Jesus you are more than a friend

Your mercy and grace overwhelm me
You bring joy to my soul.
Your love and your grace never fail me.
Your merciful touch always heals me.
You bring joy to my soul.
Joy to my soul.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I watched the half hour special documetary on Dietrich Bonhoeffer that was on PBS the other day and I was surprised by a few things. One, I didn't realize he was in a secret group of men who on several attempts tried to murder Adolf Hitler. Also I didn't realize that he was caught and put in prison because of this.
These points were interesting to me because this is not the sort of thing that you associate a Christian scholar with but I would call him a hero. Would you?? This brought up a good discussion between Moses and myself. I think he did what other countries were afraid to do. Other leaders were turning a blind eye or too busy to notice what this man and his brothers were very aware was going on. He turned against his country and everything comfortable for the sake of strangers. I would call him a hero.
The book I am reading "The Cost of Discipleship" has been difficult at times to swallow because it speaks of a faith that I don't think I really know. I mean not in the sense that he did. I haven't had to abandon anything or suffer. I haven't forsaken everything and everyone for the sake of the gospel. I believe with all my heart that I would if I were asked to but I haven't walked that road yet. He inspires me that it can be done and the book is getting much easier now that I have learned how to read(smile , that's for you Allie)

Working at the Car Wash...

I have a funny story to share . Short and sweet. So, the other day despite my reservations to use up a car wash ticket on such a cloudy day , I threw caution to the wind and went for it. As I finish going thru the automatic wash I pull in to vacuum out the food that is in the back of my car that could probably feed a small family and while I am getting out of the car I notice the teenage boys next to me have decided that the whole state of Nevada should be listening to their music. Now, normally I wouldn't mind this but the rap music that they were listening to was.....Well.....NOT so nice. Very vulgar actually. Anyhew, I go about my business and I am trying not react with the look on my face. They were very nice boys who handed me the bottle of windex when they were done and the vacuum also, but their choice in music was again not so nice.
Everything is going along just fine when in pulls next to me on the other side an older gentleman in a brand new SUV. He steps out of the car and after hearing the music looks at me with a smile , but also kinda in shock and says, " Only in America" to which I reply with only a look of , "I agree" and I chuckle while shaking my head. As I am finishing up he then says to me, "Oh, I thought that was you bumping to that music!" I laughed so hard I had a hard time responding to him because if he only knew how funny that would be, and I say "Now that is funny" and he says, "Well, I am a pretty funny guy" Mister you have no idea.

New Book

So, my new book that I was all excited about the other day, that I blogged about with all the quotes and what not.... well, let's just say this one might take me a while. Those old dead guys man are they wordy.
It's very good and I am only in chapter 5 but this is one of those books that you have to take frequent intermissions or otherwise your forehead begins to hurt from the quizical look permanetly there while reading. Maybe that 's just me and no one else has ever had this experience while reading old dead guys books.
If so then just disregard this blog all together, if not and you know what I am talking about feel free to comment so that I don't feel so slow.

Happy Anniversrary

Mom and Dad 36 years is something to celebrate. I am proud of you and thankful for you. Hope you two love-birds get a nice break. Just singing your praises.

The Cost of Discipleship

I just wanted to share a few snip-its from the book I just started, The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrech Bonhoeffer. Coming off the heals of reading, Monday Morning Church by Jerry Cook this new book already is so parallel in theme. These quotes are from the introduction alone;
"When we go to church and listen to the sermon, what we want to hear is his Word- and that not merely for selfish reasons, but for the sake of the many for whom the Church and her message are foreign."
"The real trouble is that the pure Word of Jesus has been overlaid with so much human ballast-burdensome rules and regulations, false hopes and consolations-that it has become extremely difficult to make a genuine decision for Christ. Of course it is our aim to preach Christ and Christ alone, but , when all is said and done, it is not the fault of our critics that they find our preaching so hard to understand, so overburdened with ideas and expressions which are hopelessly out of touch with the mental climate in which they live."
"They are convinced that it is not the Word of Jesus himself that puts them off, but the superstructure of human, institutional, and doctrinal elements in our preaching."
"Does not our preaching contain too much of our own opinions and convictions, and too little of Jesus Christ? Jesus invites all those that labour and are heavy laden, and nothing could be so contrary to our best intentions, and so fatal to our proclamation, as to drive men away from him by forcing upon them man-made dogmas."
"When the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts the consciense. If they follow Jesus, men escape from the hard yoke of thier own laws, and submit to the kindly yoke of Jesus Christ."

What I am amazed at most is that this was written in 1937 first and then revised and Copywrit in 1959 and yet it is so applicable for this day and age. I guess this is a problem that the church has been having for quite some time. Nothing new under the sun.
Wow, I am excited to read this rest. This man's life and death(he was matyered for Jesus) tells such a story.

Take me out ....

Take me out to the ball game
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks
I don't care if I ever come back
For it's root root root for the home team
If they don't win it's a shame
For it's one , two, three strikes you're out
at the ol' ball game.

First thought of the season... the Giants need to find themselves a pitcher!!!

A day in the life....

So , today started off pretty good. Got the kiddos up and showered and ready to head out the door, when suddenly I realized it was hat day at Little Lites today. Can't be the teacher without a hat or have my son a straight' A 'student(no such thing in preschool) without a hat on hat day!!! He chose his new nike hat and I of course in preparation for the Bo' Sox first game this weekend chose my Boston Red Sox hat. Before we left though the phone rang and on the other end was an answer to prayer. Our kids dentist bill was dramatacially different than what I thought it was going to be and in fact my complete prayer for this situation was completely answered. I KNOW this is God's doing!! So we were off to school, with hats on our heads and a smile on my face.
Great day at school , some quotes from our class today ; Eli when describing his hat to the class "This is my hat from Ho-tucky that my Nana gave me" I believe it was a University of Kentucky hat, but Ho tucky I think is pretty good. Nathynn, when asked about the memory verse, " The debval is the bad guys boss." We then went on to have a wonderful loud parade and later a special visit from Pastor Louie that was pretty fun.
When I left school today the weather was absolutely fabuloso and so I decided today would be a great day for a car wash. This is the first time I haven't had kids with me thru the wash and let me just say that it was not nearly as much fun. The way thier eyes light up when we go thru the machine is a sight to behold and literally an event for them , kinda like going thru a disneyland ride. After I was done cleaning up the car I shut the last door and went to drive off when I realized I had locked my keys in the car. DAG- NABIT!!! I was determined not to let this ruin my day and the lady who was cleaning her car next to mine had a cell phone that she was kind enough to let me borrow. She had two little girls and said she wasn't going anywhere (fast anyways,w/kids at the car washit takes about half hour longer than normal) so I did call but of course Moses was busy outside and couldn't hear the phone. I then remembered that the gals for Joni's small group were meeting over at Starbucks and I thought maybe I could borrow Joni's car , run to get Moses keys , and then be back in enough to time to finish my other errands. All was well again. Thank you Jesus. I prayed for blessings for that kind lady and for Joni (it's good to have a big family) I was on my way to Wal-Mart for the things that Mo needed and on my way out the Older gentleman greeter was wearing a Bo' Soxs hat we exchanged mutual admiration for our hats and the team and I was off to get the girls from school.
I picked them up and Joni said that they lady who lent me her cell phone stayed around and chatted a bit with the other ladies . Get this , she said that she might be checking out the preschool. How great is that.
Just sharing a day in the life of Noel, Enjoy!!