It seems like forever since the sun hit my face. This weekend, we here in Boise got a good 'ol dose of the stuff. It is soooo nice to see people come outside and working in their yards again.
All in all we had a great weekend. No major agenda. I love not having any plans.
Friday I worked really late again but we ended up having a movie night - something I look forward to. We watched the movie "Where the Wild Things Are". It received mixed reviews.
Saturday morning I took my son Jordan to a young writers conference where he got to see the author Roland Smith. He had a fun time and was able to meet with other kids that shared his same interest.
While he was doing that, the weather was so nice, I went back home and planted some rasberries in the back corner of the yard. It felt good to get dirty again - although I also tilled the compost and that job is a little too dirty (and stinky).
Another cool, fun thing we did was create a few cabs from some of the rock slabs I had found at last week's Gem show. One of the smaller slabs was a piece of blue tiger's eye. I've done a few pieces of tiger's eye, but never blue. Jordan was a little bit infatuated with the Tiger's eye, so I gave him a better piece of a rough cabochon for him to form and I took a larger rectangle. I think Jordan's piece turned out better but they are both nice. [insert pix]
I had also found a slab of brown jasper that looked like a picture of scrubland with a volcano going off in the distance. I think it turned out ok... [Insert pix]
I spent the better part of Saturday night studying for church. I was to lead communion Sunday morning and I wanted to do something a little bit different to help prepare everyone's thoughts. I wanted to provide a quick collage of Jesus' life that painted a reverant picture of power and truth - the kind that fits us in with His plan. Anyway, my church makes it a little easier because they know the Bible inside and out. I ended up reading selected short passages of the Bible at the beginning to focus our thoughts on the incarnation. I then gave quick commentary on the many, many things that Jesus did throughout his ministry. I followed this with passages that told the power of his death, resurrection, and then the revelation of His actions. Pretty awesome stuff and I think it went over really well apart from me getting all choked up. I always do that when I get up in front of people and talk about something I care deeply about. I put my notes for communion at the end of this post.
Sunday was most excellent. After Church we played in the sun, threw balls for the dogs, ate sandwiches. The temperature got all the way up to 56 degrees. Spring is almost here!
Sunday night was very good too. Jordan has been saving his money for a few months now. He had received some money in the mail for doing his part in a diabetis study. With the money he had saved and the money he received he was able to go to Toys R Us and purchase a new bike!
After grabbing some burgers we took it home and put it together together. Here he is - looking happy.
To top off our weekend, we watched the original version of "Rocky" in honor of the Academy Awards... although Jordan kept sneaking off to fidget with his new bike.
Good weekend - good stuff. Thanks for reading.
Here are MY notes and scriptures from the communion service:
This is He who we remember{Passages are from NSRV}Psalm 50: 1-2The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Revelation 19: 11-13 (John's testimony)Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God.
John 1: 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Exodus 12: 21Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Go, select lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover lamb.
{We know this was done at that time to save Israelites from the Death that God inflicted upon Egypt.}
Luke 2: 6-7 [Bethlehem],
While they were there the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 3: 21-22Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
{ Much of Jesus' teaching were through parables such as this one. There are at least 30 parables from our Lord... The Prodigal Son, The Foolish Builder, The Rich Fool, The Lost Sheep, Sheep and the Goats. Many of these we knew well in childhood. And they still continue to sharpen our minds today.
{He taught us the greatest commandment: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”}
{ There are many, at least 32, recorded instances where the Bible mentions Jesus' healing. Compassion was and still is an important part of His ministry. }
{ He changed water to wine, appointed apostles to spread the good news, walked on water, calmed the sea, drove out demons, Fed 1000s with a few loaves and fishes, gave a sermon from a mountain, was transfigured. He was tempted by the devil for 40 days in the desert, was accused of being in league with Beezelbul, was rejected in his own home town, His friends betrayed Him, His people rejected Him, and He saved our souls. }
Matthew 26: 48-50Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
Luke 23: 3-4
Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’
Luke 23: 23-24
But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.
Luke 23: 33-34a
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’
Luke 23: 44-46It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 24: 2-6a (Two women find the tomb empty)They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Isaiah 52: 9-10Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem;for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations;and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Revelation 5: 6-7 (John's testimony)Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.
Revelation 22: 5And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.
{Before the prayers...}Luke 22: 19 (on the da
y of Celebration of Passover)Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
Luke 23: 20And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
