Men of Integrity

Today I did some significant work on a research paper surveying the lives of four Old Testament men of integrity: Samuel, David, Daniel, and Nehemiah. I had so much enjoyment as the Lord showed me things while reading about their lives and work.

All four of these men were favored by royalty, reminding me of the proverb, "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [obscure] men" (Proverbs 22:29). Their integrity took them far, but it was their fear of God that was the source of their integrity. As they grew in favor with God, He brought them into favor with men. (An interesting passage is Daniel 1:9 - "Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.") True fear of God means recognizing His sovereignty above all earthly kings, growing in conformity to His character and standards, and doing heartily with our hands the work He puts before us.

Dead Feline?

Jess alerted my attention to this, and I had to

look close to make sure she was breathing. :)

Winter Beauty

This morning after a heavy fog, the sun glistened on the frosted trees.

No comparison with a winter sky. :)

Christian Discipleship

". . . Christlikeness is the goal of life, not happiness. The current philosophy around us is that all is well if only people are happy. The great aim of education, science, and government is to give the most temporal happiness to the most people. And even as Christians we have been infected by the spirit of the age so that we bargain with God for happiness. If cross-bearing is Christ's condition of discipleship, happiness is ours. But it cannot be so . . . Paul was not always happy, nor was Luther, nor Wesley. But discipleship for them was not happiness; it was faithfulness and usefulness. This philosophy will hold missionaries steady when they are lonely and homesick. This will keep pastors from resigning and seeking greener pastures when problems become complicated and the burdens are almost too heavy to be borne. This will keep husbands and wives true to each other when incompatibilities seem to make ideal happiness beyond their reach. This will keep students grinding toward the goal of God's call whether they like studying or not. This will keep laymen faithfully tithing and working and worshiping even when caught by contrary winds of adversity or emotional depression . . . Let us once for all drum the truth into our heads that there can be no room in the Christian life for hedonism . . . There will be many pleasures along the way which will be enjoyed gratefully; but the Christian must never become preoccupied with the frantic quest for pleasure for its own sake . . . For the Christian life is serious and challenging and demanding. It is not seen as either a glorified picnic or a dress parade, but a field of battle. Our Captain is the world's Redeemer, who 'pleased not Himself.' Let us be His disciples. Without this spirit of earnestness and commitment, this passion for the cause of the Kingdom, our efforts to become disciplined persons will be abortive and vain. But with this spirit our discipline will find its Christian purpose and fulfillment."

-from The Disciplined Life by Dr. Richard S. Taylor

Joy is Six!

Jess and I were decorating at 11:30 last night...

This design was Jess' idea...

...and apart from some static cling,

the final product looked great!

The Birthday Girl. :)

The Birthday Brunch.

A creative card that came in the mail today. :)

Joy is our grapefruit girl...

...good to the last drop...

"There's still more in there!"

(She is so grown up in this picture!)

A special embroidery project to do with Mom.

"What is it?"

"A CD player!!!!"

Winter in Chicagoland

The temperature this morning was seventeen below zero...to say nothing of the windchill. I used to get really cold during a Chicago winter, but having the opportunity to be outside at least an hour a day has greatly inured me to this "rugged" climate.

These pictures are for our Maui cousins whose winter experience remains "snowless." :) Aloha from Illinois!

Of Cat Naps and Chicken Scraps

Today Callie found a perfect, sunny spot for a snooze - the dining room table!

(And she was there for most of the morning...)

The chickens have been getting spinach with their feed lately...

apparently some are getting more than others.

Of Schoolwork and Discipline

While you may think that I've been ill,

Or maybe out of town

Twiddling my thumbs, chatting with chums,

Or acting like a clown,

The truth to tell, Yours Truly has

Been busy as a bee -

An active guy, fulfilling my

Responsibility.

Perhaps the greatest lesson learned

Over the last few days

Is not to shirk pressing homework;

Diligence really pays.

For when you try to cram three months

Of schoolwork into one,

Your back will ache, your brain will quake;

It seems you're never done.

Meanwhile, your other duties call

With unrelenting voice;

And had you known that your backbone

Would curse your foolish choice,

You would have started studying

The day your books arrived -

For now I know that when you show

Discipline, you survive.

The Caprine World

Queen Torieta the Fat.

This goat really gets the comments from farm visitors:

"Why is she so fat?"

"Is that goat pregnant?"

We can only shake our heads and reply, "No. You should see what she looks like when she is pregnant." Really, folks, she looks like she swallowed a basketball. (Actually, in her best interest, she actually is pregnant here - she's the first on our March kidding line-up.)

Here's a side profile.

"Scootch over, wudja?"

Some goats are more cruel than others. One of ours has a very bad habit of biting the ears of any other goat who annoys her - or even if they don't annoy her, for that matter. In this picture I caught her in the very act.

Another Year

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting, Another year with Thee;

Another year of progress, Another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days;

Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace;

Another year of gladness In the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning Upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest;

Another year of service, Of witness for Thy love;

Another year of training For holier work above.

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,

On earth or else in heaven, Another year for Thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)