Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A deep freeze has settled upon the land. When we were enjoying all of the beautiful autumn days, we knew that we would be paying for them somehow. :) I actually love winter - as long as the roads aren't bad. But then, I live in a warm house. At this time of year we need to count our blessings and see if we can't share them with others. It doesn't take much. Somewhere in our arsenal of time, talent, and treasure is a spare blessing that we can bestow on someone else. Not everyone suffers from physical needs - there are many who suffer spiritual poverty in the midst of material wealth. In the commercial frenzy that whirls around us, let's try and tune in on the quiet voice that calls us to remember who we are and where we come from. Your spare blessing may be someone else's miracle!
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Last night I finished up an order for a baker's dozen of tealights, cut and packaged a batch of fudge, made a batch of snack mix, finished up gifts for the student aides, and started the boxes for family gifts that Melisa and I will be sending out. Tonight I have a batch of jar candles, and a pillar to pour. The house is a mix of scents - cranberry, carrot cake, Christmas pine - I love it!
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Remember the hippopotamus incident from a few days ago? Last night Anna left a comment here on my blog. Apparently, Clayton told her that her mother (meaning me - his grandmother) is not very good at hiding presents. Et tu, Clayton? LOL!

Word of the day:
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel
Mt 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Here is my opinion. Both sons disrespected their father.
Second son - scribes, pharisees . . . us
First son - tax collectors, prostitutes and - by the grace of God - us.

God bless our troops!

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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I'm sad today.
First of all with the passing of Proposal 2.

And I'm hoping that in this case, our new president will not deliver on some of his campaign promises. The spreading of the wealth, the bankrupting of the coal companies. And I'm hoping that his core beliefs never have to come into play in making decisions. The ones that say it's okay to let a baby who survives a botched abortion die because the mother's original intent was to abort; the ones that cause him to stutter when asked at what point babies deserve human rights; the ones that say that "white folks' greed runs a world in need." This "mean" and "greedy" country is, and always has been, the first one to step up to the plate with humanitarian aid and has given more and sacrificed more for others than any country on earth. We live in a wonderful country. I hope, in time, that President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama come to realize that. But that's enough of that. I will pray for our new president and his family, and hope that God's hand will guide him as he leads our country.

The girls and I are taking on another craft show this fall. This may or may not be a good move, but we shall see what we shall see.

I am headed out for a walk - weights in hand. Updates later.

Daily Stats:
Type: Walk with weights
Route: Dead end and back
Time: 32 minutes
Average heart rate 121
Max heart rate: 138
Down .8 pounds from last Tuesday

Great walk this morning. There's nothing like adding weights to a walk to get your heart rate up.

Gospel
Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lk 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Do you remember the "Where's Waldo" books? Waldo was a character who would be in plain site but surrounded by so much "stuff" that you really had to look hard, and focus just Waldo or you would lose sight of him. Yeah, following Jesus is like that.


God bless our troops!