Things don't equal contentment

Our Bakersfield church has opened spaces for our Clovis church's youth to join them in San Luis, Mexico this year. We currently have seven youth signed up to go. Today we met at a local elementary school where we took over their parking lot and washed cars to raise money for the trip's expenses. God is so good and used many generous people and their dirty cars to help us. Our last customer was a lady who had been to Mexico and was able to see the condition that some of its residents live in. She was happy to hear that our youth would get to experience that and be able to come back with hopefully a different mindset about material things. When I went to Mexico, during our high school spring breaks to help run Vacation Bible Schools, my attitude was transformed. I experienced a tough reality check seeing how little some people have. Yet in contrast to people in the United States who have many possessions, they displayed much more contentment, hospitality, and love.

Improving Communication

Some dear friends of ours taught us a communication tool to use in our marriage. Tasha and I use this tool quite frequently. It helps us to express our thoughts and needs.

Ground rules:
There is no right or wrong answer. Allow your spouse time to respond. You may not interrupt them. Make eye contact with them. Listen to what they are saying. Do not be thinking about other things, including how to respond to what they are saying.

Exercise - Two Simple Questions
Question 1: How do you feel?
Question 2: What do you need?

By asking these two questions you can gain insight into the mind and heart of our spouse.

Where do pencils come from?

My friend Mikey likes to flick pencils into the acoustical tiled ceiling at the office. Mikey is the spokesperson for the Toys R Us song, "I don't want to grow up". He is fun and wacky. I found this random picture through google images and thought it was great. This guy means business!



Office antics are fantastic. However, pencils that grow down from ceilings are not too professional. Safety wise this activity is a huge No-No. First of all, the man in the picture is not wearing a hardhat. Second, he has no eye protection. Third, there are electrical hazards in the direction he is throwing the projectiles. Fourth, that is a really tall ceiling which means retrieval of the pencils would be near impossible without an extension ladder or scaffolding which would also require a fall restraint harness... and so on and so forth. Possible solution to make the activity less risky - use dull pointed pencils to throw at a lower ceiling in an office space that is not your own.

Date Nights

What do you like to do for date nights? Kyle and I realized last year that we needed a regular date night. We needed us time outside of school, work, and the house. For awhile we've been going out to dinner on Friday nights. We love the idea. The problem is that I know I've gained a few pounds and this might be due to stress eating, but it might also be due to Friday night date nights. So, what are good ideas?

Abandon hope all ye who enter here

Here is Kyle in school mode. Very scary. Boo!

Ah! I need a break! Ah!

Yesterday I needed a break because more reading for school just did not sound like fun immediately after walking in the door. So I grabbed the camera and went right back out the door. Here are some pictures from my adventure.

Too cold to grow

Although it is too cold, we wanted to plant basil and chives. They have been getting down-poured onto for weeks now. They haven't really gotten time to just breathe. I brought them inside and they are growing rapidly.

Kyle's Pictures

Here are some pictures I've taken this month.


Bird.


Can you guess what it is? (hint: it has been mirrored)


Does anyone know why trees would be painted like this?


Barbed Wire Fence


Doesn't this sort of look like a cow skull you'd find in a pasture?


Rusty Signage

Orthodoxy vs Orthopaxy

Definitions:

The word orthodox, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion," from orthos ("right, true, straight") + doxa ("opinion, praise", related to dokein, "thinking"), is typically used to mean adhering to the accepted or traditional and established faith, especially in religion.

Orthopraxy is a term derived from Greek (ὀρθοπραξις) meaning "correct action/activity", and is a religion that places emphasis on conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace etc. This contrasts with orthodoxy, emphasizing a correct belief, and ritualism, the use of rituals.

(Wikipedia)

---

Can orthodoxy produce orthopaxy? What did Paul think? See link.

How can this disconnect between mind and heart be properly linked?

The battle is real

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Life

Friends

Tasha and I were able to visit with ours friends in Bakersfield last weekend. Precious baby Breanne (pictured with Ryan) belongs to Nick and Samantha. Darling baby Blair (pictured here with Samantha) belongs to Ryan and Kelly.





We enjoyed catching up with them and playing pass the babies. Tiny babies are so funny to watch and listen to. Both of these girls love to squeak and purr.