Pedal Pushers

Johnathan has loved his tricycle for a long time - not to pedal, but to zip around in the style of the Flintstones with his feet. Pedalling is a little tricky when your right heel doesn't have the same flexibility, I'd imagine.

But we've said goodbye to the trike and he's taking on a new challenge - a bike
(plus training wheels, of course)! With his snazzy new helmet, a cool John Deere bike on loan from Joaquin for practice, and an encouraging sister and Daddy, Johnathan is learning to ride. Here's some pictures from a trip to a nice paved trail, where he worked hard to go the distance.

James 2:14-26 I Never Knew You...

Kevin preached about the passage in James that shows why faith and deeds go hand-in-hand. Saving faith involved more that a mere acknowledgment of the facts of the Gospel - even the demons believe that. In verses 21-26, it says that Abraham and Rahab were "justified" by what they did, not by faith alone. Does this contradict other scripture that assures us that we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1)?

Kevin explained that it is true that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But the things we do are the clear evidence of that faith - it justifies us before people, because we can say we believe all we want, but our deeds actually demonstrate the truth of the claim that we believe. We will always struggle with sin, but evidence of faith includes:

Hearing God's Word
Acknowledging our sin
Battling sin
Life change over time and fruit of the Spirit being produced in our lives

Waiting

Though Johnathan is definitely interested in the whole baby-in-my-tummy thing, he is only 3. He really has not had the patience to sit and wait for the baby to move so he can feel it. We've tried to help him feel the baby kick, but nothing's ever registered for Johnathan.

This morning as we were singing in church, Johnathan climbed up and put his arm around me and his hand on my tummy while we sang. I noticed the baby jabbing me right under Johnathan's hand several times. I looked down at him, and Johnathan looked up at me in wonder - He felt his baby brother kicking him for the first time!

We finished singing "Strength Will Rise as We Wait Upon the Lord." This stage of pregnancy definitely requires some strength as we wait... But the wait is worth it, for moments like that!

James 2:1-13 That's a Poor Excuse

Kevin's sermon this morning was all about favoritism or partiality, and how it has no place in Jesus's church. Discrimination in the church can come in so many forms, whether against those with a different social of economic status, race, political view, gender, or generation. But the Gospel doesn't discriminate, because we are all equally sinful and in need of Christ. As Kevin reminded us from Matthew 25:31-46, all believers will be held accountable for showing the Gospel to everyone, including the least of these.

James 1:23-27 Awakenings

The life of the hearer is characterized by ignoring God's word. But the life of a true believer is characterized by listening to and doing God's word. Kevin showed us pictures of mirrors that were used in the first century AD. They were nothing like our mirrors today - more like trying to see yourself in bottom of one of my stainless steel cooking pans. The person who really wanted to know what he or she looked like would have to really gaze, really closely study to get an accurate picture. That's what James was talking about when he compared studying God's word to looking in a mirror and then walking away. If we want a truly accurate picture of ourselves, both the sin and the incredible love God has for us, we need to gaze into His word intently, often, and with obedience as the outcome.

Up in the Air

Kevin had a fun adventure this week - church member Tom took him up for an aerial view of Brazos County and more in his airplane.

They passed right over our house and the church campus first.

Then they flew over College Station and to Lake Summerville.

And the most important part - the landing!

Then and Now

Then...

The other day as I was sorting through some old papers and photos, I found a piece of notebook paper with a list of times written in columns. After puzzling a minute, it came to me... it was the record of my contractions that Kevin kept on the night I went into labor with Naomi.

With Johnathan, we didn't even have time to write down the contractions.


and Now...

How technology has changed in a mere four years. Kevin found an app for his iPhone last might that he had great glee in trying out - a contraction timer! Simply push the button when the contraction starts, then push it again when the contraction ends. The app automatically records the length of time between contractions and their the average duration.

I got to try it out on some mild contractions for a few hours last night... But obviously I did not go into labor. Nothing new to report today!