Turkey, Westie, & Pie - Oh My

We had a new family member at the Thanksgiving table this year. We bought a little West Highland Terrier. Our little Westie is quite a handful but has already brought us a lot of joy. We had a small group of family members in attendance in addition to our Westie.







Thanksgiving is a reminder that God is the source of the multitude of blessings we enjoy and to him we are thankful. Giving thanks to God is recorded throughout the Bible.

In
Ephesians 1:15-18, Paul writes that he is continually giving thanks for the believers in Christ.

The writer of Colossians tells us, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17.

In my blog entry A Knight’s Tale, I write of Daniel’s commitment to prayer, and that prayer came at a great price. One thing that was not immediately clear to me at that time was that Daniel in fact giving thanks to God during his prayer. Daniel continued to give thanks even after the king made his decree that no one shall offer prayers to any other god other than prayers to himself. If you would like to refresh your memory regarding Daniel’s story, you can find it in Daniel 6.

I am reminded once again that dedication to prayer is fundamental to growing a relationship with God.

Election 2006

George W. Bush called me the other day. Ok really it was a recording of George W. Bush and some type of auto-dialer, which called me and urged me to vote Republican. He wasn’t the only one; there were recorded voices of teachers and local politicians, all encouraging me to see their way. Throw in a ton of TV commercials and I’ll admit that I'm fairly burned out on the whole thing. So did Election 2006 turn out to your liking?

I certainly got an earful post election from friends and family, who were beside themselves about the election results. The funny thing is, they supported different parties and yet for one reason or another, all were unhappy. There’s been a lot of talk over the last couple of years regarding the polarizing affects of the political battles that have taken place in our country.

The Bible offers us guidance in how we should respond to government and its officials. Peter writes:

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men:
whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent
by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
1 Peter 2:12-14

And Titus 3:1-3 states:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be
peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Titus 3:1-3

As Christians, we do have unity regardless of the political party we support. Colossians 1:15-17 reminds us that above all else, God is in control of all things in this world including governments and rulers. We can unite together and pray for our leaders, our country, and for God’s working our country.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

Goin' to The Chapel & We're Goin' Ta Get Married

First Methodist Church Boise, Idaho

(Cathedral of the Rockies)

My niece, or really my wife's niece got married last Saturday. She’s a beautiful young girl, both inside and out, and her new husband is one of those genuinely nice guys who cherishes his new bride. I referred to my wife’s niece as my niece because over our 27 year span of marriage, the family lines tend to blend. I remember when the bride was born, and before my eyes, turning from a darling little curly haired girl to a young woman of grace and charm.
There’s something about a wedding that brings joy into one’s heart. Attending weddings always reminds me of my own. That was one if the happiest days of my life. We spend so much time planning for the wedding (ok my wife planned and I showed up wherever I was suppose to show up) not realizing that it’s a brief moment, a few hours, in a journey taken together for a life time. Once the wedding becomes a cherished memory, we’re left with each other and learning how to live and grow together. One of the greatest blessings God can grant a man is a wife that reflects the words of Solomon in his Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Proverbs 31: 9-31. The Epilogue begins with:

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
In verse 30 he writes, “…but a woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised.”

I can truly say that God has granted me such a wife. I’m thankful for this blessing, and the life we share together.