I had a voice mail on my answering machine this week. The voice was very masculine, deep, and assured.
On the machine, the voice said "Mrs. Tolentino? This is Alex. Remember me? I used to take piano lessons from you up until I was in eighth grade. I am wondering if you have time in your schedule to give me some lessons before I go off to the University of Washington in September. Please call me."
My heart leaped (lept?) - this little boy is now a man, and just graduated from high school and wants to freshen up on the piano before he pledges to a fraternity, where they have a grand piano.
Now, isn't that the cutest thing ever?
I love it...really. Huge smile. Seriously. It is things like this that keep me going.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Ears, Thumbs, and Toes
Today's sermon was so good! We are going through Leviticus, and today was 8:1-36. God commended that blood (substitutionary) be sprinkled on the priests right ear, right thumb and right toe.
The ear is made holy by the sprinkling of the substitutionary blood of the animals, a mere shadow of Christ who was to come. We are all now priests of God, called to listen to His Word and obey Him. Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." This sprinkling of blood on the right ear is significant to the very life-giving gospel. Without hearing, there is no power. But know that hearing without doing is death. James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
The right thumb indicates dominance in what we do with our hands - how we live our lives and what we put our efforts into. Sprinkling blood on the priests right thumb consecrates everything the priest does with his Hands, serving God with his hands. We are now that priest of God - and we are anointed with the Spirit in the same way the priests were - Jesus has fulfilled the sacrifices with His own blood.
The right side indicates a side of prominence - of strength. Thus, sprinkling blood on the right toe would indicate that the priest will walk in the ways of God. We walk in faith, sometimes (most times) not seeing what lies ahead.
The fascinating thing about this text is that God began at the top and worked down to the bottom. First we hear the gospel, we work with our hands (do His will) and walk in faith. Each of us has heard the gospel - we are each responsible to embrace or reject that truth. If we embrace it, our entire dominant side is ruled by God's purpose in our lives.We live for Him, to Him, and with Him.
Are you on the RIGHT side?
The ear is made holy by the sprinkling of the substitutionary blood of the animals, a mere shadow of Christ who was to come. We are all now priests of God, called to listen to His Word and obey Him. Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." This sprinkling of blood on the right ear is significant to the very life-giving gospel. Without hearing, there is no power. But know that hearing without doing is death. James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
The right thumb indicates dominance in what we do with our hands - how we live our lives and what we put our efforts into. Sprinkling blood on the priests right thumb consecrates everything the priest does with his Hands, serving God with his hands. We are now that priest of God - and we are anointed with the Spirit in the same way the priests were - Jesus has fulfilled the sacrifices with His own blood.
The right side indicates a side of prominence - of strength. Thus, sprinkling blood on the right toe would indicate that the priest will walk in the ways of God. We walk in faith, sometimes (most times) not seeing what lies ahead.
The fascinating thing about this text is that God began at the top and worked down to the bottom. First we hear the gospel, we work with our hands (do His will) and walk in faith. Each of us has heard the gospel - we are each responsible to embrace or reject that truth. If we embrace it, our entire dominant side is ruled by God's purpose in our lives.We live for Him, to Him, and with Him.
Are you on the RIGHT side?
Sunday, August 8, 2010
More Alaska
Susie came up with a great name for Alaska "Washington on Steroids"
A quick stop at Worthington Glacier - I love this picture because my leg looks like Julianne's - or should I say HER leg looks like mine...lol
These mosquito nets really worked, but I had a hard time seeing out of it 
Wanting so badly to see a bear, we frequented this little spot where the bears seemed to go to - FINALLY we saw it:
A whole day of river fishing yielded us one King Salmon, and a Red that Earl caught
This picture of Julz and Auntie Susie was in a barbecue screen house, and Julianne's new bear was fondly named Valdez -
Our last night there we were saying our top 5 favorite things - and surprisingly, some of our funniest moments hit the top list - we had so much fun playing dress up in the hardware store in Seward...
A quick stop at Worthington Glacier - I love this picture because my leg looks like Julianne's - or should I say HER leg looks like mine...lol
These mosquito nets really worked, but I had a hard time seeing out of it 
Wanting so badly to see a bear, we frequented this little spot where the bears seemed to go to - FINALLY we saw it:
A whole day of river fishing yielded us one King Salmon, and a Red that Earl caught
This picture of Julz and Auntie Susie was in a barbecue screen house, and Julianne's new bear was fondly named Valdez -
Our last night there we were saying our top 5 favorite things - and surprisingly, some of our funniest moments hit the top list - we had so much fun playing dress up in the hardware store in Seward...
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