Poor, sad little blog. The insane busyness is coming to an end, and I will give you some attention soon.

Please stay tuned, readers.

Rant #1

So yesterday we got a flyer in the mail inviting us to a church--a Baptist church. (We are Baptist.) I read the front of the flyer and thought to myself, Impressive. I always like to see a church willing to spend money in order to draw in new people, particularly those who are lost or unchurched. My enthusiasm, however, would be short lived. I flipped the mailing over and saw a couple of phrases jumping and waving to me from the top of the back page:

King James Bible

Old-Fashioned Baptists

Okay, really? On a mailing that went to every house in my neighborhood and probably most of the county? Let's be honest, Church Who Sent the Flyer. You don't really want me to come to your services. In fact, you told me so quite explicitly. Because while I do own a KJV Bible, I primarily use the NASB or the NIV, and you've indicated that is a dealbreaker. Why? Why do you care what translation I use to study God's word? And what does "old-fashioned Baptist" even mean? That you are Calvinists? (Not likely.) That you don't dance? That there is an age restriction? I noticed you have a youth minister on staff and must confess I find it ironic--good, but ironic. Do you require the KJV in high school Bible studies? Are your teenagers "old-fashioned Baptists?"


I've got hang-ups too. I have opinions and feelings about what I like and don't like in church and worship--everyone does. But I hope to always find myself in a church where those feelings are being challenged, where I don't like every single song every single week and I really do have to deal with the diversity that is the body of Christ. Most days I have a pretty positive outlook on the Church. But some days I think we are nothing but a fractured bride waiting at the altar for her Groom, with a sad explanation about why our hands are at the other church where they read from the King James and our legs went to the late service because the music is more contemporary. Yesterday was one of those days for me.

Please join me in praying that we--myself included--can get over our personal preferences, especially when clinging to them is costing us precious fellowship with a large number of God's people.

Food for Thought

"The question is not whether we are good at theology, or "balanced" (horrible, self-conscious word!) in our approach to problems of Christian living. The question is, can we say, simply, honestly, not because we feel that as evangelicals we ought to, but because it is a plain matter of fact, that we have known God, and that because we have known God the unpleasantness we have had, or the pleasantness we have not had, through being Christians does not matter to us? If we really knew God, this is what we would be saying, and if we are not saying it, that is a sign that we need to face ourselves more sharply with the difference between knowing God and merely knowing about him." -- J.I. Packer, Knowing God

Sold!

After six weeks on craigslist and two yard sales, I finally sold our double stroller. I think I can hear the sound of our attic junk items settling into a bit more wiggle room. Hallelujah! It's finally outta here!

Highlights ~ July 2

As we were driving away from the church tonight we saw a woman walking alone.

Brynn: Mommy, why is she walking all by herself?
Me: I think she's probably walking for exercise, Honey.
(silence)
Brynn: Do you think she went to church and someone forgot to pick her up?

*********

I love that Katy is starting to figure out so many new things. We have a large bin in our living room filled with all our kitchen toys... mixer, toaster, coffee pot, pitchers, tea set, plates, cups, and every kind of food you can name. The girls play with this more than anything else. Brynn is the master and can really put together some impressive looking dishes. (If you ever come over, be sure to order the apple tea or the grape soup. You will not be disappointed.) But now Katy is following in her footsteps. This morning she found me in the back of the house and handed me a green pan with a hunk of broccoli in it. When I took it from her, she clapped her little hands with excitement. I think she knew she accomplished something. It was kind of a big moment for me too... still a sweet childlike action, but quite a step up from just wandering around the house with a plastic banana hanging out of her mouth. It happens very fast, doesn't it?

Brynn's prayer

Driving through Louisville yesterday, we passed an accident scene. It was over, mostly cleaned up, but cars were lined up in the shoulder and folks were still standing around with the police. Brynn asked what was going on and we told her there had probably been an accident.

A few miles down the road...

Brynn: We should pray for those people.
Me: What people?
Brynn: The people on the side of the road.
Me: Oh. Yeah, that's a good idea. Right now?
Brynn: Yes. I'll pray. (folding hands, looking at her lap) "God. Thank you for those people, the ones we saw on the side of the road. We think they had an accident, or maybe they were driving too fast or did something wrong when they were driving... like driving too fast or throwing something out of the window, like a sucker stick or Diet Coke or a tissue. Amen."

Breakfast

I kept a friend's 11-month old little boy yesterday. It was around 4pm, and Jacob was on my lap clapping and bouncing as I did the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Enter Brynn, wearing her apron and looking serious.

Brynn: Mommy, its not play time right now. It's breakfast time.
Me: Oh. Good, I'm hungry.
Brynn: (arranging plastic food on plates) What would you like for breakfast?
Me: Eggs please.
Brynn: No. How about strawberries and toast?
Me: Okay, that sounds good too.
Brynn: What would you like to drink?
Me: Diet Coke.
Brynn: I'm very sorry, Mommy, but we don't have Diet Coke.
Me: Well, what kind of restaurant is this?
Brynn: (after a moment of consideration) Chinese.