Brochure Day for Klaipeda

I would rather...

accidentally wash my hair twice, than not at all.

Being a Baby Sucks, but the future looks good

I certainly am not the first person to write on this topic, in fact it's probably not the first time I've written about it.
It's easy to look at babies and think, "Now that's the life." Sure, you're cute and everyone instantly loves you. You can sleep all day, not having a care in the world. You don't have to do anything for yourself, in fact, you can't do anything for yourself. People don't care if you drool in public. People might care if you cry, but they certainly don't blame you. People expect you to eat, poop, have a good cry, sleep, and to be cute. Yes, this is the life.

I would have to politely disagree. Babies are constantly growing. Their body weight could triple in their first year. Ouch! They have teeth that are pushing through gums, and if they poop their pants, they have to wait until someone thinks to check, or until someone smells it. They can't eat anything solid. They cry a lot. They are totally helpless. They drool. They get rashes.

The point of being a baby is that you eventually grow up. People expect babies to grow up. Now for the obvious application. Grown ups can be babies at things. Even though they are done growing up physically, there is a lot of growing that can be done spiritually, personally, academically, careerwise, etc. And growing hurts. And you may cry. You may need to rely on others to take care of you. But the point of being a baby is that you eventually grow up.

A word of encouragement (that I need to hear as well), is that even though the baby stages of certain areas of life seem painful and difficult (and at the same time, new and exciting), there is hope that you will grow. In fact, if it hurts, you're probably growing. Growth hurts. It's not a new idea, like I said.

The olden days

One benefit to walking to school for 25 minutes one way in the pouring rain and howling wind -- up hill (both ways) is that it's also eventually down hill (both ways) too.

Seminary

I want to go to seminary, and one of my goals will be to not come out asking questions that make me sound like a pompous jerk. Asking questions that are trying to expose other people's ignorance (that doesn't exist) all the while exposing my own. I hope that instead of remembering all the big words, I will remember application and compassion.

Not only am I a hypochondriac,

but I'm also a self-diagnosed parasomniac (mildly).

I want meat and potatoes!

Imagine you're on your way to Thanksgiving dinner, you're looking forward to a big slab of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes swimming in gravy, rolls, cranberries, etc etc etc. Imagine that when you get to the table, you find on your plate a slice of pizza, a hot dog, and a scoop of macaroni and cheese. You look around, wondering, "Am I at the kids' table?" Pizza, hot dogs, and macaroni and cheese are all great, you think, but it's Thanksgiving, and you came for the meat and potatoes!

That is somewhat how I felt after reading Blue Like Jazz. All great ideas, things I generally like...but lately I've been hungry for something different...more meat and potatoes.

One last Minnesota Sunset (for awhile)

Psalm 19
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Another Priceless Picture

Candid facial expressions = genuine facial expressions.

Prayers Past

Father, I hunger and thirst for your Word. I have been shutting down and acting out because I am spiritually starved. Lord, revive me. Help me to be spiritually healthy and alive. Fill me with your Word so that it overflows out of me! Help me to fall in love with you and help me to follow your ways. Take the plank out of my eyes, Lord, and help me to stop [judging] other people. Amen


_____



Help us as we are planning our life together. Show us where to go and what to do. Equip us.

Priceless

Standing around on the dock after a long week at camp: Free.
Flipping a fish out of the water with your bare hand: Free.
Watching everyone's face as it flies through the air and lands back in the water: Priceless.
(Click on the picture to see a bigger version).

On the one hand,

some people are so much more funny than they know they are.

On the other, some people will never be as funny as they think they are.