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So, we went down and had ourselves and ultrasound to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl. We’ll just have to wait another five weeks. Between the baby being so small still and the cord being in the way, we couldn’t get a definitive answer one way or the other. A boy would be nice. That would save me from having to put one of the girls on the football team. That, and I have no idea what I’m going to do with two girls. Between the wife, daughter, two gay cats, and one girl dog, some extra testosterone would come in handy now and again.

Last week we bought a fairly decent sized pool for the three of us to mess around with in the evening, and on weekends. Fun was to be had by all. We found what appeared to be a fairly flat space in the backyard; however, upon setup of the pool and subsequent filling, it became apparent the surface was woefully slanted. I tore it down and put the pool in the shed.

Next, came the arduous task of leveling the spot in the backyard. I expected this to take two-three evenings. That was Sunday. If you look at your calendar, you will see that this is Saturday. I am roughly 2/3 done with digging up the grass. Once the grass is up, I’ll have to dig around with the dirt to get it level, then bring in some sand to finish the job. Hopefully then we’ll have an acceptable surface of the pool.

Why has this taken so long? Apparently, I’m not cut out for manual labor. I neglected to wear gloves the first day and earned myself some nice blisters on both hands for my problems. Each day I’ve gone out in the evening and made some progress. It’s hard work though. I keep adjusting technique and plugging along until whatever the weak point in my posture/motion (shoulder, elbow, knee) forces me to quit. I found a way to vary and keep going, then I got this stupid cold. I can work through the headaches; but, the sinus infection is killing me. I keep digging, but each dig of the shovel is like getting punched in the face. I’ll work on it some more tonight and maybe by tomorrow I’ll have all the digging done. Sand it down Monday and get it set up Monday or Tuesday night.

That’s the plan, anyway. In reality, I’m hopeful to have it by next week. Oh wells.

The opportunity finally arose, and I failed. Today, a coworker asked if my wife and I were “religious”. I balked. I blanked. I was left without an adequate response and was shamefully glad when someone else came up with a new matter and changed the focus of conversation. I blew it. A chance to share my faith and I fell flat on my face. I think if the question had been worded differently, I might have had a chance. It’s that word, religious. She didn’t say it with any specific negative connotation; but, I cringe anytime that word comes up. When someone says “religious”, I picture:

and

and

and even this

When someone says “religion”, it brings to mind (mine at least) legalistic self righteousness, condemnation, exclusion, division, and delusions of relevance. It represents the bastardization of all I hold close. It brings to mind images of pious people who “live for God” from 10:30 to Noon on Sunday, and live to edify themselves the rest of the week by letting everyone know how religious they are. You know them. They have an ichthus on the back of their car and some witty bumper sticker with a cute catch phrase that is highly visible in its irony as they flip someone off in traffic. It represents the legalistic ritualisms of Catholicism that seem so alien to those unfamiliar (and even to some of us who are [I’ll spare you my rant on the Catholic church for the time being]).

All of the above represent such a weak, lukewarm, watered-down substitute that pales in comparison to the joy my wife and I have in our walk with God. It’s so much more than that.

How then am I to profess my faith without being lumped in with all of that? Is there time enough for such a monologue in casual conversation? If there is, it escaped me when I was on the spot. I’ve been thinking about that wasted opportunity all evening. Who am I? I know who I am in God. Who am I in public? I spend so much time on trying not to be like (and therefor be associated with) the aforementioned examples that I fear I never really project a spiritual identity of my own. Is my only witness when I choose not to go out to the bar for work social functions? Is the polo shirt I have with our church’s name on it, the only way anyone would know what I believe? I need to develop my spiritual identity. Who am I?

Who am I?

In what do I believe?

“Well I believe in second chances
I believe the world is gonna end
But I would do anything to set the record straight ” – Mike Herrera

So let’s set it straight.

I believe in the omnipotent, all powerful God of the Bible; the God of Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham.

I am a follower of Christ. I believe He is the only son of God, fully God and fully man. I believe he led a perfect life, was crucified, and raised the third day, and in the process bore the consequences of my sin. By His stripes I am healed, and in His death, I have eternal life. I believe He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to God, but through Jesus Christ.

I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. If it is in the Bible, it is true. Conversely, I believe that the Bible closes with:

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”

I believe this to be the end of the divine word of God. Anything written thereafter, I consider to be the work of man, whose motives are always suspect.

Here’s what I don’t believe. I do not consider myself “better” than anyone else. I’m just as screwed up as anyone else, if not more so. I’m a filthy fallible sinner, and I always will be. It is by God’s grace that I am saved. I can do nothing on my own but fall short of the standard.

I also believe that this has taken a lot longer to write than I expected.

I believe my wife is missing me right about now.

I believe she’s probably mad.

I believe I should go now.

If this has offended anyone, I regret it not.

“Like Father always said, and I can only agree
Son they will hate you because they always hated Me” – Andrew Schwab

The date problem has been fixed, thanks to the helpful folks at WordPress. This makes me very happy. You should be happy too.