Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
"Christianity must be taught. But, it can't be taught."
I heard this quote from a friend who was quoting a friend. It's beautiful to me. The connection of God's people to the world and the relationship of the Holy Spirit working in the life of those he has called unto himself.
In assisting the 3 year olds in Sunday school class this year, I have learned just as much if not more than the children have in our lessons. Having no previous experience in teaching children, of course the question of indoctrination came to mind when it was time for them to memorize the Bible verse. Asking the kids to repeat after me and along with me, "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth..." It is kind of scary, to look down and see 8 bright little faces following you. During the lesson I thought, "Am I sure I'm teaching the kids Truth?... they're too young to think it out and decide...but if they aren't taught, how will they know?" and so on. Letting the thoughts surface, and then feeling the pleasure and comfort of seeing God's Truth all around.
This week in church, I thought about our blindness, and also our deafness, our muteness, our inability to see, until Christ begins to work in us. In college, my painting teacher, Jeff, was always full of good wisdom. In response to my question, "Do I paint what I see or what I know?" Jeff answered, "Both". And, I think so too in Christ, we learn, then we see, then we learn some more, he shows us his Truth, then we begin to see that too. As I was painting a still life, I didn't see other colors in the bright white highlight, like warm yellows and golds, or the deep purple and blue in the shadow, until I was told they were there. Now, I don't know how I could have missed all the colors right there in front of me. So, in painting we are taught to constantly go back and forth between what we see and what we know, what we see, then what we know, we question what we see and line it up with what we know, then take what we know and begin to see it, back and forth, back and forth, each enlightening and informing the other. I know this sounds good and idealistic, and the struggle is way more messy than this illustration. But, the sweetness of God's mercy is perfect, and he has given his Word to tell us about himself, and his Holy Spirit to cause us to see.
In assisting the 3 year olds in Sunday school class this year, I have learned just as much if not more than the children have in our lessons. Having no previous experience in teaching children, of course the question of indoctrination came to mind when it was time for them to memorize the Bible verse. Asking the kids to repeat after me and along with me, "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth..." It is kind of scary, to look down and see 8 bright little faces following you. During the lesson I thought, "Am I sure I'm teaching the kids Truth?... they're too young to think it out and decide...but if they aren't taught, how will they know?" and so on. Letting the thoughts surface, and then feeling the pleasure and comfort of seeing God's Truth all around.
This week in church, I thought about our blindness, and also our deafness, our muteness, our inability to see, until Christ begins to work in us. In college, my painting teacher, Jeff, was always full of good wisdom. In response to my question, "Do I paint what I see or what I know?" Jeff answered, "Both". And, I think so too in Christ, we learn, then we see, then we learn some more, he shows us his Truth, then we begin to see that too. As I was painting a still life, I didn't see other colors in the bright white highlight, like warm yellows and golds, or the deep purple and blue in the shadow, until I was told they were there. Now, I don't know how I could have missed all the colors right there in front of me. So, in painting we are taught to constantly go back and forth between what we see and what we know, what we see, then what we know, we question what we see and line it up with what we know, then take what we know and begin to see it, back and forth, back and forth, each enlightening and informing the other. I know this sounds good and idealistic, and the struggle is way more messy than this illustration. But, the sweetness of God's mercy is perfect, and he has given his Word to tell us about himself, and his Holy Spirit to cause us to see.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Goodies from Andrea.
Such a good post from Andrea at FlourishingMother:
"If you expect perfection or nothing... you will always end up with nothing" --Edith Schaeffer
What happens when you start expecting perfection in every area of your life, is that things don't get done. If you strive for perfection, or do nothing, you get nothing...As part of becoming a "Recovering Idealist", this quote from Edith Schaeffer is key. It is easier for God to do His work in spite of circumstances, not in perfect circumstances. This is where He gets the glory. Not when we plan every detail, but when we make room for Him, despite our failures.
"If you expect perfection or nothing... you will always end up with nothing" --Edith Schaeffer
What happens when you start expecting perfection in every area of your life, is that things don't get done. If you strive for perfection, or do nothing, you get nothing...As part of becoming a "Recovering Idealist", this quote from Edith Schaeffer is key. It is easier for God to do His work in spite of circumstances, not in perfect circumstances. This is where He gets the glory. Not when we plan every detail, but when we make room for Him, despite our failures.
The week's theme seems to have been the 10 commandments. I've noticed a reference to them at least 4 times this week. The 4th being Ms. Burns at the coffee shop this morning, when she quoted the 5th commandment, "Honor your father and mother, that your days may be longer...". Below is the scripture given to us from God:
Exod 20:1-17 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. 8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; herefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. 12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 13 "You shall not murder. 14 "You shall not commit adultery. 15 "You shall not steal. 16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (NAS)
Exod 20:1-17 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. 8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; herefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. 12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 13 "You shall not murder. 14 "You shall not commit adultery. 15 "You shall not steal. 16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (NAS)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Fig preserves!
One way you can make fig preserves:
1) Pick figs that are soft and squishy. The nectar may squish out of the top as you twist them from the stem. This means they are ready.
2) Wash them. Cut the top off and slice halfway.
3) Melt 1/2 cup of sugar for every cup of figs, into a small amount of water over heat. Add figs. Cover and cook, stirring often for 2 hours or until ready.
4) Boil a jar and lid. Fill with the cooked figs and seal. There will probably be some syrup left in the bottom of the pan. You can be creative on how to use this leftover goodness. Some ideas: Use as syrup over cornmeal pancakes, put in a dutch oven with pork, pour over raisin cinnamon bread and sprinkle with feta cheese...
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