Quotes

We ought to think about getting tangled up.  The streamlined life is not worth living, Community and friendship are things to get tangled up in.  They aren't easy or efficient.  But they give meaning to our lives. -Greg Veltman, Comment Magazine, "Making Friends for Life", 2006.

To be a Christian is to work for the new humanity.  Jesus commands his followers to feed and clothe and visit and take care of those who need it.  They're fellow image-bearers, they're just like us, and when we love them, we're loving God-Rob Bell in "Sex God"

"To criticize pornography is not repressive," writes Jensen. "To speak about what one knows and feels and dreams is, in fact liberating.  We are not free if we aren't free to talk about our desire for an egalitarian intimacy and sexuality that would reject pain and humiliation.  That is not prudishness or censorship. . . It is to say that people matter more than the profits of pornographers and the pleasure of pornography consumers."  Dines asserts that speaking out against harmful sexuality makes us no more anti-sex than speaking out against unhealthy fast food makes us anti-eating.  We hate pornography precisely because we love sex so much!  As Christians, we affirm the beauty of the body and the sanctity of God's gift of sexuality.  Let us reclaim it, unashamedly.-From "Living in a Rape Culture", Prism Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2008

Kids

What can I say, we have cute kids:)  Ana is super excited about her big girl and Zeke finally rolled over!  

Hurricane Ike

We were effected by high winds from hurricane Ike.  We were without power for one week.
This is down our road, a street light blown over.

These trucks are parked here because there is a tree across the road preventing them from going any farther.

We had some of the crazy winds. Then the power went out on Sunday.  The college had power by Monday night, so we were able to eat meals in the dining hall.  We camped at out house for awhile and then eventually stayed with friends.  Our power returned Saturday night.

Baby Zeke

It's taken us a long time to finally post some pictures of Zeke and the fam. It is definitely much busier with 2 children. But, they are both well, cute, and fun! Ana continues to amaze us at her learning. She has also begun potty training! Here are some photos.

Kenyon in Spring

This flower is working its way through the cement, impressive.
Middle path at Kenyon

It has been beautiful around here. Here are a few pictures.

Spring has sprung

Ana and I have been spending more time outside since the weather has gotten a bit warmer. It is such fun to see her world expand as she learns about things like flowers, rocks, acorns, and ants. She has also learned that some rocks don’t taste so well. It is a wonderful experience to introduce her to things. She looks at things with caution until I let her know it is okay to touch it. She wouldn’t even step on a stick until I stepped on it. God’s world is so beautiful and intricate and I am so grateful I have Ana to remind me of that.

Happy Easter

Ana enjoys putting things on her head
Bergeson family at Easter
Bunny race 500
Ana and Mommy sitting in kids chairs.


We had a great Easter. Each year it means more and more to me. I love the sense of celebration. I think children capture it best. At church our pastor informed us he had heard that a father greeted his child in the morning with "He is risen". The child responded with "Yeah!!" So, our pastor had us respond that way in church. It was great! Also, I was told that my 4 year old niece when read the story of Jesus' death responded with "That's sad that he died, I like him." I think these children have capture the importance aspects of Easter. "He is risen. . .He is risen indeed (or Yeah!)"

Relay for Life 2008

This post will be short and sweet.
Kelly and I are participating in Relay for Life again this year. It will take place at Kenyon College on April 11-12. We have a team of Kenyon students called the God Squad. :)

If you would like to help fight cancer, please click here to donate.
The money ACS raises through Relay for Life goes to a lot of different areas from research to education. For more info about that, please click here!

Shalom to you!

Ana with cousins and at home

Ana laying with Papa
Switching rooms
Princess Ana

Queen Chris
Zoey and Chris
Emma's birthday party



Taking a walk in Daddy's shoes
cousins-Ana, Emma, Zoey

Expecting #2

So, we are expecting our second child. Really, I’m not just pushing my stomach out in that picture. I’ve only just begun to get more excited about this baby as my tummy begins to round and desires for food have increased, it has become more real to me that there will be another one. When Ana is having a “bad” day I feel overwhelmed by this knowledge. I think, “Really? Two! That will be a lot of work.” Or “How in the world will we afford two!” But, then I am reminded of the many ways I am blessed. I have a wonderful husband who is incredibly supportive. Recently, he has made various efforts to meet my food desires, whether running to the market or attempting to make fried pizza rolls from scratch. He reassures me in my panic moments, lets me cry when the hormones are too much, and keeps me laughing (or lets me sleep) when I’m weary of running after a one-year old. I also have a beautiful daughter who is funny, outgoing, and smart as she learns to interact with the world around her. I look forward to seeing how she responds to #2. My hopes are for them to eventually be playmates and friends. We are also blessed by people near and far who support us in too many ways to count. It really is all about relationships! Most importantly, I am reminded of a God who meets all of our needs (though at times I’m not sure how He’ll come through) and that truly it is His story and not all about me. My prayer of late has been from Psalm 25: 4-5, “Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Although I am about to have a second child and I am nearing the end of my twenties I have so much to learn and be thankful for. I look forward to knowing #2, him or her(?) personality, and hopefully teaching them to walk in the ways of God.

freedom?

Taken from inside me,
It was ripped out.
I was so numbed, that
I didn't even notice.

But now I mourn.
I weep over my loss.
Stolen from within me,
and I gladly consented.

Under the pretense of
freedom of choice,
that which was my own
organic creativity

was strangled,
mutilated,
killed,
disposed of.

Only His love can
breathe new life into my dead
Imagination, aborted by
consumerism's imperial priests.

by Jeff Bergeson

written Jan. 5, 2008



What has happened to our imaginations when the majority of the average American's leisure time is spent in front of the television? Commercial television is less than a century old; is there really 'nothing else to do,' or have our imaginations been taken captive and we can't imagine doing anything else?

I don't have the answer, but I continue to pray...
How do we "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," and how do we go about being "transformed by the renewing of our minds"? 2 Cor 10:5; Rom 12:2

caesar, colossians, poetry, and things...

So I just recently finished reading Colossians Remixed by Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat. It is an incredible book by this Canadian husband and wife duo who work extensively on developing students who will live out a biblical worldview through Christian Reformed Campus Ministries. There was one or two chapters in the book that I'm still trying to think through (i.e. I'm not 100% if I understand or agree with), but largely, I can recommend this book hands down to anybody who is a Christian living in a consumeristic society.
While reading this book, poetry welled up within me, and I wrote it down. I haven't written poetry in years! The following blog posts are all poems inspired from reading Colossians Remixed, in response the all pervasive "empire" -- as Walsh and Keesmaat say -- of consumerism. The subtitle of the book is: Subverting the Empire. Basically, it takes the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians as a very subversive text within the context of the Roman Empire. It discusses what "empire" is, exactly, and how following Christ is -- necessarily -- in conflict with empires and their violent domination. Jesus, quoting Isaiah (who in turn was using Jubilee imagery from Leviticus), said in his first sermon,
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

He preached this in the midst of an empire who claimed that its leader brought prosperity to all -- but expanded its territory by conquest and had slaves from the conquests. This Pax Romana supposedly brought peace to all the many, many different kinds of people it brought together, and yet, Jesus was subject to capital punishment on the cross...and so were many of his followers. We must ask why? If Caesar was god and offered peace and prosperity...then anybody else claiming to have peace and fruitfulness from another claiming to be God was committing treason! But who was God, and who gave freedom, peace, and fruitfulness?

Anyway...the next few posts will be some of the poems that resulted from me reading Colossians Remixed.

Christ's Shalom to you!