Killing Time

Heyz

2011-04-16T15:35:00.001-04:00

--
Beatrice Kennedy
330-391-1916
All Saints
Mon-Sat 5 AM - 10 AM EST plus 10 flex hours.

I have no hope, except that I believe that Christ died for my sins,
According to the Scriptures.
I expect to swing out into eternity on that.
(F. F. Brown)

http://partakers.net

The Killing Time Blog Has Moved

2008-12-09T15:23:00.003-05:00

Well, after having my own domain for a year, and paying for the space, and seeing some of the things that people were doing with their Word Press sites, I finally decided to give it a try. All the posts have been moved, my first attempt at a template has been set up, so time to make it official. You can find future news from Killing Time at http://partakers.net.

Bye bye blogger . . . .

The Juncos are Back

2008-11-21T16:35:00.002-05:00

Around here, that means winter has arrived. That means we're in for 6 months of cold and gray. :(

More Fun With HDR

2008-11-19T11:44:00.004-05:00

This is really cool. What I'm finding out is that, even if I only take one shot of a scene, as long as I don't blow out the highlights, the sensor on my camera does a pretty fine job of recording all the information in both the shadows and highlights. The file just has to be processed properly in order to display all of it. An 8-bit monitor just can't do that without some pretty sophisticated mathematics. Thank goodness for open source software!

Date Night

2008-11-15T14:32:00.001-05:00

First, a really yummy steak at Ruby Tuesday's. Then Christmas tree shopping, thanks to our bank's rewards program. Then Starbucks for some java. Next stop, the movies.

My First Attempt at HDR Photography

2008-11-09T00:49:00.005-05:00

This is probably just about the coolest thing since sliced bread.

Original picture as shot with an increase in the exposure to bring out some detail in the shadows. As you can see, doing so immediately blows out the detail in the sky and the sky reflections in the water, and the trees in the background are pretty washed out. There's also still a lot of shadow area that is lacking detail.

Enter the concept of High Dynamic Range, which brings the world of photography a bit closer to what the eye actually sees (although this does have a touch of surrealism to my eye). Take multiple shots of the same scene, expose some to give detail in the shadows, some to give detail in the highlights, and merge them on your computer at home.

I'm pretty impressed. I think I'll keep playing around with this and see what happens.

Fall in Ohio

2008-11-07T22:56:00.006-05:00

Here are a "few" of my favorite fall pictures this year. A lot of them were taken on two covered bridge "tours" several weeks apart. If you pick up the Ohio Historical Society's Covered Bridges book, make sure you have a good map because a lot of them are on tiny little back roads, and while the book gives the location, there aren't any directions.

My favorite of several fall leaf still lifes.

Some of the ornamental grass in my yard at sunset.

My namesake.

First covered bridge tour, Route 26 near Marietta.

Second covered bridge tour, making a rough circle to the north of Newark

Herds of Cows with Cameras

2008-10-22T15:56:00.006-04:00

I was reading G. Dan Mitchell's photography blog today. He posted a really nice shot of rocks surrounded by a lovely flowing river. After describing the shot, he said:

There is a funny story to add to this. As I was shooting, as often happens when one sets up near a roadway with a “pro-looking” gear (hey, all it really seems to take is a tripod), other visitors began to pull over to see what the photographer was shooting, jumping out of their cars with cameras in hand. This in a very dark section of the canyon. With me using a very long lens. Pointed straight down at some boring rocks in the river. Quite a few just shook their heads, looked at me like I was nuts, got back in the cars, and drove on. :-)

This struck me as enormously funny for two reasons. One, I've seen it all the time, especially when driving through some of the more scenic state parks. Someone will stop and get out of the car with a camera (especially a "pro-looking" camera), and everybody else will then follow suit like a herd of cattle. The second reason it amuses me is that my mindset was always that I steadfastly refused to go along with the crowd, no matter how spectacular the view. If by chance (or parental stopping) I got drug into such a scene, I always felt kind of dorky - like I knew there was a better shot somewhere off the trail that none of the other dorks would ever find, and why in the world did I have to get stuck following a herd of dorks who didn't know what they were doing, anyway? :)

Okay, so I've revealed my innate lack of humility.

Enjoy some of Mitchell's photography. His aspens are really nice.

Echoes of Babel?

2008-10-03T17:49:00.004-04:00

Maybe it won't reach all the way to Heaven, but surely they must have been thinking something along these lines . . . .

'Space Elevator' Would Take Humans Into Orbit

The Greatest Story Ever Told

2008-09-23T19:25:00.003-04:00

I was listening to the tapes from "Family Camp", which I didn't go to this year, but a lot of people from my church did, and in one of the messages the speaker mentioned reading through the Bible in 30 days and how it had changed him, as well as others he knew who had done it. He mentioned that for him it meant reading something like 48 pages in somewhere about 2 hours per day. Not a terribly insurmountable goal, I thought to myself. Hmmmmm....maybe I'll try it - not so I can say I read through the Bible in 30 days. That would be kind of meaningless. I happen to be a "big picture" kind of person, and so it intrigued me to consider how my view of God might change if I could see the whole scope of history from creation to consummation in that short of a time span.

So I started out today. In my Bible, reading the entire book in 30 days amounts to about 35 pages for a total of 1044. BUT as I was beginning to read page 1, I started to think about all the times as a kid that I had read entire books of 1,000 pages or more - think the Hobbit and LOTR series - multiple times in no more than a day or two. Nothing else got done, of course, and I often read way into the wee hours of the morning in order to finish a book before going to sleep, but once I started a good book, I seldom put it down for any but the most demanding tasks. I wouldn't even put it down to go to the bathroom (learned how to zip my pants with one hand) or go to school (I was quite proficient at reading while walking.).

What if . . . .

What if I set out to read the Bible in that same spirit - as a book that was so good and so much to be devoured in one sitting if possible - that only the most pressing necessities could tear me away from it. Hmmmm . . . .

Of course, I'm no longer a kid, and there are things like laundry and work, and such that won't be put off, so I kind of doubt that I would have 48 uninterrupted hours to finish the entire 1044 pages, but we'll see how it turns out. Not so I can say "I read the whole Bible in x number of days!" but so I can read the greatest story ever told.

Say Cheese!

2008-09-20T21:27:00.001-04:00

Yes, I am shamelessly looking for sponsors to help me buy this when it comes out later this fall. Just kidding. No, really. Of course, any cash you want to throw my way would be graciously accepted . . .

Ike Still Packing a Punch

2008-09-15T15:34:00.010-04:00

Don't try this at home. The final step in getting the tree off the phone line sent a pretty big chunk of wood about 20 feet in the air.

The fallen tree's twin still being pushed around by some pretty stiff wind.
If Hurricane Ike is capable of pushing trees over like toothpicks all the way up here in northern Ohio, then what must it have been like in Galveston?

Like Mother Goose Running Amuck

2008-08-07T23:18:00.002-04:00

Tonight, my dad sang stanzas 5 and 6 of the "Nonsense Song" to me. I found a copy over at the Wisconsin Humanities Council and have posted them here for your funny bone's pleasure:

Nonsense Song
It was midnight on the ocean;
Not a street car was in sight.
The sun was shining brightly,
And it rained all day that night.

‘Twas a summer’s night in winter
And the rain was snowing fast.
A barefoot boy with shoes on
Stood sitting on the grass.

The rain was pouring down,
The moon was shining bright,
And everything that you could see
Was hidden out of sight.

It was evening and the rising sun
Was setting in the West.
The little fishes in the trees
Were huddled in their nest.

While the organ peeled potatoes,
Lard was rendered by the choir.
While the sexton rang the dish rag,
Someone set the church on fire.

“Holy Smoke,” the preacher shouted,
And in the rush he lost his hair.
Now his head resembles heaven,
For there is no parting there.

I saw a great, big, tiny house
Ten thousand miles away.
And to my view ‘twas out of sight
Last night, the other day.

The walls projected inward,
The front door round the back.
Alone it stood between two more.
The walls were whitewashed black.

30 What?

2008-07-21T00:10:00.004-04:00

I thought that needing to do some maintenance around the house this summer was going to put me out of commission as far as this week's VBS is concerned. But as it turns out, I may actually have a more important role than ever. Here's how the conversation went:

B: I want you to know I'll be praying for you while I'm painting my porch this week.

(A little explanation about why the porch hasn't been attended to in the 5 years since we've lived here.)

K: This year I'm really feeling impressed to pray for 30.

B: (I know what he's referring to but . . . ) 30 what?

K: (Suddenly thoughtful . . .) I hadn't thought about 30 what . . . 30 decisions?

B: I tell you what I'll be praying for this week - 30 followers.

K: 30 followers?

B: Yes, 30 kids who will follow Christ from this day forward.

K: 30 followers it is! Shake on it. (handshake)

B: "If two of you shall agree on earth about anything, it shall be done for them."

K: Just between the two of us . . .

B: No, between the 3 of us. (pointing up)

B: Manual labor makes for some awfully good prayer time. :)

So the drive home was interesting. It's not like this is something either one of us are likely to see visible results in right away, but I almost feel a sense of finality . . . like it's already a done deal as far as heaven is concerned. Very interesting sensation. I can't wait to get out and do some painting.

6 Reality Checks

2008-06-26T04:26:00.003-04:00

I'm not usually much for "topical" messages, but after hearing about the dismal state of Religion in America, specifically Christian religion, specifically Evangelical religion from the Pew organization this week, this message from Pastor Mullet seemed just a bit timely.

According to Pew, more than 1/4 of Christians, and specifically more than 1/4 of Evangelical Christians aren't sure that God actually exists. Even worse, more than 50% of religious people in this country don't believe their religion is the only way to eternal life, and specifically more than 50% of Evanglical Christians don't believe that their beliefs (specifically belief in Jesus Christ) is the only way to eternal life.

I suppose we're simply following in the footsteps of Europe, where the figures are much worse.

In contrast, a few reminders from the Word of God tonight:

1) Daniel 2:44 - There is a real heaven and a real kingdom to come.

2) Acts 17:28,31 - God created me, I have my being in him, and I will give an account to him.

3) 2 Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 40:8 - God has spoken (in the scriptures that he has given by his very breath) and what he has said matters eternally.

4) John 3:16 - Without God's grace, love, and mercy we are doomed to eternal torment.

5) Matthew 25:41,46 - Heaven and hell are real.

6) 1 John 5:10-13 - Jesus Christ, God's Son died for the sins of the whole world, he has risen from the dead, and he gives eternal life to all those who truly believe in him. You know if you have truly believed in him or not.

7) James 1:22-25 - Only a believer walking in fellowship with and obedience to God will see this world and the next rightly.

Hmmmm. . . I guess that's 7. I still don't like topical messages for all kinds of reasons, but I'll forgive him for this one. :)

2,500,000

2008-06-10T02:02:00.002-04:00

There were 2.5 million college degrees awarded this year. . . .

. . . One of them is mine.

Cow . . . abunga!!!

2008-04-22T16:02:00.004-04:00

What do you get for the 25-year-old who went cow tipping in her mother's car as soon as she was set loose on the highways and byways of the world with her own driver's licence? (Yes, she really did come home one night shortly after getting her license in a panic because she had hit, not one, but two cows in the road on her way home.)

Well, each year it's been something a little different. One of my personal favorites was the special treat I concocted for her graduation from high school. While she was showering before we all left for the ceremony, I installed a custom cow car seat cover and steering wheel cover in her car and then strung 5 or 6 Cow Tales candies off the rear trunk latch. She drove down the driveway shaking her fist at me. Fun, fun, fun.

Now, nearly at decade later, I stumbled onto the cow gift of all cow gifts. Glen Wexler has come out with a book entitled, The Secret Life of Cows. So months ago, I purchased a copy and had him sign it and include a personal message that reads, "Aubrey, just how fast were those cows going?" Boy, has it been a hard secret to keep.

I don't know if it's even possible to top this one.

A Definition of Religion

2008-03-24T00:16:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, I'll likely be tested on my professor's definition of religion which reads as follows:

Religion derives from the haunting realization of ultimate powerlessness in an inscrutable world, where each person harbors the unquestioning and irrational conviction of the possibility of gaining mystic security by somehow identifying one's self with what can never be known.

He goes on to both quote and state that it is a "'never-ceasing attempt to discover a road to spiritual serenity across the perplexities and dangers of daily life' (Sapir), manifesting itself as a system of symbols which acts as the vehicle for establishing powerful moods and motivations through a) the formulation of conceptions of a general order, and through b) rituals to act them out (Geertz)."

Further:

"The components of the religious experience include a configuration of emotional states: Fear, awe, hope, love, the plea, and belief or faith, and sometimes ecstasy; emotional states that are brought within the context of ultimate values and transcendent truths which generate commitments to certain types of social action oriented to penultimate concerns, THE MOST ULTIMATE OF WHICH IS THE REALIZATION OF THE INEVITABILITY OF DEATH." (emphasis mine)

I suppose it's a fine definition as far as it goes. Fifteen years ago, I would have (and did) hop right on board with this and similar sentiments about religion in general and Christianity in particular. So what changed? On this day when the majority of the Christian world recognizes that something truly extraordinary, if not downright impossible, took place some 2000 years ago, what changed is that 10 years ago I ran headlong into a spiritual brick wall named Jesus Christ and became convinced over the course of the next 13 months that he did indeed die for MY sins according to the Scriptures,

and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 12, after that he was seen of above 500 brethren at once . . . After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles, And last of all he was seen by me . . . (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

With that in mind, I was reading in the book of Hebrews this morning as communion was being served.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sactifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I WILL DECLARE THY NAME UNTO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCH WILL I SING PRAISE UNTO THEE. And again, I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM. And again, BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHICH GOD HATH GIVEN ME.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE,

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:9-18)

And continuing on, in chapter 7, something occurred to me earlier in the course in a discussion of the evolutionary pressures that have affected what males and females find attractive in each other - males - youth and curves and ability to procreate, females - power and ability to bring home the bacon.

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

WHO IS MADE, NOT AFTER THE LAW OF A CARNAL COMMANDMENT, BUT AFTER THE POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE.

For he testifieth, THOU ART A PRIEST FOR EVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

For the law made nothing perfect, BUT THE BRINGING IN OF A BETTER HOPE DID; BY THE WHICH WE DRAW NIGH UNTO GOD. (Hebrews 7:11-19)

Lots of quotes, I know. Maybe not the most decisive set of verses that would demonstrate the crucial difference between "drawing nigh to God" and "formulating conceptions of the general order and rituals to act them out", but I've hung my hopes on someone with the "power of an endless life", and that's okay by me. Does this "better hope" give me "spiritual serenity across the perplexities and dangers of daily life"? You bet it does. However, unlike my previous state of relative calm in the face of the "inscrutable", which was based mostly on the assumption that science would eventually provide answers to all of the unknowns and make religion obsolete, this hope is something that I have "AS AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, BOTH SURE AND STEADFAST, AND WHICH ENTERETH INTO THAT WITHIN THE VEIL." (Hebrews 6:19)

Did I ever mention that I LOVE Hebrews? Try reading some verses from there during your communion service sometime.

Rules for Shopping

2008-03-06T00:53:00.002-05:00

First rule, not original with me, is never go grocery shopping when you're hungry.

Next rule, which was discovered on Tuesday and adopted immediately is:

Never make your shopping list when you're hungry.

I ate lunch and then made my list this week and nothing looked quite as appetizing as it usually does, so my listed ended up about 1/4 the usual size. Not bad. Smaller list = less time involved in acquisition.

There are other rules that make this chore more bearable for those of us who don't like to do it. The one kind of shopping I rather enjoy, though, is second hand shopping. I've stumbled onto brand new clothes with the tags still on for a fraction of the new price. Today, I happened to find the cloth napkins and placemats that match a table cloth I've had for about 4 years now and paid a grand total of $2.00 for the complete set of 4 of each. This I can deal with.

Of course, I'd still prefer to have things just magically appear in my cupboards so I could eliminate the chore altogether.

"I just made this up, but it's true."

2008-02-21T03:54:00.005-05:00

Okay, so maybe my husband has been right all these years, and all I learned in college was how to say "I don't know" in 20 words instead of 3. Dr. R made the above statement today while discussing a couple of concepts having to do with the complementary roles in society that men and women traditionally fulfill that will most likely appear on the next test. I'm sure that all he's claiming he "made up" is that he coined the phrase, or applied it in the particular context we're studying, but I did have to remind myself not to laugh out loud.

On the way home, I was wondering how this complementary structure of how men and women interact with the world in different ways, which seems to be rooted in our biology (the "true" part of the discussion), relates to what the Scriptures say about the differences between men and women, as well as how those differences are played out on a spiritual level.

My initial thought is that Dr. R, as interested as he seems to be in healing and spirituality and such, as knowledgable as he is about "religion", has never seen beyond the level of pure biology. It's rather interesting to me that he's mentioned a friend of his on several occasions who was miraculously healed of breast cancer. She attributes this healing to Jesus Christ. He relates exactly what happened in class with the straigtest of faces (how do you deny something physical has happened when an ulcerous lesion is just gone and when you really enjoyed the fried chicken after the healing service?) and calls it psychology and "faith" and electromagnetic energy. He reminds me very much of my old friends, the Pharisees in John chapter 10 who saw the miracles Jesus did, saw the blind man who could now see, saw Lazarus raised from the dead, and when they heard the voice of God speak from heaven said it sounded like thunder.

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

At what level does the physical relationship of man and woman joining their complementary roles together in marriage intersect with the spiritual reality of Christ's relationship with the church?

Stay tuned.

Hang Time

2008-01-31T22:06:00.001-05:00

Our friend Janet expressed the week perfectly with those two words. She knows way more about hang time than I do, but after sitting in the surgery waiting room for upwards of 12 hours waiting for news, then moving to the critical care waiting room where we've spent the greater part of the last two days, it seemed fitting.

Even in this short time, I can see that hang time is different for different families. While dad was still in surgery, one family's hang time was coming to an end as a young 28 year old man lost the battle with a microscopic bacteria called Pneumonia. At the same time, another family's hang Time has already stretched out for a month while they wait for any sign of improvement from a 24 year old daughter sent into the land of limbo by a stroke.

Dad's proceeding as expected through his recovery. Thanks to all our family and friends who made much of our experience of hang time more like a reunion than a hospital waiting room.

On The Road Again

2008-01-26T13:58:00.001-05:00

So, there's no reason at all for me to post a crummy phone picture of the St. Louis arch on a cloudy, gloomy day except that I can. On our way to visit with the folks before dad has his surgery. I seem to keep finding new and interesting ways to sleep without actually sleeping. Today's adventure included a woman describing a man at a casino table with firery, black eyes, and, more interesting to me, an interview with a woman from Mali who is seeking assylum in France so that she can protect her two year old daughter from the horrible practice of female genital mutilation. I think what I find most disturbing is that it's the women themselves who actually carry it out.

Who says there's no such thing as time travel?

2008-01-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

For many years, I've said that you couldn't pay me enough to go back to a previous age unless I could take along all my accumulated knowledge. So, what's it like to have your education interrupted for 15 years and then go back to finish the job? Exactly like that. I feel like I've gotten to go back in time 15 years and take along all the accumulated knowledge of those years. Everythings the same, but it's all different. What a trip!

Raising up a new generation that knows what freedom is all about . . .

2008-01-06T22:20:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T15:30:00.000-05:00

For everyone I don't have in my email address book, you may view my Christmas "card" here.

Deflation

2007-12-07T21:56:00.001-05:00

I created this "demotivation" poster in honor of the occasion of my petition to graduate under my old catalog being lost and having to wait two more months to find out what I'll need to do to finish up that degree. To creat your own demotivational poster, just go to
http://despair.com/ and click on the D.I.Y. tab. While you're there, enjoy some of the other great demotivators. :)

There is one really nice thing about being a Christ-follower that I've discovered along the way. I don't have to have my way in order to be happy. It's completely opposite from my previous way of approaching disappointment. It also makes it much easier to be nice to the person with the tack. O:)

Meet Spunkmeyer

2007-11-30T23:43:00.000-05:00

Say hello to the newest member of the family. I knew this was coming the day my husband came home a couple of months ago and said, "I want a parrot." Well, the day has arrived. Spunkmeyer is 3 months old today, so say "happy birthday, Spunkmeyer" too.

After the month of new . . . .

2007-11-30T22:06:00.000-05:00

. . . I've been taking a trip in the way back machine.

I took this picture immediately after registering for class for spring quarter 2008 - 15 years after I last saw this place. Don't know yet whether I'll have 1 class left to finish my degree or more than that, but I should be finding out next week. The committee met today to decide that one. Thanks to a friend who found out how close I got to graduating and didn't just say, "Oh, that's too bad."

Refreshments Anyone?

2007-11-28T03:32:00.000-05:00

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. --1 Corinthians 6:11

I do not know all of the Savior's reasons for choosing the woman at the well. I know that His revelation of Himself to her constituted an everlasting rebuke to human self-righteousness. I know that every smug woman who walks down the street in pride and status ought to be ashamed of herself. I know that every self-righteous man who looks into his mirror each morning to shave what he believes to be an honest face ought to be ashamed of himself....

Jesus was able to see potential in the woman at the well that we could never have sensed. What a gracious thing for us that Jesus Christ never thinks about what we have been! He always thinks about what we are going to be. You and I are slaves to time and space and records and reputations and publicity and the past-all that we call the case history. Jesus Christ cares absolutely nothing about anyone's moral case history. He forgives it and starts from there as though the person had been born one minute before.

(A. W. Tozer)

What's in a Nickname?

2007-11-10T03:45:00.001-05:00

On the occasion of my new nickname, generously provided by Mr. Jonathan Quinn, it seemed appropriate to discuss the one nickname that has yet to be discussed on this blog - namely Bullwinkl. Yes, this is after the famous moose of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame. If I tell you that this cartoon was one of my favorites, you'll have a good handle on how old I am.

I had always thought that Bullwinkle was the nickname my dad picked out for me, but when I asked him about it recently he said, no - I was the one who insisted that he call me Bullwinkle. When I first started using the name again for my Internet presence several years ago, I mistakenly left off the "e", and it stuck. I'm now forever and always "Bullwinkl - no e."

Of course, mooses (or is it meese?) have minds of their own, and Bullwinkl has seen several transformations. First there was the original Bullwinkl icon.

Then, there was Mrs. Moose, and Mrs. Moose was on the loose.

This past summer Mrs. Moose crossed over to the dark side and became Mrs. Outlaw Moose - complete with black coat and hat, and six-shooter rubber band gun. Even my next door neighbor kid had a tough time figuring out who Mrs. Outlaw Moose really was. Fun fun fun. :)

Now, I'm "the blog queen", thanks to Jonathan. I think I like mooses better. Never did feel really comfortable in too much finery.

Now you know the story behind the longest lasting of all my nicknames and all the variations on the theme. Don't you feel enlightened?

Equipping

2007-10-28T02:33:00.000-04:00

When Paul Pritchard asked me to do some work with Preach, one of the first things I became aware of was that the only reason I really had to say no would be if I didn't believe that God would equip me for the job. So, what does my husband bring home today? A Wacom graphic tablet for $20. They usually run just over $100. He didn't even know I've wanted one for years because it's just one of those things that's been in the back of my mind, but other things were always more pressing - like drooling over the latest incarnation of Adobe CS3, so I never mentioned it. I have no idea what I'm going to need this for yet, but I'm looking forward to whatever it might be.

The Month of New . . .

2007-09-27T18:02:00.000-04:00

Not everything is new this month, but enough is for me to notice. I have a new lens for my camera. Beautiful portrait lens. I've been waiting a couple of years to be able to afford some nice glass for this camera, and this piece certainly fits the bill.

Other new things are a new job and a new ministry. A new design for one of my websites. And down below a new brother from Togo. Now on to some more familiar territory . . .

One of my husband's toys . . .

An interesting shot of a butterfly. I forgot I had manually set the shutter speed, but this was interesting.

And my first shot of a bald eagle.

Nice visit with the folks and the kiddo.

One day while mom and dad were here, we went to Train-O-Rama. You can see the little boy in heaven look in my dad's eyes as he watches all the trains go round and round.

I wish this would have had more of a National Geographic quality about it, but this is shot number 10,000 from my Canon Digital Rebel XT.

After the trains, it was the lighthouse.

Labor Day weekend . . .

Hanging out with the grandkids . . .

And new and old friends at Pastor's Training School . . .

I can't wait to see what God has in store for the coming month.

I Wonder

2007-08-27T21:49:00.000-04:00

We're now into that part of John's Gospel where things are turning against Jesus. In John 13 just before Jesus dismisses Judas to go do his dirty work of betrayal, He quotes from Psalm 41. As I was reading Psalm 41 tonight, I started to imagine that I was Jesus reading that Psalm, and understanding for the first time that it was about me. I wondered if that understanding came as a child, or whether it only came as Jesus was immersed in the events. Don't know if there's anywhere to go with that, but it was interesting.

Time for a new notebook

2007-07-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

But before I pitch this one, here are a few notes I jotted down in passing as I filled it up:

- From a sermon of John McArthur sometime in April(?):

- Identifying with the church is an obedience issue. There was never any assumption that some Christian would be floating around all by himself.
- It's the biblical pattern. What we have today is not biblical
- It may be a sin issue - there are things in your life you don't want exposed.
- It's a fellowship issue - we have entered into the fellowship of God's Son. It's wrong not to be part of this fellowship.
- It's an authority issue - from the Word of God - but you need to come under that authority. You need to appreciate those who rule.
- An identity issue.
- An issue of loyalty - we're God's family, and we need to be loyal.
- A service issue - Spiritual gifts are ministered in the church.
- It's a witness issue - What do people in the world think Christians are?
- How committed can we be to Christ if we're not even committed to being a part of his church?

A list of songs on my computer - I think I was looking for a song to use as background music for the Kenya video here. Obviously, none of these made the cut that day, but they may in the future. Some have made it onto my blog in videos put together by others. If so, they'll be linked, as well:

- Babbie Mason "Each One Reach One" and "I Will Be The One"
- Chris Rice - "Go Light Your World", "Life Means So Much", "Untitled Hymn" and "The Face of Christ."
- I've got "There is a Balm in Gilead" on this little list twice - Once by Don Marsh and once by Simplicity.
- Jack Jezzro shows up with "I Love to Tell The Story" and "There is a Fountain."
- John Doan with "Farewell"
- REALLY NEAT song by Lianna Klassen called "The Voice"
- Rick Foster (top notch guitarist) with "Hymn Triumphant"
- Robin Mark and "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story"
- Simple Gifts of the Northwest with "Holy Manna", "I Hear the Voice of Jesus", "Morning Trumpet", "Next Year in Jerusalem", and "Precious Jewels"
- Steven Smith with "A Wedding Gift", "As Quick As You Please", Now, Oh Now, I Must Needs Part", "Sabbath Medly", and "Shady Grove" (all instrumentals)
- Wes King - "Who But God" (I REALLY like this one)
- The Crossing - "Lift Up Your Eyes"
- Really, really neat song by Shira Kammen called "Wild Mountain Thyme"

Research notes for my two major purchases in the last few months - 1) my cell phone, and 2) the external flash I just got for my camera.

Several calculations to make sure I was actually going to have enough vacation time accrued for the recent trip to Africa (I did with less than an hour to spare - Good thing I didn't need to take any time off for that gallbladder surgery in January!).

Some notes on updated files that I needed to upload to the Good Shepherd Baptist Missions web site.

A shopping list - pop, coffee, hot dogs, pork loin combo pack, tomatoes, large eggs, frozen pizza, deodorant, milk, cereal, bread, 40-watt light bulb, mayo, butter, parmesan cheese, crackers, cake mix, peanut butter, shampoo, draino, mints, soap, noxema.

Another tidbit from John McArthur - I forget exactly what "category" of people he was speaking about, and he was talking way faster than I was writing, but he was talking about people who would rather:
- be holy than happy;
- see the honor of God advanced than . . .
- carry their cross than . . .
- see people from God's perspective than . . .
- die right than live wrong . . .
- see others advance at their own expense than . . .
- make eternity judgments than time judgments.

What's up Doc?

2007-07-22T01:24:00.000-04:00

Still not a whole lot. We did have some fun with the neighbors' corn while they were on vacation by putting some ears we had bought at the grocery store on sticks so they would think they already had corn on the stalks. Fun, fun, fun. :)

I've been evaluating Nancy Guthrie's new book, Hoping for Something Better: Refusing to Settle for Life as Usual, to see what kind of potential it has for a ladies Bible study either at home or at the church. I'm thrilled with what she has put together. Hebrews has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible for a couple of reasons - 1) chapter 12 literally saved my Christian life at a time when I was wondering if I would ever make it past first base, and 2) it's been the book that most consistently raises my spirit right up into the throne room of heaven. I can point out verses in just about every chapter that have lifted my soul right out of my skin and into the very presence of God, and I like that. Nancy seems to have found all my favorites and then some.

So I'm in that in-between time where one major step is finished (for now - I sure hope that wasn't the only time I'll ever be directly involved in foreign missions!), and I'm actively praying and preparing and starting to plan for the next step.

What Nonsense

2007-07-20T01:59:00.000-04:00

From now on, any trees should be decorated in such a way that they don't appear to be Christmas trees.

Whatever advisory panel came up with that one has my kudos for taking the level of intolerant tolerance in this country to new heights of idiocy. If they knew a little more about the history of the Christmas tree, they might think twice about whether it's a Christian symbol. But to say, "Go ahead and put up your tree, but don't make it look like what it is," is just lame.

Words of Wisdom

2007-07-06T22:11:00.000-04:00

Today's Word of Wisdom:

Don't inhale the mouthwash!

Sorry, but things have been a little slow since getting back home. I have a wedding to do pictures for tomorrow, and I'm waiting for a book I ordered that looks like it might make an interesting Bible study to do at home with some ladies in the neighborhood. I really did inhale some mouthwash this morning, though, and it was not a pleasant experience. Talk about the red eye express!

Aubrey called, though, and she passed her National Registry exam, so she's officially a paramedic. Hip, hip, hooray! Congrats kiddo!

Things I Missed

2007-06-23T14:33:00.000-04:00

One thing that I missed being able to participate in while I was in Africa was Aubrey's graduation from paramedic school. Since I wasn't there to get any "proud mother" pictures, the "proud auntie" pictures will have to suffice. Thanks Annette for taking time from your own busy life to celebrate Aubrey's accomplishment with her.

Here is Annette's post.

And a few of her pictures:

More Parting Words

2007-06-17T23:30:00.000-04:00

You never know when you're going to see someone for the last time. I last saw my brother Tom who I wrote about in March about a month ago before leaving for Africa. The day we were flying back last Sunday was the last time he was able to come to church. He crossed the river into the presence of Jesus today. The first thing that entered my mind when I heard the news was the first line of the chorus, "It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus." I'm sure he would tell me that now if he could.

At the service last week, they sang some of Tom's favorite songs. Here is one of them.

15 Minutes of Fame

2007-06-16T03:41:00.000-04:00

Well, my little story made the cut. Look for me on June 4.

Dear One Year Life Verse Contributor:

Well it took a while, but the edited manuscript for The One Year Life Verse Devotional has gone to the typesetter. Phew!

Attached is a single month of the manuscript -- the month that includes your contribution. I'm sending this to you to confirm that you're in the book! And this note is also a final safety net to make sure we didn't totally mess up your story. Unless there is a glaring error, please don't find anything you want to change! The typesetters would not be happy with me.

A couple other thoughts:
The book is not yet on the Tyndale website. But other bookselling sites are pre-selling it. Check out amazon.com for a view of the cover:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/105-9066054-9530030?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Jay%20Payleitner

Thanks! It turns out I got way more stories than I needed, and so quite a few didn't make the cut. Please pray with me that our devotional draws people to God and His Word.

With much appreciation,

Jay K. Payleitner

Parting Words

2007-06-12T00:20:00.002-04:00

Susete and Nela both wrote short notes to me before we left. Brother Paul translated Susete's note for me. It reads:

My dear Sister Bi:
When you return to your land of America, I will not forget you because I will not forget you being here in Cape Verde. I'm not going to stop going to church. I'm writing this letter with a lot of joy because I'm going to miss you. I hope you will come back.
Go and be strong,
Susete

Still More Memorable Quotes

2007-06-12T00:20:00.001-04:00

Sometimes the best preaching is the kind where all I jot down is quotes straight from scripture because there's not much "filler". That was the kind of message Paul Sr. preached Sunday morning. I've got about two whole pages of scripture and no fluffy stuff and nothing I don't know where to find in the Bible. But since the title of this post is quotes . . . .

Sunday night my brother from Brazil, Robson (pronounced Hobson) preached on Galatians 6:17.

"The marks -- Scars always tell a story."
"What do you think about a person who would suffer so much for you?"
"The marks and scars we have will one day disappear. The only one left who will have marks on his body in eternity is Jesus."
"Jesus has the marks of love. It's a love that is eternal."

More Memorable Quotes

2007-06-11T20:18:00.000-04:00

Paul Pritchard Sr. left us with a series of challenging questions early in the trip:

- Are you in? (In Christ, that is)
- How far are you in?
- Are you faithful?
- Do you love the Lord?
- Are you a disciple?
- Are you getting others in?

Mrs. Cynthia:

"There is a certain type of person God is looking for." (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Russell Snoddy had this to say:

"In your life, don't believe you've reached it. There's farther to go. If not, you'd be in heaven. . . . If you think you've arrived, you won't follow Jesus any farther."

"I see God's hand moving all over the globe. The question is -- Do you want to be part of it?" (I do. Do you?)
"If we don't pay attention, we're going to miss something God is doing."
"When we remember how valuable our salvation is, when we remember how LOST we were, it will make us RUN to get others saved."
"Our time here (in Cape Verde) is short, but what we're doing is eternal because God is eternal."
"Satan has us convinced to just stay put - You've got good music, good preaching, you need to grow a little bit more first. You go to all the services, you give, you give to missions, you're good. But the job of the church is to go right into the enemy's territory, not hide behind our comforts. . . . The normal Christian life is to push the enemy back - it's what we're doing right here. This is the normal Christian life." ( . . . to which I can only say a hearty amen!)
"You can only live a normal Christian life if you have some things:
- You have to love God and love his Word. Jesus said, If you love me, you'll keep my commands. We desperately need this kind of love. This is the kind of love God saved us with. We can speak about the love of God, but if we have this kind of love, we can show them his love.
- You have to put God first. I'm here because God loves this place, and I love God. Moses said, If your presence is not with us, I'm not going to take one step. That's obedience!
- You have to have love for the lost. That love will cause us to leave the comforts of home and go forward to overcome the obstacles."
"Don't lose the opportunity to make a difference."
"The normal Christian life -- Love God -- Love people -- Be obedient."

Joe Davis again:

"The World is the next person you give a tract to."
"Why did I come back? Here is the place I have a common bond with men of like passion. I don't fit nowhere else."

Carla And Friends

2007-06-11T19:32:00.000-04:00

In one of the classes at one of the high schools, we finished handing out the Bibles just as the kids were going to a break. So I got to talk with Carla and some of her friends. Communication was a little difficult, but at that level of education some of the kids know a little English, so it's not totally impossible. I had them all read John 3:16 from their new New Testaments. Carla and I spotted each other as we were leaving. She's the third girl to the left of the pole.

Quote of the Day

2007-06-11T18:54:00.000-04:00

This quote from Joe Davis that I overheard from the men's devotions one morning deserves a post all by itself:

When the towers fell, we saw people risk their own lives to rush in and rescue people. We've seen tornadoes, and car wrecks, and house fires, and a hurricane on the Gulf Coast where the same thing happened. . . . People are perishing! . . . . What I don't see is the sense of urgency to get the Gospel to them.

God Can Use Anything

2007-06-11T18:40:00.000-04:00

This young man received a tract because Anna got sick, and we had to stop and get her and the van cleaned up. This was the only time it happened, and she was fine the rest of the day.

One day after returning from working in the schools all day, I went up to the roof and was just praying for a while. This was part of my prayer that day:

Lord, I know you have people here, or you wouldn't have sent us. Help us find them."

This particular method of help was a bit unusual, but seems to have been as effective as any other I've come across. :)

Memorable Quotes

2007-06-08T07:54:00.000-04:00

Here are a few memorable quotes from the first week.

Joe Davis, speaking about Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30 spoke about how young oxen are trained by being put into the yoke with an older, bigger, more experienced ox.

"The little ox doesn't pull anything. All he has to do is learn the yoke. The burden is all on the big ox."
Do you want to be a disciple of Christ? In Luke 14, three times Jesus says you can't be his disciple. "Verse 33 kicks most people right out the door. . . . He's not trying to keep people from being disciples. He's showing us what the path of discipleship is."
"Americans have so much stuff we're trying to get rid of some of the stuff so we can get more stuff."
"How can we make disciples if we are not disciples?"
"Christ is first. . . . He makes the choices. . . . He owns it all. . . . One of those three will knock most people out of the race."
"There are many things you can know about the Bible, but there are many things you will never understand until you give your life to the Gospel."

From Jonathan Quinn:

"God's priority is to redeem fallen man, not make us happy and comfortable."
"We think the community we live in is the world, but Jesus died for everyone on the face of the globe."
"We think the call to serve God is something only a few people have, but the call is to the world, and we're all responsible."
"There is going to have to be some suffering that has to take place in order to get the Gospel out to the world."

More later.

You Know Dreams Are Weird When . . .

2007-06-07T18:26:00.000-04:00

. . . things from your dream start showing up in real life. Yesterday, while stopped at a gas station, I looked across the street, and lo and behold, there's the Suzuki shop from my dream. Not, only that, but I talked to a homeless guy named Derrick who was from Liberia while we were stopped there. He was probably a little Schizophrenic just judging from the way the conversation went, but I gave him a tract and talked to him a little bit about Jesus. Of course, this is a sea port city with closely packed streets and no grass, at least now during the dry season. So it was "interesting".

Yes, I Ate Goat

2007-06-07T18:22:00.000-04:00

Two of the schools we stopped at yesterday wanted to feed us. At the first there was a selection of different foods. At the second, we had a goat and potato stew with rice. It was different, but good. I was in the group that got left at this school while some went to distribute Bibles in a smaller schhol. That gave me a chance to hang out with some of the kids. Yes, I wished that I knew more Portuguese. We did several group photos where the point seemed to be who could do the most interesting thing for the camera, I got them to do a hand pile with me. My hand really is at the bottom of all those other hands. It doesn't take much to be instantly surrounded by about 30 or 40 kids. The kids with the pile of sticks are having some sugar cane for an afternoon snack. And, yes, the lady really is sorting the rice grain by grain.

Rachael

2007-06-06T19:13:00.000-04:00

Rachael seems to be having a good time here. She's been holding the wordless book while Brother Robson from Brazil tells the story. I'm just a bit concerned about her spiritual condition, however, as she was considering converting to Buddhism today. (Just kidding folks!)

She did get just a bit lobsterized on the last day.

A Study In Contrasts

2007-06-06T18:35:00.000-04:00

In one of the towns we pass through you will see this church at one end of town and this house with a devil mask over the door. Pretty much everywhere you will see houses with crosses painted on each side of the door, but this doesn't mean the people who live there are Christian. I've been told that the crosses are supposed ward off evil spirits. Pray for the spirittual darkness to be lifted.

This particular town was one where Bibles were distributed in the school last year. The great need now is for a church and people who can disciple those in whose hearts God has been working. In fact, one of the team leaders said the other day that every town where we've taken God's Word into the schools needs a church. Pray for laborers.

I Can't Think Happy

2007-06-06T18:33:00.000-04:00

Joe had made a joke earlier in the trip about standing around frowning to look important and busy, and he does it very well! But I caught him smiling today. He says I'm going to ruin his reputation.

Now I'm African

2007-06-06T18:32:00.000-04:00

I bought a lenço today, and Nela helped me put it on. Nalito says that now I'm African. The lenço looks much better on Nela than it does on me, though, don't you think?

Nela and Linda

2007-06-05T19:12:00.002-04:00

Nela and Linda are two of the Cape Verdeans who attend the little church here. On Friday, they, Nalito, and Charles went with us. It was nice to get to know them a little better. Nela speaks a little English, so we were able to have a little bit of conversation.

At one of the schools, we ran into a lady who was cleaning fish on one of the benches. I've spared you the grosser details of what was on the other side of the basin. :)

Lu

2007-06-05T19:12:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, Rachael and I went over to Lu's house and almost had a conversation. There was lots of halting silence and looking through the word list, but we managed to exchange a few pieces of information. When we got back, Joyce asked me if I had invited her to church. I started to feel bad that I hadn't until I realized that I didn't know enough Portuguese to actually do that.

So after breakfast the next morning, I grabbed Lisa, and we went over to see if she would come. And she said yes. After the the service, I got Paul Sr. to help me explain a drawing I had told her earlier that I would show her. She had commented several times about how happy and content I was, and I had said that I wanted to show her a picture I had drawn when I was not so happy. As Paul and I explained the drawing and the story behind it, Paul began to share the Gospel with her, and she received Christ.

I know I'm at the end of a long line of people who have been planting seed and watering the ground, but it's such a priviledge to actually be there when that seed sprouts.

Left Behind

2007-06-05T19:11:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday was my day to stat behind and help in the kitchen. Here is a picture of me and Anna doing dishes. I also got Joe and Lisa's wireless set up, which sure makes communication a whole lot easier -- as long as I remember to press the send/receive button. :)

Laundry Day

2007-06-05T19:10:00.000-04:00

On the day I took this picture, Neni washed clothes and left well after dinner when they were all cleaned and hung on the lines. I saw the places on her hands where the skin had been rubbed raw and the bulging, swollen muscles in her forearms. At that moment, I knew that I didn't have a clue what hard work really is. I would have quit long before I had any marks in my body to show for my labor.

Update: Neni is no longer just the "laundry lady". She received Christ at one of the evening services, so she's also now my sister. Somewhere in between all of that laundry, she made a lovely table cover for me before I left.

Language Lesson

2007-06-05T19:09:00.002-04:00

Not one, not two, but three languages were being taught in both directions between Charles and Jonathan.

Quiet Spot

2007-06-05T19:09:00.001-04:00

I love the building designs here. Everything seems to be designed to maximize whatever breeze is blowing in off the ocean. This little breezeway really is quite breezy. I'm not the only one who found this a nice spot to have a little quiet time.

A Late Dinner Worth Waiting For

2007-06-05T19:08:00.000-04:00

Got to meet Ruthe today, and she got to meet Christ. Brother Robson from Brazil started sharing the wordless book with her right in the main traffic area, and no one had the nerve to ask them to move or to serve dinner. So we waited and prayed. It wasn't long before the heads bowed in prayer, and I gained a new sister in Christ.

Same Dust, Different Direction

2007-06-05T18:58:00.000-04:00

Friday was Children's Day, so all the schools were having big parties for the kids, which gave us a day to play tourist. We went to the north end of the island to Tarrafal. The mountains were tall, the beach was nice, the water was salty, and the sun was hot. We had chicken and rice and French fries again. I asked Tiffany if that was pretty much it for menu selection, or whether that was just the easiest thing to make for 50 people. She sad that's pretty much it.

Hit a good bump on the way home, and the spare tire fell down, so we had to stop for that. Isn't Phillip's hat just lovely?

Patrick

2007-06-02T12:28:00.000-04:00

This was the first high school we went to. We spent an afternoon and a morning there, and it was truly a blessing. Besides the Bible distribution in the classes, we gave out dozens of tracts as the students were moving around from class to class.

In the morning, I got left behind with the boxes while the rest of the team took them to the classes. It wasn't long before I was surrounded by about 30 kids all curious about the white lady and the boxes. As soon as I told them the boxes were full of Bibles, they all wanted one. It about killed me that I couldn't just crack open a box and start passing them out right there. The hunger in some of their eyes was obvious. I had a good time laughing and cutting up with the kids. One guy told me he was Elvis Presley. Eventually, they all ended up with tracts and began to break up into groups of four or five and sit down to read them.

One boy in particular seemed especially interested in having a Bible. He was in 12th grade and told me his name was Patrick. I quickly asked God to get that kid a Bible somehow along with the group of girls who had sat down right next to the boxes. Later, I did see that Patrick had gotten a Bible and was grateful for that. A bit later he came back and gave me the tract that had just been given to him not too long before with his name and address on the back and a check mark in the box indicating that he had received Christ.

Patrick is one of about 40 or so kids who returned their tracts to one of us while we were still there. Pray that these kids will grow in their faith and pray that they will follow Jesus all the way into eternity.

Update: Someone (not me) actually got a picture of Patrick. That's him on the end of the bench reading a tract.

Victoria

2007-05-31T12:09:00.000-04:00

At the last school of the day on Tuesday, my van arrived later than the others, and there were just a few classrooms, so I didn't go in. As I was standing outside looking around, I noticed an older woman looking out her front window, so I waved and smiled. She smiled and waved back, so I walked over and we exchanged names and the fact that neither of us spoke the other's language. By this time, there was quite a gathering of interested people, so we started passing out tracts. The others got done in the school, and had some Bibles left in the boxes, so we started giving them to the people who were standing around. I went over and got one for Victoria and took it over to her. She was very appreciative.

As I walked away, I could see she was already reading her new Bible. I went back and asked for her photo and thanked her.

The Work

2007-05-31T11:14:00.000-04:00

At first glance, it might sound like passing out Bibles to a bunch of school kids wouldn't be very exciting. That first impression would be wrong, though. I've spent a lot of time in the last few days with native Portuguese speakers, and since I can't understand the majority of what is being said, I've got to spend a lot of time looking into the kids' faces. It's neat because if you happen to catch their eyes, just a little smile is all it takes to see that face just light up.

Some of the classes will sing for us when we arrive. At one school, the entire school was gathered together to sing. Brother Paul Sr. then teaches them the song "God is so good." Look for the video sometime in the near future when I can get enough bandwidth to upload it.

I've gotten to share my testimony in a couple of the classes, and that

Lunch in Cabo Verde

2007-05-31T11:07:00.000-04:00

Grilled chicken, rice, pork and beans, and fries. Coke is coke all around the world. Rachael got hold of my phone for a minute and did a lovely self-portait. The gentleman sitting next to Rachael, Djoca, is one of our taxi drivers. He needs to be saved. Our other driver, Tatino, received Christ yesterday.

Update: Djoca came to the church service on our second Monday night. It was a strong Gospel message, but it appeared that Djoca was going to leave without responding. I asked him if I could show him the picture I had drawn while I was still an atheist, and asked Claudio, one of the Brazilians on the trip, to translate for me. Djoca understood the meaning of the picture right away and said that he was ready to have the darkness taken away from his heart. Claudio talked to him from that point on, and he soon bowed his head and received Christ. Friday night, he brought his son, who also responded to the invitation. More on Djoca later.

Openness

2007-05-31T11:05:00.000-04:00

It doesn't seem to matter where we are, people seem eager to receive either Gospel tracts or the Bibles. One girl said this is totally the opposite of Japan where you can hand someone a tract, and they'll take one look and hand it right back to you.

Already Different

2007-05-31T10:18:00.000-04:00

A good friend always says, "You'll be the same this time next year except for the people you meet and the books you read. " Today I met Francisca. It's hard to say what impressed me about her. Maybe that my first impression was totally wrong. I first saw her sitting on the rock in front of her house, and then later when she had a very difficult time getting up, I assumed that's all she did was sit on the rock. Later, when I saw her making her way slowly down the street, half bent over and leaning very heavily on her walking stick, I knew I was wrong about her. Lisa told me that she really likes chocolate, and so I slipped her a piece from my bag the next time I saw her. She was really pleased.

I also met Neni (almost sounds like nanny) who is trying to raise three kids alone. She will be doing our laundry while we're here, and it really bothered me that I didn't even know her name before I met her today. I hope I can spend a little more time with her and get to know her as more than just the "laundry woman".

And I met Lu and had coffee at her house. This was one thing I was hoping to have the chance to do while here. It would be a real shame to come all this way, do all the work that will be done, and never touch or be touched by the people who call this home. So I'm both surprised and delighted that these encounters have happened so quickly.

More later.

First Impressions

2007-05-31T10:16:00.000-04:00

It's beautiful, but I've never seen so many rocks in my life. The one word that fills my heart as I look across the landscape is hopeless. Sometimes you can see that same hopelessness when you look into someone's eyes.

In The Air

2007-05-26T16:14:00.000-04:00

I like flying, but I usually only do it for a couple of hours at a time. Seven hours will be interesting. Got to give a nice young couple who were wondering what all the lime green shirts were about a couple of Get Out of Hell Free cards.

Airport Encounters

2007-05-26T15:24:00.000-04:00

Well, we only made it to the curb before we had the first (and hopefully only) sprained ankle. After that, just the usual hanging out at the airport excitement.

After Rachel and I discussed the artistic possibilities, we came up with this ponytail hanging over the back of the chair.

Update: Well, after Mrs. Cynthia's ankle failed to improve, x-rays revealed her to have a fractured ankle. She spent most of the trip confined to bed with her leg elevated directing the curtain sewing and praying for us throughout the day. The local doctor was very nice and did make a house call to check up on her.

And we're off

2007-05-26T02:21:00.000-04:00

Orientation

2007-05-25T19:21:00.000-04:00

It was great to see Brother Paul today and hear him preach to us from the story of Jericho. It was a long day on two hours sleep, but I'm glad to be here.

Ready or not . . .

2007-05-25T08:06:00.001-04:00

It's time to go.

Are You Going To Waste Your Life?

2007-05-24T03:43:00.000-04:00

Heard this on the way home from church tonight.

Listen to the radical way Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 12 . . . You remember the situation. He’s got a thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what it is, but it is causing him pain. He says, “Christ, please take it away.” Three times. And Christ says, “No.” And then Paul says, verse 9 . . .

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. . . .

There’s more of Christ. Do you see that? Do you want more of Christ? Christ’s grace. Christ’s power. Christ’s fellowship. Do you want more and more and more because he is your treasure? Paul did, and therefore he said . . . Most gladly . . . Don’t miss that amazing counter-intuitive word . . . Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For the sake of Christ, then, I’m content . . . . I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Magnifying Christ by being satisfied in him in pain, in calamity, in suffering, in insult, and weakness was the passion of Paul’s life. His passion was not the American Dream of escaping insult, calamity, pain, suffering. His passion was any life and any death that enables me to know you better, see you more, and magnify your greatness more. Bring it on, Jesus. All I want in my life and in my death is to make your worth more vivid for the world to see.

So, I ask you tonight. Are you going to throw away your life? Are you going to buy into the American Dream, minimize suffering, maximize comfort, maximize ease, maximize security, build bigger barns, work for the bread that perishes, lay up treasure on earth, covet the praise of man, and be happy for 80 years, and PERISH? Is that the way that you’re going to waste your life?

Or are you going to see Christ crucified and risen and reigning and bearing your sins as the infinite treasure in your life that he really is and then make life choices that display to the world his value?

It's Been A Long Time Without A Quiz

2007-05-23T01:11:00.001-04:00

My sister found this one somewhere.

Your Power Bird is a Cardinal

You believe that each day is precious, and you spend your times as best as you can.
You see the wonder in small things, and you are often content with what you have.
You live an interesting, colorful life - and you bring color to those around you.
Confident and expressive, you believe you know how to live a good life. You're living it!

What's Your Power Bird?

I think most people looking at my life from the outside might think it's not so interesting except for some major highlights here and there, but I'm having a blast, so I'll go with it. :)

Say Goodbye To The Grandma Car

2007-05-22T17:43:00.000-04:00

The original plan was to take the tax refund and get my husband a cheap beater car for work. Well, with the prospect of putting 400 dollars into a 600 car, and with gas prices nearing 3.50 a gallon today, we decided that the only thing that made economic sense was to get a car with exceptional gas mileage and use the van as little as possible. With that approach, the car will very nearly pay for itself. So, say goodbye to the grandma car.

Goals

2007-05-21T12:48:00.000-04:00

One more thing that sticks out in my mind from this brief trip. Most of the time I never see the people who clean the hotel room, but this time because I was working my usual schedule I got to speak with "Mary" several times. She seemed to be about my age, but maybe a lot harder life than I've had to deal with. On Sunday, I had a little more chance to talk to her. What she told me in that conversation has lodged in my brain.

The first thing she said was that she knew I would be nice when she saw my Bible in the room. I guess a lot of hotel guests aren't. She told me a couple of stories. But the thing I reallly want to remember about her is what she said next.

She said, "My goal is to learn to read so I can read the Bible." As we talked some more, it was clear that she had placed her faith in Jesus, but now she wanted to be able to read his words for herself. I thought about how saturated we are with Bibles in the churches in this country, and about how little we sometimes value these riches. I thought about how many people there are in the world -- and right here in this country -- who would love to have a Bible to read or who have set themselves the goal of learning how to read so that they can read the words of God for themselves. And I wondered if this was how education became a thing for the common people. I've read somewhere that where the Gospel has come to an illiterate culture, education isn't far behind.

A week from today I'll have the great privilege of taking God's word to people who can read, but don't have the ready access to Bibles that we do. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my blessings.

What goal have you set for yourself?

And The Winner Is . . .

2007-05-20T21:44:00.000-04:00

Who is your paralytic?

2007-05-20T14:22:00.000-04:00

Visiting with my husband's youngest daughter this week. Of course any time you leave Ohio to the south or the east you have to cross the mighty Ohio River. One of my favorite road trips of all time was when we were headed home one time, and we followed the river all the way from the southernmost point of Ohio up to around the Youngstown area before cuttting back across the state to home. Lots of neat things to see along the way.

Got to meet Rigsby, who we nearly didn't get to meet because he had a bad go with some Parvo not too many weeks back.

Car shopping. Can't you just see the JOY oozing out of their pores! (NOT! LOL)

Friday night dinner. Neat place. Three guys from New York got to North Carolina and couldn't find a decent pizza. Imagine that! I loved the decor. Lots of old oil cans, gas pumps. An old soap box derby car hanging from the ceiling. Plenty of atmosphere along with a pretty good piece of pizza.

I think the highlight of this trip is going to be the worship service I attended this morning. I always enjoy my visits at other churches when I'm away from home - no matter how silly the reason I have for picking one church over another. One year coming back from mom and dad's I went to the only church that had an early service because I needed to get on the road so I could get the rental car back on time. Today's silly reason? This was the closest church to the hotel we're staying at.

It's always great to meet other believers and see what God is doing outside of my little corner of the world. Today, I got to meet Seb. He sang a couple songs for the Sunday School class, but I really enjoyed the story he told first about 50 years ago in the North Carolina mountains there weren't any phones, so when his friend got saved, he couldn't just picked up the phone and call his mom who had been praying for him all those years. He had to sit down and write a letter. The song was about a mom who had gone on to heaven without knowing that her boy was saved, and asking that his name be called so mom would know he was there (in heaven). Neat.

The Sunday school class was a blessing. I hope I always remember the picture the teacher told of running his first marathon and the struggle to make it to the end and the mental battle to make it all the way to the finish line that was even more of a struggle than the physical battle. He told how upon seeing the finish come into view he started to cry and asked for his wife. I guess that's not an unusual reaction to have. What's that got to do with anything? The topic today was the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. As he talked about all that Jesus had gone through for us and the sheer agony of the physical torture that my sin and yours caused him to have to go through, I could just about hear him saying "It is finished" with the tears of a marathon runner who has just made it to the end of an agonizing race. I told the teacher that if I got nothing else today, that one picture made the entire trip worth it.

Of course, that wasn't the only thing I received from the Lord today. I also got to meet "Squeak" and her husband (who gave up his seat next to his wife for the entire service so I could sit down). It was a real blessing to hear their excitement about the things going on in the church.

And what's a visit to church without some heavenly manna - food for the soul. I think today's sermon was just what I needed to hear before heading off to Africa later this week. The text was Mark 2:1-12, where four friends bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus to be healed. These guys were absolutely determined to get their friend to Jesus, and NOTHING was going to stop them.

"It was the faith of the four friends that brought about the miracle. . . . There was no way they were leaving that day without putting their friend right in front of Jesus. . . . They didn't have another day, and they weren't going to wait for Jesus to get done."

I want to remember those words when I'm away, because I won't have another day, but I want to remember them when I'm back home too. There are lots of paralytics in my life on this side of the pond who need me to bring them to Jesus, and who knows if I'll have another day.

What's really neat about today's message is that the preacher gave me such a picture of Jesus that I felt motivated, not just guilted out. That's one thing I've been blessed by in all my road visits to different churches. No matter how inconsequential my reason for going to a particular church, I've always managed to find a place where Jesus Christ is exalted. That's all I need, and it's really all I want.

Why Do I Like A. W. Tozer So Much?

2007-05-19T00:14:00.001-04:00

Because he says it like it is.

It is doubtful whether we can be Christian in anything unless we are Christian in everything. To obey Christ in one or two or ten instances and then in fear of consequences to back away and refuse to obey in another is to cloud our life with the suspicion that we are only fair-weather followers and not true believers at all. To obey when it costs us nothing and refuse when the results are costly is to convict ourselves of moral trifling and gross insincerity....

Ouch!

Obviously, he's not talking about the person who out of ignorance of the scriptures doesn't obey Christ, but the one who knows and refuses when the cost of obedience is more than they are willing to pay.

Obedience in the Christian life is interesting, especially in this culture. We've had it so ingrained into our fiber that "No one's going to tell me what to do!" that even when it is God Almighty himself doing the telling we question his right to guide our lives. Forget that he might know better than us what is actually good for us! I know I've spent the majority of my life operating from that perspective. It really is a wonder and a work of God's grace that I would be obedient to anyone ~~ even him! I'm so thankful that every time I begin to balk, he reminds me of where I was before he came along. It's like he's saying, "Okay, you can have it your way if you want, but this was the result last time. Are you sure you want to go there again?" Sometimes I need that reminder.

Obedience is also interesting because often I'm not the only one who pays the price for my obedience. My husband will be without his wife for two weeks because of my obedience. My daughter will not have a parent at her graduation from paramedic school because of my obedience. I'm grateful to both of them, but it is costly at times to obey the Lord. All I can say there, though, is that he is worthy of anything he might ask of me. He gave his all for me. How could I give any less? That would be the height of ingratitude, wouldn't it?

Obedience is interesting too because sometimes I don't see what God is doing in my life until AFTER I obey. In other words, it's a faith thing, and obedience is really the proving ground of faith - so much so that in the scriptures belief and obedience are nearly identical. This fascinates me for lots of reasons. Like where exactly is the dividing line between belief and unbelief. There seems to be lots of scriptural indication that the dividing line is obedience. I can say that I believe God until I'm blue in the face, but until that belief comes out of my life in obedience, I'm really just fooling myself.

But be ye doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.

For if any be a hearer of the word,
and not a doer,
he is like unto a man
beholding his natural face in a glass:

For he beholdeth himself,
and goeth his way,
and straightway forgetteth
what manner of man he was.

But whoso looketh
into the perfect law of liberty,
and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If any man among you seem to be religious,
and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart,
this man’s religion is vain.

Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this,
To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction,
and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Are You Sure That Was Thunder?

2007-05-13T14:10:00.000-04:00

Today, the ladies' class discussed one of the most fascinating single verses of scripture we've arrived at to date.

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. John 12:27-30

I still remember the instant in December 1997 when I went from not believing there even was a God outside of anyone's immagination to being so sure he was actually in my car with me and had just changed my radio station that my whole life took an INSTANT 180 degree turn that hasn't changed direction since. My response to this God that day was, "Alright, you're there. Now what?" (Real reverent, I know. LOL)

It has occurred to me more than once over the years that the biggest miracle that day was not my radio station changing, but rather that my heart was changed. Had I arrived at that day with the same heart that led me to disbelieve in God in the first place, I would have done just what the Jews in John 12 did - explained it away - looked for a natural explanation like the weather - dismissed it as too much pizza the night before or a good immagination. I doubt if I would have called the angels out, since they were just as much a figment of the immagination as God was.

This fascinates me. So many times I have heard people (even said it myself):
1) Why doesn't God just speak from heaven? Then I'll believe, or
2) People back then were really gullible and didn't know all that we do today about science and things.

The problem with both of those is, they weren't any more gullible than people today. They resorted to exactly the same explanations we do, and I/they/you most likely wouldn't believe it if God spoke from heaven anyway. Jesus put it fairly strongly when he suggested that if someone wouldn't believe the scriptures that had already been given, they wouldn't believe if someone was even raised from the dead. Still just as true 2000 years later as it was the day he spoke those words.

I remember Khoa, an exchange student who stayed with one of the families at my church for the year. The country he was from is fairly atheistic, and so for that year he came to church with his American family kind of like an observer/scientist. Then one day in the spring, there was a day when something happened at church that was totally arranged and orchestrated by God. He was in the room, I was in the room. Everyone who had any concept of God knew that God had showed up that day and that his presence had filled the room in a way that even we knew was special. No one was unaffected -- except Khoa. Another lady asked him if he had noticed anything different, and he just looked back with a blank stare. She said to him, "You just saw God." Well, I beg to differ, but I don't think he did. I think he saw someone talking to the air and a bunch of other people standing around with their eyes closed. Thankfully, God soon opened the door for some serious discussions, and he did go home believing in this God that people had been telling him about all year.

This afternoon listening to the radio, Ravi Zacharias told about a non-theistic Buddhist mathematics professor who in courtroom testimony gave the odds of evolution actually happening totally based on natural processes as in the 10:40,000 exponent neighborhood. In other words, though he didn't attribute anything to any kind of invisible God, he certainly wasn't willing to chalk up to chance and natural selection something that is clearly totally outside the realm of reasonable probability - our universe. Fascinating that when asked how he explained the existence of life on earth he said that this world must have been seeded by another extraterrestrial civilzation.

Who has the greater faith?

Ravi made an excellent point in conclusion. It's not the believer in God who is demonstrating a will to believe against all evidence. The resurrectiton of Jesus from the dead is one of those things that happened in history and can be looked at historically and rationally. Someone who believes that he was raised from the dead, especially someone who once did not believe, is not doing so AGAINST rational evidence but in concert with it. On the other hand, sometimes it is the unbeliever who is demonstrating a will to disbelieve despite all evidence to the contrary. This is really crystal clear in the verse above. The Jews who attributed the voice of God to natural processes - the thunder - had just seen Jesus restore sight to a blind man (John 9), and raise another man from the dead who had been in the ground four days (John 11), and had just been welcomed into Jerusalem as the King and Messiah of Israel - the one who had been prophesied to come for hundreds of years - and when he spoke of his coming death on the cross, God the Father spoke audibly from heaven to demonstrate his approval, and they said it sounded like the thunder. They didn't deny that these things had happened. They denied that they -- and Jesus -- were from God.

Fascinating.

Some Days Are Diamonds

2007-05-12T20:18:00.000-04:00

What a nice Mother's Day surprise!

Happy Birthday!

2007-05-11T00:06:00.000-04:00

My blog is one year old today. I still don't have anything to say to the world, but I'm rather enjoying my little interactive "journal." Sound and pictures make all the difference, I guess. Never could get much into keeping a journal without that dimension. I suppose it's fun, too, that other people can comment on my stuff. Of course, that means my deepest, darkest secrets don't make it onto these pages, unless someone thinks they can analyze that dream I had the other day and come up with something there.

Anyway, if you're coming along for my ride, enjoy. I intend to.

Quote of the Day

2007-05-10T03:18:00.000-04:00

The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night. For all the ill that Satan can do, when God describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love, it is a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, and a wife (Luke 14:18-20). The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an
appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable, and almost incurable. John Piper

How many people do I know right now, today, whose idolatry is hardly recognized and nearly incurable? Too many. Hence, my subtitle: Pity the person who has never gotten around to living for eternity. I truly do pity those around me who really have no idea what they're missing, and won't until they find themselves willing to lose all that they might gain Christ. I found these riches early on, and I STILL find my appetite for God dulled by a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, or a computer. But there's a picture in my head that God placed there the first time I entered a church again after 18 years of atheism of a hound dog chasing a rabbit with all the single-minded zeal and abandon that only a hound dog hot on the scent can exhibit. It's that kind of energy with which I desire to follow after God.

But what things were gain to me,
those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and do count them but dung,
that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain
unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect: but I follow after,
if that I may apprehend that for which also
I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Did I say dreams are weird?

2007-05-08T09:14:00.000-04:00

It seems to be a pattern by now. Every time I'm about to take a really significant step in ministry, I have these really weird -- disturbing -- dreams. The last time was just before I was about to begin the ladies Sunday school class. I was taking a nap on a Sunday afternoon (something I no longer have the luxury of doing), and I woke up totally horrified because I had just found myself in a bar totally smashed and out of control. I was so creeped out by that dream that I momentarily thought about backing out of teaching the class. Well, those kinds of fears don't stalk my dreams anymore, thank the Lord. But what's this I woke up with today?

This morning I found myself driving around in a sea port town - kind of a city actually - with some reasonably tall buildings and closely packed streets. For some reason which remains a mystery, I parked the car in a lot and started pushing this lawnmower that was in the trunk around the streets. Why on earth I'm pushing a lawnmower around in the city when there's no grass to be seen is another mystery.

As I came up to one street corner, there was a particularly bad pothole, and I hit it hard. This did a number on the rear wheels of the lawnmower. The left rear looked okay but wasn't rolling smoothly anymore. The right rear had a big gash through the rubber and was crooked. I was starting to panic because of how badly I had ruined the lawnmower.

Then some old guy came along. He looked to me like an old homeless drunk, but he knew WAY too much about my lawnmower. He took off the one wheel that was broken, and then said, "You need to go to the Suzuki shop and get this fixed." I looked down and, sure enough, it's a Suzuki lawnmower. (Does Suzuki even make lawnmowers?) So through several twists and turns through this city, he led me to within sight of the Suzuki shop, and then he disappeared. At this point, I remember thinking that I had no idea where my car was anymore, but right now I just needed to get the lawnmower fixed.

So I entered the Suzuki shop, and it was full of really interesting stuff, but no lawnmowers. Strange. There's a back room, and I can see someone wandering around back there. Maybe that's where the lawnmowers are. So I wandered to the back with my broken lawnmower, and a man comes out of the back room and asks how he can help me. I said, "I've broken my lawnmower. Can you fix it?" He took the lawnmower from me and lifted it up to take a good look, and I woke up.

Strange.

Clues: Sunday morning one of the ladies asked a question about Luke 22:36-38. Why did Jesus tell the disciples to get swords if they weren't supposed to use them? Good question. I had to come home and chew on this and get some pastoral insight, as well. In the process of trying to hash this out so I understand it myself before taking it up again next week, I wrote the following in an email to my pastor.

My first clue is that this seems to be yet another (of many-John's Gospel is full of these) instance when the disciples and Jesus are thinking on two different levels. Jesus is speaking spiritually somehow and the disciples are taking him literally/materially and totally miss the point. So Jesus is talking about spiritual things again, and the disciples remain firmly anchored to the material and don't get the intended meaning at all. The second clue that this is the case is that 2 literal swords aren't enough to provide any real protection from the company of soldiers that is about to arrest Jesus, and they don't actually have time to go out and sell their clothes and buy more before they would be needed, and Jesus then proceeds to heal the one man who was injured by one of these literal swords, so it appears that literal swords are not what Jesus is referring to.

It then occurred to me that this could be an instance when Jesus wants to teach them something. The feeding of the multitude comes to mind as an example of what I'm talking about - where Jesus tells the disciples to feed the crowd and they totally approach it the wrong way because they can't see past their own noses. It almost seems like he's doing the same thing here - he tells them to make all these preparations, but they go about it entirely backwards because they're not thinking on the spiritual level yet. I started wondering about this possibility when I read paragraph C on page 434 of the commentary you gave me tonight. There it is talking about knowing versus not knowing the weakness of human flesh and how Peter was so confident in his own natural strength. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this whole discussion about scrips and swords was meant to drive home the point just made in verse 34 that Peter was about to fail because he was relying on his flesh.

Any relationship between these things? A lawnmower is certainly the wrong tool to have in a city with no grass, just as a literal sword was the wrong tool for Peter to have in Luke. Hmmmmmm......

Rescued From The Brothel

2007-05-05T18:42:00.000-04:00

Some years ago, I remember laying down for a nap on a Sunday afternoon and waking to an interview with Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope International. What she was talking about really gripped my heart as she described meeting some girls in India who had been sold into sexual slavery. The girls she met with had recently trusted in Christ as Savior but were still enslaved in some abominable conditions. It was these kinds of girls that Shared Hope seeks to rescue from the slavery they have been sold into. As Mrs. Smith described how freely these girls worshipped God -- even in the brothel where they didn't even have anything of their own, not even their dignity -- it changed everything about how I view the comparatively minor things I have to deal with.

I subscribed to the Shared Hope Newsletter, and the very first one I got, featured a picture of a young woman who had been rescued from one of these Indian brothels and was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress standing next to a handsome young man who was now her husband.

In one of those unforgettable convergences that only God can arrange, the following Sunday morning, the pastor spoke about Ephesians 5:25-27.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

As he started to talk about how it was as if God, out of the cesspool of human civilization, had taken a young lady from one of these brothels, cleaned her, given her new clothes, and now presents her to himself as his bride as a chaste virgin, I literally had a picture of exactly what he was talking about in my mind. I don't think I'll ever forget that picture. Every time I read those verses again, I have a picture in my mind of a young lady who has seen depths of human depravity that I will never know standing clean and pure with her husband on their wedding day. It reminds me of the end of the story -- the day every believer in Christ is looking forward to:

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of might thunderings saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself read.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Bonus: Human trafficking and sexual slavery was still a relatively unknown issue when I first heard the interview with Linda Smith. Her organization and others like it have made a great deal of progress in bringing these things into the spotlight. If you think slavery in this country ended with the Civil War, think again.

The Culprit!

2007-05-03T15:52:00.001-04:00

The source of the car trouble last Friday appears to have been this lovely piece of wiring that connects to my fuel pump. NICE!

A Study in Seeds

2007-05-02T17:04:00.000-04:00

Back in November I had some fun with a couple of spider pictures. Today the subject is seeds.

About 5 or 6 years ago, I saved some seeds from one of my potted plants. I don't even remember what kind of seeds they are, just that I really liked the plant. So when we moved, the seeds came with us. Every once in a while, I'd come across them again and think I should plant them. So today I finally put them in some wet paper towels to see if they're going to do anything.

That of course reminded me of Operation Planting Seed. A couple weeks ago I was second-hand shopping and found this brand new jacket that has "Seed Consultants" embroidered on it. Couldn't resist. That will be my jacket on the trip.

And all of that reminds me once again of Jesus' words in John 12:24:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Pray for much fruit from the seed that will be planted.

Update: The seeds are starting to go moldy. I guess I waited too long. It sure made a great lesson to end the year with the girls on, though. I talked with them about the verse above and about the fact that if your life is only always about yourself and what you want, that you'll always be like that seed sitting in the plastic bag just a solitary seed. All the potential of new life, but no growth and no fruit. I think it was a good lesson.

Quote of the Day

2007-05-02T04:23:00.000-04:00

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus."--John 12:21

Toward anything like thorough scholarship I make no claim. I am not an authority on any man's teaching; I have never tried to be. I take my help where I find it and set my heart to graze where the pastures are greenest. Only one stipulation do I make: my teacher must know God, as Carlyle said, "otherwise than by hearsay," and Christ must be all in all to him. If a man have only correct doctrine to offer me I am sure to slip out at the first intermission to seek the company of someone who has seen for himself how lovely is the face of Him who is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. Such a man can help me, and no one else can. A. W. Tozer

One of my favorite authors, ever since I first read The Pursuit of God has been A. W. Tozer. For several years, I have subscribed to a daily email devotional that has been compiled from his writings by Literature Ministries International. Every year when this quote comes around, I just want to shout Amen! The only reason I can possibly see to listen to someone else -- especially in the church -- is if they know God "otherwise than by hearsay." Without that, preaching is nothing more than hot air, and possibly harmful hot air at that. I can forgive a preacher a lot of imperfections if he can help me see Christ more clearly. But no amount of suave or polish or correct doctrine can ever make up for the absence of a heart that burns from time spent with Christ.

Bonus: I was really pleased to hear from my dad, long after my grandpa died, that he, too, was a big fan of A. W. Tozer. Neat thing to have in common with him.

A New Way To Get Your Groceries Home

2007-04-27T22:32:00.000-04:00

Yes, after making all my stops on grocery day, my car decided it wasn't up to the task of actually getting everything home. A couple of nice young men came out of the coffee shop I died in front of and pushed me around back to the coffe house parking lot, so that was nice.

Unusual Bank Deposit

2007-04-27T03:38:00.000-04:00

Drunk deposits horse in bank for night
Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:25 AM ET

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German man called on his bank for an unusual service when he was too tired and drunk to go home -- he bedded down there for the night with his horse.

The man, identified as Wolfgang H. by German media, went to sleep next to cash machines in the local branch of the Mittelbrandenburgische Sparkasse in Wiesenburg southwest of Berlin after unsaddling his horse Sammy and closing the door.

A spokeswoman for the bank said that aside from an undesirable deposit made by his horse inside the building, the 40-year-old account holder had not breached any house rules.

"The horse was otherwise very well behaved and kept a good watch on his master," she said Wednesday. "Perhaps we should have a supply of oats and water on the premises in future."

Another customer discovered the horse and rider as he slept and informed police, who asked the man to leave.

A police spokesman said that since the horse's droppings had been removed, the matter was now closed.

Something to do on your next date night

2007-04-27T03:26:00.000-04:00

Maturing cheese becomes Internet star
Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:08 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - A large English cheddar cheese has become a star of the Internet, attracting more than 1 million viewers to sit and stare at it as it slowly ripens.

First placed in front of a webcam in late December, the Westcombe cheddar from West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers leaped to public attention in early February and has since attracted viewers from 119 countries.

"The hits went over 1 million this morning. It has been a real challenge keeping the cheese up and running with all the interest it has generated," a spokesman for the company running the website, www.cheddarvision.tv, said Wednesday.

Watchers have tuned in from as far afield as Albania and New Zealand, although most are from the United States where a school has even sent in pictures of two crocodiles to guard the cheese.

"The whole idea was to show people how real food is made -- and it seems to be working," cheesemaker Tom Calver said. "It takes a year for the cheese to mature. This is not fast food. It is slow food."

Portuguese Lyrics!

2007-04-23T18:25:00.000-04:00

Don't worry - he sings it in English. LOL

And another . . . .

Occupational Hazards

2007-04-22T17:22:00.000-04:00

Okay, so there are some occupational hazards associated with mobile computing.

Resident Army Soldiers

Local Fishermen

Flower Girls

I guess if you have to work on a beautiful, sunny afternoon, this is the way to do it. :)

I Guess Spring Has Sprung

2007-04-22T14:00:00.000-04:00

It's FINALLY nice enough to take the laptop out on the porch today to work, and what's going on in the tree right in front of me? It barely has any leaves yet, and there's a couple of mourning doves making out like a couple of teenagers.

For all the times in my work life that I wished I could take my computer outside and set up shop in the sunshine . . . .HA! HA! It's just as nice as I always thought it would be!

My Life as a Medical Transcriptionist

2007-04-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

how did you get into this field and with how much/what kind of training?

First of all, it's only due to a couple of major administrative foul-ups that I even made it out of my probation period when I got this job. In the first, no one noticed after my first 30-day period that I wasn't anywhere close to meeting minimum production requirements. The second allowed me to continue receiving an hourly salary until I had been with the company for about 10 months, when it should have ended after 14 days. By the time those two things got straightened out, I was both meeting production and making enough to actually pay the bills when they took me off of hourly pay. So I lucked out big time.

I got into the field entirely by accident(?). I needed a job quick back in 1991, went through Kelly Services and ended up getting assigned to the genetics department at one of the local teaching hospitals. The job turned permanent, and I worked there for about six years before going into the computer field for another five or six years. That particular department gave me exposure to a lot of different terminology from just about every specialty you can name, so even though I never had a formal terminology course, I was able to pass the transcription test when I was hired.

What little I know about how hires are made in this field is that usually someone either needs a year or two of current experience (my experience was not current when I was hired - another administrative goof - no wonder they closed that office!) or else an approved training program. Some companies will state right on their web sites what courses they will accept.

Don't expect to make big bucks right out of the gate. Even though I had previous experience transcribing hospital dictation, it still took me a good six months before some of the doctors stopped sounding like they were drunk, and it took about a year before I actually was making what I consider a decent salary at it (which is still about 1/3 to 1/2 of what I was making as a computer tech).

Maybe my sis Annette has some additional insight into the question that she would like to add as a comment to this post?

Breakfast of Champions

2007-04-20T14:42:00.000-04:00

Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya. Good for what ails you, especially with an extra dose of cayenne.

1 lb hot sausage
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
salt to taste
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1 cup uncooked rice
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 to 2 cloves garlic (I usually double the garlic and half the salt), minced
2 pounds raw shrimp
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
3 Tbsps butter

Cut sausage into 1/4" slices.
Cook sausage until browned - transfer to a plate and set aside.
Melt butter over medium-high heat.
Add onion, celery, green pepper, garlic and saute 5 to 7 minutes.
Add rice, cayenne, white and black peppers and stir.
Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and sausage. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
Add shelled, deveined shrimp and cook until pink.

Mmmmm, mmmmm, good.

See Those Little Specks In The Water?

2007-04-19T14:09:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be real interested to find out next month why God has had his eye on that little place for so long. I've only been aware that it even existed for about five years or so. It's taken two years from the time I was first asked to pray about going to get to the point where I can actually say that, barring the unforeseen, I AM going -- and it's all been God's doing. All I've had to do is cooperate with Him and pray.

When I step on the plane, though, I guess you all might want to say goodbye, because from what I hear from others who have gone I won't be coming back the same. And that might just be a blessing. :)

Fall Back and Punt

2007-04-18T23:21:00.000-04:00

Okay, so sometimes my lesson illustrations leave a little something to be desired. Tonight, I thought I was right on the money. The text tonight was Micah 6:6-8 -

Wherewith shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before the high God?
shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves of a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the LORD require of thee,
but to do justly,
and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with thy God?

So I needed to define terms some with the girls, and we're discussing what this thing called mercy is. The discussion was pretty lame, but a couple of them had some good ideas. To move things along, I said that mercy is like when you're in big trouble with your mom. You KNOW you've messed up bad this time, and you DESERVE what you know is coming. But instead of punishing you, she comes up and gives you a hug.

Silence and blank stares.

One of the girls piped up with the fact that this wasn't something that was part of her experience. This got a chorus of agreement. That got me wondering where that illustration even came from. Is it something I remember from my own childhood, or something I know I've done with my daughter? I don't really remember. It must be in my heart somewhere in order for it to have come out like that, though.

I pulled it out by saying that if our own mothers have never had mercy on us like that, it's still exactly what God has done for us by sending Jesus Christ. But for a minute there, I was wondering if it were going to be a total loss.

So is this experience so foreign? Has none of us who are mothers ever had mercy on our kids instead of requiring sacrifice? Do none of us who are children have memories of receiving mercy from our parents? If they give us our first picture of what God is like, what does that say about how we view God?

Rocky Top

2007-04-12T20:37:00.000-04:00

Some songs are so associated with certain memories that bringing up one automatically brings up the other. So tonight, I came across this video of John Denver, Johnny Cash, and Glen Campbell singing Rocky Top, I was immediately transported to the basement of our house in Independence, Missouri, where the three of us (my cousin Beverly was living with us at the time) would spend hours and hours playing guitar and singing. Not just Rocky Top, but pretty much anything by John Denver, Neil Young, or Pink Floyd. I still miss her.