the miracle happens again

Quentin Patrick Brenneman was born Sunday April 29th at 9:28 am - 6 lbs. 4 oz. to a proud and beautiful couple - Jeremy & Tina. Q is doing great, especially considering he made his debut into the world five weeks before curtain time.

We want to bless Tina, Jeremy & Q during this time. A baby shower is in the works so stay tuned for details.

They are scheduled to come home from the hospital on Wednesday, so we want to make the transition a little easier with daily meals. Leave a comment as to when you'll take a meal. They live off of Lakeside in the apartments behind T & M Mini-mart. Here's their phone number if you want to give them a call. 887-6883.

Wednesday Nancy & Ray Roast Chicken w/veggies & potatoes
Thursday Marcy something healthy & yummy
Friday Ginny & Paul Chicken Something Else/rolls/dessert
Saturday Teresa good food
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday Velma & Bob something yummy
Wednesday Christy & Peter tacos
Thursday
Friday

*The statue pictured is from Gustav Vigeland's work located in Oslo, Norway.

a people's tragedy

My husband reads books. I read them too, of course. But I read books. He reads BOOKS. You know, the big thick history books about English kings and Russia. He reads them over and again until the binding breaks and chunks fall out like first graders' teeth.

One of those chunks has been migrating around our house lately, moving from kitchen table to bathroom, bedroom to living room floor. Pages 363 through 452, if you care.

"Listen to this," Ray called from the other room. He began to read.

"There was also a new stress on the workers' own sense of dignity...and they were no longer willing to be treated with any disrespect by either foremen or managers...Domestic servants marched to demand that they should be addressed with the formal 'you', as opposed to the familiar 'you', previously used to address the serfs. Yardmen demanded that their degrading title should now be changed to 'house director'. Women workers demanded equal pay to men, an end to 'degrading body searches', fully paid maternity leave and the abolition of child labour. As the workers saw it, these were basic issues of morality...Many workers spoke of founding a 'new moral life', based on law and individual rights, in which there would be no more drunkenness, swearing, gambling or wife-beating."

"Do you get it?" He asked. "I know exactly what you're thinking. I got it in about the second sentence." (Married people are like that sometimes) "Sounds a lot like the Kingdom, huh?"

I find it interesting that God's kingdom rises up in unlikely places at times. That was Russia in 1917 - around the time Americans were fighting for suffrage and prohibition. About the time that our denomination was gaining legs. Here's my question. Does God's kingdom rely on religious people to cause it to happen or could it possibly move at Divine impulse through means the religious do not sanction or call their own?

* the painting is titled "Revolution" by Marc Chagall

sweet music

So tonight, on a two-day spur of the moment (if there can be such a thing), a bunch of reverb musicians and friends got together to jam. I haven't seen my hubby so happy in a long time. Isn't it funny how doing the things we love makes us feel alive? Like maybe we're somehow worshiping God when we do what we love and use our natural giftedness?

I know this isn't spiritual in the fundamentalist sort of way, but I do think something God-pleasing was happening. A bunch of friends creating music, enjoying the beauty of sound, being in the moment - oh it felt so good.

Well, we're going to do this more often. I know a lot of us want community. And I say, what better way to do it than hangin' out making or just listening to some good sounds. Thanks Aaron, Brent, Cody, Mark, and Ray...you made my night.

If you're interested, join us at the CoffeeCan @ 1035 Wade St. We're going to have more jams and schedule some local bands for more polished gigs too...

life is good.