Jen and Eric's Wedding

We were very excited to receive our invitation to Jen and Eric's wedding and are looking forward to the celebration in May.

Will any of you fellow bloggers be staying at any of the hotels listed with the invitation? I realize that most of you live very nearby, but just thought I'd ask.

Happy Birthday, Dad/Grandpa

How appropriate that his birthday falls on President's Day, a day in which we celebrate great men.

grad school beer fund

Thanks, Uncle Bill!

Breaking News: Erik finds new employment

Erik Arvidson, having staved off some withing attempts by his future father-in-law to change his last name to Barry, has landed a plumb job in Keene, NH. Erik will be a Merchandising Execution Associate for Home Depot. His anticipated start date is February 16. While it is in fact cool to have the word execution in your job title it, reportedly, does not entail actual executions.

Barry Blog' Stimulus Package

The following has passed through both House and Senate and is in effect immediately. It is our new Pres' first successful effort to jumpstart anything.

Plan: Any new posting on the Barry Blog will realize a $.10 incentive payable at Camp Barry. Responses tp postings will pay $.05.

Now, on the surface, this plan may seem to lack any stimulus. However, income from this program should 'drive' spending at Camp Barry. I would expect the local economy would greatly benefit from this plan.

Additionally, it is the hope of the adminstration that there will be postings from more Barry's, in addition to those who post on a more regular basis. For some reason, this is of great concern to the Pres as well.

This program is in effect immediately. Please monitor your own activity and report at CB.

Squeezing Through the Needle's Eye

I was writing this reflection in the "comments" section of Laura's post...but it became long, so I figured I might as well post it on the blog itself.

Laura, I have been meaning to thank you for taking the time to write these beautiful reflections. I appreciated them and was genuinely impressed on multiple levels. They have also inspired in me some reflections, which I shall now impose upon you:

It is always amazing to hear about the unwavering faith, hope and love of those who suffer material poverty...especially when contrasted with the spiritual despair or indifference which is so common in the "prosperous" West. It brings to mind the words of our Savior: "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mt. 19:23-24). What is it about wealth that makes it such a stumbling block on our Christian journey?

It seems to me that it is harder for us, as the "rich", to put our faith in anyone but ourselves, to hope in anything but ourselves, and to love anyone but ourselves and our own "pursuit of happiness". We are self-made--individualistic--and therefore it is more difficult for us to see how dependent we are on God for true and lasting fulfillment. Faith requires humble submission, the recognition that we require God's grace to heal us and conform us to the image of Christ. There are so many mental and spiritual barriers to such faith when we are burdened with material riches. So many distractions. We always think about how we need to help the poor, teach the poor, feed the poor, etc. But in many ways, we have more to learn from them about what is true and good and beautiful. They are able to perceive something which eludes us.

Thanks again, Laura! I would be interested to hear any other reflections you may have had since your trip. I would also be glad to hear anyone else's thoughts on the problem of material wealth and Christian faith. Why is faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior alive and vibrant in the world's poorest places--Africa, India, China--and dwindling or dead in the ostensibly "blessed" wealthy nations of the West?

hi people i am now a member whooooooooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooo
from kevin