What's your definition of perfection? Blemish free? Neat and orderly? Beautiful to look at? Something worthy of being coveted? A Hersey bar? Faultless? Me? You? The old adage goes...beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
When I look at a new born baby, I see perfection. When I look at the Grand Canyon, I see perfection. When I look at a humming bird, I see perfection. But when I look in the mirror, I don't see perfection. When I look at you (this will be a shock), I don't see perfection. When I look at a piece of the world that has been lived in or touched by man I don't see perfection. Why is it that the things exposed to mankind become less and less perfect? Why is it, the things untouched by man and closer to their original form are seen as being more perfect?
I'm guessing you smugly think you know where I'm taking you on this topic. Don't be too smug!!!!!
From past blogs, unless you are asleep at the switch, you caught on to the fact that I believe in Jesus Christ. Some of you (if you're believers too) will relate completely. Others of you probably get the concept but aren't on board with it. Some of you may reject the idea of faith in God as just goofiness. It's your choice and I certainly can't say anything that will sway you...and I'm not going to try. Not my job!!!! I just write what I believe and what I feel like writing and you are free to take it or leave it.
How about this for a contradiction to what I said above...God sees you and me as perfect through his eyes...but of course, there is one condition....you have to believe that Christ took the blame for your imperfections (your sins) and died a real death and used his blood to cover them over so they aren't visible any longer, and after 3 days was raised from the dead (made alive again). He did this out of love. If you believe it, then God sees you as perfect. There's a word that describes what's going on here...it's called "grace".
You might ask, why do I care if God sees me as perfect? Well, that's where the really good stuff happens. First of all, you get adopted by God as His son or daughter with all the rights and privileges that entails. His Spirit immediately comes to you and fills you with His love and remains with you all the time to guide you. God doesn't promise a perfect life, but he does promise to always be present in times of trouble. Just knowing that God is close by and that He loves us beyond measure brings incredible hope and peace.
So when I'm viewed with earthly eyes, I'm far from perfect. But when God looks at me, He sees absolute perfection...because I do believe. Only God could have thought this up!!!!!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Showers of Glass and Guardian Angels
Life is full of ups and downs. Some days are winners and other days...well, they just aren't worth the 24 hours we spend living them. The thankful thing is that there are very, very few of the down days. Do you every wonder why there are so few down days.....
Wednesday had the potential to be one of those really bad down days. Our sliding glass shower door stopped sliding and I set out to fix it. I determined that one of the aluminum brackets on the top of the massive glass panel had cracked (after 10 years of use). This bracket was held in place by two screws. I loosened the screws and attempted to remove the bracket but it wouldn't budge. I decided to take the door sized glass panel out of the shower and lay it on the floor so that I could get more leverage on the bracket. As I picked up this wall of glass, I heard an unbelievable loud crashing sound. I was a little afraid to look down at what I might see...blood and guts immediately came to mind! A word similar to "OUCH" had formed on my lips! Since I felt no pain, I regained enough courage to look down. Around me were mounds of broken shards and bits of glass that covered an area at least 5 feet square in size. I was in the middle of that area. To my amazement, the glass missed me completely except for one tiny scratch on the back of my hand. I was perfectly fine...nothing hurt but my pride. Wow, could that have been bad. It makes me shutter to think what might have been.
Why do you suppose I came though unscathed? I know why...it was God's hand protecting me. The world would write it off as just good luck....I don't think so! I don't ever have good luck, except once when I won a water fall/nature pool for my yard which of course I didn't want anyway. No luck involved...God's protecting hand. There have been quite a few such instances in my life. I remember as a kid I threw gasoline on a fire only to have a fireball blaze around me. I ran my hand through a wood planer once, and while I was hurt a little it could have been soooo much worse. I recall several close calls while riding my motorcycle. How about the fact that doctors discovered I had heart disease (a totally blocked widow maker) that should have killed me. I took a cruise on the Costa Concordia a couple years ago and lived to tell about it. I could go on but I think you get the point...I've kept God awfully busy!!!! Nobody has that much "good luck."
All these near misses have gotten me thinking about guardian angels. Do you believe in guardian angels? While the Bible doesn't ever specifically identify angels as guardians, the Bible does clearly define the role of angels as being our protectors. The description of angels as being chubby little cherubs is all wrong of course. Angels are mighty and powerful creatures. The Bible tells us that some have wings while others appear human like. Heck, the bible tells us to be kind and welcoming to strangers as some of them may be angels...that got my attention. The point is, God has legions of angels that are all around us. I'm confident He has assigned some of them (it would take more than one given my track record) the responsibility of keeping me safe. I simply cannot conceive of any other way that I could have survived all these near misses. We live in a world that is filled with evil, but God keeps the evil in check. That's what I believe because that's what the Bible tells me. Without the assurance of a loving God, I wouldn't want to step out of the house!
Enough rambling for today. This blog didn't exactly take on a humorous tone, but I write what I feel and so you always get what you pay for. Take care and count your blessings that God is in charge of things and that he has legions of mighty angels to do his bidding. Oh...remember to be nice to strangers too!
Wednesday had the potential to be one of those really bad down days. Our sliding glass shower door stopped sliding and I set out to fix it. I determined that one of the aluminum brackets on the top of the massive glass panel had cracked (after 10 years of use). This bracket was held in place by two screws. I loosened the screws and attempted to remove the bracket but it wouldn't budge. I decided to take the door sized glass panel out of the shower and lay it on the floor so that I could get more leverage on the bracket. As I picked up this wall of glass, I heard an unbelievable loud crashing sound. I was a little afraid to look down at what I might see...blood and guts immediately came to mind! A word similar to "OUCH" had formed on my lips! Since I felt no pain, I regained enough courage to look down. Around me were mounds of broken shards and bits of glass that covered an area at least 5 feet square in size. I was in the middle of that area. To my amazement, the glass missed me completely except for one tiny scratch on the back of my hand. I was perfectly fine...nothing hurt but my pride. Wow, could that have been bad. It makes me shutter to think what might have been.
Why do you suppose I came though unscathed? I know why...it was God's hand protecting me. The world would write it off as just good luck....I don't think so! I don't ever have good luck, except once when I won a water fall/nature pool for my yard which of course I didn't want anyway. No luck involved...God's protecting hand. There have been quite a few such instances in my life. I remember as a kid I threw gasoline on a fire only to have a fireball blaze around me. I ran my hand through a wood planer once, and while I was hurt a little it could have been soooo much worse. I recall several close calls while riding my motorcycle. How about the fact that doctors discovered I had heart disease (a totally blocked widow maker) that should have killed me. I took a cruise on the Costa Concordia a couple years ago and lived to tell about it. I could go on but I think you get the point...I've kept God awfully busy!!!! Nobody has that much "good luck."
All these near misses have gotten me thinking about guardian angels. Do you believe in guardian angels? While the Bible doesn't ever specifically identify angels as guardians, the Bible does clearly define the role of angels as being our protectors. The description of angels as being chubby little cherubs is all wrong of course. Angels are mighty and powerful creatures. The Bible tells us that some have wings while others appear human like. Heck, the bible tells us to be kind and welcoming to strangers as some of them may be angels...that got my attention. The point is, God has legions of angels that are all around us. I'm confident He has assigned some of them (it would take more than one given my track record) the responsibility of keeping me safe. I simply cannot conceive of any other way that I could have survived all these near misses. We live in a world that is filled with evil, but God keeps the evil in check. That's what I believe because that's what the Bible tells me. Without the assurance of a loving God, I wouldn't want to step out of the house!
Enough rambling for today. This blog didn't exactly take on a humorous tone, but I write what I feel and so you always get what you pay for. Take care and count your blessings that God is in charge of things and that he has legions of mighty angels to do his bidding. Oh...remember to be nice to strangers too!
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Gettin Back In The Saddle Again.....
Maybe it's time to post another blog....they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Actually, absence makes the heart grow older. I've been away for a couple years living life, but now have the urge to write again...so I'm back!
The older one gets, the faster time seems to fly. A person can become accustomed to living the lazy, self absorbed life. It's not bad just doing your own thing. Heck, what's wrong with golfing a couple times a week during the summer and going to the gym every day in the winter. For entertainment, how about surfing the web and reading financial websites or diddling with financial spreadsheets. It's all good...right?
Yes, living the lazy retired life is very good, but it's not very satisfying. Don't get me wrong, I've had a fantastic couple years of fun in the retired sun! But, it's time for a bit of a realignment of priorities.
You ever hear of Shiip? Yes, I know it's spelled wrong....except it's really spelled right. About six months ago I got an email from AARP. This email listed several volunteer opportunities one of which was Shiip. I thought, "what's Shiip"? Turns out this is a volunteer organization that helps senior citizens with Medicare enrollment and benefit questions. Heck...I can help with that I decided...and before I knew it I was attending days of training and carting home pounds and pounds of training manuals. I got my Shiip Certification about a month ago and I've started counseling folks. I'm such a newbie and thankfully my clients have been very, very patient. It's rewarding to be able to help people. Hope to be doing this for some time.
I figured that was about enough volunteer work. I was wrong! The Holy Spirit had other ideas. He wanted me to lead a bible study. If you're a "believer" you will understand when I say that He kept bugging me about the idea. If you're not a "believer", you'll just think I'm a religious nut. All I can say if you think I'm a nut is ... let's talk. Maybe I can get you to consider becoming a religious nut too! Having faith is a wonderful thing. Anyway, this coming Thursday I'll be leading a men's study on the book of Romans. I'm anxious to get this study underway and can't wait to watch the Holy Spirit in action.
Did I mention my grandkids? I can't post a blog without mentioning the grandkids. They're three years old now and simply smart as tacks and cute a buttons! Since the last time I blogged they've tripled in size, learned to walk and talk, and started pre-school. And sadly for granny and me... moved to the Chicago area. That was an adjustment for all of us. We've been blessed with frequent visits from them and have gone their direction a few times. We'd love to see them more, but with modern technology like Skype and Face Time, our phone time is almost as good as being together.
I have tons more to share to catch you up, but it will have to wait for future blogs. Hope you check back from time to time as I plan be back regularly. Know that I'll be praying for you and drop me a line if you happen to have any special prayer requests .
Until next time......
The older one gets, the faster time seems to fly. A person can become accustomed to living the lazy, self absorbed life. It's not bad just doing your own thing. Heck, what's wrong with golfing a couple times a week during the summer and going to the gym every day in the winter. For entertainment, how about surfing the web and reading financial websites or diddling with financial spreadsheets. It's all good...right?
Yes, living the lazy retired life is very good, but it's not very satisfying. Don't get me wrong, I've had a fantastic couple years of fun in the retired sun! But, it's time for a bit of a realignment of priorities.
You ever hear of Shiip? Yes, I know it's spelled wrong....except it's really spelled right. About six months ago I got an email from AARP. This email listed several volunteer opportunities one of which was Shiip. I thought, "what's Shiip"? Turns out this is a volunteer organization that helps senior citizens with Medicare enrollment and benefit questions. Heck...I can help with that I decided...and before I knew it I was attending days of training and carting home pounds and pounds of training manuals. I got my Shiip Certification about a month ago and I've started counseling folks. I'm such a newbie and thankfully my clients have been very, very patient. It's rewarding to be able to help people. Hope to be doing this for some time.
I figured that was about enough volunteer work. I was wrong! The Holy Spirit had other ideas. He wanted me to lead a bible study. If you're a "believer" you will understand when I say that He kept bugging me about the idea. If you're not a "believer", you'll just think I'm a religious nut. All I can say if you think I'm a nut is ... let's talk. Maybe I can get you to consider becoming a religious nut too! Having faith is a wonderful thing. Anyway, this coming Thursday I'll be leading a men's study on the book of Romans. I'm anxious to get this study underway and can't wait to watch the Holy Spirit in action.
Did I mention my grandkids? I can't post a blog without mentioning the grandkids. They're three years old now and simply smart as tacks and cute a buttons! Since the last time I blogged they've tripled in size, learned to walk and talk, and started pre-school. And sadly for granny and me... moved to the Chicago area. That was an adjustment for all of us. We've been blessed with frequent visits from them and have gone their direction a few times. We'd love to see them more, but with modern technology like Skype and Face Time, our phone time is almost as good as being together.
I have tons more to share to catch you up, but it will have to wait for future blogs. Hope you check back from time to time as I plan be back regularly. Know that I'll be praying for you and drop me a line if you happen to have any special prayer requests .
Until next time......
Sunday, September 26, 2010
You're Never Too Old to Stick Out Your Tongue
How is it that two little diaper covered bundles of energy bring such joy? Seems to me you need to be a parent or, in my case, a grandparent to get it.
First of all, you need to understand that I'm more than just a little biased with respect to my new twin grandchildren. When I tell you that they are the cutest, best natured, most perfect, and prettiest and handsomest little tykes in the world I'm not exaggerating. They are all of this and so much more! Gosh, I love these little people!
This weekend, I got to spend some time with them (not nearly enough however). It happens that their other set of grandparents was also on hand as well as their uncle. While I'm a little goo-goo around the twins, I'm not alone in this. I saw such a flood of love being showered on these little kids that it's a wonder the governor (Big Chet) wasn't on the phone to the President calling in a FEMA response team. There was love dripping all over the place. Messiest thing I've ever encountered.
Here's the best part....I got a first....I got each of the twins to stick out his or her respective tongue. I was simply doing what I always do when I'm around people, I was sticking out my tongue and wiggling it at them and they responded back with their little tongues wiggling. Now I suppose it's a bit difficult for you all to be as excited about this as I was, because I got kinda excited. "LOOK EVERYONE" I yelled out. "They're sticking out their tongues!!!!!!" "OK, OK, just calm down" was the bewildered look I got back. There's nothing like totally impressing the other set of grandparents. My daughter, the twins momma, seemed thoroughly impressed as did my wife E???????. "Wow" I thought! This is Blog material at it's finest.
Have you noticed that life reflects back your mood much like a mirror reflects back your smile or your frown. I saw my love reflected back in the faces of the twins yesterday. You can't see kindness or love, but if you give it out, then you always get it back, sometimes it's delayed a little, but you always get it back and often in double amounts. Like yesterday when I was playing with my grandchildren, I immediately saw my love reflected back in the simple expression on their perfect little faces showcasing their wet little tongues. I have a challenge for you this week....just be a little kinder than usual, smile a little more than usual, be a little more helpful than usual. Then come on back to this blog and post a comment about how your week went.
Tomorrow is Monday. While it's back to work for me, it's also the first gathering of a new small group study series at my Church, Lutheran Church of Hope. The study series is built around the little book "The Dream Giver" written by Bruce Wilkinson. E???? and I did the series once before, so this is a repeat for us. As I cruise toward retirement, this series seems perfectly targeted to me. God has given us all dreams. Many of us are afraid to follow our dreams...not enough money, not enough time, uncertainty and fear are the reasons we give. I just wonder how God is going to use me when I retire. I've been so incredibly blessed and now with the gift of time, I really don't have any excuses left.
During the past five years, my wife and I have traveled and seen a great deal of this world. Each of our trips has been wonderful and unforgettable, but not one of these trips is going to hold a candle to this new journey of retirement. I hope you tag along with me.
Take care....I'll be praying for you this week.
First of all, you need to understand that I'm more than just a little biased with respect to my new twin grandchildren. When I tell you that they are the cutest, best natured, most perfect, and prettiest and handsomest little tykes in the world I'm not exaggerating. They are all of this and so much more! Gosh, I love these little people!
This weekend, I got to spend some time with them (not nearly enough however). It happens that their other set of grandparents was also on hand as well as their uncle. While I'm a little goo-goo around the twins, I'm not alone in this. I saw such a flood of love being showered on these little kids that it's a wonder the governor (Big Chet) wasn't on the phone to the President calling in a FEMA response team. There was love dripping all over the place. Messiest thing I've ever encountered.
Here's the best part....I got a first....I got each of the twins to stick out his or her respective tongue. I was simply doing what I always do when I'm around people, I was sticking out my tongue and wiggling it at them and they responded back with their little tongues wiggling. Now I suppose it's a bit difficult for you all to be as excited about this as I was, because I got kinda excited. "LOOK EVERYONE" I yelled out. "They're sticking out their tongues!!!!!!" "OK, OK, just calm down" was the bewildered look I got back. There's nothing like totally impressing the other set of grandparents. My daughter, the twins momma, seemed thoroughly impressed as did my wife E???????. "Wow" I thought! This is Blog material at it's finest.
Have you noticed that life reflects back your mood much like a mirror reflects back your smile or your frown. I saw my love reflected back in the faces of the twins yesterday. You can't see kindness or love, but if you give it out, then you always get it back, sometimes it's delayed a little, but you always get it back and often in double amounts. Like yesterday when I was playing with my grandchildren, I immediately saw my love reflected back in the simple expression on their perfect little faces showcasing their wet little tongues. I have a challenge for you this week....just be a little kinder than usual, smile a little more than usual, be a little more helpful than usual. Then come on back to this blog and post a comment about how your week went.
Tomorrow is Monday. While it's back to work for me, it's also the first gathering of a new small group study series at my Church, Lutheran Church of Hope. The study series is built around the little book "The Dream Giver" written by Bruce Wilkinson. E???? and I did the series once before, so this is a repeat for us. As I cruise toward retirement, this series seems perfectly targeted to me. God has given us all dreams. Many of us are afraid to follow our dreams...not enough money, not enough time, uncertainty and fear are the reasons we give. I just wonder how God is going to use me when I retire. I've been so incredibly blessed and now with the gift of time, I really don't have any excuses left.
During the past five years, my wife and I have traveled and seen a great deal of this world. Each of our trips has been wonderful and unforgettable, but not one of these trips is going to hold a candle to this new journey of retirement. I hope you tag along with me.
Take care....I'll be praying for you this week.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Totem Poles and Karaoke
We're back home and it's so very good to be here. The anticipation of travel is always so much better than the reality of it. Over time, the memories get sweeter and the hustle of getting there and then getting back home fades.
Cruising Alaska....that's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it? Yet that is exactly how most of us who are fortunate enough to be able to travel to Alaska actually experience this wondrous piece of God's creation. As I look back with memories so fresh in mind, it is a little difficult to separate the geography of Alaska from the confines of our massive cruise ship Oosterdam. The two are tangled up as I have them filed away in my memory. It's a mix of reality (the land that is Alaska) and fantasy (that Utopian experience that one lives aboard a cruise ship).
Let me start by looking back at Alaska the land. First impressions are the best impressions. We begin with a nearly day-long cruise through Glacier Bay National Park. Words are almost not enough to describe this pristine place where seals, whales, dolphins and other aquatic mammals begin their lives and prehistoric glaciers end their majestic thunderous death walk to the sea climaxing in enormous eruptions of seawater being reborn as icebergs and looking for their very own Titanic. What an amazing and breathtaking place and truly one of the finest wonders of God's creation.
Then comes Juneau, the state capital and one of the worlds tackiest tourist traps to which I have been unfortunate enough to visit. What a contrast to the natural God given beauty of Glacier Bay! To say this town is tacky is a bit of an understatement. It is the mega-center of T-shirt shops and jewelry shops. As we stood atop the beautiful Utopian Oosterdam, we were subjected to a shoreline packed with commercial shops, tour buses, and tens of thousands of tourists flocking ashore from the three or four massive cruise ships filling the harbor. This spectacle is certainly one I'm anxious to forget and stands as an apt tribute to man's creation and mistreatment of Alaska the landscape!
And so it went for five more days....indescribable beauty and wonder of what God made interspersed with the tackiness of the man-made stuff.The simplest things bring the most pleasure. Without a doubt, the best memory of the trip was whale watching from the balcony of our state room aboard the Oosterdam as it cruised from the harbor at Sitka. E???? and I stood and watched a dozen or more orcas put on a show just off the starboard side. One of these mammoth creatures floated on its side for several minutes waving its dorsal fin as if to say goodbye. Truly a spectacle equaling any we have viewed anywhere in the world.
How can one describe a cruise without discussing life aboard the cruise ship? This is about as close to a Utopian experience as one can live on this earth. It's a little like Disney Land on water where the reality of life is hidden away and replaced with the illusion of perfection. Where else can you get up in the morning to room service coffee served by a smiley faced Indonesian cabin steward while you sit snugly in a fluffy white robe and watch the Alaskan countryside float past? Do you want gourmet dining for every meal...it's available. Do you prefer an endless buffet...it's available. Do you want to be entertained your every waking hour...it's available. How about loosing a little money at the casino? Bingo your cup of tea? How about a nice massage or whole body detoxification? Do you want to be the entertainment...then go down to the karaoke lounge.Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Ya Gotta Be Kidding Doc...Celiac Sprue?????
I thought it was mind over waist line. For the one and only time in my life I was skinny and enjoying my new fit physique. Heck I could fit into a 30" waist pair of jeans just like a high school sophomore. I was totally rad man!!!
I figured something wasn't quite right when I returned from a Mediterranean cruise. While on the cruise I ate everything the steward put on the table, I snacked from the buffets and had ice cream from the machines. Didn't matter to my waistline. I came home from the trip and weighed less than when I got on the boat. I thought smugly, mind over waste line.
My regular doc knew something was up so he sent me to gastric doc. After a couple of not too glamorous probes (one up and later one down) I got the call...."sorry to tell you, but you've got Celiac Sprue". Sounds Yuk!!!! What's that?
If you found this blog, you can do the research for yourself. The short of it is, if it looks like bread, has gravy or batter on or in it, or has been thickened or seasoned to taste good, then it's probably poison to a celiac. This makes food selection at the grocery store pretty easy. The gluten free (that's what I can eat) section is about 2 feet long. Most restaurants struggle to put out something that I can eat and I'm a total pain in the butt for a waiter.
One of my friends says I have a glutton problem. I can't say he's wrong. Here's what is so sad....as soon as I quit eating all that good tasting fattening food and started to eat the rather bland special stuff off that 2 foot long grocery shelf I started to gain weight. Does that make any sense to anyone? Actually, I've been thinking throught this problem and I have a solution. When my waistline expands to the point I need to lose weight, then I just start eating all the wonderful fattening food that I'm not supposed to eat. I then eat and eat and eat until I get skinny. When my mother whispers to my wife that I look sick, then I will know it's time to change back to eating the bland stuff and fatten back up. Everyone should have it so good!! There...problem solved!
My unnamed better half and I will be doing that cruise thing again next week. It's off to Alaska to get an early start on winter and snow, get blasted by cold wind and rain from our cabin balcony, and face buffet after buffet of incredible food I can't eat. I expect I'll have a story or two to share with you and even a couple of pix. Sadly (or not) I won't be posting again for a couple of weeks.
Alaska!!!!! Can't wait to experience the beauty of the place. We've been all over God's earth the past few years and we are always totally amazed at just how perfect God made it all and how it fits together so precisely. There are people that question whether God exists. I just don't get that line of thought. What better proof than to just look at nature in the world or at the heavens around with its planets and stars. The enormity of it all is staggering and the complexity is mind boggling, wow! Want some good reading on this topic....spend a little time in Psalms 104 contemplating creation just as David must had done when he wrote it.
"God is alive and well and in his heaven!" That is an incredibly reassuring fact in this day of uncertainty.
I figured something wasn't quite right when I returned from a Mediterranean cruise. While on the cruise I ate everything the steward put on the table, I snacked from the buffets and had ice cream from the machines. Didn't matter to my waistline. I came home from the trip and weighed less than when I got on the boat. I thought smugly, mind over waste line.
My regular doc knew something was up so he sent me to gastric doc. After a couple of not too glamorous probes (one up and later one down) I got the call...."sorry to tell you, but you've got Celiac Sprue". Sounds Yuk!!!! What's that?
If you found this blog, you can do the research for yourself. The short of it is, if it looks like bread, has gravy or batter on or in it, or has been thickened or seasoned to taste good, then it's probably poison to a celiac. This makes food selection at the grocery store pretty easy. The gluten free (that's what I can eat) section is about 2 feet long. Most restaurants struggle to put out something that I can eat and I'm a total pain in the butt for a waiter.
One of my friends says I have a glutton problem. I can't say he's wrong. Here's what is so sad....as soon as I quit eating all that good tasting fattening food and started to eat the rather bland special stuff off that 2 foot long grocery shelf I started to gain weight. Does that make any sense to anyone? Actually, I've been thinking throught this problem and I have a solution. When my waistline expands to the point I need to lose weight, then I just start eating all the wonderful fattening food that I'm not supposed to eat. I then eat and eat and eat until I get skinny. When my mother whispers to my wife that I look sick, then I will know it's time to change back to eating the bland stuff and fatten back up. Everyone should have it so good!! There...problem solved!
My unnamed better half and I will be doing that cruise thing again next week. It's off to Alaska to get an early start on winter and snow, get blasted by cold wind and rain from our cabin balcony, and face buffet after buffet of incredible food I can't eat. I expect I'll have a story or two to share with you and even a couple of pix. Sadly (or not) I won't be posting again for a couple of weeks.
Alaska!!!!! Can't wait to experience the beauty of the place. We've been all over God's earth the past few years and we are always totally amazed at just how perfect God made it all and how it fits together so precisely. There are people that question whether God exists. I just don't get that line of thought. What better proof than to just look at nature in the world or at the heavens around with its planets and stars. The enormity of it all is staggering and the complexity is mind boggling, wow! Want some good reading on this topic....spend a little time in Psalms 104 contemplating creation just as David must had done when he wrote it.
"God is alive and well and in his heaven!" That is an incredibly reassuring fact in this day of uncertainty.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Grandkids, Frogs and Toads
Every now and then there is a day (or night) that we never forget. I had one of them last night. A very very special night. Let me explain.....
About a month and a half ago our daughter and son-in-law brought two grandchildren into our lives. Bennett and Olivia are indeed the two most beautiful kids on the face of the earth. And last night, they stayed overnight with us. They came into this world a little sooner than planned and had to spend a little time at the NICU getting bigger and stronger, but that's another story sometime in the future. Let the record show they are on track now. So allowing them to stay overnight with Grandpa and Grandma was no little step for their mom and dad.
Now we've had a lot of face time with the kids over the last few weeks, but taking care of them overnight was like one of those "Up Close and Personal" segments on ABC's Wide World of Sports. The kids were absolutely perfect and I suspect they each put on about a pound during the night. I like to eat, but these guys eat around-the-clock like little birds in a nest. Can you believe it, they wanted a three course meal at 8:00PM, 1:00AM, 5:00AM and then demanded seconds at 9:00AM. We were certainly glad their mom packed plenty of chow for them!
Anyway, at the 1:00AM feeding I was shuffling around the kitchen and my better half (the one I'm not allowed to mention in this blog) shrieked as she groggily shuffled past the front door. At the moment of the shriek, I was busy holding Bennett (or was it Olivia?) and attempting to warm a bottle of high octane baby formula. My instinct upon hearing the shriek was to drop the baby (kersplat) on the kitchen floor and climb up on a chair to reach safer heights. Not me however, I bravely carried the kid with me to the front door to find my wife pointing to a tiny bright green frog that had somehow sneaked its way into the house. E???? bravely opened the front door and we herded the tiny critter back outside. The fear quickly subsided and calm again prevailed in our house.
So what is the likelihood something as traumatic as a frog appearing in the house would occur two times in the same 24 hour period? As it turns out, 100%!!! Yup, it repeated at the 5:00AM feeding? This time as I again groggily staggered with kid in arms to the kitchen sink I saw a gray pile of something on the kitchen counter behind the sink faucet. I rubbed my eyes to get a clearer view, and believe it or not, saw another little frog (actually a toad this time). He was greedily eyeing a small dish of raspberries that E????? had picked earlier in the day and left out to ripen a little more. This ugly little guy was quickly evicted out the back door wrapped in a paper towel. From his perspective, not the most graceful exit...no doubt he has had better days!
So that's another episode of life in the fast lane at Gettin Older's house. Now you are no doubt wondering why this was such an unforgettable night. Did I mention how much I love those little kids and how spending time with them is one of the absolute pleasures of my life. Now don't get all teary eyed at the thought. They're eating, pooping and peeing little machines to the world, but to me and to Grandma, these tykes are the most precious jewels God ever made. How great it is to be bonded together into a family.
This little epic reminds me of Romans 8:14-17. Here Paul tells us that we're all part of God's family...yes, real children and legitimate heirs of the most powerful and holy God. Just like a grandparent thinks his grandchildren are the best, so too God views those who love him as the best and as his real children. As I settle into the role of grandfather I am coming to understand what my relationship to God really means to God and to me. How cool is that I ask you?
"The happiest man is the one who lives simply in the way that pleases God."
About a month and a half ago our daughter and son-in-law brought two grandchildren into our lives. Bennett and Olivia are indeed the two most beautiful kids on the face of the earth. And last night, they stayed overnight with us. They came into this world a little sooner than planned and had to spend a little time at the NICU getting bigger and stronger, but that's another story sometime in the future. Let the record show they are on track now. So allowing them to stay overnight with Grandpa and Grandma was no little step for their mom and dad.
Now we've had a lot of face time with the kids over the last few weeks, but taking care of them overnight was like one of those "Up Close and Personal" segments on ABC's Wide World of Sports. The kids were absolutely perfect and I suspect they each put on about a pound during the night. I like to eat, but these guys eat around-the-clock like little birds in a nest. Can you believe it, they wanted a three course meal at 8:00PM, 1:00AM, 5:00AM and then demanded seconds at 9:00AM. We were certainly glad their mom packed plenty of chow for them!
Anyway, at the 1:00AM feeding I was shuffling around the kitchen and my better half (the one I'm not allowed to mention in this blog) shrieked as she groggily shuffled past the front door. At the moment of the shriek, I was busy holding Bennett (or was it Olivia?) and attempting to warm a bottle of high octane baby formula. My instinct upon hearing the shriek was to drop the baby (kersplat) on the kitchen floor and climb up on a chair to reach safer heights. Not me however, I bravely carried the kid with me to the front door to find my wife pointing to a tiny bright green frog that had somehow sneaked its way into the house. E???? bravely opened the front door and we herded the tiny critter back outside. The fear quickly subsided and calm again prevailed in our house.
So what is the likelihood something as traumatic as a frog appearing in the house would occur two times in the same 24 hour period? As it turns out, 100%!!! Yup, it repeated at the 5:00AM feeding? This time as I again groggily staggered with kid in arms to the kitchen sink I saw a gray pile of something on the kitchen counter behind the sink faucet. I rubbed my eyes to get a clearer view, and believe it or not, saw another little frog (actually a toad this time). He was greedily eyeing a small dish of raspberries that E????? had picked earlier in the day and left out to ripen a little more. This ugly little guy was quickly evicted out the back door wrapped in a paper towel. From his perspective, not the most graceful exit...no doubt he has had better days!
So that's another episode of life in the fast lane at Gettin Older's house. Now you are no doubt wondering why this was such an unforgettable night. Did I mention how much I love those little kids and how spending time with them is one of the absolute pleasures of my life. Now don't get all teary eyed at the thought. They're eating, pooping and peeing little machines to the world, but to me and to Grandma, these tykes are the most precious jewels God ever made. How great it is to be bonded together into a family.
This little epic reminds me of Romans 8:14-17. Here Paul tells us that we're all part of God's family...yes, real children and legitimate heirs of the most powerful and holy God. Just like a grandparent thinks his grandchildren are the best, so too God views those who love him as the best and as his real children. As I settle into the role of grandfather I am coming to understand what my relationship to God really means to God and to me. How cool is that I ask you?
"The happiest man is the one who lives simply in the way that pleases God."
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