Going Home

When I see this sight, I know two things.
I'm close to my childhood home.
God has graciously provided one way to our eternal home.

Rococo

Wanna Play?

Art is sophisticated play. It's getting your hands all dirty with wet, messy clay. It's wearing old clothes and getting paint all over them. It's pretending; "Let's say you live in a castle ....", or "Those clouds look like..."


Some of us never get over the childhood imaginations, the "what ifs" of play. Art is recreating the child. Children don't usually make much money I've noticed, but work is play when you love to do it!





Rococo
illustration from www.art.com
artist-Mary Cassatt

The Aroma of Love

Waking up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee every morning at home, I would walk sleepily to the kitchen where Mom would be sitting at the table drinking her coffee. Her hair would be all messy and she would be dressed in pajamas and robe, reading the paper while she sipped the black brew. She was security, comfort, and love. I knew that when I returned from school she would still be there.

Coffee didn't become my drink until college. Sitting in the lounge with friends, drinking coffee and talking was a daily habit and pleasure. Doing my art work, it seemed that a cup of coffee and a cigarette was a necessary stimulation to get the creative juices going. I gave up the cigarettes long ago but the coffee stayed.

So many memories go with coffee. One of my favorites was going out late at night with my soon-to-be husband for coffee and oatmeal pancakes. He taught me to drink it with cream and sugar, lots of sugar. But it all started with my mom.

Rococo
Picture from www.princetonol.com

Understand Me?

www.thecatgallery.com
Rococo

Changes

After every summer of greed, a new NBA emerges. This particular year, most of the developments have been relatively tame. Larry Hughes, despite having the most successful season of his career decided to abandon the Wizards in favor of Cleveland. It has been said before of Mr. Hughes that he needs a great deal of time with the ball to be truly effective. He is not a catch and shoot player like Richard Hamilton, and he is not a stand out three-point shooter. Cleveland already has a guy you may have heard of that should have lots of quality time with the ball. Nevertheless, Mr. Hughes did work well with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. Perhaps 2006 does hold some promise for Cleveland.

Unless there are additional developments, the Nets appear to be in an exceptionally advantageous position for next season. Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson form what seems to me the finest backcourt in the NBA. With the acquisition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, their frontcourt is a potent offensive weapon. The likely starting lineup averaged 87.9 points per game last year. Nehad Krstic will very likely be more productive. To say the least, this team will present severe match up problems for the rest of the NBA. Of course injuries can steal the hopes of any franchise. In 2003, the Lakers were clearly the most formidable force in the NBA until they lost their first and second best power forwards, and the rest of the starting lineup fell prey to various maladies. This year, the Heat had an edge over everyone at the center position, and were endowed with a beautifully balanced and gifted backcourt. "Flash" crashed, and the "The Diesel" blew a couple wheels. The rest is painful to remember.

Of course, the downfall of the Heat may have saved me from the grief that Robert Horry has given to so many. Instead, I could howl with glee at the downfall of the evil Pistons. Mr. Horry is my hero.

I guess the constant change within the NBA makes it interesting. Opinions abound and nerves are strained to the utmost. One must either love Robert Horry as I do, or resign himself to sobbing disconsolately whenever the blighter decides the occasion warrants a big shot.

Bachman
photo from Robert Horry pictures mistilynn.com

Preachin'

I've been preaching sermons lately. The thing is, if you're going to preach, you'd better get it right or you run the risk of leading people to the wrong conclusions. My last little sermon, "A Crooked Tree", was very much law-oriented. I realized this in retrospect. Not many people see our Gizzardgrit blog, (in fact, as you can see, the pews are empty), but if you did read it, be sure to re-read. Law without the gospel is devastating. Go ahead. Ask me why.

Rococo
Photo from FreeFoto.com

A Crooked Tree

He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil. Proverbs 17:20

I have struggled with the question of what effect watching movies with perverted language in them has upon a person. Here I believe is a connection. First we must answer the question of how do we get a crooked mind? Since I am a Christian, I believe that all men are born into a fallen world full of the effects of sin. We have a sinful nature, a bent towards selfishness. This can clearly been seen in the youngest child, who has to learn to think of others. He is self-centered. He needs parents to develope his conscience. They spend a great amount of time "civilizing" the young person, teaching him manners, right and wrong, and how to relate to other human beings. If this child sits for hours in front of a television, listening to evil speech and perverted language, or indeed, if his parents talk this way to him, his mind is formed in a crooked manner. His language will also be perverted and Proverbs says that he will fall into evil.

It is fairly obvious what happens to a child whose mind has been ill-formed, but what about adults? How about the person who was raised in a good home, has been well-educated, and has learned to distinguish good from evil? This too seems obvious to me. What we fill our minds with eventually comes out of our mouths. It may take a while to blot out a good up-bringing, but inevitably as we fill our minds with perversion, they will become crooked.

Upon reflection, we see that we are bent from the beginning and only become more so in this crooked world. As Paul says, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!...There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 7:24, 8:1

Rococo

Weather and Crops

The temperature here in Nebraska has been in the 110 degree category for about a week now. The corn is drying up without needed rain. The melons, which are irrigated, are growing quickly. Strange that a fruit with so much water in it does so well in hot, dry weather. I can just taste those red, juicy melons!

How Did It Happen?

Why is it that discussions between creationists and evolutionists so quickly devolve into name-calling? I try to stay out of these discussions simply because I do not know the scientific arguments well. However, I know what I believe. Most people do approach the issue from a belief system, whether naturalistic or Christian.

A firmly held system of beliefs does not need to be defended. It is uncertainty that makes people so vehemently argue their case, fearful that they will be proved wrong in some way. So back and forth it goes, with both sides claiming the idiocy of their opponents.

A truly intellectual discussion would be refreshing. Unfortunately, I've observed even top scientists on both sides of the issue sneering at one another. We all see what we want to see. An evolutionist looks at the layers of rock in a mountain and is awed by the millions of years it took to make those layers. He may even believe that God made that mountain through the process of evolution. A creationist looks at the same rock and is awed by God's power displayed in a world-wide flood which could have made layers of rock very quickly. There are assumptions on both sides of this issue. These assumptions come from the individual's belief system. We need a new approach. How about... civil discussion?

Rococo
photo from www.sights-and-culture.com/America-Cany...

A Single Work of Art

The idea of one's living space as a single work of art is intriguing. It is as though you were walking through a canvas, the difference being that you are making decisions with pieces of furniture, colors, and textures, rather than simply paint. The spaces are real spaces and they are all around you, ready to be manipulated and arranged in a pleasing manner. Empty spaces are as important in a home environment as they are in a painting on canvas. It is not at all necessary to cover spaces on walls. Walls, I've discovered may be left blank, unlike a canvas. An empty wall, with its play of light and shadow as its only decoration, creates a natural feeling of light and space that is peaceful and yet invigorating.

This particular staircase caught my eye, as the curve of the red wood invites one to go up the stairs and enjoy first the blank wall at the top and then other stunning views that are sure to follow.

Rococo

Failure to Thrive

"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. "Romans 8:24-25

Infants in orphanages sometimes have a "failure to thrive syndrome". There is a listlessness, a lack of interest in life, resulting in death at times, caused by lack of hope, really. For an infant to have hope, he has to believe that someone cares, that someone loves him and will take care of him. In a family, this hope is nurtured by mom and dad, brothers and sisters, through hugs and kisses, eye contact, proper feeding, and verbal interaction, daily proving to the infant that someone cares, someone wants the infant to live and thrive. With his stomach full and his senses stimulated, his heart and soul are full of hope - hope that it is a good world and that people can be trusted to take care of him.

God gives us hope by putting us in families. For those without hope, He offers His very own family, His very own Son to save us and nurture our souls. How do we know this? He has given us His Word, the Bible, to read, to hear, and to create that faith that we need so desperately, in order to live. He is our Father and we are His infants.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". Romans 15:13

by Rococco
photo from www.life2orphans.org/urgentneeds.htm

The All-Inclusive God

Jesus said, "Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest... Let the little children come to Me and forbid them not.... I have come to save sinners, not the righteous."

The Bible says," For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. " It says that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to him.

God's salvation is all-inclusive. It is for all races, cultures, and sexes. It is for rich and poor, gay and straight, young and old, slave and free. There is only one qualification and that one is easy to meet. You must be a sinner. He did not come to save the righteous.

Rococo

Ducks in a Row

In my experience, life goes much more smoothly when everything has a place. Things are easier to find, not to mention the aesthetics of a well-ordered room or house. Some people like life on the edge. When you have to scramble and hunt for what you need it does give one a feeling of excitement, but there is an excitement that can be found in organizing as well. For instance, my son recently found a pay check while organizing his stack of papers from college! Cleaning and organizing the storeroom can be very stimulating. It is a walk down memory lane! You can hold on to the memories while tossing out no longer needed things. Or you can find a very special place for those mementos. How to decide whether or not to throw something away? Remember that you live in the present and decide what is needed for you and your family to be comfortable and happy in the here and now. Clutter makes life difficult. It makes the home feel chaotic and unmanageable. Organization creates an atmosphere of comfort, security, and competence. Yes, I do like my ducks all in a row.
by Rococo
photo from www.paulgrecianphoto.com

Weight of Glory

One person's suffering may be another's delight. When I go with my husband to a farm supply store that he delights in, I feel as though I am suffering while I walk aimlessly around. A trite example maybe, but true.

In the realm of pain, how do we know what pain feels like to someone else? I went to the doctor and filled out a form asking about pain level on a scale from 1-10. Would the same amount of pain for two people be a 5 for one person and a 9 for someone else?

My son lifts weights and exercises. To him, pain is good. No pain, no gain, as the expression goes. So is excercise supposed to hurt? Does it hurt everyone to excercise or do others feel good while excercising? There are chemicals in the brain that inhibit the sensory perception of pain. If your body is low in these chemicals, you will feel more pain.

Pain is one kind of suffering. Living in poverty is another. The rich often suffer from boredom and guilt. Being lonely, misunderstood, abused, sick, and old all fall under the category of human suffering.

Our perspective about what is happening to us is what determines how we answer the question of, "On a scale of 1-10, where would you rate your suffering at the present time." If I have the world view that this is all there is, then I want to get all the gusto I can right now. If I find myself suffering instead of enjoying life, what wiil I do? It would make the most sense to just put an end to it.

On the other hand, if I believe that this life is tempory and flawed, that I have another life that is now hidden with Christ, I will struggle on, fight through my suffering as Jesus did, in order to obtain that which He has prepared for me . Indeed, even the present suffering is what He has prepared for me. I will remind myself that my present suffering is temporary light affliction in comparison to the weight of glory that He will reveal to those who believe.

Drought

Due to the hail, the melons will be late this year. Due to the July heat and lack of rain, the grass and crops are drying up. Drought again in good old Nebraska! Due to listlessness, I am getting nothing accomplished.

The melons need more time. The grass and crops need more water. The ground is dry and so are wesandmen.

What inspires you?

photo from ianrhome.unl.edu/drought/photos.shtml

No Peeking!

Ok, I'm back. The books were great. I read "The Million Dollar Mysteries", a series of five books by Mindy Starns Clark. Very exciting and romantic, all that good stuff. Couldn't put 'em down. There was a mystery in each separate book and an overall mystery that is not solved until the last book. So, if you are one of those people who can't stand the suspense and have to look at the back of the book to find out what happens, (this means you, As-kian), this series is probably not for you. It would ruin the whole effect to know how it ends. It's a good mystery when I have the patience to see it through to the end without peeking.
by Rococo
illustration from www.clipartheaven.com

Bookworms

Went to the library and wesandmen have books to read! See you when we finish the books, Gizzardgrit.

NBA Shot Selection

In game seven of NBA finals this year, the Spurs's field goal percentage was 43% and the Piston's 42%. The other six games were similar or even worse. Of course, the number one and number two defensive teams in the NBA are supposed to reduce shooting percentage, but it seems to me that both shooting ability and shot selection have suffered in recent years. The NBA is full of players with formidable physical gifts: Ben Wallace, Shaquille O'Neal, Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin, and Dwyane Wade, that have little or no shooting ability. This trend extends to all five positions. Raw athletic ability has become the most sought after characteristic in the NBA. Sometimes a team will have any number of players that can hardly even make open shots. More frequently, NBA teams have highly athletic players that can also shoot the ball fairly well. Unfortunately, such players are invariably given license to take any shot they want. To a great extent, this is how the game is played at all levels. The most gifted players are allowed to throw up contested eighteen footers, rushed, fade-away threes, and wild lay-ups. Fans and players alike encourage this behavior by "ooohing" and "aaahhing" whenever the miscreant happens to find the net. Furthermore, astonishing shootings nights are not uncommon for basketball players. Everyone has had that time when they took over the game and could not miss even the most ill-advised shots possible. No one remembers the time you were 1-17. This, as far as I can gather, is how players end up with 40% field goal statistics. I would be very interested to see how well NBA players shoot in practice. The times I have kept track, I shoot close to 70% from beyond fifteen feet, and I am certainly not a shooter. Even taking into account defensive pressure and hostile crowds, the percentages are inexcusable. Professionals have the time to take hundreds of shots every day. Most are capable of far greater efficiency. I believe that the world is full of guys that could easily out shoot Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady if given the same opportunities. However, these guys would never be able to guard or score against a Kobe or T-Mac. Maybe NBA basketball is the best way to play, but I am not convinced.

by Bachman

Only Human

When my college anthropology teacher told the class that man made up God, I was devastated. "Christianity is the highest form of religion to date, but we are evolving past the point of needing religion", he pompously expounded. Naive young woman that I was, I believed my professor. After all, he was much smarter, older, and more educated than I.

A couple of years later, after experiencing the fallout from my godless professors's indoctrination, I met another kind of teacher. The first day of class, my educational psychology professor unapologetically and inoffensively shared his faith in Christ, in a secular university classroom. I greatly admired his courage, caring, and leadership. This man made a difference in the life of a disillusioned and hurting young woman.

Minds are shaped and "expanded" in college. Few 19 and 20 year olds have the life experience and knowledge to closely examine the doctrines put forth by professors who are, with all their "expertise" only human after all.

by Rococo
illustration from the Kansas State Collegian

Contemporary Fantasy - The Good, The Bad, and The Horrible

Over the past two years of reading fantasy and critiquing it, I have come to notice many flaws and cliches that surround the genre like a perpetual fog. Through the fog, I feel that I have identified in my own mind what makes a good or bad fantasy novel. It seems that many writers whose work I have read or heard of make at least two of the three following mistakes.

1. They attempt to accomplish overly much, and to give an account of a multitude of characters. I believe that a story can be complex and intricate, but the writer should limit himself to encompassing only two or three major characters.

2. The writers tend to focus on the character's journey of self-enpowerment far, far too much. Never- the- less this aspect can at times, be compelling if portrayed in the proper light, and with the proper focus.

3. Fantasies often become distracted and fall into the trap of becoming formulaic. A fantasy writer should decide on what point he wishes to most strongly emphasize. This he should decide before he even touches his pen to the empty page!

On the flip side of all this criticism, there are certain qualities of writing which I believe can, if used properly, be the makings of an extremely compelling and enthralling epic.

1. The characters must be admirable, but not perfect, comparable to the mundane, but by no means unextraordinary. Formidable, but not overly so. Often it is the mistake of the writer to make the character powerful and perfect. However, it is even worse if the character is weak and self-serving! In order to create a hero that everyone can root for, the writer must locate a balance between the aforementioned qualities.

2. Some may disagree with me on this point, but in order to make a fantasy inspiring to its audience, there must be a definite good and evil, for there is no point in risking one's life for his friends, his country, his family, or even himself if there is no right or wrong.

3. The story, the characters, the locations and the creatures of his fantastic world, must be well-described, but not overly detailed. For if the writer falls into the pit of boring his readers with lengthy description, and/or overly complicated conversation, he will soon lose his audience!

Since I am very interested in this subject and am just beginning to create a fantasy novel of my own, I would greatly appreciate anyone who has any experience or ideas on the subject to respond to this blog. I do not claim to be a critic and a connoisseur of the world's fantasy novels. I simply thought it might be fun to state my opinions/ ideas on the subject of fantasy and to open up a possible thread for discussion.

by Sir Colin

Viewing America

I began this 4th of July 2005 by singing all the patriotic songs I could remember in the shower this morning (my voice sounds better in the shower). Yes, I am a patriotic American. I am very glad to live in a country that represents freedom.

The news media would have us believe that our country is evil, at least Bush and the conservatives are evil. And... I guess they are right. America is evil, but no more so than Africa or Europe. All countries are evil, in that all men are sinful.

Happy as I am to live in America, I do not put my trust in our government. Instead, I will trust the only man I know who did not sin. Jesus the Christ lived a perfect life, died a perfect death, and rose from the dead. He did this freely and graciously on my behalf.

Only He will I trust.

by Rococo

Reminder...

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Therefore we were buried
with Him
through baptism
into death,

that just as Christ was raised
from the dead
by the glory
of the Father,

even so
we also should walk
in newness
of life.

For if we have been united together
in the likeness
of His death, certainly

we also shall be
in the likeness
of His resurrection,

knowing this,
that our old man was crucified
with Him,

that the body of sin
might be done away with,

that we should no longer be slaves
of sin.

For he who has died
has been freed
from sin.

Now if we died
with Christ,

we believe
that we shall also live
with Him,

knowing
that Christ,
having been raised
from the dead,
dies no more.

Death no longer has dominion over Him.

For the death that He died,
He died to sin
once for all;

but the life that He lives,

He lives to God.

Likewise you also,
reckon yourselves
to be dead indeed
to sin,

but alive
to God
in Christ Jesus
our Lord.

Romans 6:3-11 Baroque

Puddleglum"s Speech

I was questioned recently on a statement I made about finding the scriptures to be the only thing I could "hang my hat on". This person, I believe was a naturalist. He became angry when confronted with a faith in the Word. I was reminded of Puddleglum's speech to the witch in The Silver Chair by C.S, Lewis. Here it is:

"One word Ma'am," he said, coming back from the fire: limping, because of the pain, "One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things-trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia.

by Rococo

Eagle's Wings

Artistic moments in Lord of the Rings abound. One moment that brought me to tears was the rescue of Sam and Frodo at the end of all things. At the edge of "hell", they are rescued by Gandalf and the eagles. I thought of our rescue from hell by Christ. Gandalf, the Christ-figure, swoops in on his magnificent creatures, the eagles. Eagles are a symbolic figure from the Bible. Isaiah 40:31 says,



Yet those who wait for the Lord wll gain new strength:
They will mount up with wings like eagles.
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

For those sound of mind and body, perhaps the thought of running tirelessly does not cause a thrill of anticipation. But personally I cannot wait!

Sexual Design

Just this morning I read an article by J. Budziszewski called "Designed For Sex", from" Touchstone, A Journal of Mere Christianity", the July/August issue for anyone interested. Their website is www.touchstonemag.com. I highly recommend this article for anyone searching for answers to questions about the nature of human sexuality.

A quote from the article: "In her book, Last Night in Paradise, Katie Roiphe poignantly wonders what could be wrong with freedom: 'It's not the absence of rules exactly, the dizzying sense that we can do whatever we want, but the sudden realization that nothing we do matters.'"

Does sexual freedom result in nihilism?

Law and gospel

Law and Gospel are the two categories under which The Holy Scriptures, God's Word, are comprehended.
I would appreciate hearing your responses to this thesis...
by Baroque

Mysterious Neighbors

I know where some hobbits live. At least I think I do. It's not too far from here, maybe 35 miles or so. It's way out in the country, surrounded by grassy hills. The hobbit hole has a round front door and even round windows. I wish I had the nerve to walk up to the door and knock on it. But, maybe I would be disappointed.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

----We are country people. Yes, we are old-fashioned and perhaps out of touch with the rest of our changing society. Still, we have people very dear to us living in the metropolis. We like to venture out of "hobbitville" upon occasion to touch bases with close family and friends. It is exciting and stimulating to see the city and get caught up in the business for a while... But oh, how sweet it is to arrive home to our little cottage, and revisit all the favorite places.
-----Our faithful hound greets us with fervor, adoration, even love! All is now complete in his world because wesandmen are home at last. The birds sing, the cat yeows his displeasure at us having left him alone, the cat yeows his displeasure at us having left him alone, the cat...uh, nevermind. It is wonderful to once more view the trees and the wildlife, but what is most gloriously evident to me is the sky. It is huge. With no skyscrapers to block my view, I can see for miles, endlessly it seems, and I am once again reminded of how awesome is our God. So, as I gaze at His beautiful sky, I feel in touch and at home.

-----I prefer God's creation to man's.

For the Unborn

No one is too small
To escape His notice
Or too fragile
His love covers all

Even the tiny ones
As yet unformed
They also will He call

In that final day
He will raise them up
The little, fragile ones
Standing straight and tall

by Rococo

Psalms 139:13-16