dual personalities

Today is the last day of my 12-week Bible Study of Leviticus. We’ll start up again in the new year–still with Leviticus. I must say I have a new respect for Leviticus and a new understanding of how all those dietary laws and burnt offering regulations point to the one true and only sacrifice/atonement offered by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It has really been fascinating. And I like my group of ladies. I have enjoyed doing something serious. I have enjoyed doing my homework. I am sure I am a better person for doing it, and, God knows, I need help with that. (Read Leviticus, chapter 19.)

ONE DAY I WAS having lunch with two Wheaton students who were talking about whatever they were talking about—the weather, the movies—when without warning one of them asked the other as naturally as he would have asked the time of day what God was doing in his life. If there is anything in this world I believe, it is that God is indeed doing all kinds of things in the lives of all of us including those who do not believe in God and would have nothing to do with him if they did, but in the part of the East where I live, if anybody were to ask a question like that, even among religious people, the sky would fall, the walls would cave in, the grass would wither. I think the very air would stop my mouth if I opened it to speak such words among just about any group of people I can think of in the East because their faith itself, if they happen to have any, is one of the secrets that they have kept so long that it might almost as well not exist. The result was that to find myself at Wheaton among people who, although they spoke about it in different words from mine and expressed it in their lives differently, not only believed in Christ and his Kingdom more or less as I did but were also not ashamed or embarrassed to say so was like finding something which, only when I tasted it, I realized I had been starving for years. 

–Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets

Have you noticed that the red kettles are out and the Salvation Army bell ringers with them? Every year, from November through Christmas Eve, bell ringers stand next to Salvation Army kettles around the world and encourage passers by to donate money for those in need. The donations are used throughout the year to extend a variety of assistance to members of the community. This holiday tradition began in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee placed an empty crab pot outside a San Francisco ferry landing to collect money and provide a free Christmas dinner for the city’s destitute and poverty-stricken. Beside the pot he placed a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” As the boats came in, people tossed a coin or two into the pot, and soon he had all the money needed to purchase the meal. The idea soon spread to other cities, and it continues today.

So don’t be annoyed, be glad that the Salvation Army is still out there doing good. Carry some dollar bills in your purse or pocket so you are ready with some cash–because who uses cash anymore? Be generous and get in the holiday swing.

Yesterday was World Preemie Day, so, of course, daughter #3 made the wee twins special shirts to wear. (Lottie’s pants were real special too.)

Their shirts said: “Fight like a preemie/ 27 weeker/1 lb. 12 oz.” Lest we forget.

Fans of Dean Martin (and who isn’t?) may be interested in this.

This was very awesome.

And I ran across this recently. Perfect.

Sooner or later God’ll cut you down.

*James 4:8