I do some of my best thinking, my best planning while driving.
I admit to reading my WSJ in the car. In fact that is about the only time I read that paper. So many of the papers do not get opened. Sigh. Not enough time for all my interests.
This morning a woman honked at me while crossing downtown. I looked over to my right and saw this fairly good looking blonde woman waving furiously at me. She was making wild motions. What I think she meant was that I should "just drive". I guess she saw I was reading the paper and thought I could go faster. Well I was driving with the flow of traffic. I was not driving too close of course because of my reading. But I was keeping up with the green lights that turn as I flow with the traffic. She had little to complain about.
Ironically she was driving over in the bus lane. So my reaction was to laugh at the irony. It was not clear how she reacted to my laughter. But she continued to travel in the that lane and did not pull up next to me again.
Since getting a ticket a couple of years ago for not using my turn signal when changing lanes I have been trying hard to use it at all times. Unfortunately there is no sound when it is on. So I often leave it on after I am done. I annoy myself and probably people behind me. I still forget to turn it off but I am trying to do better. But I still am very bad.
DW wants a new car. She wants it mainly so she can hand he 10 year old Buick to DD. DD wants a bigger car for possible cooking gigs. DD is doing a wedding cake this weekend. She is open for more cooking gigs of most any kind. Anyway DW wants a Camry. She has her eye on a big cup holder center in the middle between the front seats. She has seen a Camry with the interior that she likes. We are hoping to start the ball rolling this week.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sherlock Holmes
We went to see the new Sherlock Holmes Monday after Christmas at the new downtown theater. I think last year we saw the first on Christmas day or thereabouts. So hopefully we are starting a tradition. Every year on Christmas we can see the new Sherlock Holmes action film.
These are so different that Rathbone/Bruce. They are not based on Arthur Conan Doyle books at all but they do try to stay close to the characters that he developed. We start out with references to Holmes' addiction to drugs.
These are really modern action films set in last 19th century London. And France and Germany just for fun.
Some have said this one was disappointing. I'm not sure why. Unless the creation of two new characters last year was cool and new, people were excited. This year if you expected more well it was not more. It was the same. The characters were the same. The plot had no great surprises. I think I rather liked that it proceeded fairly logically to a conclusion.
Moriarty was perhaps a disappointment.
In one book Holmes "dies" because the author planned this one to be the last one. But because of public desire for more he can back in more book with little explanation for how he survived. They do the same thing in this movie. I suspect the similarity was conscience.
These are so different that Rathbone/Bruce. They are not based on Arthur Conan Doyle books at all but they do try to stay close to the characters that he developed. We start out with references to Holmes' addiction to drugs.
These are really modern action films set in last 19th century London. And France and Germany just for fun.
Some have said this one was disappointing. I'm not sure why. Unless the creation of two new characters last year was cool and new, people were excited. This year if you expected more well it was not more. It was the same. The characters were the same. The plot had no great surprises. I think I rather liked that it proceeded fairly logically to a conclusion.
Moriarty was perhaps a disappointment.
In one book Holmes "dies" because the author planned this one to be the last one. But because of public desire for more he can back in more book with little explanation for how he survived. They do the same thing in this movie. I suspect the similarity was conscience.
talk for Sunday
I cobbled together a "sermon" for Sunday at the old folk's home while working on the elliptical machine.
I think it is cool, but not long enough. Naturally.
I think it is cool, but not long enough. Naturally.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Kenneth
Christmas is a tough time for me. It may be the darkness more than anything but I do know parties stress me. I am trying though.
I'd say all in all this has been a good year. The tree and the lights were up by Dec 8. The Christmas cards were done almost a week early. That is amazing for me. But I have to say my DW and DD gave me a lot of help. Still I had to initiate it all. They did all the shopping and cooking. I hope I did not grumble as loudly this year. I don't think I did but they may see it differently.
As I walked this morning (and discovered a few unpicked citrus trees) I thought about Kenneth. I saw one of those pillar like conifers. I remember when he died someone gave us one of those. We were to plant it over his grave. But I knew we would never return to the grave site. We never do. So I planted it in front of our house to remember. But it did not last long. It never got the size of the ones I saw on my walk. I thought of how after we die we are soon forgotten. I rarely think of Kenneth, who was our first born. He lived three days in intensive care. No one gave him much hope even though he was full sized. We lived in supreme denial until they told us he was gone. He was whisked away. We never got to say goodbye or even hug him. All the time he was in ICU he was full of tubes and wires and under a plastic sheet so we never got to touch him. That part still makes me teary. But also angry too if I let myself get in touch with it.
Kenneth would be 33 in February. I should say IS 33 in February. For I believe his soul is somewhere. Or maybe his soul awaits God's judgment and resurrection. On this earth he never had a chance to sin. However I do believe he was born a sinner like all of us. Like all of us he needs a savior, Jesus who was born in Bethlehem.
Someday we will get to see Kenneth. Praise God for his steadfast love.
I'd say all in all this has been a good year. The tree and the lights were up by Dec 8. The Christmas cards were done almost a week early. That is amazing for me. But I have to say my DW and DD gave me a lot of help. Still I had to initiate it all. They did all the shopping and cooking. I hope I did not grumble as loudly this year. I don't think I did but they may see it differently.
As I walked this morning (and discovered a few unpicked citrus trees) I thought about Kenneth. I saw one of those pillar like conifers. I remember when he died someone gave us one of those. We were to plant it over his grave. But I knew we would never return to the grave site. We never do. So I planted it in front of our house to remember. But it did not last long. It never got the size of the ones I saw on my walk. I thought of how after we die we are soon forgotten. I rarely think of Kenneth, who was our first born. He lived three days in intensive care. No one gave him much hope even though he was full sized. We lived in supreme denial until they told us he was gone. He was whisked away. We never got to say goodbye or even hug him. All the time he was in ICU he was full of tubes and wires and under a plastic sheet so we never got to touch him. That part still makes me teary. But also angry too if I let myself get in touch with it.
Kenneth would be 33 in February. I should say IS 33 in February. For I believe his soul is somewhere. Or maybe his soul awaits God's judgment and resurrection. On this earth he never had a chance to sin. However I do believe he was born a sinner like all of us. Like all of us he needs a savior, Jesus who was born in Bethlehem.
Someday we will get to see Kenneth. Praise God for his steadfast love.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Judgment - Revelation 20
[10]And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The devil does not rule over hell. He is punished like everyone else.
[14]Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15]And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The lake of fire is what we think of as hell. Judgment comes on us all at last. Those who are not in God's book are thrown into hell and punished forever. This seems so awful. I think most of wish to say this is poetic, not actually true. We'd like to think this is Semitic hyperbole.
But this is judgment. We are found in the Book of Life because of what Jesus has done for us, this same Jesus whose birth we celebrate on Sunday December 25. We need a savior and God, in the plan he had from the beginning, sent his Son Jesus to be our savior. I thank God and I humbly accept him.
My Christmas cards are sent. We sent fewer than usual. We created a Christmas letter that starts out with a paragraph that feels humbly pompous to me. Nevertheless it is as true as I can make it.
We have had a very good year.
The devil does not rule over hell. He is punished like everyone else.
[14]Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15]And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The lake of fire is what we think of as hell. Judgment comes on us all at last. Those who are not in God's book are thrown into hell and punished forever. This seems so awful. I think most of wish to say this is poetic, not actually true. We'd like to think this is Semitic hyperbole.
But this is judgment. We are found in the Book of Life because of what Jesus has done for us, this same Jesus whose birth we celebrate on Sunday December 25. We need a savior and God, in the plan he had from the beginning, sent his Son Jesus to be our savior. I thank God and I humbly accept him.
My Christmas cards are sent. We sent fewer than usual. We created a Christmas letter that starts out with a paragraph that feels humbly pompous to me. Nevertheless it is as true as I can make it.
We have had a very good year.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Genesis 45
Joseph reveals himself! The Egyptians are happy for Joseph. They obviously like and respect this man. The brothers are stunned and denial comes big time. Joseph keeps on talking. He has obviously planned what he was going to say when he revealed himself. He already knew where they would live. He knew he would get them all to move to Egypt.
Verse 12 jumps out at me. Something they see with their eyes something about his mouth should be recognizable to them. Is his mouth like Benjamin's in some way. This is not a metaphorical mouth. He speaks of seeing it, not ears hearing it. Details like that I find fascinating.
Verse 12 jumps out at me. Something they see with their eyes something about his mouth should be recognizable to them. Is his mouth like Benjamin's in some way. This is not a metaphorical mouth. He speaks of seeing it, not ears hearing it. Details like that I find fascinating.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Genesis 43
So much can be said of this chapter and the whole book of Genesis. Read, ponder, seek application for yourself. Ask questions of the verses that you read and listen to God for answers.
For these people who lived over 3,000 years ago are so like us. I am reading Frank Cross on myth. The book is slow. I probably will not finish it. Cross is trying to force Genesis into a model like Greek myth, for example like the Iliad. In that story there are obviously two levels, the human actions and the actions of the gods. In Greek myth of course there are multiple gods all fighting like humans. God is always in agreement with himself. God works in a unified manner. He does not plot against himself.
Cross tries hard to make Biblical stories like the myths of other cultures. I suppose you can identify with the people in the Iliad. But Genesis is closer to the truth, to the true God.
There are lot of blessings in chapter 43. Jacob blesses his children (v.14) as start off to Egypt to get more food. He releases Benjamin to go very reluctantly. So when they get there Joseph sees all his brothers for the first time in many years.
Joseph's steward acknowledges the blessing of their God on them (v.23). Joseph blesses Benjamin when he meets him (v.29).
Again they all bow down to Joseph (v.26) when he comes home for lunch.
Joseph again asks about their father. They may think it is out of courtesy. But Joseph surely wants to see his father before he dies. Jacob is old.
Joseph is keeping up the ruse. But he breaks down again and cries when he sees his full brother fully grown. When he last saw him he was just a boy. Surely the brothers notice that something is wrong. Some people think at least some of them secretly might have figured out who the Egyptian was.
But Joseph must look much different now than he did when they sold him. He could have a beard now. Maybe it has been twenty years and Joseph is in his 30's.
Joseph may been waiting for them to recognize him. But probably the brothers do not have a clue. Even when they are eating and Joseph has them seated in order by age they do not get it. They marvel at it but it still doesn't connect. They just think it is coincidence.
I can identify with Jacob blessing their travel and their relationship with the man in Egypt who had given them such a hard time. Jacob knows God and knows that he is God's child. He belongs to God. So he knows that he can request things of God. Yet he is fearful. Because the situation is dire he has little trust.
I can so identify with Jacob. I can ask God in prayer. I can ask for his loving care. I can ask for his blessing. But I have trouble being confident that God will act. I am too aware of the situation and how uncertain it looks.
Thank God God is willing to answer us even when we only partially believe. We believe with our minds but not our hearts. We are not totally trusting. Lord, give us faith to be more trusting.
For these people who lived over 3,000 years ago are so like us. I am reading Frank Cross on myth. The book is slow. I probably will not finish it. Cross is trying to force Genesis into a model like Greek myth, for example like the Iliad. In that story there are obviously two levels, the human actions and the actions of the gods. In Greek myth of course there are multiple gods all fighting like humans. God is always in agreement with himself. God works in a unified manner. He does not plot against himself.
Cross tries hard to make Biblical stories like the myths of other cultures. I suppose you can identify with the people in the Iliad. But Genesis is closer to the truth, to the true God.
There are lot of blessings in chapter 43. Jacob blesses his children (v.14) as start off to Egypt to get more food. He releases Benjamin to go very reluctantly. So when they get there Joseph sees all his brothers for the first time in many years.
Joseph's steward acknowledges the blessing of their God on them (v.23). Joseph blesses Benjamin when he meets him (v.29).
Again they all bow down to Joseph (v.26) when he comes home for lunch.
Joseph again asks about their father. They may think it is out of courtesy. But Joseph surely wants to see his father before he dies. Jacob is old.
Joseph is keeping up the ruse. But he breaks down again and cries when he sees his full brother fully grown. When he last saw him he was just a boy. Surely the brothers notice that something is wrong. Some people think at least some of them secretly might have figured out who the Egyptian was.
But Joseph must look much different now than he did when they sold him. He could have a beard now. Maybe it has been twenty years and Joseph is in his 30's.
Joseph may been waiting for them to recognize him. But probably the brothers do not have a clue. Even when they are eating and Joseph has them seated in order by age they do not get it. They marvel at it but it still doesn't connect. They just think it is coincidence.
I can identify with Jacob blessing their travel and their relationship with the man in Egypt who had given them such a hard time. Jacob knows God and knows that he is God's child. He belongs to God. So he knows that he can request things of God. Yet he is fearful. Because the situation is dire he has little trust.
I can so identify with Jacob. I can ask God in prayer. I can ask for his loving care. I can ask for his blessing. But I have trouble being confident that God will act. I am too aware of the situation and how uncertain it looks.
Thank God God is willing to answer us even when we only partially believe. We believe with our minds but not our hearts. We are not totally trusting. Lord, give us faith to be more trusting.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Revelation 14
Well not about the whole chapter because I was struck by verse 4. The 144,000 saints were those not defiled by woman. They kept themselves chaste.
OK. What does it mean to be not defiled by women? Does that thereby exclude those who have been married? What about women? Do we mean "not defiled by men" in their case? Or does this only apply to men? Do you think I am taking this too seriously?
In the next verse we have another qualification: No lie is found in their mouth, they are blameless.
God is encouraging them, who read this, to have patient endurance, perseverance. It will pay off in the end. We will be judged righteous and blameless because of the testimony of the lamb (14:1), the Son of Man (14:14) who will reap the harvest of saved souls and punish those who have refused to listen to the good news (14:6) ad be saved.
I have faith that God will find me (us) among the blameless (14:5).
OK. What does it mean to be not defiled by women? Does that thereby exclude those who have been married? What about women? Do we mean "not defiled by men" in their case? Or does this only apply to men? Do you think I am taking this too seriously?
In the next verse we have another qualification: No lie is found in their mouth, they are blameless.
God is encouraging them, who read this, to have patient endurance, perseverance. It will pay off in the end. We will be judged righteous and blameless because of the testimony of the lamb (14:1), the Son of Man (14:14) who will reap the harvest of saved souls and punish those who have refused to listen to the good news (14:6) ad be saved.
I have faith that God will find me (us) among the blameless (14:5).
Monday, December 12, 2011
Weekend doings
It has been very busy this weekend, mostly on Sunday. All day Saturday I worked at the runoff election. All the regular precincts were open. I suspect to try to increase the vote to keep a certain incumbent at large councilwoman from losing. That is a lot of money spent. But the mayor likes her. However she lost anyway to a conservative candidate who has run against her five times, finally winning. She was her own worst enemy.
Sunday I helped at Brighton and did a talk on Habakkuk and the promise of a savior to come. Habakkuk prophesies against people taking advantage of the poor and God tells him he is sending a barbarous tribe to punish Israel by an awful violent invasion. Yet in the midst of it all there a promises of a better time, this is the time of the savior, of God's anointed. It does fit into Christmas in that it explains very clearly why we need a savior, why Jesus had to come. DW says it was negative. I am just trying to do some out of the ordinary.
Then we had Vineyard church and another sermon on giving less and helping deserving charities. We may give money to charities in lieu of gifts, at least in addition to gifts.
The Texans were on in the background. It was nice to see and hear they won again and clinched the playoffs. I felt a little sorry for the Bengal team. A little. But I cannot get into this like I did the Oilers. I think Rice college sports is my first love now. But I prefer the games I play online, they are what I actually invest time in. Watching is not enough anymore.
Then it was off to SJD for the evening service. We had the new priest who never comes in the evenings. I admit to reading my Greek bible and did not hear his sermon at all.
Vineyard had a concert and a posada. I talked it up at SJD but no one came. They had live animals and Nate looked great as Joseph with his very long hair. The posada part was what I was looking forward to. Carlos was very enthusiatic but I could not hear the responses since the doorkeepers did not open their doors. The tamales were great and the kids had great fun hitting the pinata.
Oh, Saturday night after the election, we got 41 people, more than I thought but still very few, I was tired but Marvin was over. We did try to watch "Living Out Loud" our netflix movie. It was weird and hard to understand. What was her fantasy and what was reality? I could not tell and none of the rest of us could either.
Then I made motions to go to bed but was talked into a few games of Boggle. That actually cheered me up a bit.
Oh, Sunday night after posada I got in a two or so mile walk. I planned in to some inclines to get something close to hill work. That was good.
Sunday I helped at Brighton and did a talk on Habakkuk and the promise of a savior to come. Habakkuk prophesies against people taking advantage of the poor and God tells him he is sending a barbarous tribe to punish Israel by an awful violent invasion. Yet in the midst of it all there a promises of a better time, this is the time of the savior, of God's anointed. It does fit into Christmas in that it explains very clearly why we need a savior, why Jesus had to come. DW says it was negative. I am just trying to do some out of the ordinary.
Then we had Vineyard church and another sermon on giving less and helping deserving charities. We may give money to charities in lieu of gifts, at least in addition to gifts.
The Texans were on in the background. It was nice to see and hear they won again and clinched the playoffs. I felt a little sorry for the Bengal team. A little. But I cannot get into this like I did the Oilers. I think Rice college sports is my first love now. But I prefer the games I play online, they are what I actually invest time in. Watching is not enough anymore.
Then it was off to SJD for the evening service. We had the new priest who never comes in the evenings. I admit to reading my Greek bible and did not hear his sermon at all.
Vineyard had a concert and a posada. I talked it up at SJD but no one came. They had live animals and Nate looked great as Joseph with his very long hair. The posada part was what I was looking forward to. Carlos was very enthusiatic but I could not hear the responses since the doorkeepers did not open their doors. The tamales were great and the kids had great fun hitting the pinata.
Oh, Saturday night after the election, we got 41 people, more than I thought but still very few, I was tired but Marvin was over. We did try to watch "Living Out Loud" our netflix movie. It was weird and hard to understand. What was her fantasy and what was reality? I could not tell and none of the rest of us could either.
Then I made motions to go to bed but was talked into a few games of Boggle. That actually cheered me up a bit.
Oh, Sunday night after posada I got in a two or so mile walk. I planned in to some inclines to get something close to hill work. That was good.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Hello
OK, I've been gone too long. I did write some blogs while on the ship. I was away from computers for a week and I felt that I was in withdrawal often enough.
I fought the flu all the time on the ship but finally gave in to it Monday. All day Monday I was fighting it. After going to a luncheon over at Rice with a IVCF leader I came home and collapsed. I missed my Monday night meeting and slept a lot. I ate nothing for the rest of the day. Well almost nothing.
Fortunate today I felt much better so I went to work and got mostly caught up.
To all my readers, merry Christmas!! God loves you!!
I fought the flu all the time on the ship but finally gave in to it Monday. All day Monday I was fighting it. After going to a luncheon over at Rice with a IVCF leader I came home and collapsed. I missed my Monday night meeting and slept a lot. I ate nothing for the rest of the day. Well almost nothing.
Fortunate today I felt much better so I went to work and got mostly caught up.
To all my readers, merry Christmas!! God loves you!!
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