Posts

Posted on

WORLD OF CHAOS

My son’s new band World of Chaos will debut at Rainbow Records tonight!

Westen been a stage hound since David Stradley asked for volunteer readers at a Delaware Shakespeare event on Market Street in Wilmington. He couldn’t read yet and Stradley had to feed him his line.

Westen actually made it onto a DelShakes stage in their production of The Merry Wives of Windsor and has acted in too many plays to name here (most for Pages Alive Theater).

He’s been learning guitar for a little while now and has had a crash course in bass to prepare for his musical debut.

If you’re local to Newark, Delaware, and want to support some awesome kids, we’d love to see you tonight!

Posted on

Isaiah 33: Reap what you Sow

Isaiah 33:1 RSV — Woe to you, destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed; you treacherous one, with whom none has dealt treacherously! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of dealing treacherously, you will be dealt with treacherously.

Matthew 7:1-2 RSV — “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.

This chapter details how the Assyrians will be laid low for their rampaging.

Posted on

Where I Find God

The first time I remember connecting with God was in the woods.

As a child, we had a trickle of a stream that ran along the back of our property and the spot was magical.

I could feel the whole Universe in those woods, like God was there in every leaf and breeze. Everything was in that one place.

I’ve had these moments throughout my life, but for a long time they were scattered over years.

Since finding Christ in my heart, quitting alcohol, and devoting myself to healing, I’ve found God present every day.

Even so, it’s not until I submerge myself in a quiet wood or float alone along a peaceful river, that I return to a feeling of oneness with Spirit.

Although my sons and their companions are a riotous bunch, a long tubing trip allowed me to break away and once again connect with God’s Creation. I’m not skilled at meditation, but it’s easier when magic is all around you.

Posted on

Isaiah 32: Faith Through Crisis

Isaiah 32:1 RSV — Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.

1 Peter 2:9 RSV — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In this chapter, I hear God calling His people to be righteous and just leaders in difficult times.

After the Assrian invasion fails, Judah will suffer economically. God commands the complacent to rise up and prepare to receive the fruits of His Spirit.

Posted on

More Lego

We’re getting ready to host an ocean-themed building event and I enjoyed yesterday’s set so much that I’m constructing a modified duplicate.

Posted on

Isaiah 31

Isaiah 31:1 RSV — Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

Jerusalem is besieged by Assyria and King Hezekiah is panicking. He wants to call out to Egypt for help, but Isaiah assures him that God will deliver the city to safety.

Posted on

Do What You Can

My parents wanted to homeschool me 40 years ago, but circumstances prevented that path.

They always encouraged a
home learning environment that had little to do with school. My father, especially, put my education in my hands and taught me to question the arbitrary authority of the school system.

I didn’t learn about their homeschooling intentions until I announced that we were going to homeschool our sons. In their quiet, unschooling ways, they gave me the space to imagine a more free future for my children.

We don’t get to heal everything in one lifetime, but we do get to set the course for future healing.

Posted on

Isaiah 28-30: Misplaced Trust

Isaiah 29:13-14 RSV — And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote; therefore, behold, I will again do marvelous things with this people, wonderful and marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hid.”

Isaiah repeatedly warns against trusting in political alliances, rules and rites, and human wisdom.

It feels like a personal warning as a I read and listen to different resources.

How does one keep one’s heart close to God while (over)thinking deeply through His Word?

I try to remember that I will always hold more ignorance than knowledge.

That’s why I choose to trust in God. The unknowable is nearly infinite, but God is omniscient.

Posted on

Not There Yet

Although I’m feeling run down this week, I have yet to reach my “climax of power.”

Nevertheless, I’ve never been terribly attached to the physical manifestations of conciousness.

I’m having a fun time in this vehicle, but I know that reality is much bigger than the material world.