What's in your Ipod????

It's a little weird for me... I was so tired of the music on my computer that I had to order some new tunes... and I actually ordered quite a few CD's (trying to fill "that" thirst) ... but what really made a difference? What music touched my soul? "The Remedy" by David Crowder Band and "Our God Saves" by Paul Balouche are both absolutely AWESOME CD's and ... if you don't want to waste time listening to other CD's... these two will touch you on a deeper spiritual level than so many other tunes out there today... "Rain Down" on DCB is outstanding (ok... to me it's actually beyond outstanding, it's an "anthem" type of tune) but there are other tunes that could become congregational tune like "Never Let Go". Even "The Glory of it All" is an "OUTSTANDING" tune because it's really all about "the glory or it all" as the song claims. But really listening to all the song just seem to touch a spiritual nerve.... way to go guys!!!

When we look at Paul's latest Cd "Our God Saves".... this is a guy that is so intune with God.... not that I'm always in tune with God... but the other day when I was listening to this driving to work and I found myself crying while listening to "Only True God (song 4) through "You Gave Your Life Away" (song 8)... what is it with this last song (these songs) (You Gave Your Life Away)??? even as I'm writing this blog... I'm listening to this song... and the tears are just flowing ... just looking at the chorus of “Your Gave, You gave your life away” is so VERY powerful…. And “Your grace has broken every chain, My sins are gone my debt’s been paid”… wow… who can tears not flow down my cheeks when I am reminded of what Christ has done for me? Maybe if when tear don't flow out of thankgiving for what Christ has done .. then maybe I should be concerned about where I'm at with HIM... Wow….. check ‘em out :0

While talking about music… are you're looking for something a little more “hip-hop”? A little more like “Christian rap?” Try T-bone and “Servin’ Up Tha Hits” as it’s really a great CD of Christian rap! This CD has driving lyrics and a great beat!

Help Me Understand

I'm a little confused. Recently there is the case in Sudan of the child... let me restate this... there is a child in Sudan... a Muslim child... that has chosen to name a stuffed bear Muhammad... after his own name, which happens to be Muhammad too... Sure... we don't have dolls or other stuffed objects named "Jesus" in the "western world" ... but ... ever since Jesus came on the scene... you don't see people naming their children "Jesus" either ... why? Because God almighty has already given that name to the one that is above all others ... but why do Muslims get upset that someone is using their prophets name for a doll (ok... a doll sounds so feminine, so let's stick with him being a "teddy bear")... when it's SSOOOO ok to name almost everyone in Islamic society "Muhammad"? Most of the Muslims I know have Muhammad in their name somewhere.... Did I miss something somewhere????? Or is this just a case of "selective reasoning"? Ouch... did I say that??? I know Islam continues to advance as a religion in the world... but it's interesting to see how spun up Muslims get when their beliefs and religious rules are attacked... I wonder what will happen to me personally since I'm posting this from my home... but it's time I make a stand myself and called a spade a "spade".... we in the west don't get all bend out of shape when our Savior is portrayed in demeaning ways. We are secure in our belief that Jesus Christ is our Saviour... He tells us "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6) ... maybe that's part of our problem in the west... .we're so tolerant of everyone else's opinions that we've LOST the true conviction of our own beliefs in God to put up a fuss when derogatory things are said about our own Savior ...

Mia Learns to Bike

It's kinda' funny. We had gone to the basement earlier so Mia could ride her skuter and then once we came back upstairs Angela mentioned that she'd like to go to the basement and ride her bike. That was ok but Mia wanted to attempt to ride her bike... something we actually had not attempted since we left Connecticut to come to Cairo... since the last time we figured she'd be an "easy learn" of biking because of her skutering skills... so... it really wasn't a matter of her not being able to balance a bike, but it was more just a matter of us not having taken the time to let her practice the balancing that is needed to ride a bike. Well, today was Mia's day... she got on the bike... and was off! Congrats Mia... you're off on a bike.

Over Half Way

That's the neat thing about school... the things that we celebrate. In this case... it's the half way mark of the semester. For the Humanities course we're suppose to go to a Japanese Tea Ceremony and give a critique of the event... but when you live in Cairo... where in the world do you find someone doing a Japanese Tea Ceremony? Yeah... that's what I thought too... not here in Cairo anyways... but thank God for the wisdom to call the Japanese embassy and see what they knew... and lo and behold... there's a ceremony next week. They only perform the tea ceremony here twice a year... and go figure that it just happens to be during the course I'm taking. Thank you Lord, for His timing is perfect. Now Sandra and I are going to turn the outing into a mini date.

This week in History was interesting from a practical point of view... it was The Rise of Islam and its Impact in the Region... it's actually interesting to be taking a course that applies to where you live... and to what people believe in the area you live... especially when it's so different than yourself.

More Homework... 2nd Grade Style

OK... I know I find myself consumed in my own educational pursuits sometimes (ok... not just sometimes...), but my kids are still in elementary school... which means they have their own homework to complete... usually four nights a week. In this case, Mia had to make a collage of her country of birth. So... what do you think? Can you tell where she was born by her artwork?

Actually as a parent I have to say I am very proud of the work both girls are doing this year. Keep up the great job you've been doing ladies :-)

As a side note about 2nd grade... a few weeks ago while my own Humanities class was studying about colors and their meaning Mia comes home and basically tells me what I just learned in my course (maybe I'm wrong to say this... but it's so sad when a second grader not just learns... but KNOWS this stuff). So ... is it second graders are learning college level material or ... a little more likely... have I forgotten absolutely everything I EVER learned in school and need to be taught all over again in college? :-)

Middle School Choir

Angela has been pretty busy at school ... she is in mixed choir this year and they had their first performance recently... then last weekend she attended the 24 hour drama at school too... Although she claims to be shy it's these very kind of activities that will build her confidence to be in front of people later in life... well... if she has to be. Now she's even thinking of trying out for the next middle school play... which is a big step for her :-0

...And Homework

The Humanities course I'm taking has been interesting... but time consuming at the same time. For the architecture portion of the course I critiqued our house back home and then the Mohammad Ali palace inside the Citadel. I've been here before, but never looking at the place with this kind of scrutiny. It really is an interesting structure, and because of the high domes the inside really does have an expansive feel to it... plus it's cool even on a hot day without air conditioning.

This homework assignment wasn't bad, but the last two weeks have also had me racing to finish the Fyodor Dostoyevsky "The Brothers Karamazov" book... with the second half being close to 400 pages... which for me... oh man, that's like a years worth of reading needing to be done in two weeks. Ouch! It really was an interesting book with Dostoyevsky painting very believable characters with their strengths and faults... but thankfully... the book is done and it's on to other assignments :-)

So Where Have I Been??

Well, it's hard to believe that it's already been 3 weeks since the last post... and for the most part it's just been plain busy here. So... a short recap I guess is in order. Auntie Carmen went back home to the Philippines after coming back with us in July, here we were on our way to the airport and the staff at our apartment were saying good bye. Her time here was a blessing to us with watching the girls and for her it was a blessing to have the chance to come to Egypt and see a little of the country.