Tripping up

I think I have committed to saunter, walk, hike, trip, and pray up Mt. St. Helens. Foolishness? We shall see.

Terror is...

Hearing that my wife wants to follow me down the same path of missions work that will include sleepless nights, desperation, deep tears, a total loss of direction, depression, and a hundred other insecurities.

Or

Standing before Jesus to hear him say, "If you had only asked, If you only believed."

I believe, help my unbelief.

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Latin text

English version

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium. Veni, pater pauperum, veni, dator munerum veni, lumen cordium. Consolator optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium. In labore requies, in aestu temperies in fletu solatium. O lux beatissima, reple cordis intima tuorum fidelium. Sine tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium. Lava quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium. Flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium. Da tuis fidelibus, in te confidentibus, sacrum septenarium. Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium, Amen, Alleluia.

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light. Come, father of the poor, come giver of gifts, come, light of the heart. Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation. In labor, rest, in heat, temperance, in tears, solace. O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful. Without your divine will, there is nothing in man, nothing is harmless. Wash that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded. Bend that which is inflexible, warm that which is chilled, make right that which is wrong. Give to your faithful, who rely on you, the sevenfold gifts. Give reward to virtue, give salvation at our passing on, give eternal joy. Amen. Alleluia.

Grunts

It really is a form of constipation. Why can't I get done what I know needs to be done. The work will make me stronger, and more skilled. What sort of fiber does it take to move myself from stuck on the pot to finished?

Old

I have discovered something surprising about myself. My love ofhymns. I am a causality of the something know now as "The Hymnal Wars." I can't say that I am truly justa victim. But I am thankful that now I can appreciate this:

Nothing in my hand I bring, 
 simply to the cross I cling; 
 naked, come to thee for dress; 
 helpless, look to thee for grace; 
 foul, I to the fountain fly; 
 wash me, Savior, or I die. 

Mighty Weak Tea

Satan got you by the heel, there's a bird's nest in your hair
Do you have any faith at all? Do you have any love to share?
The way that you hold your head, cursin' God with every move
Ooh, I can't stand it, I can't stand it
What are you tryin' to prove?

Dead Man, Dead Man

Lyrics By: Bob Dylan

Music By: Bob Dylan

Two good gifts

I have been given tea and chess to enjoy. I am grateful to God for both, because he saw that I would enjoy both. Amen.

Geek Dad

This summer is going to rock.

This isn't just a place to play

Avatar, James Cameron didn't think of it first.

@myspace
@facebook
@twitter
@gowalla
@foursquare

Will these services define us, or will we use them to define the world? Does it matter?

Day Light Savings

I don't like it one bit, no sir. I don't see the point. In my day we got up just how God intended, cartoons, or the yelling of our parents. Ben can shove it.

Google Monster

Ash Wednesday 2010

I am thankful that God has been teaching me four things recently. 1) God is Great so I don't have to be in control. 2) God is glorious so I don't have to fear others. 3) God is good, so I don't have to look elsewhere for satisfaction. 4) God is gracious, so I don't have to prove myself.

Posts

Odd comments have been left. They have been deleted. Unfortunately now I have to moderate the comments. Sorry.

Sweet empty cup

I am returning to the idea of Resolutions, Anti-resolutions, planning not resolving anything, or whatever else the internet wants to call it. This time I am declaring my need to fast. In years past I would stop drinking coffee, coke, or smoking my pipe. This Lenten season I am seriously considering giving up spending money out side of food, gas and housing. But like any radical change, it isn't the fast that counts, but how it changes my behavior afterwards. I have found some tips here and here. Oh yea, this book has something to say about money too.

A friend of mine

Welcome to Parkland. I live here. The taps here are humble but reliable. Come for a visit.

I bet I can make your head ich.

 We have uninvited house guests.

Twenty-10

Four-ish years ago I went to a church conference. The central topic was prayer. I liked it, though I think the pastor miscommunicated some of his heart, but that post is for someone else to write about. The second most important lesson I took from him was the disciple of making lists. And the idea stuck. Since that conference I have come up with one item for the list per year I am old. Here are the first two of said list.

1. As much time as I have left on earth, I want to have Jesus disciple me in a life of identifying with him first. This means, putting my role as husband, father, YFC missionary, collector of crap, coffee snob after Jesus. This is not as easy, as I have become quite an idolater of my time.
2. I would like to begin to learn how the Psalms point to Jesus.
3. There is a growing suspicion that I live my salvation by works. This year Jesus needs to lift this burden from me by his grace. I hope that I will be able to worship Him more fully because of it.

There are other ideas floating around, and I might even share some of them, but for now, this short list makes a good start.

Hazards of Analogue Data Storage

My journal was stolen from the back seat of my car. I guess I didn't lock the doors. What they stole was a bright red backpack. Maybe the thief thought there was a shinny lap-top or ipod to run off with. What they got was the 5 years of me I was keeping that book. Stoopid thief. I know Jesus knows what the last 5 years was like, but I would like to keep some of it in my memory too.

You May Have Noticed

But now I am saying it this blog is "Dead". I might bring it back if the mood strikes me, but for now, please take this opportunity to enjoy something completely different.

Blogger

I could hardly be called a Blogger. I am more of a Squatter. I don't have any good pictures to post or thoughts to shout out. So squat I shall.