Hope of Brighter Days!

Hope arrived today on the Frozen Tundra in the form of a flower.  

Winter, get the behind me!

Spring, we welcome your entrance!

Domestic Dad

There has been a definite shift in our home life patterns since my company gave me the proverbial "pink slip."  Fracture Girl is putting in more hours at work, and I have become Domesticated Dad.  I have always helped around the house, spending my youthful years as a bachelor affected that mindset.  However, when it came to shopping and cooking, Fracture Girl handled that arena.  Why not?  She is a really great cook/baker while I just make "grub."  

But change has arrived!  I made my first trip to Costco last week to buy vast quantities of food.  I ventured into Pick N Save (with two little ones in tow, even!) to finish filling our cabinets.  I even looked up some recipes and had meal plans!  Yikes!  What has happened!  

So here I present to you a couple of recent forays into my new domestic frontier!

Here we have the beginning of the Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast

But it looks even better after a few hours on the stove!

But the best is when you pair it with a tasty salad

 (dried cherries, blue cheese, toasted nuts, carrots, home made vinaigrette)

And put it in your tummy!

Here is one from the good folks who supply that most wonderful commodity -- butter!  

Stay away, Michelle  Obama, don't even think of taking my butter away!  

Good health starts with butter.  

I know.  

I live in Wisconsin.

 

Here it is getting ready to slow cook for 7 hours.  I forgot to take an after picture, but just imagine  - it was delightful!  Notice the furry feline friend in the background hoping to get a piece of the action - no luck for him!  Go catch a mouse and cook it yourself, buddy!

Last, but not least is the Pioneer Woman Chile that I whipped up yesterday afternoon.  I would link it up for you, but it came out of her cook book.  I guess you'll have to go the bookstore and surreptitiously copy it onto a notecard when the clerk is not looking!  Or come over to our house and see for yourself!  I'll pretend not to watch while you make a copy.  See the bits of green in that picture?  Fresh Jalapeno peppers.

 YUM! YUM! YUM!

Of course, chile would not be complete without some of Fracture Girl's cornbread to go along with it!

It just goes to show that dark clouds have silver linings, even here on the frozen tundra.

Oh So Predictable

I did it again.  I do it all the time.  I can't help myself.  I started another book while I am still reading two others.  This one came from the library, though.  That's code for "I can't mark up the pages with a pen."  That's killing me!  N.T. Wright recently published "Simply Jesus" and I started reading it this morning while sitting at the Solid Gold McDonalds drinking a $1 coffee.  

I love reading Tom Wright.  I find that he often challenges my Weltanschauung (worldview).  I realize that some folks have been taught to flee from anything that causes them to question, but I find myself attracted to that very thing.  I find that great writers who challenge my views ultimately make me stronger.  One of my professors used to say "All truth is God's truth" and I agree completely.  It does not matter where one finds that truth, true truth is a gift from God.  To declare that something is not true merely because we do not like where it comes from is to commit the "genetic fallacy."  

When we allow our beliefs to be challenged we are really in the process of building a stronger foundation.  Perhaps we will find that our belief system needs a bit of adjustment - this is good!  And strengthens our understanding and our faith.  Perhaps we will find that our belief system is correct - this is good too!   Now we have faced an argument, found our understanding to be valid and have strengthened our understanding and our faith!  We have in both cases also increased our ability to dialogue with others regarding matters of truth and faith ("always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (I Peter 3:15))

All that is to say that I came across the most marvelous quote in Tom Wright's book today.  Without its surrounding context, it might be a bit opaque at first, but with a bit of reflection, I'm guessing you will correctly ascertain its meaning. 

"It's a dialogue of the deaf."

                                 -N. T. Wright

The dialogue of the deaf.  It takes place around us every day.  Perhaps you or I were even one of the involved parties this very day.  At work, at home, at church - anywhere that people meet this dialogue occurs on a daily basis.  But think deep here.  I'm not just describing tonight's conversation with the 7 year old gymnast who wasn't listening to her dad.  I am talking about that polysyllabic profundity in the first paragraph.  The Weltanschauung.  Think it over.  Then tell me what you think. 

Looks Like He Caught that Train

Davey Jones, dead at 66

Funny how time gets away, isn't it?  Just this past week I was chatting with my cousin and he asked me "So what do you want written on your tombstone?"  Each of us must ask and answer that question as God has directed and called us in our lives.  However, I am reminded of the following classic poem:

Only One Life
By C.T. Studd (1860-1931)

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say 'twas worth it all";
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Are Your Ears "Itchy"?

I was thinking about my post from a couple days ago, specifically the aspect of "doctrine."  What is "good doctrine?"  What is it that makes doctrine "good?"  In II Timothy Paul warns Timothy that:

"the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." II Timothy 4:3-4

 We have a number of Paul's writings available to us in the New Testament and we can readily discern much of what Paul must have meant by "sound doctrine."  

But what do we mean when we speak of doctrine?  Could we sit down and write our own version of a doctrinal statement?  How would our doctrinal statement square up the whole of the Scriptures?  Would our doctrine reflect what we want to believe or would it reflect what God has revealed?  Would  it reveal that we exercised a proper hermeneutic in coming to our doctrinal understanding, our would it reveal that we exercised a hermeneutic used to validate a predetermined  position?  Does our doctrine accurately and properly reflect who God is, or is it a position statement that stakes out who I am. 

Is it about you?  Or is it about God?

 What do your "ears" tell you?

A Word to the Wise

I read I Timothy this morning.  There is a lot to like, but today these are the words I wanted to hang on to:

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."  I Timothy 4:16 

I like the fact that when counseling Timothy, Paul focuses in on life and doctrine.  We often get caught up in one or the other and lose sight of the fact that a Christian life well lived must contain both elements.  In addition, we must also keep sight of the importance of perseverance in a culture that glorifies instant gratification!

Where Do I Look?

Now that my career options are wide open, where do I look? I'm finding that it can be a bit overwhelming. Today I just had to stop for a few minutes and make sure I turned to where I really belong.