Yearly Archives: 2007

Tonight I cemented.

Not my teeth — I haven’t gone the false way yet!

Instead, the basement demanded help.  I have inserted some new duct work under a two foot section of the floor. 

The cement instructions require that not too much water is added.  Otherwise you decrease the strength of the cement and length the curing time.  I carefully measured in some water and added a bit more (sort of like cooking!!).  Then I trowelled in the mixture, filling in all the cracks.  I left the final topping just a few centimeters short of the floor surface.  I’ll add a final mixture of fine cement to level the floor.

Now, on to the next project — finishing off the basement decor. 

As we head into the summer, our small group hosted a BBQ tonight.  The neighbours dropped in as well.  Thirteen in all. 

Hamburgers were great – juicy!  Jill even ate well.  I had the desserts as well — they were great.

Sometimes after a fall and winter of studies it was just nice to sit around, talk and eat tonight.

Thanks for the year!

Our son is on his way to Puerto Rico.

Final flight confirmation came late last night.  This morning we dropped him off at the airport at 6:40.  He will wing his way through Calgary, Chicago and on to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Tomorrow he starts a new contract — new responsibilities — and a new ship.

Tim, enjoy yourself, seek good friends, and most of all, seek God!

This week I’m concentrating on the second in a series on prayer.

I want to say that we talk to God because he listens, and we listen because God talks.  I say, "I want to say", but the ramifications . . .

I tend to have a deaf ear for some conversations.  Not that I don’t hear.  I just listen with no intent of acting.  Many a wife has said to their husband, "Are you listening?"  They know full well they are.  They are just not going to act on what is being asked.

I don’t think God is that way. When we pray we can expect God to change his mind, even as he expects us to change our minds and actions based on what he wants us to do.  But how can God change his mind?  I think God’s intentions are thwarted by our sinfulness.  When we repent, then God has every right to head in the original direction of intention — to provide blessing.  On the other hand — no repentance, no blessing. 

That’s a simple answer to a complex question. 

Another simple consideration — the more I consider the action of prayer, the more I return to answered prayer all around me.  This tends to highlight the statement — "God is affected by our conversations with Him." 

Two quick approaches! Many more approaches are needed to fully understand God and prayer.  In fact, I think I will never be able to fully understand God.  But, for the moment I have seen answered prayer and God’s faithfulness just keeps me trusting that He will continue to answer.