Friday, March 07, 2014

We Made it!

Usually, I like to begin these sort of trips at about 0500, but Wednesday I got a call to "remind" me that I have a CT scan at 0915 Thursday - travel day.  I did not know about this at all. I have been waiting for this for about three months so re-scheduling was out of the question.  An 0500 start was just not going to happen.
Nolan and I headed to the Dr's office at 0850-ish.  On the way, I had to drink 32 oz of water.  The first 16 oz was easy - the second, ugh.  After arriving at the Dr's office they gave me another 16 oz bottle to drink - double ugh.  During the procedure, they shoot you up with contrasting fluid, a very weird experience.  I think it must be similar to hot flashes.  Really odd, but enough of that.

We hit the road around 1030 - well, we had to find a restroom to deal with some of the aforementioned water.  So, we hit the road at 1100.  Well, we had to stop again to deal with some more of that water so, we hit the road again at 1130 and drove a little.  Did I mention all of that water?  We hit the road again at about 1245.  This time we were OK to make good time.

The weather was mostly nice until we crossed over the Siskiyou pass into Oregon.  That is when we hit the rain.  It was pretty much right on cue.

Made it to Krista's at a little past 6PM.  Bre, Izaak and Dakota around 7PM.  We had dinner together and had fun talking.  Said farewell to them 'til later Friday.

It was odd seeing my daughter head home with some other man, but somehow it is OK.  I do enjoy seeing how much they love each other.

Dakota was enjoying the dessert


Andrew was chillin' while Leyla (the Pit Bull) maintained her passion for tug of war


It was a good evening for all.

By Grace!
Michael
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

TGIF

We were all so happy today was Friday. Another two weeks of Tapestry done this week. We'll soon be caught up with where we "should" be and can go back to a saner pace.

The house continues to feel insanely quiet with Nolan and Michael away.

I HAD to see people today...so we headed for town. Strangers are fine in a pinch. ::snort::  Our first stop with the Yuba County Library.  People keep telling us there is "Nothing in Yuba City," and "Nothing in Marysville," but we found several things today of interest to us in Mville.   We've previously  found Brock's in Yuba City. They make a mean frozen banana - which several of us opt for over dairy.

Today we discovered frozen yogurt in Marysville. They have sorbet. The kids are all for adding this stop to our Friday routine.

Yep - just like San Antonio....Friendly customer service....a GREAT military discount....$2.00 off PER ID card....Mine and Arielle's were .29 each. ::snort::  It was no surprise when Zander won the prize for the most expensive bowl of frozen yogurt....more toppings than frozen product. LOL 
The only problem with the place is its name...I just don't know. Arielle said we can call it whatever we want to call it.....but hearing my eight year old saying, "I love......." is just not right.

We also went by Walmart which is always good for social interaction. We met two Seasoned Citizen friends who were chasing each other on scooters. We thought it looked like great fun. I think I talked a civilian spouse and her daughter into at least visiting Saesabo, Japan where her husband works. We made an optometry appointment.  The kids talked with a giant cookie. Stacia seriously informed me, "It's really a person you can see skin if you look carefully." ::snort::

We ran by Papa Murphys and came home to veg out. Our men like the Big Murphy, but as only one of them are here, we compromised by purchasing  the smallest size we could....I thought he could eat the veggie with us. I think his goal is to finish this before the others return. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Following - Jesus calls a "Sinner"

After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me," and he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him... Luke 5:27-32
Tax collectors, in Jesus' day, were in a higher class than the average Jew. They had wealth and rank. Their job was to collect a set fee from local citizens and send it to Rome. They paid a fee to Rome for this privilege and they were allowed to add what they liked to the taxes for their personal support.  They would often sub-contract to worthless extortioners and hucksters. The toll booth was their office. Another well-known tax collector was Zacheus.

Tax collectors were despised by the general Jewish population. They were outcasts from Jewish religious life. Levi/Matthew was in the tax booth when Jesus came by. He may have been a sub-contractor - an  extortioner. He may have been the supervisor. Some facts in the passage lead me to think he was wealthy:

  • he left everything when called to follow Jesus  - signifying he had possessions to leave (28)
  • he threw a big reception (29)
  • his reception hosted a great crowd of tax collectors and sinners (29)
And there's another thought - Levi KNEW he was a sinner; this was revealed to Peter when he met Jesus. Jesus calls both those who KNOW they are sinners, as well as those who think they're doing pretty good, and He lovingly transforms both into His image.  

Jesus says, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (32) Jesus calls sinners to a change of mind and a change of heart. Most Pharisees saw no need for either. Many today see no need of either. 

Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, the despised sinner to leave his wealth and follow Him. He called him to repentance. 

I observe again this call to follow once again: 
  • He calls to relationship
  • He calls to repentance
  • He requires a radical commitment from me; because He has made a radical commitment to me
  • He will transform my heart and mind
  • He will change the way I am subsequently viewed by others
Levi - the hated tax collector, excluded from Jewish religious circles - becomes Matthew and enters into the Messiah's inner circle. 

Matthew - Rome's employee - writes the gospel of Matthew introducing Jesus to us as THE King and showing both Jesus and gentiles the way to the Kingdom of God. 

Repentant following of Jesus will have radical consequences in my life.

We want our lives to matter, to count. We want to leave a legacy. We want to do something great. 

Jesus calls us to follow Him. 


Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...