Monday, March 31, 2008

March Madness

March is supposed to be the beginning of warmer temperatures. And it is. So why would a sane person head north when things are just starting to warm up?

That's what we found ourselves doing this past weekend. We left home Friday morning about 4:30 and drove up to Old Forge, NY. A guy wanted a garage door put on his boathouse at his vacation home, and offered to let us stay the weekend if we drove up and installed the door.

Normally a door with an electric operator can be installed in about three hours. It took me nine. See, The Door got installed on this enclosed dock thing, and the bottom of the door was 4-5 feet off the ground. Yes, ground. They lower the lake in the winter. (Whoever "they" is, they sure get a lot done; ever think about that?) So, with a lot of creative ladder propping, shivering (it was 12 degrees and very windy), and cheering from my personal fan club (of which there is only one member), the door got installed.





Then we had the rest of the weekend to vegetate in the cabin. That was the better part of the trip.

Came home to find some new trees on our doorstep from Arbor Day. And a dead apple tree on our windowsill that we forgot to have someone water in our absence. It was growing so nicely, too...

Friday, March 21, 2008

Yeast and Wine

We took part in Communion tonight. The breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup is always a reminder of Christ's sacrifice; sometimes the reminder is much more powerful. Tonight with the pastor painting a word picture of what Christ's words meant to the disciples in context of the culture at that time I was reminded that giving myself to God is not so much a privilege for Him, but rather an awesome opportunity with a lot of responsibility for me. When Christ gave the cup to the disciples, he was literally (essentially) proposing marriage. Awkward. I am offered that same cup today; will I accept, and drink the cup and become his bride like a maiden of Israel may have done in those days? If I do, I am obligated to all the responsibilities that come with that. If not, I will never get to take part in the tremendous relationship with Him that is only known by believers and never understood by non-believers. Any husband and wife in a good marriage knows that the sacrifice one makes in getting married is more than worth it; it really is not a sacrifice at all, but rather an improvement in life. So it is with accepting Christ's cup, His "marriage proposal": the things we give up to follow Him are not sacrifices, for we are not losing anything when we gain the security of our souls for eternity. By not giving those things up, we lose our souls for eternity in exchange for an earthly lifetime of pleasures that really do not satisfy anyway.

What an awesome opportunity: the choice between a lifetime of disappointment, or an eternity of full satisfaction. How much more simple of a choice could one have to make? And yet, so many of us choose the former, convinced that we will not be disappointed by the things that life and the world offer. It is strange that even though I know what is permanent and what is only earthly, I still regularly attempt to satisfy myself, only to be disappointed yet again when the day is over.

Only God in His wisdom had the foresight to see that we would never be capable of redeeming ourselves; only God in His grace would give us the opportunity to redeem ourselves, to "cash ourselves in." What we get in return for giving ourselves over to God is more than just an exchange, or a good deal. It is beyond the opportunity of a lifetime. Accepting His cup, His "marriage proposal" is a simple choice, yet an unbelievable gift, for He is truly the Model Groom.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Saturdays

Weekends with not many things that have to be done are usually fun. Like today. Mix two of my brothers and myself, and there is usually a fair amount of boyish behaviour. We shot our guns, cut down trees with our chainsaws, and made a lot of noise. We also did this:




Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Funny license plate

Saw one the other day. It said BOO EEK

My mind is easily amused. . .

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Veteran's Day

Today marks 35 years that my dad has been at Shank Door. We celebrated in the lunchroom with sloppy joe's and a vegetable tray. Congrats, Pop!
"PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION" AND IN OUR MODERN ERA, PRIDE AMONG THE NATURAL SCIENCES HAS TAKEN THE FORM OF OVERESTIMATING OUR KNOWLEDGE, OF ARROGATING FOR SCIENCE A KIND OF OMNISCIENCE THE WE DO NOT IN FACT HAVE. OR, TO REFINE IT A BIT: "PLAYING GOD" MEANS WE CONFUSE THE KNOWLEDGE WE DO HAVE WITH THE WISDOM TO KNOW HOW TO USE IT.