Sunday Reflections

To doubt the good will of God is an inborn suspicion of God with all of us. Besides, the devil ...goes about seeking to devour us by roaring:"God is angry at you and is going to destroy you forever." In all these difficulties we have only one support, the Gospel of Christ. To hold on to it, that is the trick. Christ cannot be perceived with the senses.. The heart does not feel His helpful presence. Especially in times of trials a Christian feels the power of sin, the infirmity of his flesh, the goading darts of the devil...the scowl and judgment of God. All these things cry out against us, death thunders at us, the devil roars at us. In the midst of the clamor the Spirit of Christ cries in our hearts, 'Abba, Father.' And this little cry of the Spirit transcends the hullabaloo of the Law, sin, death, and the devil, and finds a hearing with God. The Spirit cries because of our weakness... (and) is sent forth into our hearts...to assure us of the grace of God.

--Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

(Galatians 3:1-3)

Boston's Buildings

Just in case you have not noticed we love Boston. Here are some buildings from our walk through the streets of Boston last Saturday. Faneuil Hall

Paul Revere's House

The Old North Church

Just in case you need a quick gateway

You can fit any type of house into a space.

Chimney anyone?

Cable TV anyone?

I am not sure if you can see it in this picture but this street was all marked with TONS of arrows. I am sure someone knows what they were all for.

Close up of the street.

The manhole cover is right HERE!!!!

I will end with a picture of a building that I liked not knowing what it was. Anyway it is a Traffic Tunnel Administration Building right next to the Big Dig in Boston. Trust me the building is much nicer than the dig.

Walk in Boston

After our morning and lunch at the children's museum we headed out to stretch our legs on the streets of Boston. I love walking by the ocean. It was cold that day but not windy and it was sunny (it could have been much colder).

We have dolphins in Boston.

Girls and Me by Quincy Market and the Faneuil Hall.

In front of Paul Revere's house in the North End ( I am sure we were a sight. Five adults six children, two strollers etc.) But we could care less. We had too much of a good time.

Jo taking a nap in front of the Old North Church.

More pictures coming soon!

Kid Power

We all enjoyed another visit to the children's museum (I am writing all since all the adults had fun as well).

all the kids driving somewhere (who knows where)

Water was a big hit with everybody until the little ones started to get wet (then the moms did not like it at all). Ok we let them splash one more time for the camera (bottom picture) since we knew it was way too cute not to make it to the blog.

We spent the entire morning at the museum, had lunch there then headed out to see other parts of Boston.

But that will have to wait for another day.

Sunday Reflections

Jesus sends us, he says, as the Father had sent him. Therefore our mission, like his, is to be one of service. He emptied himself of status and took the form of a servant, and his humble mind is to be in us (Phil. 2:5-8). He supplies us with the perfect model of service, and sends his church into the world to be a servant church. Is it not essential for us to recover this biblical emphasis? In many of our Christian attitudes and enterprises we have tended (especially those of us who life in Europe and North America) to be rather bosses than servants. Yet it seems that it is in our servant role that we can find the right synthesis of evangelism and social action. For both should be for us, as they undoubtedly were for Christ, authentic expressions of the love that serves.

--John Scott, Christian Mission in the Modern World See my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Isaiah 52:13

Guess Who? Beach NH style

We had very good friends spend the weekend with us. Can you guess who they are? Yep it is the Carpenters.

We have been looking forward to their visit for a long time.

Today we took them enjoy the beach NH style.

Well it was beautiful from the car. We did get out to breathe the fresh air and it was COLD. We bundled everybody up. I was cold. Not that I did not have warm clothes on I was just too busy taking pictures and my fingers were freezing.

We spend most of the time at the playground by the beach and I believe you can see from the pictures we all had fun.

Our little American girl.

Daddy's playing with their girls.

Like I said we ALL had a good time.

We did stop for a little bit in Portsmouth and did walk around but our tummies were grumbling and we were only 1 mile from Maine so we had to cross the border to get some world famous fish and chips.

We did visit our favorite toy store.

New England clam chowder

Was a big hit with Alexandra

and Josiah.

World famous fish and chips.

OK so I leave the chips part out and I had steam vegetables on my plate.

On the other hand Emma did have fish and chips. Can you tell she was enjoying her lunch?

The boys enjoying burgers.
Anybody else coming over?