Thanksgiving workers

Here’s part of the crew that provided meals for the underprivelidged on Thanksgiving day

The bumpy process

The counseling department in college caused a stir one time by asking this question: “Why is sanctification such a seemingly slow, bumpy process?” With their cam-corders in hand, they soon compiled a very interesting assortment of theories and answers. They asked all sorts of people, from the Bible and theology profs to the freshman students.

The answers were numerous; “Because we care so little about it,” “Because we are not truly surrendered,” “Because satan is a roaring lion.”

By God’s grace I was not filmed in their query.

Steady alignment

I have an old car. For being a 1990 Toyota Corolla (almost 20 yrs old) with 220,000 miles, it still runs pretty well. All I have to do is change the oil and occassionally put in a new alternater. My one complaint about the car is its alignment. No matter how often I rotate and balance the tires, get them aligned, keep the right air pressure, the car always seems to pull slightly to the left. Even after putting on new tires recently, it still had that faithful old pull.

But in a way, that is how we are supposed to be as followers of Jesus. Ecclesiastes says, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but fool’s to the left” (10:2 NIV). We will not be perfect in this life. We will sin and fail to obey God. However, this verse reminds me that a lifestyle which is continously disobediant and willfully sinful is out of place in God’s kingdom. The steady, predictable drift of our lives is to be one of obediance. We just keep comming back to God’s amazing goodness and can’t help but follow after Him!

Winterized

Yesterday, the guys winterized our windows, and the gals baked.

This is a picture of us with our battle gear on. By putting the window treatments on each winter we save hundreds of dollars on our utility bill.

Nothing tastes as good as pumpkin pie made with home canned pumpkins.

And we had a wonderful sunset to finish off the day

Who caused the crash?

The Atlantic asks, “Did Christianity cause the crash?” This article is particularly interesting since it features Charlottesville, my home town.

Jam Session

Hannah Joy led us last night in a singing.

Remember

I continue to meditate upon 2 Timothy. Isn’t it interesting how much “remembering” goes on in the first two chapters?

I constantly remember you in my prayers -1:3
I remember your sincere faith -1:5
I remind you to stir afresh your gift -1:6
Remember Jesus Christ -2:8
Remind them of these things -2:14

Oftentimes I find I’m in need of such remembrances. Forgetfulness quickly creeps in, and if I’m not careful, it’s easy to lose sight of what it’s all about – Jesus. So today I’m simply remembering Him.

quote of the day

“The wealth that it accumulated was one of the main causes of the decline of the cluniac movement. Inspired by the holiness of the monks, rich and poor alike made gifts to their monasteries. Cluny and her sister houses adorned their chapels with gold and jewels. Eventually, the simplicity of life that had been Benedict’s ideal was lost, and other movements of more recent foundation, and more insistent on poverty, took the place of Cluny. Likewise, one of the main causes of the final failure of the reformation of the eleventh century was the wealth of the church, which made it very difficult for it to set aside the intrigues of the powerful, and take the side of the poor and oppressed.”

-Gonzales, The Story of Christianity, 281.

In laws

I’m looking forward to a day with my wife’s folks today. Last time I saw them was July, so we have a lot to catch up on. A trip to Barnes in Noble is likely on the agenda

Time to Retire?

When you start having an attitude like this doctor, it may be time to retire.