Congratulations Dad

A Disturbingly Good Quote

The important thing is to make the best use of one's possessions and capabilities--there are still plenty left--and to accept the limits of the situation, by which I mean not giving way to feelings of resentment and discontent.
--Letters and Papers From Prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

That quote kicked my backside this morning.  I am far too easily discontented.  The guy is in prison (for standing up to Hitler's regime) and penning those words.  I'm surrounded by comfort.  I can't control my circumstances, but like Bonhoeffer, there does seem to be a choice regarding feelings of resentment and discontent.  To choose either is often my inclination and really the easy choice.  I want that to change. 

As a related aside, I have updated my "Devotional Materials" section for 2007.  Really enjoying my choices thus far. 

Poo Part Deux

So there's this old saying that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.  What about when life gives you raw sewage?  That's right.  For the second time in 5 years the Orangewood Youth House (meeting space, youth staff offices, etc.) has flooded with raw sewage from the surrounding neighborhoods.  A Christmas gift we could have done without.  In the upcoming days there will be guys litearally wearing suits like you see in the picture.  In fact I might even get to wear one later in the week to rescue some of my things.  That'll be fun.  I guess I won't be going back to the office tomorrow. 

I was planning on blogging about our Christmas, but I'll do that later.  Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Peace.

Childlike Simplicity

One of the great joys as of late (amidst the end of the semester craziness) has been reading "The Bible" to Sydnie at night.  We have been reading through "The Big Picture Story Bible" which I highly recommend.  It does a fantastic job of communicating the big, redemptive story line of the Bible.  Anyway, we have now read through the story of Noah and the Ark a couple of times.  Sydnie has learned that Noah obeyed God and built a big boat.  So the other day we were telling her how she needed to obey her mommy and daddy she replied as serious as ever, "I will obey God.  I will build a boat."  Made me wonder if I take obedience as literally as I should.  It's too easy to justify and rationalize my lack of obedience.  Guess I should be willing to build more boats.

True Identity Revealed

Christmas Tree 2006

What do you think?

Very interesting feauture on Nightline this week, featuring Rick Warren and Joel Hunter.  About 8 minutes long, but worth viewing.  Raises some very interesting questions.  I think what needs to be communicatd is that these issues are not an "either/or" but a "both/and"--Christians should be concerned with issues of morality and social justice, environment, etc.  Is one more important than the other?  Love to hear your thoughts.