I just had a first in a lifetime occurrence. We were playing the game Clue at the Barringer’s house and I won! The first time occurrence was not that I won, but I won in the first round. Bernie didn’t even get a chance to roll the dice.

The game is pretty fun, something I didn’t realize until recently.
On the road

My sister Heather is now a professional hunter. I received a phone call from my mother stating that there was a “rat on steroids” in their window well. Heather came to the rescue and dispatched with it. I think she may have it mounted for her wall.
Photo from here.

In Spanish class, we had a cumpleaños (birthday), just for fun!
We played several games and ate as well!

We enjoy cooking for Spanish class and we made papa rellena one of the days.

Sometimes we just want to run away. Something inside says “It will be easier if you could escape!” I suppose it is our failure to trust in Christ for our strength, or maybe to manage our time properly, or a mixture of other things.
Whatever the reason, at times we run away, or at least hide for a few hours. A few weeks ago we ran away to Como Park, one of our favorite hiding spots.
Sitting with all the flowers, trees and animals, while there was still snow on the ground, helped to refresh us.

I am normally quite opposed to the idea of shopping of any kind, particularly of the early morning nature(see earlier post of Black Friday), however last weekend was different. My dad, former college roomate (Josh o’Halloran), and former high school rival (Mark), camped out in front of REI for the Scratch ‘n Dent sale. We slept out on the sidewalk with about a hundred other campers.

It was camping without that annoying “nature” stuff.

We ended up buying some stuff, but when you think about the time involved, that is a pretty expensive pair of socks.
On the road

Do you know what O.K. stands for?

It is an abbreviation for “oll correct,” a popular slang misspelling of “all correct” at the time.

According to the History Channel, during the late 1830s, it was a favorite practice among younger, educated circles to misspell words intentionally, then abbreviate them and use them as slang when talking to one another (sound familiar?). Included in that list were “KY” for “No use” (“know yuse”), “KG” for “No go” (“Know go”), and “OW” for all right (“oll wright”).

Of all the abbreviations used during that time, OK was propelled into the limelight when it was printed in the Boston Morning Post as part of a joke. Its popularity exploded when it was picked up by contemporary politicians. When the incumbent president Martin Van Buren was up for reelection, his Democratic supporters organized a band of thugs to influence voters. This group was formally called the “O.K. Club,” which referred both to Van Buren’s nickname “Old Kinderhook” (based on his hometown of Kinderhook, New York), and to the term recently made popular in the papers.

At the same time, the opposing Whig Party made use of “OK” to denigrate Van Buren’s political mentor Andrew Jackson. According to the Whigs, Jackson invented the abbreviation “OK” to cover up his own misspelling of “all correct.”

Nevin E. Adams

A friend of mine and I are doing a Bible study each Monday night.

It has been very interesting as we come from different cultural backgrounds. I have been learning a great deal about his culture as we have been talking and he has even brought over some of the snacks common in his country. We have also found that technology helps to bridge the gap!

Paul Avery’s Bible app for iPhone allows us to be on the same “page” with translations. It is very helpful to have that resource which contributes to our Bible study time.

On the road

1. God eliminated the authority of the flesh in the life of believers.
1. Romans 6:6 – We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
2. Romans 6:14 – For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 
2. God illuminates the Word of God in the mind of believers.
1. 1 Cor. 2:12 – Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
2. 1 John 2:27 – But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him. 
3. God instills the fruit of the spirit in the life of believers.
1. Gal. 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1. We need to mortify the flesh
1. Romans 8:13 – For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
2. Col. 3:5 – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
2. We need to meditate on God’s Word
1. Ps. 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
2. Ps. 119:9-11 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
3. We need to manifest Christ’s likeness.
1. Ephesians 5:1 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2. 1 Peter 1:15-16 – but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

This year I am taking my first year of Hebrew grammar. It has been an interesting class with a lot of memorization!
I have often wondered what the purpose is behind spending hours and hours memorizing vocabulary, forms, exceptions and rules. I normally ponder this late at night when I am trying to finish my homework when I would rather be in bed. There is a purpose – I think.

On the road