This flashback takes us way back. Back to a lovely spring day about 3 years ago when Arthur and I had been "intentionally hanging out" for about a month. (We "intentionally hung out" for several months before officially dating-- Alex was a little leery of dating and committing to anything.) On that spring day we were on a bike trail. While we were riding along somehow the conversation lead Arthur to think it was a great time to give me a personality test. The test included three questions. What is your favorite animal and why? What is your favorite natural phenomenon and why? And what is your favorite color and why?
This story focuses around the first question. Arthur asked me and I replied that I like moose because they are gangly and awkward, big, and graceful in the water. But I have commitment issues and then changed my favorite animal to a wildebeest-- I like to cover all my bases with multiple answers. Arthur then answered the question with a border collie because they are eager to please, obedient, and loyal. I then asked Arthur what this question had to do with personality. Arthur answered that the answer to your favorite animal is what you are looking for in a spouse. At this point I'm pretty sure I turned white as a sheet or blushed- I'm not sure which. With my answer of a moose I had basically described Arthur to a tee. Arthur is a big guy, he is a little awkward and gangly when he tries to skip. However, he is very athletic and was doing a lot of swimming at that time to prepare for his summer job as a lifeguard. According to this test he was my perfect match and that terrified me at that time. On the flip side it also scared me a little that he was looking for a "border collie" wife. Someone who would by obedient and quick to follow his every command, who would heel right by his side wherever he went, and a gal that would fall all over herself trying to please him. Well, that sure wasn't me. If that is what he wants than this guy just needs to keep looking.
Interesting side story: this personality test is one that Arthur loves to give to all his friends, and it has been amazingly accurate in predicting comparability. One friend however, gave a very memorable answer to this question: when asked what his favorite animal was, he responded with a cow. This is hilarious enough in itself, but when he described why it get even better; he liked cows because they are "tasty, stupid, and easy to control." This particular friend happens to still be in the market if any of you single ladies out there are interested.
Several months later we talked about this conversation again. One reason I had been hesitant to really start dating Arthur was that he wanted a "border collie" wife. In this later conversation I explained my feelings about this and he laughed. He pointed out that I was only remembering part of his answer on that fateful bike ride. His version of the answer was that border collies are incredibly intelligent, very hard workers, but also very playful in addition to loyal, obedient, and eager to please. At that point my thought was, "Oh shoot, maybe I am little bit of a border collie." Of course the rest of the story is history. I married my moose and Arthur got his version of a border collie wife. I'm pretty sure all the research and data collected by eHarmony isn't as accurate as Arthur's personality test question on this very early date to predict future matrimony. Despite Alex's initial hesitation, Omnia Vincit Amor.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Weekend Adventures
One evening this past week, Arthur asked me at dinner if we had any plans for the weekend. At that point we didn't have anything on the schedule yet. He stated, "We need to do something. We hung out around here last weekend and we can't do that again. After all, we are young and newly married and should make the most of this point in our lives to do things so we need to have plans for the weekend." Truthfully, we aren't as boring as we sound. We did hang out around our place last weekend but that has been rare. During the past month we visited Arthur's parents, went to a K-State football game, attended the Kansas State Fair, and most recently checked out the Scottish Highland Festival in McPherson.
Last year I took Arthur to the State Fair for the first time. I grew up going every year since we lived close and I was usually involved in 4-H events at the Fair. Arthur hadn't been until I took him on a date there last year and we had a wonderful time (also some great memories since it was the first time he said that he loved me--kind of mushy). This year we decided to make the trip again. On the way to the Fair we listened to a special on the radio with snippets about fairs and festivals such as a lady who carves cows out of butter, a guy who makes funnel cakes for a living, and interviews with the contestants in a husband calling contest. Our first stop was the main attraction for us... the 4-H dog show. We both likes dogs and my dog was a 4-H dog show champ on the county level (before she retired to napping on the back porch full time.) Throughout the day we watched the dog agility contest off and on. This maybe wasn't the best idea because we want a dog even more now but that wouldn't be a good idea in an apartment (especially one that doesn't allow pets.) It is amazing what the dogs have been trained to do. We then ambled through the 4-H and Open class exhibits. We saw the butter sculpture and the largest pumpkin. We then headed to check out the livestock and listened in on some dairy cow judging. Each year at the state fair you see something you have never seen before and this year for us it was Watusi cattle. Watusi cattle are native to Africa and have huge horns that they use like radiators to cool their blood. They put longhorns to shame. Of course per tradition (of two years now) we shared a funnel cake.
Another weekend outing was to the Scottish Festival. In preparation on Friday night we watched Braveheart so we would be in touch with our inner-Scotsman. First of all, I have never seen more kilts in one place, but I suppose that would be expected. We watched the Highland games for awhile off and on through out the day. Basically for the highland game events the athletes are pretty much burly guys and gals in kilts tossing insanely heavy objects around. One of the crowd-pleasing events was the kaber toss. The goal is to pick up a log with the dimensions of a telephone pole, balance it while running a few steps, and then toss it in the air so it flips end over end. Other events include using something kind of like a pitchfork to toss a small bale of hay 20 or so feet in the air or hurtling 20 pound rocks as far as possible. While I never competed in field events in track I have watched plenty of them as an athletic trainer hoping that a hammer during the hammer toss didn't get lose and conch anyone. Anyway, technique is key for field events and it is always a pleasure to watch someone with such good technique that it almost looks effortless to see them throw a weight through the air.
Another competition we watched was the highland dancers. Neither of us have seen highland dance before so this was interesting. All the dancers do the same dances- a jig, The Sailor's Hornpipe, and the Scottish Lilt- with a few variations in dance steps between competitors. Highland dancing involves a lot of jumping, intricate stepping and footwork, and kicks. These competitors were a different group than those competing in the Highland games (except they all wore kilts) but both events required athleticism that should be appreciated.
Throughout the day we heard lots of bag pipe music. I am not musical at all, and I love a good bag pipe, but it always sounds like they are playing one of two songs-- either Amazing Grace or a bag pipe song that isn't Amazing Grace.
Another highlight was watching sheepdog demonstrations. Arthur had a border collie growing up and has a deep love for this breed so he was pretty excited to get the chance to watch some in action working sheep- so much that we watched the demonstration multiple times. These dogs go after their work with such intensity-- it is obvious they love and live for herding sheep. Yet again, it was amazing to watch the grace and skill that these highly trained dogs, as well as their trainer, exhibited. I joked with Arthur that he's a lot like a border collie. He has a passion for his work and does his job with such intensity that it is very hard to distract him. The trainer also made the comment that the dogs don't make good house dogs because if they don't have a job or task to do they get into trouble easily. I made that same comment to Arthur that morning in the kitchen when he was playing around, creating mischief, until I had him put away dishes.
We also tried some Scottish fare for lunch. Arthur had the brilliant idea that we have some haggis. I said sure, not really knowing what I was doing. Luckily that line was too long so we had steak bridie, a meat filled pastry, instead. I just looked up what haggis is and am very glad I didn't have to partake in it. Here is the description from Wikipedia. "Haggis is a savory pudding containing sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, spices, and salt, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach and simmered for approximately three hours". Dodged a bullet there.
Really our weekend adventures have taken us to experience a lot of new things. One of my thoughts has been that we love competition. At least for me it has been refreshing to see more of the less-mainstream competitions in a culture that is tuned into ESPN and athlete's every move. While none of these competitions drew huge crowds of screaming fans, the competitors still put in a lot of time and effort to achieve what they did. Sure we enjoyed the traditional athletic competition like the K-State football game but have also enjoyed watching the thrill of victory when a lady broke a world's record in the highland games, or there was the frustration of a 4-H when her dog wouldn't listen to commands, or the disappointment of a highland dancer when her shoe came untied causing her to miss several steps in her performance. It is all part of the human experience. Sometimes life gives you funnel cake, and sometimes you get haggis but omnia vincit amor.
Last year I took Arthur to the State Fair for the first time. I grew up going every year since we lived close and I was usually involved in 4-H events at the Fair. Arthur hadn't been until I took him on a date there last year and we had a wonderful time (also some great memories since it was the first time he said that he loved me--kind of mushy). This year we decided to make the trip again. On the way to the Fair we listened to a special on the radio with snippets about fairs and festivals such as a lady who carves cows out of butter, a guy who makes funnel cakes for a living, and interviews with the contestants in a husband calling contest. Our first stop was the main attraction for us... the 4-H dog show. We both likes dogs and my dog was a 4-H dog show champ on the county level (before she retired to napping on the back porch full time.) Throughout the day we watched the dog agility contest off and on. This maybe wasn't the best idea because we want a dog even more now but that wouldn't be a good idea in an apartment (especially one that doesn't allow pets.) It is amazing what the dogs have been trained to do. We then ambled through the 4-H and Open class exhibits. We saw the butter sculpture and the largest pumpkin. We then headed to check out the livestock and listened in on some dairy cow judging. Each year at the state fair you see something you have never seen before and this year for us it was Watusi cattle. Watusi cattle are native to Africa and have huge horns that they use like radiators to cool their blood. They put longhorns to shame. Of course per tradition (of two years now) we shared a funnel cake.
Another weekend outing was to the Scottish Festival. In preparation on Friday night we watched Braveheart so we would be in touch with our inner-Scotsman. First of all, I have never seen more kilts in one place, but I suppose that would be expected. We watched the Highland games for awhile off and on through out the day. Basically for the highland game events the athletes are pretty much burly guys and gals in kilts tossing insanely heavy objects around. One of the crowd-pleasing events was the kaber toss. The goal is to pick up a log with the dimensions of a telephone pole, balance it while running a few steps, and then toss it in the air so it flips end over end. Other events include using something kind of like a pitchfork to toss a small bale of hay 20 or so feet in the air or hurtling 20 pound rocks as far as possible. While I never competed in field events in track I have watched plenty of them as an athletic trainer hoping that a hammer during the hammer toss didn't get lose and conch anyone. Anyway, technique is key for field events and it is always a pleasure to watch someone with such good technique that it almost looks effortless to see them throw a weight through the air.
Another competition we watched was the highland dancers. Neither of us have seen highland dance before so this was interesting. All the dancers do the same dances- a jig, The Sailor's Hornpipe, and the Scottish Lilt- with a few variations in dance steps between competitors. Highland dancing involves a lot of jumping, intricate stepping and footwork, and kicks. These competitors were a different group than those competing in the Highland games (except they all wore kilts) but both events required athleticism that should be appreciated.
Another highlight was watching sheepdog demonstrations. Arthur had a border collie growing up and has a deep love for this breed so he was pretty excited to get the chance to watch some in action working sheep- so much that we watched the demonstration multiple times. These dogs go after their work with such intensity-- it is obvious they love and live for herding sheep. Yet again, it was amazing to watch the grace and skill that these highly trained dogs, as well as their trainer, exhibited. I joked with Arthur that he's a lot like a border collie. He has a passion for his work and does his job with such intensity that it is very hard to distract him. The trainer also made the comment that the dogs don't make good house dogs because if they don't have a job or task to do they get into trouble easily. I made that same comment to Arthur that morning in the kitchen when he was playing around, creating mischief, until I had him put away dishes.We also tried some Scottish fare for lunch. Arthur had the brilliant idea that we have some haggis. I said sure, not really knowing what I was doing. Luckily that line was too long so we had steak bridie, a meat filled pastry, instead. I just looked up what haggis is and am very glad I didn't have to partake in it. Here is the description from Wikipedia. "Haggis is a savory pudding containing sheep's heart, liver, and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, spices, and salt, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach and simmered for approximately three hours". Dodged a bullet there.
Really our weekend adventures have taken us to experience a lot of new things. One of my thoughts has been that we love competition. At least for me it has been refreshing to see more of the less-mainstream competitions in a culture that is tuned into ESPN and athlete's every move. While none of these competitions drew huge crowds of screaming fans, the competitors still put in a lot of time and effort to achieve what they did. Sure we enjoyed the traditional athletic competition like the K-State football game but have also enjoyed watching the thrill of victory when a lady broke a world's record in the highland games, or there was the frustration of a 4-H when her dog wouldn't listen to commands, or the disappointment of a highland dancer when her shoe came untied causing her to miss several steps in her performance. It is all part of the human experience. Sometimes life gives you funnel cake, and sometimes you get haggis but omnia vincit amor.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sloppy Joe Saga
Tonight we had sloppy joes for dinner. I dislike sloppy joes. A lot. And I don't think sloppy joes will ever be served again in our household. (Starting after we finish the leftovers in the fridge.) As a kid, I (Alex) never liked sloppy joes and usually avoided eating them when I could. And now that I am in charge of calling the shots for meal planning, shopping, and cooking, one would think I wouldn't have too. However, there is this one can of sloppy joe sauce that has ended up in my pantry. I am sure that my well-meaning mother sent it with me to school in Kansas City so that I would have supplies for an easy meal. The one thing sloppy joes have going for them is that it was pretty easy to fix. This can got pushed to the back of my pantry and stayed there since I don't like sloppy joes. I then moved and this can went home with me and all my stuff. I then spent several weeks on a clinical living in an empty house so my mother sent me off on this journey with some food so at least I would have something to eat and this can went with me. Of course, I had more than enough food so I never ate sloppy joes and this can moved back home with me once again. I then moved into a place of my own when we got married so this sloppy joe sauce made that trip as well.
And it has sat in our cabinet to this day. I finally got tired of moving this particular can and decided this afternoon to bite the bullet and make sloppy joes. I had several projects going on around the house and had just browned a few pounds of ground beef so sloppy joes was the easy answer for dinner. Arthur got home from work and asked what smelled so delicious for dinner (he's pretty good at earning those husband points). I told him we were having sloppy joes since I dragged this can of sauce all over the state for the past year and was plum tired of it being in pantry and my life. Surely I was remembering sloppy joes as worse than they really are. Sadly I wasn't. Arthur and I sat down to dinner and I ate everything else on my plate until all that was left was the sloppy joe staring back at me. I took a few bites hoping each would be better than the last. I then wished that the bites would make the half eaten sandwich disappear faster. By this time Arthur was finished eating and starting on the dishes. The next bite caused my gag reflex to kick in. Now Arthur was thoroughly enjoying himself watching me struggle. He then started to cheer, Alex, Alex, Alex. I asked for another glass of milk to help wash it down with. At some point we looked at the can and saw that it is advertised to contain a full serving of vegetables. Arthur then questioned why I served him carrot sticks if he was already getting a full serving of veggies. Maybe what I told my parents all along is true that I have adverse reactions too large doses of veggies causing my throat to close up. Finally, after about 25 minutes that seemed like an eternity, the last bite of sloppy joe was swallowed and my plate was clean. At least until we have left over sloppy joes. Omnia Vincit Amor.
And it has sat in our cabinet to this day. I finally got tired of moving this particular can and decided this afternoon to bite the bullet and make sloppy joes. I had several projects going on around the house and had just browned a few pounds of ground beef so sloppy joes was the easy answer for dinner. Arthur got home from work and asked what smelled so delicious for dinner (he's pretty good at earning those husband points). I told him we were having sloppy joes since I dragged this can of sauce all over the state for the past year and was plum tired of it being in pantry and my life. Surely I was remembering sloppy joes as worse than they really are. Sadly I wasn't. Arthur and I sat down to dinner and I ate everything else on my plate until all that was left was the sloppy joe staring back at me. I took a few bites hoping each would be better than the last. I then wished that the bites would make the half eaten sandwich disappear faster. By this time Arthur was finished eating and starting on the dishes. The next bite caused my gag reflex to kick in. Now Arthur was thoroughly enjoying himself watching me struggle. He then started to cheer, Alex, Alex, Alex. I asked for another glass of milk to help wash it down with. At some point we looked at the can and saw that it is advertised to contain a full serving of vegetables. Arthur then questioned why I served him carrot sticks if he was already getting a full serving of veggies. Maybe what I told my parents all along is true that I have adverse reactions too large doses of veggies causing my throat to close up. Finally, after about 25 minutes that seemed like an eternity, the last bite of sloppy joe was swallowed and my plate was clean. At least until we have left over sloppy joes. Omnia Vincit Amor.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Lessons I have learned living with a guy
Over the past several years I have lived the life of a single young female adult. One aspect of this lifestyle is having roommates. I have gotten to live with a bunch of great women and now all of a sudden I find myself married. This put an end of my "single" lifestyle which means I now have a permanent roommate who happens to be a guy. Thank goodness I wasn't completely caught off guard since I have had previous experience living with guys since I grew up with two brothers. However, it is still a little bit of an adjustment. In college I lived in an all-female dorm for 4 years. At times there was a lot of drama but also a lot of giggling and fun. Another summer I worked at a camp and share 1 room filled with bunk beds with 14 other gals-- lots of female bonding there as well. After so many years of living with ladies, here are the lessons and observations I have compiled from several weeks of living with Arthur.
1. Guys require much less time in the bathroom. Significantly less. Arthur can shower in less than a minute. By the time I get ready in the morning (and I like to think that I am fairly quick for a female) he has showered, dressed, gotten ready for work, and has breakfast on the table. They also have less bathroom stuff. I put my stuff in a drawer and 2 shelves of the bathroom. I worried about him having enough storage for his bathroom stuff. I didn't realize that the few items he had on the counter were all he had.
2. Guys require more food. Arthur has been amazed by my portion sizes and I have been amazed by the amounts he can consume without ill effects. While we were dating I once prepared him lunch of a can of soup. That was it. It would have been a very satisfactory meal for my roommate and I but I don't think it made a dent in his hunger. I think I have now figured out how to set enough on the table to satisfy his hunger (at least that is what he is telling me but we are newly married still so he may not be completely honest about my cooking yet.)
3. Guys like to drive. This has been wonderful. He opens the door for me, gets in, and then whisks me off to our destination. It could be that he likes driving his car so much he likes to hog it. I appreciate it since I am not a huge fan of driving and I can also take a nap. My job is co-pilot. I provide snacks, entertainment, and navigation skills. It works best for both of us.
4. Guys respond well when requests are preceded with a kiss. This was a trick Arthur taught me early and it has worked well. Anytime I give directions or ask for something (basically when I am bossy, usually this is in the kitchen) I need to give him a quick kiss first. He is becoming some of the best kitchen help around.
5. Don't make big plans on Thursday evenings. Sport Illustrated arrives on Thursdays. Often after dinner Arthur will grab the magazine and wander downstairs to his man-cave and be happy for hours. (In all honesty, I usually get to read Sports Illustrated at lunch on Thursdays at work so we don't have to fight over one copy.)
6. Guys get really excited about protecting their home from intruders. It has been interesting to see our different views on home security. I have lived in Kansas City or in random other places alone for the past several years. Anytime my mother calls I am always asked if the doors are locked, etc. So this is just a habit I have gotten into. Arthur doesn't worry so much about locking doors, especially before I started living with him. I think he would almost leave the door open with an invitation so he could beat up anyone who tried to enter his domain. I think he also takes great pride in investigating any unusual noises.
7. While guys are thrilled to be protectors, they also relish in the sneak attack. Only a few times in college did random people jump out of my clothes at me or did I get shot with a nerf gun while brushing my teeth. Now, though, I'm never sure if he is hiding behind the door or camouflaged under the comforter on the bed just waiting for me, unsuspecting prey, to wander by.
8. Guys have a certain large-ness. Arthur's clothes are much bigger than mine so they fill up the laundry basket faster than I would expect. He has a larger appetite (see #2). This requires frequent snacking as well. Guys take up more space. I'm not sure our bed is split 50-50 but at least I haven't been rolled over the edge yet. Arthur just doesn't fit in my car very well. He almost has to open the sunroof so there is space for his head. When we run together his stride is twice as long as mine so I have to take so many more steps (I suppose this is how the shorter girls I use to run against felt.) When we bought our wedding rings we had a hard time finding the correct sizes since my fingers are pretty small and Arthur has thick, "man-hands".
9. Guys are strong. I have come to realize that just because I'm sitting on the couch doesn't mean Arthur won't come along and decide that I need to be moved elsewhere, such as another seat on the couch, and there is not much I can do about it. Parents sometimes talk about how controlling their kids becomes a little more challenging when they grow and they can't pick them up or move them by physical force. Arthur doesn't have that problem. If I am being stubborn or a little ornery he just moves me out of the way. I think this is a very unfair advantage, however he may be able to get me to do what he wants with brute strength, I get him to do what I want with smooches (see #4), so it all works out.
10. Guys are a lot of fun to live with, or at least mine is. Everyday he surprises with something... breaking out in random snatches of song, dancing to rap music in the kitchen, making breakfast for me even when he has to leave for work early. While I'm sure there will continue to be more lessons to learn about living with this guy, it is never a bore. Somethings I just don't understand, but after all, Omnia Vincit Amor.
1. Guys require much less time in the bathroom. Significantly less. Arthur can shower in less than a minute. By the time I get ready in the morning (and I like to think that I am fairly quick for a female) he has showered, dressed, gotten ready for work, and has breakfast on the table. They also have less bathroom stuff. I put my stuff in a drawer and 2 shelves of the bathroom. I worried about him having enough storage for his bathroom stuff. I didn't realize that the few items he had on the counter were all he had.
2. Guys require more food. Arthur has been amazed by my portion sizes and I have been amazed by the amounts he can consume without ill effects. While we were dating I once prepared him lunch of a can of soup. That was it. It would have been a very satisfactory meal for my roommate and I but I don't think it made a dent in his hunger. I think I have now figured out how to set enough on the table to satisfy his hunger (at least that is what he is telling me but we are newly married still so he may not be completely honest about my cooking yet.)
3. Guys like to drive. This has been wonderful. He opens the door for me, gets in, and then whisks me off to our destination. It could be that he likes driving his car so much he likes to hog it. I appreciate it since I am not a huge fan of driving and I can also take a nap. My job is co-pilot. I provide snacks, entertainment, and navigation skills. It works best for both of us.
4. Guys respond well when requests are preceded with a kiss. This was a trick Arthur taught me early and it has worked well. Anytime I give directions or ask for something (basically when I am bossy, usually this is in the kitchen) I need to give him a quick kiss first. He is becoming some of the best kitchen help around.
5. Don't make big plans on Thursday evenings. Sport Illustrated arrives on Thursdays. Often after dinner Arthur will grab the magazine and wander downstairs to his man-cave and be happy for hours. (In all honesty, I usually get to read Sports Illustrated at lunch on Thursdays at work so we don't have to fight over one copy.)
6. Guys get really excited about protecting their home from intruders. It has been interesting to see our different views on home security. I have lived in Kansas City or in random other places alone for the past several years. Anytime my mother calls I am always asked if the doors are locked, etc. So this is just a habit I have gotten into. Arthur doesn't worry so much about locking doors, especially before I started living with him. I think he would almost leave the door open with an invitation so he could beat up anyone who tried to enter his domain. I think he also takes great pride in investigating any unusual noises.
7. While guys are thrilled to be protectors, they also relish in the sneak attack. Only a few times in college did random people jump out of my clothes at me or did I get shot with a nerf gun while brushing my teeth. Now, though, I'm never sure if he is hiding behind the door or camouflaged under the comforter on the bed just waiting for me, unsuspecting prey, to wander by.
8. Guys have a certain large-ness. Arthur's clothes are much bigger than mine so they fill up the laundry basket faster than I would expect. He has a larger appetite (see #2). This requires frequent snacking as well. Guys take up more space. I'm not sure our bed is split 50-50 but at least I haven't been rolled over the edge yet. Arthur just doesn't fit in my car very well. He almost has to open the sunroof so there is space for his head. When we run together his stride is twice as long as mine so I have to take so many more steps (I suppose this is how the shorter girls I use to run against felt.) When we bought our wedding rings we had a hard time finding the correct sizes since my fingers are pretty small and Arthur has thick, "man-hands".
9. Guys are strong. I have come to realize that just because I'm sitting on the couch doesn't mean Arthur won't come along and decide that I need to be moved elsewhere, such as another seat on the couch, and there is not much I can do about it. Parents sometimes talk about how controlling their kids becomes a little more challenging when they grow and they can't pick them up or move them by physical force. Arthur doesn't have that problem. If I am being stubborn or a little ornery he just moves me out of the way. I think this is a very unfair advantage, however he may be able to get me to do what he wants with brute strength, I get him to do what I want with smooches (see #4), so it all works out.
10. Guys are a lot of fun to live with, or at least mine is. Everyday he surprises with something... breaking out in random snatches of song, dancing to rap music in the kitchen, making breakfast for me even when he has to leave for work early. While I'm sure there will continue to be more lessons to learn about living with this guy, it is never a bore. Somethings I just don't understand, but after all, Omnia Vincit Amor.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The Word
Every week the church we are going to reads 2 Timothy 3:16-17 before the sermon:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
So far each week it has been in a different translation and so far this has been one of my (Alex's) favorite parts of the service. What a great reminder that Scripture is living and active today. It is useful and applicable in our lives. It encourages or, as my high school Bible study leaders put it, it can step on your toes sometimes when you need it. Scripture is some powerful stuff.
At times we may underestimate the power of being in God's Word consistently. To borrow an analogy from Sunday's sermon, think of a slow, steady drip of water pouring over a rock that over the years wears the rock into a shallow basin. Sudden torrents of water would just rush over the top of the rock, but a slow drip makes slow changes in the rock's surface. I thought this was a great reminder that "torrential" experiences don't have the impact to change our rock-hard hearts that way constant exposure to the Word does. Sometimes I wish I could soak up everything from a Bible study or sermon series all at once. One thing Arthur has learned about me that probably drives him nuts is if I have a mission or a project I like to go at it full speed ahead.
In the past I have tried to read the Bible in a year. That is all fine and good but what did I miss since I had to get my 4.7 chapters of reading in everyday? I am happy to announce this year I am only on the reading for July 14th-- a whole 2 months behind. Truthfully, I am not behind because I was taking a lot of time to meditate on passages in 2 Chronicles, but I haven't let my falling behind bother me. I once read an article about if we read the Bible in a lifetime instead of a year. After all there isn't deadlines or quotas on the number of pages you have to turn. This article suggested taking one book at a time and reading through that book multiple times so the story becomes very familiar and you can catch more of the details, context, and themes. After all we shouldn't be in a rush with God's Word, He will continue to use it to shape us and mold us throughout a lifetime.
This lead to me spending 2 months studying 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy only has 6 chapters and it took me 2 months. But I found something new the 3rd time I read it, gained a different perspective the 7th time, was challenged by something in my life the 16th time I read those words, and had an idea for a ministry opportunity the 19th time. That slow drip of God's Word continually carving out my heart of stone or as The Message translates 2 Timoty 3:17: Through the word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. Omnia Vincit Amor.
At times we may underestimate the power of being in God's Word consistently. To borrow an analogy from Sunday's sermon, think of a slow, steady drip of water pouring over a rock that over the years wears the rock into a shallow basin. Sudden torrents of water would just rush over the top of the rock, but a slow drip makes slow changes in the rock's surface. I thought this was a great reminder that "torrential" experiences don't have the impact to change our rock-hard hearts that way constant exposure to the Word does. Sometimes I wish I could soak up everything from a Bible study or sermon series all at once. One thing Arthur has learned about me that probably drives him nuts is if I have a mission or a project I like to go at it full speed ahead.
In the past I have tried to read the Bible in a year. That is all fine and good but what did I miss since I had to get my 4.7 chapters of reading in everyday? I am happy to announce this year I am only on the reading for July 14th-- a whole 2 months behind. Truthfully, I am not behind because I was taking a lot of time to meditate on passages in 2 Chronicles, but I haven't let my falling behind bother me. I once read an article about if we read the Bible in a lifetime instead of a year. After all there isn't deadlines or quotas on the number of pages you have to turn. This article suggested taking one book at a time and reading through that book multiple times so the story becomes very familiar and you can catch more of the details, context, and themes. After all we shouldn't be in a rush with God's Word, He will continue to use it to shape us and mold us throughout a lifetime.
This lead to me spending 2 months studying 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy only has 6 chapters and it took me 2 months. But I found something new the 3rd time I read it, gained a different perspective the 7th time, was challenged by something in my life the 16th time I read those words, and had an idea for a ministry opportunity the 19th time. That slow drip of God's Word continually carving out my heart of stone or as The Message translates 2 Timoty 3:17: Through the word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. Omnia Vincit Amor.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
"Squirrel!"
One strange way we interact (yes, there are several) is the
exchange of new expressions and terms that came about through a mutual love of
Dug, the golden retriever from UP.
You may be thinking at this point that this is a
heart-warming Hallmark movie but instead this is a Pixar comedy (although the
first 8 minutes are a real tear-jerker).
The light side of the story is provided by Dug and Kevin. Dug is a dog with a voice collar on a special
mission tracking Kevin, the exotic bird which is the object of Dug’s special
mission. If you have ever wondered what
is going on inside the head of man’s best friend, the fellows at Pixar definitely
made a good stab at it. Quotes from Dug have become a staple around our house.
Consequently, in the mornings when we wake up we may look at
each other and say—“I hid under your porch because I love you.” When we want to talk about things we may want
to do someday we might say- “I am a good tracker, I am on a special mission.” For comedy relief during a heated discussion—“Squirrel!”
All of this may seem quirky and a little off, but if I may
be philosophical for a moment. Dug is a
beautiful example of unconditional love--- “I just met you but I love you.” In Dug we see a perfect example of submission
out of love—“Please be my master.”
Dale Carnegie once wrote in How to Win Friends and Influence People that we should look at a
dog to see how to really love people and Dug typifies that. Though it seems quirky that Alex and I should
exchange quotes from an animated dog we think it is a great part of our new
culture and is in complete keeping in the spirit of this blog. Omnia Vincit Amor.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Charlie
Something that we care about and paid attention to every morning and evening is Charlie. No, Charlie is not a dog, a fish, or animate object. Charlie is my dear Alex’s iPod. Now I know what you must be thinking sitting there and rolling your eyes thinking about how this new generation cannot exist without their technology. But Charlie’s appeal is not in his ability to play our music, the game Angry Birds, or any sort of communication with our friends. No, Charlie has an incredible app that allows us to read the meditations of Charles Spurgeon’s devotional Morning and Evening. (This is how the iPod was dubbed Charlie. We often shout across the house at breakfast—Do you know where Charlie is at so we can do our morning devotional?)
For those of you who may not be familiar with Charles Spurgeon, just know that he was an English theologian whose style I could only characterize as C.S. Lewis-like, a man of vast intellect coupled with a poet’s heart. The meditation usually starts with just a verse or two and from that verse will flow Spurgeon’s thoughts about it and what it tells us about God’s character and our relationship with him. Alex and I have both been really blessed in that we both received an excellent Bible education growing up and because of that we can really appreciate the various references to passages scattered throughout the Bible that Spurgeon will use. The metaphors and poetic language that Spurgeon draws from Scripture come out as fluently as most of us can talk about our everyday lives. (Side note: Spurgeon’s writings are fluid and lyrical unless Alex is trying to read aloud with all of the old English wordings that are strange and get tangled at her tongue, but I enjoy watching her try.)
Besides Charlie, our devotional time usually entails something that neither Alex or myself ever did growing up—we sing a hymn. Back when I was at the university, the church I attended started the Hymnal Project, a compilation of hymns and songs that the people of his church found meaningful and design particularly for individual family worship time. I was very excited by this and got my own copy and Alex perhaps less excitedly agreed to make singing a part of every day’s devotional. It has been something that allows us to get our minds and hearts geared toward praising our Lord every day and is something that we both have grown to enjoy. Recently Alex has gotten us on a Stuart Townsend kick and Arthur perhaps suffering from a mild case of chronological snobbery has been forced to admit that there are people writing wonderful hymns even today (which would make it contemporary music). Alex’s favorite hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” is written by Townsend. It was probably good I didn’t realize this was a “new” hymn when Alex suggested we sing it at our wedding but I found the lyrics incredibly moving. Alex has never been crazy about singing and will usually only sing during a church service when it is obligatory but rarely outside of that. Now I have her singing hymns with me each day. Alex was talking to one of her close friends a few weeks ago and mentioned that we sing hymns each morning as part of our devotional. Her friend, knowing very much that Alex detests singing replied, ”It’s official, you are really in love with him if Arthur can get you to sing.” Omnia Vincit Amor.
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