Certain uncertainty...

So, we are waiting to hear some potentially big news that may or may not have huge ramifications for us. How's that for clarity? If you are praying people, I'd love a few of them. Jon and I will know more this afternoon.

I am an early-to-bed early-to-rise kind of girl. I fell asleep before the polls closed and surfaced around 9 PM to ask The Rockstar if Senator McCain had conceded. Got my answer and went back to sleep. Very uneventful evening at our house- no crying, no pouting, no gnashing of teeth; just a typical early night at chez Wolske . Here are a few jumbled thoughts on the election and what I think it means for me and us: 1) I was not surprised that Senator Obama won the election, nor was I surprised by the impressive margin by which he won. Congratulations to him and good on all of you who worked so hard to put him in office! 2) Many of my fellow conservatives who are also Christ-followers have written and spoken things along the lines of, "I am praying hard for our country," or, "I am trying to see God's hand in all this." Here' s the thing: we (as Christ followers) should always be praying for our country and her leaders, no matter who they may be! Addit...

He could try to deny it, but the proof is there each time I look in the mirror. It's in the deep-set eyes, the high cheekbones, the long face that runs to hollow-cheeked when I am tired. It's all there. It is in my hands and feet- the fingers and toes so long and straight, the instep high. Many who know me say I am my mother all over again, or even "Little Madge," but that is mannerisms. No, I may act like Mudder, and hold my head like she and Gram do, but much of the raw material is Dad. Dad gave me his love of history, poetry, and Poe. In fact, he wanted to name me Lenore , a fight I am eternally grateful he lost! It is a lovely name, but I am not sure I could handle the knowledge that I was named after "the queenliest dead that ever died so young". (I never said the man was always practical!) We both tend to favor American History, though he prefers the Civil War Era and I lean more toward The Revolution. One summer, our travel plans included a day...

(H/T to Gavin for the video) I think I am a person of above-average intelligence. Truly. However, I fail to see where science and faith are mutually exclusive. My mother is a scientist; my mother is also the person who was most instrumental in my spiritual formation. One of the finest scientific minds I know (that is, know personally) belongs to a man of great faith. Here goes the part where I alienate half (or maybe all) of the people who read my blog: I do not believe in a literal seven twenty-four-hour-day creation. I do, however, believe that we were created. I believe that an evolutionary model may offer some insight as to how we were created, but not why. For they why, I must rely on my faith, simple as it is. I do not believe that science and faith a re mutually exclusive. I do wonder, however, if science and religion are mutually exclusive. This video has me chuckling, but it is somewhat bittersweet. I think Richard Dawkins has been gifted with a brilliant mind and a...

I apologize for causing undue stress (Charm City Kelly) with my earlier post. I cannot go into too many details as yet, but I will elaborate. For some time now, I have felt a certain disquiet. Never sure what it was, and VERY NERVOUS about asking God for clarification, I just simmered. I really do not like change, and I know that this disquiet is usually the precursor to change. Recently, a chance conversation with a friend brought some possibilities to light. I feel a little better prepared for whatever God has in store for me, which is a big deal for a girl who really likes to dig in her heels. See, even when I am too chicken to ask, He is ready to answer.

Today I had a prayer answered. A prayer that I hadn't yet gotten together the guts to pray. A prayer that I was still to fearful to pray. Wow. My God is so awesome. (And yes, Dad, I do really mean awesome. He fills me with awe) Film at eleven.

I maintain that October is Las Vegas makes up for the nasty summers. This week was our annual "turning off of the central air" ceremony. Windows are open (with security bars in place, Dad) and fans are running. I love autumn. I love waking up to a cold nose and snuggling into Jon (I am married to a furnace); I love the smell of woodsmoke in the air as the fireplaces get going; I love the distinct aroma of rotting leaves. I am an autumn kind of girl. Sweaters and soup and the end of daylight savings time. At the end of summer's oppressive heat is the cooling. Seasons are, quite possibly, my favorite part of God's creation. Right now, Jon's and my life is in a summer; it's hot, sticky, and uncomfortable. There are brief moments of artificial cooling, but we always have to get back into the heat. Fall is my reminder that summer is not endless; at the end comes the cool. God will send a cooling season for our summer, just as he sends the cooling season f...

A little over twenty years ago, I wrote an essay for a Father's Day contest. Our task was to finish the sentence "My dad is the greatest because..." My parents still have that essay -my careful fourth grade cursive on its Cabbage Patch Kids stationery. My guess is that it is in the stack of framed photos that need to be hung somewhere sometime (Does every home have a stack like that or is this a problem unique to Hutsons?) I do not remember all the particulars, but I know that some mention was made of pancakes for breakfast. I recall that, when the essay was read to the congregation, there were a few chuckles-- I imagine that I would chuckle myself to read it now. A lot has changed in those twenty years. Dad is no longer the "man in my life;" I cannot remember the last time I ate his pancakes for breakfast; it's been months since I even had breakfast with him! One thing has not changed- my dad is the greatest. He is the greatest provider I could have h...

"Until you settle the issue of your own worth, it's impossible to bring holiness into anyone else's life. Until you understand that your worth is already determined by the fact of your birth, everything else is an exercise in propping up a dying tree." ~ Carol Brazo ~ "No Ordinary Home" Worth is something other than value. I am valued by my husband as a wife, by my church as a servant, by my boss as an employee. My value is determined by those around me. I would venture to say that I am more valuable to my husband as a wife than I am to API as an employee. Value is determined by those around me. But what am I worth ? MY worth exists independently of what I do. Worth is about who I am. More importantly, worth is about who I am becoming through Christ. Because, truly? I am worthless; I am the product of a fallen creation, a dirty sinner who is helpless; I am the opposite of worthy. The issue of my own worth is this: I am un worthy. ...

We in the US who are Christians have a tendency to moan and cry about not being allowed to do x,y, or z. In case any of us needs a reminder of just how good we have it, take a little jaunt over here. Story upon story here. Lastly, here is something to do about it .

I am Judas, betraying His trust for a pittance. How often have I shelved Him for the fleeting empty material pleasures of this world? I have no defense-- he was at least fulfilling prophesy. I have no excuse. I am Peter, quick out of the gate and quick to deny Him. I have gone out half-cocked and ill-prepared; I have forgotten whose I am when the chips were down. There may not be a rooster, but my failure is obvious, nevertheless. I am James and John, falling asleep on the job. How often have I missed Him, simply because I was too caught up in myself to watch? I am Caiaphas, demanding God prove Himself to me, when I have no right to ask such. I am Pilate, taking the easy way out. I am the mob, losing sight of Him and allowing myself to be caught in the frenzy. I am all these people, and yet He has freed me. I am worthless, yet made worthy; I am broken, yet made whole. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the si...

Galations 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV) From comment thread in a previous post: I read something a little while ago that challenged believers on what they really believe. it kind of played into what Kelly has blogged about a while back (just turning EVERYTHING over to God) -- if you really believed with 100% of your heart, you would sell everything you have, give everything you make from this point going forward to the God that you believe in, and through faith he would provide and you would want for nothing more in this world because you would know that your eternal comfort awaits in heaven. I know a good many godly people -- good, decent people that I love a great deal -- and not one of them has done that. Not one of them is even close. They do all the same things the rest of humanity does; accumulate material stuff, houses and cars, and work ...

"At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match." ~ John Wenham ~ Holy Week has always drawn my heart. Even as a child, I was fascinated- first by the contrasts. I can remember asking my mother how people could change their minds so quickly. Palm Sunday's lauding crowds so quickly became an angry mob. How could this happen? How could these people not see? Mom's answer was that the road into Jerusalem simply had to lead to the Cross . It couldn't happen any other way, or we would have no hope. I didn't fully comprehend for years- heck, I don't know that I do even now. Everything points to the Cross, and that colors everything I read in Scripture. I have a Messianic friend who insists that to understand the New Testament, I must read with a Jewish sensibility. I must respectfully disagree with this assertion-- while reading...

Jon and I have been married just over four years. I wouldn't have thought I could grow too much, but thinking about Christine's questions helped me realize that I don't really know that girl anymore. I was not exactly a kid when we married, but I was far from prepared to share my life and all that entails. I can remember our pre-marital counselor telling us that we "just made the cut" for age and success rates or something like that. At the time, I was probably rolling my eyes (on the inside)- I was twenty-seven years old, after all! My mother married at twenty, and my younger brother was making snarky comments about Jon maybe being my only chance. As far as I was concerned, I was getting long in the tooth. Yeah, the age thing-- not really convinced that helps much. We were statistically old enough, but no more "ready" than anyone else. The funniest part is that, no matter what my expectations were, they were way off base. Whatever I thought abou...

1) If you had something which changed your life, would you want to share that something with those whom you love? 2) If you had knowledge which would change the world, what would you do with that knowledge? 3) Have you ever witnessed a miracle? 4) What is your mission field? 5) What is the most important lesson you are teaching/ will teach your children? 6) What was the most important lesson your parents taught you? Seriously, I am curious. And that means you, you lurker-person.

I love how God keeps trying to get through to me. I love how He speaks to me over and over until I get it through my thick head. I wonder if He smacks his forehead with the heel of his hand and exclaims, "Stooge!" when I FINALLY get it. I would. (What does it say about me that I can totally picture Terry Gilliam animation here?) I can almost picture God making one of those 1950's teaching movies : "Boys and girls, this week's lesson for Kelly is worry. See how she holds on to concerns and refuses to turn them over. Watch here, see the circles under her eyes. If only she would let me take care of things, she would be able to rest.' 'Here she is at work. Listen as her boss tells her how worried he is that there are starving animals. Oh, it sounds like she has made a breakthrough. She just reminded him that I have things under control. Perhaps this will be the end of our film, but I doubt it. Having known Kelly since before she was formed, I can ...

Jon and I braved the Friday night crowds to see Amazing Grace . In fact, Jon ate a movie theater hot dog for dinner (Note to self-- Pick Up Stix is not fast Chinese food like Panda). I encourage any and all of you to see this film. (And we are pretty sure it is real film, a fact which warms the cockles of my Jonathan's heart) I am not going to go into detail about things at this point. I have too much on my heart this evening. Suffice to say, my prayer is to find what it is which wrecks me. Finally, I leave you with this: My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things; That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour. John Newton (1725-1807) English minister and hymn writer Amen.

Christine is looking at The Secret as any good Berean should , and measuring it against scripture. Yay!! She is asking our thoughts, and as I have several, I though it best to not hijack her comments. So goes Kelly's woefully inadequate analysis of "The Secret" I am really torn about this, because I hate to spend money on something like this. I shall, however, in the interest of fairness. I have made it about one hour into this movie, and here are my initial thoughts. I shall measure this against scripture, but that will most likely come in a later post, as I have a couple of e-mails out to trusted spiritual mentors. 1) One of the first quotes came from Bob Proctor, listed as a "philosopher." He states, "The secret gives you anything you want." This quote sets the theme for "The Secret"-- self. Everything is about what you want, what you think, what you feel. Hmm... What does the Bible have to say about self? Let's see: Luk...

Devin began a new series this week at Gracepoint. Christmas: Simple. The guys on our set up crew were cracking the inevitable jokes about our set. Things like, "If this is simple, I don't wanna be around for over the top." And my personal favorite, "Wow! Those are the coolest decorations EVER!" (Said in a dorky little kid's voice by a thirty-something guy on the team) The preparation of our worship space for Christmas: Simple seems anything but. It highlights, for me, however, that simple does NOT mean easy. It is easy to say that we are going to keep Christmas simple, but how easy is this to really do? J and I are pretty committed to keeping things low-key, but we are still shopping, and wrapping, and baking (well, I am). We are still crafting, and shipping, and stressing. Throw in a two thousand, eight-hundred mile trip and we have recipe for Christmas-Simple-You-Have-Got-to-be Kidding. And yet,the list of things we are not doing is equally as lo...