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1 - 26 of 29 total archives for:
NOTES FROM TOAD HALL |
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#2 - Spring 2010
Publication Date: 05/01/2010
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Still Winter)
Publication Date: 01/01/2009
Never Too Late
Margie, I've adopted the "Shirkers & Slackers" program recently after failing yet again at another more sequential organized plan. I don't need the burden of such at this time in my life--been there, done that. Blessings, Doug.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday)
Publication Date: 12/01/2008
Slowly Slipping Southward
You may not have noticed this in the news since it came out the week before the elections, and we were all very preoccupied and weary of the media, but it's kind of fascinating. Science News (Oct. 25, 2008, Vol. 174) reported that astrophysicists looking at data gathered by a NASA probe have observed a kind of slope in space where something like 700 galaxy clusters--involving hundreds of thousands of galaxies about one billion light years from earth--are slipping southward (which way is "south" in space?) at a speed of 1000 kilometers per second.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Fall)
Publication Date: 09/01/2008
Shreds of Life
Our three-year-old granddaughter, Paige, has a habit that got me thinking--it's pretty common among kids--she sucks the index finger of her left hand while grasping the satiny edge of her baby blanket between the thumb and
remaining fingers. Her right hand clutches another part of the ribbon edge in the exact place where she knows there is a hole in the binding and can slip her other thumb in and out.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#2 (Summer)
Publication Date: 07/01/2008
The Working Difference
Martha and Mary. Classic working women from the Bible. Single, too. For years whenever I've heard someone (mostly men, sorry) teach about them - Mary is such the darling. Martha is so-ooo flawed. WHO wouldn't know sitting at Jesus' feet is best, huh? Isn't it obvious Martha should've been sitting there listening, too, where we ALL should be?
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Still Winter)
Publication Date: 01/01/2008
Stranger To Me
I don't think I've met you. My name is Margie. I said this as I held out my hand, warm and friendly, to a young woman standing in the foyer after church.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday)
Publication Date: 11/07/2007
Matters of Perspective
When we were staying with friends Leslie and John near NYC in October it was, I think, our second day with them--a Saturday. They were outside working in their pleasant yard with its meadowy borders of butterfly bushes, roses, and boxwood. I was relishing a nap in the cozy guest bedroom; the window was open and sounds of dirt scratching and pots thumping floated up. I was content to hear someone else purposefully engaged until John's voice drifted in and I heard this snippet "Oh, by the way, Leslie, we have rats again, so don't.." I sat up fast and looked around. Rats? Where?
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Fall)
Publication Date: 10/07/2007
The Joy of Bees
A long time ago when our children were young and we lived in Albuquerque, Denis traveled a lot. The reason I mention he traveled a lot is becausewhen he was out of town there was some kind of cosmic balance that shifted and it did nothing to favor me. Thus trips to the ER, little fires in the kitchen, escaped animals, and most annoying, the times when our bees swarmed, happened when he was gone and I was left to deal. It was easy to imagine him in El Paso drinking Corona, eating chili rellenos someone else labored to make, and having lively conversations with students and staff about theology.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#2 (Summer)
Publication Date: 07/07/2007
To Be Where You Are
How often do we look at the circumstances and difficulties of life and think that because we can't fathom what God is doing, then he is doing nothing at all?
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Still Winter)
Publication Date: 02/02/2007
Pearl Blue
The need for renewal and re-creation runs through all of life from the little breakdowns of a two year old to the wearing out of old cars. The tiny regenerations and beauties of this life remind us of our true destiny - complete and total redemption: Paliggenesioa. (Greek)
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday)
Publication Date: 11/11/2006
Faster
There are consequences - essential human rituals are lost as the speed of life accelerates.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Still Winter)
Publication Date: 02/02/2006
Psalms in the Dark
There's nothing wrong with solving Sudoku puzzles. It's mostly that I can't. Similarly, I push and strain to solve the messes of life only to find that God didn't ask me for the answers after all.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday Issue)
Publication Date: 11/01/2005
Offhanded Joy
After we've eaten and drunk all the irony, hurricanes, and stupid choices we can stomach, the joy of knowing Jesus is still the best remedy for life in this world.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Summer)
Publication Date: 07/07/2005
What The Bleep Do We Know?
Without the slightest knowledge of quantum mechanics and molecular biology this movie was just weird enough to make me want to attend a neo-pagan discussion. It was a challenge to listen and speak of honestly of faith while getting get shot out of my comfortable Christian bubble.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Still Winter)
Publication Date: 01/01/2005
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday Issue)
Publication Date: 11/11/2004
The Annual American Christmas Letter
What if Jacob wrote a Christmas letter to his relations and friends back in Ur? How would he spin his "Everything is Fabulous with my Agri-business Career, Beautiful Wives, Talented Children, and Generous in-laws" report?
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Fall)
Publication Date: 08/08/2004
Out of Blind Spots
God moves out of our blind spots, sometimes with stealth, sometimes with the cracking of fenders and breaking of mirrors. He's always closer than I think.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Summer)
Publication Date: 07/07/2004
Unintended Fallouts
What I need to grasp is this: dryness is going to happen no matter where, who, or how old I am as a Christian.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Spring)
Publication Date: 03/03/2004
Eating the Easter Bunny
I may be in touch with what it costs an animal for me to live, but I can callously ignore what it cost Jesus to forgive me.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday Issue)
Publication Date: 11/01/2003
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Near Fall)
Publication Date: 09/01/2003
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#2 (Summer)
Publication Date: 07/07/2003
Prematurely Arrogant
I would have missed the more important things in life if I hadn't been slapped down occasionally. The sanctification of Christ is both painful and compassionate.
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#1 (Still Winter)
Publication Date: 01/01/2003
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#4 (Holiday Issue)
Publication Date: 12/01/2002
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NOTES FROM TOAD HALL
#3 (Nearly Fall)
Publication Date: 09/01/2002
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On my desk is a little vase of flowers cut from our yard, a little reminder of the beauty that is all around if we only have eyes to see. I've needed that reminder after reading the latest news of the horrific oil spill in the Gulf. Such glory in this world, such brokenness. Such hope, such deep need for redemption. These are the realities of life and death we seek to explore on this web site. Thank you for visiting.
Denis & Margie
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