My father has passed away. Not unexpected since he was in the hospital the past couple of weeks fighting the delicate balance between congestive heart failure (CFH) and having a weak heart and only the partial use of one of his kidneys. Once the fluid started accumulating around his heart it became burdensome for his heart and kidneys to work extra hard to get rid of that fluid, and yet he needed to be hydrated. That, and some other health complications (like diabetes) and you just know you're going to be meeting your Creator soon.
Still, it's a shock.
Dad went into full code this morning and lacking a DNR all efforts were tried to preserve his life, to no avail.
When I was a toddler and my parents were trying to wean me from my bedtime bottle, Dad used a milk shake blender to make me milk shakes every night. He loved telling people about that. We have that 50's green blender now, it still works great! It had been used in the dispensory at the Air Force Base I was born at in Japan.
Another story that tickled Dad to tell others about he and I, was as a pre-schooler he used to bring me home a Sugar Daddy (sucker) every Friday evening. One time he forgot. I asked him where my "Sugar yours" was, and he didn't quite get what I was referring to. After some probbing on his part, he learned I was looking for my Sugar Daddy. When I got married, I gave him some Sugar Daddys, and it made him tear up and cry a little. Tears of affection that happen between a parent and child as they experience life together.
You can read more about my dad here and here.
Please pray for peace for family members and loved ones. He was the last of his generation to go.
I am relieved for Dad that he is in no more pain and able to be with his Savior.
Love ya, Dad... until we meet again.
July 28, 2008
July 27, 2008
Lay Theological Conference
Found this post in my drafts folder and can't figure out why I didn't post it! In fact, I found about 5 posts in there and am wondering why I never posted them? So far, this is the only one I considered worth posting about...
Our oldest daughter and my hubby went to Greeley in February for a Laity Conference about how the Old Testament lamb is in the center of our worship. One of our elders attended, too.
Pastor Weedon was the speaker. For those in homeschooling circles, our daughter said Pastor Weedon is the Bill Jack of Lutheran Pastors -- meaning he is pithy, humorous and truthful.
Many thanks to Gloria Christi Lutheran Church in Greeley for hosting the Conference.
Our oldest daughter and my hubby went to Greeley in February for a Laity Conference about how the Old Testament lamb is in the center of our worship. One of our elders attended, too.
Pastor Weedon was the speaker. For those in homeschooling circles, our daughter said Pastor Weedon is the Bill Jack of Lutheran Pastors -- meaning he is pithy, humorous and truthful.
Many thanks to Gloria Christi Lutheran Church in Greeley for hosting the Conference.
Follow the Money!
American Thinker's blog has an interesting post about the money that the TV and print media is pouring into the Democratic coffers. Although we long ago gave up watching MSM, this just really tilts the scales on the unbiased factor.
Speaking of bias... that word always reminds me of Bernie Goldberg's book on the subject (which is a quick and interesting read). I completed another book by Mr. Goldberg last night when I wasn't sleeping because I am still creeped out about the homeless situation in our backyard.
Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right (How One Side Lost its Mind and the Other Lost its Nerve) is also a quick read. One of my favorite quotes came from the chapter discussing the New York Times' treatment of the Dutch newspaper who published cartoons mocking the "prophet" Muhammad. An online column said, "In the end, it may be that the most significant impact of the Danish cartoons was not the violence it unleashed or the cultural divide it exposed but how it revealed the pitiful lack of integrity, responsibility and courage among America's journalistic elite."
Bernie will also help you follow the money in Crazies. One of the things I appreciate about his writing is that he calls it like he sees it... no holding back when hypocrisy is evident.
Speaking of bias... that word always reminds me of Bernie Goldberg's book on the subject (which is a quick and interesting read). I completed another book by Mr. Goldberg last night when I wasn't sleeping because I am still creeped out about the homeless situation in our backyard.
Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right (How One Side Lost its Mind and the Other Lost its Nerve) is also a quick read. One of my favorite quotes came from the chapter discussing the New York Times' treatment of the Dutch newspaper who published cartoons mocking the "prophet" Muhammad. An online column said, "In the end, it may be that the most significant impact of the Danish cartoons was not the violence it unleashed or the cultural divide it exposed but how it revealed the pitiful lack of integrity, responsibility and courage among America's journalistic elite."
Bernie will also help you follow the money in Crazies. One of the things I appreciate about his writing is that he calls it like he sees it... no holding back when hypocrisy is evident.
July 26, 2008
Creeped out! And...
Before we had our third child, my older girls and I were very active in community service. One of the things we did was work for the local homeschool medical clinic. I helped people fill out paperwork and my girls cleaned the toys after all the appointments.
It was an interesting task for us as we learned to appreciate people from very different lifestyles and backgrounds and worldviews. We still are very sensitive to the needs of those who seem to have the least amount of resources or skills to help themselves.
But today... things hit a little too close for comfort and I'm feeling "creeped out" as one of my daughters put it.
We discovered that there's been a homeless person living in one of our shed in our backyard. This shed is about 20 feet from our house. Unfortunately, according to the policeman who visited, we gave the homeless person an open invitation by not fixing our fence. (Our 6 foot wooden privacy fence had two sections blown out during a winter storm and we haven't pressed the landlord to fix it, nor have we tried to fix it ourselves.)
The bad part of all this is that my husband's $400 mountain bike was stolen. The other bikes (childrens and very small adult) were still there. We discovered this today because our youngest daughter wanted to go on a bike ride today and so hubby headed out to the shed to get the bikes out.
There were clothes left in the shed along with a small amount of trash and a bag of human excrement. The policeman said they normally do that (poop in a bag) and take it with them throwing it in a trash bin somewhere and that this person must have forgotten. He also said he was quite certain the homeless person would be back unless we changed things - like fixing the fence, and putting a lock on the shed.
The policeman said if we wanted, they've had lots of success in catching the homeless as they "squat" and that we could just watch and then call them once they're in the shed. That would mean one of us would have to watch after it got dark. He said it's been his experience that the homeless people don't return because trespassing puts them in jail.
We cannot figure out why our dogs aren't barking at this -- or have they been and we've been thinking it's the foxes that run through our back yard and shushing the dogs without looking (something we've done countless times!)
At this point, we don't know what we're going to do. Pray for us that we might make the right decision.
It was an interesting task for us as we learned to appreciate people from very different lifestyles and backgrounds and worldviews. We still are very sensitive to the needs of those who seem to have the least amount of resources or skills to help themselves.
But today... things hit a little too close for comfort and I'm feeling "creeped out" as one of my daughters put it.
We discovered that there's been a homeless person living in one of our shed in our backyard. This shed is about 20 feet from our house. Unfortunately, according to the policeman who visited, we gave the homeless person an open invitation by not fixing our fence. (Our 6 foot wooden privacy fence had two sections blown out during a winter storm and we haven't pressed the landlord to fix it, nor have we tried to fix it ourselves.)
The bad part of all this is that my husband's $400 mountain bike was stolen. The other bikes (childrens and very small adult) were still there. We discovered this today because our youngest daughter wanted to go on a bike ride today and so hubby headed out to the shed to get the bikes out.
There were clothes left in the shed along with a small amount of trash and a bag of human excrement. The policeman said they normally do that (poop in a bag) and take it with them throwing it in a trash bin somewhere and that this person must have forgotten. He also said he was quite certain the homeless person would be back unless we changed things - like fixing the fence, and putting a lock on the shed.
The policeman said if we wanted, they've had lots of success in catching the homeless as they "squat" and that we could just watch and then call them once they're in the shed. That would mean one of us would have to watch after it got dark. He said it's been his experience that the homeless people don't return because trespassing puts them in jail.
We cannot figure out why our dogs aren't barking at this -- or have they been and we've been thinking it's the foxes that run through our back yard and shushing the dogs without looking (something we've done countless times!)
At this point, we don't know what we're going to do. Pray for us that we might make the right decision.
July 17, 2008
Thanks, Kelly Jean, Jelly Bean!
My friend has awarded me my first blog award, which makes me blush, and also makes me feel all fuzzy warm and stuff!
Thanks, friend!
July 15, 2008
Citizens of the kingdom of heaven always make the best citizens in the kingdom of man
My husband and I often recommend Jeff Myers to Support Group Leaders because his material on leadership is outstanding!
Jeff Myer's Passing the Baton newsletter had a great section about politics yesterday! I've quoted it below.
"What kind of kingdom is this?
Jesus was right in the thick of political/religious controversies that were in many ways more complex and difficult than our own.
On my recent study tour of Israel Dr. Hal Ronning explained five dimensions of political and religious controversy in Jesus' day. They sounded eerily similar to our own:
1. Herodians. The family of Herod and its followers were Jews who had assimilated with Rome to the point that they had lost all religious distinction. They presented themselves to their "constituents" as godly individuals, but they were in fact pure power brokers who engaged in scandalous behavior.
2. Sadducees. The Sadducees were the priestly elite, the spiritual celebrities of their day--widely recognized and highly regarded by those who worshiped fame. The Sadducees stayed quiet about politics because "taking sides" would jeopardize their wealth and status.
3. Essenes. The Essenes completely isolated themselves from society. They saw themselves as "sons of light" and created their own communities to help protect themselves against contact with the "sons of darkness"--their term for those who did not utterly reject the surrounding culture.
4. Zealots. Zealots resented everything about Rome's rule and dedicated themselves to overthrowing it. They believed that obedience to God required rebellion against all secular authority. Anyone who didn't express this rebellious attitude toward Rome was held in contempt.
5. Pharisees. The Pharisees comparmentalized. They believed that politics was marginal to life, and only got involved to express their anger when politicians did something blasphemous. Most of the time their focus was on adhering to a complicated system of religious practices based on traditions that seemed righteous.
Do you recognize any of these tendencies at work today?
What was Jesus' view?
At one time or another in his ministry, Jesus was confronted by all five of these groups. People asked tricky questions to see if he would publicly identify with one group or another.
Jesus chose "none of the above." He called his followers to be IN the world but not OF the world. But is this even possible?
Aside from the power of the Holy Spirit, folks will always end up compromising, isolating themselves, or developing a rebellious spirit.
But with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' disciples were able to:
Disciple a Roman centurion
Explain the gospel to high-level political authorities
Preach to religious leaders
Reason with pagans and skeptics
See both Jews and pagans come to faith by the thousands
Spread the gospel to the ends of the earth
In the power of the Holy Spirit God's people are content to have influence in humble circles as well as in circles of power. They are able to minister to speak the truth even when it unpopular, and they render to Caesar what was Caesar's and to God what was God's.
Maybe that's why Augustine said that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven always make the best citizens in the kingdom of man. "
Jeff Myer's Passing the Baton newsletter had a great section about politics yesterday! I've quoted it below.
"What kind of kingdom is this?
Jesus was right in the thick of political/religious controversies that were in many ways more complex and difficult than our own.
On my recent study tour of Israel Dr. Hal Ronning explained five dimensions of political and religious controversy in Jesus' day. They sounded eerily similar to our own:
1. Herodians. The family of Herod and its followers were Jews who had assimilated with Rome to the point that they had lost all religious distinction. They presented themselves to their "constituents" as godly individuals, but they were in fact pure power brokers who engaged in scandalous behavior.
2. Sadducees. The Sadducees were the priestly elite, the spiritual celebrities of their day--widely recognized and highly regarded by those who worshiped fame. The Sadducees stayed quiet about politics because "taking sides" would jeopardize their wealth and status.
3. Essenes. The Essenes completely isolated themselves from society. They saw themselves as "sons of light" and created their own communities to help protect themselves against contact with the "sons of darkness"--their term for those who did not utterly reject the surrounding culture.
4. Zealots. Zealots resented everything about Rome's rule and dedicated themselves to overthrowing it. They believed that obedience to God required rebellion against all secular authority. Anyone who didn't express this rebellious attitude toward Rome was held in contempt.
5. Pharisees. The Pharisees comparmentalized. They believed that politics was marginal to life, and only got involved to express their anger when politicians did something blasphemous. Most of the time their focus was on adhering to a complicated system of religious practices based on traditions that seemed righteous.
Do you recognize any of these tendencies at work today?
What was Jesus' view?
At one time or another in his ministry, Jesus was confronted by all five of these groups. People asked tricky questions to see if he would publicly identify with one group or another.
Jesus chose "none of the above." He called his followers to be IN the world but not OF the world. But is this even possible?
Aside from the power of the Holy Spirit, folks will always end up compromising, isolating themselves, or developing a rebellious spirit.
But with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' disciples were able to:
Disciple a Roman centurion
Explain the gospel to high-level political authorities
Preach to religious leaders
Reason with pagans and skeptics
See both Jews and pagans come to faith by the thousands
Spread the gospel to the ends of the earth
In the power of the Holy Spirit God's people are content to have influence in humble circles as well as in circles of power. They are able to minister to speak the truth even when it unpopular, and they render to Caesar what was Caesar's and to God what was God's.
Maybe that's why Augustine said that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven always make the best citizens in the kingdom of man. "
July 14, 2008
Winter Break ~ The Away Game
Patriotism comes in various forms and is expressed in various forms.
This two-year old essay is worth reading as it describes WHY a young man is choosing to be trained at the Air Force Academy. (I've reprinted it below.) First year cadets at the Air Force Academy are allowed to leave the Academy without penalty up through the end of their first-year Christmas break. Those who came back were assigned to write a paper on why they chose to return.
It gave me goosebumps of pride in the young men and women who are defending our country!
More info here.
Why return to the Air Force Academy after Winter Break?
So after our sunburns have faded and the memories of our winter break have been reduced to pictures we've pinned on our desk boards, and once again we've exchanged T-shirts and swim suits for flight suits and camouflage, there still remains the question that every cadet at U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has asked themselves at some point: Why did we come back?
Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country? After listening to our 'friends' who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return?
And after watching the news and reading the papers which only seem to condemn the military's every mistake and shadow every victory, why would we continue to think it is worth the sacrifice of a normal college life?
Is it because the institution to which we belong is tuition- free? Anyone who claims this has forgotten that we will, by the time we graduate, repay the US taxpayer many times over in blood, sweat, and tears.
Is it because the schooling we are receiving is one of the best undergraduate educations in the country? While the quality of the education is second to none, anyone who provides this as a main reason has lost sight of the awesome responsibility that awaits those who are tough enough to graduate and become commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.
I come back to the Academy because I want to have the training necessary so that one day I'll have the incredible responsibility of leading the sons and daughters of America in combat. These men and women will never ask about my Academy grade point average, their only concern will be that I have the ability to lead them expertly; I will be humbled to earn their respect. I come back to the Academy because I want to be the commander who saves lives by negotiating with Arab leaders... in their own language.
I come back to the Academy because, if called upon, I want to be the pilot who flies half way around the world with three mid-air refuelings to send a bomb from 30,000 feet into a basement housing the enemy... through a ventilation shaft two feet wide. Becoming an officer in today's modern Air Force is so much more than just command; it is being a diplomat, a strategist, a communicator, a moral compass, but always a warrior first.
I come back to the Air Force Academy because, right now, the United States is fighting a global war that is an 'away game' in Iraq - taking the fight to the terrorists.
Whether or not we think the terrorists were in Iraq before our invasion, they are unquestionably there now. And if there is any doubt as to whether this is a global war, just ask the people in Amman, in London, in Madrid, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, and in Bali.
This war must remain an away game because we have seen what happens when it becomes a home game... I come back to the Academy because I want to be a part of that fight.
I come back to the Academy because I don't want my vacationing family to board a bus in Paris that gets blown away by someone who thinks that it would be a good idea to convert the Western world to Islam.
I come back to the Academy because I don't want the woman I love to be the one who dials her last frantic cell phone call while huddled in the back of an airliner with a hundred other people seconds away from slamming into the Capitol building.
I come back to the Academy because during my freshman year of high school I sat in a geometry class and watched nineteen terrorists change the course of history live on television. For the first time, every class currently at a U S. Service Academy made the decision to join after the 2001 terror attacks.
Some have said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan only created more terrorists... I say that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 created an untold more number of American soldiers; I go to school with 4,000 of them. And that's worth more than missing a few frat parties.
Joseph R. Tomczak Cadet,
Fourth Class
United States Air Force Academy
(U..S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado), at a meeting of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors in March 2006, presented Cadet Tomczak with a framed copy of the essay.)
Why return to the Air Force Academy after Winter Break?
So after our sunburns have faded and the memories of our winter break have been reduced to pictures we've pinned on our desk boards, and once again we've exchanged T-shirts and swim suits for flight suits and camouflage, there still remains the question that every cadet at U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has asked themselves at some point: Why did we come back?
Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country? After listening to our 'friends' who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return?
And after watching the news and reading the papers which only seem to condemn the military's every mistake and shadow every victory, why would we continue to think it is worth the sacrifice of a normal college life?
Is it because the institution to which we belong is tuition- free? Anyone who claims this has forgotten that we will, by the time we graduate, repay the US taxpayer many times over in blood, sweat, and tears.
Is it because the schooling we are receiving is one of the best undergraduate educations in the country? While the quality of the education is second to none, anyone who provides this as a main reason has lost sight of the awesome responsibility that awaits those who are tough enough to graduate and become commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.
I come back to the Academy because I want to have the training necessary so that one day I'll have the incredible responsibility of leading the sons and daughters of America in combat. These men and women will never ask about my Academy grade point average, their only concern will be that I have the ability to lead them expertly; I will be humbled to earn their respect. I come back to the Academy because I want to be the commander who saves lives by negotiating with Arab leaders... in their own language.
I come back to the Academy because, if called upon, I want to be the pilot who flies half way around the world with three mid-air refuelings to send a bomb from 30,000 feet into a basement housing the enemy... through a ventilation shaft two feet wide. Becoming an officer in today's modern Air Force is so much more than just command; it is being a diplomat, a strategist, a communicator, a moral compass, but always a warrior first.
I come back to the Air Force Academy because, right now, the United States is fighting a global war that is an 'away game' in Iraq - taking the fight to the terrorists.
Whether or not we think the terrorists were in Iraq before our invasion, they are unquestionably there now. And if there is any doubt as to whether this is a global war, just ask the people in Amman, in London, in Madrid, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, and in Bali.
This war must remain an away game because we have seen what happens when it becomes a home game... I come back to the Academy because I want to be a part of that fight.
I come back to the Academy because I don't want my vacationing family to board a bus in Paris that gets blown away by someone who thinks that it would be a good idea to convert the Western world to Islam.
I come back to the Academy because I don't want the woman I love to be the one who dials her last frantic cell phone call while huddled in the back of an airliner with a hundred other people seconds away from slamming into the Capitol building.
I come back to the Academy because during my freshman year of high school I sat in a geometry class and watched nineteen terrorists change the course of history live on television. For the first time, every class currently at a U S. Service Academy made the decision to join after the 2001 terror attacks.
Some have said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan only created more terrorists... I say that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 created an untold more number of American soldiers; I go to school with 4,000 of them. And that's worth more than missing a few frat parties.
Joseph R. Tomczak Cadet,
Fourth Class
United States Air Force Academy
(U..S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado), at a meeting of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors in March 2006, presented Cadet Tomczak with a framed copy of the essay.)
July 13, 2008
What Does This Mean?
(This is a bit old, but worth your time, I think. I'm trying to get caught up on posts!)
A perfectly legitimate question for Lutherans! ::wink::
Cal Thomas has a good read here in response to a recent Pew Forum survey. The provocative title of his piece is "Was Jesus a Liar?"
Gene Edward Veith also addressed that same survey here. Be sure to follow the links in the post.
Quite a lot to chew on from these posts and what and how Christianity is today in America as represented by those who call themselves Christians.
Veith's piece has some "ouch" factor for Lutherans to consider. Your reaction? Please share in the comments section.
A perfectly legitimate question for Lutherans! ::wink::
Cal Thomas has a good read here in response to a recent Pew Forum survey. The provocative title of his piece is "Was Jesus a Liar?"
Gene Edward Veith also addressed that same survey here. Be sure to follow the links in the post.
Quite a lot to chew on from these posts and what and how Christianity is today in America as represented by those who call themselves Christians.
Veith's piece has some "ouch" factor for Lutherans to consider. Your reaction? Please share in the comments section.
Vast Left Wing Conspiracy
Politics in Colorado lately has been rather messy. It just seems to me lately that the left has gotten really nasty and ugly in ways it wasn't before. Maybe I'm delusional or forgetful.
So when I read this from a left-leaning website, it was alarming at this point, "But nonprofit organizations are quietly mobilizing, especially on the left. "
Some of you may recall that our oldest daughter is the Executive Director of a 527 in Colorado called the Hearth Fund. She would be one who is working hard on the opposing view of those quietly mobilizing lefty organizations.
Please pray for her as she battles big monied machines whose purpose is to destroy the opposition.
So when I read this from a left-leaning website, it was alarming at this point, "But nonprofit organizations are quietly mobilizing, especially on the left. "
Some of you may recall that our oldest daughter is the Executive Director of a 527 in Colorado called the Hearth Fund. She would be one who is working hard on the opposing view of those quietly mobilizing lefty organizations.
Please pray for her as she battles big monied machines whose purpose is to destroy the opposition.
History of Homeschooling
Barbara Frank let us know about a good post concerning the modern history of homeschooling.
Thanks, Barb!
Thanks, Barb!
Tony Snow
Being politically bent -- yes, I used that word on purpose for there are some who consider me quite odd for spending so much of my time on that endeavor -- I am sad to lose Tony Snow's voice which was not harsh and persistently and persuasively represented the ideals of a smaller government with more conservative values. Tony Snow did so with zeal, but also with humor, intelligence and without being mean or vitriolic.
For all these reasons, I enjoyed Tony Snow's presence on Fox and when he served as President Bush's Press Secretary.
"Graceful" I think is a word that would describe his public demeanor and words.
This clip shows Tony Snow's ideals and grace. Scroll down and click on the small screen that has his picture on it next to Brent Bozell's small screen.
May He rest in peace.
For all these reasons, I enjoyed Tony Snow's presence on Fox and when he served as President Bush's Press Secretary.
"Graceful" I think is a word that would describe his public demeanor and words.
This clip shows Tony Snow's ideals and grace. Scroll down and click on the small screen that has his picture on it next to Brent Bozell's small screen.
May He rest in peace.
Beware of False Prophets
This sermon seems to nicely dovetail with my Pastor's sermon today when he talked about the thorns that lacked pure doctrine choking out the seeds that represents a lot of American Christianity today.
I highly recommend reading the Chaplain's sermon.
I highly recommend reading the Chaplain's sermon.
Today's Sermon
I've been quite remiss in doing this lately... I could blame it on my hectic schedule, but the plain fact is I've just been lazy about it.
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Today's sermon began with the intense tale of Russian soldiers who invaded a house church. The house church members had to be so careful to not arrive at the same time, to sing softly so the neighbors would not hear or complain and to leave at separate times so as not to call attention to the one hosting the service. One time, two soldiers burst into the meeting, and pointing their guns at those in the room intoned, "Those who would renounce Christ may leave without fear of retribution." Several left. Again, the soldiers gave the church members an opportunity to leave saying, "Are you willing to die for your faith? If not, you may leave without fear of retribution." Others left. A last time, the soldiers said, "If you leave now, you will not suffer the consequences of your faith." More left. There was silence for a while, and then the soldiers put down their guns, closed the doors and asked those who remained to join them in singing the songs of the faith as they were Christians, too. When asked why they didn't just join them upon entering the house, they replied, "Those who would so easily renounce or give up their faith cannot be trusted."
As Christians, our actions are judged by the world. The cost of discipleship is sometimes quite steep. Will the seeds that spring up and grow in the good soil wither under the hardships of life?
Our Pastor compared American Christianity to the thorns that choke out the seed. These thorns lack pure or good doctrine and the consequences of that, such as works righteousness and error can lead to death.
Since so many are lost and apathetic, our Pastor compared that to the hard soil. Indifference is deadly, too. (When he was saying this I was thinking of the church in Revelation where the lukewarm were spat out.)
Since Christ accomplished it all for us upon the cross, we should not fear His charge to us to take up His cross and follow Him. Although we may not be perfect, there will be fruit that is borne of this through the help, love and grace of our steadfast and immovable God who works through us to accomplish His purposes.
So, if you were given the choice as those in the house church were, what would you do? Would you run? Or stay? Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you the courage and conviction to stay.
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Today's sermon began with the intense tale of Russian soldiers who invaded a house church. The house church members had to be so careful to not arrive at the same time, to sing softly so the neighbors would not hear or complain and to leave at separate times so as not to call attention to the one hosting the service. One time, two soldiers burst into the meeting, and pointing their guns at those in the room intoned, "Those who would renounce Christ may leave without fear of retribution." Several left. Again, the soldiers gave the church members an opportunity to leave saying, "Are you willing to die for your faith? If not, you may leave without fear of retribution." Others left. A last time, the soldiers said, "If you leave now, you will not suffer the consequences of your faith." More left. There was silence for a while, and then the soldiers put down their guns, closed the doors and asked those who remained to join them in singing the songs of the faith as they were Christians, too. When asked why they didn't just join them upon entering the house, they replied, "Those who would so easily renounce or give up their faith cannot be trusted."
As Christians, our actions are judged by the world. The cost of discipleship is sometimes quite steep. Will the seeds that spring up and grow in the good soil wither under the hardships of life?
Our Pastor compared American Christianity to the thorns that choke out the seed. These thorns lack pure or good doctrine and the consequences of that, such as works righteousness and error can lead to death.
Since so many are lost and apathetic, our Pastor compared that to the hard soil. Indifference is deadly, too. (When he was saying this I was thinking of the church in Revelation where the lukewarm were spat out.)
Since Christ accomplished it all for us upon the cross, we should not fear His charge to us to take up His cross and follow Him. Although we may not be perfect, there will be fruit that is borne of this through the help, love and grace of our steadfast and immovable God who works through us to accomplish His purposes.
So, if you were given the choice as those in the house church were, what would you do? Would you run? Or stay? Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you the courage and conviction to stay.
Counting
When we record the contributions, tithes and offerings in our church, we call it "counting."
Two of us go into the depths of the church, in a well-secured room, and through a vetted process record what people lovingly offer to the church in monetary formats.
I missed counting last week as I had a migraine and didn't attend church at all. So this was my first weekend to do it since Bob's death in June. A lovely lady who is part of another team assisted me today in Bob's place.
She is one of the most cheerful and lovely persons I am privileged to know. In fact, when we received our church photo directory in 2000, I remember telling my girls that we should get to know her as she looked so pleasant in her photo and always had a smile. Her smile reflects a heart of gratitude and an attitude of joy in all she does. I counted myself fortunate not only for her friendship today and in the past, but for her gentle demeanor and her patience with me as I struggled through the familiar process that reminds me so much of my friend, Bob.
Much of what we recorded today were memorials for Bob and each time one came up it seemed to me a testimony of the man whose time was so well spent here on earth. Adding them up we could ascertain how beloved he was! The outpouring has been impressive (not so much in dollar amounts, although that is true, but in the fact that these memorials are coming from so many from all facets of his life!)
It seemed to me that Bob's life has truly counted, and touched so many!
I already know who my new partner is going to be. She is the mother of someone I attended high school with. Even in high school I always thought she was just the coolest mom! I am looking forward to partnering with her. She hasn't had the easiest of life circumstances to weather, but through it all she has leaned on her faith and tended toward the positive attitude I described in the other lady above. I am so fortunate to count this lady as my friend and now my co-laborer.
There have been times when our family has considered going to another parish. This was for two reasons mostly, the most prominent being that there are very few teenagers or young adults in our church. We have worried about our girls lacking peers, especially because theologically they differ so much from the homeschool community which is basically reformed and non-denominational. I know other Lutheran mommies who face this same struggle. But today, I think rather emphatically, I realized that it isn't the number of "peers" that counts, but the faithful community and witness that our congregation provides for all of my family, including the teenagers.
In the end, when you add it all up, you can see what really counts. Praise be to God for surrounding our family with the richness of friends who have added so much to our life!
Two of us go into the depths of the church, in a well-secured room, and through a vetted process record what people lovingly offer to the church in monetary formats.
I missed counting last week as I had a migraine and didn't attend church at all. So this was my first weekend to do it since Bob's death in June. A lovely lady who is part of another team assisted me today in Bob's place.
She is one of the most cheerful and lovely persons I am privileged to know. In fact, when we received our church photo directory in 2000, I remember telling my girls that we should get to know her as she looked so pleasant in her photo and always had a smile. Her smile reflects a heart of gratitude and an attitude of joy in all she does. I counted myself fortunate not only for her friendship today and in the past, but for her gentle demeanor and her patience with me as I struggled through the familiar process that reminds me so much of my friend, Bob.
Much of what we recorded today were memorials for Bob and each time one came up it seemed to me a testimony of the man whose time was so well spent here on earth. Adding them up we could ascertain how beloved he was! The outpouring has been impressive (not so much in dollar amounts, although that is true, but in the fact that these memorials are coming from so many from all facets of his life!)
It seemed to me that Bob's life has truly counted, and touched so many!
I already know who my new partner is going to be. She is the mother of someone I attended high school with. Even in high school I always thought she was just the coolest mom! I am looking forward to partnering with her. She hasn't had the easiest of life circumstances to weather, but through it all she has leaned on her faith and tended toward the positive attitude I described in the other lady above. I am so fortunate to count this lady as my friend and now my co-laborer.
There have been times when our family has considered going to another parish. This was for two reasons mostly, the most prominent being that there are very few teenagers or young adults in our church. We have worried about our girls lacking peers, especially because theologically they differ so much from the homeschool community which is basically reformed and non-denominational. I know other Lutheran mommies who face this same struggle. But today, I think rather emphatically, I realized that it isn't the number of "peers" that counts, but the faithful community and witness that our congregation provides for all of my family, including the teenagers.
In the end, when you add it all up, you can see what really counts. Praise be to God for surrounding our family with the richness of friends who have added so much to our life!
Three Random Facts about Me
My friend IRL, the irrepressible Kelly, has a fun tag on her blog that I decided to do, too!
Please, if you feel compelled, I'd love to hear what your loved ones would share about you. I asked each person in my family when we were alone and the others couldn't hear.
First I asked my oldest daughter, age 19 -- age 19 -- how'd that happen? I must have been a young mother -- nope! Oh well...
She said, without any hesitation whatsoever:
1. Soma coma
2. That I love to torture her with dirty white socks
3. That I sing loudly with my headphones on
Next I asked my youngest daughter, age 8. She thought for a minute and said:
1. I'm nice
2. I sometimes buy toys for her
3. I have curly hair
I asked my middle daughter next, age 17. She thought and thought. I told her this wasn't rocket science, just to share three facts about me. She thought some more. A long time more. My patience was becoming thin. Then she said:
1. I really like to play Settlers of Cataan
2. I really enjoy writing
3. I like those "dorky Elvis movies"
Then I went in search of hubby to inquire of him. After I posed the question to him, and he replied, "You are spontaneous," in burst my youngest daughter announcing, "She's gonna put it on her blog!"
He paused for a few seconds and then said:
2. I try to be humorous but not everyone appreciates/understands my humor
3. I am intelligent
I wonder if this is what he was going to share anyway without the knowledge that our youngest daughter blurted out?
In any event, this was fun! It's interesting to hear what others are thinking about you.
Please, if you feel compelled, I'd love to hear what your loved ones would share about you. I asked each person in my family when we were alone and the others couldn't hear.
First I asked my oldest daughter, age 19 -- age 19 -- how'd that happen? I must have been a young mother -- nope! Oh well...
She said, without any hesitation whatsoever:
1. Soma coma
2. That I love to torture her with dirty white socks
3. That I sing loudly with my headphones on
Next I asked my youngest daughter, age 8. She thought for a minute and said:
1. I'm nice
2. I sometimes buy toys for her
3. I have curly hair
I asked my middle daughter next, age 17. She thought and thought. I told her this wasn't rocket science, just to share three facts about me. She thought some more. A long time more. My patience was becoming thin. Then she said:
1. I really like to play Settlers of Cataan
2. I really enjoy writing
3. I like those "dorky Elvis movies"
Then I went in search of hubby to inquire of him. After I posed the question to him, and he replied, "You are spontaneous," in burst my youngest daughter announcing, "She's gonna put it on her blog!"
He paused for a few seconds and then said:
2. I try to be humorous but not everyone appreciates/understands my humor
3. I am intelligent
I wonder if this is what he was going to share anyway without the knowledge that our youngest daughter blurted out?
In any event, this was fun! It's interesting to hear what others are thinking about you.
July 8, 2008
Getting to Know You -- Getting to Know All About You!
Susan, although she thinks she doesn't remember well, tagged me so herewith are my answers to the latest tagging.
By the way, not because I'm lazy -- I am -- but because I don't want to leave anyone out who might want to play, consider this as being tagged! Let me know you've played in the comments so I can go read about you on your blog.
Simply answer the questions and then tag others as you desire.
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
In 1998 we were living in my parents’ home while they traveled around the country visiting all the places they had dreamed of when considering retirement years. We were homeschooling our two oldest daughters (our youngest wasn’t born yet) and trying to get connected in this town we grew up in. We had layers and layers of friends and acquaintances here, but not in our newer role as a family who homeschooled. The fact that we continued to homeschool after moving back from Arizona was a curiosity to many friends and family, thus the need to find those other connections. We also were becoming reacquainted with the political landscape and began volunteering at the Republican office at the insistence of our oldest daughter, who, at the time was 9. That same daughter also persuaded us to volunteer for a governor’s campaign. We traveled around Colorado extensively as we studied the history of it.
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (in no particular order)?
a. Finish up on my transcripts/record-keeping workshop for the seminars coming up later this month
b. Begin and hopefully finish my portfolios/resumes workshop for the last seminar of the month
c. Lay-out an action plan for the Homeschool Fair the first weekend in August and begin to make those contacts
d. Read aloud another few chapters of _Swiss Family Robinson_ with my youngest
e. Finish organizing the various mountains and foothills of paper that are laying around the living room after being collected from around the house the last weekend
3. Snacks I enjoy:
sunflower seeds
fruit smoothies
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire (in no particular order):
This is a dangerous idea because I enjoy considering how to spend money!
*Buy a house for my family
*Buy a new car or two or three
*Travel with my family near and far
*Make it possible for my older sister to retire in comfort
*Get my in-laws a maid and a cook, and help them live more comfortably
*Help our friend fund his seminary tuition
*Help fund the upgrading of our church to include a bathroom upstairs for all the elderly we have in our congregation who cannot go down the stairs
*Help fund things like Pirate Christian radio stations, Higher Things
*Help fund the widows’ fund with CHEC
I could go on-- a billion dollars is a lot to spend!
5. Places I have lived:
Japan – Fukuoka Prefector on the island of Kyushu (this is on the northwest part of the island, as a reference, Nagasaki, known for its production of fine china and the second atomic bomb site in WWII, is on the southwest part of the island)
Montana – Great Falls
Colorado – Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
Arizona – Phoenix and Black Canyon City
6. Jobs I have had:
*In jr. hi and hi sch. I babysat A LOT!
*In hi sch. and college I helped process cadets into the AFA by giving shots from a “gun” (gave them 4 or 5 shots at one time) and helped to make certain that all their paperwork was in order. I also filled in for those fellows who didn’t have a girlfriend to take the manners class in their senior year.
*In college I was a census taker. This was hard because the college town I lived in had a huge migrant population that spoke Spanish, and I did not. It was frustrating and there wasn’t any way to make it better because the supervisor just plain old didn’t care.
*I worked (and lived) on top of Pikes Peak one summer and was the manager in the hand-made jewelry department.
*I was a “party” waitress at the AFA Officers Club, which meant I was part of the wait staff that served special functions like swearing-ins, retirement parties, promotion parties, wedding receptions, birthday parties, anniversary parties, etc. This was a very fun job! I like it a lot! Got paid well too!
*I was a phlebotomist for a while in a blood bank after I dropped out of college. I did not like this job.
*Then I became a legal secretary and was working towards being a paralegal. I enjoyed this job, but sometimes the cases were hard to let go of and the outcomes were upsetting.
*Then I became a medical secretary and worked in the front office of a chief of staff at a local hospital.
*Now, I work as an editor of a homeschool publication, and as a leader liaison where we (my husband and I do this together) mentor and teach leaders about leadership issues, and I teach seminars on homeschooling your children through high school.
*And yea, I’m still teaching two kids at home.
*Recently I've added Medical Receptionist to my jobs as I work part-time in the same physicians office I worked in before.
7. People I would like to know more about (in no particular order):
I would love to go to a Higher Things conference and get to know the Loopers there better. Even when the conference was in Colorado Springs in ’07 we couldn’t afford to go… (whine!)
By the way, not because I'm lazy -- I am -- but because I don't want to leave anyone out who might want to play, consider this as being tagged! Let me know you've played in the comments so I can go read about you on your blog.
Simply answer the questions and then tag others as you desire.
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
In 1998 we were living in my parents’ home while they traveled around the country visiting all the places they had dreamed of when considering retirement years. We were homeschooling our two oldest daughters (our youngest wasn’t born yet) and trying to get connected in this town we grew up in. We had layers and layers of friends and acquaintances here, but not in our newer role as a family who homeschooled. The fact that we continued to homeschool after moving back from Arizona was a curiosity to many friends and family, thus the need to find those other connections. We also were becoming reacquainted with the political landscape and began volunteering at the Republican office at the insistence of our oldest daughter, who, at the time was 9. That same daughter also persuaded us to volunteer for a governor’s campaign. We traveled around Colorado extensively as we studied the history of it.
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (in no particular order)?
a. Finish up on my transcripts/record-keeping workshop for the seminars coming up later this month
b. Begin and hopefully finish my portfolios/resumes workshop for the last seminar of the month
c. Lay-out an action plan for the Homeschool Fair the first weekend in August and begin to make those contacts
d. Read aloud another few chapters of _Swiss Family Robinson_ with my youngest
e. Finish organizing the various mountains and foothills of paper that are laying around the living room after being collected from around the house the last weekend
3. Snacks I enjoy:
sunflower seeds
fruit smoothies
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire (in no particular order):
This is a dangerous idea because I enjoy considering how to spend money!
*Buy a house for my family
*Buy a new car or two or three
*Travel with my family near and far
*Make it possible for my older sister to retire in comfort
*Get my in-laws a maid and a cook, and help them live more comfortably
*Help our friend fund his seminary tuition
*Help fund the upgrading of our church to include a bathroom upstairs for all the elderly we have in our congregation who cannot go down the stairs
*Help fund things like Pirate Christian radio stations, Higher Things
*Help fund the widows’ fund with CHEC
I could go on-- a billion dollars is a lot to spend!
5. Places I have lived:
Japan – Fukuoka Prefector on the island of Kyushu (this is on the northwest part of the island, as a reference, Nagasaki, known for its production of fine china and the second atomic bomb site in WWII, is on the southwest part of the island)
Montana – Great Falls
Colorado – Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
Arizona – Phoenix and Black Canyon City
6. Jobs I have had:
*In jr. hi and hi sch. I babysat A LOT!
*In hi sch. and college I helped process cadets into the AFA by giving shots from a “gun” (gave them 4 or 5 shots at one time) and helped to make certain that all their paperwork was in order. I also filled in for those fellows who didn’t have a girlfriend to take the manners class in their senior year.
*In college I was a census taker. This was hard because the college town I lived in had a huge migrant population that spoke Spanish, and I did not. It was frustrating and there wasn’t any way to make it better because the supervisor just plain old didn’t care.
*I worked (and lived) on top of Pikes Peak one summer and was the manager in the hand-made jewelry department.
*I was a “party” waitress at the AFA Officers Club, which meant I was part of the wait staff that served special functions like swearing-ins, retirement parties, promotion parties, wedding receptions, birthday parties, anniversary parties, etc. This was a very fun job! I like it a lot! Got paid well too!
*I was a phlebotomist for a while in a blood bank after I dropped out of college. I did not like this job.
*Then I became a legal secretary and was working towards being a paralegal. I enjoyed this job, but sometimes the cases were hard to let go of and the outcomes were upsetting.
*Then I became a medical secretary and worked in the front office of a chief of staff at a local hospital.
*Now, I work as an editor of a homeschool publication, and as a leader liaison where we (my husband and I do this together) mentor and teach leaders about leadership issues, and I teach seminars on homeschooling your children through high school.
*And yea, I’m still teaching two kids at home.
*Recently I've added Medical Receptionist to my jobs as I work part-time in the same physicians office I worked in before.
7. People I would like to know more about (in no particular order):
I would love to go to a Higher Things conference and get to know the Loopers there better. Even when the conference was in Colorado Springs in ’07 we couldn’t afford to go… (whine!)
July 1, 2008
Farewell, Bob, until we meet again in heaven...
A twinkle in his eye... always!
Mischief in his words and ideas... often!
Utter faithfulness to Scriptures, Creed and Confession... always!
Big hearted... usually!
A leader, a teacher, a thinker, a talker... always!
Those all describe my friend, Bob, whom we said farewell to today at his funeral at our church.
There were so many in attendance as he was so beloved by so many! The Lutheran Braille Workers were there, the VFW, our congregation in force... and almost 50 family members from over 5 states to include his wife and all his children, all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all his living brothers and sisters, all his nieces and nephews, cousins and children of cousins, friends from here and far away...
What a testimony to a life well-lived.
Bob has been a member of our congregation for over 14 years, having moved here from Los Angeles upon his retirement. He gently encouraged me to give the time I could to our congregation. And so began my service in our church.
He persuaded me after some time to serve on the Board of Education when we had a day school at our congregation (me -- the homeschool mom!) while Bob was President of the Congregation.
Through a serious of events, I ended up as President of the Board of Education when the day school was going through it's final stages before being closed. It was an excruciating time. A heart-wrenching battle that nearly tore our congregation apart. Bob led me through it all with his humor, wit and wisdom and taught me so much along the way about dealing with matters like that, and about life. With his utter reliance upon Jesus he showed us all how to behave during difficult times. Those who were on either side of that issue were in attendance today which tells you that Bob's character through it all was respected and admired though they may not have agreed with his opinion on the matter.
Bob and I both resigned from the positions we held amid a situation that was beyond our doing, saving or changing. From that alliance, we then learned the slow process of reconciliation which isn't quite complete, but is well on its way.
Bob and I served the last couple of years as "counters." We are the folks who go into the bowels of the church following the service to record the tithes and offerings. At our church we do this in pairs. We worked efficiently together, chatting and learning more about each other along the way. Often we chatted long after our duties were done, so much did we find to talk about!
And now my friend, and dear mentor, has been called home by His Lord and Savior. And I will miss him so much.
Please keep his beloved wife, Darlene, and the rest of his family in your prayers. Such a large-hearted man leaves a big hole, although they trust in Jesus, his separation from them is hard.
Mischief in his words and ideas... often!
Utter faithfulness to Scriptures, Creed and Confession... always!
Big hearted... usually!
A leader, a teacher, a thinker, a talker... always!
Those all describe my friend, Bob, whom we said farewell to today at his funeral at our church.
There were so many in attendance as he was so beloved by so many! The Lutheran Braille Workers were there, the VFW, our congregation in force... and almost 50 family members from over 5 states to include his wife and all his children, all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all his living brothers and sisters, all his nieces and nephews, cousins and children of cousins, friends from here and far away...
What a testimony to a life well-lived.
Bob has been a member of our congregation for over 14 years, having moved here from Los Angeles upon his retirement. He gently encouraged me to give the time I could to our congregation. And so began my service in our church.
He persuaded me after some time to serve on the Board of Education when we had a day school at our congregation (me -- the homeschool mom!) while Bob was President of the Congregation.
Through a serious of events, I ended up as President of the Board of Education when the day school was going through it's final stages before being closed. It was an excruciating time. A heart-wrenching battle that nearly tore our congregation apart. Bob led me through it all with his humor, wit and wisdom and taught me so much along the way about dealing with matters like that, and about life. With his utter reliance upon Jesus he showed us all how to behave during difficult times. Those who were on either side of that issue were in attendance today which tells you that Bob's character through it all was respected and admired though they may not have agreed with his opinion on the matter.
Bob and I both resigned from the positions we held amid a situation that was beyond our doing, saving or changing. From that alliance, we then learned the slow process of reconciliation which isn't quite complete, but is well on its way.
Bob and I served the last couple of years as "counters." We are the folks who go into the bowels of the church following the service to record the tithes and offerings. At our church we do this in pairs. We worked efficiently together, chatting and learning more about each other along the way. Often we chatted long after our duties were done, so much did we find to talk about!
And now my friend, and dear mentor, has been called home by His Lord and Savior. And I will miss him so much.
Please keep his beloved wife, Darlene, and the rest of his family in your prayers. Such a large-hearted man leaves a big hole, although they trust in Jesus, his separation from them is hard.
When did he become my son?
Scared ya, didn't I?
Naw, we haven't adopted or had another child naturally.
But we have admired the question as posed by Tony Perkins and found it through the On the Wittenberg Trail blog (not the forum for discussing matters Lutheran).
The question arises after candidate Senator Obama states that a father's responsibilities do not end at conception. Tony takes it to the next level and asks, "When did Samuel here become my son?"
Brilliant ad! I hope tons of people see it and wonder at the miracles of God each time we bring forth one of His children.
Naw, we haven't adopted or had another child naturally.
But we have admired the question as posed by Tony Perkins and found it through the On the Wittenberg Trail blog (not the forum for discussing matters Lutheran).
The question arises after candidate Senator Obama states that a father's responsibilities do not end at conception. Tony takes it to the next level and asks, "When did Samuel here become my son?"
Brilliant ad! I hope tons of people see it and wonder at the miracles of God each time we bring forth one of His children.
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