tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67721642024-03-08T03:09:49.147-05:00Pondering realityLife - the good, bad, and reason behind it all...Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-44345945378132396022012-12-20T17:44:00.001-05:002012-12-20T17:44:10.304-05:00My first attempt at challah bread<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/d771cfc3-79a6-4fb8-b809-a135adbb17b8_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-20581906164493399602012-12-13T13:50:00.001-05:002012-12-13T13:50:10.417-05:00Homemade turkey veggie soup & dinner rolls from scratch<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/f5026c46-2067-4b2d-8f43-69f0aae992de_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-57615319156121076572012-07-18T10:50:00.001-04:002012-07-18T10:50:06.666-04:00Fajita night<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/d6856b9d-dacc-458e-b6d5-7fcca28ff1dd_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-34717723866791374622012-06-22T12:57:00.001-04:002012-06-22T12:57:35.033-04:00Summertime ahhh<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/21fa2dbe-ff31-49b6-9c5f-c2c580a02027_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-19628377760968965522012-05-15T17:26:00.001-04:002012-05-15T17:26:10.395-04:00Baby geese<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/2060a7b8-c857-401a-88a8-5294bb723c54_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-17197543975744276982012-04-29T15:23:00.001-04:002012-04-29T15:23:02.498-04:00Kitty napping in window<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/004cdaa5-5e6a-4c76-a4d1-730390b7fc19_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-50557634366288912412012-04-20T18:19:00.001-04:002012-04-20T18:19:38.710-04:00Evening sunlight<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/4bc026b0-ecd5-424d-989c-4ce4467b4aad_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Rows of flowers</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/a38502fb-1b10-465b-a9e9-e120ce16bc81_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Pink petals</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/8dc9d44c-f688-4049-8905-f99cb35f27f7_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">African violets</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/0344a865-8144-4c1c-966b-ccdc734482cc_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Yellow and peachy</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/dd8941f8-c9da-4da4-a01a-6596a163e5a8_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Basil</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/f72b43d9-53d9-42e0-ba9d-eddceb4790e2_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Pink cones</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/6d43cac1-780b-4450-932f-9d9ee30e3668_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-41567085679268773482012-04-07T14:18:00.001-04:002012-04-07T14:18:27.113-04:00Well water for my herbs<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/d64a4c05-dc3a-489a-95a3-98af8a1a52e0_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-18828292038095236562012-03-29T19:55:00.001-04:002012-03-29T19:55:40.796-04:00The cows are staring at me<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/ee2cb85c-7cf6-4376-a2aa-4e1f9987b83b_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Moriah eating supper</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/6989ac9d-d3c3-4638-87dc-d9cb8d0162e6_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Luke and Tilly</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/8cf32864-3b3c-49f9-9eda-e9c9d58f855b_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-2077200234016316182012-03-28T07:15:00.001-04:002012-03-28T07:15:12.850-04:00Good morning<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/26b4d809-28fd-4b2c-9ccc-ad5f022834a8_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-388888897121713462012-02-11T14:12:00.001-05:002012-02-11T14:12:50.541-05:00Snowy stream<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/d9731444-b37e-4a63-8b6d-e798cf3e8926_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-59215398178097992482012-02-05T11:13:00.001-05:002012-02-05T11:13:35.009-05:00CTWhale win over Hershey Bears<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/adf4f668-3e24-46ba-8f3b-6dc601dd7209_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-81080838718854717022011-08-21T11:32:00.001-04:002011-08-21T11:32:33.593-04:00Life of Luke the Dog<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/b10aeb64-a7c1-4ed5-900a-1850463ba5e2_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-70089899331130596122011-08-21T11:24:00.001-04:002011-08-21T11:24:19.390-04:00Life of Luke the Dog<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/b10aeb64-a7c1-4ed5-900a-1850463ba5e2_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-61246396185360863502011-07-29T12:59:00.001-04:002011-07-29T12:59:31.833-04:00Blog in review - July 2011<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/550202f6-6aee-4066-8dec-4ab450f1e0a7_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /><p>http://courtneyengle.com</p></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-72154878484083239712011-03-31T13:32:00.001-04:002011-03-31T13:32:54.498-04:00Hot chocolate<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/07d5333e-66aa-479e-ae65-c36c5b4c469c_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-38811827121315074692011-03-23T13:07:00.001-04:002011-03-23T13:07:49.312-04:0025c pennies<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/e46d7de4-b351-4d27-9370-c07a7a0c0b8c_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div><div class="pp_item" align="center"><h4 class="pp_title">Glowing froggy</h4><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/d359ffe3-fc92-4e25-85be-4943f808e8d1_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-60085537671044512652011-03-20T14:52:00.001-04:002011-03-20T14:52:50.559-04:00Spring!<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/01201203-a3ca-4c5e-acb2-0d9f8975cafe_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-56649052701908949032011-03-01T21:39:00.001-05:002011-03-01T21:39:27.814-05:00Apple curry chicken<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/dd689d19-ee6d-4911-8b38-ce7cdc10ca16_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-34185261315230553142011-02-21T09:43:00.000-05:002011-02-21T10:22:28.121-05:00Spiritual Disciplines - Chapter 3The human body was made to be the vehicle of human personality ruling the earth for God and through his power. Withdrawn from that function by loss of its connection with God, the body is caught in the inevitable state of corruption in which we find it now. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Screen Door by Rich Mullins:</strong></span><br /><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Screendoor/lrX0Y?src=5">http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Screendoor/lrX0Y?src=5</a><br /><br />It's about as useless as <br />A screen door on a submarine <br />Faith without works baby <br />It just ain't happenin' <br />One is your left hand <br />One is your right <br />It'll take two strong arms <br />To hold on tight <br />Some folks cut off their nose <br />Just to spite their face <br />I think you need some works to show <br />For your alleged faith<br /><br />Well there's a difference you know <br />B'tween having faith and playing make believe <br />One will make you grow <br />The other one just make you sleep <br />Talk about it <br />But I really think you oughtta <br />Take a leap off of the ship <br />Before you claim to walk on water <br />Faith without works is like a song you can't sing <br />It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine<br /><br />Faith comes from God <br />And every word that He breathes <br />He lets you take it to your heart <br />So you can give it hands and feet <br />It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive <br />You gotta put it into practice <br />Otherwise....<br /><br />It's about as useless as a screen door <br />On a submarine <br />Faith without works, baby <br />It just ain't happenin' <br />One is your right hand, one is your left <br />It's your light, your guide <br />Your life and your breath<br /><br />Faith without works is like a song you can't sing <br />It's about as useless as a screen door <br />On a submarine<br />Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-25792649667062288162011-02-14T18:34:00.001-05:002011-02-14T18:34:43.039-05:00Rainbow Roll at Aki Sushi Bar<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/e4b9953b-2736-44f0-bcc3-149f7a90918c_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-74396163276435026892011-01-30T10:09:00.000-05:002011-02-03T11:45:32.542-05:00Spiritual Disciplines: Chapter 3, Salvation is LifeWe’ve relegated God’s life in us to special times and places and states of mind. And we’ve become so used to this style of life, we are hardly aware of it. When we think of “taking Christ into the workplace” or “keeping Christ in the home,” we are making our faith into a set of <em>special </em>acts. The “specialness” of such acts just underscores the point—that being a Christian, being Christ’s, isn’t thought of as a normal part of life. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br />        Is Christ a part of my everyday life? Do I consider Him in every aspect of life? <br /><br />What does it mean to be “saved?” What do people understand when they hear “salvation,” “redemption,” and other New Testament terms used to refer to God’s action in restoring women and men to their intended place in his world? Is it possible that we’ve been robbed of the words’ true and coherent concepts? ~Dallas Willard<br />        <br />        Salvation is not a one time experience alone. It is an ongoing aspect of life. Salvation isn’t just about beginning a relationship with Christ, but learning from his entire life experience and aligning our lives with His. <br /><br />For some strange reason, though, we find it easy to put our minds away when it comes to religion, when it comes to bringing the same type of care to our faith as we would to other subjects. But, in reality, we need to be even <em>more </em>careful with our religious teachers and theologians. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br />One specific errant concept has done inestimable harm to the church and God’s purposes with us—and that is the concept that has restricted the Christian idea of salvation to <em>mere forgiveness of sins</em>. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br />The cross act was first narrowly interpreted as mere vicarious suffering and then mistaken for the whole of the redemptive action of God. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br />        What else has Christ called us to in our relationship with Him?<br /><br />We’ll never be able to make clear just exactly what it <em>is </em>that our lives have to do with our “salvation.” Futile efforts of believers through the centuries somehow to tack obedience—or “works” or “law”—onto grace, or to insist that Christ cannot be our Savior without also being our Lord, are a historical<br />proof of this point. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br /><br /><br />Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-86183563615371645942011-01-29T16:11:00.001-05:002011-01-29T16:11:00.965-05:00Settlers of Catan and kettle popcorn<div class="pp_items"><div class="pp_item" align="center"><img src="http://static.pixelpipe.com/2d218310-39aa-441e-8d46-c33e6385abff_b.jpg" style="max-width: 100%;" /></div></div>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-40518436959794266112011-01-25T10:49:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:19:05.983-05:00Spirit of the Disciplines: Chapter 2But an important problem remains. Our tangible need and hunger for the spiritual disciplines do not by themselves make clear <em>why </em>we need them and <em>how </em>they fit into God’s creative and redemptive action upon and within human life....what resulted was a general failure to understand or accept the wonderful, positive functions of those disciplines as part of the course of the human personality’s full redemption. ~Dallas Willard<br /><br />Challenge in the months ahead: make the disciplines a part of my life, embraced to the fullest potential - but not from a works based approach. I<br /><br /><a href="http://amzn.to/f3Gsw9">Willard, Dallas. "The Secret of the Easy Yoke." The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991. Print.</a>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772164.post-15365850763857668502011-01-24T09:27:00.000-05:002011-01-24T10:17:19.224-05:00Spirit of the Disciplines: Making Theology of the“Have we done what is necessary to bring the earnest convert into his or her possessions as a child of God, as a brother or sister of Jesus Christ in the new life?” Dallas Willard<br /><br />“Are we considering what it means for the individual believer to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” as 2 Peter 3:18 expresses it?” Dallas Willard<br /><br />What is the right approach to making disciples from a spirit-led perspective? In teaching methods, we cannot present a formula to grow in the knowledge but crowd His Spirit out of our time pursuing Him. In doing so, we approach the personal participation of discipleship from a works-based system. Our reluctance to the spiritual disciplines has allowed room for being led more of His Spirit, but has also left many believers at a place of infancy. Merely finding a balanced approach is not our answer. Inviting Him to plot our participation in the disciplines and this life of discipleship is of utmost importance. <br /><br /><a href="http://amzn.to/f3Gsw9">Willard, Dallas. "The Secret of the Easy Yoke." The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991. Print.</a>Courtney Engle Robertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174042060543876511noreply@blogger.com0