great expectations, 3

The baby is just over 22 weeks old now and growing by leaps and bounds.  Brooke is able to feel those leeps and bounds but I'm not able to yet, soon though.  Anyway, here are some pics from the latest ultrasound.  The 3D ones kinda freak Brooke out a little but I think they're pretty freakin cool.

classic irony

This article from MSNBC is just too good not to highlight.  Here's the headline:

Woman stabs herself during Wiccan ceremony

Accident happens during good-luck ritual

Here's the link for the whole story.  I think she might want to consider getting a new ritual.

pitt

Brooke and I have been in Pittsburgh, PA since late last week on a support raising trip.  We are staying with our good friends Jon and Meagan, their kids Ella and Josh, and one of our favorite dogs in the world, Lucy.  

I preached twice yesterday at their Church but today we are all enjoying a nice day of R&R.  We had lunch and did some shopping down in the historic Strip District.  If you're ever in the area be sure to stop in at Enrico's for some amazing food.  In the afternoon we came back home where we all enjoyed some wonderful nap time.

The most exciting news is that in about 10 minutes Jon and I are leaving to go see the Dark Knight at IMAX!  I've been looking forward to this movie for a year and so far I haven't heard one bad review.  We head home tomorrow so I'll let you know how it was after we get home.

UPDATE:  All the hype is true.  The Dark Knight gets 4 1/2 stars in my book.  It is truly sad that Heath Ledger's best acting role turned out to be his last.  His turn as the Joker was stunningly disturbing and made Jack Nicholson's Joker look like a pansy.  

the cause for hope

"Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

 who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

 who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's...

"He does not deal with us according to our sins, 

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

 As a father shows compassion to his children, 

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

 For he knows our frame; 

he remembers that we are dust." - Psalm 103:1-5, 10-14

It is striking to me that in these words there is very little for humans to do towards God.  This passage is about how God acts towards us.  I am called to fear him, receive his grace towards me, and praise him for who he is.  This is great news for me because I know my spiritual and moral weakness all too well.  I know that left to my own strength and efforts at goodness I am an utter failure.  On my own I do indeed dwell in the pit of my own iniquity and spiritual sickness.  

Yet I have hope because God is proactive in his love.  He does not wait until I am able to do better.  He knows that I am dust, that I am weak.  And so he takes the initiative.  This Psalm (like all mention of God's redemption of humans) makes God the sole agent in what we would call salvation.  He alone is the one who forgives.  He alone heals and redeems.  He crowns, satisfies, and renews.  I am not able to earn or effect these things, I can only receive them from his hand.  This is my cause for hope; that God, knowing how weak and corrupt my heart is, doesn't deal with me according to my heart but according to his.  

disconnected

There are several things I've been meaning to post about but now we are somewhat moved into our new apartment and the internet isn't up and running yet.  I'll have some new posts next week assuming the phone company resolves their "delay in service" issues.  For those of you in the States, have a great Fourth.