I missed blogging on another important date in November. On November 16 my youngest son turned 8 years old. As the youngest, this son receives the bulk of the kisses and hugs in our family. He is a joy to be around. He is the true candy man of our family. He works hard and has a very positive attitude. I tell him often that God created him to be happy! I like the way he learns by following others. The great thing is that he seems to pick up the good things he sees. He memorizes bible verses and excels at his homework. I love hearing about how he takes his peers under his wing if he see that their having troubles. Happy Birthday! You are a blessing who brings much happiness to our family.
Today is a special day because of what happened 9 years ago. That is the day my son came into the world. He is a wonderful blessing to me and the family. His ninth year has been busy indeed. While learning to play the piano he has willingingly excepted other programs to participate in. He looks forward to going to awanas every week and will make no exception tonight (his birthday night!). He does well at school and gets his homework done on time (mostly early). He also signed up to play basketball and tackle football this past year. He likes to garden and raised another healthy crop of tomatos this summer. If that isn't enough, what makes him unique is his passion for a knowledge of God. In the past year he has recited over 100 Bible versus in church and through the awanas program. My hope is that God will bless him with this desire for the rest of his life. I look forward to another year with you. Happy Birthday "Big Boy".
My four children and I had an interesting conversation about things we all like to eat. Spaghetti? Peanut Butter? Ice Cream? Nope, amazingly enough these did not pass the test! In fact we were surprised at how difficult it was to come up with something. Finally, someone mentioned hot dogs. Yes, we agreed that this was one entree we all liked.
What I found to be interesting about this conversation was that even in matters within the family you cannot please all the members all of the time. That's the way life is. Sometimes our ways, what we say or do, will be distasteful to another. It cannot be avoided. So, unless you want to eat hot dogs everyday, it is a risk we take. George Whitefield offers this advice to some ministerial students shortly after he had preached to them; "Unless your hearts are free from worldly hopes and worldly fears you will never speak boldly as you ought to speak..." Than as a test advises these students to, "Ask yourselves again and again, whether you would preach for Christ if you were sure to lay down your lives for so doing." (George Whitefield, Vol 1 by Arnold A. Dallimore pp399-400) Truth is that important. It risks making some upset and at the same time is an offer of a good steak (The other food item we agreed we liked!) for others. .that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. Eph 6:19-20 Today is my oldest child's birthday. This child easily is the most enthusiastic over her birthday. Everybody must hear about it. She had everyone singing happy birthday at national night out this week. She told them she was 13 (an over statement) and that's what they sang! She makes a point to celebrate it all week long. Today is the last day of the celebration!
I love to watch the way she plays with her dolls and animals. Theodore (her bear) goes everywhere with her. She enjoys taking her baby dolls for a stroll now and than. The way she treats them is precious. I love the moments she spends alone with me. Our latest fancy is to go to caribou coffee. We like to order a northern lite cooler and sit down to play mancala. Some times she wins and other times I win. It really doesn't matter to either of us. We just sit drink and talk. My daughter enjoys dance. The smile on her face as she danced in two recitals this past year is wonderful. She likes to wave at me as she leaves the stage at the end of each performance. No matter where I sit she finds me. God has blessed me in ways I can't adequately describe here, through my daughter. I have learned much through her. Today is special. Happy Birthday honey! Today is my 16th wedding anniversary. I am married to a wonderful person who is the energy and fun in our relationship. She is the child activity planner, medical expert, school volunteer and social organizer for the family. She endures the bulk of the stress in raising our 4 lovely children, the oldest with special needs. God blessed me greatly by bringing us together. I love you.
Happy Anniversary Babe! This morning before I left for work, I received a little surprise. As I was packing some things to bring to work I remembered that I wanted to bring along a travel mug. I reached up to grab the mug and tossed it in the bag. I immediately noticed the bag was wet. Where did that come from? I pulled out the travel mug, opened it up, and sure enough the cup was 3 quarters full of something sticky (I’m guessing lemonade). Apparently, somebody put the travel mug away while full of the juice!
It was interesting to read what Michael Jordan had to say about the Lebron James signing that took place. The Minneapolis Tribune quotes Jordan in todays paper as saying;
"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team.' But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys." It's attitudes like Jordans that make sports interesting to watch. I called home to ask one of my children to water the tomato plants this morning. This is our third year of planting tomatoes. It began with my oldest son and, to some extent, now includes two other children who willingly participate. If you have young children, I highly recommend this activity. This is a great opportunity for meaningful interaction that will hopefully last into adulthood. If you know very little about tomatoes or planting in general this is better because you now get to learn together. We are tending 4 plants this year on the sunny side of our house in the city. When the crop arrives we simply freeze the excess tomatoes and use them in the winter for chilies and such. The reward far exceeds the labor and cost required (which is minimal). This is a great opportunity for you to share God with your children. Do it!
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1cor3:6 What a spectacular sunset last night. The sun could be viewed through a small whole in a sky filled with clouds that indicated an oncoming storm. This gave the rare appearance of a sunset high in the sky. The beautiful red rays framed by the dark clouds and lighting flashes cannot really be explained in words. It is suffice to say that the display dwarfed all of the fireworks shows presented less than a week ago. There are moments in life like this that draw us to the majesty of God. George Whitefield writes about such a moment some 300 years ago.
A young but already well known evangelist, George was on ship sailing for America when they came upon a great storm. Here is what he records: About twelve at night a gale arose which increased so much by four in the morning that the waves broke in like a great river on many of the poor soldiers who lay near the main hatchway...I arose and called upon God for myself and those who sailed with me, for absent friends and for all mankind. After this I went on deck; but surely a more noble, awful sight my eyes never yet beheld. The waves rose mountains high and sometimes came on the quarter-deck. I endeavored all the while to magnify God for thus making His power known. Then, creeping on my knees (for I knew not how to go otherwise), I followed my friend Habersham between decks and sang Psalms and comforted the poor wet people. After this I read prayers in the great cabin, but we were obliged to sit all the while. Though things were tumbling, the ship rocking, persons falling down unable to stand, and sick about me, I never was more cheerful in my life, and was enabled, though in the midst of company, to finish a sermon before I went to bed. (George Whitfield Vol 1 by Arnold A. Dallimore pg 154) Lebron James, considered by many to be the best basketball player on the planet, decided to sign with the Miami Heat. Along with James, Miami has signed two other top free agents. This makes Miami the favorite to get to the NBA finals for the coming season.
Who cares, right?! The thing that I find interesting is that the competitive spirit seems to be lacking in many athletes today. Players, of such calibre as James, want to win titles the "easy" way by joining with other great players so as to be dominate. This tarnishes the championship and hurts the sport as a whole. I admire a Michael Jordan or Tim Duncan who, as the best player on their teams, won championships by hard work and a drive to win. These players made their teamates better by their contagious desire to win and with leadership. |