Yesterday's worship service at the church I attend was absolutely wonderful. I started attending this church just over 3 years ago - so this was my fourth year of having the privilege of attending their annual Fourth of July service. It is a day that those who serve or have served in the military are honored. Men who can still get into their uniforms come dressed in uniform. There is a proper color guard with the congregation reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. And the songs....
Yesterday, in addition to songs of worship and praise, we sang: America, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner. The choir sang patriotic music. The sermon was titled, "Don't Give Up On America." It focused on the truth of our history and the finale of the day was an incredibly touching solo titled "A Few Good Men" during which those in uniform came and stood across the platform, and at the end, spontaneous applause for them for their service to our country.
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
by Francis Scott Key, 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Generally the first verse is the only one we ever hear. I knew there were other verses - - and have read them in the past, but yesterday our congregation sang the last verse together. What wonderful words.
Psalm 32:12 states: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
Obviously that refers first and foremost to God's chosen people, Israel, but we who place our faith in Jesus Christ are grafted in. It is obvious that God has blessed America incredibly over the years. There has been no other nation like it.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to grow up in this country where differing views could be expressed without fear. There was a lot of 'agreeing to disagree' I know, but freedom of speech (including freedom to criticize without reprisal), freedom to assemble, freedom to worship according to each one's own preference...those are freedoms you won't find under dictatorships.
God, you are the rock on which this great nation was founded. I see us slipping off the rock, and it makes my heart ache. Yet, today - on this day of remembering, I pray for revival, for eyes to be opened, for hearts to turn once again to You, and to follow Your ways.
God Bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies
to the oceans, white with foam....
God bless America, my home, sweet home.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
AMERICA - AN EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM
We are unlike any nation that has ever existed. We were not founded on ethnicity but on an ideal.
Our founders were men with a Christian Worldview who wanted to establish a new republic that was committed to preserving the freedom to honor God as each chose. Religious freedom was specifically freedom from anyone dictating which of the multiple Christian 'denominations' they should belong to. Freedom was founded on freedom in Jesus Christ, but with the right to join any church one chose, without having a State religion all must follow with the threat of persecution if they didn't.
Our forefathers were poignantly aware that different people would have differing views about how to interpret God's Word – and they needed to be free to do that. It was freedom from dictatorship. Freedom to freely explore Truth – and the One who is Truth. It was the freedom to choose within parameters that established and honored God for who He truly is – the one and only King, Master, Creator and Deity!
I have heard several people state that the battle cry that spread throughout the thirteen colonies in their pursuit of independence was: “No King but King Jesus!”
In the research I did online it appears that this rallying cry had been used before in the Fifth Monarch Rebellion – and the passion for that freedom from tyranny came with the earliest settlers – those who came here for freedom from religious persecution. The reason they came to America was to have the freedom of religion they had been denied in England. Please note it was not freedom from religion, but freedom of religion! All of the religions they were referencing were Christian religions, different denominations who held to slightly different interpretations. Their passion was for people to be able to carefully study and come to different opinions without reprisal.
A site called daveblackonline is a wonderful resource for checking out the Christian foundation of our country. I am dreadfully disappointed that our history books never gave us the broader scope of our true history!
All excerpts below are quotes on the afore-mentioned site, which are credited with being taken from America’s God and Country Encyclopedia Of Quotations, by William J. Federer, 1994 (page numbers listed in brackets at end of excerpt).
The Great Law of Pennsylvania (April 25, 1682), was the first legislative act of Pennsylvania. It proclaimed:
Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of mankind is the reason and the end of government, and, therefore government itself is a venerable ordinance of God… [there shall be established] laws as shall best preserve true Christian and civil liberty, in opposition to all unchristian, licentious, and unjust practices, whereby God may have his due, and Caesar his due, and the people their due, from tyranny and oppression. [p.503]
The Charter of Privileges of Pennsylvania (1701), granted by William Penn to the province of Pennsylvania, stated:
And that all persons who also profess to believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, shall be capable to serve this government in any capacity, both legislatively or executively.
No people can be truly happy, though under the greatest enjoyment of civil liberties, if abridged of… their religious profession and worship… [p.503]
The Committees of Correspondence… began sounding the cry across the Colonies
(ca. 1774):
No King but King Jesus. [pp.58-59]
Constitution of the State of North Carolina (1776), stated:
There shall be no establishment of any one religious church or denomination in this State in preference to any other.
Article XXXII That no person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State. (until 1876)
In 1835 the word “Protestant” was changed to “Christian.” [p.482]
The Constitution of the State of Delaware (until 1792) stated:
Article XXII Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust… shall… make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit:
“I, _______, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore; I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.” [p.203]
John Jay (1745-1829), was the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, having been appointed by President George Washington. He was a Founding Father,
a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses… He was very instrumental in causing the Constitution to be ratified by writing the Federalist Papers, along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.
On October 12, 1816, John Jay admonished:
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. [p.318] [emphasis added]
The Constitution of the State of Mississippi (1817), stated:
No person who denies the being of God or a future state of rewards and punishments shall hold any office in the civil department of the State. [p.451]
Congress of the United States of America (May 1854), passed a resolution in the House which declared:
The great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. [emphasis added] [p.170]
These are just snippets of information excerpted from a much longer article – but they make my point. Our foundation as a nation was decisively Christian.
This weekend we celebrate our independence from England. It wasn’t just about unreasonable taxation, it was about religious freedom to choose whatever denomination within Christian faith we want to align ourselves with.
Our tolerance has expanded to ‘religious freedom’ of any sort…but that was not the original intended purpose. Now, what our forefathers fought so valiantly for is at risk. We need to pay attention!
I feel absolutely deprived that the TRUTH of our foundation as a country was not taught in the schools I attended.
The men who carved out the ideals of The United States and its government had a Christian Worldview, even if they were not all ‘Christian’ in the sense of a personal spiritual discipline. I’m overwhelmed with what I am just learning at the age of 65!!!!!
My online search included trying to find support for a statement attributed to George Washington when he was asked to serve as leader, that when they asked him to be king, he wisely responded, "There is no king but King Jesus." I couldn’t find any solid evidence to support that contention – but - since it was corroborated that it was the rallying cry of the colonies, it is plausible that he may have reiterated that truth.
All of the other information I found supports the larger issue of our foundations, and what we celebrate this weekend. Our Independence Day is specifically independence from religious persecution – and over and over the documents of our nation’s history bear out the Christian foundation that was established as a unique experiment in freedom.
I love our roots! Happy 4th! Happy Independence Day!
Freedom isn’t free – and I am deeply grateful to all who have fought to preserve our freedom. We are the land of the free because of the brave!!!!! I don’t know who first said that – but it is sooooo true!
Our founders were men with a Christian Worldview who wanted to establish a new republic that was committed to preserving the freedom to honor God as each chose. Religious freedom was specifically freedom from anyone dictating which of the multiple Christian 'denominations' they should belong to. Freedom was founded on freedom in Jesus Christ, but with the right to join any church one chose, without having a State religion all must follow with the threat of persecution if they didn't.
Our forefathers were poignantly aware that different people would have differing views about how to interpret God's Word – and they needed to be free to do that. It was freedom from dictatorship. Freedom to freely explore Truth – and the One who is Truth. It was the freedom to choose within parameters that established and honored God for who He truly is – the one and only King, Master, Creator and Deity!
I have heard several people state that the battle cry that spread throughout the thirteen colonies in their pursuit of independence was: “No King but King Jesus!”
In the research I did online it appears that this rallying cry had been used before in the Fifth Monarch Rebellion – and the passion for that freedom from tyranny came with the earliest settlers – those who came here for freedom from religious persecution. The reason they came to America was to have the freedom of religion they had been denied in England. Please note it was not freedom from religion, but freedom of religion! All of the religions they were referencing were Christian religions, different denominations who held to slightly different interpretations. Their passion was for people to be able to carefully study and come to different opinions without reprisal.
A site called daveblackonline is a wonderful resource for checking out the Christian foundation of our country. I am dreadfully disappointed that our history books never gave us the broader scope of our true history!
All excerpts below are quotes on the afore-mentioned site, which are credited with being taken from America’s God and Country Encyclopedia Of Quotations, by William J. Federer, 1994 (page numbers listed in brackets at end of excerpt).
The Great Law of Pennsylvania (April 25, 1682), was the first legislative act of Pennsylvania. It proclaimed:
Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of mankind is the reason and the end of government, and, therefore government itself is a venerable ordinance of God… [there shall be established] laws as shall best preserve true Christian and civil liberty, in opposition to all unchristian, licentious, and unjust practices, whereby God may have his due, and Caesar his due, and the people their due, from tyranny and oppression. [p.503]
The Charter of Privileges of Pennsylvania (1701), granted by William Penn to the province of Pennsylvania, stated:
And that all persons who also profess to believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, shall be capable to serve this government in any capacity, both legislatively or executively.
No people can be truly happy, though under the greatest enjoyment of civil liberties, if abridged of… their religious profession and worship… [p.503]
The Committees of Correspondence… began sounding the cry across the Colonies
(ca. 1774):
No King but King Jesus. [pp.58-59]
Constitution of the State of North Carolina (1776), stated:
There shall be no establishment of any one religious church or denomination in this State in preference to any other.
Article XXXII That no person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State. (until 1876)
In 1835 the word “Protestant” was changed to “Christian.” [p.482]
The Constitution of the State of Delaware (until 1792) stated:
Article XXII Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust… shall… make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit:
“I, _______, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore; I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.” [p.203]
John Jay (1745-1829), was the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, having been appointed by President George Washington. He was a Founding Father,
a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses… He was very instrumental in causing the Constitution to be ratified by writing the Federalist Papers, along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.
On October 12, 1816, John Jay admonished:
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. [p.318] [emphasis added]
The Constitution of the State of Mississippi (1817), stated:
No person who denies the being of God or a future state of rewards and punishments shall hold any office in the civil department of the State. [p.451]
Congress of the United States of America (May 1854), passed a resolution in the House which declared:
The great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. [emphasis added] [p.170]
These are just snippets of information excerpted from a much longer article – but they make my point. Our foundation as a nation was decisively Christian.
This weekend we celebrate our independence from England. It wasn’t just about unreasonable taxation, it was about religious freedom to choose whatever denomination within Christian faith we want to align ourselves with.
Our tolerance has expanded to ‘religious freedom’ of any sort…but that was not the original intended purpose. Now, what our forefathers fought so valiantly for is at risk. We need to pay attention!
I feel absolutely deprived that the TRUTH of our foundation as a country was not taught in the schools I attended.
The men who carved out the ideals of The United States and its government had a Christian Worldview, even if they were not all ‘Christian’ in the sense of a personal spiritual discipline. I’m overwhelmed with what I am just learning at the age of 65!!!!!
My online search included trying to find support for a statement attributed to George Washington when he was asked to serve as leader, that when they asked him to be king, he wisely responded, "There is no king but King Jesus." I couldn’t find any solid evidence to support that contention – but - since it was corroborated that it was the rallying cry of the colonies, it is plausible that he may have reiterated that truth.
All of the other information I found supports the larger issue of our foundations, and what we celebrate this weekend. Our Independence Day is specifically independence from religious persecution – and over and over the documents of our nation’s history bear out the Christian foundation that was established as a unique experiment in freedom.
I love our roots! Happy 4th! Happy Independence Day!
Freedom isn’t free – and I am deeply grateful to all who have fought to preserve our freedom. We are the land of the free because of the brave!!!!! I don’t know who first said that – but it is sooooo true!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Day 3 SLOT CANYON TRIP: May 26, 2011
The route we traveled on our 'Slot Canyon Trip' too us through Austin, Nevada. We had fun taking pictures there. Al's dad was named Austin - and in his honor, two of his grandsons named their sons Austin, so it is a very special name in our family.
The picture of the abandoned house was on the route that day - and the other pictures were taken in Austin.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Day 2 SLOT CANYON TRIP: May 25, 2011
I love this picture of this tree. It is a tree with tenacity. It speaks volumes to me. Hanging in there against all odds. Thriving in spite of circumstances. I took the picture in the Glass Buttes area of Central Oregon.
It has a wonderful spiritual application...and is applicable to all who stand faithfully for Truth! I love visual imagery, and this certainly provides that!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Day 1 - SLOT CANYON TRIP - May 24, 2011
I love waterfalls. I love the look of them, the sound of them, the mist they create - and when lucky enough to be there at the right time to capture the view, the rainbows they create. Toward the end of the trip, I got to do that!
For this first day, we drove along the scenic access that parallels I-84 in Oregon, and stopped to take pictures of these 3 falls. From top to bottom: Multnomah Falls, Horesetail Falls and Wahkeena Falls. I wasn't using my new camera yet - so these are with the Nikon D40X.
BEN STEIN'S MOVIE 'EXPELLED'
Last night my husband I finished watching the movie EXPELLED, which features Ben Stein as he interviews various people about their view of I D - Intelligent Design.
I was actually stunned that the view of so many otherwise intelligent people is that they don't even want to consider the possibility of I D as something they'd want to explore in their quest for scientific truth and accuracy.
For those who may pop in and read this who don't know me, I will state a couple of basics that are pertinent:
One: I believe in God - specifically the God of the Bible. I believe Genesis 1:1 when it states 'In the beginning God created....' I don't care if He calls a billion years a day as far as the account in the Bible is concerned....but I absolutely do believe He created the universe, created life and all that sustains life, including forming man from the dust and breathing life into him. I believe He could have created everything in 6 literal days - but probably didn't. The time frame is not the important issue. I don't care how long He took to create - I just care that He was the one doing it - that He is the 'Intelligent Designer' of Intelligent Design.
Two: That means I do not believe in evolution as defined by Darwin. I do, however, absolutely believe in changes that occur over time - which some people refer to as partial evolution. Things evolve. Peoples' life spans vary according to eras and influences; new animal breeds are created through cross-breeding, etc. But - animals do not evolve from one thing to another, from one species to another. For example, horses have come in sizes that range from a few inches to many hands high - - but they are still a horse....look like a horse, shaped like a horse, identifiable as a horse....
My husband says we came from monkeys. I didn't. God created me. Which will eventually bring me to point Three.
I married my dear, sweet husband when I was away from God - I was angry at God for letting me make a terrible choice (gotta' hate that free-will thing sometimes). And during the couple of years I was away from God, I married a wonderful man who is a doubter (his term). Our church - or lack of church - affiliations were not part of our conversation.
When I recommitted my life to the Lord, he said I married him under false pretenses. I didn't - but I am overwhelmingly grateful for God's grace that brought me back to Him.... And, I believed that in time, Mr. Right would come to believe in Him too. That hasn't happened yet - and we've been married since August, 1970.
I guess I might as well tell you just enough of the story for you to understand...so this is a diversion from my purpose of writing.... When I was pregnant with our first child, I started bleeding and cramping - indicating the likelihood of my body aborting, and I was afraid I would lose the baby. I prayed and said, "God - I don't know if you are real or not, but if You are, and if You'll save this baby, I'll recommit my life to You." He did - and I did.
So - finally, the clarity of point three: my dear husband does not believe in God. On our recent trip, the issue came up a lot more than usual, because we were in areas of such amazing geological wonder. And - everywhere we turned, things were presented as fact that I view as supposition. It was somewhat of a running banter between us - - me seeing God in everything - and His amazing creation - and him referencing Mother Nature and evolution.
So - - I had purchased this movie several months before, and just hadn't got it out yet. In between Al saw the last part of RELIGULOUS, with comedian Bill Maher - and he wanted me to see it - so I bought it for him. It his new favorite movie. He believes it is a factual documentary. I view it as a comedic spoof. So - since I have watched it a couple of times, I asked him to watch EXPELLED with me.
In our discussion after the movie I said, "When I attended Evergreen (a very liberal Liberal Arts College in Olympia) if I had said I believed God was a basket, people would have been affirming - but because I believed in God, they wrote me off as a nut case.
His response was, "They should."
One of the questions Ben Stein asked one atheist (a Professor Dawkins)in the movie was what he'd say if he got to the end of life and ran into God, and the professor said, "Bertram Russell had that question posed to him, and he said he would ask God, 'Sir, Why did you take such pains to hide yourself?' "
That was the most haunting query in the movie.
God, in fact, has not taken pains to hide Himself: just the opposite is true. God revealed Himself fully in His Son, and reveals Himself in His creation. And - He reveals Himself in His passion for mankind, and His desire to have an intimate personal relationship with us - the ones He created as the overseers of all of His other creations.
I don't understand why my husband doesn't see God as the One who is Truth - the only absolute Truth there is in this world.
I don't understand why scientists want to squelch searching for truth.
I do know that true wisdom is holding fast to a durable value system, and that value system has to be based on God. The Bible is the plumb line. If we want to know Truth, we cannot exclude it from our resources for searching out the wonders of the world.
I am constantly accused of not having an open mind. What I have observed is that when people's minds are too open a significant and most important part of their brains fall out....
If I want to know how to operate my camera, I don't read the manual for the washing machine. If I want to know about life and the possibility of a creator, the manual I read first is the Bible. I have asked my husband to challenge God's existence by seeing what God has to say.... I would challenge anyone else with the same solution for finding out. After all, if God exists - wouldn't an intelligent person want to know?
I was actually stunned that the view of so many otherwise intelligent people is that they don't even want to consider the possibility of I D as something they'd want to explore in their quest for scientific truth and accuracy.
For those who may pop in and read this who don't know me, I will state a couple of basics that are pertinent:
One: I believe in God - specifically the God of the Bible. I believe Genesis 1:1 when it states 'In the beginning God created....' I don't care if He calls a billion years a day as far as the account in the Bible is concerned....but I absolutely do believe He created the universe, created life and all that sustains life, including forming man from the dust and breathing life into him. I believe He could have created everything in 6 literal days - but probably didn't. The time frame is not the important issue. I don't care how long He took to create - I just care that He was the one doing it - that He is the 'Intelligent Designer' of Intelligent Design.
Two: That means I do not believe in evolution as defined by Darwin. I do, however, absolutely believe in changes that occur over time - which some people refer to as partial evolution. Things evolve. Peoples' life spans vary according to eras and influences; new animal breeds are created through cross-breeding, etc. But - animals do not evolve from one thing to another, from one species to another. For example, horses have come in sizes that range from a few inches to many hands high - - but they are still a horse....look like a horse, shaped like a horse, identifiable as a horse....
My husband says we came from monkeys. I didn't. God created me. Which will eventually bring me to point Three.
I married my dear, sweet husband when I was away from God - I was angry at God for letting me make a terrible choice (gotta' hate that free-will thing sometimes). And during the couple of years I was away from God, I married a wonderful man who is a doubter (his term). Our church - or lack of church - affiliations were not part of our conversation.
When I recommitted my life to the Lord, he said I married him under false pretenses. I didn't - but I am overwhelmingly grateful for God's grace that brought me back to Him.... And, I believed that in time, Mr. Right would come to believe in Him too. That hasn't happened yet - and we've been married since August, 1970.
I guess I might as well tell you just enough of the story for you to understand...so this is a diversion from my purpose of writing.... When I was pregnant with our first child, I started bleeding and cramping - indicating the likelihood of my body aborting, and I was afraid I would lose the baby. I prayed and said, "God - I don't know if you are real or not, but if You are, and if You'll save this baby, I'll recommit my life to You." He did - and I did.
So - finally, the clarity of point three: my dear husband does not believe in God. On our recent trip, the issue came up a lot more than usual, because we were in areas of such amazing geological wonder. And - everywhere we turned, things were presented as fact that I view as supposition. It was somewhat of a running banter between us - - me seeing God in everything - and His amazing creation - and him referencing Mother Nature and evolution.
So - - I had purchased this movie several months before, and just hadn't got it out yet. In between Al saw the last part of RELIGULOUS, with comedian Bill Maher - and he wanted me to see it - so I bought it for him. It his new favorite movie. He believes it is a factual documentary. I view it as a comedic spoof. So - since I have watched it a couple of times, I asked him to watch EXPELLED with me.
In our discussion after the movie I said, "When I attended Evergreen (a very liberal Liberal Arts College in Olympia) if I had said I believed God was a basket, people would have been affirming - but because I believed in God, they wrote me off as a nut case.
His response was, "They should."
One of the questions Ben Stein asked one atheist (a Professor Dawkins)in the movie was what he'd say if he got to the end of life and ran into God, and the professor said, "Bertram Russell had that question posed to him, and he said he would ask God, 'Sir, Why did you take such pains to hide yourself?' "
That was the most haunting query in the movie.
God, in fact, has not taken pains to hide Himself: just the opposite is true. God revealed Himself fully in His Son, and reveals Himself in His creation. And - He reveals Himself in His passion for mankind, and His desire to have an intimate personal relationship with us - the ones He created as the overseers of all of His other creations.
I don't understand why my husband doesn't see God as the One who is Truth - the only absolute Truth there is in this world.
I don't understand why scientists want to squelch searching for truth.
I do know that true wisdom is holding fast to a durable value system, and that value system has to be based on God. The Bible is the plumb line. If we want to know Truth, we cannot exclude it from our resources for searching out the wonders of the world.
I am constantly accused of not having an open mind. What I have observed is that when people's minds are too open a significant and most important part of their brains fall out....
If I want to know how to operate my camera, I don't read the manual for the washing machine. If I want to know about life and the possibility of a creator, the manual I read first is the Bible. I have asked my husband to challenge God's existence by seeing what God has to say.... I would challenge anyone else with the same solution for finding out. After all, if God exists - wouldn't an intelligent person want to know?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
MUSINGS FOR JUNE
I just can't let the month slip by without at least one post making its way to the blog....
We were on a trip May 24 - June 17, and it has been a whirlwind ever since. But I am trying to reconnect with life as lived in this plane....
I've decided I don't want to be gone for June in the future. I missed most of the blooming season for my purple irises. And the grass...well, this was a year things grew abundantly. Al tilled under his garden to start over...it was that bad!
But I loved the journey while we were on it.
While we were away, for my devotions I continued my reading of The Revelation of John, then moved on to James, and after a few scattered potluck readings, decided on Romans. I'm still in Romans. Today my reading was Romans 12. What an amazing chapter. I loved re-reading it. It's been a long time since I read Romans through. I love that it is both familiar and fresh! I love that God speaks through His written Word with nudgings and affirmations that are specific for where I am today! And I love the memory of the verses as they've influenced my life in the past.
So much water has gone under the bridge since I wrote last....I can't possibly cover it all....
On our trip I also completed a book titled OLD LAND NEW LAND by Theodor Herzl - his novel promoting a revived Israel before it ever came true. In that light, it was fascinating reading. I actually started the book when I was in Israel in February....thought it would be good companion reading for the reality of being there....but after I came home, was immersed in other reading, and only just got back to it on this trip.
And I read NEXT DOOR SAVIOR by Max Lucado.... I don't agree with all of his 'takes' but it was a quick read.
On the journey I also read WHAT I LEARNED AFTER I KNEW IT ALL (The Stories Grandpa Tells) written by Phil Wayman. I only knew Phil in his waning years - but his love for the Lord glowed through every pore - and it was fun to read his stories and observations of life.
I'm presently reading a book by Linfield Crowder, THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES. Doc Crowder was a familiar Youth Camp speaker, and Evangelist in my growing-up years. My dad was a true fan of Doc's. Doc touched my life as a kid - and is now again through his writing.
I am reminded how interconnected we are with people who touch our lives in various ways and at various junctures of life. Both of these men were faithful followers who have gone to be with the Lord in the recent past. The words that leap to mind are, "Well done, good and faithful servants. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
I'm so grateful for the witness of faith and faithfulness of those I remember who've influenced my life. I need to make a list of my heroes of the Faith.... The list will include multiple pastors and pastors wives. One of the most notable influences in my young Christian walk was Loveta Buhler. In college, Esther Pecota. I have my present heroes of the faith as well....and I am so grateful for people who walk by faith, and demonstrate letting the Lord direct their paths.
Faith isn't faith until it is challenged and tested - and I am so grateful for those who demonstrate that their faith is genuine by growing through testing, rather than being overwhelmed by it....
I know dear people of God who are enduring that testing right now...and my prayers are with them.
We were on a trip May 24 - June 17, and it has been a whirlwind ever since. But I am trying to reconnect with life as lived in this plane....
I've decided I don't want to be gone for June in the future. I missed most of the blooming season for my purple irises. And the grass...well, this was a year things grew abundantly. Al tilled under his garden to start over...it was that bad!
But I loved the journey while we were on it.
While we were away, for my devotions I continued my reading of The Revelation of John, then moved on to James, and after a few scattered potluck readings, decided on Romans. I'm still in Romans. Today my reading was Romans 12. What an amazing chapter. I loved re-reading it. It's been a long time since I read Romans through. I love that it is both familiar and fresh! I love that God speaks through His written Word with nudgings and affirmations that are specific for where I am today! And I love the memory of the verses as they've influenced my life in the past.
So much water has gone under the bridge since I wrote last....I can't possibly cover it all....
On our trip I also completed a book titled OLD LAND NEW LAND by Theodor Herzl - his novel promoting a revived Israel before it ever came true. In that light, it was fascinating reading. I actually started the book when I was in Israel in February....thought it would be good companion reading for the reality of being there....but after I came home, was immersed in other reading, and only just got back to it on this trip.
And I read NEXT DOOR SAVIOR by Max Lucado.... I don't agree with all of his 'takes' but it was a quick read.
On the journey I also read WHAT I LEARNED AFTER I KNEW IT ALL (The Stories Grandpa Tells) written by Phil Wayman. I only knew Phil in his waning years - but his love for the Lord glowed through every pore - and it was fun to read his stories and observations of life.
I'm presently reading a book by Linfield Crowder, THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES. Doc Crowder was a familiar Youth Camp speaker, and Evangelist in my growing-up years. My dad was a true fan of Doc's. Doc touched my life as a kid - and is now again through his writing.
I am reminded how interconnected we are with people who touch our lives in various ways and at various junctures of life. Both of these men were faithful followers who have gone to be with the Lord in the recent past. The words that leap to mind are, "Well done, good and faithful servants. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
I'm so grateful for the witness of faith and faithfulness of those I remember who've influenced my life. I need to make a list of my heroes of the Faith.... The list will include multiple pastors and pastors wives. One of the most notable influences in my young Christian walk was Loveta Buhler. In college, Esther Pecota. I have my present heroes of the faith as well....and I am so grateful for people who walk by faith, and demonstrate letting the Lord direct their paths.
Faith isn't faith until it is challenged and tested - and I am so grateful for those who demonstrate that their faith is genuine by growing through testing, rather than being overwhelmed by it....
I know dear people of God who are enduring that testing right now...and my prayers are with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)