Simon & Buster

In July my family and I made the move from the Rio Grande Valley
to San Antonio.  Our boys quickly got involved in their new school and Christie and I are learning new routines.  We really like San Antonio.  But we are not the only ones making an adjustment.

Simon and Buster also got a new backyard.
Simon is adjusting to a regular lawn instead of 5 acres.   Simon was born to be a ranch dog, and a
wood-shop dog, and mooch.

He seems to like it ok but He's a lab.  They're happy almost anywhere as long as you're there with them.







Buster on the other hand is tasting freedom for the first time in a couple of years.  I know He is happy.  Buster has a hunters instinct.  He is wanted in South Texas for killing possums...He is really quite ferocious.  Can you see it in the beady eyes? San Antonio also came with a new prey.  Squirrels!  Squirrels are much faster than Possums.  Their tails are much more attractive too.  But they do seem to taunt Him with that constant fluffy swishing. He hasn't had any luck yet but I know it's only a matter of time. He and Simon need to work out an ambush strategy.   They can't agree on who the boss is.
Buster thinks He's the boss.......



but when He turn's his back Simon steals his food.



 Like I said, Simon's a mooch.

Why the Two Cent Sparrows?

Ok so I did it, I resolved something this year.   You know the whole "New Years Resolution Thing" I decided I wanted to write more. I don't know that what I have to say will be profound.  It may just be an excuse to post some new photos and get some things out of  this very strange head of mine. I thought I'd start with a simple explanation about the name The Two Cent Sparrows.   If you read the Gospel of  Luke, Chapter 12 Verses 6-7 it says: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.   Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not;  you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV) After reading those verses I could not shake the thought that these poor little birds are worth less than half a penny each.  Such an insignificant value, yet somehow God still regards them.    That made me think; our lives are so short in the relative span of eternity.   I personally believe that the Triune God is over all.   He has always  been, and He will always  be.   He is the central character in a story that is all about Him.  Our lives make such a brief appearance  in his story, yet He still regards us and loves us.  For some reason He created us to be a part of His story.  The sparrows were created to be sparrows and do whatever it is that sparrows do. You know fly around and look cute and build nests and have baby sparrows. The imagery of these little insignificant sparrows serves  as a humbling reminder  that we are loved, and called into His story,  not to be about ourselves but to be about Him.  We are to spend our time doing what we were created to do.  Not so we can be world famous sparrows; but so we can display the greatness and creativity of the one that exceeds all fame. I need this year to be different. I need to pause regularly and look at Him with one of those inquisitive looks that searches for what I'm supposed to be doing in His story.  I need to watch and listen more.  I need to respond to His majesty and creativity with bursts of spontaneous praise and wonder.   Just to be who He created me to be.  That's not necessarily to say that "I've gotta be me."  Rather, to say "I'm yours Lord." The Two Cent Sparrows also happens to be the name of my band.  We don't play as often as we'd like. It's my fault really.  I moved away from the Rio Grande Valley to the "big city" of San Antonio.  Hopefully we will have more opportunities to play more in 2011. If you would like to hear or buy our music or just want to check out who we are you can find all of that good stuff on our web site. www.twocentsparrows.com

I am looking forward to 2011.  I hope it's a good one for you as well.

Grace and Peace