Archive for December, 2006
Posted by
Steven in
Church,
General on December 31st, 2006 at 05:24pm
We saw two bumper stickers today. I’m an idealist but I also recognize that you can’t possibly accept multiple contradictory truths. I made a graphic out of these two stickers to illustrate this point. Truth is truth, period. Relative truth is illogical. I started to wonder why people buy into this kind of thinking then I remembered that not so long ago I did too. The Bible says the truth will set you free. When you read the Bible and believe that Jesus died to save you from the punishment of your sins (God is just), at that moment, you know the truth and you have been set free. Aside from having the gift of eternal life, you are also able to instantly discern that bumper stickers such as this are fallacies.
Posted by
Steven in
Photography on December 30th, 2006 at 09:28pm
I added what I consider to be my best or most interesting photos to a Steven’s Best Photos flickr set, and here it is. I’ve been told sunset and “paradise” shots are a dime a dozen and therefore boring. However, they are my favorite so nya nya nya. 
I finished C.S. Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet book, which Sudi Claus brought to me on Christmas Eve, and I enjoyed it very much. He wrote it many years before his Narnia series (published in the 30’s). It’s sci-fi, not pure fantasy. I read it because I like C.S. Lewis’ style of fiction in the Narnia books. I found though that this book was of a completely different type of writing. The themes of good and evil forces and biblical allusions were there but the characters and worlds are very different. It’s not a “funny” book or a particularly heart-warming story like Narnia (though the “good” characters are equally noble) but more of an exploration of extraterrestrial and philosophical “what ifs”. It seems to me that this first book in the series (three books in the “Space Trilogy” series) serves primarily as a foundation for the rest of the series (the last book is several times thicker than each of the first two).
The style of the series has definitely grown on me and I’m excited about continuing with Perelandra (Sudi suprised me with the other two books last night :). It’s very interesting how the first book ends by revealing that it was written in third person by somebody (only named as “Lewis”) who met Ransom (the main character) after the fact and makes you wonder if the whole story really did happen by explaining that they published the tale as fiction because they figured nobody would believe it. Then, in the second book, it is the author of the first book narrating in first person where he himself comes into the adventure with Ransom and what they do next (I’m only on chapter two so I don’t know what that adventure will be yet…).
I never thought I’d be saying this, but I love reading! And the thought crossed my mind to write and illustrate a fantasy book someday (put it in my big fat Goals.txt file).
We went to Church on Christmas Eve for the candle lighting service then had Christmas at Mom & Dad’s house with all the Gliebes, Lucy, Bob, Mark and David. It was a lot of fun.
SudiRoo got me Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis, a book light, “Go Fish” cards, a super portable tripod and a flickr Pro account (unlimited photo storage space, etc.). It really is the best way to store, organize and share your photos (has an API too). Sudi got some perfume, all kinds of purses, lots of clothes, boots and a custom CD. Lucy got a bunch of Joyce Meyer tapes and some other goodies. I made two oil paintings for Dan and Mom & Dad. Lucy made us beautiful oil painted aprons and brought the Gliebes some of that fine Mexican chocolate.
Here are our Christmas-time pictures, powered by my new flickr account (which is where we’ll upload all our future photos). Or, visit the actual Christmas 2006 gallery on flickr.
On december 9th, my good friend Reese invited Steven and I to her CD release. It was fabulous, she is a very talented saxophone player and singer. The opening numbers before her, were very good, great gospel music. It was a night full of fun and worship. Our other friend Britt was there and we all had a great time.
Ready to Go Out
|
Britt and Sudste
|
Sudi and Reese
|
Last week my honey took some beautiful pictures of the sunset and I have included one of them. This past Saturday, on December 16th I was invited to a Tea Party. I had never been to one. It was wonderful, I had Candy Cane Lane Tea and Cranberry-Orange Scones.
San Diego Sunset
|
Tea Party
|
Fun Times Ahead
|
Yesterday, I was able to sing with the choir at church, we sang from Handel’s Messiah, the Hallelujah Chorus, it was so much fun. I loooooove singing! After the service we took some nice pictures in front of a Christmas tree. It was a cold morning.
Hallelujah Chorus
|
Merry Christmas
|
Smile
|
Posted by
Sudi in
General on December 14th, 2006 at 12:44pm
Many years ago a jewish young woman was chosen by God to give birth to His Son. I imagine she was something very special in His sight, a woman with a deep and abiding faith in the God of Abraham. A woman of godly character.
A beautiful song about Mary and Jesus was written years back, and it’s one of my favorite Christmas songs.
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know, that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered,
Will soon deliver you!
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Will give sight to the blind man?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know, that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod
And when you kiss your little baby,
You’ve kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know, that your baby boy
Was Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
And this sleeping Child you’re holding
Is the Great I AM!
Posted by
Sudi in
General on December 13th, 2006 at 01:45pm
Yesterday I read a few excerpts from “Radical Reliance” by Joe Stowell about pursuing intimacy with God. Some of the quotes are really worth sharing.
The pursuit of intimacy is an intentional commitment to take steps towards God. It is the process of God-ward motion through which we grow more deeply conscious of, connected to and confident in Him as the only source to satisfy, sustain and secure us.
The pursuit is intentional. It doesn’t just happen, it’s not automatic, it is an act of the will. Getting to know God increases my confidence in Him. Confidence in His ability and commitment to sustain and secure me.
If God never does anything more then redeem us, cancel hell and guarantee heaven. If he never does anything more then that, he has already done more than I deserve.
God doesn’t owe me anything. He did it all on the cross and I am forever indebted to Him.
God is doing a lot of things for us that we don’t even know.
Sometimes I wonder how many things the Lord has rescued me from, how many things he does for me each day that I don’t even realize. The Bible says that His mercies are new every morning.
When the arrows of my passions and worship point from me to Him, I’ve successfully reverse the direction of my expectations.
A few years ago I read a book that said “It’s not about you.” Life is not about me, but about God and His eternal pruposes. That is why my passions and desires need to be lined up to Him. I was created for Him, not the other way around.
The experience of true intimacy with God does not require perfection but it does require that I am fully surrendered.
Posted by
Sudi in
General on December 12th, 2006 at 10:56am
I’ve always struggled trying to figure out what God wants me to do. Some people are better at just doing things and trusting that God’s blessing will follow, others just know God wants them to do this or that and many others, I suppose, don’t really care what God wants. I’m neither, I’m not desicive, I don’t “just know” and I do care a great deal. So that is my struggle, almost constant. Does God want me to do this or that, does He wants me to do this now, or next year?
Last week I read a portion of the Discovery Series on God’s guidance, I was reminded of some verses that brought me great comfort.
Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
I’m going to read these verses and remind myself that God wants to show me His will, far more than I could ever want to know it. I need to read my Bible and keep my eyes on Jesus.
Posted by
Steven in
Places on December 11th, 2006 at 03:29pm
I was browsing Google Maps using Satellite view today. I ended up on a big hill in Tijuana that I thought looked like a volcano and discovered this. It says “Jesucristo es El Senor” which Sudi tells me means “Jesus is The Lord”. Cool huh? I submitted it to the Google Sightseeing site for their consideration.
