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One more project down...thanks Dad and Rob for all your work!

Finally...#7

Well, most of you probably thought I forgot about my reading list, however I just got a little bogged down with my latest one (ok, and maybe a little lazy, but I hate to admit that). Anyways, I didn't get bogged down because it's a bad book. You do have to give it a chance though, as it was a little bit to wade through in the first few chapters. I also had to pick Rob's brain a little to help me out. So - it was Creation Regained by Albert Wolters, with a chapter by Michael Goheen. Like I said, I think I mostly had a hard time at the beginning but especially when I reached the last chapter (and there are only 5) and then read the postscript by Goheen I really got excited. The general gist is that we as Christians are called to redeem every part of our lives. Scripture is telling us one big story - the general outline being - Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation. Many people tend to segment their lives by having church, work, family, play etc. all come under different "headings". However, God has called us to live by the gospel in every area of life and it all fits into the big picture of the story of history. All was created good and has been tainted by sin. We have the opportunity as Christians to redeem it. The best way he described this process is through the words "structure" and "direction". Structure is just the general nature of something and direction is where we take it as fallen humans. This can and should apply to any area of life. I will use a very simple illustration. Food was created good for us by God. It has been created for us to enjoy according to scripture. It's structure is good. We can redeem food and eat it with thanksgiving to God worshipping through a simple act performed numerous times every day. We can also pervert and distort this gift by gluttony and eating for selfish reasons. This would be taking a good gift of God the wrong direction. The examples he used were very helpful and then the follow-up chapter by Goheen ties everything together in light of the gospel. I definitely recommend this book in challenging our thoughts as Christians living in culture and needing to constantly adapt and learn how to live on task according to the gospel in every area. One quote: "It is precisely in ...ordinary activities that the Christian community is called to witness to the gospel. The very shape of our lives needs to be a legible letter speaking of Christ and his rule. When we do explain the gospel, such a verbal presentation should be embedded in the warp and woof of our daily Christian lives which in their integrality testify to Christ's saving power."

Something We Love

Rob and I enjoy so many different kinds of music together. We have a very wide range...and ever widening it seems as I have recently found a few country songs I enjoy...wow. Anyways, so much of the music we listen to just makes us rejoice in the gifts God gives people and causes us to worship Him even more. This particular Link takes you to a youtube piano/cello combination remake of a couple songs. It is awesome - I could listen to it all the time. If you haven't seen it before, watch how much they enjoy themselves in the music. It is great! I think this is the way music should happen. I don't know their motives behind what they do - but I think all musicians should enjoy what they do like these men do!

I have never seen one of these in 28 years of life, have you?

Well, Rob thinks it's pretty funny that I have never seen a yellow watermelon...and actually, I had never heard of one until today! It kind of throws me off a little bit, but it was actually really good. So I'm wondering, am I the only one that was in the dark about these???

Holiday Adventures

We enjoyed ours...hope you did too!

Toes

I have been laughing a lot at what Brynne does with her toes lately...the one picture I didn't get was when she is sitting in her high chair and props her toes up on the inside the the tray during her meal - it's hilarious! Anyways - here are a couple shots of "relaxed toe positions." I think what I like the most is that she is taking after me...in case you don't know it I have special talents with my toes. No, I will not post a pic of that :)