Marva Dawn

If you have not read Marva Dawn, then you ought to. I am sad to say my list of books I am currently reading has had to undergo a reality check, so I must put this one down to read later.

Advanced Driving Skills School

Yup - it's back to school and fun it was. This is a rather tame picture, but one of the few I have. At the beginning of the day, we were learning how to change direction quickly without loosing control of the car. Switching over 1 lane, then 2 without braking, sliding or taking out instructors and photographers who were standing right in front of us signaling us when to change lanes.

We began the day with a chalk talk to learn the basics of vehicle dynamics, but spent most of the day on the skid pad. I know all about understeer, oversteer, steering with the throttle, secondary weight transfer and power-slides and put them to good use on the figure 8 and auto cross courses. Check it out I just may go on to the High Performance school in the fall and put in some track time!

Spiritual Discernment

Rarely have I found so many people I respect recommend a book as highly as this one. I am in the middle of reading it and find it quite good. More later. In the meantime check out the author Tim Challies' web site. Check it out.

"Nowhere did I find the quality of that preacher"

I've had this book set aside for a long time hoping to get to read it one day. A couple of weekends ago, I finally got to read it when a friend offered us a weekend getaway at their parents summer home near the Botanical Gardens near Boothbar Harbor. Here is one of the delightful and surpizing passages from the book. Written in 1962, Steinbeck observers something still needed to be seen by evangelicals today. A reminder also I think of the knowledge of God in everyone (Romans Chapter 1)



"Sunday morning, in a Vermont town, my last day in New England, I shaved, dressed in a suit, polished my shoes, whited my sepulcher, and looked for a church to attend. Several I eliminated for reasons I do not now remember, but on seeing a John Knox church I drove into a side street and parked Rocinante out of sight, gave Charley his instructions about watching the truck, and took my way with dignity to a church of blindingly white ship lap. I took my seat in the rear of. the spotless, polished place of worship. The prayers were to the point, directing the attention of the Almighty to certain weaknesses and undivine tendencies I know to be mine and could only suppose were shared by others gathered there.

The service did my heart and I hope my soul some good. It had been long since I had heard such an approach. It is our practice now, at least in the large cities, to find from our psychiatric priesthood that our sins aren't really sins at all but accidents that are set in motion by forces beyond our control. There was no such nonsense in this church. The minister, a man of iron with tool-steel eyes and a delivery like a pneumatic drill, opened up with prayer and reassured us that we were a pretty sorry lot. And he was right. We didn't amount to much to start with, and due to our own tawdry efforts we had been slipping ever since. Then, having softened us up, he went into a glorious sermon, a fire-and-brimstone sermon. Having proved that we, or perhaps only I, were no damn good, he painted with cool certainty what was likely to happen to us if we didn't make some basic reorganizations for which he didn't hold out much hope. He spoke of hell as an expert, not the mush-mush hell of these soft days, but a well-stoked, white-hot hell served by technicians of the first order. This reverend brought it to a point where we could understand it, a good hard coal fire, plenty of draft, and a squad of open-hearth devils who put their hearts into their work, and their work was me. I began to feel good all over. For some years now God has been a pal to us, practicing togetherness, and that causes the same emptiness a father does playing softball with his son. But this Vermont God cared enough about me to go to a lot of trouble kicking the hell out of me. He put my sins in a new perspective. Whereas they had been small and mean and nasty and best forgotten, this minister gave them some size and bloom and dignity. I hadn't been thinking very well of myself for some years, but if my sins had this dimen sion there was some pride left. I wasn't a naughty child but a first rate sinner, and I was going to catch it.

I felt so revived in spirit that I put five dollars in the plate, and afterward, in front of the church, shook hands warmly with the minister and as many of the congregation as I could. It gave me a lovely sense of evil-doing that lasted clear through till Tuesday. "

-- John Steinbeck in Travels With Charlie -- page 79

Engaging Your Emotions Against Evil

I don't like the title for this book, but the contents really captivated me. The subtitle much more accurately describes what the book is about.


Prayer requests often seem so weak, because we are not really sure what God's will is. Not wanting to be presumtuous, I often think as I pray, "if it is your will, Lord". But then this puts me in the frame of mind where I don't really expect God to answer my prayer. He is going to go ahead and do what He wants to do whatever I ask. So my prayer is emptied of emotion.

This book was helpful in my seeing that "Jesus didn't ask his disciples to pray according to his will and then neglect to let them know what it was."(page 51) We know what God's character is and the intentions he has for us. There is not as much need to put a reign on my prayers as I have been doing. I am not sure how God will work out the circumstances and I am glad I can leave that to Him, but there is plenty I do know and plenty he has asked me to pray about, and with no caveats. So my prayers are now more decisive and persistent.

This would make a good book to use for our Family Reunion this summer. If anyone is interested in it -- let me know and I'll order you a copy - shipped direct to your home in time to at least look through it.

Compost

I had real good luck with the compost this year. It is nice and light and black with little junk in it. I use grass clippings, kitchen wastes, leaves and stuff from the garden. I usually put it at the far side in the picture and turn it to the left -- then reverse and turn it to the right and then back again where it ends up in the bin on the end.

This year's garden

We managed to get a yard of nice clean wood chips when the delivery next door would not fit in the space available. The carpet is wearing out - so the wood chips arrived just in time to spread them out in the paths. I thined the forsythia out and gave away a bunch of them to neighbors and friends. I've also torn out a lot of the dogwood at the edge of the garden. My brush pile is now 6 feet high and about 10 foot wide and 10 fit high - after jumping on it several times! Got to take it all to the dump soon.

Broccli and lettuce has been planted.

Perkins Poetry

The following two poems were found in a undated (about 20 years ago) special edition of a Second Parish OPC Newsletter called All Creatures Great & Small.


Deep in the forest of the Amazon jungle
is this place I know.
In this place where the cheetah has no spots,
the zebra has not a single stripe,
the banana is always ripe,
the giraffe has no neck,
and the woodpecker does not peck,
is a rare and most unusual treasure.
This treasure fulfills every worldly pleasure,
but to obtain it an exchange must be made:
The human soul for this unusual treasure.
Woe to the man who makes this trade
and follows his greedy desire,
for he shall burn in the eternal fire
when he dies and leaves his treasure.
Ha! He will pay to the fullest measure
for his foolish action.
Now we must leave this place
and leave not a trace
of our being here.
My friends, let us leave this treasure
to the animals who have no souls to give.
Let us not follow our fantasies and wildest dreams

or we may not fulfill our purpose in life.
This purpose is to love God
and feed our cats and dogs.

--Andrew Perkins

Have a good day in Zion,
Said the lion to the sheep;
For if you venture from its gates,
It surely will be for keeps.
--Dana Perkins

Pictures

Checkout the two sets of pictures Matt's visit in July and our trip to Boise.

Smiley

Joan has been hapilly volunteering at Mercy Hospital arranging flowers for sale. She has a talent for this and much to her delight is being trained by a retired Florist. Ask her about it - she loves to talk about it!

Keyed Up

World Flute Trio

Carl Dimow (bass flute), Nicole Rabata (Irish Flute) and Phil Nyuokai (shakuhacki flute) gave us one grand time last night. This was an amazing blend of Irish, Japanese, Jewish and European music. Ever hear an Irish-Japanese Blues? We did - I think the first time that they played it - so there is no recording of it, but it was some sweet music that left me feeling alive and soothed. I thought the opening footstomper (with an Japanese shakuhacki?-- ya!) was going to be the best, but it just kept getting better. Especially nice was classical guitarist Nathan Kolosko who joined Carl for 2 numbers. The most amazing piece was the last number where there was the most awesome blending of Irish flute and Japanese flute with a suporting bass flute melding into the turns the Irish flute and Japanese flute took at playing melodies that were hard to say were either Irish or Japanese -- they were both at the same time. It is like the music was made for each other's instruments! Here is a link to their site, but the concert was so much better than any samples I found. The World Flute Trio.

Flowers in Backyard on June 01, 2008

Allium

One of my favorites and one of more than 11 flowers in bloom in the back yard.

For more pictures go to flickr

Three in one

I bet not everyone can catch 3 woodchucks at one time in one trap!

Celebration Extraordinaire

If's off to Spruce Point for our 37th Wedding Anniversary!

Nestled away in the woods on the edge of the ocean.
We enjoyed some time on deck
Viewing and listening to the waves
Watching the schooners pass bye.
more on flickr.com

Celebratory Toast

Joan is just getting over a wicked cold so we postponed the culinary celebration of our 37th wedding anniversary. We did however post a toast and bent the elbow with a good Smithwick's Pale Ale using the mugs Andrew got us while in Europe.
I wanted to include some words of wisdom, but the head to page translater isn't working this morning.

Budge wants YOU!

Scribbled on the back of this photo in Dan's handwriting is " I pity the fool who took a picture of me. Budge wants you for the U.S. Army."

Budge's 1986 Picture

I had a really neat picture of Budge to put here, taken in 1986, but his views have changed so much I don't think he'd want me to post it. He even gave the picture a title with a subtitle. Dan -- you want to take a chance and have me post it?

And Matt's smile hasn't changed much either!

Knight

I'm guessing that the carving on the mantle is not really randomly placed but was put there by an all knowing and seeing God. Dad carved the knight many years ago. Andrew's smile today looks much the same as it did in the third grade (1986).

Snow Snow Snow

Snow.... snow .... snow!
3 Big storms in little more than a week. Soon Pepper will be home free!

The Grand Finale

There really are no words that I could use to describe the feeling one has when one walks into this scene. I think Julie could do it justice, but I can't.

What goes "POP" in the oven?

Question: What goes "POP" in the oven?

Answer: Eggplant Pate

Joan was interested in trying a new recipie for this delicacy. She really did punch several holes in it before placing it in the oven...

Saturday we decided to head up to the Maine Botanical Gardens in BoothBay to see how things looked in October and to visit a few of the areas we had not been too on our last visit. We also wanted to see how much the fairy (imaginary kind) village had changed (more on that later). There were still lots of flowers in bloom.

When I took a picture of this carved out and polished in places rock, I didn't see the birch trees. It wasn't until I looked through the camera that I saw it. Kind of like looking at things through another's eyes...

Then I could not help but notice the reflection every time I looked.

And this is what it looks like from the other side!

This is what the tree looks like today.

This photo is not as spectactular as the one I posted in 2004, but it has in its own mood much to commend it.

Sebago Lake Basin

Joan and I love to drive around and look at the scenery this time of year. Today we went up to Sebago Lake Basin and read while we watched the sun set. The colors are not yet at their peak. It has been dry, so the rain of yesterday won't be enough to bring out the color that might otherwise be, but the glory still appears. Lynn - the sailboat is to continue the theme.

Pemaquid in August

Standing on the top of this fort and looking at the view, one can not help but think of the contrasts in situations people find themselves in. We are either fighting our battles , sailing or anchored safely in harbor.

Kayak Season

September and October seem to be the times when Joan and I get the most Kayaking in - as we realise the summer is almost over and we haven't been out on the water much.

We have been out a couple of times in September but haven't had the camera along. But we will be going out in October - and with the camera, as the color is well on its way.

The picture here was taken two weekends ago at our annual Church Retreat. We had a great time in the word looking at the book of Mark and would have gone out in one of these sailboats - had we not had to pickup the dog at the kennel. Next year we will probably bring Pepper along. She loves kayaking but has never been sailing...

Andrews Birthday celebrated from a distance

Dave Stewart and Joan eagerly decorating Andrew's cake.

For more photos go here.

Thanksgiving in Boise!

DSC00112, originally uploaded by Dana Perkins.

Click on the photo to see more!

Gid plays the robin

I needed to get this post up quickly so Lynn's mom would have something to look at. More Pictures to come!

Corn

Bought a new camera today -- The old one has served us well, but we needed something with more than 1.3 megapixels. Got a Canon PowerShot A540 - a few steps above what you have Dan, but basically the same (6 megapixels) This one will soon be off the market, so got a good price on it. More to come!

Pumpkin Buns

Last weekend we took a trip toward the Rangely Lakes. This picture is for Lynn.

Smithwicks Irish Ale

My ability to describe the taste of beers and to distinquish the nutty, fruity, metallic etc... nuances is non existent. I like a beer or not and it is because it taste good or not. Aftertaste can be bad or good. There can be no aftertaste and that is its own virture. I supposed all the nutty, fruity, metallic etc... qualities of the beer is what makes me like or dislike a particular beer, but to describe it -- that is not a natural or acquired ability for me.

So Smithwick's Irish Ale has a thumbs up vote from me just because I like it. Tuesday night Joan and I ventured down to the Peddler's Daughter Resturant in Haverall, MA to have dinner with Joan's sister Mary. When it came to choosing an ale, they were out of the one I wanted to try (it had a nice name), so Smithwick's was served up. I wasn't disappointed. Definitely good with very little aftertaste.

Looking on the web this morning I ran across a site where people rate beers. Much to my delight, I found my ability to distinquish taste has good company. Smithwick's, according to some has no metalic taste, but lots of metallic taste to others. It has a head, and it doesn' have a head. It is very hoppy, and then again it isn't. I've come to the conclusion this difference of opinion is because either there are people with as little ability as I or everyone's tastes buds function differently and make the taste a different experience.

Entering into the text...

I have been reading through the book of John. Yesterday I read "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him ." Joh 3:36.

You have to really carefully read this sentence to be sure you hear what it is saying. It does not say "those who believe in the Son have life and those that don't won't have eternal life. " It says those who believe will -- and those who don't obey won't. A very interesting way to say that belief involves entering into the drama God has prepared for us. It just so happens, that Eugene Peterson follows what I quoted yesterday with the following relevant comment about reading Scripture.

"We enter the world of the text, the world in which God is subject, in order to become participants in the text. We have our part to play in this text, a part that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. As we play our part we become part-icipants.

We are given this book so that we can imaginatively and believingly enter the world of the text and follow Jesus. John Calvin in his treatment of Holy Scripture is commonly cited in this regard "all right knowledge of God is born of obedience". There is hardly a Scripture exegete or translator of any standing in the Ch5ristian community who hasn't said the same thing.

If we have not entered this text as participants we aren't going to understand what is going on. This text cannot be understood by watching from the bleachers -- or even from expensive box seats. We are in on it."

-- Eugene Peterson in "Eat This Book" page 69

Reading Peterson's "Eat This Book"

It has been difficult to write as there is to much going around in my head, but I thought the following quote from Eugene Peterson's book "Eat This Book" (pg 46) was right on the mark for my current mindset. He is talking here about reading the Scriptures.

The vast and embracing world of revelation to which our spiritual­ity text gives witness is a narrative form that is badly served when we ei­ther atomize or privatize it. We obscure the form when we atomize Scrip­ture by dissecting it, analyzing it like a specimen in the laboratory. Every detail of Scripture is worth pursuing endlessly; no scholarly attention expended over this text is ever wasted. But when the impersonal objec­tivity of the laboratory technician replaces the adoring dalliance of a lover, we end up with file drawers full of information, organized for our convenience as occasions present themselves.

He goes on to say.

It ceases to function as revelation for us. Far too many contemporary spiritualities, as befits our technological age, are obsessed with technique. If the Christian Scrip­tures are treated as just another tool for enlightenment or access to the knowledge that is power, sacrilege has been committed. We also obscure the form when we privatize Scripture, using it for what we are wont to call "inspiration." Our Holy Scriptures, of course, are pervasively personal. We are personally commanded and blessed, rebuked and comforted, warned and guided. But personal is not the same as private. Privacy is possessive and isolating. The private is what is withdrawn from the com­mon good for individual control or use or enjoyment; it is stealing. When we privatize Scripture we embezzle the common currency of God's revelation. But Scripture is never that — the revelation draws us out of ourselves, out of our fiercely guarded individualities, into the world of responsibility and community and salvation — God's sover­eignty. "Kingdom" is the primary biblical metaphor for it.