The sharp little teeth
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:22 PM |

 

The rakish grin
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:21 PM |

 

What? I'm busy here!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:21 PM |

 

Hey, Ma, could you turn on the game?
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:20 PM |

 

Baby Jay's first trip to the zoo!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 1:38 PM |

 

We interrupt this temper tantrum to bring you a photo!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 1:38 PM |

 

I've been playing at the rail-rooooad all the live long day!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 1:37 PM |

 
Hee hee
I win!?
- posted by Lenise @ 9:51 AM |

 
My Moron Project
Could beat up your Moron Project
- posted by Lenise @ 10:18 PM |

 
It was bound to happen
I left Jay in the living room by himself and came back to discover that he had not only liberated a cassette from the stereo, but he had also pushed the ejected VeggieTales video into the VCR and hit play. What could I do, but turn on the tv for him?
- posted by Lenise @ 5:11 PM |

 
Don't get me wrong
I really like living three blocks from the center of town. I like our house, and our neighbors haven't caused us any real trouble. But, it would be nice if the leathery tattooed guy next door would take a day off from using power tools in the yard every now and then. He seems to have gotten himself a young winsome assistant, and now they've each got some gas-powered monstrosity roaring.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
- posted by Lenise @ 10:34 AM |

 
A Must-read
Especially for anyone with an infant son and in need of a good laugh.
- posted by Lenise @ 3:29 PM |

 
Attention Self-professed Christians
Before you condemn other Christians who testify that certain lifestyles and certain actions are sinful, READ THE BIBLE. Jesus was not "nice" all the time. Sometimes love has to be harsh.

Thank you.
- posted by Lenise @ 9:50 PM |

 

And he doesn't EVER grab at the camera.
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 9:32 PM |

 

And he doesn't have an attitude about it ;)
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 9:32 PM |

 

And he never smiles...
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 9:31 PM |

 

No, my baby's not adorable at all!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 9:30 PM |

 

Breakfast in my skivvies
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 9:29 PM |

 
Yikes!
The chaos in our home is expanding to its full potential, now that Jay is able to clear off the surfaces he can pull up at. Bye-bye, books, kleenex, and remote controls which used to live on the coffee table. Bye-bye, big heavy brass lamp on the side table. Last night I set about decluttering the living room after Having Deep Thoughts Which Must be Blogged, and we may keep the boy out of danger for a while longer.. until he escapes to the dining room, anyway. Thank goodness for baby gates!
- posted by Lenise @ 10:09 AM |

 
Modern Times
A post at Sibboleth reminded me about a concept I spent some time pondering recently, namely, the compartmentalization we force upon our lives. In this instance, it was a question of our instinct that the Church should be removed from "Politics".* It sounds good, and when you have situations like the one that prompted the post (a pastor allegedly casting out members of his congregation over the presidential election), you may not see any reason to examine that viewpoint, even if your faith is pre-eminent in your worldview.

My suspicion is that our current age of affluence of possessions, activities, and information forces us to categorize and organize our world so we can "keep control" of the chaos. I mentioned at our church in a different context that I felt I had three lives in three different communities, as I live, work, and worship in three different towns. This discontinuity is obviously enabled by the convenience and speed of personal transportation, but it seems to me that we have a similar level of access to ideas which can act in much the same way.

I've been reading a couple of books on child-rearing which were written from a Christian perspective. I'm very glad to have the opportunity to ponder the authors' perspective on the way the Scriptures inform us regarding our relationships to our children. So what makes my opinion on spanking a question that should be approached from a Christian perspective, while, say, the question of import tariffs should be approached from a secular viewpoint? Don't we as evangelicals believe that our faith should be integrated in all areas of life?

In the same way that our access to far-flung places and scores of congenial friends encourage superficiality in our relationships to places and people, does our varied exposure to different ideas and viewpoints prevent us from integrating our intellectual lives? Do we miss relationships between our beliefs because we store them in separate realms?

We can agree that some things we classify as political often have a moral component to them. Slavery, apartheid, abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia, war, even a state lottery are all examples of issues where the Church should not be afraid to shed her light. Even then, we may not agree on how to live out our calling in the world, but that doesn't mean that we as the Church should "stay out of it" in an ecclesial capacity or that our leaders should not inform our own consciences regarding these issues.

What happened at that church still seems wrong to me, and the pastor is not even standing up for what he did, but I am second-guessing myself. Is it always wrong for a church leader to endorse a candidate? Is there any justification for a congregation to regard voting for any given candidate as analogous to, say, cheating on taxes? If a denomination believes war is always wrong (regardless of whether or not it is correct in this belief), shouldn't it encourage its members to vote for pacifists?

* I wonder how that question has been approached historically- certainly at one time it was expected that "the Church" embroil herself in exactly that- Popes took sides on every major war in Europe for centuries. The Vatican was a vast feudal power, in many respects indistinguishable from the greatest monarchs in Europe.
- posted by Lenise @ 9:04 PM |

 
Following in Luke's footsteps
Jay has started to figure out how to pull up. Not content with having practiced his brand-spankin' new skill, he tried to pull himself onto the sofa once he was standing at it. Did I mention it's about chest-height to him now? I took pity on him and helped him scramble up onto my lap. What can I say- he's been practicing his cute faces!
- posted by Lenise @ 8:24 PM |

 

You don't want to know how much this is going to cost! These pedals have seen better days.
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 7:29 PM |

 

More cereal, Daddy!!!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 7:27 PM |

 
Welcome!!
Cathy posted photos of her sweet beautiful son. Welcome, Jonah!!
- posted by Lenise @ 10:31 AM |

 
Hee hee
Grandpa G. bought Baby Jay the sheep rocking chair!! Yay, Grandpa!!
- posted by Lenise @ 9:32 AM |

 
TV Addict Baby
Not really. He does like the VeggieTales theme song, though, and likes me to sing him VT songs when he's in his booster seat. About a month ago, Jay and I were in the living room on the sofa (he likes to stand there looking over the back out the window) and I started to sing the VeggieTales theme song. Jay looked at me, than at the cabinet doors hiding the TV. It was clear that he recognized the song!
- posted by Lenise @ 9:52 PM |

 

Here, cracker, cracker!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:07 PM |

 

Oh- THAT cracker!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:05 PM |

 

Cracker? What cracker?
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 8:04 PM |

 

And in other news... the cats are getting along better than ever!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 7:58 PM |

 

Vun! Vun toofie! Ah ha ha ha ha!!!!
Posted by Hello
- posted by Lenise @ 7:57 PM |