On the 6th my lovely wife and I escaped from home on a marriage retreat. I'm not sure why it's called a retreat, there was some work involved. After almost 4 years of separation in a 32 year marriage it was a pleasant respite from the day to day routine. The work part was to discover some new ways to approach the inevitable conflicts of the daily rubbing elbows with a loving spouse and children still at home. Determined to not make the same old problematic mistakes that led to our separation, I was more that willing to take on this little break from home. It was a great weekend, good food, good fellowship and an absolutely heart warming time with my wife. God is gracious and far more patient with me that I deserve. I know that is only through His grace that my family put up with me for all these years. A lot of the issues still remain, but He has given me the grace to look before I leap. For me, I wish all of this would have happened sooner, NIKKI!!, but I understand that God's timing is perfect and out of trials come strength, and I know that He has given me a bunch. He has given me some insights that I pray that I will use to His glory and my happiness. All of these years of sitting under John Piper's teaching has paid off. I am finally seeing some of the joy that comes from glorifying God. Who would have thunk that praying with my wife before bed would bring such joy? All I can do is sing and praise him with what time I have left in this life and wait in anticipation to see what He has in store for me.
His servant,
Dennis
Feb 15, 2009
Feb 2, 2009
Long Over Due!
Where do you start when your whole old life changes? If I was as good with words as my wife and my oldest daughter, I would have no problem at all.
For the past 3 years, or so, my beautiful wife, of 32 years and I have been separated. Living at different addresses, had different phone numbers, and for the most part different lives. Lots of reasons for the split, too much talking not enough listening. We both said that if this marriage was to continue God would have to put it back together. Did we challange God? I don't know, all I know is that, in His own time He did just that. During the 3 years he worked on both of our hearts, taught us to wait on Him and WOW!! Really none of the cercumstances have changed, just our ability and wanting to solve them. Puting Him first over all other things, approaching all our mutual decisions with love and patience. If the vertical relationship is in place, all other things just seem to fit together. This weekend, my bride and I, we are off to a marriage retreat, to perhaps learn how to keep this going another 30 years and also have fellowship with other married folks. Enough said for now.
Later.. Dennis
For the past 3 years, or so, my beautiful wife, of 32 years and I have been separated. Living at different addresses, had different phone numbers, and for the most part different lives. Lots of reasons for the split, too much talking not enough listening. We both said that if this marriage was to continue God would have to put it back together. Did we challange God? I don't know, all I know is that, in His own time He did just that. During the 3 years he worked on both of our hearts, taught us to wait on Him and WOW!! Really none of the cercumstances have changed, just our ability and wanting to solve them. Puting Him first over all other things, approaching all our mutual decisions with love and patience. If the vertical relationship is in place, all other things just seem to fit together. This weekend, my bride and I, we are off to a marriage retreat, to perhaps learn how to keep this going another 30 years and also have fellowship with other married folks. Enough said for now.
Later.. Dennis
Oct 6, 2008
RISK!!
It has been a long time since my last post. I thought it was time for something of worth!
C.S. Lewis wrote on courage in The Screwtape Letters:
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality.
A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions.
Pilate was merciful till it became risky. (137-8)
John Piper wrote on risk in Don’t Waste Your Life:
Risk is right. And the reason is not because God promises success to all our ventures in his cause. There is no promise that every effort for the cause of God will succeed, at least not in the short run. John the Baptist risked calling King Herod an adulterer when he divorced his own wife in order to take his brother’s wife. For this John got his head chopped off. And he had done right to risk his life for the cause of God and truth. Jesus had no criticism for him, only the highest praise (Matthew 11:11).
Paul risked going up to Jerusalem to complete his ministry to the poor. He was beaten and thrown in prison for two years and then shipped off to Rome and executed there two years later. And he did right to risk his life for the cause of Christ. How many graves are there in Africa and Asia because thousands of young missionaries were freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the enchantment of security and then risked their lives to make much of Christ among the unreached peoples of the world!
And now what about you? Are you caught in the enchantment of security, paralyzed from taking any risks for the cause of God? Or have you been freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the mirage of Egyptian safety and comfort? Do you men ever say with Joab, “For the sake of the name, I’ll try it! And may the Lord do what seems good to him”? Do you women ever say with Esther, “For the sake of Christ, I’ll try it! And if I perish, I perish”? (89-90)
We also do not have to go far to know the mind of God on risk and courage. One example of many is Hebrews 11:35-39:
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
C.S. Lewis wrote on courage in The Screwtape Letters:
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality.
A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions.
Pilate was merciful till it became risky. (137-8)
John Piper wrote on risk in Don’t Waste Your Life:
Risk is right. And the reason is not because God promises success to all our ventures in his cause. There is no promise that every effort for the cause of God will succeed, at least not in the short run. John the Baptist risked calling King Herod an adulterer when he divorced his own wife in order to take his brother’s wife. For this John got his head chopped off. And he had done right to risk his life for the cause of God and truth. Jesus had no criticism for him, only the highest praise (Matthew 11:11).
Paul risked going up to Jerusalem to complete his ministry to the poor. He was beaten and thrown in prison for two years and then shipped off to Rome and executed there two years later. And he did right to risk his life for the cause of Christ. How many graves are there in Africa and Asia because thousands of young missionaries were freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the enchantment of security and then risked their lives to make much of Christ among the unreached peoples of the world!
And now what about you? Are you caught in the enchantment of security, paralyzed from taking any risks for the cause of God? Or have you been freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the mirage of Egyptian safety and comfort? Do you men ever say with Joab, “For the sake of the name, I’ll try it! And may the Lord do what seems good to him”? Do you women ever say with Esther, “For the sake of Christ, I’ll try it! And if I perish, I perish”? (89-90)
We also do not have to go far to know the mind of God on risk and courage. One example of many is Hebrews 11:35-39:
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
May 29, 2008
Summer?
Here it has been two months since the last of my irrelevant babbles. Time sure does fly when you are not involved with anything of worth. Here in MN the summer just does not seem to want to take hold. A nice day, a couple of rainy uncomfortable days and then an OK day. I guess I shouldn't complain, all too soon, I suppose, it will stay at 90 and my shorts will melt. I'll really be in a fix then.
The working hours have picked up a little, the company picked up some charter school summer routes, that may run over into the school year next year. But, I really enjoy my short weeks. The older I get the more rest I seem to need. More aches and pains than last year, my back is still not good and my knees are giving me some grief. Come July I need to have my eyes checked, the vision has been getting worse. Unfortunately, since the cataract surgery and the retinal surgery, there is only so much that can be done. The left eye can only be corrected to 20/40, if it gets any worse, I can't legally drive anymore. Well, I guess there is always disability!
Later....
The working hours have picked up a little, the company picked up some charter school summer routes, that may run over into the school year next year. But, I really enjoy my short weeks. The older I get the more rest I seem to need. More aches and pains than last year, my back is still not good and my knees are giving me some grief. Come July I need to have my eyes checked, the vision has been getting worse. Unfortunately, since the cataract surgery and the retinal surgery, there is only so much that can be done. The left eye can only be corrected to 20/40, if it gets any worse, I can't legally drive anymore. Well, I guess there is always disability!
Later....
Mar 23, 2008
And the Light Bulb Comes ON!
Having been born in 1947 and growing up in the 50's, 60's and 70's I listened to a lot of, what is now known as classic rock n' roll.But I just listened to it not paying much attention to who the group was or who was in it, except for a few. Now I spend a lot of time at answers.com checking on people who's name rings a bell. I learned, along with many others, that a lot of the mega stars of today started out as members of other bands and groups many years ago. Some were studio musicians and song writers for others and a few recorded their own material.
This blurb was triggered by Creature's finding out some history about Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly. Some others with an interesting history are: Kris Kristopherson, Paul Anka, Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. If you check out the history of many recording artists you may find some surprises linking song writers and performers.
Later.....
This blurb was triggered by Creature's finding out some history about Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly. Some others with an interesting history are: Kris Kristopherson, Paul Anka, Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. If you check out the history of many recording artists you may find some surprises linking song writers and performers.
Later.....
Feb 28, 2008
SICK and WHINEY!!!
I hate being sick. Somewhere in the rule book it should say that we grow out of this sort of thing. Yesterday, on Wednesday afternoon, I started really feeling bad. In addition to the slight cold that I have had for a few days I started feeling crampy and bloated. At first I thought it was just that time of the month but then I remembered that I am male. Just like me to look for a quick way out. By the time I got home I had to run for the bathroom. Just a terrible mess! Everything I ate magically transformed into a baby type of liquid and didn't want to stay in me very long. It has been a little tough taking the meds when I wasn't sure if they would stay there long enough to do any good. Today, in the evening, things are a little better I've been able to retain some toast for a while, but I still don't dare be too far from the little room. Needless to say I have taken a few days off, hopefully back to work on Monday. MasterQ caught the cold!
later
later
Feb 13, 2008
Sports again?
Richfield girls were at it again in hockey last night. It's probably a night they would want to forget. The were matched up against Blake HS and Blake girls were really on their game. The score does not represent how well Richfield played but, they lost the sectional playoff game. See some you next season and we will be cheering for you all!
Later
Later
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