Just so you know (consider yourself forewarned), I’ll be getting back to some issues we discussed last week–namely faith. I don’t mind talking politics, but if I’m going to discuss something “controversial,” I’d rather it be something my heart is already wrapped around–God and His Word.

I’m not as concerned that we all get on the same theological page as I am with this: are we fully living the life Christ died for us to have? Do we believe God is who He says He is? Do we believe His Word is alive and active today? Are we walking in step with the Spirit and allowing Him to produce fruit in our daily lives?

If I’m going to be criticized for my faith, I’d rather people say, “You have way too much faith. Your God is too big. He can’t possibly do all that you’re asking and expecting of Him. Especially when He has puny little ol’ you to work with.”

Because then I can sit back and let my God move and work and show Himself to be the Huge, Loving, Faithful God that He is.

And now for the Central Park Zoo.

We left the Bronx Zoo and headed into the madness that is Manhattan. After a fiasco or two trying to find a parking garage that wouldn’t empty our entire checking account and leave us stranded and penniless in NYC, we parked and walked a couple blocks to the zoo.

CPZ wasn’t on our original list of 52, but since we were already so close, we decided to tack it on to our list. It’s a tiny zoo, but it’s cute. And we took a little stroll through a bit of Central Park when we were done.

You know all those cool animals they have in the movie Madagascar? Well, they don’t have any of them at the actual zoo.

But they do have a toucan. Because why have giraffes when you can have birds?

Here is some sort of monkey sitting in a bowl.

And some sort of monkey standing in front of some pretty flowers.

The sea lion show was really cool. Their pool is in the middle of the zoo and surrounded by benches and flowers and greenery. Very picturesque.

And this, my friends, was my favorite part of the whole zoo. Meet little Zeppelin, the snow monkey. I’m not sure how old he is, but he’s a hundred kinds of adorable–in a freaky kind of way.

This is his mommy, Enez. And this is about how far she let him get away from her. He would cling to her fur, then jump off and wander a little bit away, then jump back over and bury his head in her chest and nurse for six seconds, then bounce off onto the rocks, then pick up a piece of something or other, then jump back to mom. Typical little boy. I stood and stared and grinned at him for-ever.

This is right after Zeppelin wandered to a dangerous precipice and Enez snatched him up quicker than I could blink. Such a good mommy.

And this? Well, this was a total God-thing, if I can say this without offending any diehard PC users. For you Apple guys/gals, you know this is the Mac Mecca. Gabe has been talking about this place since he got his first Mac three years ago.

Here’s the cool thing. Gabe (not complaining, just stating facts) had told me that it was pretty lame that we would be in NYC, Philly and DC and wouldn’t have time to see any sights, because we’d be at zoos all day. Imagine going to Philadelphia and not seeing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Imagine going to DC and not seeing the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. Imagine going to New York City and not seeing the Statue of Liberty–and the Apple Store!

One of my ongoing prayers is that this Zoo Thing would be awesome for every member of my family, not just me. That they won’t have to sacrifice just to make my dreams come true. As God would have it, we saw every last one of those things. Praise the Lord!

Philly Zoo pics coming tomorrow–while we’re at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan. Feeding giraffes among other things. (woohoo!!)

Have a great day, friends!