The Welcome Home
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News
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my
thoughts between
sips of coffee in...
March 2005 |
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 March
30, 2005 Taking a break from blogging for
several days.......
March
29, 2005 Well, she may have been
brain damaged and perhaps may have never
had the "quality of life" (what is
*that* anyway?!?!) of an affluent
athletic gardener, but the more time
goes... it's getting harder and harder
to accept the claim of Terri Schiavo's
liquefied cerebral cortex or that she
would never have recovered. The
longer I mull over the claim that she
initially collapsed because her heart
stopped due to a potassium imbalance,
the more I wonder why her heart was not
irreversibly damaged. As time
passes and I further consider that the
young woman has been strong enough to
live ---live---
without food and water for the last 12
days, the more I am convinced that an
atrocity of enormous proportion and a
heinous crime has been/is being
committed. A dependent woman is
being killed---on purpose---not by
accident---by the country that
guarantees life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness to all its citizens.
There are "unalienable" rights.
These are, in other words, rights can
not be taken away. O, I suppose
these rights are technically denied or
legally taken away when laws are broken
and imprisonment is imposed on an
individual, but Terri committed no crime
and caused no disturbance to anyone.
She is sentenced to death because a
simple decision was made: enough is
enough---her life was no longer worth
anything to her adulterous, bigamous
husband and his attorney and her death
sentence has been carried out by a
handful of judges who are acting like
they have the power to choose life and
death, the power to impose death on an
innocent citizen. I already
believed that many(!) judges in this
country have plunged into the immoral
abyss---now I know it to be true.
Interesting how things have gone
over the the last week and a half.
I find myself going to the radio at half
hour intervals... listening or clicking
Drudge a few times a day to see the
latest headlines. I click
random blogs occasionally reading what
"both sides" are saying. It's an
interesting study to read polar
opposites. Amazing how the court
of public opinion remains in session
24/7 all over the world---but, then, we
all do that, don't we? We know
what's best. Only some of us talk
to the flat screen... half expecting an
answer.
And,
behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom;
and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27.51
A major earthquake off the coast of Indonesia
March
28, 2005 My sweet mother-in-law
celebrates her
75th birthday today!
Happy Birthday, Mom!!
Really... it's hard for me to believe that's her
age as she's much more active than *I*
am and accomplishes more in a day than I
do in a week! Really! She's
remarkable---always has been.
I'm so looking forward to our visit with
her in Indiana! It's so important
to me to know where she lives, to see
the things that are important to
her---what she likes to see and do.
We'll be going with her and Bill to
their church---The John Wesley Free
Methodist Church and she's got other
plans, too! I can't wait to see the
surrounding area---Wes tells me it's
flat---very flat! I can't imagine
flat land! I can't imagine
flat land and few trees---everywhere I
Look outside I see hills/mountains and
trees! We also look forward to
meeting friends we've never met in
person but have known for years over
email. had a sweet experience
meeting a family and getting to know
them through email and phone calls which
led to a couple of visits and then a
couple of years later, their relocation
to this area. Oh, that family has
had severe testings of faith and yet
they just day by day walk with the LORD,
trusting Him and His Hand in their life.
They're a testimony to His mercy and
grace. All that to say that God
has sweet ways of blessing---sometimes
He works in ways we'd least expect and
perhaps couldn't understand but we see
His hand when we stand back and take a
look. So... I smile as I
think of meeting another family and
getting to know them --- in person.
I seriously would never have dreamed I'd
have this opportunity. I think we
began writing (off and on) something
like five years ago. Well... so,
those plans are underway.
I've
never read
Harlan Ellison---well, except over
my husband's shoulder something like 26
or 27 years ago when he was reading a
book whose title intrigued me then and
has ever since: "I have no mouth and yet
I must Scream." I've used that
line so many times over the years when I
realize the small box of my existence
prevents my voice from being heard.
Well... like it matters. I've
never read his books, followed his work
or thoughts and know next to nothing,
really, about him. He has some
catchy lines that are attributed to
him---proving even the lost are or can
be used for good. Please don't
question my theology in that one---there
wasn't a decade of study in that
statement. Anyway, Mr. Ellison is
not a believer, in fact, I read
somewhere that he doesn't believe in
God. I know, actually, one day
even his knee will bow---so for now,
people whose lives will never be touched
or influenced by mine might well be by
another who walks with the LORD. I
suppose that even my referencing him
here would, to some, be so vulgar so as
to have been shocking---I assure you I
don't seek to encourage you to read his
works, peruse his site and/or study his
writings---I just added the link so as
to give credit where credit was
due---that quote has practically become
my own---so I wanted to give proper
credit, yes, remembering how improper
the source.
Sunday night
Ah---what a wonderful Resurrection Day remembrance.
This was our first "Easter Sunday"
outside the "Institutional church" and
truly, it was an odd "feeling."
Not sad or disappointed or regretful,
but strange. I realized that
[for us] lots of things that we've
always done are/were only done because
of "tradition" and not conviction and
[for us!] this has been a critical thing
to examine. [For us] it's been
important to stop doing things because
of "traditions of men" and seek to
live/do/be/think/follow because it's
what the LORD Jesus desires of us.
There are [to us] many "man-made" or
"man-centered" or "man-inspired" systems
that need be/must be seen for what they
are and addressed. Many things
we've always done were done because of
tradition and lacked Spiritual authority
or inspiration. I share this
because as we walk through this journey,
we're discovering (as we discover we are
*not* alone) many are walking this same
road. We're discovering that while
many *know* the LORD led them out of the
IC, they also wonder *what* He's calling
them to *do* now. After all... you
know... it's ingrained in us to *do*
things---many good things.
And---please understand, I am not being
critical or sarcastic. This is
just the scenery along this part of the
path and I am describing what it looks
like from here.
Well,
so, from early in the morning, we
marveled at the account of the
resurrection of our LORD, we so enjoyed
the beautiful
music playing in the background here. After our family read
through the four Gospels---the accounts
of the crucifixion and resurrection of
the LORD Jesus, and had a good time of
prayer, and singing, we had a delicious
breakfast of bacon & sausage and
Aebleskivers! I would've made them
Cinnamon rolls for b'fast this morning,
but---you know, it being my birthday
weekend and all, I didn't get some
things done---a girl can only do so
much, and then even sweet things (no pun
intended) go by the wayside.
We decided to go up to visit Grandma at
her home and to also see Grandpa Gene at
the nursing home---but first we decided
that it'd be fun to take a plate of
Aebleskivers over to my mom and pop.
So we did that and then headed north on
the freeway. Fortunately, the
drive was easy---and we didn't hit rain
until our return trip. Our visit
to Grandpa (96)was sad... he never
really woke up and he seemed to not be
doing so well. Hopefully, soon,
he'll leave that home and go to live
with his granddaughter and
grandson-in-law. They really want
to take care of him in their home---even
relocating to do so. It'll be
better for him that way and he'll
receive the loving-care he needs.
Institutions can't do what a single
family can do---and that is in no way
meant to be a slam on those
facilities---or institutions ;o)
We were happy to see Grandma (96½) doing
so well. When we arrived, an aunt
was doing a foot bath---so it seemed at
first, but then upon a closer look, it
was obvious this was no ordinary foot
bath. Seems Grandma was getting a
de-tox treatment. Hmmmm. So
we watched as the procedure continued
and the water appeared to get uglier and
uglier. Sort of taking on the
appearance of standing water in a
bucket of rusty nails. Yes, so it
was interesting... I tucked the
information away in my small mind and
determined to read up on this *amazing,*
and *wonderful* treatment. Well,
so she proceeded to describe what was
taking place and that Grandma was
actually benefiting from the process.
Apparently, it's all the rage. I'm
thinking rage, alright... out*rage*ous.
But then... I suppose there have been
many outrageous claims over the years
and I've missed out on the fabulous
benefits to many things from dance to
meditation to special diets, magnets,
and a myriad of other trendy things.
I'm looking for the chocolate and salsa
and chips diet revolution---and for some
benefit to being overweight. Yes,
something I always deal with...
:-(
We visited, looked at pictures, and
Bjorn and his new wife, Delanae came
in and we had an opportunity to talk
with them and to meet her children.
They had many pictures of their recent
wedding and honeymoon---so we looked
through those. I'm sure that it
was probably an bittersweet time for
Bjorn... happy with his new wife... yet,
likely remembering that one year ago,
Kathryn had passed into heaven. I
was remembering that her memorial
service was the same day as my birthday.
It was the sweetest birthday I'd ever
had---a different kind of
celebration---one, I'll never forget.
Truly bittersweet.
Our visit continued... we were also told
of the amazing benefits of energized
water... I guess the amazing thing to me
is the price that some are willing to
pay for this incredible, life-changing
water. I'm thinking: I know where
to get life changing water. I was
standing there just nodding. I
chuckle to myself that some of the
family probably thinks I'm on prozac---sort
of just glazed over nodding sometimes as
I don't jump in and want to hear all
about the latest discoveries and
transforming experiences---always
something new. I sort of got
nervous when she was talking about hydro
therapy---and pet hydro-therapy she
plans to integrate in her practice in
her new office... I was scared she'd
start talking about whatever's going on
with
colon hydro therapy or "colonics."
I didn't tell her I have some ideas from
time to time about cat hydro...
Well, anyway, the time came for us to
return home and by that time I was
recalling that the gas gauge was
revealing the full *E* so I had that on
my mind as we said our good-byes.
Speaking of empty, on the way out,
passing by the now empty basin that held
the nasty looking water, I again just
nodded... Grandma, obviously
feeling cared for, just hugged us all as
we said our good-byes. I tried not
to encourage further conversation
regarding the latest health discoveries
and techniques. I didn't have
itching ears. But then... I'm not
into feng shui, karma, chi, yin & yang
or balance of elements and energy and
all that and never will be. I won't be
looking for energized water or ion bars
or anything like that---well, chocolate
bars, maybe.
I'm thinking:
I know of life changing water.
And
the rain sure was beautiful.
Okay... so that all happened... When we
got home and everyone settled down after
dinner to play games, I decided to take
a look at the fantastic claims of
hydrotherapy. I had no trouble
locating information. In fact, I'd
still be sitting here from last night
and could be here for weeks in order to
read all the links available. Had
I stuck with the first, I might be
ordering a home model today! If I
believed the remarkable claims, I'd even
shrug off the $1,500. price tag.
But then, I read on... and on.
Seems that our initial skepticism was
not so far off (scroll to may 2004).
In fact a couple of articles instantly
dismissed the claims as quackery.
So, the next time someone asks if you'd
like to have a detox procedure and that
you'd really benefit from one month (14
procedures) of treatment for something
like 35 dollars per treatment, perhaps
ask them if you could just see what the
water would look like with the
"energizer bars" set into the water sans
feet after about thirty minutes. I
should've known this was going to lead
to much reading upon returning home when
I read the first terrific claims as we
stood there. Similar to the
Aqua Chi here.
Saturday
my birthday...
Such a sweet day. Wes
was going to take me to the Cabbage
Patch restaurant in Snohomish---it just
reopened on Friday (one year after a
fire badly damaged the historic
restaurant). Oh... I
love that restaurant! So many
sweet memories of sharing meals or
coffee and pie there. Well... so,
he was going to take me there but they
opened a bit later than we had
time to wait for. So... we ate at
another neat restaurant in town.
As always, we had such an enjoyable time
together---we've been celebrating many
years now. Throughout the day I
enjoyed the great blessing of spending
time at home... with the children,
cooking and working around.
Really, it was a sweet day.
Kathryn prepared a scrumptious dinner
and the evening was spent just "hanging
around" with family... it really was the
best kind of way to spend celebrating.
We had to take a quick look at the
new
(under-construction) visitor information center.
I find it almost impossible to believe an 880 square foot
building on an itty-bitty-tiny space at
the entrance corner of the "historic
district" will cost: $672,500.
More of the use of "O, wow!" around
here. Really, I find it to be
absolutely astonishing---considering the
size and location of the building and
its relative worth both monetarily and
its purpose. An historic home just
up the street didn't sell for that high
a price just recently---and that was for
a large home on a good sized lot---*not*
next to the river! I really hope
that the $672,500. price tag is a
misprint---but it's likely not. I
guess it's five years in the planning
and building process---mainly due to
permits; "...the
city had to conduct an environmental
study because the site is near the
Snohomish River" according to mayor Liz
Loomis. Yes---to say the site is
near the river is an understatement.
Were it any nearer, it'd have to be
constructed on a barge. I
always wonder what actually comprises an
environmental study---seems like a
pretty arbitrary thing to me. O,
but what do I know... I drive a fifteen
passenger van, wash white clothes in hot
water with Clorox and a second rinse,
use paper towels, every year get so fed
up that we do a Round-up session on the
tall grasses and weeds, have cats for
the sole purpose of "mouse-control" and
think global warming and animal
endangerment is a hoax and result of
absurd convoluted thinking. Ah... so it
goes in Snohomish. See? "I
have no mouth and yet..."
In light of current events and the
life and murder of "Teri Schiavo"Doug
Phillip's blog is worth reading today - March
26th.
March
26, 2005 This
has been one of my favourite days of the
year for many, many years. Many
years. I'm celebrating life
today---thankful to and for my mother,
and of course for my family---they are
all the greatest gifts. I'm
celebrating new life in Jesus Christ, my
LORD.
I'm celebrating the fact
that the grave could not keep Him, death
could not conquer Him---that He
conquered death and sin once and for
all---the price has been paid.
Several years ago I heard
a sermon by,
Dr. S.M. Lockridge----I
can practically hear it again right now,
his resonating deep voice---a
skilled orator with perfect diction and,
it's an understatement to say that he
was familiar with the "topic" of his
message---it is undoubtedly one of the
most powerful messages I've ever heard.
I print it here in good faith that I am
not infringing on copyright by printing
it. This circulated the web.
I share it with all due respect to the
late,
Dr. Lockridge,
today in light of the commemoration of
the crucifixion, death, burial and
resurrection of our LORD and Saviour,
Jesus Christ. *This* is truly what
I celebrate today. Any other
celebrating we'll do today will just add
to the sweetness of the great love and
mercy of our LORD.
My King
By Dr. S.M. Lockridge
The Bible
says my King is a seven-way king....
He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial
king....
He's the King of Israel; that's a national
King....
He's the King of Righteousness....
He's the King of the Ages.....
He's the King of Heaven....
He's the King of Glory....
He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of
lords.
That's my King.
Well....I wonder, do you know Him?.... David
said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God
and the firmament shows His handiwork. My
King is a sovereign King. No means of
measure can define His limitless love. No
far seeing telescope can bring into
visibility the coastline of His shoreless
supply.
No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out
His blessings. He's enduringly
strong....He's entirely sincere....
He's eternally steadfast....He's immortally
graceful....He's imperially powerful....He's
impartially merciful.....
Do you know
Him?
He's the
greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the
horizon of this world. He's God's Son....
He's a sinner's Saviour....He's the
centerpiece of civilization....
He stands in the solitude of Himself....
He's august....He's unique....He's
unparalleled....He's unprecedented....
He's the loftiest idea in literature....
He's the highest personality in
philosophy....
He's the supreme problem in higher
criticism....
He's the fundamental doctrine of true
theology....
He's the cardinal necessity for spiritual
religion....
He's the miracle of the age....
He's the superlative of everything good that
you choose to call Him....
He's the only one qualified to be an all
sufficient Saviour......
I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies
strength for the weak....He's available for
the tempted and the tried....
He sympathizes and He saves....He
strengthens and sustains....He guards and He
guides....He heals the sick....
He cleanses lepers....He forgives
sinners....He discharges debtors....He
delivers captives....
He defends the feeble....He blesses the
young....He serves the unfortunate....He
regards the aged....
He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies
the meek.......
I wonder if
you know Him?
Well, my
King....is the King....He's the key
to knowledge....He's the wellspring to
wisdom....He's the doorway of
deliverance....He's the pathway of
peace....He's the roadway of righteousness
....He's the highway of holiness....He's the
gateway of glory.......
Do you know
Him?
Well....His
office is manifold....His promise is
sure....His light is matchless....His
goodness is limitless....
His mercy is everlasting....His love never
changes....His word is enough....His grace
is sufficient....
His reign is righteous....
and His yoke is easy, and his burden is
light. I wish I could describe Him to you,
but He's indescribable....
He's incomprehensible....He's
invincible....He's irresistible.
Well, you
can't get Him out of your mind....You can't
get Him off of your hand....
You can't out live Him, and you can't live
without Him....
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they
found out they couldn't stop Him....
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies
to agree....
Herod couldn't kill Him....
Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave
couldn't hold Him.
Yea!!!, that's my King,
that's my King.
Father..."Thine is the Kingdom....and the
Power....and the Glory....Forever"....and
ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long
is that? And ever...and ever...
and when you get through with all the
forevers, then.... AMEN!....AMEN!
I just located this
link... you can listen, if you'd like.
My King
March
25, 2005
"Family balancing." Sounds almost
innocuous, doesn't it? I mean,
everyone's looking for a little more of
that each day. Don't we all seek a
little balance in life? In light
of the current "Schiavo case" (sorry, so
sterile a description---isn't it
becoming so common) and consideration
for life---quality and meaning of life,
this story concerning, in part, "family
balancing" is sickening---really, it
is. It's blatant disregard for the
sanctity of life---this goes beyond
ethics, beyond "right and wrong" or
admissible or inadmissible. This
is beyond the arena of ideas and social
acceptability. Reality is that
people are making choices everyday to
destroy life---abortion being only one
avenue. Over time, desensitization
and social conditioning leads to social
acceptance of things perhaps once
thought despicable. So,
family balancing... how about
this, here's some convoluted thinking,
from the same article:
"Fertility expert Lord Robert Winston
also backed sex selection. He said:
"People will still want to conceive
naturally. The more I think about it,
the more I find it difficult to
understand why sex selection should be
regarded as such an appallingly bad
thing." " Pretty soon, human
life will (to some) be merely the means
to another end. Material, if you
will, for other purposes---sort of like
growing human beings as spare parts or
material for others. Polyester.
Stuff. Baggies. Thread.
Wiring. Juice. Just stuff
that makes other stuff work. I
often wonder why God allows man to
meddle with His creation. I
suppose there are personal
contradictions even to that
statement---where does medicine/surgical
procedures/etc. fit in with all this.
Still... the thought does not leave...
God creates life; it's His to choose,
His to begin, His to end; His to
prolong, His to shorten. His to
choose. To destroy life on a
whim... to destroy life because it's
inconvenient or because it's not the
gender of our preference---how vile this
is. To choose what is contrary to
the perfect will of God is sin.
Sin is not just missing the mark, it is
choosing self-will over God's will.
From the fall of man---It's always been
self or God.
It would have
been, at an earlier time, thought vile to do, think,
or say things that are commonly done, thought or
said today. Over time, things once
thought immoral or unethical have become
ordinary---perhaps even acceptable. But
whatever is common, whatever is currently numbing
the senses, in reality, will one day be judged.
One day it will all come into the Light. So
today, while we might feel as though we helplessly
stand by, seemingly unconvincingly arguing the
unethical or immoral social paradigms, there will
one day come a day of reckoning. In That
Day... that great and terrible day.
"Because
he hath appointed a day, in the which he
will judge the world in righteousness by
that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he
hath given assurance unto all men, in that
he hath raised him from the dead."
Acts 17.31
"The Lord
is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance. But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night; in the which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up. Seeing then that
all these things shall be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day
of God, wherein the heavens being on fire
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless
we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness."
2Peter 3.9-13
Thinking on the cross.
In our home, lately---perhaps many, many
times over the years, we've been talking
about the great enemy of man...
instantly, and initially, it would seem
that I would refer to the devil---but I
am referring to the powerful,
relentless, creative, gripping power of:
-self-. Self is the greatest
barrier to obedience---the greatest
obstacle to choosing 'right' ----
advertently/inadvertently choosing
wrong. It is the destructive force
that hinders our compliance,
thwarts submission, frustrates our plans
and deters our acts of righteousness.
Self. The ugly truth is that self
is often lazy, deceptive and insatiable.
I won't quote all of it here, but Romans
7 helps me understand this
paradox---this irony of life. Romans
7.15 "For that which I do I allow not:
for what I would, that do I not; but
what I hate, that do I." Actually,
memorizing in Romans---chapters 6, 7 and
8 brings great help and hope and victory
of the great enemy of -self-.
Slaying the dragon... whatever it is, at
any given time, is a believer's "cross,"
if you will. It is the 'thing' to
deny to take up the cross and follow
Him. So, thinking on the cross...
taking up ones' cross and following
Him---Jesus. As has been the case
many times, David Kupelian has written
another great article---
The Passion of the Christian.
I wanted to reference it
today as, today in "tradition" of the
church, we remember the crucifixion of
our LORD Jesus. So, this one deals
with more than the issue of self/death
to self---perhaps more, the duty of a
believer. From his article,
"The
next question is: What am I willing to
do, to suffer? Can I face my own pride?
It's the one enemy most of us don't
really want to have to face."
I'm amazed at the mercy
of God.
I could never do anything, be anything,
think anything: to earn my way to
redemption.
because of the cross...
because of Jesus
and Jesus alone
I stand redeemed.
I stand in awe,
I stand redeemed.
I consider Jesus...
"Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God."
Hebrews 12.2
One day I will see my Saviour face to
Face and I will be home...
today, because of the Cross, I stand
redeemed.
It's only Jesus. It's always been
just Jesus.
"Neither
is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under
heaven
given among men, whereby we must be
saved."
Acts 4.12
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the ground
is level
at the
foot
of the cross.
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Near The Cross
Fannie Crosby 1820-1915
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall
find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling
soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning
star
Sheds its beams around me.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o'er me.
Near the cross I'll watch and
wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
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March
24, 2005 So... that
happened. Another day passes;
another request denied. Soon
the one week mark will come and one must
wonder if Terri Schiavo will pass on
Friday---poor, helpless dear... her body
must be wracking with pain.
In tenacious attempts to have their case
heard, Terri Shiavo's parents surely
have appeared to seek every available
option---the latest and final, to the
Supreme Court. It was, in reality,
no great surprise that the
Court denied hearing the case (thus
refusing to order food/water be resumed)
as they have not acted to do so on
several previous occasions. It
would seem they've no more hope and yet
even today they wait to hear the
decision by Judge Greer as to whether
the State of Florida could somehow
become her "guardian" and subsequently
order her feeding tube reinserted.
If history plays out as it did then,
this, too, will be a futile effort as
Judge Greer exclaimed in in times past,
"
I don't want anyone feeding that girl..."
And so it goes.
So Judge Greer has
just denied a petition that the state to take
custody of Terri Schiavo. So... is this
it... she just goes on starving with no
intervention, no tender care and physical support.
People in this country go to prison for treating
animals in a way that is deemed inhumane---for
things that don't even compare to this ---*this* is
inhumane---.
Then what? She
dies, we feel bad for that family, we
think it an atrocity---we think: Man,
there ought to be a law! We wonder
what will happen next? We consider
talking with our loved ones---telling
them something like, "If I am
ever_____________, no heroics, no life
support, no nothing... I wouldn't want
to be a burden..." yada, yada,
yada. Then we'd move on...
thinking this has been just a travesty
of justice... such a shame---such a
pathetic loss. And then another
day would pass...
A couple of women write
columns I enjoy reading... I wondered
what they were thinking about all
this---about the Terri Schiavo
"situation" and all the he said, she
said and all the back and forth
political/judicial wrangling that's
transpired. Makes me think of
Jesus trekking back and forth, Pilate to
Herod to Pilate... and then there was
that jury of public opinion: crucify
Him, crucify Him! I do not wish to
draw parallels between my LORD Jesus and
this woman---only to say that there
seems to be a parallel regarding
jurisdictions and personal and public
opinion. The [commemorative]
timing is an interesting 'coincidence,'
too. Well, so what's Ann Coulter
saying about this case? I knew
it'd be worth considering and
worth reading.
And it is. In addition to many
notable comments on Judge Greer, she
says,
"As
a practical matter, courts will
generally have the last word in
interpreting the law because courts
decide cases. But that's a pragmatic
point. There is nothing in the law, the
Constitution or the concept of
"federalism" that mandates giving courts
the last word. Other public officials,
including governors and presidents, are
sworn to uphold the law, too. "
Then, I wondered what Peggy Noonan has
to say... again, I am not disappointed.
She begins her Opinion Journal piece:
"God made the
world or he didn't.
God made you or he didn't.
If he did, your little human life is, and
has been, touched by the divine. If this is
true, it would be true of all humans, not
only some. And so--again, if it is
true--each human life is precious, of
infinite value, worthy of great respect."
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Peggy Noonan then goes on to make
some profound observations---some
resonate with things I've said over
and over... why are the save the
whales people, the save the trees
people, the save the donkeys
people--- why are they so interested
in, and demand the right, to kill
unborn babies?... so foolish... but,
I digress. So, later in her
article, she writes:
"And
those who are still learning--our
children--oh, what terrible lessons
they're learning. What terrible
stories are shaping them. They're
witnessing the Schiavo drama on
television and hearing it on radio.
They are seeing a society--their
society, their people--on the verge
of famously accepting, even
embracing, the idea that a damaged
life is a throwaway life."
She
continues, "Our children have been
reared in the age of abortion, and
are coming of age in a time when
seemingly respectable people are
enthusiastic for euthanasia. It
cannot be good for our children, and
the world they will make, that they
are given this new lesson that human
life is not precious, not touched by
the divine, not of infinite value."
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I just received a
call---actually it was for my husband but she then
thought it "okay" to talk to me when I inquired the
nature of her call. She represented a lending
company, claiming she could lower our monthly
payments and that we'd been preapproved for a loan.
She just needed to know what our monthly
payment/interest rate is. When I inquired that
if we'd already been "pre-approved" then why didn't
she also have that information? I asked her
who'd approved us, she said that she had that
information from our current lending company.
So I commented that she didn't really have
pre-approved credit, she simply had our name.
I told her that it was a lie that we had been
pre-approved and wondered why she told me that.
She then stated that, well, uh... actually, they
just had our name. I again told her that her
statement was a lie. She stammered.
I told her that I wouldn't do unsolicited business
over the phone and further, wouldn't continue a
conversation with someone who'd opened with a lie...
would she do business with someone disingenuous like
that? So that's how that went. Lies...
bleck.
“No-one will ever
know you were here, we’ll bury your records.”
What a lie. Abortion: the great lie!
More disregard for the sanctity of life---for the
Sovereignty of God and for Truth. The truth
is... people will know... records never really get
buried. That's a lie from the enemy. Ask
any woman who's had an abortion. Even the most
callus will not have forgotten what she did/allowed.
Most agaonize over their decisions. God knows
and so does the enemy of the soul---the great
perpetrator of lies. So, another case that
boggles the mind:
This, from an
Illinois Leader.com article, a mother was
arrested and taken into custody for trying to talk
to her ---f-o-u-r-t-e-e-n--- year old daughter at an
abortion clinic. Fourteen years old.
Well, the authorities were called when, according to
the mother, she took a seat near the main desk and
then she said: "I was told I could not prove my
daughter was there so I began calling her name. A
medical tech at the clinic told me , ‘It’s your
daughter’s rights, it’s her body. You have no
rights.’” The parents are responsible
for her care. Her schooling. Her meals.
Her housing. Her safety. Her clothing.
Her health. No... wait---her health, only so
long as they stay out of any
decision/treatment/destruction of life in that
child. If that child should become sick or
develop an infection from that abortion... are those
"protectors" at that abortion clinic going to step
in an care for, administer medical help or continue
protecting that f-o-u-r-t-e-e-n year old child?
Or... will it remain true: "No-one will ever know
you were here, we’ll bury your records."
Will the parents then be responsible for and be
summoned to care for that sick daughter?
See where disregard
for the sanctity of human life is going?
Tomorrow is Friday...
but we know Sunday's coming!
Praise the LORD.
March
23, 2005 I suppose, every
day, in every state, all across America,
all over the world people are lying in
hospital beds: people whose lives long
ago ceased being "productive" or who
seem to have no real or significant
worth. Every day lives end.
Every day people say good bye to people
they've loved, people they've cared
for---people who've loved them in
return. So it would seem is
the natural course of life---and then
there are those whose lives are so
neglected that they seem useless---but
they're not useless at all. Terri Schiavo... her life seeming to end so
tragically----many thinking it ended
years ago. Were she to have had
tender loving care all these years
perhaps all that's transpiring wouldn't
be and perhaps this story would have an
entirely different conclusion in the
end. Seems that it's only
speculation now---all the what if's and
should have been's that will never be
known. What a tragic handling of
precious human life. Animals in
this country receive better treatment
and protection than this helpless woman.
The opportunity for her life to be
spared seems to have
further diminished as the federal
appeals court determined 2-1 to deny
the reinsertion of the feeding tube that
gives her nourishment.
March
22, 2005
Okay... so all that happened yesterday. What
will today bring?
U.S. District Judge James Whittemore has
now
rendered his decision
and has
refused to order the reinsertion of
Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Now
it's assumed that Terri Schiavo's
parents will take case to federal
appeals court. The
Worldnet Daily article follows with
a chronology of articles of events leading to this
point.
March
21, 2005
This day's inscription could well be:
Terri's Future Hangs in the Balance.
At present, a Federal Judge is reviewing
the case and a hearing is set for 3pm
eastern. More later...
Meanwhile... it's time to study, cook
and clean... the dailies that keep
moving right along. There's a lot
of work to do... but we're not buried
under it. The rooms are clean
enough that I don't need a rake or
mulching vacuum I sometimes dream would
be invented. And, thankfully, we
don't need avalanche control.
No, this is just another day of the
same-ol, same-ol----but what a sweet day
of opportunity the LORD has given us.
►That
plane flying overhead just might be
taking multi-angled aerial photographs
of your home---in what might be very
invasive pictures of the activities at
your address. Using technology,
the program called
Pictometry, aerial photos of homes
and buildings could be available to
everyone from government entities to
police and fire for valuable assistance
in handling emergencies. They
could also use information gathered and
compare photos taken a couple of years
previous to current photos to assess the
value and/or improvements or changes
made to properties and homes. This
could have significant consequences both
good and bad, depending on what's been
done and how. Imagine the
consequences of an addition or deck or
out-building built without a permit.
Or, imagine if there was a squabble over
boundary lines and you had the ability
to visually demonstrate encroachment to
your property by a developer or some
other entity. I suppose there
would be terrific benefits to
Pictometry---say an emergency was
called in, Fire would have instant
visuals of a homes' location and
particulars of the property thus
enabling them to be aware of special
equipment, etc., needed. Some feel
the government intrusion has already
gone too far and this is yet another
gross invasion of privacy. The
program is apparently so accurate that
small details like lane striping are
visible in the photos---and that small
backyard project? That'd be right
out there, too.
March
20-21, 2005 O, to be
found walking hand in Hand with the
Saviour. I thank Him and praise
Him for the opportunity of my life and
for the unfathomable mercy and
inestimable blessings He's literally
flooded my life with. He's given
me so many opportunities and, truly,
His grace has no bounds---I see that---I
see it every day, I see it everywhere
and what's so astonishing to me is that
I have *known* it many years. Many
years---how can it be that God in His
mercy looked down and saw: me.
This truly is amazing love. I
think of the times I disregarded the
great opportunity of my life---the many
times I thought so little of my life
that I felt it wasn't worth
living---yes, shocking, I know. I
continually thought of how many more
brave, more adept, more capable, more
________whatever than me women there are
and who could be here in my place doing
a better job than me---I was discounting
the great and marvelous handiwork of the
LORD in forming me in my mother's
womb----and then(!) giving *me* the
incredible honour and privilege to have
eleven living children and now, three
grand children. Isn't the enemy
crafty... isn't he cunning... So,
sure there *are* many more brave, more
adept, more capable, more: everything(!)
than me---but that doesn't matter, does
it. It was God's to choose my
life, His to mold it and shape it into
the fashion He intended and it's His to
use and bless as He chooses. Now,
why all this---all this that borders on
drivel, at least or on some sort of
"True Confessions." No, what's
bringing these thought to the fore is
the seeming disregard of life... and the
accepted self deprecation that some [of
us] engage in from time to time.
It's causing me to stop and think:
Stop it---don't do that any longer.
God's got a great plan... a great
purpose for each life He creates.
Who are we to stop Him and further, who
are we to degrade what He's
planned/designed? The enemy
is crafty and only seeks death---death
of a life, death of a vision, death of a
plan, death of faith, death of
trust-------any thing to attack God.
But we know that the LORD Jesus has
conquered death---ours is to live in
that Victory. Praise Him... our
Saviour is Victorious over the enemy.
The puny enemy of our souls.
Here is our strength: "For
God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ."
2Corinthians 4:6 There is no
salvation in any other: Jesus, our
Saviour. The Way, the Truth, the
Life. The Life. The Life
that is the Light of men and in Him is
no darkness at all. I meditate on
this early this morning and I am pricked
in my thoughts... in my heart. How can I
ever entertain those low and dark
thoughts and claim the Name of Jesus, my
Saviour? Those thoughts are
not from Him. Those thoughts have
nothing good in them. Jesus gives
Light and Life---in Him is no darkness
at all.
I
was hugging my little Naomi and talking
with her before she went up to bed.
We were talking of the special gifts God
gives us in life. Some people call
them "handicaps" or disabilities.
We've learned to call them special gifts
or blessings. She knows that
unilateral deafness is a blessing of the
LORD in her life. She knows that
it helps her to listen closely to listen
more intently. Yes, I know...
sounds like double talk---but really,
she must listen to hear if there's
something to listen to. She's done
remarkably well---and she knows she has
to be attentive; she knows she might
miss some important
information---perhaps life
threatening/life saving---or for
information that fudge brownies are
being served. :-) God makes
no mistakes---every life is precious.
We lose sight of that sometimes---that's
the method the enemy employs so often...
his tactics to obscure our vision that
we miss how precious life is.
►
The fight to preserve Terri's life and
right to live continues. Last
moment efforts to spare her life are
being made at the moment in a bill that
was
signed by President Bush---truly a
remarkably merciful act of Congress.
The aim is to have the courts hear her
case and what might actually allow
reinsertion of her feeding tube -today-!
There's an impressive site that has
several links to
videos of Terri----clearly not in a
vegetative state---but clearly
demonstrating the need for special care
and intensive therapy---all of which
have been prevented by her husband.
►
Plan B has a whole new definition.
Used to be that one would say, go to
plan B when plan A wasn't working out so
well or when plan A's options had been
exhausted. Not so, anymore.
Now, Plan B means destruction or
death---or so it would potentially be to
a newly conceived child. Plan B is
a "morning after" pill---apparently
comparable to what's available in this
state over-the-counter or by
prescription. Depending on who's
talking, it's thought that the hold up
of "Plan B's" FDA approval as an over
the counter drug is political in nature.
In a demonstration of far left leaning
thinking, yet-to-be confirmed
commissioner of the Food
and Drug Administration, Lester Crawford
says that approval is overdue.
This, from the
Seattle PI: "The FDA needs
high-quality leadership. Crawford must
show senators that he understands the
need to act on sound science, even when
it causes political discomfort."
---Or death.
► Can you imagine paying
$3. for a gallon of gas? It's not
quite that high here in the Northwest...
but apparently it's coming. I
cannot imagine needing One Bill to pay
for a full tank of gas for our van.
Already, it's taking nearly $70. to fill
it. Hmmmm... amazing!
This is surely a sign of the times.
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We're gratefully remembering our
Amelia's namesake, sweet Amelia Pais,
who at 82, went home to be with the
LORD, March sixth. We are so
thankful for all the precious memories,
stories, prayers and Scripture verses
we've shared over the years. Today
we hopped in the van and drove a few
hours to attend her memorial service,
the sanctuary filled with family and
friends who'd gathered in her honour.
Many stories were shared, tears were
shed and hymns of praise were sung by
all who were gathered. It was
truly a bittersweet time as each story
prompted thoughts of related stories and
special memories that resonated
throughout the crowd. She
was a tiny little woman with an
incredibly big heart and faith in the
LORD---or, as she said it, it sounded
like: "Laud" or "Deah Laud." I can
hear her saying it now... I can hear her
talking of her love for the Saviour and
her love for her children... grand and
great-grand children. I can hear
her saying... "but I tell you the truth,
I praise the Laud!" |
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I am
grateful too, for the opportunity to see
many old friends... truly precious
friends we rarely see because of
proximity, schedules or in several
cases, because we no longer "attend that
church" or, in the case of the Pais's,
because of moving far from here.
What a sweet blessing it is to have
long-time friends---friends we seem to
be able to pick-up conversations right
where we left off... and that's a sweet
joy to me. Many were surprised by
how the children had grown---I'm glad
they didn't say that about me! ;-) and
they wanted to hear all the latest.
I was happy to share... and happy to
introduce them to the children that have
been born to us since we left that
fellowship. I guess I feel great
joy tonight knowing that the family of
God---the true family really knows no
bounds and a building needn't define us
or confine us---it's how it ought to be
and was sweet to see it in reality
today.
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Mr. Pais was so dear to
(our) Amelia this
afternoon... telling her
that Mrs. Pais had gone to
be with the LORD and so now
little 'Melia needs to carry
on and love the LORD and
live for Him. He told
her that it would make Mrs.
Pais so very happy.
Well, I pray the same for
little Amelia... for, Mrs.
Pais left a legacy of love
and faithfulness as
demonstrated by those who
were gathered and by what
they said about her and the
things they remembered and
treasured most. I have
a quote in my Bible that I
wrote many years ago and it
was: Mrs. Pais's Psalm...
Psalm 71. She
would often say "I will yet
praise Him more and more."
I think of that when I face
trials or difficulties:
I will yet praise Him more
and more. |
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But
I will hope continually, and will yet
praise thee more and more.
Psalm 71.14
I
am grateful for her many examples of
faithful waiting on the LORD---patient
in affliction, rejoicing in hope.
Never ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and never missing an opportunity
to praise Him. How I praise Him
for her and thank Him for the
opportunity of her life. She
surely blessed me... surely blessed our
family... and now she's home...
finally
home and no doubt praising the LAUD more
and more--and the saints are rejoicing:
she's HOME!!
The above pics
were taken a year ago...
Our
little Melia is named for Mrs. Pais and
for another dear saint, Florence
Turnidge. I had a feeling that
Amelia would be my last baby... the last
of many blessings of the LORD and so I
wanted to give her a name that
represented qualities I prayed she'd
develop or possess as a faithful woman
of the LORD one day. There are
many women in my life I could've chosen
to name her after... many precious
friends---godly women I love and admire.
I was simply looking to name her after a
couple of women who lived long---very
long faithful, fruitful and joyful
lives---women I knew personally, who I
had talked with, prayed and cried with
over the years, women who advised me
regarding marriage, children, ministry
and motherhood, women who had, by their
example demonstrated what it is to
faithfully walk with the LORD.
They, in addition to a couple of others
are two who encouraged me to teach women
and to share what God is doing/has done
and encourage other women to follow Him
in marriage/home/family. So... our
little Amelia Florence-Joy has a great
legacy to live out and be blessed and
encouraged by throughout her life.
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March
19, 2005 It's
really not about not letting Terri die... we'd all
die if we had no food---rather, it's about letting
her live! Let her live. I don't say"
don't kill her---I say: let her live! Granted,
she cannot feed herself---but neither can babies
feed themselves: they must be fed. Invalids
must be fed---I hate that word, by the way: invalid.
Individuals are not invalid. Their
disabilities do not invalidate them, make them
worthless or cancelled out as human beings.
SO... all this is not about letting her die---the
fight needs to be to allow her to live. It is
only selfishness that demands her death or her
"right to die" as if they know the mind of God.
Who knows but that tomorrow she regains full use of
her ability to care for herself. Who knows
what might be done for her or what might have been
done to prevent her current state. She's
l-i-v-i-n-g! She responds. She cannot
feed herself---she's still living: *on her own!*
Many people must be "tended to" in order to be fed.
To remove her feeding tube is nothing short of an
attempt to kill her---not to let her die, but to
kill her. The ultimate late term abortion, a
canceling of life---Michael's inconvenience ended.
This will be only the beginning of killings... the
killing of the inconvenient (unborn babies) is fully
acceptable by law in this nation. Soon, the
inconvenient elderly... the inconvenient disabled,
the inconvenient ignorant... will be
dispensable---especially if law makers do nothing
more to help Terri and let her live! I
pray the LORD will save her soul and that many will
see the Truth and come to Him because of this
atrocity.
March 18, 2005
A sad day for the Schindler family and
friends of
Terri Schiavo as her feeding tube was
removed
despite courageous efforts
to protect her right to life.
There's a whole new realm of thinking in
"Christianity" that's infiltrating the
"church," ----music, books and... the
Bible. And why wouldn't the enemy
pick the Bible... it's working in every
other area. It's grievous and yet, we
know that the LORD has given a picture
of this scenario in the Word and so,
while it shouldn't surprise us, it does
just that. So it is with the Zondervan,
"True Images Bible" for girls. (Full
NIV text---footnotes/sidebars particular
to "true images") My friend sent me an
email this morning regarding the
Worldnet Daily article [warning:
graphic] on the "Bible" for "real
teenage girls with real lives." The
True Images Bible presupposes that
Christian teens are all dealing with all
the things that teens without Christ are
dealing with. The assumption is
that teen girls need the
footnotes/scenarios to help them where
they're at---that God understands where
they are and what issues they deal with.
It's as if it is assumed that a
Christian girl doesn't have an exchanged
life, but that her being Christian is in
addition to whatever, whoever else she
is---that's it's not central to who she
is---that God meets her where she's at
and stays with her there.
That's man's logic, but that's not the
Truth. Yes, He loves us right
where we're at, but too much to leave us
there. He meets us where we're at
and draws us up out of the miry pit and
redeems us, fills us with His Holy
Spirit and sets us free from the bondage
of sin and death. It's new
life in Christ. But you wouldn't
know that by much of what is played on
contemporary Christian radio:
It's-all-about-me/Jesus-is-my-boyfriend/Jesus-is-there-if/when-I-need-Him
music.
God
calls us to a new life in Christ---that
in Him we are a new creation---the old
has passed away: behold, all things are
become new. We are called to be a
peculiar people.
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"But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light: Which in time past
were not a people, but are now the
people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have
obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I
beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul;
Having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers,
they may by your good works, which
they shall behold, glorify God in
the day of visitation."
1Peter 2.9-12 |
As we've been
reading in our family studies each morning,
we've come to read in 2 Samuel where the ark
of God is to be brought to the City of David
and Uzzah mishandles the ark and is put to
death for it. It would seem
harsh---too harsh---a punishment for
handling the ark, but God had given specific
instructions that were to be kept. The
parallel? We cannot live according to
our thoughts and ideas or in the way of the
flesh. God has called us out of the
darkness into His Glorious Light. "For
God, who commanded the light to shine out of
darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ. But
we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of
God, and not of us." 2Corinthians
4:6-7
I agree with
Stacy (Raising
Maidens of Virtue) McDonald, as quoted
in the
Worldnet Daily article,
"I find this 'Bible'
comparable to filthy graffiti smeared across
the Word of God. Instead of edifying young
girls and encouraging them to godliness it
actually violates their purity by its very
text. Having seven daughters myself, I
am deeply grieved that parents would
encourage their young daughters to read such
graphic narratives. I would not give this
'Bible' to my 20-year-old virgin daughter to
read – much less a 13-year-old. Why should
she have images of oral sex, lesbianism and
rape in her mind?"
As we train up our sons and daughters in the
way they should go, we share with them all
along the way, very candidly, what they need
to know and understand and purposely do not
give specific details regarding things they
do not need to entertain in their thoughts.
Enough information to be aware, but not so
much to entertain. We believe that they do
not need fodder for impurity but rather rich
teaching for health and purity. We
affirm the Word of God by not bringing it
down to the gutter but by esteeming it
highly---and they do esteem it highly.
We talk... we talk a lot about everything.
They come to us---they do not go to others
with their questions (as the "
True Images Bible" suggests. We've
always taught the children that they can
talk with us about anything---anything at
all, and they do. It's not a matter of
protecting them or shielding them from
"what's going on," rather, it allows
us
to tell them the truth and to explain to
them in a manner we're sure they understand.
The
Publisher's contention is that girls
are
dealing with all these things and what
better way to deal with them than in the
context of the Bible. Sounds like good
logic---fair enough. But God uses the
foolish things to confound the wise.
All of man's logic comes to nothing in the
end. It's logical to put graphic
information right there beside the
truth---thinking that the Truth will be
sought. God does not work through
logic, He works through wisdom. But
then... the flesh is tantalized and follows
neither Truth nor even logic, really---it
follows the flesh. Itching ears...
ever learning but never coming to the
knowledge of the Truth. (2Timothy 4.3
& 3.7) So the day has come when
believers will not endure sound
doctrine---logic prevails and wisdom fails
to guide them. All this falls right in
line with the "purpose driven" thinking and
teaching: give them what they want. It
doesn't matter that the Word is
misrepresented or that it isn't even
taught---give the people what they want and
they'll keep coming back. They want
messages about their world, not God's Word.
They'll tolerate a reference to God's Word
because it's the credibility of their
"church activity" but it can't require
altering their function or agenda
completely. The infiltration of
humanism in the church... the loss of first
love, the "lukewarm" spoken of in The
Revelation.
Whenever the enemy infiltrates, he mixes in
just enough truth to make his lies credible
and the unsuspecting, simple mind accepts
the lies. "Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing
that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world."
1Peter 5.8-9
O, I
think... parents, beware. It's never
too late to do the right thing. It's
never too late to talk---to establish Truth.
We have His Word---The Word tells us to
teach our children... "And thou shalt teach
them diligently unto thy children, and shalt
talk of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou risest
up." Deuteronomy 6.7
We've learned that to do whatever it takes
to establish Truth will be blessed of the
LORD. His mercy is everlasting.
It is amazing to us what He does when we
seek His Face and His counsel on a matter.
I so agree with Stacy, "The answer is to
protect them, which may mean homeschooling
them." If these issues (the issues
brought up in the "True Images Bible") are
what your teens are faced with---then their
environment needs a radical change and their
associations need radical replacing.
"In all your dwellingplaces the
cities shall be laid waste, and
the high places shall be
desolate; that your altars may
be laid waste and made desolate,
and your idols may be broken and
cease, and your images may be
cut down, and your works may be
abolished." Ezekiel 6.6
There's
a "companion Bible" for teen boys:
The Revolution Bible for Teen Guys.
The description sounds more like a preface
to a John (ransomed
heart) Eldredge book.
You've just
got to wonder where the limit will be... how
government creeps into our lives. Sean
wrote about the new regs by the government to
regulate potlucks by requiring food-handlers'
licenses. Another reason for
churches to stay out of government and
government to stay out of churches. But...
how long will it be before the government comes
in to regulate what you do in your own kitchen
and what you serve at your table? When a
church decides to apply for
501c3 status, it does much more than
establish
itself as a non-taxable entity---it becomes a
"creature of the state."
But this is not necessary for the tax
exempt status---but the government
doesn't want churches to know that,
apparently. Government control,
among many other things led us out of
the institutional church. The
intrusion of government is yet
another reason to get out of the buildings and
into homes. Now, I've tasted some cooking
that ought to be outlawed or at least,
regulated... even in my own kitchen, but
for the government to lurk in church
kitchens and attempt to regulate what's
served in them is beyond the pale.
Think of the regulations and the fines
that would be levied after a surprise
visit by the DSHS Gestapo in a kitchen
where first-time cooks were creating
"dinner" for the family. Why the
kitchen would be closed down instantly!
Now, lest you mothers think this is a
fine way of getting out of dinner
preparations for... ever, think of the
ramifications to the government
regulating potlucks. How about
bake-sales, bazaars or country markets?
I'm thinking of the play in my yard at
present: there is a kitchen and mudpies
and stews are being created... I'd
better go check; I hope they're not
being eaten, too!
My husband sent this to me... from
his office upstairs. ;-)
TWELVE STEP INTERNET RECOVERY
PROGRAM
1) I will have a
cup of coffee in the morning and
read my newspaper like I used to,
before the Internet.
2) I will eat breakfast with a knife
and fork and not with one hand
typing.
3) I will get dressed before noon.
4) I will make an attempt to clean
the house, wash clothes, and plan
dinner before even thinking of the
Internet.
5) I will sit down and write a
letter to those unfortunate few
friends and family that are
Internet-deprived.
6) I will call someone on the phone
who I cannot contact via the
Internet.
7) I will read a book...if I still
remember how.
8) I will listen to those around me
and their needs and stop telling
them to turn the TV down so I can
hear the music on the Internet.
9) I will not be tempted during TV
commercials to check for email.
10) I will try and get out of the
house at least once a week, if it is
necessary or not.
11) I will remember that my bank is
not forgiving if I forget to balance
my checkbook because I was too busy
on the Internet.
12) Last, but not least, I will
remember that I must go to bed
sometime... and the Internet will
always be there tomorrow!
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March 17, 2005
So much has
transpired in the last several days
that's it's hard to choose a topic or an
incident to share. Our little
Amelia got sick while we were up at the
cabin (I was thankful for the
washing/drying facilities!!) and both
she and I have been sick since returning
home. I've been so grateful
to and for Wes and our children's sweet
willing hearts to help me once again.
Little 'melia has been such a little
dear as she's had a little bed in our
room and sweetly asks for water or juice
and patiently waits for us to help her.
She's as sweet and dear as she can be.
I think we exchanged "night-night's" and
"i love you's" all through the night.
We had a wonderful time again this year
with friends up at
Hope Lodge at Steven's Pass.
Unfortunately, for those who love lots
of snow, there was very little---but
what snow there was, the kids found, and
wasted no time making jumps and
sledding. For the most part, the
injuries were minor. Because we'd
brought two of our grandchildren along,
I felt it best to keep them with me in
the cabin so I could look after them.
When they did venture out in the snow,
they sure enjoyed it!
We also celebrated Timothy's seventeenth birthday
while we were there and to his delight, his friends
came up for some sledding and birthday celebration!
They blessed his day, that's for sure! He
loved having them up there... sharing the time and
chocolate pie and apple crisp for his birthday!
We all enjoyed some needed time away talking and
sharing and playtime for the little ones.
Timothy and James (and all the other kids, too!)
loved snowboarding and sledding down the hill...
'seems they never got too tired!
The younger boys loved the avalanche control tank.
Amazing to see Steven's Pass with this little snow
this time of year!
The children were real troopers for the long hike!
Our Ami, in the
middle of our grandchildren, Nate & Abbey.
The girls helped me with dinner
preparations and a couple of the men helped with the
dishes
before we gathered for singing and prayer in the big
log cabin.
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Wes has been
working long hours away... I talked to him on the
phone late each night as I have for
the last several weeks... and he brought flowers
when he got home.
March 13, 2005 I'll not be blogging for a
couple more days. I've run into more website
problems and need to find what's corrupting pages.
May the LORD bless you.
the first portion of March was
deleted. :-(
ooops
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Someday my children will
read "mama's blog" and catch
a
glimpse of some
of what was "important" each
day,
some
"snap-shots" of the
day, what was going on in
the world
and what really stirred up
some of my thoughts.
Whatever is
"documented"
here will pale in comparison
to the importance of their
lives to me:
my husband, my
children——they are my
story——they are my legacy.
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In memory Kathryn Lindström ~ Because of the Komen foundation's support of Planned Parenthood, we do not 