In my last "4th Anniversary" post, I complimented Erica on her cooking. In honor of that, here's my 4 favorite dishes that she dishes up (in no particular order):
1. Roast with potatoes, carrots, rolls, and corn on the cob
2. Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza
3. Texas Sheet Cake (and any other cake for that matter)
4. Shrimp and pasta in an alfredo/pesto sauce
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
4 Years, 4 Compliments
Day 2 of the four day, four post 4th Anniversary blog-a-bration:
Four favorite things I learned about Erica AFTER we got married (and we dated for six years before that!):
1. Her ability to not only still LOVE me, but to still LIKE me after 4 years of seeing my faults up close and personal (not to mention my capacity for annoyance and instigated irritation).
2. She can cook! You know how a lot of guys will say, "man, my grandma's cooking," OR, "my mom's cooking is the best!" Now, I'm one of those guys, because my grandma's (yeah, that's plural) and my mom can flat out cook. But I gotta say, my wife can COOK! Are you tastin' what i'm sayin'?
3. She's an even better mom than I'd imagined. I knew she would be a good mom, but to watch her way with Belle is a sight to behold.
4. Her love for God. She got a card in the mail the other day that read, "Some people walk by faith... with you, it's more like dancing." Ditto.
APK
Four favorite things I learned about Erica AFTER we got married (and we dated for six years before that!):
1. Her ability to not only still LOVE me, but to still LIKE me after 4 years of seeing my faults up close and personal (not to mention my capacity for annoyance and instigated irritation).
2. She can cook! You know how a lot of guys will say, "man, my grandma's cooking," OR, "my mom's cooking is the best!" Now, I'm one of those guys, because my grandma's (yeah, that's plural) and my mom can flat out cook. But I gotta say, my wife can COOK! Are you tastin' what i'm sayin'?
3. She's an even better mom than I'd imagined. I knew she would be a good mom, but to watch her way with Belle is a sight to behold.
4. Her love for God. She got a card in the mail the other day that read, "Some people walk by faith... with you, it's more like dancing." Ditto.
APK
Friday, August 14, 2009
4 Years, 4 memories
So in honor of our 4 year anniversary yesterday, I'm doing 4 consecutive posts of Four Favorite's Lists for the next 4 days. Today, my 4 favorite memories of the past 4 years:
(in chronological order):
1. Our wedding day--Golfing in the morning with the fellas, seeing the most beautiful bride ever looking at ME as she walked down the aisle, reception at rankin hill, and wisking away with that same beautiful bride.
2. Our honeymoon-- we went to the Mayan Riviera for a week of relaxation and exploration. We mostly laid on the beach, but the trip to the ruins at Chitzenitza were unforgettable.
3. Belle's birth-- in a word, surreal. Other than that, I was pretty speechless, but it was love at first sight. I'm still in awe of her each and every day as she does and says new things (especially when she says, "i love you, dad. You're my best friend."
4. Birth of our son--okay, so this hasn't happened just yet, but I know when it does in the next week or so that it will be incredible.
APK
(in chronological order):
1. Our wedding day--Golfing in the morning with the fellas, seeing the most beautiful bride ever looking at ME as she walked down the aisle, reception at rankin hill, and wisking away with that same beautiful bride.
2. Our honeymoon-- we went to the Mayan Riviera for a week of relaxation and exploration. We mostly laid on the beach, but the trip to the ruins at Chitzenitza were unforgettable.
3. Belle's birth-- in a word, surreal. Other than that, I was pretty speechless, but it was love at first sight. I'm still in awe of her each and every day as she does and says new things (especially when she says, "i love you, dad. You're my best friend."
4. Birth of our son--okay, so this hasn't happened just yet, but I know when it does in the next week or so that it will be incredible.
APK
Thursday, August 13, 2009
August 13th
is a very special day in our world. 4 years ago our worlds collided and we became one. We made plans to celebrate this Saturday since Thursdays Aron is gone literally ALL day and evening. However, when I awoke this morning @ 10:00, he was still beside me. I woke him up in a rush exclaiming he must have overslept. He just grinned...he had wanted to surprise me by taking the day off so we could spend our anniversary together.
While I made blueberry pancakes for Aron and chocolate chip ones for Belle, Aron put on the playlist from our wedding: we danced to a little Cannon in D, then sang a little Danny's song while the pancakes were cooking, and belted some Queen..."You're my best friend..." while we ate.
Aron & Belle created some sidewalk art while I showered...a nice touch, indeed.
While I made blueberry pancakes for Aron and chocolate chip ones for Belle, Aron put on the playlist from our wedding: we danced to a little Cannon in D, then sang a little Danny's song while the pancakes were cooking, and belted some Queen..."You're my best friend..." while we ate.Aron & Belle created some sidewalk art while I showered...a nice touch, indeed.We didn't do much today...but that was perfect. We spent the afternoon at the pool. I hesitated to put a belly shot on here in my swim wear...but maternity swimsuits are pretty decent, so here is week 38 belly shot:
And NO, my water did not break nor did I wet myself...we had just got home from the pool when Aron snapped this shot.
And NO, my water did not break nor did I wet myself...we had just got home from the pool when Aron snapped this shot.
And we still haven't chosen a name...aron must have been brainstorming...
ejk
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Miracle of the Cross
"The miracle of the cross is that out of the greatest tragedy, God brings about the greatest good."
To think that the immaculate, perfect, loving, meek, humble, just, innocent Son of God would be wrongly convicted of a crime deserving death and thereby executed is the greatest tragedy the world has ever known.
But this is no tragedy that randomly befell such an unfortunate soul as the result of some accident or morally nuetral act. No, this was a tragedy that was a direct result of our sin, our failure, and our shortcoming. To think that a tragedy would befall someone as a result of an accident is uncomfortable, but to think about a tragedy that is the direct result of a calculated decision is unfathomable.
And yet, the miracle of the cross is that out of the greatest tragedy, God brings about the greatest Good. Literally. Out of the single greatest unjust act in the history of Existence, God brought about the single greatest Good of the same existensial experience. What Satan meant to destroy the Fullness of God in human form, God used to give that Fullness to all mankind.
Therefore, God has seen fit to declare that the message of the cross is the power of God for our salvation. This power was demonstrated by Jesus himself even as he hung dying, as he uttered the words, "Father, forgive them." The power of God lies in his grace, and that power is made available to each one of us.
So, let us fight our battles in quietness and trust. Let us take hold of the power of grace and forgive as we have been forgiven, even as we nailed God to a tree.
Grace and Peace.
APK
To think that the immaculate, perfect, loving, meek, humble, just, innocent Son of God would be wrongly convicted of a crime deserving death and thereby executed is the greatest tragedy the world has ever known.
But this is no tragedy that randomly befell such an unfortunate soul as the result of some accident or morally nuetral act. No, this was a tragedy that was a direct result of our sin, our failure, and our shortcoming. To think that a tragedy would befall someone as a result of an accident is uncomfortable, but to think about a tragedy that is the direct result of a calculated decision is unfathomable.
And yet, the miracle of the cross is that out of the greatest tragedy, God brings about the greatest Good. Literally. Out of the single greatest unjust act in the history of Existence, God brought about the single greatest Good of the same existensial experience. What Satan meant to destroy the Fullness of God in human form, God used to give that Fullness to all mankind.
Therefore, God has seen fit to declare that the message of the cross is the power of God for our salvation. This power was demonstrated by Jesus himself even as he hung dying, as he uttered the words, "Father, forgive them." The power of God lies in his grace, and that power is made available to each one of us.
So, let us fight our battles in quietness and trust. Let us take hold of the power of grace and forgive as we have been forgiven, even as we nailed God to a tree.
Grace and Peace.
APK
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
37 weeks
has almost come and gone, and we're looking on to 38 weeks on Tuesday. I had Belle at 38 1/2 weeks....so d-day could be any day this week or later. I'm scheduled to work another week...12's Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. It could be quite an interesting next few days.ejk
Friday, August 7, 2009
R U Blameless???
"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart" --Psalm 15:1-2
In my life, I want more than anything to experience God's favor (not so much in material or emotional blessing, but to just KNOW that God is pleased with me). This Psalm asks the question, "God, who can live in your presence?" The response: "He whose walk is blameless."
Being blameless is a two sided coin. In essence, can God look at your life and honestly assess that you have no blame for wrongdoing.
Daniel was a blameless man who honored God, and in chapter 6 we find the government officials looking for grounds to blame Daniel for anything in order to have him removed from his position because they hated him. They went over Daniel's life with a fine-tooth comb, but in the end, they could find no grounds for accusing him. Here's why:
"They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."
This verse shows the two sides of the proverbial "blameless coin". The obvious side of the coin is avoiding sin. The scripture says Daniel was not "corrupt". In other words, he did not do any thing wrong. As David says in Psalm 19:13, "Keep your servant from willful sins; then I will be blameless, and innocent of great transgression." .
But I believe being blameless is a weighted coin. The other side, which I think much more people struggle with, involves taking action. While Daniel avoided doing bad things, he also did not avoid doing good things. Daniel was not "negligent" as the verse says. James 4:17 says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." If we are to be blameless, we can't afford to avoid responsibility. If Daniel saw something that needed done, he did it. He didn't put it off; he didn't hope someone else would do it; he didn't justify the intrinsic importance of the task at hand as menial so as to excuse laziness or apathy.
More than anything, I want to be blameless and experience God's favor. Psalm 84 says "no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
The ironic thing about Daniel's story is that the people conspiring against him made up new corrupt laws so that they could blame him for something--anything. But Daniel knew that being blameless in God's eyes is what really matters. And because he was, God protected him and shut the mouths of the lions meant to kill him. As Proverbs 2:7 says, "[God] is a shield to those whose walk is blameless," and 28:18 says, "he whose walk is blameless is kept safe."
R U blameless?
APK
Thursday, August 6, 2009
false alarm
I couldn't sleep Tuesday night...not a wink. Then at 2 am I started having contractions. After about an hour, they were pretty regular...about 3-5 min apart and very uncomfortable. On top of this, I thought my water might be leaking...I won't go into the details.
When I went into labor with Belle...she came so quickly; so we wanted to give our family plenty of warning. Aron's mom left Ripley about 4:30...and my parents left vacation in Florida about 7.
I went ahead and got an appointment with the doctor to see if indeed my water did break (they don't believe it did). But at about 2:00 Wednesday the contractions slowed and finally stopped.
Oops. We at least got a nice little visit with Grandma out of the ordeal!
And an ultrasound as well....He is measuring about 6lbs 2 oz...thank you God!
And I am measuring 36 1/2 cm @ 37 weeks...wohoooo!
I also just opened all of my birthday cards, and they were all so beautiful and perfect. Thank you everyone who loved on me in this way; it means more than you know.
Here's a random shot of Belle helping momma bake cookies.
And another of Belle soaking in her Grandma Jackie...serving her pizza and tea.
ejkMonday, August 3, 2009
Run the Race
So I ran a triathlon on Saturday, August 1st (see post here), and then preached a sermon at church the next day about running the race God has called us to, as the apostle Paul says in Acts 20:24, "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
In my message, I talked about how if we focus on ourselves--our own insufficiencies and inadequacies; our own imperfect life circumstances--then we are inevitably going to get discouraged and quit running the race. But when we choose to focus on God, our contentment is immovable despite our own lack of ability or ideal life circumstance. As God has said, "Those who honor me I will honor," (1 Samuel 2:30) and "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
I shared the following story of a fellow tri-athlete to end my sermon. If anyone had the right to be discouraged his own inadequacies or to despair at life circumstances beyond his control, it was this young man. And yet, because he kept his focus on who his father was, he was able to accomplish some extraordinary things... (watch the video. It's worth it.)
Aren't we just like Rick? We're called to run a race to help others around us, but we're so broken and helpless ourselves. And if we focus on our own helplessness, we will inevitably fail. But when we start to realize who our Father is and set our eyes on Him, we begin to see how little is dependent on us. As Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." And as Isaiah 26:12 says, "everything we have accomplished you (God) have done for us."
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."
Let us fix our eyes on him, and let us run the race.
APK
In my message, I talked about how if we focus on ourselves--our own insufficiencies and inadequacies; our own imperfect life circumstances--then we are inevitably going to get discouraged and quit running the race. But when we choose to focus on God, our contentment is immovable despite our own lack of ability or ideal life circumstance. As God has said, "Those who honor me I will honor," (1 Samuel 2:30) and "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
I shared the following story of a fellow tri-athlete to end my sermon. If anyone had the right to be discouraged his own inadequacies or to despair at life circumstances beyond his control, it was this young man. And yet, because he kept his focus on who his father was, he was able to accomplish some extraordinary things... (watch the video. It's worth it.)
Aren't we just like Rick? We're called to run a race to help others around us, but we're so broken and helpless ourselves. And if we focus on our own helplessness, we will inevitably fail. But when we start to realize who our Father is and set our eyes on Him, we begin to see how little is dependent on us. As Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." And as Isaiah 26:12 says, "everything we have accomplished you (God) have done for us."
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."
Let us fix our eyes on him, and let us run the race.
APK
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