i went camping for the first time this weekend!
what it lacked:
- bear attacks
- peeing in bushes or holes in the ground
- rain
what it included:
- waterfalls
- bliss in various forms
- baby's first swollen knee
i'll just get right to it. i sort of fell down the side of a waterfall, unintentionally. there was a legitimate way down, mom. rocks. they were slippery. falling is never graceful or cool, but...that's a pretty great place to fall. it wasn't a sidewalk. i didn't trip over a tree root. i fell down the side of a waterfall. it's the second coolest fall that i know about. it is second only to the time my friend fell down the steps to what is believed to be the tomb of Christ Himself.
i didn't enjoy having my knee swell to the size of three knees, but i did enjoy all the...
time to read. time to hike. time to dangle my feet in water. time with nice people. time to think, and listen, and rest.
laughter, sunshine, shade, tents, crickets, lightning bugs, deer, alphabetical listing of denominations, campfire, campfire music, and overzealous patrol cars.
and i would like to go back.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
out of control.
two things today.
i have used up all my groceries for the week, and i'm really excited about it. something always happens to prevent me from using everything, and i feel wasteful. maybe the tomatoes will go bad. or i'll be out too late and not have time or energy to fix my lunch for the next day, so i have to buy lunch that day, while perfectly good food sits in my fridge. (no, fixing it the next morning is not an option, unless you want me or someone else to die). but anyway. it's all GONE. right on time. my lunch and breakfast is fixed for tomorrow, and i always plan something different for friday night. and i knew i was going out of town for saturday and sunday, so...YES. SUCCESS. it feels marvelous. nothing wasted. everything consumed.
i made a special blog for my photo of the day experiment/project. enjoy that if you like. i'd like people to look, but it's also just kind of nice for me. visual documentaion of my day-to-day experiences.
i have used up all my groceries for the week, and i'm really excited about it. something always happens to prevent me from using everything, and i feel wasteful. maybe the tomatoes will go bad. or i'll be out too late and not have time or energy to fix my lunch for the next day, so i have to buy lunch that day, while perfectly good food sits in my fridge. (no, fixing it the next morning is not an option, unless you want me or someone else to die). but anyway. it's all GONE. right on time. my lunch and breakfast is fixed for tomorrow, and i always plan something different for friday night. and i knew i was going out of town for saturday and sunday, so...YES. SUCCESS. it feels marvelous. nothing wasted. everything consumed.
i made a special blog for my photo of the day experiment/project. enjoy that if you like. i'd like people to look, but it's also just kind of nice for me. visual documentaion of my day-to-day experiences.
Monday, July 19, 2010
i'm the chief.
snippets.
- i should be sleeping. my bedtime has angered me lately, so i've been ignoring it.
- something you have no way of knowing about me: i have to drink a little bit of cold water before i go to bed every day. it has to be cold. if i've forgotten to put some in the fridge, then i'll stay up an extra 20 minutes while i wait for some to get cold in the freezer. i don't even know why.
- i just finished reading "till we have faces" by c.s. lewis. he's my favorite author. this was not my favorite book. but i can't label it my least favorite either, because nothing he writes could be labeled "least." i can't do it. maybe i'll share quotes on another day. this is snippet day.
- my dinner this week is really awesome. salad: spinach leaves, chicken, dried cranberries. on the side: okra. lots and lots and lots of okra. i can eat it like candy. not fried, mind you. sauteed in a little olive oil, and sprinkled with salt and pepper. dessert after exercise: vanilla yogurt, strawberries, raspberries, and a few dark chocolate chunks. i want it to be 6pm tomorrow, so i can have some more.
- i'm composing a "memory tribute" thing for my grandparents' 70th anniversary memory book. it will have you weeping.
- i want to eat some more okra.
- i tried to make a powerade slushie today. it didn't go well. that's all i'm going to say.
- i started a new project called "photo of the day." i have an album on facebook. check it out. i'm taking a picture of something every day. i'm aiming to do it for a year. but that could be really hard. there's only so many pictures i can take of okra.
- i should be sleeping. my bedtime has angered me lately, so i've been ignoring it.
- something you have no way of knowing about me: i have to drink a little bit of cold water before i go to bed every day. it has to be cold. if i've forgotten to put some in the fridge, then i'll stay up an extra 20 minutes while i wait for some to get cold in the freezer. i don't even know why.
- i just finished reading "till we have faces" by c.s. lewis. he's my favorite author. this was not my favorite book. but i can't label it my least favorite either, because nothing he writes could be labeled "least." i can't do it. maybe i'll share quotes on another day. this is snippet day.
- my dinner this week is really awesome. salad: spinach leaves, chicken, dried cranberries. on the side: okra. lots and lots and lots of okra. i can eat it like candy. not fried, mind you. sauteed in a little olive oil, and sprinkled with salt and pepper. dessert after exercise: vanilla yogurt, strawberries, raspberries, and a few dark chocolate chunks. i want it to be 6pm tomorrow, so i can have some more.
- i'm composing a "memory tribute" thing for my grandparents' 70th anniversary memory book. it will have you weeping.
- i want to eat some more okra.
- i tried to make a powerade slushie today. it didn't go well. that's all i'm going to say.
- i started a new project called "photo of the day." i have an album on facebook. check it out. i'm taking a picture of something every day. i'm aiming to do it for a year. but that could be really hard. there's only so many pictures i can take of okra.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
my little kingdom.
last night at my neighborhood group, the designated topic of discussion was "eternal security." the belief that once a person is saved, they are saved forever. salvation cannot be lost.
we sort of discussed that, and also sort of didn't. at least not the way i wanted to. not in a passionate, fiery way. conversation was derailed a bit, which i have no problem with. a neighborhood group is the right place for that sort of thing.
but i remembered i have a blog, and can rant about anything i want.
so here i go.
i've always believed that salvation can't be lost. i grew up on the arminian side of things. now that i am on the calvinist side of things, i wonder...what did i base that belief on? i don't have an answer for that.
i do have this great book called "putting amazing back into grace." and here are some quotes on the topic.
"Since God initially gives us the grace to believe in him and to turn from self, why would he not also give us the grace to keep on trusting him? One simply cannot believe in the possibility of losing salvation through moral failure and in salvation by grace at the same time."
"Once God truly changes someone, that person never really wants to undo what God has done!"
"Wouldn't you fear having your eternal destiny hinging on your decision-making ability, an ability that might lead you to commit yourself to a new course one minute and to reject it the next?"
"It is nice to know that you can gauge your life by God's decision for you and not the other way around."
"Sheep do indeed stray from the shepherd. After all, if sheep did not tend to stray, why would they need a shepherd? But notice that the shepherd is always there to bring the sheep back."
"We are unhappy in sin - like fish out of water - if our nature has truly been changed. It is still enjoyable, but eventually unbearable."
those quotes address questions like "what about people who walk away from the Christian life and do things they shouldn't for long periods of time?" they either strayed and need a shepherd to bring them back, or they aren't people who have been changed by grace. "believers." i don't know who falls into what category. that's not something i know. but the reality is that some people aren't really Christians. that's an unpleasant thought. just because it's an unpleasant thought, doesn't make it any less true.
my favorite part of all this, and what we really didn't get to, is Jesus. the reason anyone can be secure is because His acts of dieing on the cross and coming back to life were POWERFUL acts. mighty acts. so powerful and mighty that salvation is secure. to say that salvation can be lost is to say that those acts were weak. this is the passionate, fiery stuff. we are weak. but Christ and the salvation He gives are NOT.
more powerful and mighty than my decisions to stray or sin. this is the good stuff. this is the comfort on my bad days. this is a place to rest.
"Christ 'takes away the sin of the world.' And notice that he does not make the removal of the world's sin possible: He accomplishes it!"
"Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer said, 'Christ's death does not save either actually or potentially; rather it makes all men saveable.' If that is true, there is no real 'power in the blood.' Rather, the power would seem to be in the will of the creature."
"God's love is intense. It is a discriminate, special, saving love that truly reaches its target." (paraphrase)
"...apart from trusting in Christ there is not even a provision for salvation. But those who do believe have not only a provision and a potential atonement, but an effective redemption that actually accomplishes its purpose."
"The fact that God would choose, redeem, call, and keep a great number known only to him is amazing grace indeed and of infinitely more comfort than the idea that Christ's death actually secured the salvation of none, merely making salvation possible, depending on the ability of those who are 'dead in trespasses and sins' to make the right moves to God."
"The Bible says nothing of potential reconciliation, or a mere provision for reconciliation. Rather, it promises: 'Having been reconciled, we shall be saved' (Rom. 5:10)."
"Why should unbelievers get excited when I tell them, 'God loves you; Christ died for you'? Christ could have died for them; God could have loved them. But what good does that do them if they are all condemned anyway? Those whom the Savior loved and for whom he gave his life are saved! That's a love that achieves its objectives."
If salvation can be lost...
"It is a rather faulty piece of good news, because it is nothing positive; it is a grand uncertainty you have proclaimed to me."
a salvation that is uncertain is no salvation at all.
i really appreciate that the speaker last night took a minute to say that very intelligent, godly people disagree on this topic. i would also like to throw that out there.
we sort of discussed that, and also sort of didn't. at least not the way i wanted to. not in a passionate, fiery way. conversation was derailed a bit, which i have no problem with. a neighborhood group is the right place for that sort of thing.
but i remembered i have a blog, and can rant about anything i want.
so here i go.
i've always believed that salvation can't be lost. i grew up on the arminian side of things. now that i am on the calvinist side of things, i wonder...what did i base that belief on? i don't have an answer for that.
i do have this great book called "putting amazing back into grace." and here are some quotes on the topic.
"Since God initially gives us the grace to believe in him and to turn from self, why would he not also give us the grace to keep on trusting him? One simply cannot believe in the possibility of losing salvation through moral failure and in salvation by grace at the same time."
"Once God truly changes someone, that person never really wants to undo what God has done!"
"Wouldn't you fear having your eternal destiny hinging on your decision-making ability, an ability that might lead you to commit yourself to a new course one minute and to reject it the next?"
"It is nice to know that you can gauge your life by God's decision for you and not the other way around."
"Sheep do indeed stray from the shepherd. After all, if sheep did not tend to stray, why would they need a shepherd? But notice that the shepherd is always there to bring the sheep back."
"We are unhappy in sin - like fish out of water - if our nature has truly been changed. It is still enjoyable, but eventually unbearable."
those quotes address questions like "what about people who walk away from the Christian life and do things they shouldn't for long periods of time?" they either strayed and need a shepherd to bring them back, or they aren't people who have been changed by grace. "believers." i don't know who falls into what category. that's not something i know. but the reality is that some people aren't really Christians. that's an unpleasant thought. just because it's an unpleasant thought, doesn't make it any less true.
my favorite part of all this, and what we really didn't get to, is Jesus. the reason anyone can be secure is because His acts of dieing on the cross and coming back to life were POWERFUL acts. mighty acts. so powerful and mighty that salvation is secure. to say that salvation can be lost is to say that those acts were weak. this is the passionate, fiery stuff. we are weak. but Christ and the salvation He gives are NOT.
more powerful and mighty than my decisions to stray or sin. this is the good stuff. this is the comfort on my bad days. this is a place to rest.
"Christ 'takes away the sin of the world.' And notice that he does not make the removal of the world's sin possible: He accomplishes it!"
"Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer said, 'Christ's death does not save either actually or potentially; rather it makes all men saveable.' If that is true, there is no real 'power in the blood.' Rather, the power would seem to be in the will of the creature."
"God's love is intense. It is a discriminate, special, saving love that truly reaches its target." (paraphrase)
"...apart from trusting in Christ there is not even a provision for salvation. But those who do believe have not only a provision and a potential atonement, but an effective redemption that actually accomplishes its purpose."
"The fact that God would choose, redeem, call, and keep a great number known only to him is amazing grace indeed and of infinitely more comfort than the idea that Christ's death actually secured the salvation of none, merely making salvation possible, depending on the ability of those who are 'dead in trespasses and sins' to make the right moves to God."
"The Bible says nothing of potential reconciliation, or a mere provision for reconciliation. Rather, it promises: 'Having been reconciled, we shall be saved' (Rom. 5:10)."
"Why should unbelievers get excited when I tell them, 'God loves you; Christ died for you'? Christ could have died for them; God could have loved them. But what good does that do them if they are all condemned anyway? Those whom the Savior loved and for whom he gave his life are saved! That's a love that achieves its objectives."
If salvation can be lost...
"It is a rather faulty piece of good news, because it is nothing positive; it is a grand uncertainty you have proclaimed to me."
a salvation that is uncertain is no salvation at all.
i really appreciate that the speaker last night took a minute to say that very intelligent, godly people disagree on this topic. i would also like to throw that out there.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
ready, set, go.
went shopping for running shoes today.
these are mine, all mine.
brooks. run happy. i think i will.
i don't know why...
and it doesn't make sense...
but they make me want to sing this song.
i think it's because i'm in love.
these are mine, all mine.
brooks. run happy. i think i will.
i don't know why...
and it doesn't make sense...
but they make me want to sing this song.
i think it's because i'm in love.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
wrecking ball.
i went to a great show at the ryman last night. a hymn sing. it's complicated to explain, but very neat.
for all my non-nashville readers (all 3 of you) i wanted to make a list of wonderful, wonderful musicians you've never heard of, but should listen to. not all of these were there last night, but seeing the show last night just reminded me of how i have access to so much great music. and most people have never heard it. and i forget that.
i'm basically just looking for their myspace pages, since those always have music. but if you like what you hear, and i'm sure some of it isn't current, then google them or search for them on itunes. and tell me if you do.
to begin,
chelsey scott. she has my dream voice. and my dream hair. she goes to my church and i've met her a few times, but i mostly avoid her so i don't find any more reasons to be jealous of her very existence.
listen to chelsey scott!!
brooke waggoner. she's more well known, actually. there's a better chance you've heard her. but if not...
do it now
and now, just a list.
emily deloach
charlie hardin
matthew perryman jones
annie parsons
haley shaw
matthew smith
jazz for kids!
coal train railroad
flo paris
i'm tired of googling and linking. there are many more. nashville friends, comment with links to the dozens i'm too tired to look up.
i love nashville. i really do.
for all my non-nashville readers (all 3 of you) i wanted to make a list of wonderful, wonderful musicians you've never heard of, but should listen to. not all of these were there last night, but seeing the show last night just reminded me of how i have access to so much great music. and most people have never heard it. and i forget that.
i'm basically just looking for their myspace pages, since those always have music. but if you like what you hear, and i'm sure some of it isn't current, then google them or search for them on itunes. and tell me if you do.
to begin,
chelsey scott. she has my dream voice. and my dream hair. she goes to my church and i've met her a few times, but i mostly avoid her so i don't find any more reasons to be jealous of her very existence.
listen to chelsey scott!!
brooke waggoner. she's more well known, actually. there's a better chance you've heard her. but if not...
do it now
and now, just a list.
emily deloach
charlie hardin
matthew perryman jones
annie parsons
haley shaw
matthew smith
jazz for kids!
coal train railroad
flo paris
i'm tired of googling and linking. there are many more. nashville friends, comment with links to the dozens i'm too tired to look up.
i love nashville. i really do.
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