I am so glad that, AFTER A WHOLE YEAR, Wednesday night dinners have returned...
It's good to be among friends again.
Wednesday Night Dinner RULES:
1. Hysterical laughter and superfluous mockery are required
2. Harrassing and/ or accidentally frightening the server is not uncommon
3. Stay far removed from Eric's sweet tea; it will probably drown someone's food before the night is over
4. Beware the sour cream
5. Girls are solidly in the group; guys can be voted out at random
6. Food variety is required, even if you eat at different Mexican places for three weeks straight but not if you opt to eat at Mama Rosas. Mama Rosas is always acceptable.
7. When blessing the food, always remember to thank God for such good friends and such good things as Wednesday nights.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Monday, June 12, 2006
on Taking the Long Way
Children lose their youth too soon
Watching war made us immune
And I've got all the world to lose
But I just want to hold on to the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’
It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
....................................
My sister and I were talking this weekend about this new Dixie Chicks cd. We were raised in a significantly anti-war (immediate) family with strong views on human rights, political positions, and the way we are humans first and then Americans second (rather than vice versa). In our own ways, we are both activists for the causes we believe in and hopeful that God's love can solve any human problem better than any potential human solution.
I know that from a biblical standpoint, war can be justified (Eccl.) and war can be undermined. I simply (or perhaps complex-ly) feel that God gave his own life rather than let us suffer eternal death and that he said our real battle is not against men, but against demonic presences. Are there serious situations in the world that need changing? So many I can think of... Are there better ways than war? I side with Love.
Unfortunately, many people who stand passionately against the act of war are considered anti-Bush (or whoever the President may be at the time), anti-American, and anti-military. Some are; some aren't. I believe President Bush is a Christian and a praying man and am thankful for that, but I don't agree with his decisions.
Our parents' generation seemed much more passionate and full of human concern than we do. They protested. They actually had opinions. Most of my students don't even know which side of Vietnam we attacked, nor do they watch the current news and develop thoughtful, caring opinions about life and humanity. They'd rather watch SNL and Laguna Beach or hang out with friends. Youth have always been the ones with the vision, hope, and energy to call for change. I'd like to see more passion about belief in American youth.
Although Natalies crones she's "mad as hell," I guess I am left feeling "sad at hell" for all this bloodshed, worldwide.
Watching war made us immune
And I've got all the world to lose
But I just want to hold on to the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’
It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
....................................
My sister and I were talking this weekend about this new Dixie Chicks cd. We were raised in a significantly anti-war (immediate) family with strong views on human rights, political positions, and the way we are humans first and then Americans second (rather than vice versa). In our own ways, we are both activists for the causes we believe in and hopeful that God's love can solve any human problem better than any potential human solution.
I know that from a biblical standpoint, war can be justified (Eccl.) and war can be undermined. I simply (or perhaps complex-ly) feel that God gave his own life rather than let us suffer eternal death and that he said our real battle is not against men, but against demonic presences. Are there serious situations in the world that need changing? So many I can think of... Are there better ways than war? I side with Love.
Unfortunately, many people who stand passionately against the act of war are considered anti-Bush (or whoever the President may be at the time), anti-American, and anti-military. Some are; some aren't. I believe President Bush is a Christian and a praying man and am thankful for that, but I don't agree with his decisions.
Our parents' generation seemed much more passionate and full of human concern than we do. They protested. They actually had opinions. Most of my students don't even know which side of Vietnam we attacked, nor do they watch the current news and develop thoughtful, caring opinions about life and humanity. They'd rather watch SNL and Laguna Beach or hang out with friends. Youth have always been the ones with the vision, hope, and energy to call for change. I'd like to see more passion about belief in American youth.
Although Natalies crones she's "mad as hell," I guess I am left feeling "sad at hell" for all this bloodshed, worldwide.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
riches
So, yeah, a cool thing happened.
Last night (Saturday), N & I went to River Nile for some soup and to hear Hannah Miller sing and play. Our server, Ryan, has just begun coming to the college prayer meetings at our house on Thursday nights. As we ate, Nathan felt impressed by the Lord to ask Ryan about his fundraising for his mission trip to Africa this summer. Ryan, a little discouraged, looked down and mentioned that he did not get all the money that he needed for the trip. When he walked away, N & I both felt that we should give him money towards his trip. I opened my purse, tore out a check, and N asked me how much I felt we should give. I gave a number I thought was really more than we could afford, but I felt like I was giving all I could (after all, I am on summer pay and Nathan has no job for the moment). And Nathan said that he felt we should give him double that. I trust Nathan, but my eyes probably grew very wide, as we wrote that check and slipped it to Ryan as we were leaving.
Miraculously, the Lord gave us great peace, and neither of us really thought about that money later that night. In fact, we didn't remember until today in church (approximately 15 hours after we gave Ryan the money) when a woman neither of us knew or had ever seen came up to us and said, "The Lord told me to give this to you."
And it was a check. For the exact amount we had given Ryan.
How awesome are His ways...so much higher than ours and how special that He would allow us to be a part of blessing Ryan. It's His goodness and extravagance...the kind that causes Him to plant beautiful flowers on the tallest, most dangerous mountain peaks, even when there is no one there to appreciate the beauty. Beauty for beauty's sake. Goodness for goodness' sake.
Last night (Saturday), N & I went to River Nile for some soup and to hear Hannah Miller sing and play. Our server, Ryan, has just begun coming to the college prayer meetings at our house on Thursday nights. As we ate, Nathan felt impressed by the Lord to ask Ryan about his fundraising for his mission trip to Africa this summer. Ryan, a little discouraged, looked down and mentioned that he did not get all the money that he needed for the trip. When he walked away, N & I both felt that we should give him money towards his trip. I opened my purse, tore out a check, and N asked me how much I felt we should give. I gave a number I thought was really more than we could afford, but I felt like I was giving all I could (after all, I am on summer pay and Nathan has no job for the moment). And Nathan said that he felt we should give him double that. I trust Nathan, but my eyes probably grew very wide, as we wrote that check and slipped it to Ryan as we were leaving.
Miraculously, the Lord gave us great peace, and neither of us really thought about that money later that night. In fact, we didn't remember until today in church (approximately 15 hours after we gave Ryan the money) when a woman neither of us knew or had ever seen came up to us and said, "The Lord told me to give this to you."
And it was a check. For the exact amount we had given Ryan.
How awesome are His ways...so much higher than ours and how special that He would allow us to be a part of blessing Ryan. It's His goodness and extravagance...the kind that causes Him to plant beautiful flowers on the tallest, most dangerous mountain peaks, even when there is no one there to appreciate the beauty. Beauty for beauty's sake. Goodness for goodness' sake.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
