Three Dollars Worth of God (and an Update on Talia)

I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.

Wilbur Rees

After studying John 6 and considering the reasons men and women followed (and still follow) Jesus, a friend shared this poem with me. I know I am guilty of this cautious reception. I pray that these words and the following will "explode my soul" and transform my mind.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

Talia Update

Our small family has been hit with illness again. Talia has been running a low-grade fever for several days. Her little nose is constantly running and we discovered that a tooth emerged from her upper gums. Her fever finally broke and an irritating rash appeared. Cold, fever, teething, and itchy rash have put her out of commission and caused cancellations to several plans for this week. A few nights ago she was so tired that she lay down on her belly and started to fall asleep on the carpet in the living room. Poor girl. Mommy got a cold (fairly mild) and Daddy got another miserable cold. Anyone wanna' come over?

Prior to illness Talia was spending a great deal of time on all fours. She has figured out how to pull her knees under her hips and is enjoying rocking back and forth. While at the peek of illness, she was too exhausted to progress towards crawling. She seems to be regaining interest in trying to crawl. Talia also played Peek-A-Boo with us a few days ago. She had soaked her shirt so I took it off her chest. Before we could put on a new shirt, she began imitating Daddy and me by placing the shirt over her face and pulling it down. All three of us were in stitches! She seems to be imitating us with greater frequency so we have begun some baby sign-language. We'll let you know how that goes in the future. Talia has also begun pointing and using her pointer finger to touch. She is also picking up items using her thumb and index finger. Talia loves to eat peas. She excitedly grabs several and shoves them in her mouth. As you will see, half the peas end up in her mouth and the other half end up on her face, or arms, or clothes, or seat, or Mom, or floor, or... Talia is enjoying babbling. She is practicing the following letters: B, D, F, G, M, T, and V. Needless to say, she is so much fun! Enjoy these pictures (most taken prior to illness).































P.S. Happy Birthday to Grandma Poole!!!!