Epiphany:

I confess I had my doubts about Kristie returning to Western this fall. Yes, I’ve heard all the reasons how this year of college will really help her spiritual growth and give her a solid foundation in what she believes which I am definitely all for. It just seemed like a lot of money to spend when she really doesn’t know what she wants to do as a career.

I’ve come to realize lately that it seems regardless of my doubts the good Lord wants her there. Not only has she found a family to live with but this family is moving onto campus so she will not have far to go to class. My dad decided to give Kristie his old car as a grad gift, so now she has transportation around Regina. She mentioned the other day that she has just about enough money to buy for tuition. She gave her notice at the job she currently has and they asked if she would like to transfer to Regina. A store, close to campus, would like her to work for them. I’m now starting to believe that the store will be open to her schedule and will give her enough work to help her pay her room/board.

It’s all coming together so… okay okay Lord I get the picture – you want her to go to Western this year! You don’t have to shout…okay considering my hearing problem (literally and figuratively) I guess you do. Thanks.

Here's a picture of her taking me for a ride in her new car:

Oophs wrong photo - that's her taking me for a spin in my brothers dune buggy. Here is her "new" car:

Here is a video of my two daughters bonding. My only comment: "Sarah, hands on the wheel, eyes on the road!!!" (PS she took me for a spin - they heard me screaming all the way). I love my daughters :-)

Somewhere in the Middle:

Walking home today (in the scorching heat), listening to my ipod this song reached out and touched me. I think that is how I'm feeling these days - somewhere in the middle.

"Somewhere between the hot and the cold,
Somewhere between the new and the old,
Somewhere between who I am and who I use to be,
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me.

Somewhere between the wrong and the right,
Somewhere between the darkness and the light,
Somewhere between who I was and who you're making me,
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me."

What worries me more is that I don't have any desire to get out of the middle...

Still surfing and sharing:

I like how this guy throws in some teaching during his comedy routine:

Wow video:

Caught this video on godtube and it blew me away - love the message but I tell you when I saw the lion run at them I think if I had been in their shoes I'd have run for my life - glad they didn't!

Thoughts swirling in my head...

I wanted to blog about a couple of thoughts that have been swirling around my head. They both are a result of two books that I read while on vacation.

From “Designed for Dignity” by Richard L. Pratt, Jr – the book talks about the verse from Genesis:

“In the original language of Genesis, the expression “made man in our image” meant that God made man “into” his image, much as we would say that a potter makes a lump clay “into” a vase. And so humanity is not in the image of God; we actually are the image of God.”

The author puts two different emphasis on this. The first is “…made in the image of God.” To remind us that we are not God, we are just an images of God which results in humbleness on our side. The second is “…made in the image of God” not of a tree, an animal, etc “Instead, God carefully shaped the first man and woman so that they were in hi likeness. He determined to make us creatures of incomparable value and dignity.” . Which means we are accountable to behave as much like God (who we are an image of) as we can and treat all those around us with the same respect and honor.

The second book “Loving God” by Charles Colson – one piece of the book talked about sin and how we refer to it. Often we say we have conquered sin, resisted sin, overcome sin or gave in to sin, lost to sin, sinned, etc. Making it all about us and sin. But the book stated that we shouldn’t use those terms. When we sin we are disobeying God, when we don’t sin – we are obeying God. Instead of saying I’ve sinned – we should say I’ve disobeyed God. Instead of I’ve overcome sin or resisted sin – I’ve obeyed God. Then it’s about our relationship with God (not with sin), more accountability on us in our relationship with God. When I think of when my kids disobeyed me and how it affects our relationship – it makes me think of how when I disobey (sin) God, how it affects my relationship with Him and those around me. I lose that closeness with Him, being able to draw on His peace, even unable to find comfort in Him. The more I disobey the further from Him I become.

Anyway that’s my thoughts this past week.