Law-abiding Christian?

Well here it is, Thursday morning...these weeks are just flying by.  In fact, Ben and I just celebrated our month-a-versary and it was so neat to sit together and go over the past month...and why it is so much better than engaged life.  My goodness.  

See, when we were engaged we both had this underlying subconscious desire to have everything in place, figured out and settled BEFORE we got married.  Well as any person in a relationship knows, you never get everything settled at any one time.  And we're realizing that being married has taken away that desperation to have it all figured out.  we are learning more and more about each other and are willing to let it take all the time it needs.  So we haven't had nearly as many disagreements and discussions over "serious topics" (which weren't even that serious in the grand scheme of things) as we did during engagement.   Not saying that disagreements or discussions are bad, wrong or not going to happen...just that it is different and better than engagement =)

We are so thankful.  

Know what else I'm thankful for?  That we don't live under Levitical Law.  Last night in church, the sermon was on Leviticus 19.  Compared to the rest of that book, it is rather general in some of its directives.  It is flanked on both sides by chapters that go in to extensive detail on who you should or should not "lie with" (in the Biblical sense).  Like a LOT of detail.  no stone is left un-turned, and there should be no questions.  But 19 is a little more general.  

Honestly, I wouldn't want to preach a sermon on Leviticus.  Because it is a touchy subject.  It seems like since we are New Covenant Christians living with the righteousness of Christ who FULFILLED the law...there is no need for Levitical law.  BUT that isn't necessarily the case.  Some of the things mentioned in the chapter were about not gossiping, not lying or doing bad business.  Don't hate people in your heart.  Don't treat strangers in your land poorly.  Accept them and treat them as your own.  Honor elderly people.  Don't prostitute your daughters.  Don't put down the poor and exalt the rich.  

I think most Christ-followers (myself included) would agree that those are good things that didn't/shouldn't die with the old law and even are taught in the New Testament.  

Then there are other things that we just don't do anymore:  Don't breed two types of cattle together.  Don't wear linen/wool mixed clothes.  Don't eat fruit from your trees until the third, fourth or fifth year.  If a man sleeps with his servant, there will be punishment and they have to give a special animal sacrifice to the priest.  

And then there are some things that we don't really observe, but maybe we should:  Don't pick up the fallen grains in your field or fruit in your vineyard, and even leave some of your harvest in the corners of your field... leave it for the poor to come by and pick up and eat.  

Why did some things die out, and other things not?   Were they cultural observations?  I think a good gauge is to see what things were re-iterated in the New Testament by Christ and Paul and other men of the New Covenant.  I think they focused on those things that were consistent.  Also, Jesus gave two commandments that sum up everything in the law:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength...and Love your neighbor as yourself.  Any of the "surviving" laws that we as Christians are encouraged to practice in our lives fall under these two categories.  

In any case, Ben and I were discussing righteousness in regards to this.  In the Old Testament it  is clear that people had to work for their righteousness...never actually attaining it, because no person could follow all the rules God laid out in the law.  The only solution back then was to sacrifice perfect animals...which was tedious and had to be done again and again.  

When God sent Jesus...it was a final sacrifice of perfection.  Now the only solution is to take on the righteousness of someone who IS perfect in God's eyes...Jesus Christ.  When I received Christ's salvation...I was admitting that my righteousness is as filthy rags, and I know that the only thing that can find me absolved in God's eyes is to take the name of Jesus and the shed blood he gave to cover my multitude of sins and shortcomings and failings.  

But I still want to follow some of these directives.  Because God says to love Him and love my neighbor.  

So I won't have any idols (things/people that take the place as #1 instead of God).  I won't swear falsely using his name.  I won't hold grudges and hate the people around me.  I won't lie and deal falsely with people in my place of work.  I won't regard the rich as better than the poor.  I will treat strangers in my land as people who are welcome and familiar.  

Obviously I'm no expert on this...I just am writing some musings.  If you have any comments or thoughts feel free to leave them, or to email or facebook me if this is too public a forum.  

Now on to pictures!

Almost every day, Sierra and I go to the lake to swim.  It is three blocks, and she absolutely LOVES it.  

she really is part fish.  

I just love this picture of Ender.  It is so typical. Everyone can be talking or playing or doing something and he just finds a book and quietly looks at it by himself.  Such a stud.  

So a few years ago, I took a road trip with some friends and we drove through St. Paul to visit Jim and Krissa.  As we were walking around Down Town, we found this piano which is part of this "Parade of Pianos" they do every year.  So I sat down and played.  

Last week on a date night to Down Town, Ben and I ran across another painted piano from the Parade of Pianos!  It brought back fun memories and so I sat down and played.  =)  Life is one big circle.  ;) 

And now for confession time...I posted this on Instagram, and ben doesn't have one.  But he reads this blog...so the secret is out.  Plus, confession is good for the soul. 

B, I know that we agreed to keep the dog off the furniture.  I know I was supposed to stay strong and consistent.  It only happened one time, I promise!  But I caved to her puppy eyes.  And the fact that it was so subtle.  She's a sneaky dog.  First her front paws came up, and her head laid so sweetly on my lap.  Then she scooted up so most of her torso was on the couch, then stretched out over my lap and licked my hand so sweetly, gazing at me with that pathetic in-love look.  And then she slowly brought her hind legs up, then rearranged a little until she looked like this.  SHE WAS SO HAPPY! how could I make her get down?!  

*sigh* 

as of right now, though she is on the floor.  although she keeps doing walk-bys with the cute puppy eyes, and I'm staying focused on the computer screen so she has no encouragement.  I'm really trying.  

hopefully I get this figured out before we get to the whole child-raising thing. 

Next is VBS!  (Vacation Bible School!) 

 One week out of the summer, we meet every night and have a lesson that follows a theme, crafts, projects, singing etc...  

(I had to miss two nights due to work. phooey)

The last night, we have pizza, do a re-cap of the week and then do a service project, which is usually packing soup for World Relief.  

The dads are helping to set up each station along the assembly line

I think this is everyone's favorite part of the evening.  

We even had some out of town visitors!  On the right is Ben's Grandpa and Grandma, with his great Auntie next to them.  

This is Matt and Marti.  They are some of our couple friends at church.  And a lot of fun =)

Ben's sister Claire leads the children in singing 

I've come to care about and love these kids since i've been here teaching in Sunday School

The ladies are all getting the little bags labeled and ready to fill with soup!

It was a great VBS this year!  I love spending this time outside of weekly church with these people.  =)

One day, I got a call from a kid who had found Sierra wandering down the block.  She had escaped the back yard.  In the winter, the snow banks would get so high, she would just climb up and over the fence, so we had to keep her inside or watch her closely while outside.  She isn't a runner, but she does like to explore.  This summer has been pretty good...she hasn't gotten out at all! 

until then.  

None of the gates were open, and i assumed she just got a running start and scaled the fence, which I'm sure she can do if she really tried.  

Well the other day, I went out and called her and she came running to me from the other side of the fence.  Then she wagged her tail and waited for me to let her back in. silly dog.  

 I found a freshly dug hole along the side of the fence and realized that is where she got out.  she dug the hole under the chainlink and then just flattened herself and squeezed into our neighbors back yard, which isn't fully fenced.  We haven't fixed it permanently, and it is just blocked by a heavy paver...which I figured out she can still move if she wants to.  

There is the hole.  You can't see it super well...but it is pretty small.  She digs the dirt out a little more. 

There is my super slick way of blocking it til we get it fixed.  This is a view from up above.  Paver and recycle bin!  It doesn't really work, but it does deter her. 

So now when she's outside, I get paranoid that she might try escaping.  so I check out the window to make sure she's still there.  Most of the time I find her innocently lying around. 

Silly dog. 

That's all for now!