tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91044832012-02-16T05:37:10.746-05:00Just a place for my thoughts and ramblings.Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.comBlogger3011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-80168626416191238962012-02-13T19:44:00.000-05:002012-02-13T19:44:45.269-05:00

After my blog post about mounting frustrations and some facebook posts about frustrations I’ve had a number of people asking how they can help make things easier for me while I heal.  I’m not usually very good at asking in the moment.  I’m notoriously bad at asking for help.  I try to be independent, I try to not burden other people, but I’m trying to learn to be humble and accept help.  So, if

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-64826651354403206302012-02-12T21:13:00.000-05:002012-02-12T21:13:39.383-05:00

It's not very often that I give a restaurant 4.5 out of 5 stars, but it happened Friday.  My mom arrived just as I was finishing class on Friday and we headed to Grand Rapids to meet my cousin for lunch.  The drive was horrible.  We hadn't had much "weather" all winter and then sure enough as mom is driving into Holland we get an icky icky storm.  Go figure. My cousin had recommended that we stop

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-823195318511521692012-02-11T11:27:00.001-05:002012-02-11T11:27:00.096-05:00

To those of you who work in food service, whether high end or fast fast food, to those of you who cook for other people, to those of you who share food with anyone, whether it is for a price or free.  Please read this. If someone asks you what is in something.  Please tell them.  Tell them everything.  If you don't know, tell them that. If they are taking the time to ask, the probably have a good

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-59823487739547626702012-02-10T23:27:00.000-05:002012-02-10T23:27:10.555-05:00

Yesterday’s post was kind of a downer and I’m really not a negative person overall.  I’d just had one too many really bad day.  Today's post, much better. There have been so many good things lately too.  I don't mean to focus on the bad, because they I just get grumpy. For example, on Wednesday, the afternoon sun was coming in the window of the church just right and I sat there and read for

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-36333304236107618182012-02-09T21:51:00.000-05:002012-02-09T21:51:04.842-05:00

Every once in a while someone will ask me how I manage to do it.  How I manage to go through life with a smile on my face no matter how many blocks are stacked against me.  Most the time I just smile and say that it’s not all that bad, that I just smile and go on with it because I have no choice.   And I usually don’t write when things are bad.  I might write when things are a little bad, but

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-61662591811738434102012-02-01T22:22:00.000-05:002012-02-01T22:22:26.646-05:00

In the last year and a half that I have worked at First Reformed Church I have worked with lots of "challenges".  I've shown up to work with mono, on crutches because of tweaked knees or ankles, with ear infections, with my central auditory processing disorder flared so bad I could hardly understand what was going on around me, and so on.  But today was different. I showed up to work in a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-55164453229209545652012-01-21T21:50:00.000-05:002012-01-21T21:50:28.273-05:00

"It takes four hugs a day just to survive..." Overall it had been an interesting worship service.  About what I had expected. Loud music, charismatic speaker.  I was seated in the front left corner, a perfect spot to lip read the speaker and the musicians. "eight hugs a day to maintain..." This is where things were starting to get confusing for me.  What kind of benediction was this? Some sort

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-75622462678545310772012-01-19T07:36:00.000-05:002012-01-19T07:36:24.334-05:00

My first task was to find food.  In the City, on a Saturday night, South Side of Chicago.  Mommy told me I couldn't go anywhere.  So I didn't.  I didn't really want to try and navigate the metra in the dark anyhow.  Some delightful Chicago friends came to my rescue and helped me find food that wasn't going to send me to the hospital.  This was one of those days where not having food allergies

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-35725195583095102992012-01-16T16:26:00.000-05:002012-01-16T16:26:15.591-05:00

Less than 24 hours after getting engaged to the man that I love I left to take the train back to (Little) Holland.  A friend brought be to another friend who drove me to the Amtrak station in Ottumwa.  I was on time and everything looked great.  I checked in with the Burlington Trailways guy (Amtrak and Burlington Trailways share the space and Amtrak is closed on Saturdays and Sundays).  He said

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-3538120028387897672012-01-13T23:47:00.000-05:002012-01-13T23:47:32.687-05:00

Hello Friends and Family and others, On Sunday January 8 I left for Iowa with my parents, intent on seeing my boyfriend.  On Saturday January 14 I will be leaving my fiancé in Iowa. David and have known each other for many years, about three or so.  We went to school together and he’s even been to Canada to meet my family before (long before we were dating!). This week we spent much time

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-1113980795653316792012-01-11T23:23:00.000-05:002012-01-11T23:23:41.895-05:00

*Between Christmas, New Years, and being in Iowa with my boyfriend this week posts have been lacking.  Once school starts again I should be able to post more regularly* Life is sometimes like playing solitaire.  Every once in a while I need a break from my homework or whatever it is that I’m working on and I pull up a quick game of solitaire to give myself a brain break.  Sure it’s not the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-22723238207967314062012-01-04T22:36:00.000-05:002012-01-04T22:36:20.528-05:00

Somewhere I have a more "New Year's" type blog post saved and it will come soon, but this one is more important, because it may save someone's life. If you reading this post, you have the capabilities to save someone's life.  I've posted before about how to save lives (The pen looks different now, as shown in this post).  If you don't know how to use an Epi-Pen, please check those posts out.  

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-70968202960538155402011-12-31T17:01:00.000-05:002011-12-31T17:01:29.504-05:00

Mauschen (my dog) and I are exploring bike joring together.  Bike joring is a lot like ski joring, except it’s on a bicycle.  Joring is a sport in which the dog or other animal (horse often) assists the human in their work.  In joring, the animal and human are joined only by a joring lead, a special kind of lead that has bungee built into it do help with starts and stops.  There is no bit or

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-40908205688994739612011-12-29T19:43:00.002-05:002011-12-29T19:43:42.090-05:00

To all of you who were praying for today's travels and appointment, thank you very much.  The roads were a little messy, but we made is safely both there and back. At the hospital there was a lot of waiting, which is normal. As it turns out, there was nothing really to worry about.  Dr. B just wanted to check in and make sure he was on the same page as my neurosurgeon in Michigan.  He is pleased

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-33579391932874589792011-12-28T22:15:00.000-05:002011-12-28T22:15:16.892-05:00

Shortly before lunch today the phone rang.  I was back in my "office" (aka the bathroom of the grandparent flat: it's warm, dry, and quiet) struggling with a paper. There were enough other people inside that I didn't worry about answering it.  Shortly I felt footsteps coming towards my office.  I sure wasn't expecting any phone calls.  Mom knocked on the door as I looked up from Calvin. "Dr. B

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-65288185402035119032011-12-22T23:32:00.000-05:002011-12-22T23:32:43.871-05:00

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-56624150102704023112011-12-17T12:42:00.000-05:002011-12-17T12:42:33.369-05:00

Someone asked me the other day if I was an introvert. It remind me of this blog post that I had tucked away in a secret place, waiting for the right time to post.  I decided today was as good a day as any.  So here it is. According to people who know stuff, only about 25% of the people in the world are introverts. And like many things those 25% of the people fit on a continuum ranging from

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-57115469102950093982011-12-12T12:40:00.001-05:002011-12-12T12:40:00.747-05:00

Every now and then Finals week and/or midterms come around.  About once a semester each.  And sometimes they don't  quite as planned.  Blog posts like "How to Study for Finals" or "How to write a paper in 45 simple steps" or this one about midterms get written. And then there are those really terribly awful midterm/final times like last spring when I ended up in the hospital for brain stuff.  

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-16891616786572243652011-12-09T08:28:00.000-05:002011-12-09T08:28:50.553-05:00

 Lately I've seen a couple youtube videos that seem to follow a certain style. They involve a young person who has a story to tell, often one that is sad. In the background music plays. Sometimes with lyrics, other times without. These young people have white cards. maybe 5X7 or so. On the cards are words, written in plain printing, black ink or markers. One card at a time they share their

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-38739854440259851342011-12-04T22:00:00.000-05:002011-12-04T22:00:30.594-05:00

"Daddy, is that blood?" "No it just represents Jesus' blood.  It reminds of Jesus' blood" I smiled as I listened to them talk about the meaning of communion.  Then the pastor began talking again. "The blood of Christ shed for you" (no wonder kids get confused!) With that, we all tipped back our swallow of grape juice.  The pastor offered a prayer and thus ended communion.  My notebook was out and

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-10494782588981115952011-11-25T18:48:00.003-05:002011-11-25T18:48:00.803-05:00

Thanksgiving has officially passed in the USA, which means the Christmas season is upon us.  It's no secret that Christmas is not my favorite holiday.  That honor goes to Easter, which is 134 days away. I couldn't tell you how many days it is until Christmas, just that I have to endure Christmas before we can get to Easter.  Christmas is important.  Without Christmas, we couldn't have Easter.  I

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-26243908367565982192011-11-22T07:31:00.001-05:002011-11-22T07:31:00.567-05:00

A Toronto district school recently sent home a letter (and follow-up ) banning playground bars on the basis of a couple injuries and near injuries. Children were asked to leave their balls at home.  It made me think (one of my pastimes).  Playground balls are required to be left home because of injury they might cause or have caused.  But what else are children bringing to school that can cause

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-56107272473511099182011-11-21T03:31:00.001-05:002011-11-21T03:31:00.234-05:00

I stood singing in church one morning, my hands moving as much as my mouth.  The church-provided FM system hung over my right ear, the wire snaking down to the box clipped to my pocket.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw the little blonde haired blue-eyed girl in the row behind me pointing at me.  I turned to smile at her and watched her ask her mommy why I had the funny thing on my ear. I

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-39954701560026634712011-11-14T16:08:00.000-05:002011-11-14T16:08:16.954-05:00

I have a dream.  The problem is, I'm not quite sure what it is or what it's going to look like.  That might not sound like much of a dream to you, but it is just as real and solid as any other dream. Fredrick Buechner, a kind of important guy, once said "The place G-d calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."  That's my dream.  To discover that place,

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-79159470930798740962011-11-08T23:37:00.000-05:002011-11-08T23:37:01.811-05:00

***Keep in mind that I'm writing this post while on Benadryl and Prednisone in large amounts. Anything I write should be taken with a grain of salt and any glaring errors should be overlooked.*** There was a time when someone telling me that I couldn't do something served to raise my hackles and make me try even harder.  I remember one time when we were at the feed store picking up some rabbit

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-26240073322747663962011-10-28T15:28:00.000-04:002011-10-28T15:28:28.673-04:00

Every Friday I celebrate communion with 4-year old M.  M is well aware of the importance of communion and can even say most of the words of institution.  Every Friday during chapel at seminary she sits on my lap.  During the singing and the meditation she wiggles a little bit and plays with my medic alert necklace and the ring I wear around my neck, but when the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-90416387941342367882011-10-27T12:45:00.000-04:002011-10-27T12:45:18.298-04:00

When you hear like I do,  you are constantly filling in the blanks.  And when you’ve been hearing like I hear for as long as I have, you get pretty good at filling in the blanks.  Let me explain…There are many word pairs that sound very similar to me/my brain.  For example:loom – woundlettuce – let ussend forth – send forksscrolls – squirrelsIrenaeus (theologian) – urine on usaffect – effectshe –

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-67651083908370917152011-10-26T09:31:00.000-04:002011-10-26T09:31:16.568-04:00

Those who know me best, know that I've been in a bit of a stormy time lately. Nothing overly bad per se has happened directly to me (the world around me is constantly full of tragedy), just a lot of unrest.  I'm sure my parents would testify to that...they probably got more phone calls from me in the last week or so than they get in two to three weeks when things are going well. I've moved to

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-48125360334226504452011-10-25T11:40:00.002-04:002011-10-27T12:43:35.509-04:00

Why plant tulips? they take all winter. i might not see them bloom they are everywhere. Why plant tulips? Why plant tulips? buried in the ground doomed to die threatened by the squirrels. Why plant tulips? Why plant tulips? 6 months, a year 2 at the most then I move on. Why plant tulips? Why plant tulips? pressing through the last glimmer of snow waking up the world from its sleep giving hope

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-55204683372708202002011-10-23T22:01:00.001-04:002011-10-23T22:11:48.432-04:00

I posted a video on my facebook profile the other day.  It was a share from a friend.  I encourage you to watch it.  Here is the link.  It is closed captioned for those of you who prefer captioned videos. Just don't watch it with small children in the room.  There are some graphic images in it from WWII. Since I know most of you won't actually watch the video (it's a whole 33 minutes...that's a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-91170888283190945582011-10-22T17:36:00.001-04:002011-10-22T17:37:11.609-04:00

When I was still at Central, about every two weeks or so we had an "event" where we would meet to engage in listening prayer for each other. It probably happened more often in less formal settings, but I was only there on Saturdays.  On the off weeks we'd meet and receive a teaching. In listening prayer, we'd circle up around someone, often laying hands on them, and ask G-d for a word for them.

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-8823787836668158582011-10-21T12:51:00.000-04:002011-10-21T12:51:48.859-04:00

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been playing the “what if” game.  I played it as a child and I play now as a grown-up of sorts. There are different kinds of what-ifs, some healthier than others.Firstly, there are the ones that simply cause more anxiety:What if the neighborhood cougar eats me when I take the compost out?  (although the neighborhood cougar was very real, it never attacked a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-53350138998821126232011-10-15T17:56:00.000-04:002011-10-15T17:56:59.238-04:00

1. Go to graduate school or seminary. 2. Get a urinary tract infection (UTI). 3. Instead of going to the doctor for your UTI, try and take care of it yourself with cranberry. 4. Consume about half a gallon of cranberry juice every day. 5. Skip school because you are in too much pain to go to class. 6. Finally go to the doctor when the pain become unbearable (after about a month of self treatment)

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-82221487631511477182011-10-13T10:27:00.001-04:002011-10-13T10:35:37.305-04:00

Is one language ever really enough? Almost everyday I find myself searching for words and more times than not, I come up with them in a language other than the one I'm supposed to be speaking. I was in class the other day and we were talking about how Jesus could have come in and demolished the Romans (but he didn't, because that wasn't the way he had planned), but I couldn't think of the word "

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-4983008832754323562011-10-09T13:27:00.000-04:002011-10-09T13:27:49.611-04:00

This morning in church I sat right in front of 4 year old Abel and his dad.  I often sit in front of Abel and his family or across the aisle from them.  Today when it was time for the morning offering to be received, Abel decided that he was going to help his dad collect the offering (Abel's dad is a deacon).  Without missing more than a beat or two, Abel's dad handed him an offering plate and

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-59476373808416838282011-10-07T21:23:00.000-04:002011-10-07T21:23:24.800-04:00

I'm not usually a very angry person, but tonight, I am angry. So if you'd rather not read an angry blog post, stop reading now. I just need to be angry for a little bit. Dear person who came onto our farm today and purposely opened a gate and left it open, I don't know who you are, and you'll probably never actually read this.  This is probably a good thing because if I did know who you are, you

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-38939326425721932702011-10-02T21:46:00.000-04:002011-10-02T21:46:44.272-04:00

Today was Worldwide Communion Sunday.  For those of you who didn't grow up in the church or just have no idea what that means or why it's important, it's basically a Sunday where many churches around the world have decided to celebrate communion or the Eucharist.  It's really neat to realize that on this particular Sunday churches all over the world are doing the same thin, albeit often in very

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-39337015030017238532011-10-01T21:10:00.000-04:002011-10-01T21:10:54.500-04:00

Today, instead of doing my homework, I decided try out a recipe that my cousin had sent me.  It was for gummy worms.  I have not been able to have gummy worms for a long time because gummy worms tend to be made with lots and lots of corn syrup and my body really doesn't do well with corn syrup.  Which is problematic because I really like gummy candies.  (I like jelly beans too, but aside from one

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-91556632699761159712011-09-30T17:11:00.000-04:002011-09-30T17:11:45.642-04:00

In the past week I've spent a fair bit of time in cemeteries. More than I usually do for sure.  In one cemetery we were looking for a particular headstone, so we spent a lot of time looking at headstones trying to find the right one.  It was a very large cemetery and I may have gotten a little bit lost, and we didn't find the stone we were looking for that day (we went back the next day when the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-85732710462280874952011-09-27T18:06:00.000-04:002011-09-27T18:06:45.833-04:00

So I've been rather silent lately.  My apologies to all of you who keep coming here hoping to find something new to read and then not finding anything at all.  The biggest reason was that I pretty much slept from Thursday through Sunday.  I've gotten some sort of bug that just has me down and out.  Even if I wasn't sleeping, I was just laying there, existing.   Somehow, by the grace of G-d, I was

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-78218716491560323452011-09-19T17:20:00.000-04:002011-09-19T17:20:43.204-04:00

So I should be working on translating Greek (we are working through Mark 3 for tomorrow) or prepping for my sermon next Sunday, or doing readings for class or something else productive.  But I don't want to. I mean, I do want to, those are all great things to do, and sometimes like doing all of them, but right now, I don't want to. I preached yesterday.  It was an interesting experience.  It was

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-43518989174243809552011-09-15T18:02:00.000-04:002011-09-15T18:02:30.971-04:00

This morning I did a brief seizure 101 session for one my classes, because whether I like it or not, I did have a seizure on Tuesday and people in my life like to know what to do if it happens again. (We are praying it was an isolated event!)  After class I wrote up a brief summary and e-mailed to my class, because I couldn't remember if I'd said everything I needed to say (I ought to use notes

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-77119961029731753532011-09-13T22:06:00.001-04:002011-09-13T22:33:34.803-04:00

This post is a list of prayer requests because there is so much on my heart today. Number 1: Tamara (a friend of my brother) and her son Terrence are in the hospital as 3 year old Terrence receives chemotherapy for leukemia.  The hospital is very far away from where Terrence's daddy and siblings live.  Please pray for healing for little Terrence and that G-d would somehow use this situation to

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-22871859984658779662011-09-10T20:58:00.000-04:002011-09-10T20:58:10.875-04:00

“You’re late” It wasn’t so much a question as it was a statement of fact. Not even an accusation.And not just from one mouth, but from many. There was nothing false about the statement. I was late. It was 8:10. Normally, I’d have been home and well through my breakfast by 8:10, instead of just arriving, but for some reason hearing that statement in the locker room caused the anger to rise up in

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-73272051954661275962011-09-03T22:04:00.000-04:002011-09-03T22:04:51.749-04:00

A while back I wrote about how seemingly insignificant actions can have profound impacts on people, beyond what you can easily tell.  Today someone acted in a seemingly insignificant way and became an answer to prayer. I was having a rough day.  I was having a go round with "sunburn syndrome", a condition in which it feels like my entire body is sunburnt, even though it is not.   I don't know why

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-89562629001277702632011-08-30T21:29:00.000-04:002011-08-30T21:29:09.840-04:00

I'm back. For the last 2 weeks we have not had internet in our house.  If I sat outside I could sometimes get it, but it wasn't a great signal and if too many vehicles went down the road in a row, I lost it.  But now, there is internet in our house. I'm happy. And a little worried.  Wasting time will be easier now. ;) On a more serious note, I am back in seminary now.  Orientation was last week,

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-75068924552554927262011-08-28T13:05:00.000-04:002011-08-28T13:05:20.688-04:00

So, I'm thinking of a passage, but I can't remember it.  I'd like to use it as my text when I preach on Sunday, but to do that, I need to remember it.  So, engaging all of your brains in addition to mine, maybe we'll come up with it. Once upon a time there was a king. I think he was one of the good kings, perhaps even before the divided kingdom.  Anyhow, a sacrifice needed to be made either

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-3302888903275587122011-08-27T07:56:00.000-04:002011-08-27T07:56:02.679-04:00

Yesterday was the annual all seminary retreat.  I'm going to decline commenting on the content of the retreat for the most part at this point (that might come later).  For now, I'm going to talk about the ending.  As normal (well, as much as I can judge normal, having been to a grand total of 2 all sem retreats) we closed with a communion service. Now I love communion.  Especially at seminary

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-66960410833406153352011-08-23T16:07:00.001-04:002011-08-23T16:07:00.388-04:00

Some time ago I was wasting some time on a website called "Dear Blank Please Blank".  It's a website where people can write "letters" to other people.  Sometimes the submissions are humorous, sometimes they are pretty lame.  As long as you don't bother with the discussion threads it is usually pretty inoffensive Most all the time it's a good place to waste time.  Anyhow, I was wasting time there

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-66427236136499225432011-08-21T20:22:00.000-04:002011-08-21T20:22:03.428-04:00

Tonight I preached from Luke 9. I'm getting more and more comfortable preaching.  Today it was Pillar church. When I preach at Pillar, we set a podium up and the congregation sits on one half the sanctuary.  Usually that is fine.  Today though, they all sat about 6 rows back.  I wasn't okay with that. So I just picked my stuff up and moved up a few rows, and preached between two pews.  I told the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-34783400474140703402011-08-20T19:13:00.000-04:002011-08-20T19:13:00.758-04:00

Recently I took a trip to my former college to see some friends and spend my break. One night as I sat in the dining hall I began to reflect on my food-related experiences in college. It would have been easy for me to make a case to be exempt from meal plan. I mean, for me, eating is a very dangerous activity. The college also could have easily requested that I not be on meal plan.  Trying to

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-91052665894877143932011-08-19T05:42:00.001-04:002011-08-19T05:42:01.773-04:00

On our way back from Canada we went through Chicago, partly because we needed to take Sarah Elizabeth back and partly because JB wanted to see Chicago.  So we did some touristy stuff and I took some touristy pictures.  I'd love to go back sometime when I'm not pressed for time and be a real tourist.  Spend more time seeing the things I want to see like the museums and the aquarium. The classic

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-66818186432030106912011-08-18T09:09:00.000-04:002011-08-18T09:09:04.764-04:00

Another part of visiting the farm is seeing friends. Olga joined Sarah Elizabeth and I for a diaper demo.  Here Samson the bunny is modeling the cow diaper cover, which is cute, but not practical because it doesn't have leg gussets to keep messes in.Sarah Elizabeth roasted some marshmallows over the stove while Angie and I waited for our chocolate mint pears to cook on the BBQ.  We wanted to do a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-26473645490835024972011-08-17T22:07:00.000-04:002011-08-17T22:07:00.578-04:00

I took a quick trip up to the farm last weekend to see the dentist and my family and run a swim meet.  As always, it was an adventure. Part of going to the farm is the animals. Within the first day of being home I had to give a little guy and enema.  He was a slow nurser so he didn't get enough colostrum soon enough so he had retained part of his meconium (first poop), which isn't super bad but

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-70494751395442248072011-08-16T18:50:00.000-04:002011-08-16T18:50:13.237-04:00

I'm back in Michigan after a whirlwind trip to Canada and back.  Currently I'm working on a sermon (preaching date got changed from the 28th to the 21st) and am beyond exhausted. I will write a more substantial update (and post some pictures) once I'm more awake and have more of this sermon done. In the meanwhile, know that I am back at my apartment, my dad is still sick and school is starting

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-47138915428121003672011-08-09T13:30:00.000-04:002011-08-09T13:30:45.666-04:00

For some reason, unknown to everyone except G-d, I cannot stay hydrated like a normal person.  I've known for years that I need copious amounts of water to stay hydrated.  When I was on my TMI team, I was always the first in line to fill up my canteen and often the last to fill it up, because I'd finished half of it before we left the watering hole.  Not only do I require copious amounts of water

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-40544550843433817302011-08-08T19:07:00.001-04:002011-08-08T19:07:01.647-04:00

Any Celebration needs good people.  I didn't get pictures of nearly everyone (too busy having fun), but here are some snapshots. Neti holds a brownie in one hand and munches on a cracker from the other.Nathaniel watches the action from his strollerBecky and Clara.  Clara is making funny faces at meAnna, Dan, Becky and Noah.  No one was actually looking at me at this pointJudy, Stacey, and Kristie

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-12145375718918708952011-08-08T06:47:00.001-04:002011-08-08T06:47:01.958-04:00

Every Celebration needs good food and since my excitement levels and the amount of baking I do are correlated, there was a lot of baking done for this celebration An overview of the table before I started carrying things outside.  Not pictured are the cheese and cracker plates, including both store bought crackers and homemade crackers.Fruit Bowl with cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, blueberries,

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-42754992147928437162011-08-07T18:43:00.000-04:002011-08-07T18:43:59.550-04:00

Since the 100 Day Celebration was kinda sorta a big deal, I made a new dress.  In all honesty, I needed a new Sunday dress anyhow.  The celebration just gave me more motivation to work on it and get it done. My dress hanging in the my apartment, waiting for Saturday.At the Celebration.  The flowers behind my head are from my dear friends Travis and MariahFull length shot of the dress after the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-29320098867492331482011-08-06T04:17:00.003-04:002011-08-06T04:17:01.810-04:00

Any special day needs special music.  Over the last few weeks I've been putting together a list of 100 songs that are "Yeah Jesus" type songs.  I ended up with a couple more than 100, so I relegated some of them to the 150 song list (I'm being optimistic).  I found videos for some of them, but not all of them because that would have taken a really long time.  Every song has a reason why it made

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-57980327534469459452011-08-05T16:38:00.000-04:002011-08-05T16:38:22.418-04:00

I have spent today in preparation for my 100 day seizure free party, also being called the Psalm 30:2 celebration.  I had the oven up to temperature by 8am this morning and stayed on until almost 3pm this afternoon.  It never sat empty for long.  Anyone around the seminary this afternoon got to sample and everything passed.  The lemon lime bars didn't get taste tested because they are still 

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-86500790606045484262011-08-04T18:31:00.001-04:002011-08-04T18:32:12.906-04:00

I have stuff to write about, but I don't want to write.  I want to bake yummy things.  I mean, I do want to write things, just not right now.  I've been glued to the computer since 2 this afternoon working on swim team stuff as well as other stuff and being distracted in general. (RCA's Breaking Barriers publication came out today.  Enough said.).  Anyhow, in lieu of writing, here is a snapshot

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-79903370961241513412011-08-02T19:43:00.000-04:002011-08-02T19:43:44.403-04:00

As with many things in life there is often and upside and a downside.  Sometimes they are completely unrelated. First for the upside and super-duper happy news: As of August 6, 2011 it will have been 100 days since I had a seizure. This is cause for great celebration. As Psalm 30:2 say, the LORD is the one who brings healing. I invite you to come celebrate with me and others. It will be a rather

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-83108230157846041932011-08-01T12:12:00.000-04:002011-08-01T12:12:29.977-04:00

I love the Church.  Not necessarily individual church buildings or gatherings, but the Church Universal. That's probably a good thing since I'm in seminary and heading towards a career serving the Church in some capacity. Sometimes things happen at churches that are extra special, like baptisms.  I love baptisms.  On Sunday we had a number of baptisms at First, and they weren't all infants!  (RCA

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-31363548406503625762011-07-31T19:49:00.000-04:002011-07-31T19:49:15.619-04:00

Typically when I'm posting a sermon manuscript I use the sermon title as my blog title, but this week my sermon didn't really have title.  Apologies to my Pre-ministerial Seminar professor who always stressed the importance of a catchy title.  I have a (sorta) good reason at least.  I'd struggled all week to write a sermon called "Expect the Unexpected".  I'd even, with permission, collected

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-86852303375997853402011-07-29T23:15:00.000-04:002011-07-29T23:15:37.412-04:00

For the average person, a trip to the grocery store is not an adventure.  But I have never been an average person, nor will I ever be an average person, so average events like going to the grocery store often turn into adventures.  Tonight was no exception... I'd made tentative plans to go to the grocery with a friend this afternoon, but for various and asundry reasons, that didn't happen.  So

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-64514247526480777582011-07-26T16:26:00.000-04:002011-07-26T16:26:19.032-04:00

Due to an unfortunate event involving a carrot, a super sharp knife, and my left middle finger on Sunday night I couldn't go for my swim this morning.  So I decided to write about swimming instead. You know you're a swimmer when... ...swimming with a new pair of goggles makes you super happy ...you go through swim suits faster than you do clothes (mom, that's a hint.  It's gonna be new swim suit

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-44486141105892635422011-07-23T11:11:00.000-04:002011-07-23T11:11:56.614-04:00

Hello everyone who reads what I write I'm working on a sermon (okay, I'm almost always working on a sermon) and I'd love it if you could share your stories about how requests or prayers or desired were answered or fulfilled in unexpected or unusual ways.  It doesn't necessarily have to be prayers like praying to a higher being, it can be anything, just unusual or unexpected ways that requests

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-91447946266028895212011-07-22T05:32:00.001-04:002011-07-22T05:32:00.299-04:00

The plan was perfect.  We’d thought of everything, or so we thought.  My sister needed picked up from the canoe course she’d just taught. We had reservations at a “safe” restaurant.  We had excuses for why we needed to ride along to pick her up.  The birthday cake was made and decorated.  Chores were done early.  We were ready to get in the car with our unsuspecting father and head out.  Then the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-41883213137794730692011-07-21T05:18:00.000-04:002011-07-21T05:18:00.450-04:00

One evening I set apart my entire evening from after dinner until bedtime.  It was going to be date night with Jesus.  It may sound cheesy, but I was excited.  I packed some blueberries for a snack (what's a date without some food?), got my Camelback all cleaned and filled, and set out towards Lake Michigan to watch the sunset with my Jesus.   It's about 8 miles (13km) from my apartment to the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-51618640220402067802011-07-19T12:43:00.001-04:002011-07-30T14:42:46.178-04:00

Some people are good at quitting, sometimes even too good.  Others, well, we just don't know when to quit.  We can be very determined.  Sometimes that is a good thing, such as when pure determination and hard work got me through college, in four years, 6 credits short of a double major, despite everything that life had thrown my way in those four years.  Other times it's not such a good thing,

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-25021269983453667422011-07-17T19:24:00.000-04:002011-07-17T19:24:49.363-04:00

Here's the manuscript I went into tonight's service with (with two changes- this one is single spaced and everything highlighted in red was highlighted in yellow on my copy).  I'm getting more comfortable preaching so I tend to "go off book" a little more often than I did at first.  I still read a little more than I would like to though. It never ceases to amaze me how G-d can take my stumbling

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-13801621408150735712011-07-11T15:39:00.001-04:002011-07-11T15:40:18.763-04:00

More of Stacey's storm pictures. Thankfully it only hit the side of the house. The power of wind is incredible!  Thankfully no one was in this car and it is neither my car nor Stacey's car!

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-51931991644564891252011-07-11T15:27:00.000-04:002011-07-11T15:27:16.413-04:00

More storm pictures from my friend Stacey

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-44788416307779826262011-07-11T15:24:00.001-04:002011-07-11T15:24:48.668-04:00

So my wonderful friend Stacey went out and took some pictures of the aftermath of today's storm.  And being the super amazing friend that she is, she said that I could share her pictures.  In an effort not to overload posts with excessive amounts of pictures they'll come in 2-3 posts.  Ready, set, go! I've seen trees uproot ground before... But this time it's an actual chunk of pavement. I think

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-48709363710549168562011-07-11T13:32:00.000-04:002011-07-11T13:32:11.417-04:00

Today we were "blessed" with severe thunderstorms.  We did need the rain, but maybe not the high winds that came with them. There are reports of trees down and damage all over the place.  I don't dare venture out on foot because there are more storms on their way according to the weatherman. Up until today there were only two places I really felt safe from storms -the lower chapel at Central and

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-39810216757771552602011-07-10T18:11:00.000-04:002011-07-10T18:11:48.550-04:00

So I was sitting on the couch this Sunday afternoon trying to work on next Sunday's sermon (it's coming awful hard this week), when I started craving peanut butter oatmeal cookies.  Which wouldn't be such a bizarre craving, except I'm severely allergic to peanuts. Not just "if I eat I'll get sick" type allergic, but "if I touch I'll swell up and if I'm foolish enough to eat something with peanuts

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-74418806113263615142011-07-07T18:35:00.001-04:002011-07-07T18:36:17.840-04:00

Shortly after my return to Michigan last week, I saw my neurologist.  For those of you who have been following this blog awhile, you are well aware of the struggles I have had with seizures and related neurological concerns.  My neurologist was very pleased with my progress and agreed with me that the medication seemed to be working well. (I'm currently 70 days seizure free for anyone who is

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-79445802448873490972011-07-01T18:52:00.000-04:002011-07-01T18:52:46.396-04:00

This afternoon while I was pickling asparagus (something new for me...I've never pickled asparagus before.  Just cucumbers and beets, but I like asparagus and I like beets, so pickled asparagus sounds promising.) I was thinking about radical evangelism, human trafficking and Jesus.  I know what the last three have in common, but I am still not quite sure how packing asparagus spears into piping

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-53591468153200146812011-06-30T18:08:00.000-04:002011-06-30T18:08:18.550-04:00

I haven't posted in over a week...oops.  Time for a quick update while my supper cooks. Firstly, I am back in Michigan.  No, I don't not have classes yet, but I am preaching a few times this summer, so being here makes that easier.  I will be back up to the farm very briefly in August. Before I left home, we had 6 crias.  I will post pictures of some of them soon. I only have pictures of the

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-5322392899227521482011-06-22T22:04:00.000-04:002011-06-22T22:04:57.459-04:00

Sparks dance like firefliesAgainst the blue green gray skyThe allure of the flamesBlue and yellow and green and redDraw me out of my terrorAs thunder rumbles without pauseLightening flashes big and boldYellow and silver across the skyThe smell of mint fills the airCriss cross applesauceBurning wood and hairDirt, soot, refuseColors dance before my eyesEver changing always the sameDeathly still, no

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-7363457316335816562011-06-22T13:44:00.000-04:002011-06-22T13:44:22.453-04:00

Some days a picture is worth a thousand words.  Today is one of them.

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-91404419851328909612011-06-20T04:28:00.005-04:002011-06-20T04:28:00.582-04:00

Do you ever start to think about something and then think about something else and eventually end up right back where you started?  That’s a spruce loop.  Some people might call it rabbit trail, but spruce loop is the far better term.   Besides, spruce trees smell better than rabbit poop any day of the week.Anyhow, we were driving home from some place the other day and I was thinking about a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-17486144179189720522011-06-19T22:45:00.003-04:002011-06-19T23:37:41.181-04:00

Right from the moment I woke up today, this song has been running through my head.  Not a modern remix of it, but the good old fashioned words sung with an organ.  I've marked some of the words that have stuck out to me the most (ie, have run through my head the most times) Christ the Solid Rock My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-10372949028266002212011-06-13T13:33:00.000-04:002011-06-13T13:33:03.987-04:00

Every morning that I'm on the farm, almost like clockwork, I hear the good morning voice.  It starts in the back on the upstairs hall "Good Morning Isaac" and then moves forward calling to the girls.  Then downstairs for Ben, Reuben, and Me.  The order changes only if we change beds or someone isn't home.  Every time it says "Good Morning" there is a replying, sleepier voice responding with "Good

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-9461481395783349822011-06-10T12:54:00.001-04:002011-06-10T13:06:03.562-04:00

This rant is directed at no one in particular...mostly just at life in general, yes there have been more than a few triggering events in the last week or so, but they have all been dealt with in a more appropriate manner than a public rant. It is very frustrating when people try and decide for me what accommodations or support I need or whether or not I should participate in a certain activity.

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-10206084834644457732011-06-03T18:48:00.001-04:002011-06-03T18:52:54.316-04:00

Two weeks ago I sat in the emergency room, crying in pain,  listening to a doctor I've seen before and trust (she has a stellar reputation), tell me that I had almost certainly torn the rotator cuff in my left shoulder. Four days later (Tuesday) I sat in the doctor's office as another doctor agreed with the ER doctor (without having seen her notes) -- I had most likely partially or completely

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-25600839771207768722011-06-02T12:10:00.001-04:002011-06-02T12:12:57.761-04:00

I have thoughts.  I want to write them.  Thoughts about love and alarms and the coming of Christ and Disney Princesses and alpaca babies and sunshine and butterflies and coloring book, but there has been a temporary setback in my ability to write these thoughts out. So in the interim, I leave you with this.  It's part of a note posted by a dear friend of mine (used by permission).  Due to a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-54884922512843402772011-05-31T15:42:00.000-04:002011-05-31T15:42:53.455-04:00

The lawn needed mowed so we engaged our environmentally friendly lawnmowers.Atarah is checking out the inside of the shop. Her buddy Duchess would not cooperate for the camera.This is what happens when you are late for dinner. It was Mommy's idea.  For real.  (except maybe the booger)

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-75283309821715367972011-05-28T22:44:00.001-04:002011-05-28T23:04:00.158-04:00

This post is all full of happy news-es.  No sad news-es allowed.  Okay? go! 30 days without seizures is great.  This is a good sign that the meds are working.Classis exams are done.  I passed all of the exams I took today. It's coming!!!!It's almost baby season! I got to have conversations about Celiac Disease and disability awareness/accessibility in churches today. My sister made rhubarb

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-38947540721495751922011-05-22T20:43:00.000-04:002011-05-22T20:43:44.605-04:00

Once a year we shear the alpacas.  It's kinda sorta a really big deal.  Lots of work, lots of people, lots of food.  Usually my job is in the kitchen, but the first two times we shore this year (Tuesday night and Friday) we were super short handed so I was out on the shearing floor.  Due to an unfortunate event on Friday I spent most of Saturday on the shearing floor too.  But everyone still got

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-50510938864737488852011-05-14T21:27:00.001-04:002011-05-14T21:28:43.183-04:00

After Walt the Pocket Kangaroo got home from seminary, he went to a fibre festival at the Ancaster Fairgrounds to help out there.  It was the first  year for this fibre festival, so business was a little slow, but that gave Walt a little more time to walk around and see people, and even learn some new tricks.  The fibre festival will still be happening Sunday, so if you missed Friday and today,

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-26212177684510043412011-05-13T20:40:00.001-04:002011-05-14T20:53:34.960-04:00

When Walt the Pocket Kangaroo was done at seminary for the semester and ready to head back up to Canada, he decided to take the Amtrack train.  He was very excited, but also a little nervous about it.  He  had never been on a train before.  First, he caught the train in Holland.  It was a very nice train, called a Superliner.  He got to sit upstairs, in a very comfy seat with lots of foot room

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-57476093018707423912011-05-11T06:27:00.000-04:002011-05-11T06:27:27.116-04:00

I am going on a train really soon.  I'm excited about the train.  I should probably change out of my pajamas and into real clothes first, and maybe eat some breakfast, but those are minor details. The train will bring me almost to Canada.  Then someone else will bring me to Canada.  If you want to pray for safe travels, that would be splendarific. Have an awesome Wednesday!

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-66890350857432403332011-05-08T12:47:00.000-04:002011-05-08T12:47:18.973-04:00

I don't actually know what an "ode" is, but it's a fun word.  This goes out to all the mothers. Whether you birthed us and bathed us, Whether you fed us and clothed us, Whether you were there all our life or just for a season, Whether we called you Mom, Mommy, Momma, or Mum, Whether you are young or old or just "well practiced", Whether you live close by or far away, Whether you comforted us when

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-65848385042236967252011-05-03T03:15:00.002-04:002011-05-03T03:17:12.890-04:00

Before I get to the meat of this post, let me be the first to acknowledge that I have no authority to write this post. I have not earned the right to write it. It speaks more to me than anyone else, and if anyone feels judged by it, know that I am judging myself more harshly than I would ever judge anyone else. There is a story told about an African village that experienced two extreme seasons

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-3205519355905487882011-05-02T09:29:00.000-04:002011-05-02T09:29:15.865-04:00

I got home from a worship service last night to discover my Facebook newsfeed absolutely exploding. For those of you not familiar with Facebook, the newsfeed is the place where all your friends' statuses and activity appears, all in one convenient location.  It's the prime location for stalking your friends and seeing who is engaged, who had babies, and what is going on in the world.  Last night,

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-43374594541475130542011-04-30T14:51:00.000-04:002011-04-30T14:51:14.822-04:00

I preached this sermon on Palm Sunday.   I waited awhile before posting my manuscript here because I knew there was audio for this sermon recorded and I wanted be able to post a link to the audio along with my manuscript, in case people were inclined to want to listen to me preach. The audio is in two parts.  I made it into video because I didn't know how to just post the audio.  So the videos

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-25632822285097076642011-04-27T17:45:00.000-04:002011-04-27T17:45:28.997-04:00

The other night I made bread.  I don't make bread very often because I don't eat bread very often.  I don't eat bread very often because I don't make bread very often.  With my list of food restrictions there exists only one or two options for me when it comes to store bought bread and they are both pretty gross...at little better than flavored cardboard, but not much.  I've been making my own

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104483.post-2027980155137382862011-04-26T12:52:00.000-04:002011-04-26T12:52:14.920-04:00

This is the manuscript for the last sermon I preached in preaching lab this semester.  The text was Mark 5:1-17. Jesus stepped out of the boat onto the foreign shore of the region of the Gerasenes.  Nothing in our text indicates that the disciples followed him out of the boat.  I imagine they remained in the boat, looking at each other and echoing the question they had asked just a few verses

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07181893019331733687noreply@blogger.com0