Random Surprises

I keep finding small items that won't make a whole post, but have stuck in my mind. So today is random Sunday:

• G had to write a report on Thursday evening to present to his one of his classes about Christianity. "Mom, I have to write two pages about Christianity." I told him he would need to focus just a little bit more. It turns out he had a list of questions that had to be answered in the report. One of them was whether the religion he was researching was monotheistic or polytheistic. He knew that Christianity was monotheisitc, but was getting confused regarding the trinity. So he asked us what the trinity was. He already knew Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but needed a more in depth answer. How do you explain to your 12 year old a concept that you don't really understand, deep down understand yourself? The best I could come up with was a comparison to water -- ice, liquid water and steam -- all different, but all forms of the same substance. I don't know if I heard that somewhere, or not, or if it is even at all theological, but it seemed to satisfy him.
• Robin Lee Hatcher was writing about her experience reading the Bible. One of her conclusions was this, "I am asked to walk by faith. For instance, I learn from the Bible that He is in control, and yet I also know that He gave me free will. I don't understand how those two things work together, but that's okay. I'll take it on faith that it does work because He said so." If I really had to describe the trinity, then that's what I would say. I don't completely understand it, but that's okay. I'll take it on faith that it does work because He said so.
• I read this on Friday, and WabiSabi beat me to posting about it, but I'll mention it anyway. It's the blood in the urine that gets me. Just how hard did he kick?
• Some thoughts on prayer by Mitchell Lewis which were interesting. I don't agree with everything he says, but I particularly like the sentence, "The volume of prayer is insignificant. A single, wordless sigh lifted to God means more than the work of a thousand strangers mechanically praying for names on a piece of paper with words designed by researchers." Have you ever had an expereince like that? A wordless sigh? When J was born, he wasn't breathing. He was blue, and they worked pretty hard for a few minutes to get him to start breathing. In those moments, I wasn't sure if he would live or not, and I had absolutely no words to send to God. I couldn't even think of words. But the Spirit that is within me could, and the word "Please" was sent to God. It was a wordless sigh from the part of God that was with me to God. Hard to explain, but I remember it distinctly.
• We talked about generosity in Children's Church today. It was kind of ironic considering what happened in Sunday school today. Dick came in and gave a report about a family that needs some financial help, specifically to buy a second-hand washer and dryer. Dick spent six minutes (his own timing) discussing the family. He looked a little nervous, and he was very determined to make the case for helping -- he needed $175 from different Sunday schools to have enough money to make the purchase. What he didn't realize is that he had us from "hello" (to coin a phrase). Dick left to go present his information to another class, the basket was passed around, and $153 was raised in just a few minutes. In addition, plans were being made to have a "laundry shower" for the family, collecting detergent, laundry baskets, etc. Why am I always surprised by their generosity?
• While the kids in Children's church were working on a thank you card for the congregation today -- decorating -- I was making figures with pipe cleaners -- fish, hearts, a cross, a little boy -- just "doodling" with pipe cleaners. As we were finishing up, J picks up the little boy pipe cleaner and the cross and then put them together -- Jesus on a cross. I would never have thought of it, but he did.