Gone to rest and enjoy ...

We are on our way ... vacation some call it I guess. It seems strange to leave during the school year but we have no choice - the cruise is scheduled for Feb 21-28, so here we go. We leave with thankfulness to Julie's siblings at Home Appliance who have made this trip possible. The cruise is a perk from doing business with one of the store's suppliers. To surf for info on our cruise go to www.windstarcruises.com. We are on a "windstar" ship and are on the Costa Rica cruise.

We don't know what to expect, we have no preconceived ideas of what we're getting into and we don't know anyone else on board. We know we will be together, we know we will have opportunity to slow down - beyond that ... we shall see. We are excited, we are anxious, we are packed ...

There will be no posting while we are away. We are on vacation ...

Forever young

Joel 2:28-29 was the text for my sermon at Smithville MC, entitled Dream Dreams. The prophet is describing what occurs when the Spirit of God is poured out. The apostle Peter used this text to explain to the onlookers what was occurring at Pentecost.

In preparation I was particularly struck by the phrase "your old men will dream dreams." Why does the prophet emphasize the old will dream dreams? This thot led me to consider the reality of the loss of not only dreams but the actual ability and willingness to dream. Consider the poem “Ghosts of Dreams by William Herbert Carruth:

We are all of us dreamers of dreams,

On visions our childhood is fed;

And the heart of a child is unhaunted, it seems,

By ghosts of dreams that are dead.

From childhood to youth's but a span,

And the years of our life are soon sped;

But the youth is no longer a youth, but a man,

When the first of his dreams is dead.

'Tis a cup of wormwood and gall,

When the doom of a great man is said;

And the best of a man is under a pall

When the best of his dreams is dead.

He may live on by compact and plan

When the fine bloom of living is shed,

But God pity the little that's left of a man

When most of his dreams are dead.

Let him show a brave face if he can;

Let him woo fame and fortune instead;

Yet there's not much to do, but to bury a man

When the last of his dreams is dead.

One focus in the sermon was consideration of why we quit dreaming of what could be. I settled on the image of becoming "old" way to soon which leaves us dreamless. This is not an age specific comment. What causes this loss, becoming too old in our spirit to imagine, dream and commit to the possibilities? I'll leave that for you to consider and mull over because I want to get to the good news of Joel's prophecy!

I hope for an outpouring of God's Spirit on anyone who reads this blog ... may you dream dreams because of the Holy Spirit and your unwavering belief and hope in Jesus. May you and I be "forever young" ...

A Tuesday of love

Today Julie and the girls celebrated Valentines Day.

Allie decorated four boxes and filled them with mini-cheesecakes and jello hearts. Julie told Allie of two of our friends on a journey with cancer. Throughout the day Allie talked of Lois and Anna expressing a simple faith of God's love for them and that He would make them better. She emphatically stated "these boxes will make them happy." Bennett wanted to be close to the action and was most content when she could see Allie at work.

if you click on the collage you can enlarge the pictures

Henry surprised the girls by coming home for lunch and enjoyed a bowl of soup with Allie while Bennett napped. Later in the afternoon Kristi joined the threesome to deliver the box of love.

PS: Allie and Bennett parent's also enjoyed a box.

Tuesdays with Grandma

Allie and Bennett spend Tuesdays with grandma!
Typically Bennett comes Monday evening and Allie early Tuesday morning.
A few snapshots in the collage of

• finger painting
• making snow cookies
• cousins chatting
• look at me moments (OK that's actually going on all day) :-)
  
• picture making with stickers
• smiles
• grandma I love you

At day's end grandma is contentedly tired!

If you click on a picture it will enlarge.

because of Jesus I dream ...

I'm "working" on my next sermon and could use your insights, threads of thots and suggestions.

A simple question: What does your belief in Jesus cause you to dream about?

I invite any responses ...