Archive for September, 2005
Blast From the Past
Posted by Bethany in Family Matters, Picturesque on September 25, 2005
My camera died during Katrina. I’m gonna have to call Canon and figure out what needs to be done…so I haven’t been taking pictures like I usually do. I have had a complaint from a friend that I’m not posting enough pictures.
I actually meant to post pictures from an outing Joshua and I took with my son and two of my nephews. We went to Lynn Meadows Discovery Center one afternoon late this summer.
Here is a picture from the 19th century hotel they visited! Aren’t they precious?
Grrrrr….
Posted by Bethany in Rants and Raves, The Great Game of Basketball and Other Mediocre Sports on September 25, 2005
I’ve tried to contain my obsession with the Spurs and keep that bit of my life minimalized on my blog. I figure I’ve done a pretty good job of it and should be able to do so at least until the play-offs start. Then I must warn you guys…I shall be in full Spurs mode. And it’s not always pretty!
But, I have posted about my favorite team two other times. Here and here. So it should come as no surprise that what follows does not make me very happy. For several reasons.
This article is about one of the people I look up to. Maybe even consider him a hero…but I’ve written about heroes before and I don’t like to use the term hero too lightly.
It seems that David Robinson is being sued by Major League Baseball….
The Christian school he founded has a logo similar to one used by the California Angels in the past.
Why does this annoy me so?
I get really annoyed at our sue-happy culture…the logos aren’t the same, they are similar. What’s the big deal. The team doesn’t even use the similar logo anymore!
And I’m a die hard fan of the Spurs, and the Admiral is a former player as well as current part owner of that team….
and die hard fans always stick with their man, right?
I also admire David Robinson for many reasons that have nothing to do with basketball. He was more than willing to discuss this problem with the MLB.
This Brad Paisley song comes to mind. I’d like to dedicate it to the MLB…
Go on keep trying
Come on keep calling
You know I like it
When you come crawling
Its like music
To hear you bawling
Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa
Grrrr….. I’m really, really annoyed about this! Maybe I am biased…but, o well. 
Common Ground With Pharoh
I despise lovebugs.
Hideous, evil, horrid creatures!
If you live in the south you probably share my loathing for this annoying, wretched arthropod. Lovebugs plague this area every year in May and then again in September….
…but this year…this year…they seem to be worse than ever! At first, I thought it was just my house. I’ve only lived here since July, so I missed the May viewing of these perpeturally mating creatons. But I do know lovebugs are quite attracted to the color white (we learned this a few years ago at my good friend’s outdoor, May wedding!) and my house is very white…inside and out!
I am foreseeing two months out of every year dedicated to the destruction of these pests when my mother informs me that they are worse than ever at her house as well. Then I hear everyone else complaining about how excessive our lovebug problem has become this year. It seems that massive amounts of lovebugs have taken residence on/in everyone’s homes/vehicles.
Come to find out, this lovely little plague is just one more of the many blessings of Katrina. Somehow the storm has multiplied our usual problem to epic proportions. Thank you Katrina.
While slapping lovebugs away from my face I have to wonder about Pharoh and his hard heart. I really don’t understand him at all. After this month of sharing my dwelling with millions upon millions of creepy black creatures with bulging red eyes I feel as if I must be going through an Egyptian plague. I mean this plague alone would render me to take on the building of pyramids unaided just after I packed up thousands of slaves with whatever they needed to be on their way…
Or so I rather like to think. I mean, it’s pretty easy to point fingers and say I would have done things differently.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not taking up for Pharoh…I just want to examine how we humans are given chance after chance to make the right choice and how we seem to go through anything to keep from doing the right thing. I know I do anyway.
What is it about us that likes to act like we are in control. Or that we can handle things ourselves. We can handle a “little bit” of sin. We can control our own lives. We hang on with our teeth to our sin…grasping for contol while a plague free life awaits us if we just obey God’s commands!
How many times did God show Pharoh signs and wonders-and plagues-for him to only harden his heart and refuse to heed God’s warnings? What was so difficult about obedience? I mean it seems like the obvious solution would have been to obey and stop the plagues that basically ruined Egypt and hurt so many of Pharoh’s people.
Pharoh saw God’s representatives turn a staff to a snake…and his heart was hardened.
Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
…and then there was the Nile turned to blood. Yet Pharoh’s heart was hardened again.
But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Then frogs. Everywhere. In ovens and beds… *shudder* And Pharoh’s heart is hardened…
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
And the lice. Ew. Yet Pharoh’s heart is hardened once again.
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ” This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Has Pharoh given up yet? Is he willing to obey God? Or does he still cling to the idea that he can control things?
As if the lice were not bad enough! Now there are plagues of flies. And Pharoh still hardens his heart!
But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.
Sounding like a broken record yet? Well, believe it or not its not over.
The next plague is against the cattle. They are all dying. And Pharoh still hardens his heart. He does not obey God.
Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
And next the entire population of Egypt is covered with painful boils. Does Pharoh relent?
And the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.
And hail and fire destroys the crops of Egypt. And Pharoh still refuses to obey God.
But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
Then the locusts come. If any crops survived the hail and fire…well, needless to say after the locusts the cannot be much left. And Pharoh, getting quite predictable now, still refuses to obey God.
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.
Next is the plague of darkness. Darkness covers the land and the sun does not shine. And Pharoh still hardens his heart to God’s instruction.
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.
If Pharoh has hardened his heart to the destruction of his kingdom and his people, what is it going to take to get him to obey God’s command. What extreme will be next. I cannot help but wonder if Pharoh really thought all these plagues would stop. That if he could just survive one more that there would be no others. So far, he has hardened his heart to nine different plagues…none of them too terribly pleasant. Many causing the loss of homes, livlihood and even causing death. Did he really think the consequences would stop?
You would think he’d been given plenty warning that bad stuff was to follow disobedience to the one true God. Yet…he clenches his teeth and refuses to relent…only to have the last and most horrific plague follow because of his stubborn pride.
His son…his firstborn…his heir…is sacrificed for his disobedience. As well as the firstborn of everyone in his kingdom (those who did not obey God’s strict orders) including the livestock.
Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.
…and all because Pharoh refused to obey.
I know I have a strong tendancy to be stubborn and disobedient. I don’t always follow God’s instructions. I want to do things Bethany’s way. And I repeatedly fall into sin…even when I know disobedience has consequences.
It seems that for some reason I think that this time I will be spared the consequences. Yet, that never happens. I finally relent. But I’m still faced with the consequences. I say, “Okay, God. I’ll do it your way.”
Then my heart is hardened and I fall into the same or similar sins. I hang on with my teeth to control of my life only to find it in complete chaos. In the midst of a terrible plague…one I could have prevented had I had the sense to obey God.
What is it about me, about us humans, that makes us want to sin-even when we know there are consequences?
I guess I feel like Paul.
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold intobondage to sin.For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Thank goodness for God’s unending mercy and forgiveness.
Electricity and Schtuff
Posted by Bethany in Out of the Mouths of Babes on September 23, 2005
Conversation overheard during Katrina aftermath.
Landon: Will the alutricity get fixed?
Mom:(said in very motherly, supportive, encouraging and convincing voice as much as for herself as for her son) Of course dear. Eventually.
Landon: Oh.
Mom: Do you know what electricity is?
Landon: Yup!
Mom: What is it?
Landon: It’s kind’ve like…um…sumpfin’ that can’t work.
Ah…children!
Feminist I Am Not!
Posted by Bethany in Family Matters, Rambling in Progress on September 22, 2005
Nor do I have any desire to be! I absolutely, positively love and adore men! Men of all shapes and fashions….daddies, brothers, boyfriends, friends….even the weird guy who helped me fix my flat on the side of the road a few years ago!
I am a pretty capable women…I think so anyway. I’m a former basketball player so I’m fairly strong. I’m educated. I have a good job. I am even pretty independent. I am pretty sure I could manage without men in my life…but I absolutely do not want to even attempt it! Nor do I understand why anyone would want to!
I suppose I could learn to set my watch, change a flat, and even weild a chainsaw…but why when I have so many capable males in my life…my wonderful father, my capable brother, and my darling fiance….to take care of these things for me?
I have just recently become the proud owner of a chainsaw. Really! Hurricane Katrina enticed me to make the purchase as I no longer want to be a member of her garden club!
However, I have yet to touch the thing. Not even once! I got my boyfriend to lift if from the shelves at Wal-Mart and place it into my buggy and I haven’t touched the thing at all! He, however has been cutting trees at my house for me! What’s more, I have no intention of ever touching the thing! No desire whatsoever to do so!
…but in case anyone out there thinks I view males as my own personal slaves…I must say that after they have worked their fingers to the bone for me I am more than willing to don apron and prepare a warm, hearty, delectable meal (ahem…Hamburger Helper) …and even clean up afterwards!
I mean…you have to show appreciation for these guys…right?
Congrats to Brittany
Posted by Bethany in Bloggity Blog, Motherhood on September 19, 2005
Brittany Spears is now a mother. Ahem. I must admit that I’m rather skeptical about what kind of mother she will be. But, then again, motherhood changes people. And who am I to judge?
So I congratulate her on the birth of her little boy. And I wish her and her family the very best.
Lifenut, this really cool blog I’ve recently found, is very gracious, and has written Brittany a letter. I thought it was great and wanted to share it! So enjoy!
Better Homes?
Posted by Bethany in Family Matters, Rambling in Progress on September 19, 2005
I’ve spent the morning flipping through a new edition of Better Homes and Gardens. Needless to say, I became quite envious of the perfectly manicured homes with their spotless windows and carpets. Hardwood floors that shine so that I would be able to see my reflection in them.
I take a quick glance around my house. There are three pairs of flip flops in the living room floor, a coffee table stacked with books and magazines, and a empty cup sitting by the computer.
*Sigh*
I want my house to look like these in the magazine…beautiful white trim, completely lacking in dust, trendy fabrics covering the couch, lovely arrangements of fall flowers gracing the tables, custom built shelves filled with books (all in neat order) and matching picture frames… and no trace of stray crayons or puzzle pieces on the floor.
One more glance almost sends me into despair…the basket of laundry on the couch…and is that a piece of popcorn under the couch??!
Suddenly I’m interrupted by the voice of a seven year old, “Mom, have you seen the crayons?”
And I realize these pictures are missing something. They are missing something important. There are no children bowing their heads and fixing their hands to say the blessing, no spontaneous gifts of weeds wildflowers given from grubby little hands, no begging to bake and decorate “cookie cuppers”, no delighted squeals when Mr. Josh chases the kids around threatening to “throw them in a hole”, no smell of pot roast cooking on Sunday, no sound of Joshua practicing guitar for the praise band, no neighbor boys knocking on the door asking for the kids to come out and play, no pirate ships in the backyard (trees fallen from the storm), no bedtime stories and good night prayers…
No life. No real living.
So, after one more glance into the magazine, I shut it. Content. My house is full of life! And that’s better than even polished floors.
“The crayons are on the floor by the bookshelf in the living room!”
Bethany and Joshua
Posted by Bethany in Picturesque on September 14, 2005
Okay…I’m going to actually post a picture of myself. I’ve hesitated to do this…I keep thinking I’ll get a picture I really like. But, well, I don’t know if that will ever happen! I’m usually behind the camera so not many pictures of me even exist!
Here I am. With my Joshua. Except I have a real problem keeping my eyes open for the camera. I have blue eyes in case you are wondering!
