I had a really good day, and I’m feeling pretty satisfied with my accomplishments. I started off the day by getting up and going to the gym. Usually, if I can make it there on a Monday morning, the rest of the week is looking good.
While Karis took her morning nap Abbie and I went outside to find the prettiest leaves we could, and then I ironed them in wax paper and cut them out. She had so much fun taping them to the windows, and now our house looks even more autumn-festive!
I’ll be going to my second MOPS meeting on Wednesday. The leader told all the moms to have their kids bring in pictures of animals for the next meeting because the teachers would be talking about creation. Since I was on a craft kick this morning I decided to have Abbie look through magazines to find pictures of animals. I then cut them out and she taped them to a sheet of purple construction paper, one at a time. I was impressed that she spaced the pictures out over the page—no overlapping at all! I could tell she was proud of her work; I hung it up on the fridge to show it off (and so I won’t forget it on Wednesday!).
After Karis woke up, off we went to the post office to mail my mom’s camera back to her and then to a hardware store to buy more canning jars. My mom and I made apple butter this past weekend, but definitely did not have enough jars! We came home, ate lunch, then the girls ACTUALLY TOOK NAPS. I could hardly believe it!
So while they slept, I canned the rest of the apple butter. This was the first time I’ve attempted canning on my own, and it turned out perfectly.
I had a really good day :-)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Am I a "play-it-safe Mom"??
I have a problem. I’ve been dealing with Restless Hair Syndrome for a few years now. I tried getting a long-hair perm in the spring of 2008. That was nice for a few months, but the longer my hair grew the more it felt like it was just taking over…and since I was pregnant with Karis at the time, re-perming was not an option. Next I tried a shorter, more feathery look. I was hoping for edgy-punk but it turned out much more mellow. A few months ago I went even further: really short in the back, longer in the front, with heavy bangs angled to the side. This style looks pretty edgy when I blow-dry it forward and style it with wax, but I have to admit it’s still a bit mild.
My sister colored her hair this past weekend. When I saw her copper-colored streak, I almost died. Why didn’t I ever think of doing that?! It looks awesome! Then while searching for cool hair styles online last night, I came across this description of Katie Holmes’ progression from short pixie cut back to, well, basically my current hair style: “Oops. From sexy youthfulness back to play-it-safe mom-do.” GAH! My hairstyle screams PLAY-IT-SAFE MOM! I simply cannot stand for this. I will be calling my stylist friend this week. This time, I will not settle for anything less than awesome.
My sister colored her hair this past weekend. When I saw her copper-colored streak, I almost died. Why didn’t I ever think of doing that?! It looks awesome! Then while searching for cool hair styles online last night, I came across this description of Katie Holmes’ progression from short pixie cut back to, well, basically my current hair style: “Oops. From sexy youthfulness back to play-it-safe mom-do.” GAH! My hairstyle screams PLAY-IT-SAFE MOM! I simply cannot stand for this. I will be calling my stylist friend this week. This time, I will not settle for anything less than awesome.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Proper attire required.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, o may I then in him be found
Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
~Edward Mote, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, c.1834
Matthew 22:2-14
Have you ever watched What Not to Wear? If so then you’re familiar with jokes about fashion catastrophes that Stacey and Clinton would never approve of. The hosts of the show attempt to enlighten participants to just how awful their clothing choices are, and then bring them up-to-date so that they can show their “true selves” to the world by the way they dress. Clothing usually does make a loud statement about the way we want other people to think about us. If I’m rich, you’ll know it. If I want you to think I’m a punk, you’ll know it. If I’ve just given up and don’t care about myself anymore, you’ll know it.
Can you imagine the scene going on in this parable? The master’s servants are herding people into the banquet hall from right off the street—one guy was walking his dog, one guy was on his lunch break, one lady was finalizing a business deal via cell phone, a teenager was hailing a cab. This wedding invitation was immediate—there was no Save the Date involved, and no RSVP card to fill out. The food is ready NOW—come on in!
So when I read a few verses later where the master starts picking on some guy who didn’t have time to get all dressed up, I’m a little put off. Give the dude a break! He came right from work and didn’t have a chance to go home and change. When you’re so last-minute about something like this, you really can’t expect anyone to be prepared!
But that’s one big difference between our culture and the culture of the people Jesus was telling this parable to. Proper wedding attire was provided by the host for all the wedding guests. Wouldn’t it be nice to attend a Black Tie event where the tuxes and gowns (in just your size!) were ready and waiting for you in the coat room?! That’s what the master was doing for his guests. All they had to do to get into the banquet was put on the clothes he provided for them.
Apparently, this one guy just wasn’t down with that. Maybe the tux just wasn’t his style. Or maybe he didn’t want to look like everyone else there---maybe he wanted to wear his business suit and tie to show everyone else at the wedding what a good job he had, or how far up the ladder he’d climbed, or how hard he had been working all day (and so really deserved to be there). Whatever his motivation for refusing the master’s only request, he wanted people to notice him—and so he stuck out like a sore thumb.
It was obvious to everyone that he was more interested in himself than he was in honoring the son who this wedding feast was all about in the first place.
Do you remember when Paul (in Philippians 3) rattles off all his accomplishments—that he was raised as a good Jew, he followed the law to a T, and he did great works for God—all things that should have given him the right to stand before God? Yet after this list he makes this shocking statement:
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him,
He’s referring to Isaiah 64:4 which says: “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” And neither Paul nor Isaiah are just talking about needing to do laundry or take out the trash. The words “rubbish” and “filthy rags” literally translate to ‘soiled menstrual cloths!' Ok, even in our culture where women having their period aren’t considered unclean or forbidden to go to church, that’s a pretty disgusting image. This guy waltzed into this beautiful banquet on his own terms—wanting to show off his achievements—but he was basically dressed up in…well…filthy rags. You get the idea.
You and I have been invited into the feast of the Kingdom of Heaven. But what do we have to wear to get in? What is the gift that God has freely given us that, unless we receive it, we have no place celebrating with him? Paul follows up his shocker with a simple answer to this question:
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
In order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to dress ourselves with Christ Jesus, and freely (and humbly) accept what HE has accomplished on our behalf—the forgiveness of our sin and the right to stand unashamed before God. No matter how long we’ve been going to church, no matter how many good deeds we did for strangers last year—none of our righteousness can dress us well enough to attend the banquet.
You’re standing in the banquet hall cloak room, staring at that tux or gown. If you put it on, you will look like everyone else at the party. Nothing will distinguish you, and you won’t be able to wear your accomplishments on your sleeve. If you decide to stay in what you’re wearing, everyone will notice you for sure…but you’re only going to be thrown out.
Will you be humble enough to leave behind your own statement to the world about how much good you’ve done? Will you become more about celebrating and honoring the Groom than you are about making sure others know who you are and what you’ve done? Then in faith get dressed in the clothes God has provided to you free of charge: forgiveness, mercy, grace, and righteousness, and get ready for the time of your (eternal!) life!
Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
~Edward Mote, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, c.1834
Matthew 22:2-14
Have you ever watched What Not to Wear? If so then you’re familiar with jokes about fashion catastrophes that Stacey and Clinton would never approve of. The hosts of the show attempt to enlighten participants to just how awful their clothing choices are, and then bring them up-to-date so that they can show their “true selves” to the world by the way they dress. Clothing usually does make a loud statement about the way we want other people to think about us. If I’m rich, you’ll know it. If I want you to think I’m a punk, you’ll know it. If I’ve just given up and don’t care about myself anymore, you’ll know it.
Can you imagine the scene going on in this parable? The master’s servants are herding people into the banquet hall from right off the street—one guy was walking his dog, one guy was on his lunch break, one lady was finalizing a business deal via cell phone, a teenager was hailing a cab. This wedding invitation was immediate—there was no Save the Date involved, and no RSVP card to fill out. The food is ready NOW—come on in!
So when I read a few verses later where the master starts picking on some guy who didn’t have time to get all dressed up, I’m a little put off. Give the dude a break! He came right from work and didn’t have a chance to go home and change. When you’re so last-minute about something like this, you really can’t expect anyone to be prepared!
But that’s one big difference between our culture and the culture of the people Jesus was telling this parable to. Proper wedding attire was provided by the host for all the wedding guests. Wouldn’t it be nice to attend a Black Tie event where the tuxes and gowns (in just your size!) were ready and waiting for you in the coat room?! That’s what the master was doing for his guests. All they had to do to get into the banquet was put on the clothes he provided for them.
Apparently, this one guy just wasn’t down with that. Maybe the tux just wasn’t his style. Or maybe he didn’t want to look like everyone else there---maybe he wanted to wear his business suit and tie to show everyone else at the wedding what a good job he had, or how far up the ladder he’d climbed, or how hard he had been working all day (and so really deserved to be there). Whatever his motivation for refusing the master’s only request, he wanted people to notice him—and so he stuck out like a sore thumb.
It was obvious to everyone that he was more interested in himself than he was in honoring the son who this wedding feast was all about in the first place.
Do you remember when Paul (in Philippians 3) rattles off all his accomplishments—that he was raised as a good Jew, he followed the law to a T, and he did great works for God—all things that should have given him the right to stand before God? Yet after this list he makes this shocking statement:
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him,
He’s referring to Isaiah 64:4 which says: “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” And neither Paul nor Isaiah are just talking about needing to do laundry or take out the trash. The words “rubbish” and “filthy rags” literally translate to ‘soiled menstrual cloths!' Ok, even in our culture where women having their period aren’t considered unclean or forbidden to go to church, that’s a pretty disgusting image. This guy waltzed into this beautiful banquet on his own terms—wanting to show off his achievements—but he was basically dressed up in…well…filthy rags. You get the idea.
You and I have been invited into the feast of the Kingdom of Heaven. But what do we have to wear to get in? What is the gift that God has freely given us that, unless we receive it, we have no place celebrating with him? Paul follows up his shocker with a simple answer to this question:
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
In order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to dress ourselves with Christ Jesus, and freely (and humbly) accept what HE has accomplished on our behalf—the forgiveness of our sin and the right to stand unashamed before God. No matter how long we’ve been going to church, no matter how many good deeds we did for strangers last year—none of our righteousness can dress us well enough to attend the banquet.
You’re standing in the banquet hall cloak room, staring at that tux or gown. If you put it on, you will look like everyone else at the party. Nothing will distinguish you, and you won’t be able to wear your accomplishments on your sleeve. If you decide to stay in what you’re wearing, everyone will notice you for sure…but you’re only going to be thrown out.
Will you be humble enough to leave behind your own statement to the world about how much good you’ve done? Will you become more about celebrating and honoring the Groom than you are about making sure others know who you are and what you’ve done? Then in faith get dressed in the clothes God has provided to you free of charge: forgiveness, mercy, grace, and righteousness, and get ready for the time of your (eternal!) life!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Rethinking 'Rethink Church,' pt. 1
Have you seen this commercial?
Or these?
These are a little older, but check them out anyway:
I'd love to get your initial thoughts on any or all of these ads. What do you think the main message of these videos is? If you were (or are) not a Christian, what would you say the point of going to church is, based on these ads? If you are a Christian, what do these ads say to you?
I sat in a workshop this past weekend that presented the United Methodist Church's new "Rethink Church" campaign. We watched some of these videos and discussed what it would look like for our churches to change the way we "do" church to be more outwardly-focused. I think there are some positive aspects of this message (a point on which I will ellaborate in a future post), but something is bugging me big time as well. Let me know what you think it is!
Or these?
These are a little older, but check them out anyway:
I'd love to get your initial thoughts on any or all of these ads. What do you think the main message of these videos is? If you were (or are) not a Christian, what would you say the point of going to church is, based on these ads? If you are a Christian, what do these ads say to you?
I sat in a workshop this past weekend that presented the United Methodist Church's new "Rethink Church" campaign. We watched some of these videos and discussed what it would look like for our churches to change the way we "do" church to be more outwardly-focused. I think there are some positive aspects of this message (a point on which I will ellaborate in a future post), but something is bugging me big time as well. Let me know what you think it is!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Praying
Yesterday Abbie was playing with her dollhouse toys. She brought out the table, chairs, and the "Mommy" and "Daddy" to the living room. After a few minutes, she laid the two dolls face-down on the couch and I overheard her say "Mommy, Daddy praying. Thank you Jesus, so much. AMEN."
It made my week.
It made my week.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Because no one else is reporting it.
Army of the Lord? Obama Seeks Health Care Push From Pulpit
Thousands of religious leaders got a call from on high Wednesday as President Obama reached out to Jewish and Christian clergy, asking some to sermonize in favor of health care reform.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/20/army-lord-obama-seeks-health-care-push-pulpit/
Thousands of religious leaders got a call from on high Wednesday as President Obama reached out to Jewish and Christian clergy, asking some to sermonize in favor of health care reform.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/20/army-lord-obama-seeks-health-care-push-pulpit/
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Two-year-old theology
At lunch this afternoon, Matt asked Abbie if she knew who made the spinach we were eating. He told her, "God made spinach." Not long after that, Abbie replied, "Jesus...made spinach!"
Apparently, my two-year-old grasps trinitarian theology. Most fabulous.
Apparently, my two-year-old grasps trinitarian theology. Most fabulous.
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