I have promised myself though I am going to post about Holy Week and Passover each day. Trying to capture the theological meaning of the day in a single picture too.
Sunday is Palm Sunday
Monday is the eve of Passover
Tuesday is Passover
Wednesday is for Tenenbrae
Thursday is Maunday Thursday and the beginning of the Great Vigil
Friday is Good Friday
Saturday is Holy Saturday
Sunday is Easter
Monday is Easter Monday
Tuesday is the Last night of Passover
Then I have from Wednesday through Sunday to rest and prepare to finish up this academic year!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
virtues and sins
These are all the sins and virtues mixed together. Just like in life it is hard to tell the difference.
What green are you-- from Susan
You Are Emerald Green
Well, it sounds pretty close. It happens to be my very favorite color too!
| You Are Emerald Green |
 Deep and mysterious, it often seems like no one truly gets you. Inside, you are very emotional and moody - though you don't let it show. People usually have a strong reaction to you... profound love or deep hate. But you can even get those who hate you to come around. There's something naturally harmonious about you. |
Well, it sounds pretty close. It happens to be my very favorite color too!
Nathan.....
Knowing the heart of a 14 almost 15 year old young man is hard and often scary. He is also still under constant parental supervision with very limited privileges. He has made some progress towards earning privileges back, but I am not sure there has been a true change of heart.
He wore dress pants, dress shirt and tie yesterday to church....normally we are arguing over his tee-shirt and sagging shorts. He wanted to surprise me with his new look. It was a great surprise! He did about 4 plus hours of lawn work yesterday and another 3 today before the tractor broke. He is cooking supper and generally being nice, but there is still his mouth.
Even when we agree he seems to want to make it sound like we are arguing. It is frustrating. It brings up the grace vs works issues for me sometimes. He works and does the work required to earn his privileges back, but the grace, the change of heart just doesn't seem to be there at all.
I am going to trust that as he matures his heart will mature too. I continue to pray that he will keep his thrill seeking ways legal and safe. I will continue to come up with challenges for him to solve. I will continue to push him to be the best person he can be.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Teen bonding....
I missed the picture of Athena covered in flour using a rolling pin to make buttermilk biscuts :) I assure you it is not a sight that happens very often.
Kayleigh loves to cook, Nathan is an excellent cook, but Miss Athena neither loves it nor is very good at it. So, why you ask were the two of us cooking all day (baked a chicken, started enough flour for 6 loaves soaking, made 6 dozen biscuts, jello, and a chocolate bundt cake) ......Two basic reasons, one it allowed us to avoid doing the taxes again today and second when we do 'money or business stuff' neither one of us are relaxed enough to just talk.
We needed to talk today. It has been exactly one week since she made a very foolish choice that landed her in deeper trouble than I think she has ever been in. I have had a week to process, put things in perspective, and calm down. She has had a week of no phone, no computer, no driving, no going anywhere without one of us present, extra chores, extra school work, and extra cooking duties. To her credit she has fulfilled all her responsibilities and restrictions beautifully. Not one single complaint, not one single pushing of boundries, not one attempt to break our agreement of earning each one of her privileges back.
We had a nice long talk while cooking today. I think she has turned the corner on childhood and is firmly on the path of young adulthood. She accepts responsibility for her choices, she understands the wisdom of making different ones, and she also seems to comprehend that it is important to choose your friends wisely. What more could I ask of her? Seventeen year olds screw-up, but they also need the room to grow and repair as much of the damage as they can.
Today, I am at least as proud of her as I was disapointed last weekend. In less than 9 weeks she will graduate, I know she will be ready, she will have truly earned it. I will stand up in front of God, our family, and our friends and say to her "Today, you are a woman. This moments marks your giant step into the adult world. You are now responsible for your life and your choices." I still remember saying those words to Kayleigh 4 years ago. I occasionally have to remind her when I get the 'what should I do' phone calls that I will offer my opinion, but it is just than another opinion.
I flat out refuse to tell them what to do after graduation. I have had old students call me too, and the answer is the same for them. I will talk you through the pros and cons, I will offer an opinion if you want it, but the choices and consequences of those choices are yours. Good, bad and indifferent, when you ask others to tell you what to do you are no longer responsible, you can blame the other person, you will live with self-doubt, and you will always wonder 'what if'. When you weigh the options and make your own choice you build strength, wisdom and character.
Well, the taxes didn't get done today, but more important things did.
Kayleigh loves to cook, Nathan is an excellent cook, but Miss Athena neither loves it nor is very good at it. So, why you ask were the two of us cooking all day (baked a chicken, started enough flour for 6 loaves soaking, made 6 dozen biscuts, jello, and a chocolate bundt cake) ......Two basic reasons, one it allowed us to avoid doing the taxes again today and second when we do 'money or business stuff' neither one of us are relaxed enough to just talk.
We needed to talk today. It has been exactly one week since she made a very foolish choice that landed her in deeper trouble than I think she has ever been in. I have had a week to process, put things in perspective, and calm down. She has had a week of no phone, no computer, no driving, no going anywhere without one of us present, extra chores, extra school work, and extra cooking duties. To her credit she has fulfilled all her responsibilities and restrictions beautifully. Not one single complaint, not one single pushing of boundries, not one attempt to break our agreement of earning each one of her privileges back.
We had a nice long talk while cooking today. I think she has turned the corner on childhood and is firmly on the path of young adulthood. She accepts responsibility for her choices, she understands the wisdom of making different ones, and she also seems to comprehend that it is important to choose your friends wisely. What more could I ask of her? Seventeen year olds screw-up, but they also need the room to grow and repair as much of the damage as they can.
Today, I am at least as proud of her as I was disapointed last weekend. In less than 9 weeks she will graduate, I know she will be ready, she will have truly earned it. I will stand up in front of God, our family, and our friends and say to her "Today, you are a woman. This moments marks your giant step into the adult world. You are now responsible for your life and your choices." I still remember saying those words to Kayleigh 4 years ago. I occasionally have to remind her when I get the 'what should I do' phone calls that I will offer my opinion, but it is just than another opinion.
I flat out refuse to tell them what to do after graduation. I have had old students call me too, and the answer is the same for them. I will talk you through the pros and cons, I will offer an opinion if you want it, but the choices and consequences of those choices are yours. Good, bad and indifferent, when you ask others to tell you what to do you are no longer responsible, you can blame the other person, you will live with self-doubt, and you will always wonder 'what if'. When you weigh the options and make your own choice you build strength, wisdom and character.
Well, the taxes didn't get done today, but more important things did.
Adapted from this list.
Gifts of the Spirit....
Scripture has many lists of gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 :
words of wisdom;
words of knowledge;
miracle-working;
distinguishing of spirits;
interpretation of tongues.
Romans 12 : gifts of
teaching,
exhortation,
giving,
the showing of mercy.
Isaiah 11:1-5 : the spirit of :
wisdom
understanding,
counsel,
strength,
knowledge, and
the fear of the LORD.
".... if I enjoyed giving things to my children a thousand times more than keeping them for myself, so of course must He."
--------- Hannah Whitall Smith, in Logan Smith's *Philadelphia Quaker*
I like the idea of photos and pondering on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I think I am going to save it for after Easter in preparation for Pentecost.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Lust (Latin, luxuria)
Lust is usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Unfulfilled lusts can lead to sexual or sociological compulsions and/or transgressions including (but obviously not limited to) sexual addiction, adultery, bestiality, and rape.
Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. However, lust and love are two different things; while a genuine, selfless love can represent the highest degree of development and feeling of community with others in a human relationship, Lust can be described as the excessive desire for sexual release. The other person can be therefore seen as a "means to an end" for the fulfillment of the subject's desires, and becomes thus objectified in the process. In Purgatorio, the penitent walks within flames to purge himself of lustful thoughts.
Well, Antonio Bandaras just wasn't available to pose with chocolate covered strawberries and Champagne while wearing silk pj's, so this picture of me and my dh will just have to do for lust. I think of all the sins, this one shows up least in my life. While I do have a passing thought now and again for Antonio, it is not really Lust, because the definition of Lust is 1) excessive, and 2) sexual...I really just like looking at and listening to Antonio.
For over 23 years now, all my sexual thoughts have involved Dirk. There was a time, long ago, though when my sexual drive was stronger than his and my unfulfilled lust lead to late night chocolate raids. I doubt seriously that Dante ever thought of chocolate as sexual, but I know advertisers and many doctors understand the connection.
This is the part of the definition that really interested me: Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. This I might be guilty of fairly often. I will put others before my relationship with God most often when I am trying to avoid God. I will keep busy like Martha and complain about how I am the only one caring for everyone, while what I long to be doing is sitting at the feet of the Most High learning and soaking in the Peace Which Passes All Understanding.
I have always been taught that caring for others is putting God first, but like all other things it is also about priorities and perspective. When you start worshipping the creation instead of the Creator, things are out of whack.
Since that was the last sin, I will have to come up with 'seven' more things to ponder upon now...any suggestions?
For over 23 years now, all my sexual thoughts have involved Dirk. There was a time, long ago, though when my sexual drive was stronger than his and my unfulfilled lust lead to late night chocolate raids. I doubt seriously that Dante ever thought of chocolate as sexual, but I know advertisers and many doctors understand the connection.
This is the part of the definition that really interested me: Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary. This I might be guilty of fairly often. I will put others before my relationship with God most often when I am trying to avoid God. I will keep busy like Martha and complain about how I am the only one caring for everyone, while what I long to be doing is sitting at the feet of the Most High learning and soaking in the Peace Which Passes All Understanding.
I have always been taught that caring for others is putting God first, but like all other things it is also about priorities and perspective. When you start worshipping the creation instead of the Creator, things are out of whack.
Since that was the last sin, I will have to come up with 'seven' more things to ponder upon now...any suggestions?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
