This Guy named Mark

  Mark was a runaway, a deserter. In Act 15: 37-38 we read,"Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work." When the going got tough, Mark did not keep going. He left Paul and Barnabas in the middle of a missionary journey.
  There is a little bit of Mark's story in every Christian's life I think. At some point we who are believers have all runaway from doing the right thing because, let us face it: the right thing tends to be the hardest thing at first glace. But the Christian story does not end with us running away. Mark's story did not end with Him abandoning his faith. Mark's story ends with forgiveness and righteousness. Paul, who did not want to bring Mark with him on a missionary journey, later says in 2 Timothy 4:11 "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry." And Paul was not the only apostle Mark helped. In 1 Peter 5:13 we read,
  "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you sends you her greetings and so does my son Mark." Mark also went on to write one of the four gospels.
  God does not abandon His children. He calls us and when we give up and leave Him He pursues us with an everlasting love. He has done it for me, He will do it for you, and He did it for this guy named Mark.

What I did this Week (after many weeks of doing stuff but not blogging about it)

   Well, for starters here's the night we had Chex Mix and root beer.

 

  Then my brothers caught this spider. 

 
  Here's a show of hands so you can see how big it is.

  I sliced this zucchini really thin...

  Then used it as noodles in lasagna and it was actually really good. My brother liked it.

  
  My favorite rubber spatula broke.

    
  I made myself yet another plaid shirt.

 

  And there was my week. 

Of Men and Monkeys

  The zoo is an interesting place. In many ways it is a testimony against evolution. How many animals do you know of that lock other animals in cages and then go gawk at them? Even the greenies who run the zoo realize there is a major difference between men and monkeys. That is besides the point, however. Last I went to the zoo and found myself pitying the animals locked up in their respective cages. So I guess there is a little bit of a hippie deep down inside me. I left the zoo thinking about the animals I had seen, and it was not until I got home I took into consideration the people who had been all around me.
  The entire morning I had pitied the animals, never once taking into consideration the caged people I had encountered. Apart from Christ, we as people are trapped: trapped in sin and death. I had seen so many people who were obviously in bondage and never gave it any thought. I just passed them by and left them wallowing in their chains because I did not want to spoil their apparent happiness or my own comfort. And why did I do that? I pitied the animals and ignored the eternal souls all around me. I left the people I saw to continue in their flood of dissipation.
  God made man different from the animals, and what is more is the fact that He gives us the chance to become His sons and daughters. And those of us who are His children can do nothing less then share His love with the people around us.

Some Nights We Eat Chex Mix and Drink Root Beer

  My Dad is the Master of the Spontaneous. Like last night, when of the way home from church he decided to stop by the store and pick up root beer and Chex Mix for a snack. My brothers are masters of playing with food, as these pictures demonstrate. Why there is something hanging out of the noses of each of these faces is a phenomenon I cannot explain aside from this fact: Boys will be boys. 

 

  The sun shines always. Even when we cannot see through the rain, the sun is burning behind the clouds. But sometimes a few rays slip past the cloud and the sun shines through the rain. Illuminating each drop of liquid glass before it shatters on the face of the earth. A strange, unearthly sort of beauty, the sight of the earth being washed by water in the light of the star our planet orbits. 

Thoughts After Being off the Internet for Ten Days

  I have to start this blogpost by saying, I never intended to go off the internet for any extended period of time. It just happened that way. The Thursday before last, my family and I went to the beach. It was gorgeous and I got to take some pretty cool pictures (I thought anyways). When we got home I uploaded my photographs to my laptop and planned to blog them later in the evening. At about 5:30 pm I got on the computer and the internet was down. And it stayed down for ten days. During that time I:

• Learned the sun comes up without the help of the internet. Well, I knew this, but it was a good reminder.
• Realized I like cookbooks.
• Got to rediscover the wonders of Lord of the Rings when I started Fellowship of the Ring again.
• Remembered that I do not really have control of my life, God does.
• Got sick and came to grips with just how human I am.
• Got better and tasted again how good food is.
• Found out I do not need my blog to motivate me to write. I just have to write.  
• Was glad I bought Jon Foreman's EPs the week before.
• Realized I can get a lot done without the internet.

  So now I am (obviously) back on the internet, but I am on the internet with the knowledge that it is not really necessary.

 
  It was a strange kind of stillness. The ocean wrapping its waters around my body like a garment of liquid silk. Bobbing around in the gray-green infinite, the horizon scarcely discernable. Hardly a wave breaking on the ever rippling surface. Toes gently springing upwards from the sandy bottom, hanging suspended in the nothingness of the water.
  The quiet is peaceful, not brooding and it seems strange that the most powerful force on earth can be at rest. Even if only for a moment.