America the Beatiful

 

I'm reading an incredible book by Ben Carson entitled: America the Beautiful.  On page 58 he quotes Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville who came to America in 1831:  "I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...in her fertile fields and boundless forests, in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning.  I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.  Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret  of her genius and power.  America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."  Here's to shouting out the greatness of God who alone changes a heart or makes a country great....time to remember, time to be unashamed!

Identity...IDENTITY....Identity....IdEnTiTy....

So how much have you thought about who you are?

How much have you thought about who you are in Christ?

There's not much that occupies my mind more.  It's crucial, crucial, core and everywhere in scripture.  Having said that, here's a quote from Henri Nouwen that I read the other day that just rocked my heart and mind....again, about the idea of who we are in Christ and how we live.  Speaking of Brother Lawrence who lived hundreds of years ago...

"Lawrence himself never thought much about influencing other people's lives.  His only wish was to do all that he did in the presence of God" 

 

Slide show Christmas Card. God Bless!

Forgetting

So I was furiously trying to get ready for my final final.  I've been teaching at DMACC this fall.  (Des Moines Area Community College).  I gave the final to my first class on Monday, and here it was Tuesday at 3:08 pm.  I would give my second final exam - the final final in 21 minutes, then Caitlin called (she was home sick from her job)

"You picked the kids up from school right?"

SILENCE....

P A N I C!!!!!!!!!

Race to the van, get the kids, and get back to DMACC two minutes before the final.....sheeeesh.

Yes I had forgotten my own flesh and blood, waiting for their faithful father to get them from school....yeah humanity is humbling.  Isaiah 49:15 says: 

 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"

So thankful for the MANY ways God is so different from me.

STRESS!!!!

 

In my psychology class we just studied a chapter on stress, and I found the following list (That is kind of humorous, or is it?)

 

Here are a few more clinically proven methods to stay stressed or to increase your stress level.

Never exercise.

Eat, drink and smoke anything you want.  If cigarette smoke cannot cleanse your system, a balanced diet is not likely to do it either.

Gain weight. Work hard at staying at least 25 pounds over your recommended weight.

Take plenty of stimulants. The old standards of caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and cola will continue to do the job just fine.

Ignore the evidence suggesting that prayer, meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and/or mental imaging help to reduce stress. The work ethic is good for everyone, always!

Get rid of your social support system.  Let the few friends who are willing to tolerate you know that you concern yourself with friendships only if you have time, and you never have time. If a few people persist in trying to actively care about you, avoid them.

Personalize all criticism.  Anyone who criticizes any aspect of your work, family, dog, room, house, or car is mounting a personal attack. Do not take time to listen, be offended, and then return the attack!

Throw out your sense of humor. 

Never, never ever ask for help, and if you want it done right, do it yourself!

Become a workaholic.  Put work before everything else, and be sure to take work home evenings and weekends. Keep reminding yourself that vacations and time off are for sissies.

Discard good time management skills and work/study boundaries.

Schedule in more activities every day than you can possibly get done and then worry about it all whenever you get a chance.

Procrastinate.  Putting things off to the last second always produces a marvelous amount of stress.

Worry about things you cannot control.      

Become not only a perfectionist but set impossibly high standards.

And either beat yourself up, or feel guilty, depressed, discouraged, and/or inadequate when you do not meet them." 

So, do you identify with these?  Laugh at these?  But how many of them describe your habits and lifestyle?

AUUUUUUUUUUGH!

It remains profound to me that through His word, God says things to us like:

"Do not worry about your life"

or

"I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances"

What a great invitation to walk away from the way we live life, 

and instead embrace His life.   

 

 

Amidst the busyness of our new life in Ankey, we found ourselves heading into today (Saturday) with no plans...hmmm...

Well then, amidst the endless options awaiting us just outside our door, amidst options for activity, interaction, and the American dream, we stayed home and pretty much did nothing!

For most of today nothing looked like:  practicing memorizing 50 states for a 4th grade assignment (with daddy candy prizes given out), folding some laundry, singing with the guitar, playing a few video games, cleaning the bathrooms, playing with playdough and mostly doing..................just what came next.

In the midst of all this, came an amazing moment.  Josiah has been really captured by the story of Jesus in a boat in a STORM! from the gospels. So he created it in playdough form.  It was incredibly cool for me to watch this. He was both historically accurate as well as culturally relevant, as Jesus and the disciples were having pizza in the midst of the storm.

I love the amazing moments in the midst of doing nothing.

Not profound, just cute!

I came home the other day to this "important" meeting that was taking place on our kitchen table.  I was astounded!  In my very home, here they were - Darth Vadar, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, and some random, nameless storm trooper chatting the afternoon away.  It was all very pleasant by the way, no explosions of anger, no death rays, nothing about giving into the dark side. In fact, they were all getting along very well. 

I must give credit where it is true.  Our amazing 8 year old was indeed "teaching" and mentoring them.  Josiah was telling them that they didn't need to fight, and that it was very important to share and get along. Wow, I must say I was impressed.

I guess I did have a thought.  Maybe Luke and Leia weren't twins after all, maybe they were triplets, and Josiah was Anakin's third child.  I mean the "force" was strong with him that day.  After all, who else do you know who can get Darth Vader and Yoda to sit down for afternoon tea?