Does Jesus Do Math?

I have been thinking for some time about this question. Not in the manner, that I can picture HIM sitting down with a pen and paper and doing some math worksheets like the kids do, but does HE do math in HIS day? Not that I work a lot of math into my day on purpose, but there is a lot of it there just because it has to be. It has to be there to make things function, mostly my bank account, but also measuring something I sew, counting something I cook, calculating something at work. But for the sheer joy of math..... does Jesus take sheer joy in it? I don't know that I find sheer joy in math, but there is something amazing about its order. I like orderliness. I loved math in school. I loved the fact that it's right or it's wrong. There are not many gray areas. You either get it or you don't. Sometimes there are a few ways at solving the same problem, but the answer is always the same. I wish life were sometimes more like that, although maybe I'd be getting too many things wrong, rather than just them allowed to be gray, like in writing where it is an expression of a thought or idea. I have a fairly analytical/mathematical type brain for a female, but I more often think in words or pictures or ideas than numbers. It is easy to read and relate to emotion or formulate ideas in words, books or Scripture because I enjoy reading and finding the way around the words. I see math everywhere in creation. The way the planets were created to spin and gravitate and orbit, I'm quite sure has some amazingly long mathematical equation. And what of biology? The human body never ceases to amaze me, the intricate design and chemistry involved boggles my mind on a daily basis (well maybe once or twice a week). Just looking out into my garden, which may being to show signs of life any day now, must involve some kind of amazing creative analytical math. But all of it sort of just wraps itself in the amazement and beauty of science. HIS math would be like a sweep of a mighty hand and the numbers and equations would drape past the universe and fall into the patterns and worlds they create and hold in order. Order is a good thing (Yes Martha it is).

So this is where the question stems from: my husband, who does not like to read; he does enjoy words, but few and succinct ones. He always beats me at Scrabble, but it's more of a mathematical thing to him rearranging the tiles, rather than building words, he can see the combinations in a numerical sense. He posed a different question to me, not about Jesus doing math, but how does a person grow in faith when most of our cultural religion has been built around words and reading? Reading books about spiritual growth, reading the Bible, listening to sermons that are spoken, poetry which demands a certain type of individual to fully enjoy. Do you think that one can grow in their faith without these things? Can you do math with Jesus instead? Can the very act of doing math be a stepping stone of faith instead of the use of word and or written language. My first inkling of response has got to be yes because that is how HE hard-wired some, so why would HE make it more difficult for mathematicians to be spiritual beings or in tune with the Creator? Don't they in their amazing minds see things that we other ordinary folks maybe never do? They understand the complexity in a more real way and can be in awe at a deeper level. I have always believed that one of the greatest forms of worship is camping--- well being out in nature. Closer to what HE breathed life into. But can you grow just out of sheer worship? And amazement of the amazing mathematical miracles that are displayed in each small, extraordinary creation around us? Or do we NEED words to express ourselves and move beyond where we are now?

I suppose I could ask, can you get to know God more without a Bible? What about the illiterate? What about those in other countries who have no written Word? Are they doomed to failure? So those are my thoughts on doing math with Jesus. Because I like math, I think it could be a pleasant afternoon activity to do that with HIM. I can think of better things I would rather, like a walk through HIS garden. I think any afternoon with just a glimpse of Jesus would make me care not one tittle what we did. The Presence whether numerical or literary would overwhelm me.

What are your thoughts? At least I have accomplished one thing by sitting quietly in the semi-darkness typing and that is getting a sick boy to nap long before bedtime :)

Some of Kevin's Latest that I Like

To see the world through his eyes...

Tip Toes

A big thing has happened! My girl and I wear the same shoe size!
Can you tell whose feet belong to who?

If you think green are mine, you're right! You can tell by the thicker ankles.

We traded socks, so now it's me in blue.

My boy has to get in on the action!!

It's About Time...

That's what many people tell us... we live 45 minutes from an amazing ski hill and we have never taken our kids. Well $5 Friday night happened, so for $60 we all rented skis, got our lift tickets and headed out for an evening of entertainment. The boy was totally pumped about going; the girl pouted all day before hand about going because she was terrified. After a quick 2 second instruction from Dad, they were pushed down the bunny hill. We lasted there 2 runs and then figured we'd hit the big chair (OK- the short green run), mostly because the "Magic Carpet" wasn't on and we had to walk up the hill. There was a bigger Magic carpet than in this video.



After 1 run on the big hill, the boy turned into a speed machine. He was ecstatic about the chair lift! The girl kept on at a much slower pace for fear of falling and learned all the ins and outs of the snow plow. She was less than ecstatic about the chair lift and only caused them to stop it once while unloading :) After the 2nd time though she admitted to having fun!! All one needs once in awhile is a little attitude adjustment and we were proud of her for making it, actually on the drive up. This is what character is about. Once in awhile I need an attitude adjustment too.

By the end of our 3 1/2 hours, we were tired and the kids were doing amazing!! Jacob skiing nearly as fast as me, a little out of control mind you, and Erin doing amazing turns and feeling pretty confident. I think I learned that sometimes doing something you're a little scared of is a good thing. Character building and you feel good after. Thanks to my daughter for that lesson.

Nothing

I never used to run out of things to say, but a lot of days I have not much to say. Today is one of those days. Maybe part of it is the fact that I worked til midnight last night and could barely get out of bed when I thought about the fact of having to pack lunches with nothing "good" in the fridge. I remember being a teenager and there being nothing "good" to eat in the fridge. We have that a lot because I try not to use a lot of quick to eat packaged things on hand. Sometimes when I'm at Costco though I break down.

Today I am extremely joyful over one of my dearest friends who waited too many years to adopt and then were blessed with 2 boys within a year. Now her sister has just adopted- in a matter of a few weeks it all happened! What a joy, so if you think to pray for that birth mom today. Her family are strong Christians and the birth Grandfather prayed an amazing blessing over the new parents that were receiving the gift of this baby with the darkest hair and eyes!!

I think today I might walk the dog, contemplate my weekend (no school tomorrow), and meet my friend for lunch. Try to squeeze in a little scrapbooking in our anniversary book after picking up the photos from Costco (oh no, self control) - no our anniversary is not til June but I am sorely behind in my pages!

Good Morning Monday

Wishing it were this warm here today... although we had a beautiful, almost feeling like spring weekend. We hauled out the basketball hoop and swept the driveway of gravel. There is always the feeling of hope that the cold is almost ending on a day like that. I love the hope of spring, it brings lots of warm, fuzzy feelings and dreams about my summer garden. If we didn't have winter, we wouldn't be able to feel like that. If we didn't have difficult days, we wouldn't more fully enjoy the wonderful ones. If we didn't have sin, we wouldn't feel the hope of new life and freedom in Jesus!

Happy Valentine's Day

So I surprised 2 people today with red and white helium balloons. One was my daughter ~ hiding them in her locker at school. She wondered, but not for long who knew her combination and snuck them in there. She left them in there after school because she was embarrassed to carry them through the halls, but went back and got them. The other was a friend who was having a bad day, except I was caught in the act. I got a hug out of it though, she was still surprised. I love the reaction of them both. I hope your day was just as fun! I also got a dozen red roses waiting for me this morning after I dropped the kids off at school. Thanks sweetheart. We might try a little voice alteration later tonight for some good fun with the helium- I don't think our kids have experienced that yet.

How Sweet it is.... to be Loved by you

Love these girls!!! Miss you R & T.

You know the feeling when you were younger and you went away to summer camp? .... you came home full of memories of an amazing week that seemed so much longer, like you had been in a whole 'nother life. All the sweetness of the friendships and the feelings of joy and excitement of all that went on in just a few short days. All that contrasted to coming home to the regular life. Well I have that feeling. The only difference being that the coming home is also so sweet because my husband and kids are so wonderful.

My 2 dear friends, who we decided since none of us have sisters, are sisters to each other. We celebrated 18 years of friendship- boy are we getting old? What an absolutely amazing weekend we had in Savannah. We spent hours talking and catching up, sharing old stories and new. Spent hours over leisurely meals without toddler hands to watch or "pre-teens" asking how much longer. We poked in and out of cute shops at leisure, ate good southern cuisine, walked the beach and I saw my first glimpse of the Atlantic. We enjoyed touring old Victorian style homes, ate crayfish, drove up into South Carolina, listened to old tunes, and enjoyed every minute together, except for the last (oh and the 2 hour delay in O'Hare).

I can't wait 'til next year, since we decided it should be an annual affair. Especially with each of us turning 40 in the next 3 consecutive years.

View from our hotel balcony

Tara playing at Hilton Head beach

My girls!!

My feet touch the Atlantic for the first time. brrr.......

Lighthouse at Tybee Island

It's fun to be free and goofy!

Seafood platter for 1!!! For $20!!

An old Southern Plantation

A sweet, but short visit with family on my way through Calgary.
Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?!

Georgia on my Mind

36 hours 15 min... til I get on a plane and go fly away.

Casper, the friendly ghost

Just so you can know what I'm talking about in the Casper post. Isn't he adorable? Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks and that frilly blouse!! Doesn't it look like my boy?

Windows

So I finally finished the "window treatment" in the not-so-little girl's room. The ribbon isn't quite how I pictured it in my mind, but we'll see. It might change. I wanted to do a valance type thing that fit inside the window frame but it didn't look quite finished by itself. I'll see what kind of reaction I get when she gets home from school. The ribbon matched just so perfectly! Costco comes through again. The pipe running along the top of the room is not my job. It still needs to be completed with some crown moldings or something.

All these little projects I'm getting done with working a bit less this week and the one before.

Casper is a name my hubby used to get called as a child

I am quite enjoying my latest read. It is about a pastor of 25 years who has given up pastoring because he has some issues with the ways of the N. American church. He has hired an atheist to visit different churches with him and give his honest critique. Along the way, they become friends and have some open discussion about "evangelism", God, religion, Jesus, and being a "lost sheep". They critique all the big churches in the US. Maybe I am a little cynical myself and thus am enjoying it a little too much.... the most shocking thing is my non-reading husband is ahead of me in the book. I'll give you more later because I have just started.

Martha as my model

I finally finished the bunny slippers that I took the wool to Hawaii last spring to start. They didn't get started til November. They just didn't look the same without a model to wear them so Martha did a lovely job in her nightie and bloomers. Martha was a gift I made about 9 years ago for Erin's birthday. I have to decide now whose feet these fit since I have no little nieces, a not might have to get them. Either that or they'll get claimed for Martha :) I know someone who wouldn't be too sad.

You are Valued!

Today's quote of the day: Jacob to Ditto, who was locked out of the house on the deck begging to get in and watch us eat dinner, "You are valued Ditto". He still didn't get to come in, but I thought it was SO cute! I hope my kids feel valued, they must have heard it before to repeat it, so something is sinking in.

Lavish

Today I had the pleasure of serving women. Our church put on a "spa day" for underprivileged women in the community. It was a great idea whoever had it! We had close to 50 women come from different womens' shelters, the street church downtown picked up a bus load and from who knows where else. They had stations set up where they could have a pedicure, manicure, a hair cut and style (not my area), nail art, massage, a free clothing area, free child care, and then the meal area- where I was- making egg salad and hot appetizers. They all left with an amazing gift bag and a pink and white rose. What a joy to make someone's day a little more special. I hope that they felt Lavished upon!

Groundhog Day taken over by Ditto's party!

So today was a pretty exciting day around here for the kids! They had planned a 1 year old party for - yes- THE DOG! The invitations went out and the party was planned entirely by them (they've had some good modeling in this area). Our family is big on birthday celebrating! It's one of those times when you think, WOW I can't believe it's been a year already! Where does the time go? And... it's only been a year, it feels like forever since this thing came and turned our world upside down- or maybe just the house. I prefer to feel that way about my children, not the turning the house upside down part, but the amazement of how their lives have affected us and how it seems so short YET so long.

"The days are long, but the years are few"

So a few fun party events happened, like pass the parcel and some tricks and jumping, then cake (human and dog) and a good long trip to the sledding hill. I particularly like the milk bones hanging from the ceiling fan, quite a hilarious sight when it gets turned ON!!

Boys' Night Out ---means Girls night out!!

The boys are going out to a hockey game tonight with 2 other boys!! Yippee! That means me and my girl get to go out and do something fun too. Hmmmm.... what to do .... the opportunities are endless, well maybe not, but there are a few. I think this will be a good night.