Thursday, April 28, 2011

Checkmate!

A group of people are lead by a tour guide through a Russian art museum. One man in the group, a professional chess player, takes a special interest in a painting called Checkmate in the art gallery. In the painting, a man is playing chess with the devil. The devil is grinning ear-to-ear because he has the man cornered. The title of the painting, “Checkmate,” indicates that the game is over. The devil has won. His opponent has no more moves. The chess player analyzes the painting for a long time, and the group moves on without him. Then suddenly he steps back, flabbergasted. “It’s wrong!” he exclaims. “There’s one more move.” He runs to his group and together they look at the painting. “We have to contact the painter,” the chess champion says. “It’s not checkmate. The King has one more move which will let him win!”

When Jesus was put to death on the cross it seemed to his friends and disciples that another good and miraculous man had come and died just like all other men. It also probably seemed that the one man who could save humanity had been killed. It seemed like the Devil had won and defeated Jesus Christ and put him under death's cold power. But when Jesus rose a few days later he showed to the whole entire world that absolutely nothing could hold him! He had that last move, the move which with he conquered death and hell. The greatest crime of man had just been turned into the greatest victory of God!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

He is alive!

We do not serve a dead god but a living God!


Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He's alive! He's alive!
- Matt Maher

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sweet 16!

Rebecca had her 16th birthday and to celebrate she had her friends over for a picnic/birthday party! Following the girls' indulgence in good food, they played kickball with the rest of the family. After that, we all ate Rebecca's special order of Hershey's ice-cream cake and then opened many wonderful gifts from friends and family alike.

It appears Rebecca just fell off the front of the gator due to Emily's crazy driving...

All I can say is I probably won't be doing that at my 16th birthday party!

I do not know what is so terrifying about a smirking girl...oh well.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

NY State Horse Pulling Competition

The heavyweight class.

We enjoyed the company of our friends, Zach and Meghan!

and Sister Becca too!

We all had a favorite team who we were rooting for!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Beautiful Spring Views From The Middle of Bentley Pond




Spring Demolition

Isaac and Allie, with the help of siblings and parents, have set to work rebuilding the upstairs bathroom in their new country cottage!



Saturday, April 09, 2011


Monday, April 04, 2011

Spring!

March's gloom brings April's blooms!


A pleasant suprise was finding our back hill covered with crocuses, maybe spring will soon be here.

The Crocuses
Frances E. W. Harper
In the everlasting arms
Mid life’s dangers and alarms
Let calm trust your spirit fill;
Know He’s God, and then be still.”

Trustingly I raised my head
Hearing what the atom said;
Knowing man is greater far
Than the brightest sun or star.

They heard the South wind sighing
A murmur of the rain;
And they knew that Earth was longing
To see them all again.

While the snow-drops still were sleeping
Beneath the silent sod;
They felt their new life pulsing
Within the dark, cold clod.

Not a daffodil nor daisy
Had dared to raise its head;
Not a fairhaired dandelion
Peeped timid from its bed;

Though a tremor of the winter
Did shivering through them run;
Yet they lifted up their foreheads
To greet the vernal sun.

And the sunbeams gave them welcome.
As did the morning air
And scattered o’er their simple robes
Rich tints of beauty rare.

Soon a host of lovely flowers
From vales and woodland burst;
But in all that fair procession
The crocuses were first.

First to weave for Earth a chaplet
To crown her dear old head;
And to beautify the pathway
Where winter still did tread.

And their loved and white haired mother
Smiled sweetly ’neath the touch,
When she knew her faithful children
Were loving her so much>

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Guess Who I Found In Cambridge, MA?

My parents!
Mom and Dad joined me in Cambridge, MA, this weekend for the 3rd Ivy League Congress on Faith and Action.

Just a small fraction of the many Cornell students at the conference!