Over 8 months, 5 teeth, countless diaper changes, more than enough restless nights, two round-trip airplane flights and another on the horizon, continued puking, a few thousand pictures, and more kisses than you can shake a stick at...LIFE IS GOOD!
OK, OK, for all my adoring readers or at least the few friends who comment from time to time...
Gail and I are moving to Eugene, Oregon. I have taken a job with Wipf & Stock Publishers. And, though we decided to move because of the job that I was offered, Gail - no doubt because of her tremendous talent and appeal! - has recently landed a job as a therapist at Rain Rock Treatment Center. We feel blessed to go to a place where we both can exercise the gifts we have and justify the education we've received.
The move is planned for the early part of the summer, right after I'm done teaching my Spring course.
We are very excited. Though we'll miss Southern California, especially Pasadena, we are thrilled about the new city, the people we've met (the folks at Wipf & Stock are wonderful people!), the possibility of being able to afford a house, the idea that I will not have to work 60+ hours per week, and the chances we will have to spend time together in the evenings.
The move gives me several ideas for blog posts, but at the same time keeps me from having time to blog. I'll see what I can do. I have in mind to blog about the things I will miss and the things I will not miss about California. Stay tuned.
I am finding it difficult to blog right now. I am not going to be able to complete the Lenten Readings. But, I would encourage you, especially during Holy Week, to read all of the Daily Readings.
My heart is broken within me;
all my bones tremble.
I am like a drunken man,
like one overcome by wine,
because of the LORD
and his holy words. (Jeremiah 23:9)
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Romans 9:16)
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63)
Let all who are wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD. (Psalm 107:43)
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God. (Psalm 69:3)
"Does it make you a king
to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
He did what was right and just,
so all went well with him.
He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?"
declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 22:15-16)
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which people may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:45b-51)
But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.' (Jeremiah 7:24-26)
Their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return. (Psalm 78:37-39)
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:37b-38)
