Smash Brothers

My five year old girl is playing Super Smash Brothers. Yes, a fighting game! Some will say bad parenting, I say she may need to defend herself someday against the bad guys and she is learning some moves. And you dare not mess with her because I just heard her yell at the game, "Who wants a piece of meat!!!?" instead of who wants a piece of me! :)

The Monster At The End of this Book

Have you ever read, The Monster at the End of this Book? It is a Sesame Street book. I read it as a kid and so did John Mark. We have read it to our kids and they think it is hilarious. They just shriek at the chance to turn the page.

I started thinking about this, probably more than I should have, but if you know the story, it is about Grover from Sesame Street and he is scared about everything. He does not want you to turn the page because he does not want to get to the end of the book. He "seals" up the pages with bricks and ropes and all sorts of things to try to get you not to turn the page. At the very end, and sorry to ruin it for you if you haven't read it, Grover, himself, is the monster at the end of book. What a terrible realization that you are what you have feared all along. Should he have feared the monster? Maybe, but he decides he's just furry, loveable, old Grover and he was really embarrassed to discover that it was him all along!

Now let's think about that for a minute. How often have you wanted to seal up the pages of the book not wanting to discover what is at the end? You are fearful of the monster at the end. Are we the monsters at the end of the book causing the fear all along? Are we fearful that someone else might discover what's at the end of the book and not like it? I know I have felt this way so much. I feel like if someone really truly got to know me that they might not like what they see. I might not be so furry and loveable! I might be just downright despicable to them.

As I ponder this silly little children's book, I realize that it has more meaning than meets the eye. I, in the end, am what I fear. hmmm. . .

What about you?

Me and the Preacher

Last night I watched a really good movie at a Ladie's Night that we had with our church. We watched "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain". It stars Susan Hayward as the preacher's wife. It was really sweet. It exposed a lot of the difficulties of being in the pastorate. The thing I liked the best about the movie though is that it dramatically played out the great satisfaction of seeing lives changed after going through the daily grinds of sickness, death, marriage and everyday trials. The joy at the end of the movie would not be complete without experiencing all of the things I just mentioned. When we experience trials and joys together as the body of Christ we are brought closer to one another and to Christ Himself. I love how God shapes our character together.

This picture was taken after the preacher's ordination! The light was kind of in his eyes (as it should be! :)), but still a cute picture. I love you preacher man! and you don't kiss like a preacher!