For Brock

This is a Fourth of July tribute to my good friend Brock. I love you, man!

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

In Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, Nate Wilson takes us on a rambling journey exploring the world we live in and the God who created it. Taking his cues from the four seasons, he describes with “wide-eyed wonder” the work of God in creating and sustaining the universe.

When I referred to the book as a “rambling journey”, I am not kidding. There were many instances where I was, and am still, not sure where Wilson was going. He speaks in various creative terms: novel, play, poem, drama, etc. It was often hard to tell if he was talking about us as humans, God as creator and sustainer, or the earth as the creation. It might have been all of the above.

Perhaps, I am not the target audience. I accept that possibility. Someone a little younger than my less than forty years may get it. It is almost as if Wilson is trying a little too hard to write like Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), another author’s popularity I do not understand. Maybe that is where I should leave this review. If you like Miller, you might like Wilson.

More information about Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, including a preview, can be found at Thomas Nelson’s product page. I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program.

Zoo for Dead Animals

Ahh! I have you hooked already. You are probably asking yourself where this zoo is and how can I avoid it! It's the Brookshires World of Wildlife Museum and Park of course!
This fantastic park is located just outside Loop 323 in Tyler on Old Jacksonville Hwy. It is composed of a museum of stuffed and preserved animals (yes - real ones and some of them quite exotic) along with a country store. The animals were collected from the travels and hunts of the Brookshire family. The kids will love looking at toys and food items from yesteryear in the grocery store. The building is air conditioned which is a necessity on these hot Texas days, has great clean bathrooms (I know - it's a thing with me) and also a little general store where you can buy a little treat that probably won't break the bank. There are some vending machines as well as water fountains.
Outside there is a spacious children's park with lots of big shade trees and picnic tables. There's swings and play apparatus for the little ones as well as a fire truck, tractor and railway car to climb on. The older kids will love the the merry-go-round and jungle gym. There's a big slide and big swings as well.
Be advised that it gets very busy here - especially on Saturdays with it being a favorite birthday party destination - best to make reservations ahead! Yes - you can call and book some picnic tables for your party. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Brookshires World of Wildlife Museum and Park - it's a great thing about Tyler!
Oh yeah! The zoo for dead animals is what my kids called it when they were little - they still like to go back again and again.

Love: A Godly Husband's Responsibility

Last week, I wrote about the Christian husband's responsibility to be a leader. I really believe that all of the husband's responsibilities can be distilled down to just two: lead and love.

This love is different than the infatuation that we feel early in a relationship. This love is not just felt, it is intentional. It is a choice that we make. Here are some related passages of scripture followed by ten rules for Christian husbands.

Ephesians 5:21-33 (New Living Translation)

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body.

³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ³² This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

1 Corinthians 11:3 (New Living Translation)

But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

1 Peter 3:1-2, 7 (New Living Translation)

¹ In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over ² by observing your pure and reverent lives.

⁷ In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Ten Rules for Christian Husbands

1. The love you feel for your wife should be "agape" love: a divinely inspired love that reflects God's unconditional love for her.

2. Caring for your wife requires daily attention.

3. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

4. You should encourage your wife's spiritual growth as she seeks to follow Christ, but you can't dead her there if you're unwilling to go yourself.

5. You must strive to love your wife as God loves you. That means that you must love her regardless of her response.

6. It's important that you provide for your wife and family, but giving material possessions is not enough; you must also give yourself to her.

7. You are to love your wife as you love yourself.

8. Take care of her needs, like you take care of your own. Ensure that your wife's needs for rest and recreation, spiritual growth, and clothing are met.

9. As a Christian husband, your purpose is to prepare her in order to present her to her eternal Groom, the Lord Jesus Christ.

10. Remember that love is a permanent commitment, not a transitory feeling.

Is there one or two of these that you struggle with? Which ones? Make an intentional effort to work on those this week.

Narcissism, ADHD, or Stalking: Which Best Describes You?

Like most of us, I use some social networking sites. I found this graphic a little disturbing. Is it accurate? Maybe to some degree. If you were going to give it a title, what would that title be? How about a caption? Have fun!

BTW: I will use Twitter and Facebook to notify people that this has been posted.