This is a tile from the six foot book project that I'm working on for my drawing class. I'm attaching a second slide that I hope displays properly on the blog.

My assignment this afternoon is "What is 25 feet?" I'm outside The Easterner marking it off because our resident smokers claim that they have received not just a few dirty looks for smoking outside the office. Now I go back to work. I'll have detailed photos later.

Zarah's eyes still don't look quite right, but I am making progress. I am learning to draw.

Second workday.
For some reason, we need lots of gravel packed down before our concrete is poured. The patio won't be poured today.

The Author and Perfecter of our Faith

Hebrews 12:2" Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

If our faith is a song, then Jesus is the songwriter. If our faith is a painting, then Jesus is an artist. If our faith is a building, then Jesus is the architect. If our faith is a dish, then Jesus is the chef.

Hebrews 12:2 says that our faith is a story and Jesus is the author. Not only is he the author, but the perfecter--he is interested in editing our stories, our faith.

Not only is he the author and perfecter (editor) of our faith, but he is the perfect editor, according  to Hebrews 5:2, "(Every High Priest) is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness."

Our perfect Lord and Savior walked on the planet clothed in flesh. He understands the human heart and its pain and is prepared to deal with us gently--not as our sins deserve.

Take heart that even when his direction is painful, when we reap the thorns we've sown or when other people's choices cause us pain, he cares for our hearts and walks through the storms with us.

Oh Lord, I want to be an editor like you. I want to be gentle, building people up in their writings and in their faith.

Disorder and Peace

"God is not a God of disorder, but of peace." I Corinthians 14:33

There is chaos around us always. Some of it is happy chaos, but some of it is stressful. But the chaos that Paul speaks of in I Corinthians 14:33 is spiritual chaos. When we go to church, it's not about everyone doing what they want when they want it. We are to submit to one another.

Paul say that if someone is speaking and a revelation comes to someone who is sitting, the first speaker should stop to make way for the second. This is an example of what Peter speaks of in I Peter 5:3. Overseers of the church ought not lord over those who they shepherd, but be examples, being eager to serve.

Peter continues to urge believers to be submissive to those who are older and to be humble.

I don't know what today's problems with our church are. (And today shifts with the rising and setting of the sun.) Are we confronting sin with love? Are we directly and openly discussing our preferences in service? Do we welcome feedback and discussion? Is it something else? I really don't know, but it seems to me that much can be solved by Paul's and Peter's advice: seek order, submit to one another.

My trip to Minneapolis Part 1 (of 1)

So the big news in Minneapolis is the U2 concert that's in town this weekend. It's the first open air concert in the stadium since... well, a long time. I don't remember what they said.

Everything is different about the University of Minnesota campus. One of the main streets through campus is closed forever for light rail, which will be present in 2014. In the meantime, it's a mangled mess. The campus is sprawled out and bicycles are everywhere. This is a police unit I saw yesterday.

On my own for lunch, I traveled (north?) to Dinkytown for lunch. Here's the view of downtown Minneapolis.

This is a view from my choice, Loring Pasta Bar. It was a gorgeous warehouse of a restaurant with plants everywhere. I had been headed elsewhere, but the greenery drew me in. The restaurant has an extensive funky nightlife, to be sure. The walls of windows are likely protected by chairs and tables, the colored lights hide by day, but a disco ball mingles with ceiling fans during the hot Minnesota day.

Notice lots of brick. The empty planters show that the owners have green thumbs rather than paying someone. 

Slanted brickwork capped off by a beautiful plant. Notice the rail to the left, not the roof supports. Lot of rod work around gives the restaurant a particularly quaint flavor. This could easily become my favorite spot if I were a local.

Geraniums circle the room above everyone's head. There was a second floor, but I didn't get a chance to see it. The bathroom was funky. It was clean, but lit for a club. It had an outdoorsy feel with railwork and amazing fixtures and sinks. (Large sprinkler type heads.)

The outdoor view as I left. I decided to eat in the air conditioned indoors. It's so hot and humid today.