January 22, 2010 by Gregory

“We strive to be unified, but this is the wrong pursuit. We look for things we share in common. We try to tolerate differences under the banner of unity. When we try to be united, we are just made more aware of our differences. But when we pursue humility – true humility – unity is the natural by-product. We cannot get to unity by the chasing after it. The door that leads to unity is humility.” – Organic Leadership p. 190
We only experience lasting unity as it flows out of the times we think less of ourselves and seek to care for others first… see Philippians 2.
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January 10, 2010 by Bryce
It’s winter and it’s dark. This is by far the hardest time of year for me. When it gets dark things become more intense. The loneliness seems more potent. My work becomes less fulfilling. The sun barely rises behind the heavy shroud of clouds. Even our chickens are laying
tiny depressing eggs. Up until a couple days ago, I was working at Costco, and got up at 3am. Nothing is as dark and as lonely as a cold house at 3am. And nothing is as unfulfilling as stacking vacuum cleaners on top of each other at Costco.
But I was walking with Jordan outside in the sun today. It is astounding how the utter darkness of winter flees in the face of some natural sunlight and a listening ear. How fast the problems of the night that seemed so real and debilitating become meaningless. Jordan mentioned that one of the powerful things about living in the Northwest is that although the winter is long and dark and cold, it makes the spring so much better. It’s really true: the contrast of a crisp sunlit spring morning redeems all.
Light is such a powerful symbol. I listened to the Sussex Carol this morning, which proclaims, “From out of darkness, we have light…”.
Or think of the most poetic words in the whole Bible,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overpower it.” – John 1:1-5
My college president used to talk about how much he used to like Rembrandt paintings. Have you ever seen one? They’re usually really dark and shadowy around the edges, with a brilliant light focusing on what is important in the painting. It is the darkness the shows the truth of the light.
As I finish this, the sun has passed behind the clouds, and the clouds grow darker and darker. I know that soon I will be surrounded by the cold darkness again. I don’t like the idea, but maybe, like the painting, I need the darkness to show me the power of the day. We need the darkness of the Winter to show us the power of the Spring. We need the darkness of the crucifixion to show us the power of the resurrection.
Please remember: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overpower it.

See the light and dark? Cool, huh?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged chickens, snow, winter | 2 Comments »
January 7, 2010 by candice
Have you heard the news?

All 5 of the Canby House Chickens are a-layin’!
One of them plops out brown eggs!
One of them plops out GIANT eggs!
And one of them plopped out Tiny-Egg!
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Welp, Tiny-Egg. It’s Time for your consumption…

But FIRST! We must consult the rules!

Tiny-Egg was tough to crack.

Tiny-Egg was home to the teeniest yolk you’ve ever SEEN!


Happiness is frying Tiny-Egg

Fried eggs make me nauseous.
Especially one of such Great Tiny-ness.
So I made Jonathan eat it.

There was much feather-pointing in the coop the day of the Laying of Tiny-Egg.
Here is one suspect:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged chickens, food | 2 Comments »