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Christmas dinner was a success

24 Dec 2009 | By

We had a great Christmas dinner last Saturday. The weather did NOT cooperate and the sleet and snow kept some from attending. It also wreaked havoc with the turkey plans. But all the other food and many other guests made it and we had a good time.

My mother says I was a good hostess and made everyone feel very comfortable. That was good to hear because a few of the brothers-in-law might have gotten a curt word or two from me, maybe Mom just didn’t hear it. I loved having my aunts and nephews here. My Aunt Anne brought over a very nice gentleman friend who was great company.

Anthony saved the turkey – it was going to be fried, but I think we thawed it out a day too early. Then weather prevented the fryer from coming, so we were going to bake it. Then the oven went out and what with all the various temperature changes it had been through we were starting to doubt if we wanted to eat it. Anthony took out the breast meat and grilled it – a success!

Tomorrow we travel to Hickory to spend time with the nephews and their family. Then Saturday we travel to Raleigh for time with Anthony’s brother and family. That means 5 of us in the truck for 3 hours there and 3 hours back. (If you are the praying kind, keep all of us in mind :-)

Tonight, we’re off to church service, including an O Holy Night solo. Then to our friends’ house for some merriment.

*******

Merry Christmas to all of you!

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How to read the Bible

15 Dec 2009 | By

Great blog entry from James Macdonald about how to read the Scripture to benefit.

Read it. I suggest taking at least 15 minutes to go through two or three chapters at a time.

Question It

Because you’re just starting out, I’ll suggest some questions, and over time you can develop your own.

  1. “What portion of my reading stands out to me?” You’ll read two or three chapters, and you’ll feel drawn to a certain part. Go back to that part and ask the following questions.
  2. “Why does this part have my attention?” What is it about this that has caught my attention? To help you answer that question, use the remaining questions.
  3. “Is there an example for me to follow?” I can’t tell you how many times God’s Word has impacted my life just from saying these simple words: “Is there an example for me to follow?” All of a sudden it’s like—BOOM! It jumps right off the page: “James, you should be more like that!” I love it when God’s Word speaks to me in this way and calls me to be more of what the Lord requires.
  4. “Is there an error for me to avoid?” It’s very comforting to know that if I have unknowingly stepped in a wrong direction or made an unwise decision, God’s Word can reveal that to me. It’s easy to see the mistakes others make, but much harder to see our own mistakes. This is where the Word of God becomes that “mirror” we talked about earlier. Is there an error for me to avoid?
  5. “Is there a duty for me to perform?” Is there an action that God’s Word is calling me to take? Is there some matter of importance that I am neglecting in my home or office or in my personal life? If so, I want to know what it is so I can work on it. God’s Word will often reveal a duty we need to perform.
  6. “Is there any promise for me to claim?” So often God’s Word brings strength and encouragement. As you study the Bible, you will hear the Lord committing Himself to certain things or to act in certain ways. As you come to those promises, you might just acknowledge, “Yes, God! You are like this, and You’ve promised to be this way for all my life, and I trust You.” Your heart will be thrilled as you learn and review the promises of God.
  7. “Is there a sin for me to confess?” This I suppose is obvious in some respects. You won’t read the Bible long until you come across passages that reveal to you the “error of your ways.” But one of the promises that helps with that is 1 John 1:9, which says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Plan It

This is absolutely essential if you are going to benefit from the Bible as much as you could for the rest of your life. Make a plan of action regarding how you will implement what you are learning. Have a journal open beside your Bible and write some notes. Write some thoughts in the margin of your Bible. When the Word convicts you about anger or deceit or selfishness, have a strategy to deal with those sins. Make your plan specific and measurable.

Pray It

So often people are unsure of what to say in personal prayer. When you are praying back the truths of God’s own Word, you can be confident you are praying as God would have you do. You can also be confident that God will respond to what you are asking if the direction truly comes from His Word.

Share It

When you’ve learned something from God’s Word, you have to share it with somebody else. Take time to relay something about your study to your spouse or your roommate or to a friend at school.

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Tis the Season

12 Dec 2009 | By

This is a fun time of year! There are so many reasons and opportunities to get together with people. Here’s a review of my week. (I also have to cover the pager at work this week so every event has been fraught with tension as I wondered if I’d have to abandon the event to rush home and work).

Saturday a week ago started with the rehearsal for the children’s Christmas show. I run the sound system. Saturday the sound system was not being nice to me. The afternoon ended up free and beautiful, instead of the snow storm being predicted. That gave me time to make snowball cookies for Monday night

Sunday was church and then an extra long choir rehearsal as we went through the adult Christmas performance. Someone else has to run the sound system for that!

Monday night was the Circle meeting with women from church. This was our Christmas dinner so it was all fun fellowship.

Tuesday I had plans but I ended up rebelling and staying home.

Wednesday was the children’s Christmas performance so I was there early to help set up and do the rehearsal. The performance went really well and the sound system behaved!

Thursday was open so we watched Terminator Salvation. I liked the movie. I wasn’t a huge fan of Christian Bale’s John Connor, but the characters of Kyle Reese and Marcus Wright were great!

Friday was dinner with friends. This was long overdue, we just don’t spend enough time with this couple. We had a great time and did a lot of talking. It was very late (or very early, depending on your perspective) when we finally came home.

Today I’m making more snowball cookies and we have a party with friends tonight. We won’t be staying quite as late because the adult Christmas performance is tomorrow night. Maybe Anthony can party several days in a row and stay out late with no consequences, but I can’t do it :-)

Tomorrow will be busy. Church in the morning. A meeting and choir rehearsal in the afternoon. Then the choir performance tomorrow night.

A coworker is generously covering the pager tomorrow night so I don’t have to worry about it during the Cantata. Then Monday someone else takes over the pager. Of course, I don’t really have much planned next week.

One week from today we’ll have around 16 people here for Christmas! With my mom and aunt coming early to do all the cooking. I am so excited!

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Reading in 2010

12 Dec 2009 | By

Everyone once in a while I realize most of my blog posts are about my reading. True, I do read a lot. I don’t have kids with cute stories and I’m private enough that I don’t go through my day thinking of things I need to blog (although I love other people who do that.) So, it’s safe to blog about what I’m reading and that’s what I end up doing.

That means, this is another blog post about my past, current, or future reading plans.

During my year of homeschooling I ran across a few groups and one of them started a project to read one book a week in 2009. I even posted some reviews on the blog a few times. I don’t really need the encouragement to read, that comes naturally But it was fun to see what other people were reading and share some thoughts on the books I read. I easily read more than 52 books this year. Probably closer to 100, in fact.

The group is doing it again for 2010, and I’m signing up. Between the Mind Voyages science fiction books and all the other books on my to-be-read list, I’m sure I will come up with 52 of them.

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Reading Science Fiction

07 Dec 2009 | By

This looks fun.

My Two Blessings has started a blog for reading Science Fiction – Mind Voyages (cool name).

It’s a great challenge for 2010 and I’m going to join. I was fascinated to see how many of the books I’ve already read.

Voyages

Moon Voyage :  Read at least 6 winners on the Hugo Winners List

Sling shot back to Earth:  Read at least  3 winners on the Nebula Winner’s List

Venus Voyage: Philip K. Dick Quest  – Read at least 2 of his books

I don’t think I’ve ever read any. I’ll have to fix that.

Mercury  Voyage:   Robert Heinlein Quest – Read at least 2 of his books

I did the whole Heinlein thing years ago. Then last year I read four of his early juvenile novels and have 8 more to read.

  • 1947  Rocket Ship Galileo
  • 1948   Space Cadet
  • 1949 Red Planet
  • 1950   Farmer in the Sky, (Retro Hugo Award, 1951)
  • 1958   Have Space Suit—Will Travel
  • 1958   Methuselah’s Children
  • 1961 Stranger in a Strange Land
  • 1966   The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
  • 1973   Time Enough for Love
  • 1984 Job: A Comedy of Justice
  • 1985 The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Mars Voyage:   Read at least 6 winners on the Hugo List and take a side trip through the 21st century and read at least 4 nominees.

I’ve read 2!

  • 2000 Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
  • 2000 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

Go into Warp Drive and visit the other planets

Jupiter Voyage:   Go side tripping 90′s Style

  • 1992 Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
  • 1990 Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card

Saturn:  Go Side Tripping 80′s Style

  • 1989 Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card
  • 1988 Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card
  • 1985 Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein
  • 1984 Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Uranus: Go Side Tripping 70′s Style

  • 1977 Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
  • 1974 Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein

Neptune Voyage:  Go Side Tripping through the 50′s and 60′s

  • 1966 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
  • 1959 Have Spacesuit – Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein
  • 1951 retro nominee from 2001 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
  • 1946 retro award from 1996 That Hideous Strength (alt: The Tortured Planet (1958 US)) by C. S. Lewis

The Voyage I’m choosing – because I love the title of the voyage and because I have some from each list that I want to explore.

The I’m going to Pluto because Pluto is still a planet as far as I’m concerned Voyage: Mix it up, choose the number of books you want to read from each voyage, include some new books you pick up along the way and enjoy the ride.

Philip K Dick:

  • 1968 – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Adapted for the motion picture “Blade Runner”

Hugo Award Winners:

I see a lot more by Connie Willis that I want to try including Passage, Blackout, and Remake.

From the ’80s I’m picking this one. My maiden name is Pope and this is an author I’ve never even heard of.

  • 1982 Project Pope by Clifford D. Simak
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