Four Turned Three

These four children were born within seven weeks of each other in 2007. We had a little party for them Friday night. Between us, I think we have pictures from a couple of stages of pregnancy to these 3 year photos. From left to right they are Haelley (July 25), Silas (July 10), Libby (June 7), and Jason (June 10). Interesting trivia: Haelley is related to Silas and Jason.

Miscellaneous

We have two very healthy pumpkin plants coming up from compost. Between them there are five or six pumpkins. We had chosen a spot for the garden, composted there for a while, then decided to put a volleyball court there instead. The area was leveled, moving the higher middle off to the sides. The pumpkin survived all that and are coming up along the fence around the court.












We had a great opportunity to go the Conner Prairie Living History Museum recently. They had a community day on which admission was FREE. We went with some friends and Michael, Elizabeth and family. It was a memorable day.

A Thought Provoking Conversation

I had a phone conversation tonight that has left me thinking. The other person shared a thought that surely a third dimension to ourselves exists that, perhaps, we don't think about. I think it's true that we often think of ourselves as having a physical body as well as a mind to go along with it. We're missing something, though. During the conversation, the familiar phrase, "mind over matter" was said to be true but not complete. If it is true that we can control what our bodies do by an act of our mental will, then shouldn't it follow that we can control our mind by some other dimension of our make up? Perhaps, it was said, we might think of this as our conscience. Whatever we might call it, isn't it important to acknowledge it? It surely isn't any less important to control what our minds do than to control what our bodies do. When I think about it, I have observed in myself and others, the omission of this third dimension. This really does create quite a problem because if my mind can control my body (which will manifest outwardly and potentially touch other people) then there must be a a control panel for the mind. The mind, alone, is utterly incapable of sticking with the truth about what the body tells it it wants. There must be that third dimension that is guided by an objective Standard, that moors us to the truth about what our bodies should do. Further, isn't that often missed component where we find such noble things as courage and selflessness. We all laud these things, but do we exercise control over our will that we might choose to be defrauded, or to allow emotional or physical hurt for the good of another, or the noblest of all, to lay down our life that another might live - even our enemy? Most important of all, don't you think that is precisely what caused Jesus to have victory over every temptation (the same ones we face) and thus be qualified to become our Sacrifice?

Maybe we don't use that control over our minds because we fear what might be the consequence. We lack the long term thinking that is required to bring the mind to integrity so that it can rightly and bravely direct "matter" rather than try at all cost to preserve self. Jesus possessed that ability to look ahead, beyond the now, beyond the fear, beyond the suffering, to the greater and nobler good. He trusted the Father. Do I? Do I believe that God really parted the sea, rained food from the skies, and annihilated 180,000 enemy soldiers overnight with one angel? If so, then I must be trained by that knowledge to act decisively as I conquer not only "matter" but "mind" as well.

"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1b - 3

"Oh Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? (Don't you want to know who? Don't I? God is generous and gives the description of the man who can live with Him): "He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; he swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken." Psalm 15

The BIG Truck

John, on a really busy work day, offered to make two deliveries on his way home from work, one of which was not far from home. The very large truck was a big attraction to the kids. The picture of Brennan was snapped as he started making "car noises." John sent the picture of Brennan to his boss and told him they had a new driver. Maybe John won't have to make any more deliveries now. Thanks, Brennan.

Becoming Like Jesus

I really do wish I could blog multiple times a day, much like I text, and much like a famous female author from long ago. She (I believe Bess Streeter Aldrich, but I get mixed up and think maybe it's really Gene Stratton Porter) is reported to have been a busy mom. It is further said that she carried a pad of paper and pencil in her apron pocket so she could jot things down as she thought about them. Her literary endeavors must teem with such scratchings. It would be nice to blog like that. Just snippets as I think of them. It might be a funny thing a child said or did. Or it might be some profound thought I had. Most of them slip away, completely unremembered.

In recent weeks, many people we know have given birth. In the last forty-eight hours, I know of two deaths, both occurring on July 4th. Babies slip into the world to drug addicts and to mothers of sterling character. People, young and old, slip out of the world mostly unnoticed but by a few. On one hand, there's nothing remarkable about either event. On the other, both occasions are Most Significant.

The human masses sometimes seem no more significant than a herd of cattle. Then suddenly an individual face from the mass is before you. Their look of fear or elation, of boredom or intensity find a way into your consciousness. Ah, now there's a conundrum. Once the whole of humanity presents itself in just one person, we find ourselves needing to decide how that one fits into our dimension and pondering what obligations might exist. It is one thing to see an aerial view of a congested interstate and quite another to see one face of terror in one car as it spins into a grave peril.

The incarnate Jesus can heal a woman he'd not seen or heard. He simply "feels" her presence as He healed her by default to His deity. It is His nature to help humble and ailing men in trouble. In Him is no need for decision making. His nature is righteous, His orientation focused singularly on the Father. As a result, in any circumstance, He will act with perfect poise and with precise and perfectly timed execution.

We must put upon Him our weakness and beg for Him to transform us into His likeness. We must not let the one who crosses our path go away untouched by His goodness working in us. It surely must become second nature to perceive a need and possess the wisdom to act with the same precision and concern we see in The Master.

My thoughts and funny stories slip away often, but what of the people I know or see? Do they go the way of my small daily thoughts and observations? Are my senses trained to perceive the hurting or struggling person within my circle of existence? I need to know that behind the tiny newborn eyes lies a soul. I need to be moved to practical compassion for the grieved, for the lost, and for any troubled one at all whom God would allow to pop up from the masses in front of me.

Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said , "Who touched My garments?" Mark 5:30