Thanks to the good people at Mancuso Collision the old gal's back on the road - and barely recognizable from the everyday hack she's been for 16 years! A shiny new paint job, sparkling chrome - I'm feeling a little pressure to keep her clean now. But I'm sure that feeling will wear off soon.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Luke 2:008
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."
I talked about the shepherds at Mercy Street last weekend, and have continued to think about them, and who they might be today. Thanks to nativity sets and Christmas pageants the shepherds have taken on a romantic air - adorable children holding fluffy lambs and whacking each other with their crooks - it's hard not to have a fond spot for them. But in first century Palestine, they were viewed a little differently.
Shepherds often were small landholders, whose land could not support their families. So, they hired themselves out to their wealthier neighbours, to get the cash they needed to buy what they could not provide for themselves, and of course, pay taxes. As we know from Luke, they spent the night in the fields, watching over the flock. Which meant they weren't at home, watching over their families - a highly dishonourable situation. They were also viewed as thieves, as the flocks grazed on other peoples' land as they moved around. At best they were viewed with ambivalence - most often they were viewed with deep suspicion. Because of their reputation, they were not able to bear witness in legal cases.
Luke begins the Christmas story with the powerful and prestigious - Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome, and Quirinius, governor of Syria. But the angels sent by God to announce the "good news of great joy for all the people" came to the shepherds. While Caesar slept in his comfortable bed in Rome, and Quirinius stirred under his furs in Syria, the news of the Christ came to peasant shepherds in an insignificant corner of the Empire.
So, how would this play out today, in the U.S.? Who would the shepherds be? Who are the underclass, those viewed with deep suspicion as they move from place to place to try and support their families back home? I wonder if Luke would tell it something like this:
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from the CEO of Burger King that no wage increase would be given to tomato pickers in Florida (this happened while his lobbyists worked hard in D.C. to overturn previous wage gains). And there were in the same country, migrant workers sleeping in shacks, keeping watch over their meager possessions by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, i bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people'..."
While the rich and the powerful sleep in their Starter Castles in New England, and under their 1000 thread sheets inside the Beltway, the good news comes to migrant workers picking tomatoes in Florida. They are the recipients of a divine visitation, and thus the recipients of God's favour. As they return from the fields to carry this news, who will receive and believe their report? Who will believe these unlikely messengers of an unlikely baby born in an unlikely place? As always, Luke invites his reader to step into the story, and answer for ourselves. How will we?
I talked about the shepherds at Mercy Street last weekend, and have continued to think about them, and who they might be today. Thanks to nativity sets and Christmas pageants the shepherds have taken on a romantic air - adorable children holding fluffy lambs and whacking each other with their crooks - it's hard not to have a fond spot for them. But in first century Palestine, they were viewed a little differently.
Shepherds often were small landholders, whose land could not support their families. So, they hired themselves out to their wealthier neighbours, to get the cash they needed to buy what they could not provide for themselves, and of course, pay taxes. As we know from Luke, they spent the night in the fields, watching over the flock. Which meant they weren't at home, watching over their families - a highly dishonourable situation. They were also viewed as thieves, as the flocks grazed on other peoples' land as they moved around. At best they were viewed with ambivalence - most often they were viewed with deep suspicion. Because of their reputation, they were not able to bear witness in legal cases.
Luke begins the Christmas story with the powerful and prestigious - Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome, and Quirinius, governor of Syria. But the angels sent by God to announce the "good news of great joy for all the people" came to the shepherds. While Caesar slept in his comfortable bed in Rome, and Quirinius stirred under his furs in Syria, the news of the Christ came to peasant shepherds in an insignificant corner of the Empire.
So, how would this play out today, in the U.S.? Who would the shepherds be? Who are the underclass, those viewed with deep suspicion as they move from place to place to try and support their families back home? I wonder if Luke would tell it something like this:
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from the CEO of Burger King that no wage increase would be given to tomato pickers in Florida (this happened while his lobbyists worked hard in D.C. to overturn previous wage gains). And there were in the same country, migrant workers sleeping in shacks, keeping watch over their meager possessions by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, i bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people'..."
While the rich and the powerful sleep in their Starter Castles in New England, and under their 1000 thread sheets inside the Beltway, the good news comes to migrant workers picking tomatoes in Florida. They are the recipients of a divine visitation, and thus the recipients of God's favour. As they return from the fields to carry this news, who will receive and believe their report? Who will believe these unlikely messengers of an unlikely baby born in an unlikely place? As always, Luke invites his reader to step into the story, and answer for ourselves. How will we?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Feeding seagulls
One of the highlights of our week was feeding seagulls off the back of the Bolivar Ferry - remarkably few pecked fingers, and just a few narrowly missed splats!
Sandcastle
At the beginning of the month we spent a wonderful week down in Galveston's East beach thanks to the generosity of the Wise family, who let us stay in their beautiful condo. We caught the last of the warm weather, and spent time on the beach every day, beginning with a long walk first thing in the morning. Seth and Maggie had a big time in the waves, and making sand castles is a new favourite thing to do. Check out more photos at Flickr.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Jingle Bells and Veteran's Day
Having just returned from vacation late last night, Rebecca headed to Kroger today to pick up some food necessities so we could feed Maggie and Seth dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow (shopping being something we try hard to rest from on Sundays - and pretty much any time when we don't have to get something). Over said dinner, Rebecca asked Maggie if she could remember the song they'd heard at the store - which she could. Jingle Bells.
Now it's bad enough that all the Christmas stuff has already been out for a couple of weeks - but "Jingle Bells" before Thanksgiving?! And on Veteran's Day/Memorial Sunday? We paused before lunch to remember those whose lives have been lost in war, and prayed for peace. (Maggie wanted to know why people were hitting each other in wars - after I fumbled with an attempt to explain Memorial Sunday, and war in general, Rebecca saved me from myself and translated my efforts into 3 year old-ish, to Maggie's satisfaction).
I love holidays. I want to anticipate them, savour the build up - especially the new holiday I've gained from living in the U.S. But Kroger has apparently decided that we can just skip Thanksgiving (unless they're offering the convenience of buying turkeys for both holidays at the same time). Maybe if it hadn't been Memorial Sunday today I would have just shrugged at Rebecca's comment and kept eating the Freschetta pizza we settled on for dinner. But Jingle Bells as the soundtrack for Veteran's Day? I don't know about that...
Peace.
Now it's bad enough that all the Christmas stuff has already been out for a couple of weeks - but "Jingle Bells" before Thanksgiving?! And on Veteran's Day/Memorial Sunday? We paused before lunch to remember those whose lives have been lost in war, and prayed for peace. (Maggie wanted to know why people were hitting each other in wars - after I fumbled with an attempt to explain Memorial Sunday, and war in general, Rebecca saved me from myself and translated my efforts into 3 year old-ish, to Maggie's satisfaction).
I love holidays. I want to anticipate them, savour the build up - especially the new holiday I've gained from living in the U.S. But Kroger has apparently decided that we can just skip Thanksgiving (unless they're offering the convenience of buying turkeys for both holidays at the same time). Maybe if it hadn't been Memorial Sunday today I would have just shrugged at Rebecca's comment and kept eating the Freschetta pizza we settled on for dinner. But Jingle Bells as the soundtrack for Veteran's Day? I don't know about that...
Peace.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Satsumas
We're looking forward to tasting the first harvest from our 4' satsuma tree - we've been enjoying the last of the sweet peppers and bush beans this week.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Barnyard buddies
Maggie & Seth enjoyed their school pumpkin patch and really enjoyed getting to hold candy in their hands - some of which was redistributed as kids came trick or treating in the neighborhood - just say 'no' to (excessive) sugar.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
bike + bike
After 16 years of owning and riding my '84 Ironhead Sportster, I finally had a wreck. And despite the proliferation of SUVs and pickups in H-Town, I was hit by a...bicycle. My new friend Alvin was cutting across a 4 lane street on his bicycle pre-dawn on Thursday, and although he beat the Metro bus in the right lane, he hit me in the left lane about a second after we saw each other. I laid the bike down, and slid down the road with it on top of me (see jeans) and Alvin's bike on top of mine. Thankfully neither of us are badly injured, although he has torn a couple of ligaments in his ankle. I just have some nice road rash, and a few bruises. I'm waiting on news about the state of my bike - lots of cosmetic damage, smashed clutch, dented tank - I think the insurance company will total it, but I have hopes that I'll get it back on the road. We'll see...
I was mad for about 5 minutes after the wreck, but then I started feeling a bunch of compassion for Alvin, and my anger diffused quickly. We've talked several times since the wreck, and are going to drink some coffee together sometime this week. I started playing the 'if only I'd...' game a couple of days ago, but no one wins that one, so I stopped sharpish. Maybe it's just one of those things. I'm hoping something unexpected comes out of all this - and that it's a good something! Again, we'll see...
I was mad for about 5 minutes after the wreck, but then I started feeling a bunch of compassion for Alvin, and my anger diffused quickly. We've talked several times since the wreck, and are going to drink some coffee together sometime this week. I started playing the 'if only I'd...' game a couple of days ago, but no one wins that one, so I stopped sharpish. Maybe it's just one of those things. I'm hoping something unexpected comes out of all this - and that it's a good something! Again, we'll see...
Martyn Joseph
After opening for Martin Sexton on the first 10 dates of his tour, Martyn dropped by for a couple of days before heading back to the UK to tour with his new album 'Vegas'. He did a show to an enthusiastic crowd at Taft Street Coffee, and we're hoping he comes back our way next February. His biggest fans in Houston are definitely Maggie and Seth, and they want you to buy 'Vegas'. Now. Because it will make you get up and dance. And you won't be able to get "Vegas...hmm, mmm. Vegas...hmm, mmm" out of your head.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The family
Thanks to Geoff Maddock's expert tuition this afternoon, we're on our way to becoming blog-competent. flickr account opened and ready to go - here we are, earlier this summer in Greenville, IL.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Tilling the ground...
If you've wandered into the backyard, the soil is being prepared as we inexperienced gardeners learn what millions of others seem to do effortlessly. Stop by again later!
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