Hard things

I never thought of John as a hard gospel; it is beautiful, and Jesus says hard things sometimes, but it isn't hard book.  I began a Bible study on John that I was very excited about getting.  It is rich.  The booklet has the whole gospel of John along with extensive notes on the translation, the words, the historical and cultural background, interpretations through the church, et cetera; then, in the back it has questions for understanding and for application for each chapter of the gospel.

This is where it becomes difficult, with questions like, "How unconditionally do you do whatever Jesus tells you to do?  Do you ever try to place limits on what he can tell you to do?"

That is not the most difficult, but neither is it the most easy.  Two chapters into the study and both times the "application" questions take longer than the "understanding" ones and both times have found me feeling...well, let's just say I am more aware of my failings and more aware of the work I need to let God do in my life.  That is a good thing, but it is hard.  I would not have described myself as shallow, but perhaps I was deceived by listening to much to people's admiration.  Perhaps I was deceived by comparing myself to the world around me even though I didn't see myself doing that.  I tried to live a righteous life; I was aware of my dependence on God; but I too was aware of having higher moral standards than many of my generation.  It slips in so easily, Pride.  There is no room for pride in the body of Christ.  It corrupts.  But, just as Christ drove out the merchandisers and animals from the outer courts of the temple, He can cleanse my  mind and heart. So, with a bit of stinging may this corruption be taken away so that I can more fully reflect God's grace and truth.

Continued Creativity

After I got started the six word stories kept coming so here are more of my six word stories.

Running through the woods, fond memories!

Family's packed. Long roads. Happy times.

Late night's and long talks- inspiration.

Heartbreak. bitter tears. forgiveness. healing comes.

Mother's comforting hugs soothed my crying.

Lost my way!  Frustrated! ... New opportunities.


Okay... it's enough. Sleep has overtaken.

Six Words

My father shared a blog on six word stories.  It caught my attention, because the stories were short, some were profound, and all were to the point.  As one of my sisters and my father pointed out, though, they were all sad, some of the heart wrenching.  I, personally, feel like there is a need for more positive things in this world, so I challenged my oldest sister (one of the most creative people I know) and the others to create happy, cheerful, or otherwise positive six word stories.

Although, I have a difficult time with anything having to do with the arts: writing, drawing, music making, ect, I will try to write a story.

Feet slip. Look up. He's there.

Wild times were had. Friends endured.

Anyway, that's my shot... or two. :)

What about you?  Any positive, or thoughtful story?

A Scratch Rendang Recipe

Chicken Rendang

The ingredients:
1/2 kilo chicken, cut into chunks
Oil for frying
5 kaffir lime leaves
1 stalk lemongrass
1/2 cup coconut milk
3 tbsp of desiccated coconut (kopra)
1 spoon of salt and sugar

For the spice paste:
5 bird's eye chillies, soaked in warm water
5 fresh red chillies (remove the seeds if you want it less spicy)
1 stalk of lemongrass
7 shallots
1 clove garlic
1/2-inch peeled galangal
1 teaspoon each of coriander seeds / turmeric powder / salt / sugar

How to make:

1. Grind coarsely the spice paste in your food processor. 
2. Toast the grated desiccated coconut (kopra) with a little oil in a heavy-bottomed pan until brown and set aside. 
3. In the same wok, heat another spoon of oil and fry the kaffir lime leaves for 10 seconds. 
4. Now add the spice paste and fry on a slightly high flame until the colour changes. 
5. Add the chicken and mix well, letting the meat coat and soak in the spice mix. 
6. Add salt and sugar. 
7. After the chicken is cooked on low heat, add the coconut milk and the toasted coconut. 
8. Let it boil for a few seconds and turn the flame off immediately.

Serve with hot rice.
From TheHindu

For the New Year

Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val’s great prayer for humility might be the ground zero of our efforts at restructuring. Many people will immediately dismiss the notion, but imagine what the world would be like if people spoke these words, every day:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may, increase and I may decrease, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

 -Quoted from Elizabeth Scalia

An Alphabetical Link List

I realized a while back that I was just typing in a key letter in the address bar of my browser to get to my usual sites (e.g. n pulls up a variety of news sites...).  Yes, I know it's all based on browsing history, but I decided to go through the alphabet in this manner.  Some letters had few or no associations, others - too many.  So upon arrival at home I decided to share some.

I really could make two slightly divergent lists: one reflecting my actual browsing, the other reflecting what I want to engage. There are few differences between the two, but the difference reflects the gap between who I am and who I want to be.  This is from the actual side....


A - Shop till your fingers are sore.
B - The background news fix
C - Alt mainstream news
D - Financial encouragement
E - The world's garage sale
F - No, not facebook
G - More garage sailing
H - Cheap tools
I - Light humor
J - meh
K - Digital security news
L - Appliances, tools,...
M - You got here, yes?
N - News aggregator
O - News from back home (No, it's not Lake Wobegon.)
P - Interesting blog from a Benedictine oblate
Q - Still not sure this is a useful letter
R - Upbeat classical
S - Audio masking
T - Just a bit shy of being as useful as a babelfish
U - Weather!
V - Blog covering legal and other issues.
W - OK... it was either this or Walmart
X - very aspirational
Y - Great resource for learning how to do something new... (yeah, and music videos)
Z - Turns out, I haven't visited many "Z" sites...

So, what is you alpha link list, realistic?, aspirational?...

Martha's Sons by Rudyard Kipling

The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part;
But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart.
And because she lost her temper once, and because she was rude to the Lord her Guest,
Her Sons must wait upon Mary's Sons, world without end, reprieve, or rest.

It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion the shock.
It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that the switches lock.
It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain,
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main.

They say to mountains ``Be ye removèd.'' They say to the lesser floods ``Be dry.''
Under their rods are the rocks reprovèd---they are not afraid of that which is high.
Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit---then is the bed of the deep laid bare,
That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly sleeping and unaware.

They finger Death at their gloves' end where they piece and repiece the living wires.
He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry behind their fires.
Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into his terrible stall,
And hale him forth like a haltered steer, and goad and turn him till evenfall.

To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till death is Relief afar.
They are concerned with matters hidden---under the earthline their altars are---
The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to restore to the mouth,
And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again at a city's drouth.

They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose.
They do not preach that His Pity allows them to drop their job when they damn-well choose.
As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they stand,
Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren's ways may be long in the land.

Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat;
Lo, it is black already with the blood some Son of Martha spilled for that!
Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed,
But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need.

And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessèd---they know the Angels are on their side.
They know in them is the Grace confessèd, and for them are the Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the feet---they hear the Word---they see how truly the Promise runs.
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and---the Lord He lays it on Martha's Sons!