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Go get your cup
and read on. |
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Blogging's therapeutic for me, and I pray
encouraging for you. Each days' blog
is a bit of journaling of
slices of life here in our home and ways the
LORD's working.
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Someday
my children will read "mom's blog" and catch
a glimpse of some of what was
"important" each day, occasional "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---they
are my story. |
Click: The Sconce Needs
List
And if
you'd like to contribute to these needs,
Please write us .
Thank you!
Please remember Marv Sconce (Steve's dad and "senior
missionary") in prayer as he undergoes surgery
tomorrow to
remove a cancerous kidney. This is the reason Steve is in
the States.
June 30, 2004
Happy-Happy
Birthday to Marsha today!!
Well, last night, little
dolly had a wonderful third birthday.
Look at all the dresses!! Here's a new one from
Grandmother... and a dolly and cake!
|
And a
pretty new dress from Daddy... with several "detachable" collars. This one is the
"Happy Birthday" collar.
It really was a pretty neat day! |
And
this from my mom:
What to do when you get a flat tire... Texas style
A good ol' boy had a flat tire, pulled off on the side
of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers
in front of his pickup truck and one behind it. Then
just stood back and waited.
A passerby from the city studied the scene as he drove
by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He
asked the fellow what the problem was.
The fellow replied, "Flat tire."
In response the passerby asked, "But, what's with the
flowers?"
The man responded, "When ya' break down they tell ya' to
put flares in the front and flares in the back, I ain't
never understood it neither."
This, from cousin, Mark, who is a Boeing engineer:
COW TRACKING:
Is it just me or does anyone else find it absolutely
amazing that the U.S. Government can track a single cow
born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the
stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington, and
determine exactly what that cow ate?
They can also track her calves right to their stalls,
and tell you what kind of feed they ate.
But
the U.S. Government is unable to locate 11 million
aliens wandering around in their country, including
people that are trying to blow up important structures
in the U.S.
The solution is to give every illegal alien a cow
as soon as they enter the country.
June 29,
2004 I never cease to be amazed at the ongoing
unfolding of life in America. Those who follow Christ and
the Word of God should not be surprised at the perilous days in
which we live, nor of the depravity of man(kind), or the
subtlety of sin and the infiltration of deception in media and
government. Now, I suppose that statement borders on
conspiratorial thinking or at the very least indicates I'm
listening to theorists and their mantras. Yesterday my
husband sent down a link to some articles pertaining to events
that originally took place three months ago. Seems to me
that I would've remembered them and at the very least, I'd have
taken notice of them at the time. But I didn't.
Rather, I didn't even read about them.
So... the event?
The coronation of the reverand sun young moon.
This, from my husband:
Rev. Moon Declares Himself 'Savior.' It almost
sounds like an urban legend. One of those fake "Did you hear?"
rumors. But apparently it was legit. A highly
credible Capitol Hill insider news publication -- The Hill --
insists that it wasn't a fake. So do The New York Times, the
Washington Post and other papers.
What the newspapers agree upon is this: The Rev. Sun Myung Moon,
founder of the Unification Church, owner of The Washington Times
newspaper and a convicted income tax evader, was crowned as
humanity's "Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent."
[Apparently, In a vision, Moon said the
reformed Hitler and Stalin vouched for him, calling him "none
other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True
Parent." This "ceremony"
is almost too bizarre to be true! And, I have my doubts, by
the way. Here's
another one. Moon is a
deceiver! ]
What's most interesting is that the coronation took place in
March in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, not far from the
U.S. Capitol. Even more interesting was who the newspapers said
was in attendance -- everyone from Reps. Danny Davis, D-Ill.;
Curt Weldon, R-Pa.; Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., Elijah Cummings, D-Md.
and Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn. Also, Reps. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga.;
Chris Cannon, R-Utah; and Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., were listed
as "Congressional Co-Chairs." Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.),
Reps. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Phil Crane (R-Ill.) and GOP
consultant Charlie Black were listed as members of the "Host
Committee." Rep. Davis admitted he wore gloves as he
actually placed the crown on Moon's head.
Well,
at first I
thought the name,
Good as New "Bible" was a joke---but it's
not! And while it's contents pose a mockery, the production of
the new book is just that: a production. Another in the
multitude of perversions of God's Word, this "work" cannot be taken
seriously.
Now, this won't make
national news---or even local news---
but today's a sweet day here in our home!
~Amelia Florence-Joy~
Our precious "baby"
is 3 today!
Named for Amelia
Pais and Florence Turnidge, women (among many others!!)
who've been an encouragement to our family and spiritual mentors
to me.
Mark & Sarah's Wedding last Friday evening at
Belle Chapel in Snohomish!
Rachel reads a blessing at the cutting of the cake.
Belle Chapel is such a lovely place, historic, charming and
picturesque for a wedding!
The food and reception turned out so nice---really, how can you
miss when working with beautiful fruits and vegetables!
But here's how the day started:
I was making the bread for the large "bread bowl" that
would later hold the spinach dip and the "dipping pieces" beside
it. It all worked out very well. But, you know, I
think the folks were happiest about the bottomless pitchers of
cold sweet-tea! It was good and sweet---but not Georgia
sweet, though! The wedding cake and ice cream was good,
too!
We're
in the midst of the "crazy days" of summer! Working
through the many changes the LORD is taking our family
through... graduation, babies, fellowship, travel, ministry,
etc., etc.! We're planning our annual
KlaHaYa Days backyard party! This year's is planned to
be the fullest yet! We have the great privilege to have
old friends and family---not only my my mom and step-dad, but
Wes's mom and step-dad, too, along with our friend, Steve:
missionary in PNG and other missionary friends as well as a
number of new friends this year. And we'll be celebrating
Kathryn's graduation! So.... lots and lots on the docket!
NEW ADDITIONS for
SCONCE'S 6/29
Could
you add to the list....wire whisk and wind-up timer. They
both just
recently broke :(
cocoa (unsweetened, powder)
tea (nat. decaf)
clothing (female dresses & tee shirts)
spices (cinnamon, oregano, chili powder)
pinto beans
tapioca powder
bandaides
(+first
aid supplies - ie; Neosporin, hydro. per [how' bout GfSE?!?],
etc.
Updated 6/29
We have received more financial contributions for their
needs.
The
following note will remain for the rest of this month Here are a
few items that are needed for the Sconce's in PNG. If
anyone feels led to contribute, we will give the items to Steve
when he comes to visit from PNG next week. He will be able
to take them back with him.
***Steve came (from PNG) to visit on Saturday (6/26) and
will be back to our home on Friday (7/9).
He
will be here to share at our annual KlaHaYa Days backyard
picnic /party.
We want to send him home with
some clothing, underclothes, personal care products and...??? We asked what they need and This is part of an email we received
from them:
*
We have
just received a donation to purchase the requested
underclothing and personal care products their family needs.
*
A
used Champion Juicer. (SO many fresh organic
opportunities there and I feel I could use the boost!!)
[Crystal has a new-born -
their 10th child]
This
has just been purchased. *
Packaging tape and scotch tape. *
Hairspray- (I finally found a can today $12!!!!) Cheap
stuff is OK..only I think in Australia they do not allow
aerosol on board. I'd like some for getting out ink. My
favorite for hair, Finesse, is holding! :)
[the "girls" in the family have
long hair and would like this for holding the hair
up/back---there are
few items available to them there in PNG---very little pampering is
available and what is, is very expensive and not
quality---therefore, not done.]
*
Friends brought some
spices last Nov. and the oregano
and basil are going fast. The cinnamon is getting low
too. These are things that have to be hand carried into
the country...can't put them in a crate!! Australia will
confiscate anything that is not sealed/pkgd. ie: Azure
bulk with a twisty does not get through well. Sometimes
we can get these spices, but SOOO expensive!!
*
Maple flavor
-We try to make our own maple syrup...if we
have the flavor. We can sometimes get readymade from
Australia...but expensive!!
*
A few sweet treats
that we miss: Marshmallows, jolly ranchers,
chocolate chips...AMERICAN candy :) (not gum) please.
Anyone who
would like to send items to the Sconce's (through Steve) can do
so in the next week or so. Email us if you'd like to help:
pamela@achristianhome.org
-or-
wes@alphaomegapools.com
Our address is: PO Box 2130 Snohomish, Wa, 98291 USA
We help support these missionaries
who are in PNG with Co-Mission Int. They're in need of help
and encouragement. Plus, we love them! :-)
June 28,
2004 Heading into a busy week or busy "season" always
has my thoughts in a "whirlwind" of sorts! There is much
going on... more later on.
June 24,
2004 Need to check out the rating, contents or value
of a movie? We recommend
Plugged
In --- you can also review music and television (gasp!),
too.
It's going
to be a busy one again today! Preparing for a wedding...
For our friends, this preparation has been for a lifetime.
I try to keep that fact in mind as we plan, purchase and work to
make the foods and plan for the set-up of the reception. I
continually strive to focus on not what will actually be
there... what the actual presentation will be, but how it will
feel there. I'm hearkening back to a
Nancy Campbell retreat where she described "home" and
admonished mothers to be about the care, the atmosphere, the
attitude and ambiance of the home (and mother!). She said,
in part, that the children won't so much remember everything
that went on there [in the home] but how it felt there.
So----I'm attempting to apply that admonition to the planning,
preparation and serving. It's my prayer that Sarah and
Mark will remember how it felt there... that they and the guests
(and especially my friend, the mother of the bride) will feel a
loving atmosphere and that every memory will bring joy and a
smile.
June 23,
2004 I realized that part of the "melancholy-ness" of
this past week has been the absence of our boys who finally came
home from the trip to Boston to pick up a car that Daniel had
purchased (eBay). What a nice vehicle it is and he's
pleased with it, too. I'm just thankful they're home, that
the LORD answered prayer and they had a wonderful time.
More
blogging later.
Since I
haven't posted any, here are a few June pics...
Timothy & "Grandma &
Grandpa" Sconce last week --- Then a couple of days ago,
everyone was crowding Kathryn "IM'ing" on the computer with
Heather & Janelle in PNG. Kathryn was in the pool when we
called her in to chat! She was shivering though wrapped in
a quilt and towel! Hannah stayed out in the pool.
Joey & Grandmother shared a
birthday party --- Poppy and Ami so sweet!
Grandmother
(and Poppy) finally home from a long USA road trip! We
didn't get pics of our Tea party.
June 22,
2004 Whew, seems like a week since blogging last!
Many things transpiring here on the homefront. These have
been busy-busy days and there seems to be no end to the
busyness. Sounds like Ecclesiastes doesn't it.
We're
preparing for the wedding on Friday evening. There's much
to do, but what a privilege and honour we have to prepare the
reception---it will be a thrill to fix the food and beverages
and to work together to serve. It's another one of life's
bitter-sweets: the wedding of a young woman who, it seems, was
just yesterday a little girl. It's hard to watch or
experience the unfolding of life sometimes---the shifting of the
sand, the tidal waves of emotion, the oceans of joy mixed with
currents of sorrow.
That's how
Father's Day felt to me. All day, there were waves of
sweet memories, waves of sorrow. That's the way it goes;
those are the terms of endearment. It seems the sweeter
the days, the more poignant the grief at their memory. I
don't know where it had been, but one of the children brought
down a card, a greeting card from my daddy---one of the last
he'd written, one I'd completely forgotten. I realized
[again] no more cards. No more anything. No more
anything from him or from my dear father-in-law and neither
would I ever be writing to them again, no more father's day
cards for them---and actually, I didn't buy any cards this year,
nor did I make any. Though it was a happy day, a full
day---filled with happiness and many opportunities to be
thankful---I know I am blessed beyond measure in my husband and
family and I am so thankful to have my step-father, too and the
many many blessings in our lives. Even so, I missed our
dads in a new way all over again. Wes and I long for our
dads who both died within months of one another nearly 4.5 years
ago. Some seasons are like this, I guess.
June 19,
2004 Wes & I had a great time at the Washington
Homeschool Convention today. We were amazed at the
materials and books available. Incredible, really, to
consider the number of homeschoolers in this state and the
potential for impacting the world. I understand that not all
homeschoolers are believers, but for the most part, every
"vendor" was making "Christ-centered" materials available.
It was encouraging to see all that was there! We sure
didn't buy all we wanted to buy---but, we sure didn't leave
empty handed either!
One of our favourites is
Rod and Staff Publishers. We purchased some more
textbooks, workbooks and other materials from the Rod and Staff
representatives:
Milestone Ministries,
who were so helpful to us.
I have their catalog in front of me---and had I had the time and
$ome more money, I'd likely have purchased a whole lot more!
Fortunately, Wes tended to be more realistic regarding the
practicalities of homeschooling a large family as well as time
and space limitations. We didn't leave without also
purchasing a bunch of
YWAM's Christian Heroes: Then and Now series sets
(biographies). After a fun dinner with our friends,
and then stopping to get gas (yay, Costco: $1.95) and then
buying more paper and page protectors at Costco, we came home.
What a day!
We look
forward to attending the Northwest House Church Conference and
hearing a special guest, Beresford Job (and his family), from
England. He has a site:
House-Church.org
which sheds a great deal of light on the original New Testament
churches and what have become "traditions of men" today.
More extensive links to various aspects of beliefs and the life
of the body of Christ in the present day can be found at
The New
Testament Restoration Foundation website.
I really appreciate all that's available at the
In-Depth Studies
("Equipping the Believer with a Theological Foundation")
website. So many articles... so little time!
June 18,
2004 I'm thankful for the ways the LORD
works to encourage us and different ones! My mother in law
sent a newspaper clipping of a great article from their local
newspaper which I was able to find online:
Everyone Helps in a Big Family. I'm hoping many will
have read this and will have been blessed and encouraged, as
well!
June 17, 2004
Happy
Birthday to my Mama today!
A busy day
again today... and too much in the news to get it all straight!
Wes & Timothy had a good trip to the Sconce's near Spokane.
I suppose Timothy was glad for the distance as it enabled him
lots of driving practice time! It's hard for me to fathom
another driver in our family. Time is indeed slip-sliding
away! Timothy is getting ready to go with Daniel to
Boston in order to pick up a car and drive it back home!
So you can imagine the phone conversation (day before yesterday)
from a person wanting Timothy's help: Hello, Is Timothy
there? No, he's flying home from Mexico. Will he be
home tomorrow? No, He'll be in Spokane. Ohmy! Will
he be home on Thursday night? No, he is going to Boston
with Daniel. Oh; well, well will he be home on Saturday?
No... still driving home from Boston.
Today is
James' birthday as well. Timothy's dear friend---(and
ours)---now 16! It hardly seems possible that time has
passed this quickly!
More later
June 16,
2004 The wonderful sentiments expressed in the last
week sure haven't changed the climate in our nation's capitol...
and what's likely to be a volatile issue: the Federal Marriage
Amendment. Decided in the Senate yesterday: new additions
or
definitions of hate-crimes. This is going to make the
passage of the
Federal Marriage Amendment a bit tougher!
Timothy's
home! We do praise the LORD for His provision and protection and
safety for him. As Wes & I traveled to SeaTac last night,
Kathryn gave us some updates about Timothy's flight---even to
the point letting me know the number of the baggage claim belt
where his luggage would arrive. This was helpful to me as
the construction and renovation project at SeaTac has changed
the "familiar location" of seemingly everything at the airport.
Wes dropped me off to meet Timothy and came back around when the
bags were claimed---we didn't know who we'd be bringing home so
we didn't bring our family down to the airport---that's why
Kathryn was home and able to update us as we traveled. It
seems there has never been a time that the airport *wasn't*
undergoing some major renovation or construction in all the
years we've lived here! To most every question,
Timothy answers: Si, si!
It sure was
a beautiful sight... a marvelous "welcome home" for Timothy.
The girls had put candles in the windows and had lit the torches
in the yard so that Timothy could see them from the road and
then all down the lane some of the children were in trees and
popped out when we drove by---Timothy was laughing. He
unloaded his bags in front of the washer and Hannah got them
going right away. She'd had presence of mind to have them
empty and ready to go for when he came home. (She's a
marvelous organizer and planner! 'Can accomplish more in a
day than I ever imagine!) As soon as the laundry's done,
Timothy's ready to head back down to Mexico. He and the
others worked with a local man who'd been hired to do the
welding and last week it was their great joy to to see that man
accept the Lord Jesus as LORD and Saviour. Love knows no
language barrier.
Wes and
Timothy hopped in the truck very early this morning in order to
make a run over to see the Sconces in Hartline---near Spokane.
Marv is not doing well and Wes thought it best to go see him
now. Perhaps he thought it best for *Timothy* to see him
now as the new of his cancer seems rather grim. He wanted
Timothy to be able to talk with him to let Marv know that he did
go and return from Mexico and that the LORD confirmed in his
heart that He wanted Timothy to continue pursuing mission's
work---and to be able to have prayer with Marv. Wes also
wanted to return Marv's highschool annual. What an amazing
thing that Marv went to highschool with my own dad---and that I
was able to see pictures of him in that annual. Isn't the
LORD marvelous in the many ways He demonstrates His love for us.
I never saw those pictures before and so it was a real blessing
to see Marv's book! It also brought
June 15,
2004 Pretty soon we'll be following
Flight tracker... as we prepare to welcome Timothy home from
Mexico late tonight! We're looking at the
yahoo tracker for his flight.
Yesterday I
received a letter from a reader who was noticing that I referred
to a song and have a link to
Poet Voices
& Phil Cross. There was a question in our
Guest Book about
the lyrics of the song: The Key. It's a song I love to
hear and love to sing and often refer to it in groups or
retreats. The idea of Jesus being the Key to unlock the
shackles of sin's prison or opening up the very gates of hell,
swinging wide the doorway up to heaven... all because the Key
was hung on a nail... well, this totally resonates with me and
that's why I love the song so much. I cringe to think
where I'd be today without the LORD---not so much because of
where I seemed to be or what I seemed to be doing, but precisely
because of where I was and where I was going. Without
salvation in Christ, I was locked in sin's prison. A
"good" girl, self-willed, self-determined, self serving: in
shackles, in sin's prison, separated from God because of the
penalty of sin, eternally separated from God---from my Lord and
Saviour. But God. Well, I then wrote to Mr. Cross
and he kindly replied this morning with the most gracious answer
to the reader's question and my letter to him. He shared,
in part:
"[that with the line]
"Open up the very gates of hell". I envisioned this line in
two ways. First of all, we all deserve hell. In Rev1:18
Christ says "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,
I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and
of death." Therefore receiving the Key allows each one of
us to escape the literal hell supported thoroughly in
scripture. Secondly, I always see this line referring to
people who have lived in the darkest places of this life,
the "figurative" hell on earth. Though I agree that nothing
of this earth is as bad as the literal hell, many people
identify the darkness and
hopelessness in their lives as hell. Christ, the key,
allows them out of this. "
I'm
thankful for the work of
Phil Cross
and for his and others' music which is both edifying and
encouraging. Of course, his work and the music & ministry
of "Legacy
5" and
Roger
Bennett. A measure of music to me:
1Corinthians 14.10-11 "There are, it may be, so many kinds
of voices in the world, and none of them is without
signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of
the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian,
and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me."
With two
wedding rings in the scope at point blank range, the picture on
the cover of
James Dobson's book epitomizes the state of marriage in our
country: about to be obliterated. I received a letter this
morning---a sales deal---but I am nonetheless prompted to track
the issue. The decline of marriage around the world, the
upsurge in immorality and pornography ought to be, it seems to
me, alarming! Is it alarming? It sure doesn't look
like it. As believers, we must pray and we must *live* the
Word. The world needs a light---not the devil masquerading
as light, but the True Light.
i received a letter from a friend of ours---a
not-so-good-news sort of letter. In the letter, he
referred to tests he'd had, a doctor's visit and a resulting
"Gleason" score he'd received and then had a request that we all
join them in prayer for what ought to be their next step.
Instantly I wondered about that score. Well, it seems that
he's in a pretty tough game here with a "Gleason score" of 9. A
Gleason score is a method of scoring a couple of conditions
that help determine or describe the appearance of
the prostate tissue and is used to evaluate the subsequent treatment(s). After
reading the information on that particular
prostate info site , I gained a better understanding of the
score of "9" he received---I decided right away that this
is
indeed one test where high scores are dreadful and low scores are
great!
June 14,
2004 Ahhh, Monday morning. This, from
This Days Thought:
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument
afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and
get first of all into harmony with Him." ---J. Hudson Taylor
I'm taking
grapefruit seed extract to get rid of a sinus problem that's
sort of causing me trouble in my lungs. Having had
pneumonia many times, I think I've a tendency to lung troubles.
The recent burning near our home has been a tad irritating to my
lungs. I'm thinking that the
GSE
will help as I've experienced some improvement already.
The GSE was suggested by missn'ys to Mexico who recommended it
for elimination of parasites or other intestinal ailments and
for infections. The bitter taste of a dozen drops in a cup
of water is almost more than I can stand---just take a deep
breath and bottoms up! I think I'd rather use it in
capsule form. If this doesn't help completely, then
I'm considering
Nutribiotic Nasal spray.
Had a sweet
day of fellowship yesterday. What a blessing all around
when we focus on the LORD and spend time fellowshipping with
believers---genuine fellowship is like a sweet fragrance.
I didn't get to hear the whole message by a guest missionary but
what little I heard was a blessing. This particular
missionary always reminds me (in appearance and some mannerisms)
of the Sarg on Hill Street Blues. I remember, "Let's
be careful out there!" We used to watch Hill Street in the
early 80's and it seems it was right about that time, the LORD
was working on our hearts and we decided that maybe TV wasn't
going to be a good choice for the evening activity for our
family---and so, not many years later, we eliminated it.
Looking back, I'm amazed at the subtle mind altering &
immorality; and as I consider this, no wonder our morals (as a
nation) are what they are. I think of the verses in Romans
6
20
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from
righteousness.
21
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to
God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end
everlasting life.
Stephen
just came in and said: Did you hear about the man who went to
heaven and brought all his treasure? The angel looked in
his bag full of gold and said: "Pavement? You brought
pavement?!?"
We're so looking forward to our son's return home from Mexico.
What a blessing this trip has been for him. Now, I haven't
heard many stories from him, but rumor has it that he took a
frozen tarantula and put it on Nathaniel's head a snapped a
picture--- I don't even want to know how he froze the
tarantula---and, of course, I'd never understand why! O, I
love my boys.
June 12,
2004 The final farewell, the end of the long good-bye:
the decade long good-bye. Ronald Reagan, laid to rest,
befitting the occasion: at sunset, yesterday. Ten years
ago, in an open letter to the nation, he concluded that he was
entering the sunset of his life and yesterday---at sunset---his
body was laid in its final resting place. Today I'm struck
with the great accomplishments of his life, his presidency and
the legacy of the "Reagan Years." Revisionist history does
no justice or honour to the great accomplishments, one of which
was the culmination of D-Day, 40 years later, in the tearing
down of the Berlin Wall in 1989. His determination to
eliminate "big government" and bureaucracies, his innate sense
of honour and respect for office and people and his decorum are
things I'll never forget. I remember the dramatic change
in life and business in our country after he took office and I
surely now see striking differences in leadership since that
time.
Ronald Reagan: A Tribute. This morning,
President
Bush remembered Reagan in a radio address.
Eulogies from the NY Times. The major news sites are
replete with news, anecdotes, and memories of the late
president, Ronald Reagan. I'm glad for this as our
children need to see men who honoured the offices they held, men
of strength and character. Were they to only listen to the
media or those with the "loudest voices" today, they'd miss the
truth and they'd have a very distorted view of historical
events---they will still not get an accurate portrayal from most
history books. I'm grateful for the work of believers who
continue to bring truth to pages in libraries, to electronic
collections, and media. May the LORD save our nation and
His great Name and Word be praised. This next
week's World Magazine will feature the life of Ronald
Reagan.
June 11,
2004 We're getting ready for a barbecue... and yes,
it's a drizzly day in Washington. Something I've learned
over the years is to just go on with plans and know that changes
in weather just have to be factored in with the planning.
So... In order to celebrate both my mom's and Joey's birthdays,
we're just planning to be a little bit outside and a lot inside.
:-) We were hoping for sunny weather so there'd be
hotair balloons---(or hotwater balloons---says, Ami) and
skydivers to watch in addition to making s'mores at the fire
ring. I think instead, we'll be inside making mocha's!
Then our grandchildren will be with us for the weekend.
Seems when
Timothy called a couple of nights ago he failed to mention that
a beam had fallen on his shoulder and had then hit Nathaniel in
the head... perhaps one of those little incidences that he felt
no need to bother mom with such information. I heard about
the incident and thought: yep, that's just like my boys to
neglect relaying such potentially worrisome information.
Additionally, I suppose that if he's to return there long-term,
this will have been small compared to what all might befall him.
No pun intended. Since he was a very young boy, he's
wanted to be a missn'y in Colombia---no small apprehension here.
Daily, he immerses himself in reading the Word, biographies,
commentaries, etc. His heart is drawn to the lost... to
those who've never heard and to those who would die in their
sins eternally separated from God.
I'm not
sure why it stirs such a great debate or why there is such
confusion over the whole issue of modesty and feminine apparel,
but it is necessary to come to an understanding of the
importance of modest dress----it won't happen in the world, but
it sure ought to be happening in the church (universal, not
buildings). I know that early on as a believer, I
received no instruction---or at least the issue wasn't
addressed! That's why I now so ardently attempt to
persuade sisters to consider the matter! Modesty matters!
Our freedonm in Christ is not freedom to do whatever we "want"
but freedom to do and be what we really ought to do and
be. Now I'd forgotten about the Vision Forum site---I've
just not been doing a lot of reading elsewhere lately.
Anyway, this morning, one of my daughters was reading "Doug's
Blog" which a friend had pointed out to us last year.
I'll link it because it makes for good and informative reading.
But what caught my eye was the book they offer on the site:
Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America by
Jeff Pollard. We bought it a couple of years ago and
highly recommend it. The world demands acceptance of its
ways and immoral standards. Deviations from what's normal
in the world are seen as "strange" and yet, for the Christian,
we read in Proverbs that deviations from the Word are "strange."
That's the way it goes, though: in the world, what's bad is good
and what's good is bad. I noticed on Vision Forum's
site that there is a
newsletter sent by email---to which I just I subscribed.
Goodbye,
Mr. President:
Ronald Reagan. President
Bush honours the late President Reagan. Many stunning
images in photo
essays on Fox.
It seems every news report updates the events
surrounding the State funeral of the late President Ronald
Reagan. I find myself steeped in memories... marveling at
the passage of time, the amazingly swift passage of time.
Prompted by complaints of "over-coverage" of this past week's
events (and the events of Reagan's career(s), film and
political, I began to think of some of the major news stories
that have also been given "wall to wall" news coverage. I
recall how the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and worse, the
OJ Simpson murder trial---not to mention 9/11, the
OKC bombing (this, a memorial), wars, recounts, elections,
etc., etc., had such "wall to wall" coverage and let's not
forget the buzzwords repeated every thirty seconds.
Paparazzi (Diana) is the word I most quickly recall now; that,
and Tom Brokaw saying "...to call the Challenger disaster a
major malfunction is the understatement of the year!" So
now... I marvel that it's already been ten years since the
OJ Simpson slow-speed chase and the subsequent murder trial.
Already 18 years since the
1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. Something I
find incredible in the news---in the courts---the travesty of
justice. Here,
Martha Stewart seeks a new trial---OJ Simpson is acquitted
of charges of murder. (My boys used to say that when OJ left the
courtroom he said to the clerk: Excuse me, may I have my hat and
gloves? --- I know--- I used to tell them that was an awful
joke.) Well, it's going to be interesting whatever happens
to Ms. Stewart---makes me wonder which exec's are getting off
with proverbial murder and who's being hanged in their stead.
June 10,
2004 A drizzly-dreary day in Washington. But my
thoughts are encouraged today after receiving a phone call from
Timothy (in Mexico) last night! Seems he just wanted to
talk for a moment. He said, no matter what, he was going
back... the little children... all the needs. His heart is
there---a dream, now turned reality; his life will never be the
same again. I've always known this boy had to be about the
Lord's work and that it would take him to places I'd likely
never go. His heart has been broken with things that touch
the heart of the Lord. I'm grateful to my faithful Lord
for His Hand in this boy's life.
Have a few
new sites to share... first,
The
Federalist, The Conservative e-Journal of Record. You
can receive their e-letter and read more of their scope and
vision
here.
Another, is an old friend I link form time to time:
Judicial
Forum, and if you have some moments to spare, you might
consider reading a solid Biblical view of law and government.
You'll read no conspiracy theories here, nor will what you read
be careless rantings. Click to read the
Cominus Papers.
An old
"friend" of our family continues the trek to health following
bone marrow transplant. You can follow
Roger
Bennett's journey to health, too! We've only met Roger
at Legacy 5 southern gospel concerts and are always moved by his
sincerity and love and joy in the LORD. Like I always say,
nobody can play the piano like Roger Bennett---what a gift.
Birthday
Alarm! This program will send you reminders via email
so that you'll not miss an important birthday or other important
dates. It's pretty neat with its variety of e-cards.
It just alerted us of my mom's upcoming birthday---but then,
it's not like we aren't already celebrating! A beautiful
tea party yesterday and a BBQ tomorrow night as we celebrate her
birthday and Joey's 9th birthday.
One more
note on the Swiffer Jet mopping solution. [Guestbook entry:
Truth or Fiction is a great website for looking up urban myths
and legends, including internet hoaxes. I found this info on the
Swiffer Wet Jet on their website for anyone who's interested.
Cheers!http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/s/swiffer.htm
] I wrote this reader to let her know that I was thankful
for the information. You know---I *know* this---and should
have thought of check it out. I do this (check
truthorfiction.com) whenever I receive a sensational claim
in an email---you know, all the internet giveaways, product
dangers, heart-rending stories or the myriad of
too-good-to-be-true stories. So, thanks again to Mary,
Jennifer, and to Carolyn, who sent in the Snopes address
(snopes.com/critters/crusader/swiffer).
June 9,
2004 Several wrote to say that the pet death due
to toxicity of the Swiffer Jet mopping solution is one of those
internet hoaxes. So, the story about the dangers to pet
and children appears to be false although the bottle does say to
keep out of reach of children and pets. I know, I
know---you know how those pets are clamoring to get into the
cleaning supplies to mop the floor. Sad, too, because I
was more than a little tempted to invite the cats in for a
little slip 'n slide across the freshly mopped floor.
Well... anyway... thanks for putting up with the hoax.
A pretty
neat
flag and prayer in support of the troops and men and
women who've sacrificed on our behalf. If nothing else,
this week sure has provoked a much needed wave of optimism and
patriotism in our country. It's been pretty moving
to revisit moments in history---sad, too, how far a field our
country has drifted.
June 8,
2004 America mourns the death of the great statesman
and president, Ronald Reagan. I wish I could hear all the
commentaries, the quotes, the speeches and memories of family,
friends, and staffers in the landscape of his life. I
remember, as a little girl, door-belling for his campaign for
Governor of California. I thought we were doing such
important work! I'm patriotic and so the
pomp and circumstance of this week is heart warming and I so
wish the replaying of the speeches would motivate "politicians"
to honourable decisions and moral conclusions. I just
heard excerpts of a John Kerry speech prior to Reagan's death
and one since... what a dichotomy. It seems to me a couple
of pages from his playbook could turn this country around---if
the market is any indicator, investors remember what the Reagan
years were like and have responded accordingly. Problem
is, these years are not like the '80's and the social and
political landscape is marred by immorality, judicial tyranny,
and convoluted reasoning. There is great tension between
two diametrically opposed political views of Reagan's Presidency
and his "politics." I suppose were we to still be living
in California, we'd be seeing the stark contrast between the two
this week, in particular. I think history will reveal the
great era and the moral decline that occurred when those
policies were abandoned or altered. More later...
June 7,
2004 My friend, Nancy, was just here and we were
talking about the new Swiffer "wet-jet" mop and she was sharing
how the cleaning solution was unsafe for children and pets (a
healthy dog died from walking on the freshly mopped floor).
So---in a flash I did a google search and sure enough, I was
able to locate the story she related. So thankful I don't
have babies crawling on the floor, now. I'm glad we've been
using diluted Simple Green---I haven't linked it because it was
deep in a page... lots of other reading, etc. But I
thought I'd just share a heads-up on the mopping solution.
I don't like the new Swiffer Wet-Jet as much as I like the
Clorox Ready-mop. And, by the way, I *did not* invite all
the cats in to lick the floor...
We received such a beautiful bouquet of flowers
from our brother-in-law as a "thank you" to us for having him
stay while he was in the Northwest. *We* are the ones who
received the blessing.
Timothy
called last night to ask a question... it was as if he was next
door---just calling for a quick chat, said he couldn't sleep
till he had an answer to a Bible-related question. I
didn't get any particulars... just that everything is going
well.
Bittersweet
news: the passing of
Ronald
Reagan. Finally free from the debilitating effects of
Alzheimer's,
Ronald Regan passed away on Saturday. The illness had
really taken a toll on the Reagan family, who called these
years: The Long goodbye.
June 5,
2004 Well--- so, Timothy is off to Mexico. The
beginning of a life long desire: to serve in missions in South
America has been on his heart and today he takes a first step by
going to Mexico. Though we had a power outage in the
night, Timothy and Wes were up and preparing to go right on
time. Wes is driving the van to the airport with several
of the people who are going on the trip---I'm thinking he
probably wishes he were going along for the work as well.
His parents were missionaries to the Philippines and later his
mother served in Taiwan---and he has been on short term missions
to Mexico. If he doesn't get back right away, I'll know he
just decided to hop on a plane with them!
Well---what
an amazing thing: I just now received a phone call from Timothy
at the airport saying that Wes hadn't signed a consent form...
(how'd we miss *that!*) I was sure he had---with the notary and
all, but apparently, though he did sign the bottom of the form,
there was a line at the top he hadn't signed. Here's the
amazing thing: only one other dad hadn't (double) signed
that same form and he was the only other driver---so both
of them were contacted by cell and both turned around and got
those forms signed in *plenty* of time! Timothy was
waiting out at the curb so Wes didn't need to park the van!
God is good. I'm so thankful he had a cell phone, that
Timothy could reach me and I could reach him! Now---why
hadn't Timothy just called his dad? Was it a testing of
mom's faith?
Did I need more things to pray for?
What a
blessing to have had our friend, Joy, here with us last night.
He's Indian (India---Indian) and is with
Native
Missionary Movement. He has suffered for the faith,
persecuted and beaten for preaching Christ and salvation through
faith in Jesus. Hindu's there tell him he is the most evil
man, that he's trying to convert the province to Christianity
and for this, they hate him. He continues to work with the
believers there, reaching the lost, even though day by day the
persecution of Christians is great. Our friend says that
the more there is persecution, the more the gospel is
spread---though false religions persist and spread and
persecution increases. His life is frequently threatened,
his family is in danger and yet he knows that for the joy that
is set before him, he endures whatever torture comes. One
of his favourite missionaries was
Adoniram Judson, missionary to India in the 1800's---whose
wife Ann was also known as Nancy, so last night when our
missionary friend, Joy, met our friend Nancy, he was immediately
taken with her and complimented her for her dear name!
Today, my
father-in-law spends another birthday in Glory! He lived
to see the first week of the year 2000 and then went to be with
the LORD. I miss him today---as I miss him most every
day---for it seems that not a day goes by but that we don't
remember him, something he said or something he did. His
influence was tremendous. He was a genuine father to
me---demonstrated in a healthy, loving and caring
relationship/friendship. I miss talking with him---that's
the hardest part of death, I think... so many times I think I'd
sure like to just talk with him for a moment. I feel the
same about many people... my daddy, my grandmother... Wes's
grandmother... friends... family... many others. 'Sure a
lot of people I long to see in glory.
More things
to write later... but now it's time to go to tea with Kathryn
and a couple of friends.
June 3,
2004 Still preparing for Timothy's mission's
trip. I was sure happy to have another list for him!
It certainly wasn't as extensive as our families' "Long
Weekend Packing List." I needed to be sure and have
all his things ready by today, and fortunately had the paperwork
notarized a couple of days ago. I didn't realize that
when both parents sign a paper, both must be present for the
notary to sign and seal the paperwork. So... I'm glad to
have done that in advance. So then I needed to get all the
last minute things... hand-sanitizer, wipes---a bath in a box, I
told him.
Then he needed some first aid stuff, gum, and snacks.
I also got him a water-bottle that advertised that it was
"virtually unbreakable!" I asked Timothy not to test
it---just go with the claim. I needed to pick up a
battery for his camera---so glad I took the old battery *with*
me! Strange size! Now, I think he's about ready to
go now! I think he's so excited that he may trot along
ahead of the van to SeaTac airport!
I picked up a couple of books at the Thrift store---not because
we're fearing a shortage of books around here or anything, in
fact, books seem to be holding up all the walls around
here---that or we're hoping for some insulation value.
Picked up a
new mop. Sad. The
Clorox Ready Mop died---the aluminum handle couldn't handle
the pressure the moppers constantly applied. So now, the
replacement is a
Swiffer WetJet mop. I give it about a 4 on a 1 to 10
scale. Maybe I am balking at a battery powered mop as we
make it a policy to have as few battery operated items as
possible. That policy is fast being countered, by the way.
So, the Swiffer mop's pump is battery operated. It doesn't
feel like a convenient mop, and its awkward for me to use.
So, I've decided it must be a 'right handers' mop and therefore
won't be using it as much as I used the other one. The
concept of the flat surface covered with a disposable mopping
pad is very appealing, however, there are flaws in both designs.
Should this one break and it likely will, as all things do, I
think I'll go back to the
Clorox Ready Mop---the whole deal is less cumbersome---and
cheaper, too---especially when using diluted
Simple Green (don't let the horn startle you) in the
solution bottle.
More later.
June 2,
2004 In preparation for our son to go to Mexico, we've
been shopping for things he'll need, getting the necessary
paperwork taken care of and gathering the "last minute" items.
I have a list of the things he'll need---O, what a blessing
lists are! Everytime I was tempted to fret over what we'd
need for a Bible Conference we've begun to attend regularly, I
just looked at my list... gathered the next thing and realized
that nothing was being forgotten, everything was in order... no
more fretting! What a blessing it was to have some of the
things that are rarely used, but always packed for different
trips. I'll post that list... it's alterable for other
types of trips
My-o-my!
Another hurdle in the changing of server/host for this website
sure caused a bit of consternation and no small stir over the
past week!!! I'm sorry about all that mess and the
error/password menus that popped up! I think most things
are changed over, now. There are still many broken links
and some pages don't load properly. It's operator error,
this time, I'm sorry to say! I will repair them as I have
time. So much to write (later) about the goings on over
the last several days. I'll not be able to reply to all
the letters that came in, but I sure appreciate the concern and
the encouragement all of them contained. Really, I praise
the Lord for you, for the provision of this site (thank you,
Wes) and for the privilege to do this work. Many
blessings! ~pamela
June 1,
2004 One Hundred years ago today, my grandmother,
Lois, was born. What an amazing thought this is that a
mere one hundred years has brought the changes---both
improvements and destruction--strides forward and plunges
back---that have occurred in world history. I am
remembering her today... and also considering my own dear mother
who loved her mother so much and, I believe, misses her sweet
little mother more with each passing year. My mother loved
her in so many tangible ways---always considering her, always
looking out for her, always providing what she needed---just as
my grandmother had done for her in the early years. I wish
I'd understood then what I am beginning to understand now... as
a young person, inexperienced and invincible, I didn't realize
the treasure in my grandmother and I thought I'd always have
another tomorrow---another day. There are no tomorrow's
for what's best done today. Isn't that the way it goes...
we don't really know what we've got till it's gone. (yeah,
I know, now that old Joni Mitchell song is stuck in my head,
too.) My sweet consolation is that my grandmother was a believer
and so is in heaven because she said yes to Jesus and He was
Lord of her life and is eternally in His presence. Praise
the Name of the Lord! Happy Birthday, sweet Grandmother!
More later |