My new source of mischief and inspiration. pictures to come (of my own adventures :) )
You are totally welcome to come along and erm, join me. :)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Do I offend you?
Bits and pieces from today (West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont, MI. Pastor Doug Crawford, and Derek Anderson).
*Jn 6:60-71*
This is the passage directly following the "Bread of life" discussion.
Apparently there is a statement out there that "Doctrine divides, but love unifies." This is slightly ridiculous, especially if you consider that "Jesus is the EPITOME of love."
Jesus does not say (to the disciples that have left him, and to those that remained- because of a "hard saying"/revelation of who Jesus is and what he actually was teaching) "Let's find peace somewhere because I love you;" rather, He asks the leftover disciples - here called "The 12," receiving that identity... - "will you also leave me, now that you know what I teach?"
Check out "If you abide / CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."
Also consider those seed-on-rock believers, that had real joy... We all know of that one person (or more!) who was "saved" and experienced a real life change, and then somehow POOF just stopped coming to church, stopped attending Bible study, stopped showing up anywhere that fellowship could take place.
Part of that happening may well be from the not abiding, not continuing in the word! It is only by God's grace that any of us are continuing at all!
My Bible teacher back in the day when I went to high school stated once that it takes less than seven days of not being in the word for a person to be totally walking the wrong direction. :( Sad though it is, this is the truth. Hence the importance of not only reading "Christian books," but abiding in the words Christ is teaching, if one is truly a disciple.
Also, here are some "Distinguishing Marks" of that disciple:
-has FAITH in Jesus *needs works to be happening alongside, as the screen door on a submarine song states, "It just ain't happening..." See also James 2:19-20
-is following (progressive) Jesus. Note: not perfectly, but continuously. *facts are not equal to salvation
-persevering in faith until the end (Heb. 3:12-14)
-Take heed *lest unbelief!
-Exhort one another daily *lest... hardened through the deceitfulness of sin! (like my Bible teacher was saying... it doesn't take long! This is also referring to the essentialness of the Body. (Consider how you may spur one another...)
"Right doctrine is not only important in following Jesus, but it is essential"
...and tying nicely with all of the above was Derek's discussion on the gospel. He got us thinking about what the gospel is - besides being "the Good News." It was a very whirlwind journey-look at the "good news of what God has accomplished through the person and work of Jesus Christ," with various tidbits of Scripture for supportation. (which is not a word, but it is now!)
Thinking about things of the kingdom is very mind-boggling at times; take for example the few seconds a month our brain can handle considering eternity - less than that, sometimes!
So when you try to think about something as "Simple" - though we throw that word out there - as the Gospel, it can be quite painful (at least to us non-Calculus-comprehending types!) Take for instance, Jesus. He really is "more than a carpenter." He is the light of the world, the creator, the king, God-in-flesh, man-that-never-sinner, our priest, a teacher, and the fulfullment of multitudinous prophesies. He is also much more than that - he is our Meshiach, our redeemer, the one who can heal, the restorer of relationships, and the only one who can "truly" understand us from the inside out.
And that is only describing a very small big of the very large definition of this God-man who took our place...
you can also attempt to consider the work he accomplished while on earth -
his teachings, establishing the kingdom, living perfectly, miracles and signs, and kicking death in the butt.
So put the teachings of those two men of God together, and really, they relate quite a bit.
Who is this Jesus, that He would offend his own followers to the point of a "split?"
And why might his teachings offend those people enough for John to write, "His doctrine led many to abandon Him?"
We serve not only a "loving" God, but an exacting, precise, and jealous God. He does not want to "unify the world" in peace and harmony. That would be, well. terrible and contrary to His character. I want to say, with Paul, They glorified God in me! (see Galatians)... this can only happen when I am "continuing in His word!"
*Jn 6:60-71*
This is the passage directly following the "Bread of life" discussion.
Apparently there is a statement out there that "Doctrine divides, but love unifies." This is slightly ridiculous, especially if you consider that "Jesus is the EPITOME of love."
Jesus does not say (to the disciples that have left him, and to those that remained- because of a "hard saying"/revelation of who Jesus is and what he actually was teaching) "Let's find peace somewhere because I love you;" rather, He asks the leftover disciples - here called "The 12," receiving that identity... - "will you also leave me, now that you know what I teach?"
Check out "If you abide / CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."
Also consider those seed-on-rock believers, that had real joy... We all know of that one person (or more!) who was "saved" and experienced a real life change, and then somehow POOF just stopped coming to church, stopped attending Bible study, stopped showing up anywhere that fellowship could take place.
Part of that happening may well be from the not abiding, not continuing in the word! It is only by God's grace that any of us are continuing at all!
My Bible teacher back in the day when I went to high school stated once that it takes less than seven days of not being in the word for a person to be totally walking the wrong direction. :( Sad though it is, this is the truth. Hence the importance of not only reading "Christian books," but abiding in the words Christ is teaching, if one is truly a disciple.
Also, here are some "Distinguishing Marks" of that disciple:
-has FAITH in Jesus *needs works to be happening alongside, as the screen door on a submarine song states, "It just ain't happening..." See also James 2:19-20
-is following (progressive) Jesus. Note: not perfectly, but continuously. *facts are not equal to salvation
-persevering in faith until the end (Heb. 3:12-14)
-Take heed *lest unbelief!
-Exhort one another daily *lest... hardened through the deceitfulness of sin! (like my Bible teacher was saying... it doesn't take long! This is also referring to the essentialness of the Body. (Consider how you may spur one another...)
"Right doctrine is not only important in following Jesus, but it is essential"
...and tying nicely with all of the above was Derek's discussion on the gospel. He got us thinking about what the gospel is - besides being "the Good News." It was a very whirlwind journey-look at the "good news of what God has accomplished through the person and work of Jesus Christ," with various tidbits of Scripture for supportation. (which is not a word, but it is now!)
Thinking about things of the kingdom is very mind-boggling at times; take for example the few seconds a month our brain can handle considering eternity - less than that, sometimes!
So when you try to think about something as "Simple" - though we throw that word out there - as the Gospel, it can be quite painful (at least to us non-Calculus-comprehending types!) Take for instance, Jesus. He really is "more than a carpenter." He is the light of the world, the creator, the king, God-in-flesh, man-that-never-sinner, our priest, a teacher, and the fulfullment of multitudinous prophesies. He is also much more than that - he is our Meshiach, our redeemer, the one who can heal, the restorer of relationships, and the only one who can "truly" understand us from the inside out.
And that is only describing a very small big of the very large definition of this God-man who took our place...
you can also attempt to consider the work he accomplished while on earth -
his teachings, establishing the kingdom, living perfectly, miracles and signs, and kicking death in the butt.
So put the teachings of those two men of God together, and really, they relate quite a bit.
Who is this Jesus, that He would offend his own followers to the point of a "split?"
And why might his teachings offend those people enough for John to write, "His doctrine led many to abandon Him?"
We serve not only a "loving" God, but an exacting, precise, and jealous God. He does not want to "unify the world" in peace and harmony. That would be, well. terrible and contrary to His character. I want to say, with Paul, They glorified God in me! (see Galatians)... this can only happen when I am "continuing in His word!"
Saturday, May 23, 2009
memorial day. in my own words.
Who am i, really?
a year ago, this blog didn't really exist. i am going to have to change the title from "tales of a first year unofficial Spanish teacher in northeastern Arizona" to something else, something that "Defines me." I realized something today...
I am hopeful. Sometimes I am hopeful to a fault, but I am hopeful.
For example - Like Hannah, I hope to have a child. or several. Not just "spiritual children;" there's nothing wrong with that, but there's just something about being able to say "this is my child." Even if you have to give it up quickly - I cannot imagine how much Hannah had to go through...wow.
So I am going to write about memorial day. Through the eyes of a hopeful individual.
In my very own words.
What is memorial day?
Sure, it's about remembering our amazing armed forces and all the military people for choosing to serve our country and keep us safe, but...
to me, it's so much more.
A day to reflect, to ponder, to remember.
what do those words even mean?
people gone, people absent, people far away...
i remember them. sometimes not always but still.
little things -
smiles, hugs, gestures,
words
kind words
encouraging words
scalpel-like precisionate words
angry words that i try to forget
buliding blocks
words that hurt and heal both and yet.
yet these words still remain, lingering around my head.
and i remember them
(not just the words, but the people that uttered them).
everything else possible to remember, i remember.
smells - certain smells
boy smells
people smells
dressed-up smells
working smells
the smell of a flea market on a Saturday early afternoon
smells after a rain or snow reminiscent of muddy christmas trees
the smell of white-out drawings on my teacher desk :)
smells of coffee at church
and voices.
bass voices suddenly resonating behind me in church
little voices serenading me, looking for me from across the room.
grown up voices approving and disapproving of who i am
voices voicing their frustrations to me, a giant ear ready to listen
friendly voices welcoming me wherever i am.
All these I remember, and more, in my own "Memorial Day."
Thank you for being part of who I am.
the voices of my friends, my little brothers, their laughter,
a year ago, this blog didn't really exist. i am going to have to change the title from "tales of a first year unofficial Spanish teacher in northeastern Arizona" to something else, something that "Defines me." I realized something today...
I am hopeful. Sometimes I am hopeful to a fault, but I am hopeful.
For example - Like Hannah, I hope to have a child. or several. Not just "spiritual children;" there's nothing wrong with that, but there's just something about being able to say "this is my child." Even if you have to give it up quickly - I cannot imagine how much Hannah had to go through...wow.
So I am going to write about memorial day. Through the eyes of a hopeful individual.
In my very own words.
What is memorial day?
Sure, it's about remembering our amazing armed forces and all the military people for choosing to serve our country and keep us safe, but...
to me, it's so much more.
A day to reflect, to ponder, to remember.
what do those words even mean?
people gone, people absent, people far away...
i remember them. sometimes not always but still.
little things -
smiles, hugs, gestures,
words
kind words
encouraging words
scalpel-like precisionate words
angry words that i try to forget
buliding blocks
words that hurt and heal both and yet.
yet these words still remain, lingering around my head.
and i remember them
(not just the words, but the people that uttered them).
everything else possible to remember, i remember.
smells - certain smells
boy smells
people smells
dressed-up smells
working smells
the smell of a flea market on a Saturday early afternoon
smells after a rain or snow reminiscent of muddy christmas trees
the smell of white-out drawings on my teacher desk :)
smells of coffee at church
and voices.
bass voices suddenly resonating behind me in church
little voices serenading me, looking for me from across the room.
grown up voices approving and disapproving of who i am
voices voicing their frustrations to me, a giant ear ready to listen
friendly voices welcoming me wherever i am.
All these I remember, and more, in my own "Memorial Day."
Thank you for being part of who I am.
the voices of my friends, my little brothers, their laughter,
Friday, May 22, 2009
Translation of Don Quijote (the comic book), as written by one of my students.
Not long ago in a place called Snoogens lived a gnarly old dude named Joel Dudeson. One night as Joel Dudesom was reading a book about knights and other heroic things, he wished that he was a knight, but also wished he had a Maxim magazine, anyways he thought of being a knight so he got up from his chair (that's for old people) and grabbed a sword pretending to be a knight. There were two chicks named Deanna, the other named Tara. They heard a noise so they went to check it out, but as they saw what it was, it was just a crazy old man with a sword. Deanna thought to herself, "What is this crazy old foo up to?" And Tara "mmmmm... look at that sexy trying to be a knight!"
Chapter 2
The next day Joel Dudeson went into his shaggin shed and put on some armor and grabbed some weapons, jumped on his horse, and rode off to see the lady of his drams. To win her heart he must defeat another dude to win his ladies heart fair and square.
Chapter 2
The next day Joel Dudeson went into his shaggin shed and put on some armor and grabbed some weapons, jumped on his horse, and rode off to see the lady of his drams. To win her heart he must defeat another dude to win his ladies heart fair and square.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
from "The Birthright" - JanetteOke and T Davis Bunn
"Nicole continued to pray for God's guidance, but in her heart she felt she'd already been given her answer. To refuse to go, she felt strongly, would be denying what God had been gently urging her to do. One day she would agree with the plan, her body tingling with excitement, then the next day she would draw back, fearing the unknown. But in her heart she did not waver in her decision. She would go in obedience. Still, she couldn't bring herself to discuss it with Andrew and Catherine. Nicole dreaded the thought of fighting through another decision that would rend herself from the family she loved."
oraciones
make my heart more like yours
and make me able to see where you can use me
ya lublyiu tebya, abba!
and make me able to see where you can use me
ya lublyiu tebya, abba!
Friday, May 8, 2009
numberage
It is at least $2,000 for a round-trip to Turkmenistan.
It was at least 84 degrees (F) today.
Brave Saint Saturn has more than 18 songs on my computer.
I have 4 brothers.
Mitchell discovered i have infinitesimal knots in my back/neck/shoulders. anyone wanna help remove them?
Phil Wickham is a soother.
I just bought the mp3s from Phillip LaRue's new cd. (without Natalie, sad day.). . . It was agood investment. I have to lyricise research still, though.
and do homeworks.
Abba, show me where your heart lies. make mine align with that.
te amo. y extraño.
567енгриоташгрылидмьп щудкл пуылдпя жкоыдочжлщыеко
which means aieuhtj serto siejgpoalnergoiaske gosierlgj
(in Russian)
ciao, bella!
"Scheduled outage at 2:00am PDT on Monday (5/11)."
hahaha
It was at least 84 degrees (F) today.
Brave Saint Saturn has more than 18 songs on my computer.
I have 4 brothers.
Mitchell discovered i have infinitesimal knots in my back/neck/shoulders. anyone wanna help remove them?
Phil Wickham is a soother.
I just bought the mp3s from Phillip LaRue's new cd. (without Natalie, sad day.). . . It was agood investment. I have to lyricise research still, though.
and do homeworks.
Abba, show me where your heart lies. make mine align with that.
te amo. y extraño.
567енгриоташгрылидмьп щудкл пуылдпя жкоыдочжлщыеко
which means aieuhtj serto siejgpoalnergoiaske gosierlgj
(in Russian)
ciao, bella!
"Scheduled outage at 2:00am PDT on Monday (5/11)."
hahaha
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
swine flu on a paper plate. with paint!
today Shane went about school with a dust-mask on.
he wore it while playing hackysack in the halls, while painting paper plates and working on his poster, and heaven knows where else. (and i thought I was the one who just traveled to mexico?!)
silly child.
and sam and a few others ate paint. they spat it out quickly, luckily, but for a few minutes they had blackened teeth...
silly childrens.
it is things like this that make my day what it is. unforgettable, and unique, and precious. i am going to miss these crazy-go-nuts teenagers that have (at least some of them) been forced into early adulthood.
i am going to miss their snide remarks and "racist" comments (well, calling me racist when I assign homework, etc.), and the easy way of communication we've developed.
julius keeps trying to ask me out. hopefully just as a joke, hahaha. ...
i am maybe not going to miss that, but it's still part of my valley high school experience.
a few of these young whippersnappers have taken up residence in my room during the lunch hour to watch movies and hang out... i spent all year wishing they would, and now, with 18 days left of school, they've begun.
hmmm. tomorrow (and thursday) is Parent . Teacher . conferences (PTC). I am having my chillen make posters with labels in spanish; they are also painting paper plates to hang on the wall. :-D
good times.
it is time for bed, for i am sleepy, albeit incredibly busy.
and yesterday the juniper (or jack?) pines gave me a terrible allergical headache.
i don't think i will miss that much at all. :-p
he wore it while playing hackysack in the halls, while painting paper plates and working on his poster, and heaven knows where else. (and i thought I was the one who just traveled to mexico?!)
silly child.
and sam and a few others ate paint. they spat it out quickly, luckily, but for a few minutes they had blackened teeth...
silly childrens.
it is things like this that make my day what it is. unforgettable, and unique, and precious. i am going to miss these crazy-go-nuts teenagers that have (at least some of them) been forced into early adulthood.
i am going to miss their snide remarks and "racist" comments (well, calling me racist when I assign homework, etc.), and the easy way of communication we've developed.
julius keeps trying to ask me out. hopefully just as a joke, hahaha. ...
i am maybe not going to miss that, but it's still part of my valley high school experience.
a few of these young whippersnappers have taken up residence in my room during the lunch hour to watch movies and hang out... i spent all year wishing they would, and now, with 18 days left of school, they've begun.
hmmm. tomorrow (and thursday) is Parent . Teacher . conferences (PTC). I am having my chillen make posters with labels in spanish; they are also painting paper plates to hang on the wall. :-D
good times.
it is time for bed, for i am sleepy, albeit incredibly busy.
and yesterday the juniper (or jack?) pines gave me a terrible allergical headache.
i don't think i will miss that much at all. :-p
Sunday, April 26, 2009
jesus woodlaaji sin (the name of the navajo hymnal!)
I went on my first "real" women's retreat this weekend. (I usually only go with mixed genders).
It was pretty neat, aaand I got to sing in Navajo. Not that I knew what I was singing, mind you, but it was quite the experience. Especially Saturday morning, when ladies kept going up to the front and suggesting songs (in response to the song leader's "does anyone have any special music?" The ladies would go up to the podium and say something like "my grandma likes this song," or "I have been blessed by something or other," or - the neatest was this grandma who went up there and talked in navajo for 5 minutes about something and you could read in her face the goodness of God.
so here are a few links to some videos of songs we sang.
it was neat. Friday was hard because I kept thinking about Sam and the things she's been doing; but... she's been texting me from other peoples' phones, so at least I know she has a "line open." if that makes sense. At least I can be an ear...
Abba, use me.
It was pretty neat, aaand I got to sing in Navajo. Not that I knew what I was singing, mind you, but it was quite the experience. Especially Saturday morning, when ladies kept going up to the front and suggesting songs (in response to the song leader's "does anyone have any special music?" The ladies would go up to the podium and say something like "my grandma likes this song," or "I have been blessed by something or other," or - the neatest was this grandma who went up there and talked in navajo for 5 minutes about something and you could read in her face the goodness of God.
so here are a few links to some videos of songs we sang.
it was neat. Friday was hard because I kept thinking about Sam and the things she's been doing; but... she's been texting me from other peoples' phones, so at least I know she has a "line open." if that makes sense. At least I can be an ear...
Abba, use me.
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