Today's Devotional Thought

Passage: John 12
Notes: Worshipping Jesus is not the time to be scrappy, but an opportunity to go all out. While we are called to be stewards, offerings to God, and love for another (even another human?) can be extravagant (God won't run out of resources because we loved too much).
My life is to be an offering to God, to the point that I 'lose out' on life, or even give my life altogether. However, I must be careful to notice where God is working and join in His work. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is needed more than strategic planning. Note also, though, that in this same chapter Jesus condoned expressing extravagant love. Losing my life for Him must then not equal a rejection of my family, and failure to care for them, or perpetual unwillingness to spend any resources on them. Our God is not a pauper who will starve but for our resources. Yet, that I would be sure not to love my life too much to lose it.
Do I love the approval of men more than the approval of God?

Today's Devotional Thought

Passage: Jeremiah 44
Notes: The Jewish men's decision to flee to Egypt placed them right back in the midst of idolatry, and they ignored or (more likely) supported their wives' worship of the 'Queen of Heaven.' When Jeremiah confronts them, they reject his message with revisionist history ascribing what blessings they had in the past to their former idolatry. -> We are responsible for the environments we place our family in, and for what worship we allow in our households. A culture that teaches 'to everyone his own' should not distract us from our call to live right worship in our homes. Note that while God's message came to the adults first, he vowed to hold every member of their family responsible.

The Dog's Got a Home

Many hours later...

Allie's new home (which she doesn't appreciate)

This is a single bush!


Still some weeding and growing left to do

My strawberries

2 blackberry, 2 raspberry bushes

Pregnant Women Can Now Use Reserved Parking Spaces Close to Stores

Pregnant Women in their third trimester are now legally permitted to use the disabled parking spaces. It appears that they need to get a specific permit from their doctor, though, and that it's up to the doctor to make the call.

See House Bill 2907 (the link doesn't show it's been passed and signed by the governor, but it has as of April 12).

Did you hear that, Oma?

Those who have passed away before us, and belong to the Family of God, as they are now with our Father in Heaven, are they able to know our thoughts? When I think back fondly to my Oma's garden as I work on ours, and even work in a few similarities, does she knwow that and "smile down on me?"

Playing It Safe

Out of the blue, I quoted (the German translation of) Augustus this morning after he heard of his army's defeat by Arminius:

"Varus, Varus, gib' mir meine Legionen wieder!"

Ch gave me a skeptical look, and decided to respond with an answer she deemed safe:

"I love you."

Shortly thereafter, La chimed in,

"Ich hab' den Bananen-blues."

Guess we still need to work on that German language expertise.

Here's Your Sign

So I tried to microwave some leftover tea on Sunday morning, and I pressed start on the microwave, and it goes something like, "puff," and the clock disappears, and that was it. Obviously, I head to the breaker box (De? Vo?). None of the breakers is messed up, so Ly and I try various ones for a while until we have acertained that the microwave has gone to microwave-heaven. Alarmed, I head to the washing machine, which still contains the load I did last night, which should have been in the dryer. I pull out the dial ... nothing. You see, the microwave and the washing machine were on the same outlet. I plug in a light later that day, which works just fine.

I'm very relieved that new washing machines are only $328 and up, with some fairly respectable ones at $450. At the same time, I'm hoping the machine had a fuse or something that took the hit. We sure liked it - it was perfect for us. I decide I'm going to open it up and see whether I can attempt surgery. Since I'm pretty busy, we spend the week without a washing machine until I finally get to it Friday night.

Inside, there gazoos of wires going every direction, but none look especially bad. I recognize that there's nothing I can do, so I put it back together and try one more time. Nothing.

Then again, maybe there's not supposed to be any water going when the dial is at the end of the washing cycle ("Off").

Pity the Bugs

Source: 16 Valvulas. No idea who or what they are. I should have put a real photo here, but I liked this one, and you don't really want to see photos of bugs, do you?

So, none of my children are afraid of bugs. I'd say that's a good thing. Jo was at the living room patio door the other day, trying to catch a moth. When he just couldn't get it, he tried to at least smuch [:slap with the hand with the intent to murder:] it. He didn't succeed in that, either. If his sisters cry, "there's a bug!" he'll come and pick it up and throw it into the trash can. Great job, boy - you're hired! Anyhow, apparently the girls don't mind bugs, either, at least not really small ones. This morning Ch came to me with a little beetle of some kind in her hands, telling me,

It's not dirty or mean, so don't kill it, but it just wants to get some rest.

Yes, ma'am. Shortly thereafter, La had another one like it. Life (our house?) is a zoo.

Thoughts Regarding a Biblical Perspective on Domesticated Animals

What is the significance of our domesticated animals in the kingdom of God? Does He care about life and death of a pet? How much should a Christ-ian care? Which sacrifices are appropriate, given that there are many people we could sacrifice for instead?

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

John 10:11

Is this verse relevant? It is a metaphor, no doubt. However, in order for the metaphor to work, there must be a shepherd who would literally give his life for the sheep. Let's remember that this is likely a hired shepherd, too. Note also the significance: Christ uses this metaphor to describe his death on Calvary, with which He bought eternal life for all humanity! Clearly, then, Jesus Himself affirms that animals are not just objects of little or no value.


Counter-Point:

It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.

Mark 7:27

Does this say anything about domesticated animals? Firstly (according to my understanding), dogs were not really domesticated then. They were roaming freely, and stole what food fell off the table. They didn't get a bowl of food better than what 95% of the world population get to eat. Yet, the principle that stands behind Jesus' words is clear: humans have a greater value than animals. Applied to our lives, how much energy, effort, and resources can be put into animals as long as there are countless humans in need of care?


The Conclusion

You didn't seriously think I'd burn my fingers by posting a conclusion here and now?

Intergenerational Differences in Perspectives

It is amazing how divergent the views of two people can be who are merely a generation apart.

For instance,

My 1-year old really, really, really doesn't want to go to bed
While I really, really, really do.

Obviously, we then proceed to do the two-sons-sent-to-the-field thing: he goes to bed, I don't. I hear life is unfair sometimes.

Greetings from Galveston

We spent a few wonderful days at the Escapes! to the Gulf at Galveston. The place was superb, and we had an awesome time.

The hotel was right next to the beach. Contrary to most hotels, the Escapes! is a mile or two outside town, and instead of Seawall Boulevard (4 lanes) separating you from the beach, there's nothing between you and the shore.

Just a nice wooden walkway from the hotel right to the sand. The shore is very flat, so that you can go out into the water for quite a while, even with small children. The kids were a little skeptical, but we did get them jumping in the waves eventually. They busily collected shells, too.



With boatloads of sand, we were able to build several large sand castles, and enjoyed ourselves to our heart's content. Ch declared that she wanted to stay in the sand, and not go home.

The kids (just the kids? Nah!) loved the pool. It was beautifully clean and had a corner that was shallow enough for the toddlers, as well as a ledge where they could walk around the edge of the pool by themselves. There was also a whirlpool jaccuzi for Papi.

The apartment was really nice as well. Here's the bedroom Ly and I slept in.

People had asked us, "is your hotel still being repaired from Hurricane Ike?" Not the Escapes! There were a few places that could still use some repair, though. Note the pier in the distance below the tall building. Most of it is missing.

Here's a fully furnished apartment right by the beach. Maybe next time.

Fasst

I'm done. I'm done. I am brilliant. I was fasst.

La, after finishing first eating her breakfast cereal.

Sag' es mit der Rose

Sag' es mit der Rose means, "say it with the Rose" and illustrates the concept of saying things kindly by not being too direct and getting the point across subtly. My daughter has made progess on this matter, I'm sure, but there is still room for growth...

I was at church after the service, having picked the girls up from children's church, and Ly still had some work to take care of. So I stayed in the gym with the girls, and since the basketballs were out, I took a few shots. I did miss a couple, which prompted La to say,

"Why don't we go home, because - it's not working."

The gift of encouragement, no doubt.

Aha!

[You need to read the preceding post first for this to make sense.]

She noticed that she had forgotten the original message. Behold, it was all in response to my e-mail this morning, which ended in,

I noticed that this change must have already occurred, so no further action is needed.

Work Conversation

I know you would all love to know what I do at work. Here's to satisfy your curiosity: I read e-mails. Revealing messages like this one:

Fwd: Re: Wrong wording

The change has been made.

Thanks,

[Person's Name]


>>> Can you fix this?
>>> [Original Requestor's Name]

I'm glad they copied me in, so I'm in the know.

Magic Hour Indeed

Source: What the Duck

He Wins

Jo took advantage of an insignificant, short distraction during supper to relocate his green beans from his tray to below the table. This act of defiance prompted his father to stick his face within about a foot of Jo's face and give him a stern look. As Jo noticed him, his face broke into a big smile, he laughed out loud, and leaned forward, immitating his father. Realizing that his son had won that round, the father retreated to a normal sitting position to consider his options,which prompted his daughter to comment,

La: "Look! Jo scared Papi away!"

Food Likes and Dislikes

My wife made a very nice dessert today, with the ingredients including among them

• Raspberries
• Chocolate
• Whipped Cream
• Cookies

You'd think our kids would be ecstatic. Turns out, my son decided he was too tired to bother. My daughters refused the treat, preferring instead ... sour grapes. Hmmm.

Christmas is When All Your Chocolate is Gone

We bought Advent calendars for the girls. They have little doors you can open each day of December until the 24th, and behind the door is a piece of chocolate. They are wildly popular with them. Tonight, La was counting the days remaining that they would still have chocolate. I suddenly realized that we had also been teaching them that December 24th is when baby Jesus comes. I can see them reasoning: we're getting chocolate every day until baby Jesus comes. What then? Is baby Jesus eating the chocolate? Worse yet, Ly answered Ch's question, "when is Christmas?" with,

"Christmas is when all your chocolate is gone."

I'm sure they're looking forward to baby Jesus' arrival now.

Steven Curtis Chapman's Story Didn't Work

I learned this good-night story from Steven Curtis Chapman yesterday, and promptly tried it tonight, as I was putting the girls to bed at 10:00 p.m.:

Once upon a time, there were two girls, who were very tired. So their daddy put them to bed, and wished them good-night, and turned off the light. The End.

It didn't work. La determined, "That was not a story."