet a line of about 35 people all bundled up waiting to get their celebratory ice. It was freezing cold. Some others were draped in blankets and after getting our orders we ran to the car to turn the heater on so that we could eat our ice cream. It was also fun to see familiar faces there, like the Glicks, Gregory’s, and Kubinec’s!  The kids loved their ice and at home, Owen followed us all around, mouth open like a little bird screaming for more.

It was a fun and memorable time! Just another reminder that we are still not completely used to living up north! My aunt sent a picture from TX of my grandmother’s Azaleas in FULL bloom!! Now that is what we grew up remembering about the first day of spring!

Last month I had the privilege of going to a Pastor’s Wives conference at Sandy Cove, along with nine of the other pastors wives from our church. While there I heard about William Young’s book The Shack from several of the ladies who worked at Sandy Cove. I am not much of a fiction reader, I think it has to do with my ‘get something done’ mentality and therefore I read tons of nonfictions books that can help me learn something to apply to my life. But when I step back and read a fiction book I am always encouraged! I should do it more often. Who needs to get things done, just soak yourself in a good tale and be inspired!

Last week I finished The Shack and I must say I enjoyed it. There were times when I was not so sure and probably would have put it down for good if I had not heard from others a few warnings. Young says he wrote the book for his children and never expected it to actually be published, so its rising popularity is a surprise to him. The Shack unfolds a story of a man walking through the pain of family tragedy and his developing understanding of and relationship with God, and His “role” in this tragedy.

The first warning I received was that I might not agree with all the theology put forth in the book, and that was found to be true. Although I must say I once or twice found myself board with the theology dialog and wanted to get back to the story. I may give the book a second reading to pay more attention to the theology dialog now that I am not distracted with wanting to know what is going to happen in the story and how things are going to end up.

The second warning I received was that there was a murder early on in the book that sets everything up and not to give up on the book thinking it will be too graphic. I am glad I got this warning, because I surely would have put the book down. The subject of the murder hit too close to home and for a few days I could not read it before going to bed. But once the event is over, and with out many details, the true story of the book emerges with the aftermath of tragedy and the healing that is needed.

I would add one warning myself: be sure to read the forward! Now you probably think that is silly, who would skip it. Well I did and was confused on several points until I read it after finishing the book and then thought “Oh, now I see who that guy is and why this happened….” Silly me!!

By far I would say my favorite part of the book would have to be (now skip over this paragraph if you do not want to know something ahead of time - although this is not crucial info.) when Mack is reunited with his Dad and there is a colorful reconciliation. It was a beautiful picture that Young painted of forgiveness and reconciliation. Some of the other items I enjoyed was God’s comments that He is especially fond of Mack, or Mandy or … What a great way to put it, especially fond of :). There was the interaction with Wisdom that I found interesting and thought provoking. And Young’s description of our quest for power in every relationship compared to God’s quest for relationship in and of itself was challenging!

Over all I would recommend the book (with the warnings ) and say it is good, frustrating, enlightening and interesting to read. If you decide to read it let me know. I would love to sit and talk this book over with another reader or two!

This Christmas Brian and I gave the girls their own head lights from REI. We saw these cute pink and purple headlights and thought the girls would love having them when we go camping!! They are always thrilled by Brian’s headlight and want to use it so we knew they would enjoy their own. After the lights had been opened I planned to put them away with our camping stuff, but did not and I am glad! We have a new nightly ritual going on in our little girl’s room and it just makes me smile!

I won’t go into how this all developed instead I will just tell you the cute little scene I get to see each night as I close their door wishing them a good night.

The room is dark for the most part except for three little lights hidden behind blanket tents that have been gently placed to make reading caves. Addie and Emma share a bunk bed (Emma is currently on the top bunk), and Isabelle’s bed is close by. There is a blanket hanging from the ceiling hanging across the corner of the bed (that Dad arranged) which provides Emma her little den. Just outside her blanket you will find a stack of books that she chooses from each night. There is a second blanket hanging in the middle of the bottom bunk and a third on the outside to create Addie’s den. She keeps her reading material hidden under her pillow. Isabelle is without a blanket tent but is thrilled to have her light and a stack of books.

So as I bid the girls good night and sing them our goodnight song I close the door seeing three girls in love with the joy of reading by little lights tucked warm in bed. And sometimes I get the added bonus of watching Emma practicing the animal shadows she can make on her blanket.

The joys of childhood are amazing!

My friends Jeremy and Greg passed this along to me and I had fun with it, so I thought I would share it here.

From my days in Bible College at CIU, through my ordination, and even to now in Seminary at Biblical, I have a love for Biblical theology, but a resistance to what we call systematic theology. I think when I get down to it my ill feeling is related to the false constructs and deductive reasoning that we lay onto the scriptures to come up with some of our systems. I’ll just leave it there for now…

Anyhow, my results came back with a high score on Calvin and Edwards, which I think are right on. I also think that what we know today as “Calvinism” is not the same as what John Calvin wrote about. I’m not sure John Calvin would be a Calvinist of today! BTW, I didn’t realize I had that much Schleiermacher in me and I would have put more Augustine in!

don’t we kind of look the same?

Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

I scored as John CalvinMuch of what is now called Calvinism had more to do with his followers than Calvin himself, and so you may or may not be committed to TULIP, though God’s sovereignty is all important. John Calvin 93% Jonathan Edwards 87% Anselm 80% Karl Barth 73% Martin Luther 73% Friedrich Schleiermacher 67% Augustine 53% Charles Finney 33% Paul Tillich 33% Jürgen Moltmann 27%

Last week I was thinking and teaching about milk and cookies - yum!! Especially if they are homemade cookies right out of the oven. In fact I just ate such a chocolate chip cookie before starting this post. (Isabelle is suppose to be bringing snack to school tomorrow and it will be…cookies!) The analogy is this, applying the Bible to your life is the sweet ooie gooie goodness in following the Lord just as warm homemade cookies with milk are oh so good to eat!!

I want to share with you the four steps to application as well as nine questions to ask of any passage you are reading and studying. These steps and questions come from Howard Hendrick’s book Living By the Book (I misquoted the title of the book last week - sorry Howard!)

Four steps to Application

1. Know - You need to be sure you know what the scripture passage is saying. This is where your time in observation and interpretation is key! If you have the wrong interpretation you will have the wrong application! You also need to know yourself and be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to respond to the Holy Spirits prompting that a truth in Scripture is for you personally!

2. Relate - You need to relate God’s word to your life - every area of your life!! Don’t be caught compartmentalizing!

3. Medidtate - Weave the truths of Scripture into the very fabric of your life (the everyday stuff). Think about it as you go along and let it seep into your mind, heart and actions!

4. Practice - Make a plan for how you will apply the truths you have discovered and then put it into action. Seeking accountability from someone would do great wonders here!!

Nine Questions to ask: (I reworded these to try to make them more teen friendly)

1. Should I copy this example?

2. Is there a sin to run from?

3. Is there a promise to treasure?

4. Is there a prayer to pray?

5. Am I being asked to obey something?

6. Does something have to happen first?

7. Is there something I should memorize?

8. Is there truth to be remembered?

9. Am I up for the challenge?

If you would like to listen to the lesson you may do so below. Two warnings before you begin - 1. the mic goes out and so there is a break in the audio and 2. I was teaching to Jr. High and so I got a little silly at times

May the Lord help us to apply His treasured word in our lives that we might be more like Him and enjoy the yummy cookies He offers in life!!