in about 231 days we are expecting another child. yep, you read right… we are in for more adventure. Julie has started getting her weekly updates, and this week was informed that our child is the size of a blueberry with hands, legs, an appendix and a pancreas.
read more about “week 7″ on Baby Center
we are taking name suggestions…
so far Julie is leaning toward Joshua Jude [as in “hey jude”], and i want Charles Allen [both our Dad’s middle names] if a boy.
if a girl, Julie likes Rachel Alice [for Margie] , and i like Claire [see: Elizabeth Town movie] or Moriah [region where the mountain was for Abe to kill Isaac] (until tonight when i read the meaning… although it really fits this season of our journey).
i hope i can let Julie do the name deciding this time…
serve God as a mature adult, but come to Him as a newborn child.
Natalie is developing her spelling and writing skills. tonight she just sat down and wrote her name, and i had to share it with you. you can also see the video from our spelling session. she learned the word “PIG” tonight.
in other news, i have finally realized i might be dependent on caffeine. i went to bes last night at 11pm and opened (4am) this morning at Starbucks, and it was my worst morning ever. i think everyone else could tell too. i was just so tired. the funny thing is i get free coffee on my shift, and i didn’t drink any, and i didn’t drink any the rest of my day. that was not a good idea. it turns out i need it more than i thought - i could hardly function. i have also been putting in long hours, and not seeing much sleep. so am i addicted to caffeine, or just need rest, or both?
see: defend your coffee habit
after seeing this movie and previously watching the behind the scenes special, i had a thought about the integrity and morality of using entertainment to tell “based on true” stories in film. denzel said he didn’t want to make frank lucas look like a hero in the movie (and i think he did a good job). but i was still left feeling like it might have romanticized a life of crime. without the movie, this is one story from the streets of harlem i would have never known about, and i think it may be an important part of american history.
was there a book written about this time in history? was the movie based on that book? i have no clue. but if there was, i bet most of us would feel more comfortable with the telling of the story. and i am guessing that most of us would prefer the book over the movie (especially in accuracy and historical documentation).
isn’t that funny? the book would still be entertaining. in fact, a lot of people read for entertainment, and even reading a true story is entertaining. see where i am going with this? whether it is a book or movie, if it is based on history, reality or a true story with facts and witnesses, it is an acceptable form of telling a true story, communicating to, AND entertaining an audience at the same time.
why would God write a book? why would God use a tool of entertainment to tell His story, and communicate with earthlings. just a thought.
unrelated link: The Ministry of Morality
10 Reasons why I love my husband
1. Because he loves and follows God with all his heart
2. He is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for his family
3. He wants and loves to spend time with his children
4. He has a way of attracting the people who are most unliked
5. He has a such a BIG heart
6. He gives more then he receives
7. He would call in sick if I asked him to
8. He eats anything I make
9. He values my opinion
10. He does his best to make sure he leads our family in the best direction
Jesse has been working so hard lately doing three jobs Media job at Pantano Christian church, Campus Ministry (hanging out and building relationships with College students, and the newest, fastest barista at Starbucks, as well as volunteering his time to do sound for a fund raiser for aids awareness. Jesse loves all the work he does but the unfortunate part is not one job can provide for all the essentials and each job is getting less and less of him because he is so spread out. I think this aches him, but he’s getting by.
I think i just want him to know that i am very proud of him and I am so happy to know that I have a man who spends quiet times with God on a daily basis to discern and direct what God has in store for him and our family. I am finding more and more that the woman of this country are the ones who are spiritually leading the family. I guess I am grateful that is not the way with my family.
I am just taking some time to brag on my wonderful husband, friend and father. To let him know that he very appreciated and loved.
it’s obvious. apparently the world needs change…
does prayer change anything?
if God is, and hears us, interacts with us, listens when we talk, does God respond? does prayer move God? does God do things that would not be done without prayer? can all of God’s dreams come true through prayer? is God waiting for us to pray?
does prayer actually change anything?
can it change someone? can it change circumstances? does it get results? can prayer be the catalyst for outcomes? when we engage God through conversation, and ask for something… does anything happen from that? is prayer outward and missional?
i am not asking if God says “yeah, sure” to every prayer. but does God do something when we pray? does it eventually end in action and transformation? is prayer action? is prayer ministry?
does our connecting with God in prayer change anything?
i know prayer changes me, and i have the potential to change things around me, but can my effort in prayer alone change anything?
if the answer is yes, then why would we do anything else? why are doing so much else?
if the answer is no…
if prayer just potentially changes things. if prayer is mostly for us. if prayer is primarily an inward act, that can only at it’s greatest potential only transform my own life. if prayer doesn’t change anything. if prayer is just a catalyst for me to do something. if people, communities, cities aren’t completely changed by prayer… then what does work? does it have to be a combination of prayer and my abilities and strategic effort? does world change really come down to my actions? is prayer really just optional?
does God have an agenda?… a plan, a dream. does God want to change things? God can do whatever God wants (that’s what makes God God) so what is He waiting for? does God want to see results? does God long for, and wish for transformation? God wishes?
what works? what gets results?
- prayer (ask and trust God. live accordingly.)
- me (we are the body of Jesus to the world. what we do, how we handle ourselves, and how we act directly affects the world around us. people are changed through other people. people see us, they don’t necessarily see God, and since we are His representatives on earth, they will conclude that God is like us. when we act like Jesus, and show people His love, it changes the world)
- me and prayer
- prayer is optional. it’s mostly an inner heart thing for you to make sure you are on the right track, but the real change action is up to you and your abilities and being a good steward of what God has given you. you end up at #2. i have to make a conscious choice to behave (live) like Jesus, and that in turn will change the world.
- prayer is critical. prayer may change your life, but in the bigger picture it also changes the world. the change it does to you is only how much more outward you can make prayer. the relationship with Jesus you gain from prayer reaches other people (intentionally or unintentionally), and has transforming power beyond your abilities, and in spite of your best efforts. prayer doesn’t make you any better at anything, get you any exposure, or move you closer to your own goals. it’s just prayer. you end up at #1, and you rely on God to change the world.
- ???
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