Is blogging like boasting? Well you know how parents can be about their children. Boastful!
Check out Josh on his drums. I think you will be impressed for a 5 yr old.
Stay blessed we love you!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
A blog from a old man
This thing was walking around in our house one morning. We caught it and decided to eat it, but before we ate it we snapped this picture. It tasted like chicken. Well..... not really. Actually we took our kids to a crocodile farm where they let you "pet" the crocs (for a small fee). Don't be fooled by his size- this little guy was tough! and just getting him out of his holding tank was not easy for the croc keeper. After I handed this “little snapper” back over to his owner I had small cuts on my hands from his sharp skin. In Uganda they breed these crocs for their skin and then sell off the tail for eating. I have eaten crocodile tail in both Uganda and the States (Cajun cooking on the US side), quite good! A meal you would not want to pass up.
Otherwise, just short blog and update on our life. Things are going quite well for us. Josh is now about 5 1/2 years old and is being home schooled by a fantastic teacher (Lorraine). We started him in the 1st grade, which began in March, he is young for the 1st grade but he is keeping up. His main interest is playing his drums - I hope to upload you a video sample in the next few weeks of him playing. Breanna is now about 2 1/2 years old and she is quite the adventurous one (except for the water) she climbs hills and jumps off steps to keep up with her brother, her main interest is picking out her own clothes - "I never knew women were born with this clothes thing". For Lorraine, she is extremely busy with trying to balance; Home schooling and ministry and being a housewife. Not easy, but she enjoys the time she has with the kids and opportunity to be a home with them and "me". As for me (Darryl) I am finding that life is quite satisfying at 42 (April 8th is my B-day) and feel as though God has been so good to me. I find tremendous fulfillment in living wholehearted for God at this age. It’s… well….Let me blog and blah for minute. It's interesting these days for me to look around the world as I travel and log in (Internet) and keep up on what people seem to be "into" these days. Christians seem to be wondering as much as anyone else - as to what will make them happy. Everybody seems so focused on being happy. Whether it's here in Uganda, in US or Asia - people to want to be happy. That seems to be the main issue in their life. Personally, I find even trying to answer that question a bit peculiar because it tends to make a person inward thinking rather than looking out to the needs of others. But since we all want to be happy (myself included) it’s best to look at how Jesus answered the question. In Matthew 5 Jesus described to us what makes a person happy (most translations use the word blessed rather than happy but the Greek word is really translated happy) by telling us in the Beatitudes. These thoughts are so far different than today’s current mindset. For example: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake or blessed are the poor in the spirit. These are totally contrary to the current trend in a post modern world – where most are consumed with themselves. Even some (as we see so often in this part of the world) who “carve out a niche for themselves” in helping others are only doing it for some kind recognition.
These days I am finding that God is helping me to find more contentment in the small things than in the big things of life. The big things seem to steal my attention from the “one thing” (Ps 27:4, Luke 10:42) that’s necessary, while the small things seem to keep it (my heart) focused and alive. One of the areas that God is helping to look at the small thing is in my work or ministry (as some call it). In the past few months (as much as I can) – I leave my office at the church (from doing the “big things”) and go out just walk the neighborhood, talk to the people and pray for them. When I first began to do this I was amazed that I didn't know (I shouldn't be - I never visited them before) “my neighbors” around the church they didn’t know me - these people were living right next to the church. I thought this is not right. I am definitely missing something here. Here, I have been so focused on these “big things” (that I feel I am supposed to do) and I am missing out on touching the needs and the people around me. I decided to change. There has been so many positive things that have happened both in my heart and in the neighborhood since I began. But let me share one that is “fresh”. There has been a Muslim lady I have been going to visit as much as I can. She has eye problems and finds it hard to see. She has not been able to read because of the pain she experiences when trying to do so. For months I have been praying for her and asking her to come to church. Well this past Sunday she came. On that Sunday we had someone scheduled to give a testimony, but when she saw her opportunity she came running to give her testimony also. I was not overseeing the service – I was seated. When I seen her I did not recognize her – she was all dressed up (wherever I visited her she was in clothes that many would call rags) in her Sunday best. She came and gave a testimony about how her eyes are much better (she can now read for a short period and the pain had stopped) and that God was great! She is still not saved (not that I know of -but she is talking like she is) but we can pray – her name is Rashida.
Otherwise, just short blog and update on our life. Things are going quite well for us. Josh is now about 5 1/2 years old and is being home schooled by a fantastic teacher (Lorraine). We started him in the 1st grade, which began in March, he is young for the 1st grade but he is keeping up. His main interest is playing his drums - I hope to upload you a video sample in the next few weeks of him playing. Breanna is now about 2 1/2 years old and she is quite the adventurous one (except for the water) she climbs hills and jumps off steps to keep up with her brother, her main interest is picking out her own clothes - "I never knew women were born with this clothes thing". For Lorraine, she is extremely busy with trying to balance; Home schooling and ministry and being a housewife. Not easy, but she enjoys the time she has with the kids and opportunity to be a home with them and "me". As for me (Darryl) I am finding that life is quite satisfying at 42 (April 8th is my B-day) and feel as though God has been so good to me. I find tremendous fulfillment in living wholehearted for God at this age. It’s… well….Let me blog and blah for minute. It's interesting these days for me to look around the world as I travel and log in (Internet) and keep up on what people seem to be "into" these days. Christians seem to be wondering as much as anyone else - as to what will make them happy. Everybody seems so focused on being happy. Whether it's here in Uganda, in US or Asia - people to want to be happy. That seems to be the main issue in their life. Personally, I find even trying to answer that question a bit peculiar because it tends to make a person inward thinking rather than looking out to the needs of others. But since we all want to be happy (myself included) it’s best to look at how Jesus answered the question. In Matthew 5 Jesus described to us what makes a person happy (most translations use the word blessed rather than happy but the Greek word is really translated happy) by telling us in the Beatitudes. These thoughts are so far different than today’s current mindset. For example: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake or blessed are the poor in the spirit. These are totally contrary to the current trend in a post modern world – where most are consumed with themselves. Even some (as we see so often in this part of the world) who “carve out a niche for themselves” in helping others are only doing it for some kind recognition.
These days I am finding that God is helping me to find more contentment in the small things than in the big things of life. The big things seem to steal my attention from the “one thing” (Ps 27:4, Luke 10:42) that’s necessary, while the small things seem to keep it (my heart) focused and alive. One of the areas that God is helping to look at the small thing is in my work or ministry (as some call it). In the past few months (as much as I can) – I leave my office at the church (from doing the “big things”) and go out just walk the neighborhood, talk to the people and pray for them. When I first began to do this I was amazed that I didn't know (I shouldn't be - I never visited them before) “my neighbors” around the church they didn’t know me - these people were living right next to the church. I thought this is not right. I am definitely missing something here. Here, I have been so focused on these “big things” (that I feel I am supposed to do) and I am missing out on touching the needs and the people around me. I decided to change. There has been so many positive things that have happened both in my heart and in the neighborhood since I began. But let me share one that is “fresh”. There has been a Muslim lady I have been going to visit as much as I can. She has eye problems and finds it hard to see. She has not been able to read because of the pain she experiences when trying to do so. For months I have been praying for her and asking her to come to church. Well this past Sunday she came. On that Sunday we had someone scheduled to give a testimony, but when she saw her opportunity she came running to give her testimony also. I was not overseeing the service – I was seated. When I seen her I did not recognize her – she was all dressed up (wherever I visited her she was in clothes that many would call rags) in her Sunday best. She came and gave a testimony about how her eyes are much better (she can now read for a short period and the pain had stopped) and that God was great! She is still not saved (not that I know of -but she is talking like she is) but we can pray – her name is Rashida.
Now here is my point – first I am so glad I have been going out and visiting this lady. Secondly, on Sunday when she came up to the stage the person who was overseeing the service looked at me to see if was OK for here to give a testimony. Since I did not recognize her – my thoughts were “is this lady going to get up and take a long time to testify and take up my time (for the “big” thing) to preach”. Well…..I let her testify and well……I think you can see where I am going with this....
I like being 42 – not because I am 42 – but because God has helped see the futility of giving my life to the big things (thinking that is where my life exists) and missing out on the small things of life that God has given to us to bring fulfillment according to the Beatitudes. One thing I have learned at 42 is that as I do the small things – God will do the big things. The small things (the obscure, the unseen and unnoticed) will bring the everyday fulfillment we all need – and if a big thing comes through – that’s a bonus and if it doesn’t, that’s OK . I realize that my life is not found in the things that I need to "make me feel better” but my life in the small things I try to do daily FOR HIM!!!
I like being 42 – not because I am 42 – but because God has helped see the futility of giving my life to the big things (thinking that is where my life exists) and missing out on the small things of life that God has given to us to bring fulfillment according to the Beatitudes. One thing I have learned at 42 is that as I do the small things – God will do the big things. The small things (the obscure, the unseen and unnoticed) will bring the everyday fulfillment we all need – and if a big thing comes through – that’s a bonus and if it doesn’t, that’s OK . I realize that my life is not found in the things that I need to "make me feel better” but my life in the small things I try to do daily FOR HIM!!!
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