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Many personalities

If I ran all by myself through the streets of Pamplona, Spain, there would be no danger. No one would get hurt. When you release hundreds of runners and bulls into the narrow streets of Pamplona for The Running of the Bulls, someone is going to get hurt.
This is a taste of what it's like in a large family. Sometimes, trying to get a word in at the breakfast table is like trying to jump into a herd of bulls! With so many personalities all running at full speed- someone is going to get hurt.
But... what could be more fun? It's more fun (and more safe) than running in Pamplona, Spain!

Happy Birthday Nancy!

How about something new and more positive?

Today is a great day! In case you didn't know, as I write, today is May the 14th. In case you don't know the significance of that date... it is my wife's birthday!

She has been a wonderful helper, chef, janitor, washer woman, friend, teacher, wheat grinder, companion, baby sitter, administrator, wet nurse, researcher, doctor, counselor, birther of eight, gardener and nothin' less than my little love muffin!

I love you Nancy.

Faith-Based Organization

"Faith-Based Organization." What does that mean? No, really... what does that mean?

One definition: If your government agency has run out of cash; if you want to get something done; who are you going to call call? ..... a "faith based organization." Synonym: Free Labor.

I also found a definition that listed possibilities as "churches, mosques, synagogues or temples." ..... Did anyone catch that? .... Their list is a series of nouns that each describes the functional architectural structure where these various religions meet. One exception though in that list.

The Christian "Church" is more than a building. It really is, in many ways, a faith-based organization. The larger ecumenical church is a machine that can get things accomplished! (Just try asking a "mosque" to clean up the streets of Fairfield, Alabama on a Saturday morning.)

This is my real point though: How many mosques send money, people and supplies to the wrecked island of Haiti? How many temples ask to adopt the dark faces of urban blacks scarred with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

It is the Church- the true Church. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ that sacrifices itself for the sake of the world. Not "faith-based organizations!"

I really need help with this blogging thing. This reminds me of all the journals I have started on January 1st. So much to say- but I'm really not a prolific writer. I'm better with my mouth. I can't seem to stop it from running.

For Sale by Owner

For Sale by Owner. This is not first time we've used this phrase. We also have an account with the same phrase but with the contemporary "dot com" suffix.

We have our house, our home, up for sale. The goal here is an exercise in faith. In many ways we are looking for our God to bring us a buyer and to send us into a new place. We don't have an idea of where we would go. We do believe that we should (or have to) get out from under this mortgage.

The house is perfect for us, but not necessarily the place. We love the house, but who wouldn't love it! It's a 4000+ square foot cottage across from a 5 acre park and soccer field. It's basically the American Dream.

That's the problem though. Who is supposed to achieve the American Dream? Why do we desire to have the big house in the country across from the park- complete with granite countertops- who would settle for anything less! After all, that's what everyone's doing now!

There is an inner drive to search for comfort. I understand that. But what are we missing? We are giving up in our pursuit of the American Dream? That's what I'm hoping to find out.

Piano

I am so glad that God blessed us with a piano. I was great to see how God worked and continues to work in through our piano.

Although we were not a "musical family" we saw the benefit of our children learning to play. We had seen our friends play and how they would play for singing hymns with the family or filling in at church. Nancy began to pray and God orchestrated a wonderful chain of events that has given us hours upon hours of music and "joyful noise"!

A young lady at our church had a good piano but then received an even better piano. Not desiring to sell the family heirloom, she loaned that piano to a friend for their family. That family, then in turn, traded their current piano to us! We rented a truck a brought it home through the worst hale storm I have ever been in but that's another story.

We gathered around the upright piano and rolled it in. Now our children, even down to the 5 year old, play virtually all the time. (Was that "play without ceasing?) We are planning a family Christmas recital. Each of the older children are practicing their favorite Christmas song to play. After the recital they will be ready to provide accompaniment for our family singing.

Thank you God for answering our prayers.