Larry Devich
Saturday, January 27, 2007
My new "Way Cool" computer
I bought a new computer. It is a Toshiba Portege M400 Tablet PC.
I wasn't going to buy a new computer but I have been hauling my old computer around lately and I've really liked having it available, and I've been putting it to good use reading and writing on the train and during down times at work as well. I've had this new one for a couple of days and so far I just love it. It is much more portable than my old Toshiba 17" and I have hooked it up to a 19" monitor for desk top use at home. One of the very cool things about this computer is the tablet mode. In tablet mode it is perfect for reading books or browsing the web. I like reading while sitting in my recliner or in bed, and with the tablet it's very similar to reading an old fashioned paper book. Check out the link and you can see all about it. ¶ 1/27/2007 12:30:00 PM 0 Comments
I wasn't going to buy a new computer but I have been hauling my old computer around lately and I've really liked having it available, and I've been putting it to good use reading and writing on the train and during down times at work as well. I've had this new one for a couple of days and so far I just love it. It is much more portable than my old Toshiba 17" and I have hooked it up to a 19" monitor for desk top use at home. One of the very cool things about this computer is the tablet mode. In tablet mode it is perfect for reading books or browsing the web. I like reading while sitting in my recliner or in bed, and with the tablet it's very similar to reading an old fashioned paper book. Check out the link and you can see all about it. ¶ 1/27/2007 12:30:00 PM 0 Comments
John Chrysostom, Preacher
Given the added name of Chrysostom, which means "golden-mouthed" in Greek, Saint John was a dominant force in the fourth-century Christian church. Born in Antioch around the year 347, John was instructed in the Christian faith by his pious mother, Anthusa. After serving in a number of Christian offices, including acolyte and lector, John was ordained a presbyter and given preaching responsibilities. His simple but direct messages found an audience well beyond his home town. In 398 John Chrysostom was made patriarch of Constantinople. His determination to reform the church, court and city there brought him into conflict with established authorities. Eventually he was exiled from his adopted city. Although removed from his parishes and people, he continued writing and preaching until the time of his death in 407. It is reported that his final words were "Glory be to God for all things. Amen." [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
¶ 1/27/2007 12:28:00 PM 0 Comments
January 27, 2007 - Saturday in the Third Week after Epiphany
From Higher Things:
“How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts.” (Psalm 84:1)
One Sunday, during the Divine Service, a little bird flew through an open door into the nave. She was our “phoebe in residence,” a lovely dark-headed bird with a lilting chirp that hung around the courtyard. She wasn’t afraid of the school children and seemed to enjoy the company. On this Lord’s Day, she decided to join our congregation, much to the delight of the kids. She darted about, perching here and there in the chancel, her song rising above our chanting.
Psalm 84 came to mind. “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at Thy altars, O LORD.” She seemed very much at home in the courts of the Lord, as well she should. She was one of the Lord’s creatures too, and for a moment, we caught a little glimpse of Eden’s paradise where man and bird and beast lived in harmony.
How lovely is Thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! The psalmist delights in the tabernacle/temple, the place of God’s sacramental presence among His people. Where the Lord dwells, it is a lovely place.
Jesus is the Son of God “tabernacling” among us. He has made our flesh His dwelling place. In Him, God is truly with us. Every Sunday, every Divine Service delights in the promise that where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, there He is in their midst, a lovely dwelling place.
Our sinful nature refuses to recognize this. Our souls do not naturally long for the courts of the Lord, nor do our hearts and flesh sing for joy to the living God. According to our sinful natures, we’d rather sleep in on Sunday morning, watch the football game, play soccer, or read the paper. That we long and faint for the courts of the Lord, is the work of the Spirit, stirring up a hunger and thirst for the gifts of Christ.
It’s usually a struggle. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to get up and get ready for worship. Even pastors have days when they’d rather be somewhere else than in the courts of the Lord. But, then we hear those familiar words forgiving our sins. We hear the words of Spirit and life read from the Scriptures and preached from the pulpit. We eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Savior. And we realize that the little “phoebe” that flew into the church one Sunday morning couldn’t have come to a better place.
“For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” ¶ 1/27/2007 12:25:00 PM 0 Comments
“How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts.” (Psalm 84:1)
One Sunday, during the Divine Service, a little bird flew through an open door into the nave. She was our “phoebe in residence,” a lovely dark-headed bird with a lilting chirp that hung around the courtyard. She wasn’t afraid of the school children and seemed to enjoy the company. On this Lord’s Day, she decided to join our congregation, much to the delight of the kids. She darted about, perching here and there in the chancel, her song rising above our chanting.
Psalm 84 came to mind. “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at Thy altars, O LORD.” She seemed very much at home in the courts of the Lord, as well she should. She was one of the Lord’s creatures too, and for a moment, we caught a little glimpse of Eden’s paradise where man and bird and beast lived in harmony.
How lovely is Thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! The psalmist delights in the tabernacle/temple, the place of God’s sacramental presence among His people. Where the Lord dwells, it is a lovely place.
Jesus is the Son of God “tabernacling” among us. He has made our flesh His dwelling place. In Him, God is truly with us. Every Sunday, every Divine Service delights in the promise that where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, there He is in their midst, a lovely dwelling place.
Our sinful nature refuses to recognize this. Our souls do not naturally long for the courts of the Lord, nor do our hearts and flesh sing for joy to the living God. According to our sinful natures, we’d rather sleep in on Sunday morning, watch the football game, play soccer, or read the paper. That we long and faint for the courts of the Lord, is the work of the Spirit, stirring up a hunger and thirst for the gifts of Christ.
It’s usually a struggle. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to get up and get ready for worship. Even pastors have days when they’d rather be somewhere else than in the courts of the Lord. But, then we hear those familiar words forgiving our sins. We hear the words of Spirit and life read from the Scriptures and preached from the pulpit. We eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Savior. And we realize that the little “phoebe” that flew into the church one Sunday morning couldn’t have come to a better place.
“For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” ¶ 1/27/2007 12:25:00 PM 0 Comments
