Via de Cristo!

 

Good New Via de Cristo Weekend #53 will be 10 - 13 October 2013, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 26400 Little Mack, St Clair Shores MI 48081.
Please pray that the hearts of the Participants would be open to God's grace and love during these three days.

Marvelous Monday!!

We were blessed in southeastern lower Michigan with a warm, sunny weekend yet again!
The beauteous thing about this time of year is that even though it gets warm during the day and the sun beats down on my vinyl drivers seat in my Ranger and when I get in after work I let out a pathetic yelp as the fabric of my shirt pulls up and hot vinyl meets lower back, the nights are still cool!! And I do not mean cool as in hip or awesome. I mean temps down into the 50s (or even 60s, as is predicted for the first part of this week), wet grass and car windows in the morning, along with the sun that makes it tough to drive in the morning.

MSU opens up NEXT FRIDAY against Western Michigan and, although I am a WMU alumnus, I'm rooting for that elusive perfect season and BSC Championship! (http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/msu-m-footbl-body.html)

We had our GNVDC #53 first team meeting this past Saturday - great group of guys who I'm looking forward to getting to know. The weekend is 10-13 October in St. Clair Shores; we are in prayer for the Participants, that their heart would be open to God's grace throughout these three days. (http://gnvdc.org/)

The bedroom/bathroom/closet project is coming along well, albeit not as fast as my beautiful wife would have it. I'm moving from the bathroom into the bedroom: painting walls, trimming in natural pine, fixing up the sub-floor and installing carpet.(photos to come)

Our beloved Tigers just completed a five game home series with Kansas City and are in first place, 7 games up on Cleveland and 8.5 up on KC. They have the best record in the AL and only Atlanta in the NL has a better win percentage. This has not been the case in recent Tigers-history; they've always been fighting for a wild card spot and just happy to be in the playoffs, if they got there. This year, they're fighting for home field advantage throughout the playoffs (World Series home field has already been provided by the American League sluggers in the All-Star Game!).
Miggy is five homers behind Chris Davis in Baltimore and his numbers are better than last years MVP/Triple Crown season. It's a great time to be a fan, Mario Impemba notwithstanding. (tigers.com)

LGDT!!

Put the phone away

Ponder, if you will

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1g3Y2y89EU&utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffer689c6&utm_medium=twitter

Wonderful Wednesday!!

Sunny and 56 degrees on this summer/fall morning!!! Low lazy cumulus clouds drifting through the blue blue sky... Football time! Cool nights, the smell of wood fire in the air, folks wearing sleeves and pants, ... is that one of many adults I hear warning Ralphie that he'll shoot his eye out?!?
But i do get carried away...

Our first meeting for the GNVDC Men's Fall #53 is this weekend, Sierra the Malamute (below) gets her rabies shot and registration tomorrow, Moni's flying to Wyoming to see the grandbabies in a couple weeks,

two nephews of our have purchased new football cleats moved into their respective dorms (Brett M at Adrian College [go 'Dogs!] and Kenny attempting to walk-on at Alabama [roll Tide!]), and we are shifting the dinner paradigm from 'on the grill' to 'in the crock pot' (It must be pointed out here that this, in and of itself, is not a true indicator of season. I love to grill all year round, as long as i can shovel our Michigan snow off the grill cover. My beautiful wife would make beef, carrots, and potatoes in the crock pot twice a week if I let her.)

One thing that still yells 'Summer!' is the color. Green leaves, oh so green; yes living, breathing stomata-green leaves everywhere!! My wife said she saw some hints of fall colors as she drove south earlier in the week and the burning bushes in our yard are showing shades of that defining brick-red, but still the vast bulk of the foliage remains vividly green.

Dear Philip Douglas Coke,

You are a nice person but please don't take the baseball from Jimmy Smokes anymore.

OK?

Thanks.

... And then the Week

And so to work after a productive weekend...it is raining here in Livingston County, MI. I started some of the finish work in the back bathroom and am ready to finally tackle the adjoining bedroom. Need to update sub-floor, remove old trim, paint all walls and ceiling, add new moldings/trim out windows, install carpet and padding. It's going to be so homey back there after all these months (two years!!) of just using the room for storage and the cat litter. Praise God for providing the wisdom, motivation, and materials!
Tonight the Home Depot for some more bathroom trim (five outer corner moldings and one inner corner, and ceiling trim). Tigers at 8:10 in Chicago and leftovers for dinner.

Guide me, Father, through my work at work and my work at home; empower me with Your Spirit so that I would make decisions that please you. Be with Moni's mom today while she undergoes all these tests.

Thank You LORD.
 

Enter the Weekend!

It was a tough week here in Whitmore Lake, Michigan: stomach flu, extreme tension in the office, ran out of cat food, the Tigers sweep of the Indians in Cleveland... i'm thankful it's finally Friday and I do indeed thank God!

Lord of lords,
Thank You for bringing us through another work week. Thank You for meeting all our needs: physical, financial, spiritual, emotional. Thank You for the weekend that we are entering into right now - please guide us to use our time wisely and our resources for Your greater glory. Help me to be intentional regarding the project I'm finishing up in the back bedroom; give me wisdom and vision to accomplish this. Bind us together with ties that cannot be broken: a chord of three strands is strong!!!
We love You, Father; we praise You; we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You. 
Bring me back to my processor chair on Monday morning with renewed vigour to serve as You lead me. 
Bless also the new cursillistas from LVCCM #80; bless them and protect them from the evil one. 
Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness.
Amen

Happy Birthday Little Brother!

G Bro and his main man Joshua

Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now

Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now
 Our hearts in true devotion bow.
Your Spirit send with light divine,
And let your truth within us shine.

Unseal our lips to sing your praise
In endless hymns through all our days;
Increase our faith and light our minds;
And set us free from doubt that blinds.

Then shall we join the hosts that cry,
"O holy, holy Lord Most High!"
And in the light of that blest place
We then shall see you face to face.

All glory to the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To you, O blessed Trinity,
Be praise throughout eternity!

Hymn # 201 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Cantionale Germanicum
Tune: Herr Jesu Christ, Dich Zu Uns Wend
1^st Published in: 1648

What an Awesome God we serve!

No Run DMC rhyme this; more like Garrison Keillor on a Saturday afternoon ...


They showed up early Thursday night
The look upon the faces: fright!
Sung to, clapped for, and herded in
'Please sit down, we will now begin'

Silence now, let's go to bed
Questioning thoughts within their heads
Morning chapel, the Chicken song
Will the line for breakfast be very long?

Sing a song, hear a talk
Take some notes, take a walk
Good food, nice people, this could be cool
'Be on time' was the only rule

Share your poster with group
Tortilla wrap, potato soup
The Last Supper came, then sang the gals
Attempts to hide tears from pals

Lots of hugs and laughs and smiles
With God convicting all the while
Long days, good talk, and lemonade
Bathroom breaks and friendships made

Notes from loved ones warmed the heart
New crosses define the role, the part
Before we go, we sing and pray
With tons of people - what the hay!?!

We take our flowers,give hugs of love
Then, thanking God in heav'n above
For all the blessings of the day;
We leave the Weekend, and start 4th Day

Graces of God, big ones and small
Enable, empower the Good in us all
Study, Action and Piety
The three-legged stool: stability!

  GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I!!

In His Time...

In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful in His time

LORD please show me every day
As You're teaching me the way
That You do just what You say 
In Your time.

In Your wisdom, guide and protect us as we walk hand in hand with Jesus
Strengthen us, fill us with Your Spirit so full that we would only seek to serve You, in all we do.

Glory to God in the highest!!

 

 

God Loves You and So Do I!!

The LVCCM #80 Men's weekend starts tomorrow and i'm quite excited to see what crazy things the Holy Spirit will be doing in the hearts of His pilgrims. Please join us in prayer - that the candidates would be open and receptive to the Cursilo method and God's graces. Thank you and God bless!

Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of Your faithful
And kindle in us the fire of your love. Sen forth Your Spirit
And we shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.

Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructs the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise
And ever rejoice in His consolations. 

Through Christ our Lord, 
Amen

Good night

George Winston The Holly and The Ivy right now, actually his entire December album is running on Youtube whilest I apologise (not '...you shoot me in a dream, you better wake up and apologise', but defense of the faith apologies), tweet, and in general, wind down before bed.

Father,
Thank You for teaching me so much to-day
Thank You for loving me so much that You won't let me stay stuck in my mediocrity 
Grant us rest of mind and body tonight, and bring us to the morning refreshed and ready to serve
May our expressions of love be rooted in Christ Jesus, and performed that You would be glorified.
All praise to You, honor and praise and worship.
Amen

 

Praise God - He is Worthy!

The day begins with the cool 'football weather' temps. The morning birds, drawn to break their fast with sunflower seeds and gather in the dappled willows, I can hear as they join in the song of all Creation. The hummer wth the red neck-tie even squeaks and tweets in between tiny sips of sugar water.

I hear the faint rumble of the trucks on the pavement far away
They're going to their destination, they won't bother me to-day

 In His mercy, God has allowed me another day in paradise, another morning filled with quiet song before the duties of the day become the focus. 

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

 

Consider this, if you will

What is love? 
 
Love is the free self-giving of the heart.

To have a heart full of love means to be so pleased with something that one emerges from oneself and devotes oneself to it. A musician can devote himself to a masterpiece. A kindergarten teacher can be there wholeheartedly for her charges. In every friendship there is love. The most beautiful form of love on earth, however, is the love between man and woman, in which two people give themselves to each other forever. All human love is an image of divine love, in which all love is at home. Love is the inmost being of the Triune God. In God there is continual exchange and perpetual self-giving. Through the overflowing of divine love, we participate in the eternal love of God. The more a person loves, the more he resembles God. Love should influence the whole life of a person, but it is realized with particular depth and symbolism when man and woman love one another in marriage and become “one flesh” (Gen 2:24).


Reprinted from Catechism in a Year (http://www.flocknote.com/catechism)

Recipe #4

This is almost too simple to call it a real 'recipe' but I so thoroughly enjoyed this last night (and again to-day for lunch) that I'm actually typing it out...

I started with about 2 pounds of chicken breasts from my local market. I was on the way home from work last night and I knew we had a big salad that I could add some grilled chicken to. I didn't want to wait for a marinade to work on the meat so I seasoned them and just let them rest at room temp until the coals were ready. I used a generous dousing of Private Selections garlic/black pepper grinder that i bought from Kroger, and rosemary that i harvested about two weeks ago, let dry for about a week, then placed in my spice jars from the dollar store. I don't use a thermometer normally for chicken, but I cooked these six breasts over direct heat for about a half hour total. I moved to the second shelf (bun warmer) rack as the skin was getting browned sufficiently and these were still quite juicy.

If you're a 'list' person and don't need the commentary, here's the bare-bones recipe:

Bone-in chicken breasts
Fresh ground pepper and garlic
Dried rosemary

Grill for 15 minutes direct then flip once. Cook to 160 degrees. Let chicken rest under tented tin foil for a couple minutes. Eat.

{What follows is my narrative on seasoning meat and fish for grilling:}

For years, I would use salt, pepper, and seasoning salt (Lawrey's) and garlic salt to season everything. There was nothing else (unless I was making spaghetti, and I used 'Italian Seasoning').
Salt became a public enemy so I deleted it and changed the garlic salt to garlic powder. 
Then, as I matured as a cooker, I discovered herbs and fresh garlic, wonder of wonders!
Now, I grow and cook with sage, parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, chives, and dill.
The dill and chives give that perfect flavor to my potato salad, and I use the basil for amazing bruschetta. The sage I use mostly at Thanksgiving time for the bird and also in my stuffing.
And, to my wife's dismay, I like to experiment alot!

Almighty Father~
Please forgive my hypocrisy, my Holy Joe attitude, my vain attempts at seeking glory, when You and You alone deserve all the glory. Touch my heart with your perfect hand, remove the sin-blackened self-stain there and infuse Your Spirit to rule and reign there. 
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Please melt me, LORD, no matter how much I scream or resist; HAVE YOUR WAY WITH ME!
I don't want to run my way any more.
I want Your way: Truth and Life.
I want YOU, more of YOU.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - Amen

 

LVCCM #80

Midland, Michigan's Trinity Lutheran Church will host the upcoming cursillo weekends sponsored by the Lutheran Via de Cristo of Central Michigan (lvccm.org). The men's weekend is 1 - 4 August, 2013 and I am blessed to be sitting at the Table of Muchacho! An entire host of characters (and I mean characters!), including Mark, Chuck, George, Dave, and Murphy, will be joining me as we serve these candidates on their 3-day pilgrimage. Please pray for these brothers, that our LORD would speak to us in new and wonderful ways, while changing our hearts - all for His glory!!

'All in color, and so must all love be of every bright color to make my heart cry'

Monday Morning Offering

King of Creation,
We offer you all the joys, hardships, trials, and triumphs of this day. We seek Your guidance through every decision, we call upon Your good Spirit to live and love through us.
I pray this morning for my beautiful bride; that You would keep her safe, cool, and hydrated in this Michigan heat to-day.
I pray for all our family members in the various states they live in; that You would be with them in every circumstance. Protect them, keep them safe, bring them closer to You.
I pray for the candidates who will encounter You on LVCCM #80. Prepare their hearts for Your message, protect their families in their absence, and bring each one into a closer walk with You.
Father, so many of us can talk about spiritual things: Jesus, trust, Your will, Your plan, ... but sometimes we have a hard time actually living out our faith. In those times, Lord, grant us extra graces to over come our self-ishness, and the wiles of the enemy. 
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen
 

Even though I don't conciously do so,

I keep records of my moods, my temperamental tastes, my passing fancies - with 'bookmarks' and 'favorites'.

In the Firefox browser i am currently typing in, I am able to see a collection of snapshots from the various phases i've gone through for the last year at work. The prayer sites, the FHA sites, the music videos, the market indexes, the underwriting guidelines, ... each group sums up what I thought was so important at that particular time in my life.

And so it is with Mozilla at home: music, sports, movies, scripture, church calendar, hummingbird habits, the best soil for my basil, msu football, ...
Almost as revealing as a diary, it is.

http://www.catholicmatters.com/c251.htm

For this Sunday's readings, and  a wonderful expounding.

Family

Got to spend some time with niece and nephews, sister and brother-in-law, and mom and dad last night. I treasure these moments, and thank almighty God for family.

Sunny and hot to-day; i get to drive to Midland for our Team meeting at 1:30.

Hot n muggy

If you seek a pleasant motion picture, take in How Green Was My Valley, with Walter Pidgeon and Roddy McDowall.
If you seek a good meal, grill your pork tenderloin over Kingsford Mesquite charcoal.
If you seek a great venue for a ball game, visit Comerica Park, and enjoy the Lipari sausages from the concourse behind first base.
If you seek 90 degrees and muggy with a slight breeze,come to Whitmore Lake to-day.
If you seek the LORD with all your heart, you will find Him.

Beautiful Friday Morning!!

Oh my goodness the sun is rising and the breeze is cool and life is absolutely wonderful! The dumpsters have been emptied across the street and the coolers are being re-stocked by the Miller Lite man in blue. The boss is in his command centre taking care of business and the office dog Bentley is soundly rolled up on his little dog-bed. 

LORD, thank You for this new day, for every new day
Forgive me for taking so many days for granted.
Thank You for Love, and Peace, and Joy.

 
 

Youtube mix # 7

Elvis - Veronica
Devo - Freedom of Choice
Elvis - Accidents Will Happen
Devo - Whip It
Elvis - Alison
Vapors - Turning Japanese
Elvis - Everyday I Write the Book
Aha - Take On Me
Police - Every Breath You Take
The Summons; Team Song for LVCCM #80
Here I Am Lord
I Am The Bread of Live
Dead Milkmen - Punk Rock Girl
Violent Femmes - American Music
Peter Schilling - Major Tom
Ghoti Hook - Super Sumo
Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves - Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold

Oh how beautiful the sky

Just like one evening long ago in Middle Earth, when Peregrin Took looked to the West to see the last glimpse of the sun before it set on the eve of world war, so tonight here in Whitmore Lake, we looked one last time to the West and caught a bright farewell of Sun through the dark clouds.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has been enjoying our catmint (Nepeta x. Six Hills Giant), as have the bumble bees. And like Serena Williams dispatching Maria Sharapova in two quick sets this morning, so the catmint dispatched and overwhelmed all else who dared to share the planter box with it. It has grown huge, so huge, from one little gallon pot planted not quite one year ago.

Thank you LORD, for our jobs, and vehicles to get us there. Thank You for the dollar Haas avacodoes that made the best guacamole tonight. Thank You for the chicken breasts so wonderfully marinated in balsamic vinegar and oil, then cooked over Kingsford charcoal, then sliced to go on top of our Little Caesar's salad from last night. Thank You for the Kroger potatoes that have lasted so long in the dark Lazy Susan and went into the best batch of potato salad I've ever made. Thank You for the gasoline that went into the lawn mower so that we can keep the grass cut. Thank You for this computer that allows me access to the MLive Tiger Blog so I can comment along with Thirsty 2 and Aurelio Fan. Thank You for a nice television so I can entertain myself with movies like City Streets with Gary Cooper. Thank You for money to pay our bills and for our washer and dryer that work so well. Thank You for Otis - our Boy Kitty, and the cheap entertainment he so readily provides; and thank You for Sierra the Malamute, and her faithful companionship over these last 14 years.
Above all, thank you for Jesus, and for loving us so much.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
Amen

 

Garden Roster

The perennial chives are showy right now with their lavender flowers in full bloom, complementing them are the still manageable vinca with similar color flowers.
Tomato plants are really just getting started, my deck herbs this year consist of Italian Parsley, Sage, Sweet Basil, Lemon Thyme, Creeping Thyme, Greek Oregano, and the woody Rosemary. I used just a little sage on my grilled boneless pork ribs last night, along with fresh ground pepper and nothing else. Oh, the flavour of the pork just radiated through, with the slightest of sage accent. I also grilled chicken for our salad and this time i marinated the two large boneless breasts in equal parts of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil with a little fresh garlic minced up in there. Direct heat for the breasts and indirect for the pork - we shared a wonderful meal last night after a Tiger victory.

To-day LORD we pray for those who are grieving, mourning, and missing loved ones recently taken. We pray for the candidates on the upcoming Lutheran Via de Cristo of Central Michigan weekend #80 - that You would prepare their hearts even now for what You will be working in them during and after those three days, and that You would comfort and guide their loved ones in their absence. We pray for all those traveling, that You would protect them. We pray for those who don't yet know You - that they would respond to Your call, drop their nets, and follow Jesus

You alone LORD are worth of our praise, You alone are full of majesty and glory forever and ever amen!

.

A prayer for us...

Dear LORD,

To-day I pray for those who work with people - give them patience and understanding one for another
I pray for those who work outside in the heat - keep them safe and cool
I pray for those who use their minds to solve problems - give them clarity and focus
I pray for those who use their hands to build things - keep them strong and sharp
I pray for those who are on their feet all day - keep them healthy, restore their strength daily
I pray for those who are enduring hardship to-day - comfort them, bring them Your peace
I pray for those who don't yet know You - do not cease to gently call them
I pray for Your Church - keep us strong and steadfast in You
I pray for those celebrating to-day - that they would rejoice in You
I pray for those questioning to-day - that they would inquire of You
I pray for those grieving to-day - that You would be the Source of their strength.

Thank you LORD...

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen

...and a muggy Wednesday

Inside with three fans blowing while I type and try to imagine a way to try and cook the meat for these tacos I'm a fixin to make tonight without it making more heat in the kitchen...
hmmmmm
Try not,
do.


You can check the record over the last five years yourself, but I am not going to spout on about the Red Wings game 7 tonight in Chicago. Everytime I do something of the sort, I jinx the team.
It's like when, oh, Sanchez, for instance, is cruising along with a no hitter and it gets to the eighth and i text my brother and say something as benign as 'hey bro, you watching the tigers?'
Next thing is BAM Joe Mauer rips a single up the middle and I curse a bit and try to imagine how Jim Leyland can not possibly believe in things like jinxes.

I'm really not even going to mention the fact that there is also a Tiger game tonight in Pittsburgh (the city of Brandonly Inge) and that Hot Rod Allen is apparently not going to be in the FSD TV booth. So, Marvelous Mario will be teamed with none other than Craig Monroe (@CMo_27) and I am hoping beyond hope that CMo talks more than Marvelous does. See Dan and Jim on the radio are only flowing through the AM spigot due to the aforementioned Wings game taking precedent on the FM side. You need an effin Venn Diagram to keep up with these guys. (What movie??)

God bless us, every one.

Rainy Tuesday....

Father, 
Thank You for the time of year filled with hope, anticipation, and sunshine
When the grass is green and the buds are opening into flowers, 
The birds sing from dark to dark
And lifes slows down just a bit...
for a visit on the sidewalk with a neighbor
a leisurely water of the herbs with the Tiger game on the radio
a lengthy mental assessment of the tools and capacities available to keep the ants out of the hummingbird feeder...
Thank You, oh Thank You my God, for what You've done
You gave the greatest Gift of all
Thank You for Your only Son.

What mood is he in?

Social D - Story of my life
Social D - Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
The Clash -  White Man in Hammersmith Palais
The Clash - Clampdown live
Blink 182 All the Small Things
Cheap Trick - I want You  to Want Me
Guns n Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Boston - More Than a Feeling
Mili Vanili - You Know its True
Journey - Don't Stop Believing
Kiss - Detroit Rock City
ZZ Top - Legs
Peter Schilling - Major Tom
Queen - Somebody to Love
MxPx - Take on Me (cover)
Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
The Roches - Hallelujah Chorus
The Stones - Angie
Indigo Girls - Kid Fears
Dixie Chicks - Traveling Soldier
Dave Baldner - I'm losing Interest...
Flogging Molly - Requiem For A Dying Song


:-)

Memorial Weekend

Sunday afternoon; I have cut the grass, trimmed, fed the birds, filled the hummer feeder, cleaned the shed, potted my herbs and tomatoes, hooked up the water (thank you Jesus!), did my Home Depot shopping, mulched the trapezoid, mailbox, and plum tree; and am listening to the Tigers with a big cheese-bread samich.
Watched The Grapes of Wrath yestreday. Wonderful picture, classic...
We're going to the Pirate game tomorrow (JV pitching) at 1:00.
Note to self: bring the hose nozzle inside for the winter next year.
Wings tomorrow night can get to the Western Conference Finals with a win at home over the Blackhawks.

MLIA

I have a favourite pair of shorts. When I get home from work, I like to find them, and put them on. They are long, cotton, and comfortable - with the elastic waist. They stay up on me and don't slide down where you don't want them to. I also like to slip into my Adidas 3-stripe comfortable foot things. I don't know what they're called (they're not thongs, yo). They're called slides; I just found it on the internet.

Just good and proper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wRbo9FJ-yM


I like this one...

Picture perfect day

This is the kind of day you can get sunburnt real bad if you're not careful: not tremendously hot, partly cloudy much of the time, a nice breeze, and you haven't had a Sunday like this since ooooooooh... last August. Especially if you're out on a boat - just tootling along in your buddy's pontoon or zipping along in your jet boat with skiers and tubers following behind... don't forget the SPF 30!

A guy on a commercial just told me to lick the back of my hand and smell it. If it stunk, that meant I had bad breath.

Praying to-day for

> the LVCCM mens #80 team, meeting in Midland without me
> neighbor Scott with his hydrocele surgery coming up Tuesday.
> Moni and Kace E downtown for Eastern Market Flower Day
> little brother Gary who doesn't text or call any more
> big brother Stan who lost his son a week ago

LORD, in Your mercy, hear our prayer...

Are we going to scarborough fair?

Parsley and sage. Rosemary and thyme are in another pot. :-)

The warmth has returned...

We're getting the same weather, here in the middle of May, that we had last March. Just to-day, the wife reminded me that she was warm and would I put the air conditioner in our bedroom window?
Soitenly.

So, it's there, with the dog laying right under it, and I hope it blesses her when she gets home tonight and goes to bed.
Kitty continues to lay in front of our slider watching the birds and trying to claw the mosquitoes through the screen.
The little neighbor boy across the street is hopping up and down on his pogo stick - what a throwback?!?
Lots of new loans at work but no closings at all so far this month. Busy, busy though. I went to the greenhouse tonight after work for a couple hours. No customers there but i stickered alot of pots with price tags.

Thank you, Lord, for so many blessings each and every day: morning by morning new mercies I see!!

 

A Morning Prayer, from Mary Mullins

God of my life, I welcome this new day. It is Your gift to me, a new creation, a promise of resurrection.
I thank You for the Grace of being alive this morning; I thank You for the sleep that has refreshed me; I thank You for the chance to make a new beginning.

I give You my hands to do Your work
I give You my feet to go Your way
I give You my eyes to see as You see
I give You my tongue to speak Your words
I give You my mind that you may think in me
I give You my spirit that You may pray in me.
Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all mankind. 
I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works, and prays in me.
Amen


 

What is Adsense?
Why are there four flies in the house right now?

Recipe #17 Aunt Ginny's Applesauce

I found this online and Aunt Ginny was expecting someone older.

Made it this morning and I'm going to use it with one lonely banana to make some banana/apple bread with no eggs. Simple and quick:

4 apples, peeled and cored
1/4 c sugar
3/4 c water
tsp cinnamon

Chop up the apples and combine with other ingredients in a sauce pan. Medium heat until everything is mixed good then low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often. The smell is refreshing and reminds me more of fall, which will be here at some point I hope.
As the apples soften, mash with a fork or potato masher.
Yum yum yes!

Every New Day

Another glorious morning here in Whitmore Lake and my sweetie is coming home tonight!! Tons to do on this fine day, but thanks be to God I am able to attack these tasks with a sane mind and a healthy body.

Forgive me Lord for failing so often
Forgive my failure to love, to listen;
Forgive me for the self-ishness that I so often revert to.
May I find strength in You this day
to resist that temptation and to stand strong.
Only in You is this possible
But it is in You that ALL THINGS are possible.
Thank you, and I love You, too.
Amen

The Chives Are Huge!!

Up early, got some shopping done, trimmed and cut the grass, shop vac'd the dog hair, shored up the sagging siding, did the dishes, watched The Caine Mutiny, and took a nap. Talked to my sweetie and got a photo from her of our beautiful Joslin Mia.

My Self-Reminders: More Humility, less pride. More Generosity, less selfishness. More Listening, less talk. More Compassion, less judgement.
— JaredNieman (@JaredNieman) May 3, 2013

Lord, this is my prayer to-day, for every day... Thank You

Beautiful Friday Morning

Thank You for giving me the morning
Thank You for every day that's new
Thank You that I can know my worries
Can be cast on You

I love this time of year when the days are a perfect mid-70s and it cools off at night so that you still need to get up under that comforter...
Our Tigers pulled it out in the 14th inning after I was asleep: Don Kelly knocked in the go-ahead rbi after Miggy and Prince got walked intentionally.... heh heh heh
Wings tied up the series out west and will be home for games 3 and 4 Saturday and Monday.
I miss my sweetie.
The dog didn't want to go outside this morning.
The cat wanted to play; he loves his new scratch post I created last night.

Warm and Sunny!!

Another glorious day in beautiful Whitmore Lake as the sun sinks low enough so that our home casts a shadow onto our neighbours to the east.
Worked a short day to-day and took my sweetie to the airport for an extended weekend with her son and his family at the Francis E Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne WY (where, by the way, the Winter storm warning expired at 6:00 this evening, while it's 80 here!)
Stopped at mom and dad's just up the road from Detroit Metropolitan Airport and enjoyed an afternoon chat on the deck with a beautiful breeze keeping us cool. Mom fed us and I was on my way west out 96 to 14 to 23 and if you add those, you get 133, which is no special number in particular.
So I am listening to the forecast for spring storm Achilles on The Weather Channel as I type in front of our high-powered fan, recently recovered from the storage shed from underneath the lawn mower, big brown tarp, and several 2 x 4s.

Holy God, we praise thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee!
All on earth thy scepter claim,
all in heaven above adore thee;
infinite thy vast domain,
everlasting is thy reign.

Yes, amen, yes

UP!!

thumb's up:
Happy Farms sliced Munster cheese from Aldi's
Anibel Sanchez
Planting the sprouted garlic cloves in the pot in the deck
saturday afternoon naps

Sunny and warm

Glory be! The birds have been singing since long before dawn and I must say I have enjoyed the chorus!
Early out to Kroger for meals for the week and just now the dishes are all done up. Big Puppie is on the lead relaxing in the shade, my Sweetie has gone with little sister to get her hair 'done' (just what that entails will ever remain a mystery to me) and I expect it will be a quiet morning.

I have been asked to prayerfully consider being on the team for LVCCM Men's #80; I must call the rector with my decision to-day - i have put it off for too long. Pretty excited about this also I am.

Dear LORD, all praise and honor and glory to YOU! 
Infinitely wise
Ever loving
Mighty beyond measure
All Things beautiful come from YOU!
Guide me, direct me, empower me with Your wisdom, Your Spirit.
Be blessed by my thoughts and actions to-day.
All praise and honor and glory to YOU!

Payday weekends are always fun...

...both our vehicles have gas, we are well stocked with provisions - dry goods, meat, and fresh produce, and rent is paid.
God is good; all the time!
I watched The Hobbit last night and am re-watching again before the Tiger game to-day. Dishes are done, oven is warming up for a new banana bread recipe i'm going to try.
We went to breakfast early this morning (chilly and drippy) and then a brisk walk around Target looking for good clearance deals while also killing time until Aldi's (our new favourite spot) opened. Then Oh-Oh-O-Reilies Auto Parts for the 3157 bulb for the Bull.
Moni is out running errands with her sisters, thank God she's got two who live nearby (one with a grand-baby just six months old!). Oven is up to temp and I will put together this bread...

These are Gundabad Wargs, they will outrun you.
~These are Rhosgobel rabbits, I'd like to see them try.

Ok, bread in the oven and is there some way to mix batter with a little shitty mixer without sending it out like shrapnel all over the kitchen? Holy mackeral - do I need a good mixer with a big hook that doesn't have it's slowest setting as 6000 rpm?!?

65 minutes later and the kitchen smells pretty good. Galdalf and the 13 are just now escaping from the Misty Mountain orcs and Bilbo (with his new ring) is contemplating the beheading of Smeagol-Gollum in an effort to get out of the same mountains. But!!! Happy music plays and Bilbo simply jumps over the creature and runs out, barely hearing the cries of "Theif! Bagginses! We hates it forever!"

Bread is cooling and frozen Aldi's pizza covered with fresh produce and mozzarella is in the oven putzing along at 350 degrees. Bilbo has just stepped between the large orc on his white warg and the wounded Thorin Oakenshield, proving his toughness (really for the first time). It wasn't like that in the book, but Jackson can mix it up a little - i told him so.

Upped the temp in our Whirlpool gas range to 400 and put some more cheese on the pizza. MLB is showing the Rays at Fenway, which I am sure will take me to Tiger time. If I feel antsy, The Snake Pit from 1948 with Olivia De Haviland about a mental institution starts at 3:30.

I like home whites for baseball teams. The Red Sox look good with their red accessories accenting the white. The Tigers look darn good with their blue accessories accenting the home white, if i do say so myself.

I hate the whites
~Nobody likes the whites but we're going to Cuba.

 

Beautiful Risen Lord; Easter Sunday

O God, who on this day,
through your Only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen

Good Friday

It's all for YOU

Behold, the Lamb of God

Holy Thursday

Day 43

Eternal Father, I offer You
The Body and the Blood
Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son
Our Lord Jesus Christ
In atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful passion
~Have mercy on us and on the whole world

Holy God 
Holy Mighty One
Holy Immortal One
Have mercy on us and on the whole world

 






 

Day 42

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in Your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.
Against You, You alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in Your eyes
So that You are just in Your word,
and without reproach in Your judgment.
Behold, I was born in guilt, 
in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire true sincerity;
and secretly You teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
You will let me hear gladness and joy; 
the bones You have crushed will rejoice.
Turn away Your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.
A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from before Your face,
nor take from me Your Holy Spirit.
Restore to me the gladness of Your salvation;
uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:1-15

Day 41

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Day 40

O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed-it haunts me day and night. It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 

(Psalm 51:1-12 TLB)

Day 39

Father, forgive me

Day 38

Glory, honor, and praise to You eternal God
Unshakable, immovable
Immortal invisible God only wise
Perfect and holy
Righteousness shines through in all You do
You are faithful, full of mercy
You are truth
All beautiful things come from You
You own the cattle on a thousand hills
God be praised
God be praised!
GOD BE PRAISED!

 

Day 37

Christ Jesus, you have called me to love my wife tenderly and sacrificially, even as you love the church, but too often I know myself to be a selfish man with a distracted heart. Please give me patience, gentleness, and kindness toward my wife, and the wisdom to value her for her gifts and ideas. Teach me to be vulnerable with her, openly sharing my own heart and thoughts, hopes and fears, even as I seek to better understand her.

Remind me to be ever mindful of her interests and needs with each decision I make and to structure my life in such a way that she receives the best of my energy and attention, rather than the leftovers. Give me courage to passionately pursue relationship with her even when I feel wronged or wounded. Let me become for her a man of tenderness, kindness, creativity, and integrity, protecting and cherishing her by vigilantly guarding my own eyes and heart.

Above all, teach me to lead as you led, Jesus, in humility and service. Only by your grace can I be a godly man and a good husband for my wife. Lead me Lord, I pray.

Day 36

Lord~
Forgive my offenses against You
forgive me for looking at people with selfishness and arrogance in my heart
forgive me for thinking some people this status and some people that status
forgive me for not loving my brother like You love him
forgive me for considering opportunities to engage in dialogue interruptions
forgive me for putting my needs ahead of others'
forgive me for thinking of myself before my wife
...
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Amen

Day 35

Dear Lord~
Please protect and bring peace to all our family, in whatever situation they are in, wherever they are. We pray especially for Jon and Jen and Joslin Mia - keep them in your care always, and continue to bring them closer to You.
In Christ's name, 
Amen

Into Your care we commit our beautiful grand baby, Lord

 

Day 34

God of love,
You know what I need to be made ready for Your kingdom.
Bless me with those graces.
I lay aside every self-ish thought, word, and deed this day
And may I consider You and my brother always before myself from this day forth.
In Christ's name
Amen

Day 33

Who is left here to condemn you?
No one, sir.
Then neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.

Lord, you have that kind of compassion, that kind of mercy.
You are above the law, though You, on earth, fulfilled the law
You are more than rules and regualtions
You rule, but it is with compassion
You know our hearts, how filthy they are sometimes
Yet You tell each of us: Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more

Mercy
May we show each other
The same that You show us
Be pleased to help Your Church be more merciful, ever always seeking You first
Guide us always
Strengthen our convictions
Bless our efforts in Your name

But thanks be to God! Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!!!!

Day 32

All who call upon the name of the Lord
All who sojourn in this land not our own
All who are pilgrims
All who thirst
All who hunger for righteousness
All who beat their breast in humility
All who sing the praise of our God 
All who love
All who seek
Every member of the Body
This hour we join together 
Hear our prayer, o Lord
Change our hearts o Lord

 

Day 31

If I raise my hands just lift the shade
Will I reveal a sky heavy and gray?
Will last night be a memory sweetly fading?
How I hate a morning starting out this way
On these lonely raging mornings I would whip you if I could
But Your on the mighty side of strong and the perfect side of good

If I raise my hands will you grab me by the wrists
And will you try to pull me from the fray?
And even if my fingers join together into fists
Will you hold me firmly anyway?
'Cause I would try to escape you but for everyday I'm sure
That You're on the huge side of big and the hly side of pure

Ok, hear what I say
As I raise my hands and surrender today
Ok, here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way

If I raise my hands so weak and thin and frail
Will you reveal the light of mercy in your eyes?
If I cry to you faintly will my feeble whispers fail
Or will it find its way to a reply?
'Cause now that I'm exhausted I think I'm ready to admit
That I've spent all my resistance on someone I can't resist

Ok, hear what I say
As I raise my hands, in surrender today
Ok, here I will stay
Hands in the air singing have Thine own way

Light from my window sill make my way to the door
I hang my head and still I know your wanting more
Over the threshold now I move across the yard
Although my will allows my every step is hard
Now in the garden I carve out six feet of space
There make my will comply lie down upon my face
Been toe to toe to long I'm tired of fighting You
I see You were to strong, 'cause I am black and blue
But now I understand that losers do to win
How every dying man is sure to rise again
So I rasie my left hand one I raise my right hand two
Under the morning sun, my spirit cries to You

Ok, hear what I say
As I raise my hands in surrender today
Right here under the sun
Hands in the air singing Thy will be done
I'm here under the sun
Hands in the air singing Thy will be done
Ok, here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way
Have thine own way  

 

By Brad and Todd Olsen