The Cave

Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but boring stories of glory days. . .

Got the following from an email group I am a part of, and thought the Cave Dwellers might enjoy it:

*Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
*Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
*Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled

* Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Don’t corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen no-way.
* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
* Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
*The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with,  watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
* If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
* Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he may kill you.

It is acting time around our house again.  Michaela and Kenzie are in our town’s production of the Wizard of Oz.  Michaela is Topaz, one of the Winkies.  Kenzie is a munchkin and a deadly poppy. Here are a few pics from one of the performances:

Pretty convicting. . .

We spent the afternoon yesterday with some friends who own several animals, and each of the girls got to ride a pony and a donkey.  They had a blast, especially Kenzie who has been nuts about horses for the last few months.  Kenzie is going to start going there once a week for some lessons.  Here are a few pics:

1. The “living room” is called the “front room.”
2. You don’t pronounce the “s” at the end of Illinois. You become irate at people who do.
3. You measure distance in minutes (especially “from the city”). And you swear everything is pretty much 1/2 hour away.
4. You have no problem spelling or pronouncing ” Des Plaines.”
5. You go to visit friends or family down south and laugh when they complain about the traffic.
6. You understand that no person from Chicago can be a Cub fan AND a White Sox fan.
7. It’s “Kitty corner” not “Katty corner.”
8. You know the difference between The Loop and Downtown
9. You eat your pizza in squares, not triangle s, and you never refer to it as “pie”
10. You own celery salt
11. You understand that the primary is the official local election.
13. Stores don’t have sacks, they have bags.
14. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition. Example: “Where’s my coat at?” or “Can I go with?”
15. Your idea of a great tenderloin is when the meat is twice as big as the bun, “everything” is on it and a slice of dill pickle is on the side.
16. You carry jumper cables in your car.
17. You drink “pop.”
18. You understand that I-290, I-90, I-94, and I-294 are all different roads.
19. You know the names of the interstates: Stevenson, Kennedy,Eisenhower,Dan Ryan, and the Edens
20. But you call the interstates “expressways.”
21. You refer to anything south of I-80 as “Southern or Central Illinois.”
22. You refer to Lake Michigan as “The Lake .”
23. You refer to Chicago as “The City”
24. “The Super Bowl” refers to one specific game in January 1986.
25. You have two favorite football teams: The Bears, and anyone who beats the Packers.
26. You buy “The Trib” and not the Tribune.
27. You know that despite being on the lake, there is no such place as the Waterfront.
28. You think 45 degrees is great weather to wash your car.
29. You picnic or ride your bike in the “forest preserve”
30. You cried when Bozo was canceled on WGN.
31. You know what goes on a Chicago style hot dog.
32. You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is.
33. You know why they call Chicago “The Windy City .”
34. You understand what “lake-effect” means
35. You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra, and know which station they end up at.
37. You have ridden the “L.”
38. You think your next-door neighbor is a cousin to Tony Soprano.
39. You can distinguish between the following area codes: 847,630,773,708, 312, & 815.
40. You have at some time in your life, used your furniture or a friend’s body to guard your parking spot in winter
41. You respond to the question “Where are you from” with a “side.” Example: ” West Side,” “South Side” or “North Side.”
42. You know the phone number to Empire Carpet!
43. You know what a garache-key is!

Over the past few days I was able to attend a Baptist History conference at Southern Seminary.  It was a fun time to get away and learn some things about our past from some of the leading minds in the Baptist world.

One of things on the schedule was a Baptist Hymn sing that focused on the spirituality seen in so many of our historical baptist hymns.  Coming into the conference I was not too excited about this part of the schedule, but it turned out to be one of the highlights.  We were able to sing several old hymns that I had never heard before and learn of their stories that made them so special to our brothers and sisters of ages gone past. It is sad to know that some of these hymns are being lost to the baptist world.  I pray God raises up folks who will care about these hymns that are so powerful and full of good biblical doctrine!

My favorite hymn we learned about and sung was one by Anne Steele entitled “Thou Lovely Source of True Delight.”  Ms. Steele endured some tough times in her life and yet through it all was able to use these times as the motivation for some great hymns of the faith.  Here are the words to this beautiful piece:

Thou lovely source of true delight whom I unseen adore.  Unveil thy beauties to my sight that I might love Thee more, Oh that I might love Thee more.

Thy glory o’er creation shines but in Thy sacred Word I read, in fairer, brighter lines my bleeding, dying Lord, See my bleeding, dying Lord.

‘Tis here, whene’er my comforts droop and sin and sorrow rise, Thy love with cheering beams of hope my fainting heart supplies, Oh my fainting heart’s supplied.

But ah! Too soon the pleasing scene is clouded o’er with pain.  My gloomy fears rise dark between and I again complain, Oh, and I again complain.

Jesus, my Lord, my life, my light. Oh come with blissful ray. Break radiant through the shades of night and chase my fears away, Won’t you chase my fears away.

Then shall my soul with rapture trace, the wonders of thy love. But the full glories of thy face, are only known above, They are only known above.

A few weeks ago I posted some thoughts by Thom Rainer on the importance of personal commitment to the Great Commission Resurgence in the SBC.  Today in his blog Dr. Rainer has some more good thoughts to consider on this topic.

You can find the entire article here: Questions for a Personal Great Commission Resurgence

He gives us 10 tough questions to consider if we are serious about seeing a resurgence in our own personal lives:

1. Do I read and study my Bible daily so I can know what the Word says about a Great Commission lifestyle?
2. Do I pray each day that God will lead me to a Great Commission lifestyle?
3. Do I need to reconcile with someone so that God can truly use me in the fulfillment of the Great Commission?
4. Am I willing to change my lifestyle materially so I might give more and be less dependent on the things of the world?
5. Do I really show concern for the poor and hurting in this world and in my community?
6. Would my family testify honestly that I lead a Great Commission lifestyle with them?
7. Do I have a gentle and loving spirit that reflects the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life?
8. Do I major on minors?
9. Do I see the speck in others’ eyes without seeing the plank in mine?
10. Does my life reflect genuine joy?

May we all be seeking to reflect on these questions and be looking for what God wants to accomplish in our personal lives, our churches, and our denomination.