Ok, as the previous two posts indicate, I am pretty tired of blogger… this is my attempt to see if wordpress can make things better. While I don’t like the idea of moving the crockpot, we might have to in order to have a cleaner and more efficient blog… We’ll see.
Let me know if you like the new digs…
For the second time I have attempted to migrate from classic blogger to new blogger and have, again, returned to classic. In the end, new blogger is just to hard to tweek the way I want to… which is sad because I really want to give the crockpot a facelift and clean up the side navigation a bit… I might just have move the crockpot to wordpress… who knows… sheesh
Ok, I am in the process of trying to convert my blog into a three column blog in order to pack it full of twocent goodness… so, it may take some time, but I think it’ll look and function much better when we’re finished. Until then, please excuse the mess…
So, I was reading the Gospel according to John this afternoon and was struck by three things in John 1:43-45
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
First – Jesus made a decision.
If ever there was a lesson that Christians needed to learn, this is one of them… Make a decision. Time and time again I meet Christians who love Jesus, who pray, who seek to glorify God, and who just can’t make decisions. Now, I am not saying that one should flippantly make decisions, especially major life decisions, but at the end of the day you have to make the call. So, pray, submit you plans to God and to people you trusts, and for goodness sake make a decision.
Second – Jesus found Philip.
In some ways this relates to what I just mentioned. See, Jesus’ decision to go to Galilee was not arbitrary… instead, he was on a mission that involved finding a very specific person. And guess what, Jesus found him.
Third – Philip got it wrong.
We always do this… Jesus does something and we try to take credit for it. Clearly Jesus found Philip. However, moments after this encounter we see ‘ole Phil running to tell his friend Nate about what had just happened and he says, “We have found…” Sorry Phil, Jesus found you. That’s just the way it is.
So, the take-away… Make a decision, fulfill your mission, and stop taking credit for Jesus’ work.
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery… so, what does that make impersonation?
I don’t know, but this is FUNNY!
I really like to check the mail. I think it is the anticipation that something really good or surprising might show up. Maybe a letter from a friend, a gift, a check, or a magazine. Now, I know that there are lots of un-fun things that come in the mail too, like bills, but I am willing to deal with the weeks and weeks of bills for days like today…
I wasn’t able to check the mail yesterday. So, this morning I took a peak in the mailbox on my way to the car. Much to my surprise there was a package from the Westminster Bookstore. I was surprised, as I didn’t remember ordering anything. I thought that Jenn might have bought something, but I assume she would have told me. So, after a brief debate in my head I decided to open it. Then, with great joy in my heart I saw a book that I had been eyeing for a couple weeks, Edmund Clowney’s, “How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments.”
Honestly, if I had a list of books I wanted to get right now, that one is in the top three. But no one knew that… I haven’t so much as mentioned the book to anyone. Inside was a letter from the Westminster Bookstore. They were thanking me for my support of the Westminster Bookstore via their blog partnership program. WOW!!!! THANKS WTS!!!!
Now, let me say that the book was a great gift and I appreciate it tremendously. However, gift or no gift my book links have and will always take you to the Westminster Bookstore. The fact of the matter is their prices are always the best, they have flat rate $5 shipping, and dang it, I want to go to school there… So, there you have it.
Again, Westminster Bookstore, thanks for the book… it’s just what I wanted… and you can bet that there will be a post coming soon with my two cents on it. Thanks.
Ok, first, what (not who) is “turducken?”
Robert and Erin,
Never have I met
two people like you
and rarely have I cared
so much as I do.
There are few who have faced
the trials you’ve seen;
thieves, moths, and vandals
and death’s vicious sting.
In all you have faced,
many have watched so amazed
as your hope in the Christ
shines bright through the haze.
And truly that’s why
I love you so much,
for I see in your lives
how to hope and to trust.
To hope in a King
who sits on his throne.
To trust in a God
whose love can be know.
You’re more than great teachers
mother, father, or friends,
you are lovers of Jesus
from beginning to the end.
My prayers through these months,
“God’s glory you’d declare,
from generation to generation,
to Owen your heir.”
This prayer has been answered
and in glory he rests,
before our great King,
so happy, so blessed.
With this joy we still mourn
and Owen we miss.
There is not much in life
that will be harder than this
But our hope is in Jesus
who conquered the grave.
Death is no match
for this king who can save.
It is he who will hold you
and he who will see
that through this great challenge
victorious you’ll be.
And Owen’s short life
will not be lost over time.
Instead it will declare
God’s gospel divine.
Owen will speak
of the God who does care,
of the God who did make him,
and the God who hears prayers.
Owen will speak
of Jesus the king
to a world that is dying
and must hear this one thing.
But how shall he speak
and how will he tell?
It will be through you
and the life that you share.
Owen was well born
and a warrior most true.
He gets that from his parents
they’re pretty tough too.
I close with this thought,
I learned it from you.
To God be the glory
In all that we do.
For from Him and through him
and to him is all.
To him be the glory
and joy for us all.
============
You are our dearest friends and Jennifer and I truly love you.
The following is the email I sent to my friends and family tonight. I have no other words:
Friends and Family,
I really don’t know how to do this and I know that a phone call is so much more appropriate, however, I don’t feel like I can muster the energy or heart to do it. So, please excuse the medium.
Today was a joyous and sorrowful day. Owen Greene was born this morning. Things looked promising early on as he was able to breathe on his own. Robert and Erin had the opportunity to spend a few moments with him before he was rushed to the NICU. Throughout the day his condition grew worse and worse. In the end Robert was allowed to hold his son at which time Owen’s heart beat faded. As my mother so beautifully put it, “he passed from his earthly fathers arms into his heavenly fathers.” Now we join the Greene’s in mourning.
I thank you for all your prayers and the many people you have shared this story with. Please continue to pray for Robert and Erin as they walk through this dark valley. If you wish to share a word of encouragement or thoughts of condolence, please visit Robert’s blog and click on “leave a comment.” I believe that it would mean a lot to them to hear from the many strangers who have held them close in their hearts all these months.
Again, thank you.
_ryan
As of 3:30 p.m. Owen’s condition has moved to unstable. He is retaining CO2 which means his blood/gas levels are not good. Please pray.
I’ll continue to post as new info becomes available.
thetwocentcrockpot 