The Linguist

Ian:  Knowumsayin’?
Joshua (3).  Yes, Dad.  I know what you are saying.

The Bible

Week 27:  Psalm 26-65

Mia:  I just finished reading 1st and 2nd Samuel and 1st and 2nd Kings with my mom and brothers and sister.  In those 4 books it tells all about David’s life and how he was always running away from Saul.  It also is about David becoming king and how he was hated because of his faith in God. 

Now, in our Bible read-through, me and dad just started the Psalms.  They really top-off the stories in Samuel and Kings, ‘cause now it’s not the story of David, but the feelings of David.  I already know what happened to David, and now I’m reading his prayers, songs, and thoughts. 

This makes it a lot easier to understand David’s Psalms better because I can relate to the stories of David.  If you can’t  quite understand the Psalms, maybe you should read Samuel and Kings first.

Ian:  May I proclaim and speak rather than seal, hide, and conceal.

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.  Psalm 40:9-10.

I hear childlikeness. 

When can I go and meet with God?  Psalm 42:2.

I like how God is addressed here.

O you who hear prayer…  Psalm 65:2.

The Parry

Joshua (3) has this way of asking for things and, if the answer is “no”, he passes it off as if it wasn’t even his own request.

Joshua: Dad? Can I play Wii?
Ian: Not right now.
Joshua: Dad said “not right now,” Paige.
Paige: …

(It’s effective. Try it today.)

The Burrito

Ian: I don’t like rice in my burrito. There are already enough beans in there.
Makaena (10): Beans and rice in a burrito?
Ian: Yeah.
Makaena: Beans “start” you and rice “stops” you. You might get clogged up,

The Mall

We rarely go to the mall.  We went last Friday, though.

Paige (6): My eyes hurt.

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

The season after Pentecost is reflected on the altar by the color of green.  Green is associated with new life and growth.  In the Christian tradition, green came to symbolize the life of the church as well as symbolizing the hope of a new life in the resurrection of Christ.

Pearl Church Pictures

Compliments of our friend, fellow parishioner, and master photosmith Boone Rodriguez. 

Click image for some booyah.

Retreat Redux

Related to last weekend, here are some of the folks that make up the leadership team of Compassion’s Child Advocate Network in the Nortwest region.  I’m humbled and privileged to serve with them.  And they’re a laugh. 

Sheri, our Alaska Area Coodinator, was able to get to Portland a little early and had dinner with the the collection.  We’re big fans.

Sheri said something that made me realize that when it’s nice in Portland, it’s really nice.  She was commenting on the great weather and how beautiful it was here and I responded, “Too bad it’s not like this all the time.”  She returned, “I think you’re just saying that.”

Ssssshhh…

P.S.

Week 26: Zechariah, Malachi, and Psalm 1-25

Mia:  David wrote beautiful psalms!  Well, I guess some of them were beautiful, some of them are scary and sad.  I like how every time David speaks about his enemies and he goes to the LORD for help, it seems like he wants to make sure the “reader” understands that the Lord is strong and he is weak.  Also he points out he can do nothing himself and that he wants his whole life under God’s authority and in God’s hands.  He always says all he wants is to obey God.  He almost did it.

Ian:  God’s blessing is what he bestows on us as well as what he witholds or protects us from.

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; 
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.  Psalm 5:12.

Emphasis mine.

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

and has no slander on his tongue, 
who does his neighbor no wrong 
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

who despises a vile man 
but honors those who fear the LORD, 
who keeps his oath 
even when it hurts,

who lends his money without usury 
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. 
He who does these things 
will never be shaken.  Psalm 15.

Dear, Lord.  May you be Emmeline’s God.

From birth I was cast upon you; 
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.  Psalm 22:10.

Camp

We knew Aidan (8) had a full day of fun at camp when, at fireside time in the evening, he turned to his counselor and said…

Spork? I’m too tired to eat s’mores.

The three boys immediately to Aidan’s right are his buds Timmy, Jonah, and Simon (left to right).  And, college friends, you know these boys’ parents.