http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147713,00.html
Coffee, caring for our colons, helping keep us cancer free.
The study reported above at FOXNEWS.COM indicates a link between coffee consumption and a reduction in liver and colon cancer, 2 pieces of my anatomy that I especially wish to remain cancer free. Thanks to the Japanese National Cancer Center, I now have a justification for spending a couple of bucks on my daily java... although as I drink decaf, I'm interested to see further study on the relative impact of caf vs decaf (as in the 2nd study mentioned).
WB
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Monday, February 07, 2005
Holy Super Bowl Party?
Exodus 20: 8-11
Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter XXI, Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day.
Obviously, I added the emphasis to the WCF, but the questions remain:
I hadn't put alot of thought into this until this year when confronted by a friend. If anyone is reading out there, I'd be interested to know your thoughts.
B
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter XXI, Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day.
VIII. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations,(o) but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.(p)
(o) Exod. 20:8; Exod. 16:23, 25, 26, 29, 30; Exod. 31:15, 16, 17; Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22.
(p) Isa. 58:13; Matt. 12:1 to 13
Obviously, I added the emphasis to the WCF, but the questions remain:
- Is it possible to have a Super Bowl Party without violating the 4th commandment?
- Can a Sunday Super Bowl Party (or any gathering outside of formal, stated worship), be pleasing to God as an act of worship?
- What if it is used as an outreach tool?
- What if a church organizes it as a fellowship gathering?
- Are preparations for such an event considered 'work' as described in Exodus?
- Could such an outreach activity be considered mercy?
I hadn't put alot of thought into this until this year when confronted by a friend. If anyone is reading out there, I'd be interested to know your thoughts.
B
Surprised after all...
Surprise #1:
Sunday evening, H and I hosted our 2nd annual Super Bowl Party. We invited 35 or so couples, expecting/hoping that maybe a third of those would show up. We got 12 regrets ahead of time, so that left around 24 couples who 'might' show up. Of those 24, 7 couples and 3 individuals indicated they would attend (16 adult, 7 child guests). We also received a call on Saturday from a friend who said he might bring 5-10 friends with him. We were ecstatic at the prospect of having a great turnout for the party.
Well, 2 couples who had RSVP'd in the affirmative ended up with a stomach flu and cancelled (4 adults and 5 kids) , 2 couples that we hadn't heard from but expected might come called Sunday to say they wouldn't be able to make it (4 adults, 6 kids - more flu), 1 couple and 1 individual just didn't show up and the friend and his 10 buddies didn't show either.
4 couples came. Grand total: 10 guest adults, 4 kids (2 of whom were big enough to eat) , H and I.
We had prepared Philly Cheese Steaks for around 20 adults and 10 kids (10 lbs of london broil, 48 hoagies, 6 green peppers, 2 packages sliced mushrooms, 4 onions, 40 slices of provolone, 2 cans of Cheese Whiz, 2 bottles of hot peppers, 1 can of fried onions) and one large pot of Chowder. 4 or so of the guests brought desserts (brownies, choc chip brownies, dirt cake, chocolate chip cake, etc...) and we had 4 large bags of chips (Doritos, Tostitos, Wavy Lays) and a few dips (salmon dip, chipotle pepper dip, french onion dip, chili-cheese dip). Oh and 60 or so beers, a case of bottled water and a 12 pack each of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Diet Barqs.
All for 16 people.
Poor H is drowning in Cheesesteak, Chowder, Chocolate Chips and Cheap Beer. If you're hungry, give us a call.
Surprise #2:
While H was entertaining our first guests, Bubba and I posted poster size pictures of her as a child all over the house. We also hung up a Happy Birthday banner and an extra large baby picture up outside that our guests would see as they came in. She had no idea until someone walked and dead-panned to her, "Nice picture outside...". She was completely surprised (and a little embarrassed), but I think she appreciated the effort that it took. So, thanks to Jenny for the idea, H's mom for getting the pics and Bubba for helping me hang pictures. Also thanks to those who were able to make it out. Our prayers go out to those who were sick and couldn't make it.
Sunday evening, H and I hosted our 2nd annual Super Bowl Party. We invited 35 or so couples, expecting/hoping that maybe a third of those would show up. We got 12 regrets ahead of time, so that left around 24 couples who 'might' show up. Of those 24, 7 couples and 3 individuals indicated they would attend (16 adult, 7 child guests). We also received a call on Saturday from a friend who said he might bring 5-10 friends with him. We were ecstatic at the prospect of having a great turnout for the party.
Well, 2 couples who had RSVP'd in the affirmative ended up with a stomach flu and cancelled (4 adults and 5 kids) , 2 couples that we hadn't heard from but expected might come called Sunday to say they wouldn't be able to make it (4 adults, 6 kids - more flu), 1 couple and 1 individual just didn't show up and the friend and his 10 buddies didn't show either.
4 couples came. Grand total: 10 guest adults, 4 kids (2 of whom were big enough to eat) , H and I.
We had prepared Philly Cheese Steaks for around 20 adults and 10 kids (10 lbs of london broil, 48 hoagies, 6 green peppers, 2 packages sliced mushrooms, 4 onions, 40 slices of provolone, 2 cans of Cheese Whiz, 2 bottles of hot peppers, 1 can of fried onions) and one large pot of Chowder. 4 or so of the guests brought desserts (brownies, choc chip brownies, dirt cake, chocolate chip cake, etc...) and we had 4 large bags of chips (Doritos, Tostitos, Wavy Lays) and a few dips (salmon dip, chipotle pepper dip, french onion dip, chili-cheese dip). Oh and 60 or so beers, a case of bottled water and a 12 pack each of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Diet Barqs.
All for 16 people.
Poor H is drowning in Cheesesteak, Chowder, Chocolate Chips and Cheap Beer. If you're hungry, give us a call.
Surprise #2:
While H was entertaining our first guests, Bubba and I posted poster size pictures of her as a child all over the house. We also hung up a Happy Birthday banner and an extra large baby picture up outside that our guests would see as they came in. She had no idea until someone walked and dead-panned to her, "Nice picture outside...". She was completely surprised (and a little embarrassed), but I think she appreciated the effort that it took. So, thanks to Jenny for the idea, H's mom for getting the pics and Bubba for helping me hang pictures. Also thanks to those who were able to make it out. Our prayers go out to those who were sick and couldn't make it.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Birthday 'Surprise'
Well, yesterday was H's birthday. I flew home early this week, thinking I would surprise her. My efforts were defeated by technology though, as she had gotten wise and checked my flight itinerary in my email... she knew I was coming.
I did manage a small element of surprise in that I bought her a nice gift and delivered it (along with 30 red roses) to her while she was at dinner with her Mom and a friend. Included were note cards, one each for 'Happy Birthday', 'Happy Valentines Day' and 'Happy Anniversary'. Written on each of the first two cards was 'Love, Batch' and on the third "and Christmas too! Love, Batch'. Taped to the back of the final card was a 7 stone diamond anniversary band.
We had a very nice dinner at Vrazels. H had the Stuffed Red Snapper Bay St. Louis while I had the Veal Beauvoir complemented by a nice cabernet. We sat for quite a while after dinner having coffee and enjoying the exceptional company.
All in all it was a GREAT night, but I must admit I was disappointed that my 'surprise' was not really so surprising. Unfortunately, I allowed my 'disappointed' to change into 'angry' or 'mad' at H for snooping. The reality is I should be disappointed with myself for misleading her to believe that I wasn't coming home and into convincing her that I wasn't going to do something special for her 30th birthday. I've allowed my desire to pull one over on her to get in the way of her special day, allowed my desire for her admiration and approval to steal and taint her special memories. H is the love of my life, designed by God just for me and she deserves my honor and my love, not my selfish games.
I did manage a small element of surprise in that I bought her a nice gift and delivered it (along with 30 red roses) to her while she was at dinner with her Mom and a friend. Included were note cards, one each for 'Happy Birthday', 'Happy Valentines Day' and 'Happy Anniversary'. Written on each of the first two cards was 'Love, Batch' and on the third "and Christmas too! Love, Batch'. Taped to the back of the final card was a 7 stone diamond anniversary band.
We had a very nice dinner at Vrazels. H had the Stuffed Red Snapper Bay St. Louis while I had the Veal Beauvoir complemented by a nice cabernet. We sat for quite a while after dinner having coffee and enjoying the exceptional company.
All in all it was a GREAT night, but I must admit I was disappointed that my 'surprise' was not really so surprising. Unfortunately, I allowed my 'disappointed' to change into 'angry' or 'mad' at H for snooping. The reality is I should be disappointed with myself for misleading her to believe that I wasn't coming home and into convincing her that I wasn't going to do something special for her 30th birthday. I've allowed my desire to pull one over on her to get in the way of her special day, allowed my desire for her admiration and approval to steal and taint her special memories. H is the love of my life, designed by God just for me and she deserves my honor and my love, not my selfish games.
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