Look at the birds of the air...

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them, Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matt 6:25 (NASB)

A mother bird was sitting on a nest under our carport.
When she left, this little guy popped his head up.
He's so ugly he's cute!
Click on the picture to see him close-up.

When life gives you lemons...

...JUGGLE!

From Egypt to the Promised Land

 

I had the wonderful priviledge of visiting Egypt, Jordan, and Israel for 3 weeks!
Visit Facebook to see more pics.

Exegesis Paper in Progress...

 

On Thursday I heard the news that one of my fellow seminarians, Denroy Black was killed in a car accident.
He was completing his program and his dissertation defense was scheduled for early July. He was less than 3 months away from receiving his ThD! Denroy was an international student from Jamaica and leaves behind a wife and 3 children.

As the semester rapidly draws to a close, I took a moment to look at my surroundings. This (pictured above) is where I am spending most of my waking (and sometimes snoozing) hours. It seems easy to get caught up in deadlines and to neglect family and friends. I wanted to take a moment to tell you that I appreciate all of the prayers and words of encouragement. You, my family and friends, are a great blessing! I love you all!

Please remember the family of Denroy Black in your prayers.

What is a good relationship?

I read this today as part of my assignment for Pastoral Counseling. It is good stuff! Thought you might like it...

What is a good relationship? These are 6 emotional and attitudinal prerequisites for a sound relationship.

A sound relationship is…

1. One that occurs between autonomous individuals
By autonomous we do not mean cold, distant, isolated, or unneedful. Rather, we mean that each individual is capable of existing independently and has an identity of his or her own. Psychologist Stephen Johnson cautioned that it is important to establish “autonomous adulthood” before considering marriage, referring to this same ability to exist as an individual in one’s own right.

2. One that is chosen
Autonomous individuals can choose to depend on others for significant needs, although they do not have to do so. They enter into a relationship out of choice, and they continue it out of choice. This is the element of will.

3. One in which each individual is committed to the growth and happiness of the other
It is the responsibility of each partner in a loving relationship to support the self-esteem and sustain the positive experiences of the other. This is quite consistent with major precepts of most religions, but it is also ultimately in one’s own interest. Love it is said, cannot be taken but only given. The receiving of love enables the further giving of love. Thus in giving (and only in giving) does one receive, at least in the long run.

4. One in which each partner is open to change and in which each partner has positive skills for requesting and negotiating change from the other
People who live together need to be able to change. If positive means for eliciting change from the other are not available, it is likely that negative means will be employed.

5. One in which each partner shares with the other his or her inner world
This is intimacy. In a context of mutual trust and respect, the partners communicate to each other their ongoing, present reality—perceptions, reactions, emotions, memories, hopes, plans, experiences, and thoughts. Some people mistake intimacy for the sharing of secrets about one’s past. History is a part of intimacy, but a more vital (and more difficult) self-revelation is one’s immediate reality. This is riskier than sharing the past because it immediately involves and affects the partner, who in turn reacts.

6. One that includes commitment
A sound relationship is one that is characterized by enjoying the good times… as well as endurance and commitment to working thought the hard times that invariably comes as part of shared life.

Adapted from Practical Psychology for Pastors by William R. Miller and Kathleen A. Jackson

Joey says, "You need to update your blog"

 

How about this bro? Ha!

Make your choice...

"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse." - C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity, pages 40-41

Me & Kitty Baby

 

Quite surprising...I actually like shoveling snow. Noche? Not so much.

Snow in the forecast for the next 8 days...Woohoo!