Cleaning up a mess

We leave on Saturday to clean up this mess. There will be over 200 people staying and working through just the church that we'll be at. Pray for our attitude! Put 200 sinners under the same roof and I can guarantee selfishness will real its ugly head. Put 200 saints under the same roof serving God, and it will be a fantastic 5 days.

thought of the day

There are many second chances in life,
But no second chances at life.

(un?)interesting facts about me

Four Jobs I’ve Had in My Life:
*Hamstuffer and Knock-out personnel (I basically worked with raw meat at Oscar Mayer)
*Biology Lab T.A.
*Plastech line tech (I worked 3 weekends for them one summer to earn extra cash)
*Biology lab tech

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:
*The Life of Birds
*Glory
*U-571
*Band of Brothers

Four Places I Have Lived:
*DeForest, WI
*San Salvador airport (well, for 27 hours anyhow)
*Placentia, CA (NOT placenta) - it's near Anaheim and Disneyland
*various apartments around the U of M

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch:
*Seinfeld
*Simpson's - oddly I've never really watched many episodes, but I've loved everyone
*Winter or Summer Olympics - I'll watch any and every sport they show from skiing to rowing to figure skating
*World Series

Four Places I Have Been On Vacation:
*Disneyland (I've been at least 10 times - it helps that we used to live 1 mile away)
*Badlands and Yellowstone and Nampa, ID (car trip to a family reunion)
*Quepos and La Fortuna, Costa Rica (volcanos and rainforests and beaches)
*Fort Myers Beach, FL (for our 1 year anniversary)

Four Websites I Visit Daily:
*blogs (unless I take a fast due to too much distraction from work
*yahoo (I get calvin and hobbes delivered to my e-mail each day!)
*startribune.com
*wells fargo (a couple time a week)

Four Favorite Foods:
*chocolate chip cookies (I'm a snob, my favorite is the ones I make)
*ice cream, especially homemade! (same as Maren)
*really good bread (crusty exterior, chewy interior; same as Maren)
*Nestle Chocolate Quik

Four Places I Would Like to Visit:
*Niagra Falls (same as Maren)
*Africa safari
*Cooperstown, NY (baseball Hall of Fame)
*Great Wall of China

Four People I Am "Tagging":
I don't feel like tagging anyone.

matthew 19:14

Matthew 19:14 - Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.

I have two stories that explain this verse.

One of the most touching moments for me at Faithwalkers was during worship when I saw these 4 kids, probably ages 5-8 jumping up and down praising God. Where I was standing, nobody was really doing that at all. These kids must have seen the people at the front and center stage jumping up and down and decided this is how they wanted to praise God as well.

I was so touched I almost went up right next to them to jump with them! I was thinking about how in a world where so many kids are influenced by movies they shouldn't see and bad role models to swear and fight and tell dirty jokes, these kids were being influenced in a positive way to praise God.

Ok, now for my second story. I've written before about my sister, Amy, who is 12 and the sweetest girl on the earth. Yesterday, I got a letter in the mail from her in her traditional "Coconut" stationary. For those of you who aren't on the up and up in pre-teen girl trends, Coconut is a white dog that has all these outfits you can buy for it (it's part of the American Girl's dolls collection). Along with the letter came one $20 bill, one 10, four 5's, and ten 1's - no lie.

Dear Karl,
How are you? In this envelope is $60 donated from me to you as a missionary. I hope you can use this money to help tell others about God. How is Maren? Do you know when you are next going to visit? We are about to leave to AWANA so I'd better stop writing.
God Bless You, Amy Quickert

PS This wasn't actually my idea, it's a section in our AWANA book, but I still hope you can use the money.

Needless to say Maren and I were blown away. She's 12. 12 years old and she's giving me $60. What an example to me and to others! The fact that she sent it in big wads of cash makes me wonder if my parents were even aware of what she was doing. If they knew, I'm guessing they would have sent along a check instead.

God, PLEASE answer the faith of my little sister and use this money to tell others about You.

Thank you card

Have you ever received a gift in the mail and unwrap it to unveal an appliance box? And often times, you open up the box, and the gift is really something completely different?

Maren and I decided to send our grandparents a framed wedding picture for Christmas.

Yesterday, Maren and I received a thank you card from my grandparents thanking us for the waffle-maker. We just hope they didn't try and return it the store!

Updated Gift Count

Update from my brother, Jacob:

Well there has been a great wrapping of gifts this day. I suppose the best and politest thing to do would be to let the numbers speak for themselves but I feel that I must tell you this... I'M STILL BEATING YOU KARL. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but here you go:

Dad: 10

Mom: 2

Mindy: 8

Maren: 3

Jacob: 7

Amy: 5

Karl: 4 (tsk tsk tsk you'll have to do better than that my dear brother)

Psychology senior project idea

So the U of M is willing to give $2000 to any student group wishing to participate in Beautiful U Day as described below.

I would really like Rock Students to apply for money to erect a Jesus statue in the middle of Northrop Mall. Wouldn't it be interesting to see how the U of M reacts? This would totally make a great psych project researching how different people react to "discrimination" issues.

On an unrelated note, I find it interesting that somebody finds a new people group that needs protection from discrimation every year. Notice below that our Jesus statue could not in any way discriminate against anyone based on "veteran status."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beautiful U Day Grants are available to departments and student groups across the University of Minnesota. These grants are start-up funds to leverage Beautiful U Day activities such as clean-ups, planting, and sustainability. We look to our faculty, staff, and students for their creative ideas to celebrate the University of Minnesota.

Student groups may apply for up to $2000, with no required matching funds. University departments may apply for up to $3000, and must match grant dollars 1:1 with funding from the department, unit, or other funding source.

All grant projects must take place on or near the week of Beautiful U Day (April 20, 2006), and all programs must provide equal access without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation. Partnerships with other departments or student groups (or other groups internal or external to the University) are encouraged.

Official Quickert Christmas Present Tally

Thanks to my brother, Jacob, I will bring you an ongoing tally of the number of Christmas presents under the tree for each member of my family. Early results are looking poor for me!

Dad: 3

Mom: N/A

Mindy: 4

Maren: N/A

Jacob: 3

Amy: 3

Karl: 0

Trivia

Question: When are you thankful to receive one of these?

Answer: When you forget to move your car and leave it at a parking meter for over 7 hours and expected not to see your car there at all.

All your base are belong to us

For those of you who simulataneously love Calvin and Hobbes and remember this revolution...

For reference to what I'm talking about:
http://www.planettribes.com/allyourbase/video1.shtml
go to this website and click on one of the main links to see video

Psalm 119

Some personal reflection on Psalm 119...

God is my hope, my treasure, and my pursuit. He's the goal that I seek, the promise that I live by, and the reward for my efforts. He's the strength, the companion, and the destination of my journey. He gives inspiration, guidance, and encouragement. He is the source of my faith, as well as the finisher. He's the song that I sing, the victory I proclaim, and the answer that I gain.

Though he is unseen, nothing that can be seen exists apart from him. In the end, all other pursuits are meaningless and reasons are worthless. Because only God brings meaning and he is the reason.

Psalm 119:2--Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their heart
Psalm 119:111--Your decrees are my treasure; they are truly my heart's delight
Psalm 119: 162--I rejoice in your word like one who finds a great treasure.
Psalm 119:22--Your law is more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver!
Psalm 119:74--May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word

George Crosby State Park

1 John 1:5: This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we are living the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

This weekend my wife and I camped at George Crosby State Park. We didn't arrive until about 10pm at night and we still had to backpack all our gear a couple miles into our campsite.

Things started out okay, but the further we hiked into the woods, the terrain became rougher, the trail signs became less frequent, and the trail became more indistinct. At least twice we found ourselves in the middle of the woods wondering where the trail led and if we were even on the right trail--carrying two flashlights, 50 lbs of gear each, no moonlight and soaked in sweat. Oh, and Maren fell over twice.

So many verses came to our minds as we prayed to God that might find our campsite: walk by faith not by sight, God is light, the word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path, God guides those along the path of righteousness and protects those who are faithful to him.

At that moment I would have given anything for more light, though I was thankful that we did have some light. What it made me reflect on was how scary it is in the darkness and how much more scary it is to live in spiritual darkness.

God brought us safely to our site with only a minor wrong turn hear or there, but I'll never forget the experience--and never backpack in the dark ever again! Also, the rest of the weekend was fantastic after a dramatic beginning.

knowing God

Lately, I've been dwelling on the verse in 1 Chronicles 28 "Get to know the God of your ancestors." I've tried reading and praying through a lot of Psalms to become more familiar with God's character. However the last couple days God's been teaching me about how I must relate to him in order to know him.

Today I read in Matthew 10:38 where it says "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it." Scripture records those same words (or with a slight variation) 6 times in the Gospels and I found that Jesus actually spoke those words on 4 separate incidences.

It struck me that in order to know God better, in order to "find life," you have to be willing to do what Jesus says in this passage and give up your whole life for God. God doesn't continue to reveal more about himself to those who are double-minded about Him. Nothing new or earth-shattering, but it was just another piece of the puzzle for me in what it means to "know God"

"Can you render unto Caeser that which is Caeser's!?"

Imagine being in a courtroom on a jury panel. 22 prospective jurors. After hearing about 15 jurors get questioned at length about their job, interests, and viewpoints you're up to be questioned in front of 30 strangers.

That was my experience this week on jury duty. As I began sharing about my job and my life, the district attorney was definitely concerned somehow that I would not be a fair and impartial juror. After hearing my answers to the judge and to the defense attorney, the first thing he asked me in a somewhat raised voice:

"Can you render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's!?"

It was pretty funny. The judge wouldn't let him ask that question and he actually stopped the DA from getting into a few other religious conversations. I wasn't surprised when I wasn't picked to be on the jury, but I was amused.

valentine from my sister

In an earlier post, I wrote about the occasional e-mails my 11 year old sister sends me. Here's what I got yesterday for Valentine's Day. I repeat now what I wrote then, I wish everyone had a younger sister like her!

You know you've been gone so long you're still here. You know why?, because everybody keeps you here. We all, atleast once a month, talk like you, tease like you, dance and sing anoyingly like you, and we do other things like you just to keep you here. So you see, you never left 121 Seminole Way. I love you and miss you, and Maren too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

-amy-

"don't waste your life"

Here's a quote I just read from the book by John Piper that I just picked up:

Somehow there had been wakened in me a passion for the essence and the main point of life. The ethical question "whether something is permissible" faded in relation to the question, "what is the main thing, the essential thing?" The thought of building a life around minimal morality or minimal significance--a life defined by the question, "What is permissible?"--felt almost disgusting to me. I didn't want a minimal life. I didn't want to live on the outskirts of reality. I wanted to understand the main thing about life and pursue it.

what's the point of exodus 20 through numbers?

My One Year Bible plan doesn't look super exciting for the next two months or so. Right now I'm at Exodus 28 and I've got Leviticus and Numbers to look forward to. But you know what? God is starting to show me some of the purpose in these books and the imagery speaks of Christ and his redemption of the world.

Exodus 28:15
Make a chestpiece that will be used to determine God's will
v.30
Insert into the pocket of the chestpiece the Urim and Thummim...the objects use dot determine the LORD's will

Exodus 28:29
...Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the presence of the LORD in the Holy Place. Then, the LORD wil be reminded of his people continually.

In all the details given in this portion of the Old Testament I think it's important to keep two big pictures items in mind--God's purpose in all of this is to reveal His presence to His people and to reveal His will.

Nothing speaks "I love you" like White Castle

What are your plans for Valentine's Day? You can find Maren and I at the Midway White Castle on Lexington and Univeristy in St. Paul. Hurry up! They'll run out of reservations soon.

Patience

Psalm 27:14--Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 37:7--Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.
Psalm 40:1--I waited patiently for the LROD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

I never realized how much David talks about patience in the Psalms until just today. Lately, I have been the opposite of patient--especially in the area of house shopping. Read these definitions from Webster's:

Patience:

• will or ability to wait or endure without complaint
• steadiness, endurance, or perseverance in the performance of a task
  

*patience implies the bearing of suffering, provocation, delay, tediousness, etc. with calmness and self-control


Patient:

• bearing or enduring pain, trouble, etc. without complaining or losing self-control
• refusing to be provoked or angered, forbearing, tolerant
• calmly tolerating delay, confusion, inefficiency
• able to wait calmly for something desired
• steady, diligent, persevering
  

desperation

Matthew 13:44--The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field--and to get the treasure too!

Proverbs 2:1-5--My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
THEN you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 1:7—The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

How does this verse say to get the fear of the LORD and the beginning of knowledge which is the primary spot to begin spiritual growth?

Receive God's words
Treasure his commandments
Make ears attentive to wisdom
Incline heart understanding
Cry out for discernment
Life voice for understanding
Seek for these things as for silver
And search for her as hidden treasure

To me that gets summed up in three words: desperation, humility, obedience.