Windchill

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Day’s Verse:
That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
Romans 8:18-21
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I went for a ride in the heat of the day (17°F) today. Alas, I headed west, directly into the 9-mph wind. If I rode at 12 mph (which I did; don’t scoff — it’s hard to ride in the cold), does that mean I felt a 21 mph windchill? Cause if that’s so, that brought the temperature I felt down to 0°F. Continue Reading >>

Open Letter to All My Readers

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Day’s Verse:
He has removed my brothers far from me,
And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
My relatives have failed,
And my intimate friends have forgotten me.

Job 19:13-14
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Dear Everyone I’ve Neglected Over The Past Year,

This letter is for you.

I’m sorry that I’ve neglected and ignored you, not returned your emails and said “Let’s get together,” without ever following up.

I’m sorry I didn’t call or write you letters like I used to.

I’m sorry I didn’t spontaneously email. Continue Reading >>

Shiver Me Timbers

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Day’s Verse:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
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I got up today at 7:00 — my carpool driver won’t be getting here until about 8:45 — and it was NEGATIVE TWO DEGREES. I spelled it out because I couldn’t really believe it myself, but here it is again: -2°F. (Now, at 8:00 am, it has warmed up to 0.3°F. Something about these numbers make me want to laugh hysterically.) Continue Reading >>

Bridesmaid Dress

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Day’s Verse:
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24-25
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Have I mentioned my sister’s getting married? Yep. In March. Lovely time of year — in California. Anyhow, Ian and I got to meet my future brother-in-law, Jordan, over Christmas, and fortunately we approve. Since Jordan passed with flying colors, Colleen has moved on to more important things, like what dress to choose for her bridesmaids. After great deliberation (do you sense the sarcasm there? I just had to wipe the monitor clean from it dripping all over), this dress came out on top: Continue Reading >>

I Wussed Out

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Day’s Verse:
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
Romans 7:18-19
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Last night I received a good verbal slap to the face on my idea of riding in sub-10°F temperatures (“What are you thinking? Why would you do such a thing? Don’t you know frostbite is for life? Is riding for a couple days worth losing toes? I can’t even imagine why you would consider doing that.”), so I decided to call upon the carpool arrangements a coworker and I set up before winter. That means that now I have a lot of time on my hands in the morning – he’ll meet me at 7:45, but we got up at 6:00 (and that was sleeping in half an hour! What luxury!). Normally I leave by 6:25 or so and am at work, if not at my desk, by 7:45. It’s a little odd to shift my schedule, but I guess it’s worth it to avoid freezing. Continue Reading >>

Some Random Thoughts

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Day’s Verse:
Hear my cry O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.

Psalm 61:1-3
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Excerpt from a sign at work:

Someone else may have to pay the consequences!

That is, of course, if you could pay for consequences. Generally I think people suffer consequences.

I’m seriously contemplating riding to work tomorrow. Why is this crazy? Because the temperature when I leave is predicted to be 7°F with a light breeze from the north. By evening it should warm up to about 13°F with 10-mph winds from the north and west. To add to the fun, we have a 90% chance of snow, with between 2 and 4 inches expected to accumulate. Continue Reading >>

Seen At Our Local Used Bookstore

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Day’s Verse:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
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A sign above the cash register that says,

Unattended children will be given sugar and a puppy.

I love the cleverness of that sign, which is indicative of Bearly Read Books in general. Bearly Read Books is one of those tiny bookstores stacked floor-to-ceiling with books, and books overflow in boxes or rows or piles on the floor. It also sports endless cartoons, clippings, snippets, quotes, photographs, and personalizations that one or another owner put up and nobody ever removed. While visiting yesterday, I read an interesting, fairly recent printout about an extremely rare and valuable Bugatti discovered in a garage. The article had been taped to a shelf of car-related books. Continue Reading >>