Cricket, The Wonder Dog

March 13, 1995 - June 18, 2009
You were my favorite dog.

A mí me gusta español

For a translation in English, see below.
En enero, empecé estudiar español. Aprendiendo español me da una vista más grande de Dios.
El Dios yo sirvio es el Dios del mundo todo. Entiende cada idioma nosotros hablamos en esta tierra. Aunque leo las palabras de él en inglés, Jesús no habló inglés cuando vivó en la tierra. Pero ahora, él comprende cuando hablo en inglés. Comprende cuando hablo español también.
A veces, me gusta rezar en español. Generalmente, digo solamente, «Gracias para mi familia o esta comida.» Todavía, pienso lo a él le gusta.
---
Para una traducción en español, vea arriba.
In January, I began to study Spanish. Learning Spanish is giving me a bigger view of God.
The God I serve is the God of the whole world. He understands every language we speak on this earth. Although I read His words in English, Jesus did not speak English when He lived on earth. But now, He understands when I speak English. He understands when I speak Spanish as well.
Sometimes, I like to pray in Spanish. Generally, I only say, "Thank You for my family or this food." Still, I think it is pleasing to Him.

Read These

Please Note: This list is not complete, nor does it pretend to be. As they are discovered, more books will be added.

» Paradise Lost by John Milton

This book stretched my reading abilities like none before it. Written by a blind man in the 17th century, this 10, 560 line epic poem recounts the first several chapters of Genesis.

» To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Prior to reading this book, I did not understand that some people hate others based merely on the colour of their skin. It opened my eyes to the realities and horrors of racism. Harper Lee writes with a compelling Southern style.

» Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

One of the most moving books I have ever read, this book also touches on the subject of racism. For a short review, read my post entitled Comfort in Desolation.

» The Complete Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton's prose is like poetry to me. His manner of writing is simply excellent. The Father Brown mysteries are intriguing and delightful. The plain little priest with the brilliant detecting mind is a protagonist in short stories worth reading.

» Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Each of Randy Alcorn's works renews in me a longing for Heaven and eternity with the Person for whom I was created. Biblically answering questions I had never even thought of, this book made Heaven and the New Earth more of a reality for me.

» The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is known for his fast paced thrillers. I enjoyed a number of his earlier works, but stopped reading his novels because they got too graphic and gross. This non-fiction, however, encourages Christians to become excited about eternity with Jesus Christ. As the subtitle states, it "Awaken[s] a Passion for Heaven on Earth."

P.S. There are two books that every so often, I accidentally read again. When I see either Follow My Leader (by James Garfield) or Year of the Black Pony (by Walt Morey) sitting on the shelf as I contemplate my next read, I pick the book up with great danger to myself. I may start out simply flipping though the pages, recalling fond memories of reading them throughout my youth. Soon I am engrossed. Whereas most of the books listed on this page are intended for a bit more advanced reader, these two are children's books. I have probably read each one four or five times.

Crashing of Thunder

I just heard a severe weather warning for the first time in my remembrance. Grey clouds fill the sky overhead. The pines around my house sway in the strong winds. There is no rain yet, but the air is filled with swirling dust. Dead leaves left among the boughs blow across the deck.

It’s just after 5 o’clock on a June afternoon, and it’s already growing dark. When the lights in my bedroom blink, I tell my sister to turn off our desktop computers. A few heavy drops of rain begin to fall. This morning when we had a short shower, the songbirds rejoiced in the trees. No birds sing now.

I hear the first thunder growling from the south. The rain is uncertain; it pauses, then pours down for a couple minutes, coming and going. The thunder is growing closer. At last, the first flash of lightning illumines the sky. A moment later, thunder follows. Sirens wail not far away.

The rain now is what might be called a downpour. The cool shower cleanses the air, washing away the heat of the past several days. Its refreshing scent floods through my open window. Small rivers begin to form at the edges of the street. Another flash. One, one-thousand; two, one-thousand; three, one-thousand… I count to six before the thunder crashes. The booming lasts for nearly another six seconds.

I listen to more sirens, this time coming from the opposite direction. The distinct sound of a fire engine’s horn reminds me of the danger brought with this storm. I heard on the radio that a boy was struck with lightning last night.

A train whistle blows. It repeats itself again and again, gradually fading in the distance.
The sky lightens as coming nearly to a complete halt, the rain merely patters now. Several birds chirp, eager perhaps for the feast of worms that will surface.

---

Honestly, I fear yet delight in storms. Their power excites me. My favorite thing to do during thunderstorms is read the last few chapters of Job and the passages in the gospels where Jesus calms the storm. The elements may be mighty, but He is mightier still.

“He covers his hands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
Its crashing declares his presence…”
- Job 36:32-33