"I Have a Dream Today..."

"...that my children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."


A few reflections on what my children are learning about a very important person in our history. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When I asked them, who Dr. King was this is what they told me:

Kaylynn came home from school and announced, "Today in school we learned about this king who had a dream. There were people with light skin and people with dark skin. They didn't get to do the same things and that's not fair!"

Ethan said, "[that Dr. King] you know how black people used to have to do all the work and whites got all the free stuff, so he freed the blacks and now they don't have to work anymore!"

Hmmmmmm....looks like we have some 'splainin' to do!

How would I answer the question, who is Dr. King? I believe he was a man that God used in the movement against injustice and oppression. I love that God used a man of the pulpit to deliver some of the greatest messages about injustice in our time. For it is God's word that holds the answers and the direction about oppression and injustice and how we are to judge one another....John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." as King put it "according to the content of our character." Our character is manifested in how we demonstrate our love for one another! Lots of scripture on how we are to love one another...and our love is enabled by God's work of righteousness in us.

This is from Colossians 3:1-17.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is youra life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.b 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

...and of course the instruction in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. God's holiness is the standard for our character, "You shall be holy as I am holy." 1Peter 1:16 and God's word gives us rules for such holy living. I believe that this is what Dr. King meant about "our character."

There's a lot of work to do in my life, that's for sure. Help me, LORD, to be an instrument of YOUR peace, of YOUR love, of YOUR righteousness.

A Year in Review....February

February brings lots of celebrations to our family! I think in total, I know 15 people who celebrate their birthdays this month...and it's the shortest month of the year. This past February Kaylynn turned 5. She was so excited to be "of school age" and while it meant lots of shots to register for kindergarten, it also meant that she got a new backpack, learned how to tie her shoes and already had about 3 months under her belt riding a two-wheeler, thus the need for a "big girl bike-this year's Bday present!

Our little monkey!

Kaylynn is a vibrant young girl! While a little shy at school, she definitely lets her hair down at home. When she's not busy fighting with her brother, she enjoys puzzles, singing, climbing trees, riding her bike, drawing, scooting (is that the right word?) and making us meals in her kitchen. She loves Jesus and has much passion about Him! I love having a girl...never thought I would be a good mom for a girl, but God knew what I needed! :0)


We celebrated Kaylynn's 5th with a garden party!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

A Year in Review...

I guess this could take the place of the CHRISTmas letter....but I will attempt to highlight something from each month of Last year. Should also make up for lost blogging tim, right?

January 2009
Christmas always comes and goes so quickly. You know it's the start of a New Year, when American Idol starts again, and Larry and I coach Ethan's team in Upwards Basketball. We are known as "The Munoz Dynasty." How so, when we don't keep score? ANyway, keeps my blood pressure up!

This last year it started off with Ethan losing yet another tooth. (Wish I would have blogged them all, for I don't scrapbook (yet!). But here's a taste of his toothless journey....

Ethan begs the tooth fairy to leave his tooth and some cold hard cash!


..and then falls asleep, waiting....



Here is how he or she responded! The TF didn't know a recession was in the works!

UPWARDS Basketball begins!!!


Last year Kaylynn she was our Team Manager. This year she will be cheering brother on from the sidelines as an Upward Cheerleader. She is so excited. Dad keeps trying to recruit her to the BBall team, but she wants to be a CHEERLEADER!!!




Ethan shootin' for 2! I think this might be his sport. We have A LOT of time to figure that out, though!

On to February...

Brand New Year!

...and hopefully some brand new habits, replacing bad ones with good ones! I am not one for New Year's Resolutions, because I don't like disappointment, but on Sunday, December 27, our pastor taught on the significance of the first day of the civil year, known more commonly to us as Rosh Hashana. While we as believers are not bound to Levitical law, the ceremonies and celebrations give us insight into our new covenant relationship. In Lev. 23:23-25 it says, "The Lord said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites;" On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest (Sabbath), a sacred assembly commemmorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the Lord by fire.'" This is a time to reflect on God's goodness and mercy. The shofar horn was blown on New Year's to: assemble God's people, to "perk up our ears" spiritually, to call to repentance and to remind us of God's forgiveness and mercy. This was also a time for repenting. In Romans 2:4, we read "and do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness? Do you think lightly of His forbearance and patience not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" God set apart the first part of the year as a time for His people to repent. God's goodness draws us to repentance...and a desire to live our lives differently.

And so at the end of Pastor Jim's message, he asked those who want to commit their lives anew to Christ, who want a brand new start, to come forward and pray....and so I did-(not usually one to do that either). I want this year to be different, and while I am not one for resoultions, this year I am resolving simply to "Na as vaneesma" to "listen and obey." I want to look back at the end of this year and when the shofar blows again to bring another year, it will be a time for rejoicing. My daily goal will be to simply, LISTEN and OBEY. So if you pray for me this year, please pray that I will hear God's voice clearly, LISTEN to Him and OBEY!"

Here's the poem/prayer that Pastor Jim ended with. It is my prayer, too!

Dear Master, for this coming year,
Just one request I bring.
I do not pray for happiness,
Or any earthly thing.

I do not ask to understand,
The way Thou leadest me,
But this I ask, Teach me to do,
The thing that pleaseth Thee.

I want to know Thy guiding voice,
To walk with Thee each day.
Dear Master, make me swift to hear,
And ready to obey.

And thus the year I now begin
A happy year will be,
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.

Lashing Tova--Ketivah ci-chatima Tova!= May you be inscribed and selaed for a good year!

La Shanah Tovah Tekaten! = May You Have a Good Year!

(You can hear Pastor Jim's message by downloading it from campusbiblechurch.com, click on the podcast for Dec. 27, 2009)