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Election Lamentations
8 years ago
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas confusion
Silent night, holy night
Do you have funny memories of mis-understood Christmas lyrics?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Hi there - I'm still alive...
So, its been a while since I posted something. I actually have a few thoughts that I'd like to post at some point, but feel that I put enough 'heavy' stuff up lately that I'd like to put up something light-hearted and funny. The only problem is that I've been waiting for the kids to do something 'million-dollar funny' that I could write up (and then somebody will come and buy the story and make a movie and I'll get millions for it...), but obviously that hasn't happened... Oh well, guess I'll just have to keep working a little longer, before the kids will be able to support me.
I did go camping with Kyle over this weekend - Friday night. This was an orientation program that the local Boy Scout council puts on to help introduce aspects of cub-scouting to the boys. While Kyle started last year, we couldn't make it to the overnight because of scheduling conflicts so we went this year. (Kyle really wanted to go - this is one of the few opportunities to get the Archery and BB-gun belt-loop requirements satisfied, since these have to be performed by trained instructors...) We did have a lot of fun, and got really tired. We were able to setup before a dust storm moved through the area - I'm glad that I wasn't trying to setup the tent in the 30 mph+ wind gusts. I had brought the 'good' tent stakes, and the tent didn't go anywhere - it didn't even really show any evidence of the wind blowing, unlike some other tents around us where the tent was basically being blown flat (the poles couldn't stand up to the wind). I'm glad that we only had wind - there was a good layer of dust on everything in the tent, but we didn't have to deal with mud.
We were warned about active rattle-snakes in the area, and to stay off the rocks - after Kyle and some other boys had already been climbing on the rocks. We didn't see or hear any snakes while we were there, so no real problems. Happily the temperature is down into the 90's now, so it is comfortable enough to camp near Phoenix.
The best part, for Kyle, was the Archery - the boys learned to shoot a bow-and-arrow, how to hold the bow, nock an arrow, draw and release. This is what he was asking about (when do we do Archery?) and what he wants to do more of. Maybe after Baseball is done we'll look into archery until spring baseball starts up (in February....).
That's about it for now, its still just barely warm enough to think about getting in the pool (89 degrees right now, water is 86), so we might go do that.
I did go camping with Kyle over this weekend - Friday night. This was an orientation program that the local Boy Scout council puts on to help introduce aspects of cub-scouting to the boys. While Kyle started last year, we couldn't make it to the overnight because of scheduling conflicts so we went this year. (Kyle really wanted to go - this is one of the few opportunities to get the Archery and BB-gun belt-loop requirements satisfied, since these have to be performed by trained instructors...) We did have a lot of fun, and got really tired. We were able to setup before a dust storm moved through the area - I'm glad that I wasn't trying to setup the tent in the 30 mph+ wind gusts. I had brought the 'good' tent stakes, and the tent didn't go anywhere - it didn't even really show any evidence of the wind blowing, unlike some other tents around us where the tent was basically being blown flat (the poles couldn't stand up to the wind). I'm glad that we only had wind - there was a good layer of dust on everything in the tent, but we didn't have to deal with mud.
We were warned about active rattle-snakes in the area, and to stay off the rocks - after Kyle and some other boys had already been climbing on the rocks. We didn't see or hear any snakes while we were there, so no real problems. Happily the temperature is down into the 90's now, so it is comfortable enough to camp near Phoenix.
The best part, for Kyle, was the Archery - the boys learned to shoot a bow-and-arrow, how to hold the bow, nock an arrow, draw and release. This is what he was asking about (when do we do Archery?) and what he wants to do more of. Maybe after Baseball is done we'll look into archery until spring baseball starts up (in February....).
That's about it for now, its still just barely warm enough to think about getting in the pool (89 degrees right now, water is 86), so we might go do that.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Remembering Al
The oldest living Overtoom (that I know of and certainly that I'm related to) pass away last Saturday, at the age of 99. I had been planning to travel up to Wisconsin for a big birthday party, but will now be traveling to be with family for a different reason. I have to confess that I didn't get to spend as much time with Grandpa Overtoom as much as I would have liked (and not as much as I should have) in my adult years, but have some vivid memories of him from my childhood. A few things in particular that come to mind:
- Grandpa didn't seem to be able to actually stay still - he was always doing something, whether getting drinks for people, fixing things or working around the house. The closest might have been at some of the big family gatherings, he could be found at the bar making drinks, or grilling - talking to everybody around him. This is a trait that I share - I don't like sitting around doing nothing, I prefer to be active.
- I remember many gatherings at their house in Berwyn, IL. The house was a two story bungalow with a basement, next to the elementary school. We could go play in the school yard (throw balls or fly model airplanes). The best part was the basement - there was a full bar down there, and Grandpa made a great Kiddie Cocktail (they moved from that house before I was old enough to drink anything more serious). There were colored lights that could be switched on and off - the cousins would sit on the stairs and change from red to blue to green like it was a disco dance (this was in the '70s after all).
- I remember fishing and boat rides at the lake cabin in central Wisconsin. He was a great fisherman, probably the only time that I can remember him sitting fairly still. I especially remember riding around Lake Camelot in the boat, whether to get to a fishing spot or just to go fast.
- Both houses had a lot of hunting and fishing trophies - deer heads and antlers, pheasants, and big scary looking fish with lots of teeth.
- Watching movies in the basement was a highlight of any visit for the kids. Both to see the family movies, but also to watch Abbot & Costello and some silent cartoons. Grandpa was an avid documentor of the family, with his trusty movie camera out to get all the action (or at least the action when he wasn't managing the bar...)
I do admire his work ethic, he worked hard to provide, but also cared for his family and kept the two separate. He always took responsibility for what happened, didn't try to weasel out of things. He gave much in his community. He was a great man, in my eyes. I hear that he died laughing - good natured to the end.
- Grandpa didn't seem to be able to actually stay still - he was always doing something, whether getting drinks for people, fixing things or working around the house. The closest might have been at some of the big family gatherings, he could be found at the bar making drinks, or grilling - talking to everybody around him. This is a trait that I share - I don't like sitting around doing nothing, I prefer to be active.
- I remember many gatherings at their house in Berwyn, IL. The house was a two story bungalow with a basement, next to the elementary school. We could go play in the school yard (throw balls or fly model airplanes). The best part was the basement - there was a full bar down there, and Grandpa made a great Kiddie Cocktail (they moved from that house before I was old enough to drink anything more serious). There were colored lights that could be switched on and off - the cousins would sit on the stairs and change from red to blue to green like it was a disco dance (this was in the '70s after all).
- I remember fishing and boat rides at the lake cabin in central Wisconsin. He was a great fisherman, probably the only time that I can remember him sitting fairly still. I especially remember riding around Lake Camelot in the boat, whether to get to a fishing spot or just to go fast.
- Both houses had a lot of hunting and fishing trophies - deer heads and antlers, pheasants, and big scary looking fish with lots of teeth.
- Watching movies in the basement was a highlight of any visit for the kids. Both to see the family movies, but also to watch Abbot & Costello and some silent cartoons. Grandpa was an avid documentor of the family, with his trusty movie camera out to get all the action (or at least the action when he wasn't managing the bar...)
I do admire his work ethic, he worked hard to provide, but also cared for his family and kept the two separate. He always took responsibility for what happened, didn't try to weasel out of things. He gave much in his community. He was a great man, in my eyes. I hear that he died laughing - good natured to the end.
Monday, February 15, 2010
I am that blog writer
It popped into my mind today that I seem to be often writing the kinds of blog entries that I don't like to read. Most of my entries get into some basic theology, describing what I've been learning about God as I study His Word. When I hit those kinds of entries in other peoples blogs, I tend to skim or skip over them - they are a little dry and uninteresting to me.
I find it interesting that for whatever reason I am doing the thing that I don't like. What I am doing isn't bad - probably my skimming over these sorts of entries is bad - but I don't like other people doing it. Does that make me a hypocrite?
I find it interesting that for whatever reason I am doing the thing that I don't like. What I am doing isn't bad - probably my skimming over these sorts of entries is bad - but I don't like other people doing it. Does that make me a hypocrite?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
If God is sovereign...
I'm starting to work through a study on the sovereignty of God, and the what is true because He is sovereign. I thought I'd share things as I discover them, maybe a kind of irregular series on my irregular blog...
One thing that pops up when thinking for very long about God being truly sovereign is that there are tensions that pop up with things that happen in the world. If God is really in control why did xxx happen (fill in your favorite recent earthquake, tsunami, senseless death, disaster)? (I don't hear (or think much) about why doesn't YYY happen...) I'm going to start from the assumption that God is Sovereign - ruler of the universe, creator, almighty, all knowing, eternal. Just read the last chapters of Job for examples of the power that God has over this world - start at Job 38, and see if you can do any of those things...
Lets start off easy - with something that seems like it points to God needing people in order to accomplish His goals... If God is really in charge, able to do all, control all - then what does He need Us for? (another interesting topic for another day.)
In my short time walking with Jesus, I've heard several stories of people who were awakened at night, or tickled by God in other ways, to pray for specific people. Usually these stories come in two parts, from two people:
Jane - I was awakened by the holy spirit about 3:15 in the morning, and felt a leading from the holy spirit - an Urge even - to pray for John, who was traveling in another city. I just felt that his life was in danger, and that I needed to pray for God to intercede... I prayed for 30 minutes, and went back to sleep.
John - About 3:15 in the morning my car broke down in the middle of a gang-infested part of BigTownImTravelingThrough - I could see graffiti and mean looking guys with knives all around - when the car stopped they all started heading over towards me - I could see they were sizing up how much money they could get from me and the car. I was really scared - I started to pray and suddenly a police car pulled up. The thugs scattered and the police were able to get a tow truck to me.
In these kinds of stories it seems that God is not able to save 'John' without some request or prayer assistance from 'Jane'. Sometimes there are other people who also get the urge to pray for John at the same time, in different parts of the country (or the world). Why is God asking people to pray to protect and save John when He is all powerful and in control of everything? Even evil (the gangsters) can't touch God's people without His say so (Job 1:12). Why this apparent contradiction between the testimony of the people and God's word (the Bible)?
When we're presented with a situation like this, where my understanding of the situation doesn't mesh with what we can see and understand we have two choices - either our understanding is wrong or the Bible is wrong. We can ask God to reveal where our limited understanding needs to be adjusted, or we can push God aside and seek the wisdom of man.
Here, I can see people doing God's work - something that we are called to do, to worship the Lord and serve Him. The core question is whether God needs to have anybody else involved in this work. Being human, we tend to put our own motives onto other peoples actions. I ask for help when I can't do something on my own. I see somebody (Jane) awakened to pray, and assume that that person has some special ability or need which is being called on to do the work - I that situation through my own limitations, imparting my need for help onto Gods request. I like it when people ask me to help them do something they have trouble with - it boosts my pride. I see God boosting the pride of Jane in this situation - she would be proud to have been called to help. We have trouble seeing the situation and the motives of God through our own human motives - and create a tension between a sovereign God and a God who seems to need our intercessory help.
This situation exists so that God can be glorified. How can Jane and John both clearly see that God is sovereign, cares about and loves them, and can orchestrate things? By putting them into a situation where, dependent on Him they both are part of the situation - without being aware of what is happening. John is not aware that Jane is praying for him, he is only aware of His own prayers being answered. Jane is not aware of what she is praying for - but after talking to John in the morning and learning what went on Jane can be awed to have seen God at work. Whether Jane feels any pride from 'helping' in this situation, she gets to see that (a) God loves John, (b) God loves Jane and knows how important John is to her, (c) God lets her see that He is in control. John gets reinforcement that God was there and He cares - not only was he delivered from the danger, but after talking with Jane he is aware that God shared the situation with another, in a way that only God could do.
Jane was awakened to pray not because God needed help, but so that she would be aware of God at work. If Jane slept through the night, then heard from John that his car broke down and was saved only because of the timely arrival of the police car, she might see this as God responding to Johns prayer, but it might just be a coincidence -God could be excluded from consideration. The hand of God isn't as real for Jane just hearing about Johns answer to prayer. By awakening her at the time that John was in trouble, Jane can see the hand of God at work - He reached to her because of John's situation. God gets the glory in this - neither John nor Jane, after comparing notes, can reasonably claim this as a coincidence. God gets the glory. As John and Jane tell the story, God gets the glory - others can see the work of God in the situation, in a way that is unmistakably God. God wants the glory.
Something to think about - when something happens that doesn't seem to have God involved in it, how can that event, or the outcome of that event, bring glory to God? Maybe you can't see His Glory in the event, or immediately afterwards. Sometimes it takes time and the work of the Holy Spirit for you to see how He gets glory. The good we receive may not come until we are with Him.
One thing that pops up when thinking for very long about God being truly sovereign is that there are tensions that pop up with things that happen in the world. If God is really in control why did xxx happen (fill in your favorite recent earthquake, tsunami, senseless death, disaster)? (I don't hear (or think much) about why doesn't YYY happen...) I'm going to start from the assumption that God is Sovereign - ruler of the universe, creator, almighty, all knowing, eternal. Just read the last chapters of Job for examples of the power that God has over this world - start at Job 38, and see if you can do any of those things...
Lets start off easy - with something that seems like it points to God needing people in order to accomplish His goals... If God is really in charge, able to do all, control all - then what does He need Us for? (another interesting topic for another day.)
In my short time walking with Jesus, I've heard several stories of people who were awakened at night, or tickled by God in other ways, to pray for specific people. Usually these stories come in two parts, from two people:
Jane - I was awakened by the holy spirit about 3:15 in the morning, and felt a leading from the holy spirit - an Urge even - to pray for John, who was traveling in another city. I just felt that his life was in danger, and that I needed to pray for God to intercede... I prayed for 30 minutes, and went back to sleep.
John - About 3:15 in the morning my car broke down in the middle of a gang-infested part of BigTownImTravelingThrough - I could see graffiti and mean looking guys with knives all around - when the car stopped they all started heading over towards me - I could see they were sizing up how much money they could get from me and the car. I was really scared - I started to pray and suddenly a police car pulled up. The thugs scattered and the police were able to get a tow truck to me.
In these kinds of stories it seems that God is not able to save 'John' without some request or prayer assistance from 'Jane'. Sometimes there are other people who also get the urge to pray for John at the same time, in different parts of the country (or the world). Why is God asking people to pray to protect and save John when He is all powerful and in control of everything? Even evil (the gangsters) can't touch God's people without His say so (Job 1:12). Why this apparent contradiction between the testimony of the people and God's word (the Bible)?
When we're presented with a situation like this, where my understanding of the situation doesn't mesh with what we can see and understand we have two choices - either our understanding is wrong or the Bible is wrong. We can ask God to reveal where our limited understanding needs to be adjusted, or we can push God aside and seek the wisdom of man.
Here, I can see people doing God's work - something that we are called to do, to worship the Lord and serve Him. The core question is whether God needs to have anybody else involved in this work. Being human, we tend to put our own motives onto other peoples actions. I ask for help when I can't do something on my own. I see somebody (Jane) awakened to pray, and assume that that person has some special ability or need which is being called on to do the work - I that situation through my own limitations, imparting my need for help onto Gods request. I like it when people ask me to help them do something they have trouble with - it boosts my pride. I see God boosting the pride of Jane in this situation - she would be proud to have been called to help. We have trouble seeing the situation and the motives of God through our own human motives - and create a tension between a sovereign God and a God who seems to need our intercessory help.
This situation exists so that God can be glorified. How can Jane and John both clearly see that God is sovereign, cares about and loves them, and can orchestrate things? By putting them into a situation where, dependent on Him they both are part of the situation - without being aware of what is happening. John is not aware that Jane is praying for him, he is only aware of His own prayers being answered. Jane is not aware of what she is praying for - but after talking to John in the morning and learning what went on Jane can be awed to have seen God at work. Whether Jane feels any pride from 'helping' in this situation, she gets to see that (a) God loves John, (b) God loves Jane and knows how important John is to her, (c) God lets her see that He is in control. John gets reinforcement that God was there and He cares - not only was he delivered from the danger, but after talking with Jane he is aware that God shared the situation with another, in a way that only God could do.
Jane was awakened to pray not because God needed help, but so that she would be aware of God at work. If Jane slept through the night, then heard from John that his car broke down and was saved only because of the timely arrival of the police car, she might see this as God responding to Johns prayer, but it might just be a coincidence -God could be excluded from consideration. The hand of God isn't as real for Jane just hearing about Johns answer to prayer. By awakening her at the time that John was in trouble, Jane can see the hand of God at work - He reached to her because of John's situation. God gets the glory in this - neither John nor Jane, after comparing notes, can reasonably claim this as a coincidence. God gets the glory. As John and Jane tell the story, God gets the glory - others can see the work of God in the situation, in a way that is unmistakably God. God wants the glory.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Something to think about - when something happens that doesn't seem to have God involved in it, how can that event, or the outcome of that event, bring glory to God? Maybe you can't see His Glory in the event, or immediately afterwards. Sometimes it takes time and the work of the Holy Spirit for you to see how He gets glory. The good we receive may not come until we are with Him.
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