Bearing fruit...

Peter turned 2!

2010-05-20T11:42:00.004-04:00

For Peter's birthday (2 months ago) we had a little party and invited a couple friends over for cake and ice cream. For one reason or another, these are pretty much the only kind of shots we got that evening. Jake did take some videos of the kids and has been slowly dwindling it down from 16 minutes or so.

Isaiah's in the back and Paloma's in the front.

March/April Reading

2010-05-11T12:28:00.003-04:00

Here are the books I read during the months of March and April. March only seems thin. I didn't read a million books in April. I just finished them all in April. Almost everything below is work accomplished for the ClearNote Pastors College. Which, by the way, I have now completed. Which, by the way, means I am now done with school. Forever. Awesome, huh?

March

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle (for fun)

Good fun, some memorable stories. It was fun getting acquainted with a great fictional character, but I'm done with Holmes for awhile. On to other things.

Tell the Truth - Will Metzger (for d-group)

This book is not profound, but it is helpful. It is written by an Intervarsity staff worker who is trying to undo the damage of jank evangelism methods that present a truncated gospel in a way that lies about the nature of Jesus' saving work. To that end, the book is good and I commend it to anyone looking to be faithful in personal evangelism. However, the major failure of the book is that it fails to have any understanding of the relationship of the Church or Christian community in evangelism and discipleship.

Revival and Revivalism - Iain Murray (for class)

Awesome. Eye-opening. This book is essential reading for every one who needs to understand why American Christianity is what it is today. It starts by tracing the revivals of the late 18th century up through the revivalism of the mid to late 1800s. Note the key distinction in terms.

April

Tell the Truth - Will Metzger (for class)

Yes, I read this twice for two different purposes... See above for notes.

Total Church - Tim Chester & Steve Timmis (for class)

Very helpful book. Excellent in tandem with Metzger's book--they're complementary.

Principles of War: A Handbook on Strategic Evangelism - Jim Wilson (for class)

Good fodder for thinking through strategies of reaching the community and the world with the Gospel. Written by an ex-Navy dude--who happens to be the father of Doug Wilson.

Evangelicalism Divided - Iain Murray (for class)

I've said that you should read everything by Iain Murray, and I mean it. This book might be the single most helpful thing I've read by him--a history of evangelicalism from 1950-2000. Tremendous. If you want to understand the contemporary climate of evangelicalism, there is no better book. Very excellent when read after Revival and Revivalism.

The Mortification of Sin - John Owen (for d-group)

This is about the 4th or 5th time I've read this book. Never get tired of it. I'm writing a blog post series on it over here.

The Christian Soldier - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for study)

Love, love, love, Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Especially after reading Murray's Evangelicalism Divided. Though I did not actually finish this book due to time constraints, it was very helpful as I finished out our series through Ephesians at the Fold.

The Full Armor of God - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for study)

See my comments above.

Update: In which I tell you what we've been doing and what we're doing next

2010-05-10T10:55:00.008-04:00

This time last year,

Jake was finishing up his classes and getting ready to teach at a summer camp in West Virginia.

I was busy packing our things, cleaning the apartment and trying to schedule an ultrasound before we had to be in Mississippi. (And if you remember, Miss Lucy chose not to reveal her identity in that ultrasound. We thought for sure she was a boy.)

So, are we going to back to Mississippi? No. Are we going somewhere else? Nope. We'll be having ourselves and Indiana summer this year, with a short hiatus to Oklahoma.

But before I explain that, I'll tell you a little bit about what exactly has been going on in our lives lately...

Jake- preached his first wedding, in which he also was a groomsmen (the picture was from the wedding, I was in the party also)
...taught at the last Fold of the year (The Fold is the college ministry's large group meeting on campus, see the website here.)

...entertained the college students at the end of the year party by singing a classic graduation song, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day, to the seniors

...went to his last day of classes, ever (hopefully)
...went back to working full-time with the Indiana Painting Co.

Amanda- has been working on all kinds of sewing projects, including skirts made from pants and dresses, headbands, and curtains, and is always looking for things to modify, update, or altogether re-create.
...taught the last upperclassmen women's discipleship group of the year while sitting on a tick infested couch, it was definitely memorable.
...dug out plots in the backyard for the garden. Some plants, which she started from seed inside, made it in the ground in between rainy days.
...has just embarked on a new adventure: Potty Training.

Peter- turned 2! (pictures, and maybe a video, coming soon)
...is enjoying the warmer weather and the freedom to roam the backyard
...has made friends with the little Muslim girl next door, all communication issues aside
...thinks Spiderman lives across the street
...is about to ditch diapers forever

Lucy- will be six months old tomorrow. Already?!
...likes Peter's cars and trucks more than her own toys
...cut her first two teeth
...loves her papa's kisses
...had her first taste of oatmeal
...loves watching Peter's every move, until he comes over and holds her hand, really tightly

Now, what are we doing next...
Well, so long as Jake finishes up a couple final papers we'll be celebrating his graduation from the ClearNote Pastors College on Sunday evening. We'd love to have you join us. The graduation will be held this Sunday, the 16th at 5:30p.m. at our church, Church of the Good Shepherd, here in Bloomington. There will be a dinner following the service. Consider this your formal invitation.
The Oklahoma hiatus...in a few weeks we, the whole fam, will be going to Norman, Oklahoma, on a mission trip with the college ministry. We'll be serving University Fellowship Church by helping paint their church building and working with them in a Vacation Bible School. University Fellowship is a young church plant where Mat McIntosh, a former youth pastor of Jake's and mine, is the pastor.
As for the fall, you might be wondering what is in store for us now that Jake is done with his training. We'll be staying in Bloomington, for now. Jake will be coming on staff with our church as the college minister. He was already the college minister, but now it'll be his official job, goodbye work sites. He's looking forward to doing it full time and not having to divide his time between Pastors college work, painting, and college ministry. We don't plan to do this forever, but this is where God has us for the next year or two.
A month or so ago Jake mentioned that I had written a blogpost for ClearNote Fellowship. It's my turn to recommend Jake's blog post series to you. The series is a very clear and practical discussion of the Christian's relationship to sin. It's now on part three, but it won't take you long to catch up. And it's worth it.

That's about it for now, I'll try to get more pictures up soon.

4 months

2010-05-06T14:55:00.003-04:00

backyard exploration

2010-05-06T14:38:00.006-04:00

Peter thinks it's pretty nice having a spacious backyard, especially now that he's big enough to explore it.

Worm! At first he was saying something that sounded very close to "nail". We still don't know where that came from.

happy girl

2010-04-30T09:31:00.007-04:00

These were the first smiles I caught on camera.

It was a lot of fun taking pictures that day, so there are quite a few.

And these grins won't be so toothless for long! :)

feb. 20th

ignore the laundry back there, I'm pretty sure it's just waiting to be folded.

pals

2010-04-30T09:14:00.004-04:00

It's been fun watching Lucy get some personality and the ability to interact with Peter more. He likes to talk to her and give her toys. And she just smiles and laughs and is usually entertained by his efforts. In the last picture Peter was trying to get Lucy to read the book to him. "Lucy read. Lucy read." She didn't get it.

3 months

2010-04-30T08:23:00.003-04:00

feb. 12th

Another selection from the vintage wardrobe. This one is an Aunt Kelly original, which I wore too, of course. The blanket she's sitting on was made by Granny Hellums.

snow fun

2010-04-22T13:31:00.004-04:00

just in case you needed a reminder of what winter looked like...

this was laughter not crying

and yes, we shoveled the walk with the broom and dustpan

At long last, more photos

2010-04-22T13:20:00.002-04:00

flashback from feb. 10th

Amanda's Birthday Present

2010-03-29T11:02:00.001-04:00

Just thought some of you might like to see a picture of it.

Lucy at 11 weeks

2010-03-03T15:25:00.003-05:00

(january 28)

And this is Peter trying to get behind the camera to see what the picture looks like.

Another sight we found

2010-03-03T15:13:00.004-05:00

These are very blurry, but we were late for church and Peter has a hard enough time being still for a picture, especially when Mama is laughing at him. Yes, it is lipstick.

What we found one afternoon

2010-03-03T15:00:00.005-05:00

(...back in January)

Peter had some computing to do, obviously.

And a sweet, sleeping Lucy, just for good measure.

Family Update & February Books

2010-03-01T10:00:00.004-05:00

First, let me point out that Amanda's first post on the ClearNote Fellowship Ladies' blog was published this week. She also contributed an article profiling CNPC's program for pastor's wives in the latest edition of the CNF Newsletter. If you want a copy of that you can drop us a note in the comments and we'll sign you up for the mailing list.

Second, I know it's been awhile since pictures have gone up. February may have been the busiest month we've had since we started the Pastor's College. I expect Amanda will get some new stuff up for you in the next week or two.

Finally, here's what I finished reading in February:

Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer (for class)

A good read on Christian community. Maybe one of the best.

2000 Years of Christ's Power, Vol. 3: Renaissance & Reformation - N.R. Needham (for class)

The third volume in this series, and maybe the best.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle (for fun)

Good fun.

Darkness & Light - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for study)

Skimmed and surfed this one for Fold preparation. Didn't give it as much time as previous volumes on Ephesians.

Calvin: A Life - Emanuel Stickelberger (for class)

I've never read anything quite like this before. Profitable and enjoyable at the same time. Will read again.

Persuasions - Doug Wilson (for class)

A small apologetic that tries to be C.S. Lewis meets John Bunyan: "Evangelist" encounters men on the road to destruction and tries to turn them around. It's a light, easy, fun, and helpful read.

The Puritan Hope - Iain Murray (for... class supplement)

Read this one on my own at our dean's suggestion. Very good. Very helpful if you want to understand the roots of the dispensational prophecy craze and if you want to understand the view of prophecy that preceded it, how it was displaced, and why it's never returned. And, as a rule, you should read everything Iain Murray has ever written. I'm serious.

Our Church's New Website

2010-02-15T17:39:00.004-05:00

Just some brief updates. First, check out our church's new website:

Pretty cool, huh? Also, be sure to check out the new ClearNote Fellowship blog and the corresponding Ladies' blog, where Amanda and I will both soon become regular contributors.

December/January Books

2010-02-01T00:20:00.003-05:00

December:

Heaven Misplaced - Doug Wilson (for fun)

A fun and challenging take on eschatology. Not buying every bit of it, but it's a worthy read.

Desiring God - John Piper (for D-Group)

A modern classic on practical Christian living. This must be the billionth time I've read it.

2000 Years of Christ's Power, Vol. 2: The Middle Ages - N.R. Needham (for class)

Good, accessible.

Handbook of Church Discipline - Jay Adams (for class)

Very helpful.

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for sermon prep)

Beautiful, rich.

January:

A Study in Scarlet - Arthur Conan Doyle (for fun)

Doyle's first Holmes novel. Mine, too. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Sign of Four - Arthur Conan Doyle (for fun)

Pretty good.

Mortification of Sin - John Owen (for class)

Unbelievable. Unparalleled. No one deals with the heart like Owen. No one. Read this book once a year—at the least.

Of Temptation - John Owen (for class)

Excellent. Another must-read. In fact, read the entire volume Crossway published called "Sin & Temptation." You won't regret it.

Christian Unity - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for sermon prep)

Very good. Lloyd-Jones has been invaluable to me in helping me rapidly process and get to the heart of Ephesians.

2 months

2010-01-15T15:56:00.007-05:00

Lucy is two months old now, and we're starting to get used to her.

She's just beginning to coo and smile, and that's helping her secure a position in our family. :)

Peter thinks she's pretty cool, but he's gotten over her newness. He often asks where she is if she's been put down for a nap and he wasn't aware. He helps Mama by bringing her Lucy's plug (aka pacifier) when he's found it on the floor and by putting it in Lucy's mouth when she's upset. But he's also taken to commanding her to stop crying. Not so cool.

There have been a big handful of posts today so you may want to scroll down a little and start there.

Cleaning help

2010-01-15T15:44:00.002-05:00

These were taken while we were furiously cleaning our old apartment. Peter was helping, mainly by being a good boy and staying out of the way but he also picked up used paper towels and threw them away.

If you're wondering why I say old apartment, well, we moved! This past weekend we moved down the street to a three bedroom apartment. It was 16 degrees and there was still lots of snow on the ground, but we did it. With about 10 or so people, and around 3 hours of work it went pretty well. And much thanks go to my dear friends (and old neighbor) Kaitlyn, for watching the kids, and Emily for making and bringing chili for everyone when we were done.

Airplane adventure

2010-01-15T13:37:00.006-05:00

A couple weeks ago Jake took Peter to the airport in Indy to look at airplanes. Peter had his first Happy Meal...

and made a friend. :)

Kelly visits

2010-01-15T13:03:00.006-05:00

Aunt Kelly visited before she headed back west.

All tired out after some serious cycle playing with Aunt Kelly.

Back home again

2010-01-15T10:33:00.006-05:00

The day after we got back from Evansville it snowed some. Peter played while I unloaded the car. Here you can see everything we brought home with us (babies not pictured).

(The other half we left at my parents house. Kelly brought it the next day.)

I tried getting him to wear my gloves, but he didn't like it so well. He then decided he liked cold finger even less so we went inside shortly after.

The edge of the sidewalk was a little stressing to him that day.

Christmas past

2010-01-15T10:21:00.002-05:00

Another hand me down, from many a Christmas ago. Kelly and I wore these bloomers when were just a little bigger than Lucy girl. And Christmas has definitely past, this is the last of the Christmas pictures. I apologize for the delay.

Cars!

2010-01-04T08:51:00.002-05:00

He didn't get these for Christmas, these cars grew up with his mama, aunt and uncle. But every chance he got he was asking someone to come play cars with him.

Books!

2010-01-04T08:36:00.002-05:00

Peter got lots of cool books this Christmas. But like I said earlier, he mostly enjoyed opening the packages.

Christmas

2010-01-02T21:47:00.002-05:00

Peter had a lot of fun opening presents this year. Lucy's experience was a little different.

Grandpa time

2010-01-02T21:38:00.002-05:00

truck load

2009-12-30T14:59:00.001-05:00

hi

2009-12-30T14:48:00.000-05:00

Catch Up

2009-12-29T12:56:00.008-05:00

I apologize for the delay, but with Christmas preparations and having my computer fall to its death, posting pictures fell by the wayside. So, with the next posts I'll try to bring us up to date.

When I start taking pictures sometimes it turns into a full blown photo shoot. This was one of those times.

I don't think you'll mind, they're pretty cute.

1 month

2009-12-13T21:00:00.002-05:00

he loves her

2009-12-10T10:16:00.002-05:00

sleepy girl

2009-12-05T22:03:00.001-05:00

Christmas Gifts, Part 3

2009-12-02T20:41:00.004-05:00

For those of you that didn't notice, I recently created two Amazon wish-lists for myself—in case you're looking for stocking stuffers. You can find those on the sidebar. Pay no attention to the order the books are in... unless I get around to prioritizing them.

But just so you know, the authors on those lists I'm most interested in right now: Dostoevsky, Solzhenitsyn, Schaeffer, Rand, Van Til, Schlossberg, Blamires.

I'd also be happy to take recommendations. Just drop a note in the comments.

Papa's kiddos

2009-12-02T09:42:00.002-05:00

Fatface and Fathead, as they are affectionately called.

My Own Book Club: November

2009-12-01T15:20:00.004-05:00

I finished a lot of books this month. Here's what I read, and here are some of my thoughts:

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table - Thomas Mallory, ed. Sidney Lanier (for fun)

An antiquated abridgement of La Morte D'Arthur. Good fun getting into the medieval mind. I would have rather have read the real thing, though.

The Butler Did It - P.G. Wodehouse (for fun)

A delivery and receiving room book. A rollickin' good time. I've decided I like Wodehouse, and wouldn't mind reading more.

Preaching & Preachers - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for class)

Excellent. Another book for every preacher.

Amusing Ourselves to Death - Neil Postman (for fun)

Wow whatabook. This is one of those books that shows you the man behind the curtain. Should be required reading for everyone. Seriously. Go buy it.

Winterflight - Joseph Bayly (for fun)

A prophetic novel written by my pastor's father in the late 70s about what he foresaw as the inevitable consequences of Roe v. Wade—you know, universal health care, government mandated abortion, infanticide, death panels, that sort of thing. It's not great fiction (as far as the writing goes), but it sure is compelling.

Words to Winners of Souls - Horatius Bonar (for class)

An excellent and concise summary of the heart of pastoral ministry.

Christmas Gifts, Part 2

2009-11-29T23:19:00.004-05:00

A few more considerations for those of you interested in buying gifts for the kids:

1. We need books. Bad. As in, Mama and Papa cringe every time Peter brings us a book to read because we have them all memorized. For our sake, check out the Amazon link on the left-hand column. Amanda's picked out some books that we think would be nice. Keep in mind that the books aren't at all in order of preference on the list.

2. Kid's Music. Peter's just getting to an age where this can get really fun. Amanda has added some children's cds to the same Amazon Wish-List mentioned above. Don't overlook those.

3. Cloth Diapers. A few weeks ago, Amanda wrote about her obsession with these things. If you're interested in nursing strange obsessions and helping weird would-be-hippies save some serious cash at the same time, she's created a registry at The Little Seedling. Just go to http://www.treecitydiapers.com/store/go/registries/, and enter "Amanda Mentzel" into the registry.

4. $$$. For those of you who remember, I opened an account for Peter last year (Read about that here). For those of you who care, the selected fund has given us a 12.5% return so far. Not bad in this climate, eh? If you're interested in contributing, send me an email or give me a call. I'll start a similar account for Lucy, too.

Christmas Gifts, Part 1

2009-11-27T20:33:00.005-05:00

For those of you that may be interested in Peter's toy interests as we approach Christmas, here is our assessment of a few of Peter's favorite things.

Peter's Top 10 Favorite Toys (of all-time)

10. Rings. You know, rings. The kind you stack on a stick.

9. The Barn. Its a little barn with animals and other stuffs.

8. George & Frank. A stuffed monkey and a stuffed turtle. We like to pretend they're Kong and Godzilla.

7. The Stick. The child's multi-tool, brought back from Mississippi. Popular uses: Sword, baseball bat, gun, magic wand, etc.

6. Tractor. A John Deere tractor he scoots around on.

5. Blocks. All kinds. He's okay with building, but prefers destroying Papa's feats of engineering genius.

4. Cars, Trucks, Busses, Planes. Loves the stuff.

3. Giant Tonka Truck. Awesome toy. He carts things around, bangs into walls and furniture, etc.

2. Balls. All kinds—and we do have all kinds.

1. Puppy. A stuffed animal he sleeps with and takes pretty much everywhere.

I don't think he's going to be much interested in new stuffed animals. The puppy is pretty much king, and he serves a very specific function. George and Frank have been on their way out for awhile. So have the rings.

As far as the stick goes, take this bit of insight from G.K. Chesterton:

Cast your eye round the room in which you sit, and select some three or four things that have been with man almost since his beginning; which at least we hear of early in the centuries and often among the tribes. Let me suppose that you see a knife on the table, a stick in the corner, or a fire on the hearth. About each of these you will notice one speciality; that not one of them is special. Each of these ancestral things is a universal thing; made to supply many different needs; and while tottering pedants nose about to find the cause and origin of some old custom, the truth is that it had fifty causes or a hundred origins. The knife is meant to cut wood, to cut cheese, to cut pencils, to cut throats; for a myriad ingenious or innocent human objects. The stick is meant partly to hold a man up, partly to knock a man down; partly to point with like a finger-post, partly to balance with like a balancing pole, partly to trifle with like a cigarette, partly to kill with like a club of a giant; it is a crutch and a cudgel; an elongated finger and an extra leg. The case is the same, of course, with the fire; about which the strangest modern views have arisen. A queer fancy seems to be current that a fire exists to warm people. It exists to warm people, to light their darkness, to raise their spirits, to toast their muffins, to air their rooms, to cook their chestnuts, to tell stories to their children, to make checkered shadows on their walls, to boil their hurried kettles, and to be the red heart of a man's house and that hearth for which, as the great heathens said, a man should die.

Now it is the great mark of our modernity that people are always proposing substitutes for these old things; and these substitutes always answer one purpose where the old thing answered ten.

Of course, that's not to belittle specialized tools. I wouldn't want my doctor to use the same knife to perform heart surgery as he does to butter his bread (unless he has the strange habit of using scalpels at the dinner table). But it is in praise of the "general." And we find it helpful to transfer the thinking over to toys. Sticks are good toys because they can be whatever they need to be to make the game work—and they can be transformed in an instant. So one good question to ask about a toy is, "How many different awesome things can a little boy transform this into?"

As far as little girls go... well... I have no idea. Just don't make her into too much of a pretty princess, okay?

A true hand-me-down

2009-11-24T00:38:00.007-05:00

Anyone guess who previously owned this sweatshirt?

p.s. The diapers I mentioned a couple weeks ago are now on sale. Don't know what I'm talking about? Look here.

First bath at home

2009-11-20T13:35:00.004-05:00

ClearNote Fellowship

2009-11-18T10:43:00.002-05:00

Since most of our readership is friends and family—who else would want to look at an endless stream of pictures of our kids?—I thought some of you might be interested in finding out a bit more about what Amanda and I have been doing for the past 2-3 years.

Most of you (I hope) know that I've been attending the ClearNote Pastors College. Most of you (probably) have no idea what that is. And even if you think you know, you might be a bit hesitant to check it out.

ClearNote Pastors College is a relatively new training institute for pastors. It's a ministry of ClearNote Fellowship, an umbrella organization (you might think of it like a denomination) that seeks to unite like-minded churches in an effort to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through church-planting, missions, and resources (books, conferences, music, etc.).

The great thing about CNPC is that it operates in the context of a local church—Church of the Good Shepherd in Bloomington, IN. That means the training can never be purely academic, because the academic training takes place in the context of the trenches of pastoral ministry.

Because of my work at ClearNote Pastors College, I've had the opportunity to help found ClearNote Campus Fellowship (CNCF) at Indiana University. The goal of CNCF is similar to the goal of the pastors college—to reconnect a vital ministry to the lifeline of the local church.

When I was a student at IU, I was actively involved in Campus Crusade for Christ. However, as I began to grow in my faith, I began to see more and more my own need to be connected to a local church—where I could break out of my 20something bubble and be involved with families, children, and old folks. The more I grew in understanding of the importance of the local church, the more grieved I became over how many of my friends seemed to think being involved in campus ministries were an adequate substitute for the church. A supplement, sure, but never a substitute.

CNCF, then, is an attempt to bring the two together. It is a campus ministry that is based out of a local church (again, Church of the Good Shepherd). We bring the same benefits of any other campus ministry—we're active on campus, we have bible studies, large-group meetings, retreats, etc.—but we maintain a vital connection with our church. We encourage all of our students to attend worship services and Sunday School, to get involved in serving the church, attending small groups, and to become members.

Over the past 2 and a half years, CNCF has grown from 8-10 students to around 60. Nearly all of our students are actively involved in campus ministry and in the life of our church. They are members, they attend small groups, they serve in the nursery, sing in the choir, teach Sunday School, play with the worship band, and much more. God has richly blessed the work.

I took over as Campus Director of CNCF in the Fall of 2008 after Joseph Bayly, a dear friend of ours, graduated from CNPC and began making plans to plant a church in Indianapolis.

Like all non-profit organizations, ClearNote Fellowship and ClearNote Pastors College are largely funded by the donations of private individuals. And like all campus ministers, my work is largely funded by donations from private individuals and a part time job.

As we approach the holidays, would you consider helping to support these vital ministries financially? If so, you can find out more by visiting the "Support Us" section of the ClearNote Fellowship website, or email me at "jacob[dot]mentzel[at]gmail[dot]com."

Peter & Lucy: A Suite

2009-11-17T18:56:00.007-05:00

My first attempt at a real video. Enjoy:

Some Hospital Holdovers

2009-11-15T19:25:00.003-05:00

Missed ya, mama

2009-11-14T11:39:00.001-05:00

It's about time...

2009-11-13T21:05:00.006-05:00

Thanks, Doc

2009-11-13T20:35:00.004-05:00

Together with his wife Claire, Dr. Philip Crooke has helped us navigate two successful pregnancies. We love him.

How sweet it is...

2009-11-12T23:38:00.002-05:00

Amanda leads a Bible Study for college women every Thursday night (see the ClearNote Campus Fellowship link on the left). Tonight, the girls came and had their study in the hospital waiting room and took turns visiting Amanda and Lucy.

Do you have any idea how sweet that is for us?

The Fruit of Her Labor...

2009-11-12T19:52:00.000-05:00

Lucy Katherine

2009-11-12T19:39:00.006-05:00

9lbs. 4oz.

20in.

Really chubby cheeks.

The Eleventh Hour

2009-11-12T19:37:00.002-05:00

Fall fun

2009-11-11T12:07:00.007-05:00

So, maybe you can tell we're a little antsy by the influx of posts over the last couple of days.

These were taken a couple weeks ago at the park in our neighborhood. Peter had lots of fun tromping and especially falling in the leaves.

While you're waiting...

2009-11-11T11:04:00.007-05:00

...to see whether you need to return that cute, little pink sleeper or buy another, here are some things to consider.

Some have asked if there is anything that we need as we add a second Mentzel kid to the family. Well, I haven't thought of too many specific things, but there are a few things on my list. If the addition is of the girl type, we'll of course need to introduce some pink things to the laundry load. But we'll just have to see about that. We are interested in a double stroller, but not sure what kind. And I'm sure there are other things that will present themselves once the baby comes out to meet us and we get better acquainted.

The main thing I know I would really like to have is diapers. Not disposable, (although we'll be going through lots of those too), but cloth. I know some of you have been probably been a little puzzled since Jake posted the picture of my diapers on the basketball goal clothesline in Mississippi. You're probably also thinking, "People still do that?" Yes. And a lot more than you'd think.

Diapers have come a long way since the pins and folding method, although some still use those. But you'll still probably think I'm a little crazy when I tell you that one of the biggest reasons for doing it is because I actually think it's kind of fun. No, it's not because I'm really interested in being green, that's just a side benefit. But really, between not having a very large stash and Peter being in the nursery or the care of others 3-4 times a week, we use a cloth diaper about half the time.

The biggest limiting factor, though, is our limited supply. I have made some of my own diapers (yes, lots of people do that, too) and repaired others that I have bought used (yes, used), but I haven't made enough adjustments on my own to get a product I really like. And time for that will become even more limited here shortly.

So, if you've been wondering about a gift or a way you can help us with our family expansion, or if you've suddenly become interested upon reading this post, I will tell you what you can do. I have made a little wish list at The Little Seedling where I have selected the exact kind and size of diapers that I would like for our soon-to-be two kids in diapers. I included some for Peter because, you know, he's getting bigger. To find the registry just enter my name. The registry is called "New Babe"—if for some reason you blank on my name. If you browse around the site there are also some pretty cool wooden toys and other things, too. Christmas is coming after all... not that we really need more toys!

We'll let you know once the waiting is over!

September & October Reading

2009-11-11T11:03:00.005-05:00

Because I know how much you all appreciate having the most awesome posts obstructed by worthless mementos of my reading habits, here's what I read in September and October.

September:

The Reformed Pastor - Richard Baxter (for class)

Reformed, as in, changed for the better. If you're a pastor or an elder, training to be one, or thinking about becoming one, you should read this book. And then reread it. You know, like... once a year or so. It's a tough read (a little archaic) but well worth it. I say, (from my vast experience, of course), this is the single most important read for any pastor, anywhere. I say that without hesitation, without equivocation, and without doubt.

2000 Years of Christ's Power (Vol. 1) - N.R. Needham (for class)

Big volume. Whirlwind tour of the early church. Easy read. Very helpful. I especially appreciated the extended excerpts from pertinent primary sources (key works of church fathers, for example) at the end of each chapter. That was wonderful. I only wish he footnoted more extensively within the chapters.

Orthodoxy - G.K. Chesterton (for fun)

An absolute blast. Chesterton is loads of fun and is absolutely hilarious. He's a Roman Catholic, so you have to get over his distaste for, you know, BIBLICAL DOCTRINE, but looking past all of that, there's hardly anyone from the 20th century that's more worthy of your attention. Absolutely brilliant.

Living the Cross-Centered Life - C.J. Mahaney (for the discipleship group I teach)

It's okay. I wish there was something better, but it's definitely a helpful. Recommended as a tool to use with high school students, some college students, and most new believers that need a good foundational understanding of applying the gospel to their lives.

October:

Lectures to My Students - C.H. Spurgeon (for class)

Spurgeon is a hero. I don't know that any dead man feeds my soul, equips me for my work as a college minister, and spurs me on to faithfulness than this guy. I heartily recommend this book to anyone involved in ministry. Because of this book, I'll likely always have some piece of work by Spurgeon I'm chewing on.

Persecution in the Early Church - Herbert Workman (for class)

Heart-rending. Stunning. Convicting. I'd call it a must-read, but I've already done that 3 times so far.

God's Ultimate Purpose - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for the Fold)

Lloyd-Jones' sermons on Ephesians 1. Read, skimmed, and referenced as I was preaching through Eph. 1 at our weekly meeting. Very helpful.

God's Way of Reconciliation - Martyn Lloyd-Jones (for the Fold)

Lloyd-Jones' sermons on Ephesians 2. See above.

There are other books I've been reading for class and for fun through September and October, but I'll comment on them in the months I finish them.

Alphabetize

2009-11-09T22:49:00.002-05:00

Catechize

2009-11-09T22:34:00.002-05:00

What I Read This Summer

2009-11-02T09:38:00.014-05:00

(Jake) I thought it might be fun to start sharing some of my reading with you guys and a one line review or so. Plus, I figured you'd rather read that than see the pictures of Amanda's awesome pregnant-on-Halloween costume (not).

I'll start with this past summer (June-August), but first a word about C.S. Lewis.

Lewis is one of those authors I have a visceral reaction to just because so many people love him--especially evangelical Christians. I know, I know... how pretentious, right? However, I loved reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid, and I jumped into rereading them with Amanda. So, as an act of faith (repentance, maybe?), this summer became what might best be called "The Summer of C.S. Lewis."

The Chronicles of Narnia:

Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis

The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy - C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew - C.S. Lewis

If you haven't read these, you should. These books are fun and fun is good.

Everything That Rises Must Converge - Flannery O'Connor

Excellent. O'Connor gets at the heart of southern hypocrisy. These short stories are somewhat morose and depressing, but always in a good, wholesome way--if you ask me.

A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking

Brilliant, accessible, humble, and often funny. Very good writing from a very brilliant dude. He's clearly one of the most strident worshipers of the Cosmos you'll ever find. If you ever thought reading theoretical physics could be fun, this is the book for you.

Lectures to My Students - C.H. Spurgeon

Perhaps the best and most helpful book I read this summer--although I stopped reading it when I realized it was in my fall curriculum. Spurgeon is a hero.

The Man Who Was Called Thursday: A Nightmare - G.K. Chesterton

Exhilarating. Chesterton is always a ton of fun. Read everything he's ever written.

Outgrowing the Ingrown Church - Jack Miller

Not ground-breaking by any stretch, but certainly helpful.

How to Read a Book - Mortimer Adler

Helpful. Very intuitive. Everyone should at least skim it once. It convinced me to mark up my books.

The Mortification of Sin - John Owen

Killer good, and a must read.

Shepherding a Child's Heart - Tedd Tripp

A helpful guide to getting at the root of your kid's behavior.

God the Redeemer - James Boice

Eh... Just read Calvin.

Sermons on Ephesians - John Calvin

Good, but not as helpful as I'd hoped. Probably because I rarely sat down and gave it the time I should have. Oh yeah, and never actually finished...

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

Overrated. But not without merit.

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle

Read this one as a kid and wanted to reread it. Kind of gross, actually--not nearly as fun as I remembered.

The Space Trilogy:

Out of the Silent Planet - C.S. Lewis

Perelandra - C.S. Lewis

That Hideous Strength - C.S. Lewis

Absolutely brilliant. Adult fiction that couldn't be farther removed from Narnia in terms of writing style and content. If you don't read anything else I read this summer, read That Hideous Strength. Very insightful. Lewis' strengths in fiction lie largely in integrating cultural commentary into the plot, and this book is masterful.

Defending the Faith - D.G. Hart

Biography of J. Gresham Machen, Princeton professor at the turn of the last century. Pretentious author, helpful content. Wasn't able to finish, but definitely intend to when things slow down. Probably not worth your time, though.

Trick or Treat

2009-11-01T20:43:00.005-05:00

We didn't actually go trick or treating, but we did go to a party. A crowd favorite.

Pensive and Pointed

2009-10-28T15:51:00.001-04:00

Never too young

2009-10-13T09:38:00.002-04:00

2009-10-13T09:28:00.002-04:00

2009-10-06T17:39:00.002-04:00

Saturday lunch, a tired boy after visiting the farmers market. I don't know what happened with the sound, sorry.

...I'm makin' waffles!

2009-10-06T17:32:00.003-04:00

Chocolate chip waffles, yummy! If you can tell me where the quote in the title comes from, you could win a prize, or I might just be impressed.
I think I'm abandoning the Mississippi photos...after 3 months. But we might have a flashback from time to time, you never know.

Lakeside

2009-09-05T09:47:00.005-04:00

A week or two before we left Mississippi the Halseys took us to a catfish restaurant on Enid Lake. After dinner we took a walk down to the bank and you see the rest of the events transpire below (and a post for later).

Someday we might get back to pictures of life in Bloomington, but you never know.

More Sprinkler Fun

2009-08-24T12:48:00.010-04:00

The last of the sprinkler shots, I think.

Now that we're back home...

2009-08-13T23:14:00.007-04:00

Here are some pictures from Mississippi that Jake never got around to posting. This is actually Peter's first experience with the sprinkler, despite what you may have thought.

Methinks the lady...

2009-07-14T10:29:00.006-04:00

Apparently, our basketball goal doubles as a clothes line... for homemade cloth diapers. No, we're not hicks.

Ahem... No, we are not hicks.

I said we're not hicks.

No, we're not hippies, either.

The responsible party:

Shots that Missed the Cut (Pt. 3)

2009-07-13T13:16:00.010-04:00

ClearNote Conference

2009-07-09T16:24:00.008-04:00

Many of you have probably noticed the links on the right-hand sidebar to websites that have the word(s) "ClearNote" in them. ClearNote Pastors College (CNPC) is where I'm going to school. ClearNote Campus Fellowship (CNCF) is the campus ministry that I started (and now lead) with a couple fellow pastors college students to minister to students at Indiana University. ClearNote Fellowship is the umbrella organization that oversees all of it.

In addition to overseeing the pastors college, ClearNote Fellowship plants churches, provides pastors and missionaries with accountability, and produces resources for God's people—including books and music (like the free Good Shepherd Band cd we linked to a couple of months ago).

This weekend ClearNote Fellowship is hosting its first annual conference, "Standing in the Gap." Andy and I are heading up to Bloomington early tomorrow morning for the Friday and Saturday sessions. You should come if you can make it. The conference is cheap—only $10.

Independence Day: A Southern-Style Celebration (Part 3)

2009-07-09T08:23:00.000-04:00

And now, the fireworks show. But first, go and check out this post and try to be the first to get all three questions correct. Or else I may just stop posting pictures... forever. Or worse, I'll only post pictures of stuffed carcasses.

Independence Day: A Southern-Style Celebration (Part 2)

2009-07-08T10:39:00.017-04:00

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out Part 1 and play my little game. Now... some pictures with people you know in them.

Independence Day: A Southern-Style Celebration (Part 1)

2009-07-07T18:00:00.011-04:00

This past weekend Amanda's parents came down to visit us in Charleston. We celebrated the 4th in a little community called Rosebloom, just south of town. I took one too many pictures of the weekend celebration, so I figured the easiest thing to do is to break them into a couple of different posts. We'll start with a little bit of atmosphere.

First, let me apologize for accidentally turning on the date stamp and ruining every picture with ugly yellow numbers. Second, let me be the first to say that the fireworks pictures are Amanda's. I couldn't get a good fireworks shot to save my life. Third, I've been trying to play games with those of you who pay attention and I've discovered that none of you do. Nevertheless, kudzu to you if you can tell me exactly:

Why I included picture number two.
Who the men in picture number three are, why they were there, and what they were doing.
What the most frequent song we heard during the celebration was.

I want full explanations. There will be no partial credit awarded. I expect to hear from you in the comments section.

On your mark, get set, GO!

Shots that Missed the Cut (Pt. 2)

2009-07-06T15:01:00.009-04:00

I don't know how Amanda picks the pictures she puts up here, but I try my best to only select a handful of unique shots--stuff that's framed well and has a bit of character and personality to it. Often that means the selection process is tough, and I end up leaving out a handful of great pictures. So a couple weeks ago I posted some photos that didn't quite make the cut, but were pictures I thought you still might enjoy. Of course, since nobody commented saying, "Oh, thank you for posting these! [X] photo is my favorite," I'm not quite sure if you'll care about this post. Nevertheless, here's round two of my honorable mentions:

Stay tuned for 4th of July pictures!

You've been so very, very patient...

2009-07-03T15:06:00.015-04:00

I've been waiting and waiting for someone to tell me that no one wants to read about our wall decorations. In fact, I've been waiting for someone to tell me that no one wants to read anything I have to say at all. I've been watching Google Analytics to see if you keep coming back, anticipating more awesome pictures taken by yours truly. And you have. So, because you've been so very patient, here's your reward: Sprinkler pictures!

Brutus, the Bold yet Blundering Buck

2009-06-24T17:56:00.007-04:00

Meet Brutus. Everyone say, "Hi, Brutus!" Very good.

If Peter were older, Brutus would have funny stories told about him all the time. There would be all kinds of stories of his days out in the wild. Perhaps he was a deer of great courage and valor. Perhaps he made a habit of fighting off wild beasts and crazed bucks of a very dangerous sort to protect many does and fawns. Then again, perhaps he was a great bumbling doofus. You never know.

There would definitely be stories about what he does at night when we're asleep and stories of what he does when we're not looking. That goes without saying.

And of course, there would be the best story of all: How Brutus came to be stuck in our wall. I bet I'd hold off on that story for a long, long time. Meaning, I'd never tell it and always leave it hanging over the kids' heads.

Now go ahead and ask the question: "Why Brutus?" And, of course, prepare to be dazzled:

Because it had to start with "B," duh.
Because "Buckshot," "Bucko," and "Buckethead" were all too obvious and one-dimensional.
Because "Bluto" just didn't seem to work, unless we're going to work Popeye into every story.
A Brutus could have some awesome stories told about him.
Because it happened to be the first thing that popped out of my mouth, so it's what we're stuck with.

Unfortunately, Peter doesn't get it yet, so there are no Brutus stories to be told. Aren't you sad? Okay, okay, you win. There's one story to be told:

Brutus is the stupid name we gave the antlered fraction of stuffed carcass hanging on our cabin wall. Surprise!

Finis.

Mailing Address

2009-06-23T12:49:00.003-04:00

Since some of you have asked, you can send mail/packages to:

First Presbyterian Church

c/o Jake Mentzel

P.O. Box 413

Charleston, MS 38921

Shots that Missed the Cut (Pt. 1)

2009-06-23T11:54:00.008-04:00

I figured I owed it to you to post some of Amanda's favorite photos that didn't make the cut the other day:

Update + Random Pictures

2009-06-22T13:02:00.006-04:00

This past week was Vacation Bible School, and we were blessed to have a couple of college students from IU down to help. They were awesome!

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of VBS to show you. So, in light of that utter disappointment, I'll put up some random shots I took with my phone:

This is from one of the craziest storm systems I've ever encountered, and it's not even the half of it.

We took a trip with the Halsey's to Memphis not long after we got here. On the way home we got stuck in a random storm on I-55. The clouds above us were first rolling, then spinning. At one point we were able to look directly into the center of what looked like a whirlpool. No joke. The van shook, and traffic stood still. We were able to make it another few miles before we were stuck in traffic for a good 30 minutes waiting for emergency workers to clear the interstate of fallen trees.

Fortunately, we made it home safely, and were back in time to watch the above cloud formation pass over our cabin. I wish I had a better picture of it. It's just a long, long line of clouds that stretch very high vertically. But the cloud line couldn't have been longer than 50 yards. It was moving swiftly, and I literally could run to one side or the other of it. And the sky was clear on either side.

This is a very dirty Peter who had been roaming around Uncle Andy's shop while he recharged our a/c units.

Playin' Around

2009-06-17T15:37:00.009-04:00

A few random shots of us playing around the cabin this week:

On Sunday, the owner of the cabin dropped a 4-wheeler by the cabin for us to play around with. Peter was a little afraid at first, but he got used to it pretty quick.

It's also been nice to have a goal around. Peter will sit on the edge of the porch and watch me shoot around for a long time.

At least until he wants to play, too...

"Peter, who made you?"

Revival

2009-06-17T14:28:00.003-04:00

On Sunday evening, I joined the Joyful Jammers, a local bluegrass band at a country revival service. The music was bad, but it was good fun.

The church was Pinehill Presbyterian, an old country church out in the middle of nowhere. A pair of "retired" methodist circuit preachers (they're brothers) preached, and did a nice job. They travel around and preach/pastor/officiate wedding/funerals at a number of different rural presbyterian and methodist churches in the area.

First Pres, Charleston

2009-06-13T18:49:00.006-04:00

For those of you that haven't been drawn into the loop yet, Amanda and I are down in Charleston, Mississippi, proud home of Morgan Freeman. I'm serving as a pastoral intern for the church above (90 year-old meeting house in the foreground, brand new Family Life Center in the background).

First Pres. is home to a sweet people that we're looking forward to serving for the months of June and July. I'll be particularly focused on working with the youth, but I'll also preach on a couple of Sundays and in a couple of nursing homes on weekdays.

For those of you who are curious, Grace and Andy (the pastor and his wife... but not in that order) are doing well. We've absolutely loved getting to know them and spending time with them. The four of us and our 3 kids (well, 4 if you count the child in Amanda's swelling belly) took a day trip to Memphis yesterday and hung out on Mud Island. Then we got caught in a nasty storm on the way back. It was good fun.

Speaking of good fun, kudzu to you if you can tell me what's wrong with this picture (apart from how off-balanced the framing is):

Blending right in...

2009-06-13T18:16:00.010-04:00

Peter's been working hard to be missional. Blending in to the indigenous culture and all. And yes, that's an empty stick of deodorant in his mouf.

How about a game of create your own captions?

Wasting no time...

2009-06-13T18:02:00.005-04:00

...but getting straight to work. The driveway apparently had a few too many rocks on it.

What the dump truck couldn't carry, Peter stored elsewhere...

I think he's adjusting just fine.

Kudos to the first person who can explain the man-made structure in the first picture.

The Homestead

2009-06-13T17:35:00.006-04:00

A generous family in the church has set us up in a nice, cozy little cabin on a hill. It's about the same size as our apartment, two stories, one bath, loft, wide front porch w/swing (as you can see), the ever-important a/c, and Direct TV. It also came with a stocked pantry and a home cooked meal waiting for us in the fridge.

I wish I would have taken pictures that day. It was very surreal. The sun was setting, the grass hadn't been burned up by the heat... the place dripped with charm. It still does.

What you don't see in this picture are the many walking paths that surround the place. As soon as I get us ahold of some boots, we'll go explorin' 'em. Sadly, they were left behind.

Charleston is a quaint little town in the Mississippi Delta. We live off of "the Delta Highway", a scenic little road that passes neatly on the border of the hill country and the Delta.

We actually live on the hill side (hence the cabin on the hill) off of a red dirt road:

A good portion of the hill country is overrun by kudzu, a vine not native to the country with the amazing propensity to transform ordinary pieces of land into something out of a Dr. Suess book:

On the way to Charleston

2009-06-13T17:26:00.003-04:00

A brief update, with more to follow:

The trip down to Charleston was pretty complicated. I was in Nashville, TN. But really, I was at Appalachian Bible College in West Virginia. But then I had to go back to Nashville and meet Amanda and Peter in Evansville. Amanda had a van full of stuff (as you can plainly see). So I made it back to Evansville, after a minor fight with a guard rail (poor Subaru). Then we went back down to Nashville and stayed with Joe and Jess Beck. And then, of course, we came all the way down to Charleston. Now we're here, and I'll be a-showin' ya what it's like soon.

And yes, she took that while she was driving... .

silly boy

2009-05-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T09:57:00.000-04:00

Pepsi drinking Peter

2009-05-07T17:31:00.003-04:00

One recent Sunday afternoon, Peter decided he wanted to try some of Papa's Pepsi. After getting it in his mouth and feeling all the bubbles, he'd wrinkle up his face and shiver all over. Then he'd start smiling and want more. Because, after all, Papa likes it. In the end, he decided that he would just stick with his milk.

the Littler Baby

2009-04-27T12:33:00.002-04:00

I had my first appointment on Friday to check on the new baby in our family. We heard a tiny little heart working just like it should. Everything looks good so far. Praise God!

yummy breakfast

2009-04-27T12:21:00.001-04:00

jelly belly

2009-04-17T15:29:00.002-04:00

He reached and reached and finally grabbed the bowl of jelly beans. And managed to eat a couple too. He was very pleased with himself.

More birthday cake

2009-04-06T23:02:00.003-04:00

Cake!

2009-03-25T16:06:00.008-04:00

The much anticipated birthday cake photos, and a video! More will come later, too.

Happy Birthday Peter!

2009-03-20T09:43:00.006-04:00

Peter's 1 year old!

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I don't get what I want!

the dramatic pose. Actually, this is what it looks like after he's been pretending to say hi to someone on the phone.

Cheese!

New Do

2009-03-04T07:56:00.001-05:00

The other morning Peter woke up with this little curl atop his head. I thought it was quite funny.

"Stop taking pictures of my hair!"

New Music From the Good Shepherd Band

2009-03-03T00:42:00.005-05:00

Many of you were at our wedding and enjoyed the band that led us. Well, they just released Wake Up Sleeper, their debut album, and Amanda and I really love it. Better than that, they're giving it away for free. So visit their website, download it, and let us know what you think!

[By the way, Peter and Jody Killingsworth, the GSB's lead singer, share a birthday. Even better, his beautiful daughter, Paloma, was born two weeks after Peter.]

More photos

2009-03-01T17:04:00.004-05:00

He decided I needed help.

Peter found a new favorite place to play.

Some older photos

2009-03-01T16:57:00.002-05:00

Here are some older photos that I never got around to putting up.
Here Peter is being the ham that he definitely has become.

11 months

2009-02-19T16:51:00.003-05:00

Almost there!

Birthday Wishes

2009-02-03T23:33:00.001-05:00

We tried. Many times.

2009-02-03T23:28:00.004-05:00

We love you!

We surprised Papa with a lasagna dinner with friends. We all had a good time.