:. unbound and unharmed .:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a blazing furnace because they refused to bow down and worship an idol. They were given the opportunity to lay aside their belief in the One True God and live; they chose otherwise. They trusted their God to save them, but even more impressive than their faith was their refusal to compromise "even if He does not."

They were tightly bound and thrown into a furnace so hot, the unlucky guards assigned to toss them in perished. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? They walked around in the fire "unbound and unharmed". A fourth man, whom, in the pagan king's words, "looks like a son of the gods", accompanied them on their stroll through the flames.

The king immediately ordered them out of the furnace, and in utter amazement found "the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."

If you are in the furnace today, don't give up hope. He is with you! He is with you! He is able to see you through the affliction, unbound and unharmed. Trust Him! You will come through the fire drenched with the fragrant aroma of Christ.

:. odds and ends OR just to give katie something to read .:

I realized this morning that our cool weather has taken away my favorite summer past time: complaining about the heat and humidity. Not that I'm complaining about not being able to complain! This summer has been wonderful.

The smell of chicken stewing first thing in the morning is nauseating. HOWEVER. Chicken quesadillas for lunch with my girls is worth it.

A guy walked past my house last night, talking loudly to himself in what sounded like Russian. Not sure if he was using Berlitz . . . or if he is some sort of spy who didn't know the Cold War has ended. (or has it?!)

Here's something you never want to see: a HAZMAT crew at your local Mexican restaurant. (and they weren't having lunch.)

Something else you never want to see: someone's worldly belongings piled on the curb. (Obviously an eviction.) Just saw that the other day.

Oh, and I've decided to get a motorbike and take a little trip. Say, from John O'Groats to the Road of Bones. Anyone want to come along?

:. long-lost lambie .:

What does it feel like to lose your closest friend? Just ask Liam.

Lambie was last seen two weeks ago, in the car headed down to the Farmer's Market. He wasn't allowed to leave the car, but somehow he disappeared, and hasn't been seen since.

Naturally the car was searched front to rear . . . no Lambie.

The house was searched top to bottom . . . no Lambie.

Mommy thinks perhaps brother chucked him into the shrubbery in the backyard. Maybe he'll show up this fall when the landscape is bare.

At any rate, since a guy can't go very long without his Lambie, New Lambie arrived yesterday.
It shouldn't take long for Liam to get him drooly, dirty and gnarly. In other words, JUST RIGHT.

Happy days are here again.

:. a glance in the mirror .:

I had a metaphorical look in the mirror this morning. Not sure I like what I saw.

I was tooling along on the freeway, headed to the western reaches of our fair city. As I checked my speed, so as to keep it at 60(ish), the thought suddenly struck me: I don't drive the speed limit because it's the law, I drive the speed limit because I don't want to get a ticket.

There is a huge difference between the two.

I wonder how many other things I do, not out of love, or obedience, or because it's right, but simply out of fear of the consequences?
I hope my actions flow from a love for God, and a desire to obey Him.
I hope I do things for the right reasons.
It's really hard to know for sure.

I told you I'm not sure I like what I saw.

:. defining moments .:

Dateline did a look back at Woodstock last night. Hard to believe it's been 40 years. (Funny how these 'important' anniversaries sneak up on you.) It was an interesting show. They interviewed a handful of people who were there, complete with actual video and/or stills of them at Woodstock. Each one said basically the same thing: "Woodstock was a defining moment for me."

One guy, a seminary student, decided he did not want to become a priest. Another man decided to 'come out'. Yet another decided to go to Canada to avoid being drafted. Defining moments all.
While I think it's sad that something as trivial as a rock concert should become a defining moment in someone's life, that's not what this post is about.
The show got me thinking about defining moments in my own life; what they were, and how I've changed because of them.
So, here, in chronological order, are my Defining Moments:

1. April 24, 1973 - the day I asked God to take control of my life. (How silly of the clay to think they know more than the Potter.)
2. February 7, 1976 - the day I said 'I do'. (Nothing defines you quite as much as linking your hopes and dreams to another person, till death you do part.)
3. September 4, 1978 - the day my heart decided to go walking around outside my body. (well, Emily didn't actually start walking for another 10 months, but you know what I mean.)
4. March 4, 1981 - the day our family felt complete. (Little did I realize then just how much joy my Katie would bring.)
5. August 2, 1997 - the day Emily said 'I do'. (I hadn't realized how wonderful it would be to have a son.)
6. October 5, 2004 - the day my precious Gavin entered the world. (Grandchildren, the most beautiful of God's inventions.)
7. March 24, 2007 - the day my precious Liam entered the world. (None of us knew what a treat we were in for.)
8. October 20, 2007 - the day Katie said 'I do'. (Another amazing son added to our family. And by this time, I expected no less from God.)
9. July 23, 2009 - the day my precious Tate entered the world. (Oh, my heart overflows!)
10. August 10, 2009 - the day that is before me. (Because, really, every day is important. Every day offers us a chance to define our life, our goals, our purpose.)

:. safe .:

Credit for this stunning photo goes to Julia Hulling.

She totally captured this daddy's love for his little guy.

Thanks, Julie.