Yesterday
Chinese New Year festivities continued throughout the night into the morning, and throughout the day once more. Mostly that meant a lot of fireworks all day and night.
We had Andrey and Jacky & Alicia, and Micah over for pizza and Settlers. We moved up to Cities and Knights. It took a while to read all the rules, set up the board, and remove all the extra parts from the expansion pack. We had a great time, everyone enjoyed it. Again I had to restrict my passion to win, but in the end I did win, but it was a very close game and really anyone could have pulled out ahead.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 15-18
Journey to Sinai, quail and manna sent, water provided from rock, Amalekites destroyed when Moses hands are kept raised, judges appointed.
Boundaries in Marriage - It Takes Two to Make One
Areas of Completeness That Marriage Cannot Provide
They tell a story of a couple that married to become mature. This is impossible. Each one must grow up. Becoming mature is a process that cannot be married into or fast tracked, but takes time and requires thought. There is a great list on page 91 of abilities that cannot be "borrowed" from each other, but must come from maturing processes. And after the basic minimum of development in each area, then the two complete individuals will become one complementing couple.
Prayer
Lord allow us to always be thankful, remind us to thank you for everything whether great or small. Give us hearts of constant thankfulness and lead us to increasing maturity.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Happy Chinese New Year
Yesterday
We went for worship in the morning. Returned some dieing plants to the flower market, then went to the Silk Market to buy Jaime a ski suit. We got pants, jacket, and 2 pair of mittens (for her and me) for 320RMB ($47 USD). Then I ran back to the flower market to purchase replacement plants we had already selected. Two plants that thrive in water and have goldfish swimming in the water and a grouping of colorful cacti - red, yellow, and stripped white and green.
We then went to Gary & Danita's for the Chinese New Year's Eve meal and party. Jacky & Alicia, and Micah, as well as Felix & Laura were there... and later Ma Xueting arrived. We stayed until 1:30am.
The Chinese love fireworks! They started lighting them off a a week ago, building up to midnight last night. There were fireworks in every direction as far as the eye could see. It was amazing. I would love to have a plane that could fly high above China and see all the fireworks going off throughout this country (and probably Asia). This was better than any 4th of July in the States... not that they had choreography or any plan for the fireworks, but that there were so many! And yes, they are still going this morning. There have already been workers out sweeping up the remains of last night, but they are already making more debris!
The Daily Bible - Exodus 13-15
The Israelites cross the Red Sea. Moses and all the Israelites sing about the people of Philistia fearing the Israelites and allowing them to pass by to go to the mountain and worship.
Boundaries in Marriage - Part Two: Building Boundaries in Marriage: Ch. 4 It Takes Two to Make One
The movies have it right... Oneness is the ideal, the dream, and God's design from Genesis to Revelation. God desires that two whole people become one strong couple.
"Twoness"
Marriage is an adult contract requiring to complete adults to enter it.
Completing Versus Complementing Each Other
Completing is finding someone to take care of you, like a mother or a meal ticket. Completing is bad, in that the people getting married are likely to be looking for someone to make up for what they lack in being an adult. This creates dependence, not freedom.
Complementing is a blessing and is natural. Both will have all essential adulthood functionalities, but may lack some ability or personality traits. One is good at business and the other is the extrovert. One is good at finding opportunities, the other is good at understanding the opportunities' strengths and weaknesses.
Prayer
Lord, help me to be a complete person in you. Help me to continue to mature throughout my life. Show me the path of righteousness and enable me to walk on it.
We went for worship in the morning. Returned some dieing plants to the flower market, then went to the Silk Market to buy Jaime a ski suit. We got pants, jacket, and 2 pair of mittens (for her and me) for 320RMB ($47 USD). Then I ran back to the flower market to purchase replacement plants we had already selected. Two plants that thrive in water and have goldfish swimming in the water and a grouping of colorful cacti - red, yellow, and stripped white and green.
We then went to Gary & Danita's for the Chinese New Year's Eve meal and party. Jacky & Alicia, and Micah, as well as Felix & Laura were there... and later Ma Xueting arrived. We stayed until 1:30am.
The Chinese love fireworks! They started lighting them off a a week ago, building up to midnight last night. There were fireworks in every direction as far as the eye could see. It was amazing. I would love to have a plane that could fly high above China and see all the fireworks going off throughout this country (and probably Asia). This was better than any 4th of July in the States... not that they had choreography or any plan for the fireworks, but that there were so many! And yes, they are still going this morning. There have already been workers out sweeping up the remains of last night, but they are already making more debris!
The Daily Bible - Exodus 13-15
The Israelites cross the Red Sea. Moses and all the Israelites sing about the people of Philistia fearing the Israelites and allowing them to pass by to go to the mountain and worship.
Boundaries in Marriage - Part Two: Building Boundaries in Marriage: Ch. 4 It Takes Two to Make One
The movies have it right... Oneness is the ideal, the dream, and God's design from Genesis to Revelation. God desires that two whole people become one strong couple.
"Twoness"
Marriage is an adult contract requiring to complete adults to enter it.
Completing Versus Complementing Each Other
Completing is finding someone to take care of you, like a mother or a meal ticket. Completing is bad, in that the people getting married are likely to be looking for someone to make up for what they lack in being an adult. This creates dependence, not freedom.
Complementing is a blessing and is natural. Both will have all essential adulthood functionalities, but may lack some ability or personality traits. One is good at business and the other is the extrovert. One is good at finding opportunities, the other is good at understanding the opportunities' strengths and weaknesses.
Prayer
Lord, help me to be a complete person in you. Help me to continue to mature throughout my life. Show me the path of righteousness and enable me to walk on it.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Flood, Passover, Control
Yesterday
Relaxing. That is mostly what I did yesterday. I didn't go out, except to buy pizza for dinner. I read an online book: http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/index.html is the online book titled In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood, 8th Edition (2008), by Dr. Walt Brown.
I thought I had finished reading the above mentioned book about the flood. I say "thought" because it is online, I didn't read it front to back, and because it is quite complex. Okay... I read the things I wanted to read. I just did a scan of the first parts of the book and I haven't read those pages. I'll be going back to see what I missed.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 12-13
The Passover is explained and initiated. This one thing stands out this time... The family must eat the Passover in one house, do not take any part of it outside. All must be circumcised. Those that want to eat, foreigners or not, must be circumcised and then they must share the meal. This is a very communal meal.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Control Comes in Different Flavors - Guilt, Anger, Persistent Assaults on the Spouse's Boundary, and Withholding Love
All of these are just ways to manipulate a spouse into doing what is desired by the other spouse. None of these are acceptable, so what is? How can spouses come to terms about important issues without overstepping boundaries?
Submitting to Boundaries on Our Control - Realize the Cost of Other-Control, Ask Your Spouse to Let You Know How Your Control Affects Him, Experience Your Own Helplessness to Change Your Spouse, Learn to Grieve, Work Through Dependency Issues, Be a Separate Person with Your Spouse, Value Your Spouse's Freedom As You Want Your Freedom Valued, Set Boundaries with Your Spouse Instead of Controlling Him
All of these are necessary to truly become a loving and freedom granting spouse. Controlling your spouse is not an option, controlling yourself is. Realizing needs and helping find appropriate ways of resolving/fulfilling those needs is a major maturity booster. Some needs are inappropriate or misplaced, they need to be redefined, while other needs are appropriate and need an appropriate fulfillment. Sometimes these fulfillment of needs come from the spouse and sometimes they come from others.
Prayer
Father God, Lord of heaven and earth, Master of everything, Friend to the friendless, and Parent to all... thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us so many abilities to learn, grow, and change. Help us to trust and love you more. Help us to experience your forgiveness and bless others with your love, grace and mercy. Find in us your Spirit and bring us to increasing awareness of your abundance for us so that we can honor you in all that we are.
Relaxing. That is mostly what I did yesterday. I didn't go out, except to buy pizza for dinner. I read an online book: http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/index.html is the online book titled In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood, 8th Edition (2008), by Dr. Walt Brown.
I thought I had finished reading the above mentioned book about the flood. I say "thought" because it is online, I didn't read it front to back, and because it is quite complex. Okay... I read the things I wanted to read. I just did a scan of the first parts of the book and I haven't read those pages. I'll be going back to see what I missed.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 12-13
The Passover is explained and initiated. This one thing stands out this time... The family must eat the Passover in one house, do not take any part of it outside. All must be circumcised. Those that want to eat, foreigners or not, must be circumcised and then they must share the meal. This is a very communal meal.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Control Comes in Different Flavors - Guilt, Anger, Persistent Assaults on the Spouse's Boundary, and Withholding Love
All of these are just ways to manipulate a spouse into doing what is desired by the other spouse. None of these are acceptable, so what is? How can spouses come to terms about important issues without overstepping boundaries?
Submitting to Boundaries on Our Control - Realize the Cost of Other-Control, Ask Your Spouse to Let You Know How Your Control Affects Him, Experience Your Own Helplessness to Change Your Spouse, Learn to Grieve, Work Through Dependency Issues, Be a Separate Person with Your Spouse, Value Your Spouse's Freedom As You Want Your Freedom Valued, Set Boundaries with Your Spouse Instead of Controlling Him
All of these are necessary to truly become a loving and freedom granting spouse. Controlling your spouse is not an option, controlling yourself is. Realizing needs and helping find appropriate ways of resolving/fulfilling those needs is a major maturity booster. Some needs are inappropriate or misplaced, they need to be redefined, while other needs are appropriate and need an appropriate fulfillment. Sometimes these fulfillment of needs come from the spouse and sometimes they come from others.
Prayer
Father God, Lord of heaven and earth, Master of everything, Friend to the friendless, and Parent to all... thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us so many abilities to learn, grow, and change. Help us to trust and love you more. Help us to experience your forgiveness and bless others with your love, grace and mercy. Find in us your Spirit and bring us to increasing awareness of your abundance for us so that we can honor you in all that we are.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Settlers, Stuck, Slavery
Yesterday
We had Jacky, Alicia, their son Micah, and also Nikki over for dinner last night and to play Settlers. We had a great time. Jacky got stuck in the bathroom, but ended up freeing himself after about half an hour. The internal workings of the lock broke, so there was nothing to do but break the internal workings of the handle/lock even further. I guess we could have broken the door, kicked it in, or taken the hinges off, however none of these options were as easy to remedy. The hinges weren't coming off, because he had no tools inside the bathroom.
When playing Settlers I changed my attitude from very competitive and I must win, to everyone should just have fun, and if I win that is okay. I also tried a little different strategy, but really I just played, it was more to do with my attitude. And I was distracted, Jaime put on a cartoon for Micah and I love to watch cartoons. I should say we hardly ever watch TV or movies. We spend most of our time studying Chinese.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 9-11
Plagues of Dead Animals, Boils, Hail, Locusts, and Darkness with intermittent agreements to allow the people (or just the men) to go and then reneging.
How often do we hear the Word of God and then waffle between obedience and our own desire? God wants us to trust him, to follow him. Are there plague like things in my life? If I would have chosen to obey at different times, how much more fruitful and joyful would my life be now? So, I must start each day with the purpose in my heart to be obedient and have the goal of increased relationship with the Lord so that I can be fruitful in every way which brings glory to God.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Boundaries on Our Attempts to Control
A spouse must truly be free. The marriage cannot lead to other-controlled living, Galatians 5:1 is all about being free! Galatians 5:23 is all about having self-control, not other-control. Even God doesn't force us to make the good choice, so one must allow their spouse to make good or bad choices without our constant observance, coercion, and manipulation.
Prayer
Lord thank you for always blessing me with a renewed spirit for your will in my life. Thank you for changing my heart, attitude, and actions into increasing holiness. I pray your Spirit is in control of all that I think, say, and do. Let me offer my life to you each day as a sacrifice of praise.
We had Jacky, Alicia, their son Micah, and also Nikki over for dinner last night and to play Settlers. We had a great time. Jacky got stuck in the bathroom, but ended up freeing himself after about half an hour. The internal workings of the lock broke, so there was nothing to do but break the internal workings of the handle/lock even further. I guess we could have broken the door, kicked it in, or taken the hinges off, however none of these options were as easy to remedy. The hinges weren't coming off, because he had no tools inside the bathroom.
When playing Settlers I changed my attitude from very competitive and I must win, to everyone should just have fun, and if I win that is okay. I also tried a little different strategy, but really I just played, it was more to do with my attitude. And I was distracted, Jaime put on a cartoon for Micah and I love to watch cartoons. I should say we hardly ever watch TV or movies. We spend most of our time studying Chinese.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 9-11
Plagues of Dead Animals, Boils, Hail, Locusts, and Darkness with intermittent agreements to allow the people (or just the men) to go and then reneging.
How often do we hear the Word of God and then waffle between obedience and our own desire? God wants us to trust him, to follow him. Are there plague like things in my life? If I would have chosen to obey at different times, how much more fruitful and joyful would my life be now? So, I must start each day with the purpose in my heart to be obedient and have the goal of increased relationship with the Lord so that I can be fruitful in every way which brings glory to God.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Boundaries on Our Attempts to Control
A spouse must truly be free. The marriage cannot lead to other-controlled living, Galatians 5:1 is all about being free! Galatians 5:23 is all about having self-control, not other-control. Even God doesn't force us to make the good choice, so one must allow their spouse to make good or bad choices without our constant observance, coercion, and manipulation.
Prayer
Lord thank you for always blessing me with a renewed spirit for your will in my life. Thank you for changing my heart, attitude, and actions into increasing holiness. I pray your Spirit is in control of all that I think, say, and do. Let me offer my life to you each day as a sacrifice of praise.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Plagues, Judgmentalism, Worship
Yesterday
We met with Brad & Min for dinner.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 5-8
Plagues on the Egyptians. Moses goes to Pharaoh and the plagues begin.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Judgmentalism
This happens when one spouse criticizes, judges, and condemns the other. The judging spouse is not aware of how hurtful their actions are, but they are also trying to find love and acceptance while misreading the actions of their spouse. This misreading causes the judged spouse to recoil out of fear. Fear drives out love and quickly destroys the relationship, this is the opposite of what God intends (1 John 4:18).
To remedy this, the judging spouse needs to ask their spouse how much pain is brought as a result of their judgment, develop the ability to receive God's love and forgiveness, and develop compassion for others.
Prayer
Lord reach inside my heart and create more room for you. Give me increasing desire for your love, followed by discipline to grow, encouraged by grace, let me know you more. Help me to follow your desire for me each day. Let my heart be molded in your hands, let my mind be fed by your love, let my soul be satisfied only in your presence, God I want to be with you each day. Grant us your love, peace, and mercy. Cast out our anxiety, foolishness, and selfish pride. Let us grow through your compassion. Be with your church, make leaders rise up throughout the world that will guide your people into every increasing humility before your throne, yet with boldness to gather your flock and call us all to worship you. Give us times of deep worship, let us know your presence, let your Spirit empower us to greater passion for you and compassion for others. Thank you for your grace, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus.
We met with Brad & Min for dinner.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 5-8
Plagues on the Egyptians. Moses goes to Pharaoh and the plagues begin.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Judgmentalism
This happens when one spouse criticizes, judges, and condemns the other. The judging spouse is not aware of how hurtful their actions are, but they are also trying to find love and acceptance while misreading the actions of their spouse. This misreading causes the judged spouse to recoil out of fear. Fear drives out love and quickly destroys the relationship, this is the opposite of what God intends (1 John 4:18).
To remedy this, the judging spouse needs to ask their spouse how much pain is brought as a result of their judgment, develop the ability to receive God's love and forgiveness, and develop compassion for others.
Prayer
Lord reach inside my heart and create more room for you. Give me increasing desire for your love, followed by discipline to grow, encouraged by grace, let me know you more. Help me to follow your desire for me each day. Let my heart be molded in your hands, let my mind be fed by your love, let my soul be satisfied only in your presence, God I want to be with you each day. Grant us your love, peace, and mercy. Cast out our anxiety, foolishness, and selfish pride. Let us grow through your compassion. Be with your church, make leaders rise up throughout the world that will guide your people into every increasing humility before your throne, yet with boldness to gather your flock and call us all to worship you. Give us times of deep worship, let us know your presence, let your Spirit empower us to greater passion for you and compassion for others. Thank you for your grace, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Short & Quick, Cookie Ministry Success!, Killing Moses...
Yesterday
2 guys come for Bible Study from the Cookie Ministry. I sold a bunch of my stuff.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 1-4, 6
Moses is chosen by God to go to Egypt. Pharaoh wants to kill Moses, then later God wants to kill him.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Self-Centeredness
How do you deal with not trying to be "good"?
Prayer
Help me to focus more on being your person God. Let me love you and follow you. Set aside my selfishness and lack of faith. Thank you Lord for loving me and blessing me.
2 guys come for Bible Study from the Cookie Ministry. I sold a bunch of my stuff.
The Daily Bible - Exodus 1-4, 6
Moses is chosen by God to go to Egypt. Pharaoh wants to kill Moses, then later God wants to kill him.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Self-Centeredness
How do you deal with not trying to be "good"?
Prayer
Help me to focus more on being your person God. Let me love you and follow you. Set aside my selfishness and lack of faith. Thank you Lord for loving me and blessing me.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Cookies, 6500, Withdrawal
Yesterday
Jessica and Angela arrived yesterday. We went to Sizzler for dinner, especially because of the salad bar.
A few days ago, Jaime and I made another set of cookies to share with the people on floors 3-12 of our building. (We have no residents on the second floor and the first floor only has businesses and the elevator workers room.) Last night, Nikki and I finished handing out the cookies to all that would receive them.
The Daily Bible - Genesis 47-50
Jacob blesses his children and dies. Joseph dies after seeing his child's 3rd generation.
It has been 4006 years since Jacob/Israel was born and 3859 years since he died. Babel was maybe 400-500 years before Jacob's birth. Maybe the Flood was another 500 years before Babel. And Creation was about 1500 years before the Flood, which would make Creation about 6500 years ago.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Withdrawal from Relationship
This is focused on the tendency of some people to not establish and keep emotional connections which is a serious character flaw. The reasons can be many, but at their core the most likely culprit is lack of trust which results in fear. Many people fear being hurt, so they safeguard their heart by not letting attachments form. This is a lonely life.
Irresponsibility
"It's not fair!" is the common mantra of a spouse trying to avoid responsibility. They often focus on others, neglecting their own ability to control the situation. Sometimes these people are flaky, unconventional, or otherwise distracted by things, but they can take control by asking for help. Ask friends to tell you how much you hurt them by not keeping your word, finishing projects, or failing to show for a dinner appointment. Then ask them not to enable you, to let you be late or even fail. Ask your wife to set limits for you, especially if you are not setting them appropriately.
Prayer
God I feel like I have been withdrawn for a good bit of my life. I am not so much now, but I have been. I struggle to know what it means to be connected, to be fully integrated in relationship with others. Lord, give me a stronger sense of the connections I have, bless me with the ability to love. Open my heart to your love and your relationship so this can be a model for blessing others in relationship.
Jessica and Angela arrived yesterday. We went to Sizzler for dinner, especially because of the salad bar.
A few days ago, Jaime and I made another set of cookies to share with the people on floors 3-12 of our building. (We have no residents on the second floor and the first floor only has businesses and the elevator workers room.) Last night, Nikki and I finished handing out the cookies to all that would receive them.
The Daily Bible - Genesis 47-50
Jacob blesses his children and dies. Joseph dies after seeing his child's 3rd generation.
It has been 4006 years since Jacob/Israel was born and 3859 years since he died. Babel was maybe 400-500 years before Jacob's birth. Maybe the Flood was another 500 years before Babel. And Creation was about 1500 years before the Flood, which would make Creation about 6500 years ago.
Boundaries in Marriage - Setting Boundaries with Yourself
Withdrawal from Relationship
This is focused on the tendency of some people to not establish and keep emotional connections which is a serious character flaw. The reasons can be many, but at their core the most likely culprit is lack of trust which results in fear. Many people fear being hurt, so they safeguard their heart by not letting attachments form. This is a lonely life.
Irresponsibility
"It's not fair!" is the common mantra of a spouse trying to avoid responsibility. They often focus on others, neglecting their own ability to control the situation. Sometimes these people are flaky, unconventional, or otherwise distracted by things, but they can take control by asking for help. Ask friends to tell you how much you hurt them by not keeping your word, finishing projects, or failing to show for a dinner appointment. Then ask them not to enable you, to let you be late or even fail. Ask your wife to set limits for you, especially if you are not setting them appropriately.
Prayer
God I feel like I have been withdrawn for a good bit of my life. I am not so much now, but I have been. I struggle to know what it means to be connected, to be fully integrated in relationship with others. Lord, give me a stronger sense of the connections I have, bless me with the ability to love. Open my heart to your love and your relationship so this can be a model for blessing others in relationship.
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