Lessons Learned This Week

It has been a great week here in Bangsund-Land.  I'll begin with last Saturday morning.  Luke came out of his room at 6:20 am with a complaint about being unable to locate something, and I knew it was time.    The room had been spiraling out of control since his 6th birthday party.  Yes, that was in late August.  I decided that with Paul asleep and Erik at BSF leadership, it was a perfect opportunity to shovel it out.  I wish I had taken a before picture.  It took us three hours.  We did pause briefly for breakfast.  Here's a picture of the results.  I was thrilled and so was Luke.  I'm even happier to say that nearly a week later, it basically looks the same.  Okay, the books aren't quite as neatly shelved.

After the room-gutting, Daddy arrived home and we all headed over to the Children's Museum to enjoy opening day of the new exhibit:  Lego Castle Adventure.  Did they crawl inside my six-year-old's brain to create this exhibit?  I'm fairly certain they did.  Legos and Castles are Luke's favorite things ever.  I'm fairly certain that he and I will be returning to enjoy this business more than once.  While we were there, Luke was actually a little overwhelmed by it all.  I think he will enjoy it more when it's a little less crowded and he can take his time to contemplate things.  Regardless, he had a pretty amazing time and here are some pics to prove it.

This knight is made of lego.  Even I know that's cool.

Luke takes a closer look.

Both boys check out the trebuchet made of lego.

In school this week we also had a number of super fun things.  Our science experiments this week continued to focus on magnets, highlighting the difference in the poles and how they attract and repel.  Luke's favorite item was a car we modified.  I made a video because it was so fun to see him enjoying our creation.  I've not watched it since I made it, but I think he even explains the science, in his very six-year-old boy way.

Here's the close-up shot of the poles.

Wednesday our family did something special in response to a moment I had with the Holy Spirit that morning.  For BSF this week, we are reading Acts 8 and 9, in which the early church is persecuted and scattered almost single-handedly by Saul.  Acts 4:4 amazed me as I read it. "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."

The passage goes on to describe Philip's time in Samaria proclaiming the Christ.  Our lesson had us look back to 2 Kings 17:6-41 as a reminder of how the Jewish culture of first century Jerusalem felt toward the Samaritans.  I'll sum it up with John 4:9 - "Jews do not associate with Samaritans."  They did NOT like these folks.  Samaritan religious practices were detestable to Jews and they would travel MILES out of their way to avoid Samaria.

Now Philip is there filled with the Holy Spirit, and nothing can keep him from sharing the amazing awesomeness that is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh come to pay the penalty for humanity's sins so that all who accept the gift can live transformed, eternal, abundant lives.  Sharing the Gospel with the Samaritans was a completely new venture and outlook for the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem.  Here comes the question that stopped me in my tracks.

"What new actions should you take toward people who might occupy a similar place in your culture?"  Isn't that a good question?  I needed to stop and think about who I try to avoid and then it hit me.  I am often guilty of attempting to avoid the homeless.  I really felt like the Lord wanted me to find a healthy way to engage this population rather than avoid and ignore them.  Here comes the Holy Spirit inspired part.

It was Wednesday morning, meaning that Paul would be headed to BSF with my mom and Luke and I would have special time together.  After we finished the academics for the morning, we headed over to the dollar store to build some goodie bags for  the homeless.  Luke helped me pick out toothbrushes, deodorant, lip balm, and shaving supplies.  Then we headed to Fred Meyer to purchase good socks.  After dinner that night, we all sat down to put the bags together.  The boys loved it.  We included meal invitations for the Portland Rescue Mission that anyone can print here.  We are so excited to have this opportunity to help hurting people in our community.  And I am so thankful to God for His Word and for BSF that helps me apply it to my life.

Our bags for the homeless.  We keep them in our cars and give them out when we encounter someone in need.

This picture was just too cute.  It's the fort they built after we cleaned Luke's room.  Paul is holding up a floor plan.  That's something Daddy printed and told them all about just recently.  Paul says this is Lucy's house.  From Narnia.  :-)