In my small group a few weeks ago we were struggling over Romans 10:5-9. We read the NIV and it didn't make any sense. So moved to the ESV. Silly me, I thought the "E" in ESV stood for "English." Clearly not because that doesn't make any sense. This passage made my brain hurt. We mulled over it for probably ten minutes before quiet Stephanie sitting across from me said, "I don't know if this will help or not, but I could read my translation." She read her NLT and suddenly the passage made sense!
Sitting right there in the middle of small group I had a God moment. God used that confusion moment (or confusion moments) to teach me about searching for answers.
How often do we search and search unable to find what we're looking for? We're confused, frustrated, and uncertain. We're crying out to him not understanding anything and then all of the sudden... BOOM! There is your answer! And low and behold, it had been right in front of you the whole time. If we'd have asked Stephanie to read her translation earlier, the passage would have made sense sooner but nooooo... we had to do our own thing and struggle with it on our own until she piped up and offered.
Pay attention to what's right in front of your face! Ask others for help in clarification. You don't have to do it on your own.
In Christ,
<>< Katie
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
December First
There are few specific dates I remember of certain events (besides boring birthdays).
July 2, 2000, was when our basement flooded.
March 6, 2007, was when my cat died.
You know, the random things.
December 1 has two memories attached to it. I think it'll be a day I tell my grandkids about. I seem to tell someone every year. My mom has taken to rolling her eyes and groaning, "I know, on December 1st..." Sometimes I wonder if I'll have a child born on December 1st or something.
On December 1, 1998, we were allowed to take our jackets off at recess. That means it was approximately 60 degrees
On December 1, 2006, we had a snow day. Enough snow fell that they couldn't plow the roads fast enough to make them safe for school buses.
What a contrast.
Have happy day! I wonder what God has in store!
<>< Katie
July 2, 2000, was when our basement flooded.
March 6, 2007, was when my cat died.
You know, the random things.
December 1 has two memories attached to it. I think it'll be a day I tell my grandkids about. I seem to tell someone every year. My mom has taken to rolling her eyes and groaning, "I know, on December 1st..." Sometimes I wonder if I'll have a child born on December 1st or something.
On December 1, 1998, we were allowed to take our jackets off at recess. That means it was approximately 60 degrees
On December 1, 2006, we had a snow day. Enough snow fell that they couldn't plow the roads fast enough to make them safe for school buses.
What a contrast.
Have happy day! I wonder what God has in store!
<>< Katie
Friday, November 28, 2008
Beer with the Boys
Every year, the weekend before Thanksgiving, my dad goes up to my grandparents' house. He and my grandpa deer hunt throughout the weekend before my dad comes home again, works a few days, and we all go back to my grandparents' for the holiday.
When this tradition started, they were serious about getting deer. The year was a let down if they didn't get at least two nice-sized deer. I remember years when they were worried about exceeding the limit of two deer per man. Well, it's now been several years since they've gotten a deer.
In recent years, they'd get up at the crack of dawn, go hunting for a short bit, and spend the rest of the day sitting in a friend's kitchen solving the world's problems over some beer. The fellowship of the four of them turned into a bigger deal than the hunting itself. The hunting was a pretence to go sit in a tree in Herb and Arnie's yard, watch the sunrise, then sit in Herb's kitchen for the next several hours.
Well, it's now been a couple of years since Herb and Arnie were both living at home. My first day of college Arnie passed away. This past New Years' Eve, Herb passed away as well. Even though my dad and grandpa can still hunt on the land the used to be Herb and Arnie's, it was just too hard.
Dad and Grandpa went out and started the morning in a normal fashion, but it came to a quick end. Instead of continuing the hunt or returning home, they took a six pack of beer and went to the cemetery. This isn't the first time they've broken a few laws to have some beer with the boys.
When this tradition started, they were serious about getting deer. The year was a let down if they didn't get at least two nice-sized deer. I remember years when they were worried about exceeding the limit of two deer per man. Well, it's now been several years since they've gotten a deer.
In recent years, they'd get up at the crack of dawn, go hunting for a short bit, and spend the rest of the day sitting in a friend's kitchen solving the world's problems over some beer. The fellowship of the four of them turned into a bigger deal than the hunting itself. The hunting was a pretence to go sit in a tree in Herb and Arnie's yard, watch the sunrise, then sit in Herb's kitchen for the next several hours.
Well, it's now been a couple of years since Herb and Arnie were both living at home. My first day of college Arnie passed away. This past New Years' Eve, Herb passed away as well. Even though my dad and grandpa can still hunt on the land the used to be Herb and Arnie's, it was just too hard.
Dad and Grandpa went out and started the morning in a normal fashion, but it came to a quick end. Instead of continuing the hunt or returning home, they took a six pack of beer and went to the cemetery. This isn't the first time they've broken a few laws to have some beer with the boys.
<><>
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Happy birthday
Today is a very special day. Amber turns 20. Jenny turns 20. Grandma turns 72. I don't have time right now to tell stories about them all, but I want them to feel loved. :-) Their stories will come (as will Melissa's... I haven't forgotten! [unlike Melissa and her password])
<>< Katie
<>< Katie
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Oh Boy
A few weeks ago I had a cold. I picked up a roll of toilet paper, used some as a tissue, and set the roll back down. It rolled off the shelf. I caught it, picked it up, and set it back on the shelf. It rolled off, and I little voice went off inside my head,
"Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results."
I turned the roll on it's end and it actually stayed on the shelf.
Now I'm officially insane. And according to the plethora of ADHD tests online, I am also ADHD. Life is good... I guess...
"Just because I can have ten conversations in two minutes does NOT mean I have ADHD!"
<>< Katie
"Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results."
I turned the roll on it's end and it actually stayed on the shelf.
Now I'm officially insane. And according to the plethora of ADHD tests online, I am also ADHD. Life is good... I guess...
"Just because I can have ten conversations in two minutes does NOT mean I have ADHD!"
<>< Katie
Saturday, November 15, 2008
"Please Sign My Bible"
I went to a concert a few nights ago. It was more of a sit and listen concert than a stand up and sing concert, which was a little strange for me. The artist was a well-known Christian artist who will remain nameless.
Afterwards, a small group of maybe 30 people gathered waiting for the artist to come out and sign posters, CDs, etc. We waited for at least 45 minutes, unsure if he would appear or not. Finally his manager pulled him out by his ear. Just kidding... a little.
He didn't have much time to give us because he was awaiting an important phone call, but he still took the time out of his busy schedule to sign our papers and take pictures. A group of younger students were in front of me and they were a little over zealous to meet this poor man. Each person had like 10 things for them to sign. They needed pictures of him signing everything as well as with them, group shots, everything. Perhaps they were oblivious to the fact that there were others waiting and he was on a tight schedule. Either way, I was starting to get annoyed.
The tip of the iceberg was when two girls (who'd already had their shirts, CDs, bracelets, etc. sign and taken several photos) asked him to sign their Bibles. He flipped it open and tried to find a certain verse, but his search ended in failure and he just signed the inside cover. That just doesn't sit right with me.
Perhaps it would have been better had he circled a verse and initialed it or something. Surely there has to be a compassionate way to say, "I refuse to sign your Bibles." Either way, now his signature is in the front cover of their Bibles.
The sad thing is now those girls probably won't use their Bibles. That'll be their Famous Artist Bible. Too good to be used because what if it falls apart? What if the signature is smudged? What if it's lost?
Thoughts? Would you sign a Bible?
<>< Katie
Afterwards, a small group of maybe 30 people gathered waiting for the artist to come out and sign posters, CDs, etc. We waited for at least 45 minutes, unsure if he would appear or not. Finally his manager pulled him out by his ear. Just kidding... a little.
He didn't have much time to give us because he was awaiting an important phone call, but he still took the time out of his busy schedule to sign our papers and take pictures. A group of younger students were in front of me and they were a little over zealous to meet this poor man. Each person had like 10 things for them to sign. They needed pictures of him signing everything as well as with them, group shots, everything. Perhaps they were oblivious to the fact that there were others waiting and he was on a tight schedule. Either way, I was starting to get annoyed.
The tip of the iceberg was when two girls (who'd already had their shirts, CDs, bracelets, etc. sign and taken several photos) asked him to sign their Bibles. He flipped it open and tried to find a certain verse, but his search ended in failure and he just signed the inside cover. That just doesn't sit right with me.
Perhaps it would have been better had he circled a verse and initialed it or something. Surely there has to be a compassionate way to say, "I refuse to sign your Bibles." Either way, now his signature is in the front cover of their Bibles.
The sad thing is now those girls probably won't use their Bibles. That'll be their Famous Artist Bible. Too good to be used because what if it falls apart? What if the signature is smudged? What if it's lost?
Thoughts? Would you sign a Bible?
<>< Katie
Did I Really Just Do That?
"Hey, Keith, are you going the dinner party tomorrow night?" I shouted down the dorm hallway to my friend at the other end. He mumbled something and beckoned me towards him.
The dinner party was an exclusive party and only certain people had been invited. I'd heard about it via word of mouth (from the hosts and others), so I didn't realize it was such a secret thing. Maybe it wasn't, but either way, I'd just done what I've sworn I'd never do.
I hate it when people are talking about parties in front of others who haven't been invited. Let is be a birthday party, dinner party, Guitar Hero party, anything. Whether it be they were intentionally uninvited or it just so happened that they hadn't heard about it. Either way, I strive to not mention events in front of others if I can help it.
Then I screamed down the hall to Keith about a party. There was only one person within my viewing area that hadn't been invited (and not because she wasn't invited but because it's a Spanish party and she doesn't speak Spanish), but I don't know how many heard me. I probably wouldn't have thought anything about it except that Keith had the decency to call me out on what I did. He compassionately let me know that it was in invitation-only event, so I should probably keep it quiet.
Even though it made me feel awful, I'm glad he let me know that what I did was wrong. We all need friends like that. To let us know we're wrong, even when it hurts. Even if we didn't mean to be wrong. Even if we don't like to hear that we're wrong.
<>< Katie
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
The dinner party was an exclusive party and only certain people had been invited. I'd heard about it via word of mouth (from the hosts and others), so I didn't realize it was such a secret thing. Maybe it wasn't, but either way, I'd just done what I've sworn I'd never do.
I hate it when people are talking about parties in front of others who haven't been invited. Let is be a birthday party, dinner party, Guitar Hero party, anything. Whether it be they were intentionally uninvited or it just so happened that they hadn't heard about it. Either way, I strive to not mention events in front of others if I can help it.
Then I screamed down the hall to Keith about a party. There was only one person within my viewing area that hadn't been invited (and not because she wasn't invited but because it's a Spanish party and she doesn't speak Spanish), but I don't know how many heard me. I probably wouldn't have thought anything about it except that Keith had the decency to call me out on what I did. He compassionately let me know that it was in invitation-only event, so I should probably keep it quiet.
Even though it made me feel awful, I'm glad he let me know that what I did was wrong. We all need friends like that. To let us know we're wrong, even when it hurts. Even if we didn't mean to be wrong. Even if we don't like to hear that we're wrong.
<>< Katie
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
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