Monday, February 26, 2007

What do you do...

When all your power goes out?

This weekend proved to be a lazy time, as my trip to Chicago was abandoned due to the threat of an ice storm. Lindsy, Amanda and I decided we should still leave work early and hang out all the same. We went to a movie (Night at the Museum - pretty funny), and then drove an hour to Mount Pleasant to eat at a restaurant that turned out to be in Mount Vernon (only 20 minutes from IC). All the same it was fun, and we found a yummy Mexican food place in MP.

Saturday brought on more movies and a nice long nap. When Jonathan and I woke up, we realized we had no electricity and the ice was now 1/4" - 1/2" thick outside. No problemo, we'll just go to the mall. Or not... As we walked down the stairs to the garage, we realized, uh, garage doors need electricity, don't they? But would that really stop Jonathan? No. By candle light, he managed to unscrew the right screws and the door was open. Off to the mall we go! Or not... Turns out the mall thought weather bad enough to shut down the city was bad enough to shut down the mall. Dang it. But at least Best Buy was open, and that made Jonathan quite happy.

As we sat watching the weather on the nice TVs we called everyone we knew in search on electricity. Lucky for us, the Bovenmyers we up and going, so we went to their place for the evening to watch a ridiculous movie (The Producers) and eat pizza and ice cream. Unlucky for us, we came home at 11 to find we still were without power. Oh well! At least our water is run on gas so we could be sure to have hot showers in the morning.

Sunday came more relaxing than Saturday. We didn't have church, so we slept in (which unlike in our college years, actually only means till 8 for me and 9 for Jonathan). Then Kara M. came over for lunch before Jonathan and I went to see the movie Amazing Grace with other Eastsiders. Amazing Grace (for those who don't know) is the story of William Wilberforce who lead the abolition of slavery in England. It was a really good movie, although there were some parts that I didn't quite believe (but that's just me...). All in all, I'd recommend it.

Finally last night, I began picking out pictures for our scrapbook. From the last year? No. From the wedding? No. Surely not from Europe? Yes, yes indeed. It has taken me over 2 years, but I am finally sorting through our Europe photos. And let me tell you, it is no easy task. I am so not looking forward to next year when I decide to finally put together the wedding album.

I'd say it was a really nice weekend. And I really wish they could all be so lazy. :)

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Letting go of lies, holding on to truths

Lately I've been thinking about how the devil tries to divide and conquer God's people. What does that really look like? To me it seems like it would be very obvious, where you can see the breaking point and know what exactly changed course. But I'm beginning to realize that our enemy is much too sly and clever for such an open attack.

"Your enemy the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Perhaps division comes from believing one small lie. Something that seems very plausible ('You shouldn't say anything because you don't want to receive undo attention') or even half true ('They don't fully understand what you're going through').

We begin to dwell on that lie, thinking that it's true, that our fellow sisters/brothers might not be fully for us, and it soon the lie becomes a "truth" we believe. Slowly we withdraw, we begin to doubt the faithfulness of friends, the sincerity of those nearest to us, and completely ignore the outer circle of sisters/brothers. Before we know it, we are isolated, making ourselves prime targets for direct blows from Satan.

"Keep falsehoods and lies far from me." Proverbs 30:8

We need to take action against this form of attack. Find Scripture that will expose the lie, and fill it's place with truth.

"For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth." Psalm 26:3

Perhaps my fellow believers might not fully understand my hardships, nor maybe I might not tell them everything, but they can still help me all the same.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2