JaneJanes

True Goodness Is Only Reached by Abandonment by Francois Fenelon

2010-10-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

Evil circumstances are changed into good when they are received with an enduring trust in the love of God, while good circumstances may be changed into evil when we become attached to them through the love of self. Nothing in us or around us is truly good until we become detached from the world and totally abandoned to God. So, even though you are now in these bad circumstances, put yourself confidently and without reserve into His hand. I would give anything to see you in better circumstances. But if evil circumstances have taught you to be sick of the love of the world, then that is good. That love of self which the world advocates, is a thousand times more dangerous than any poison. I pray for you with all my heart.

on a lighter note Here is Princess Dannah in the middle and the other princess and Queen of Homecoming

three beauties: Dannah (now 17) on the right:

Amy Charmichael

2010-09-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

I ran across some very good quotes by Amy Carmichael recently that I thought I would share:

"If I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of any; if I can speak in a casual way even of a child's misdoings, then I know nothing of Calvary Love."

"If my attitude be one of fear and not faith about one who has disappointed me, if I cay 'Just what I expected,' if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

"If I sympathize weakly with weakness and say to one who is turning back from the cross, 'pity thyself'; if I refuse such a one the sympathy that braces and the brave and heartening word of comradeship, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

Wonderful Wyoming

2010-08-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

Wyoming was great this year.
We had a fantastic reunion with lots of history- at the Spear-O-Ranch in Wyoming.
An incredible 23 mile hike up Cloud Peak for the kids, cousins, Uncle John and Jonathan. Then later we watched the miracle of Daylon's baptism. What a great summer.

Sisters on the top of the world.

At the top of Cloud Peak.

Sharing some licorice by the lake.

Whewww!

2010-05-22T16:01:00.001-07:00

Track season is a VERY FULL season indeed. All three of my kids are involved in different track programs. Every week there are at least 3 track meets and sometimes 4. Glad to be able to write again. Thanks for your prayers:
Darragh was accepted to Capenray, Australia- to enter January 2011!!! Congrats Darragh! You have made it over some hurdles this year. I am so excited for you. Living in Australia is going to be SO good for you.
Dannah made state in pole vaulting. ONE more meet to try to make it over 11' this year. We are so blessed that she made it to state - as 2 of the best girls in the state happen to be in our district. Congrats!
Daylon was asked to give a speech at the "Bagels and Books" breakfast for the Gresham/Barlow educational foundation. YAY. DO good little brother! Congrats!

Prayer

2010-04-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Lots going on. Thanks for your prayers!
Janie

Reflections

2010-03-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

These are my meditations for the week- maybe even month.

The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him. The Lord watches over all who love Him.
Psalm 145

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Psalm 145

He will call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
Psalm 91:15

God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

You will make known to me the path of life; In your presence is the fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11

Honestly

2010-02-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I am embarrassed to have not posted for so long. I have begun a poem, a story, a Bible truth I have meditated on but have not finished any of them. Sooooo...... Hmm...... Well. I guess I will tell you in a rough form what I have been contemplating recently....~some of Jesus' last words before He went to the cross. As He was praying for His disciples He said to the Father in John 17:12
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "
I never thought about it before. I asked myself What did Jesus mean by protecting them? ...keeping them safe? Why is that so important to me? Because, I also have children- physical and spiritual.... Will I be able to say the same thing when I am about to die and am turning the kingdom over to the next soldiers?
Some answers came a few verses later in John 17:15-18 : "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."
So, I am not to protect them from being in the world, but as they go in the world let them be taught what it means to become set apart. How amazing that Jesus also had to pray for the Father to protect them from the evil one. WOW. SO if Jesus had to pray it then I must pray it for all of those the Lord has given me.
Well, lots to think about. What are the ways Jesus protected them...besides teaching them truth, praying for them, becoming set apart Himself as He walked in the world in order to show them how to do that themselves ( vs. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified)? Who all would that include- just the 12 or more? What does it mean to protect them from the evil one?... that they would not turn against Jesus? ...that they would always walk in His ways?....that they would not fall into sin?
I suppose we all must ask ourselves this question. Who are those He has truly given us to watch over and do we get sidetracked with others He has not given us? We should not feel we must take care of everyone- for we cannot!

Libby, I would like your thoughts too on all of this. (love ya girl!)

ps... this was written while boys were wrestling, guitars were playing and husband was munching and talking. HA. I hope it makes sense.

More Sudan Pics

2010-01-14T14:10:00.001-08:00

I haven't had time to write. Maybe tonight.
Here are a few pictures of Africa. The Sudanese are amazing! Sorry but there were several more pictures I had wanted to put on the post but Blogger was acting up on me.

Pumping the well with the children.

Enjoying filling the water containers with the children.

I have been in numerous outdoor squatty potties over the years having lived in China, even some with millions of maggots but never one with a grass thatched roof so I was excited to use this bathroom. I jumped in and before i could even begin my duty I heard something above my head moving- either slithering or crawling- I looked up and I do believe (Jonathan seems to doubt me) I saw the belly of a snake- YIKES. Now, I am NOT Joy Forney. I have not completely overcome my fear of snakes nor of big spiders so I ran. Later, i was told that the day before there had been a poisonous snake just about 20 feet away from the hut.

Here are a couple of homes nearby CLIS_ Christian Leadership Institute of Sudan
Here is a young handsome 13 year old. I took this picture so that Daylon could see a sudanese 13 year old boy.

The Tree

2009-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

This poem is in honor of the Bride: Good Shepherd Community Church ~ all of my brothers and sisters who have weathered the storms of “winter” standing firm, immovable serving and loving others, honoring Jesus in word and deed in the midst of this past year’s hardships.

( I tried to post this written as a poem, but the blogger wouldn't let me- so just bear with me here)

In the peaceful still and early hour firm but delicate, gray black bark shaded branches reaching outward from their body sparsely dotted with winter leaves, three dimensional in scope remain against the backdrop of an icy blue sky holding up blustery clouds with mingling hues of blue and gray like distant dark ocean waves.

A story conveying a life which is resolute to stand the trials of winter~ steadfast, staying its ground, residing in its intended purpose. Whether unnoticed or perceived
preserving the design for which it was created~ immovable, solid, unyielding to the commands of nature,yet of humble disposition .

A casual observer deciding to peer more closely delights in its beauty which another day another backdrop reveals the same tree a different beauty.

The Gospel of John

2009-12-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you read the gospel of John? WOW. Powerful. Impacting. No one could have ever made up that story. Kings food is what I have been eating. Rich delicacies, tasty treats... no... I would say a seven course meal that my soul has feasted on this past month- and I am only on chapter 13. Yummy, I just can't wait for breakfast,, no maybe I'll make it a midnight snack tonight. I just can't get enough of it. This kind of food is addicting. The powerful presence of Jesus. Reality of Jesus lighting my soul. There is more of me to be taken by Him. - Or according to John, darkness to be sonlit by Him. Today I savored the passage where Jesus says "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it." (John 14:12-)
NO NO NO. These aren't just black letters on a white page of paper. Jesus meant it. All to bring glory to God... to reveal just who Jesus really is. The Father. They are One. Well, go read John. Taste again for yourself. meditate slowly. allow the pictures to form in your head. Be there.

2009-12-09T11:08:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Sudan, here I come!

2009-11-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

In a few days I will embark on a new journey. I will have the privilege of meeting Sudanese women right there in Sudan. I know I will learn so much from them.

Here is a FUN picture of some students having a blast. I hope I get to see and experience a sight like this.

The Sharks Teeth

2009-10-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

LOL part 4
Mindy recently launched into a new relationship with God. No more just “doing” church for social life. She was now experiencing real life, understanding truth and grace as God’s child, friend of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit who lived in her. “I believe in God” was a term she once used but nowadays she believed God and there was a difference between the two. Recently she had experienced victories through trials by learning to walk by faith and not sight. She desperately desired the eyes of her heart to be fixed on Jesus, not wanting to be one who “holds to a form of godliness but denies its power” (2 Tim3:5). Her marriage, family and friendships seemed like battle fields at times. Often she felt lonely, broken, and battered but at the core level she was being held up by Christ’s strength.
She sipped her Starbucks coffee latte and reclined on the cushioned chair just to see her friend Breanna walk out the door past the large storefront window. She felt safer without gossipy ears, and then leaned over and quietly revealed to our friend Agnes, and me her innermost thoughts. “Honestly, there are times when my focus becomes muddled and I fall into discouragement. I just don‘t have all the answers and life can sometimes feel scary.”
“We will all have hardships in life which lead us to believe lies from the enemy,” Agnes reaffirmed her. “Have you ever seen an optical illusion?”
“You mean those pictures that hang on the wall that make people look like idiots by blank staring until finally they see a hidden picture?”
“Somewhat… I am thinking of the kind that deceive you to think there is something there that isn’t. I imagine that if there can be optical illusions with our physical eyes there can be with our spiritual eyes as well.”
“What do you mean by optical illusions, Agnes?” I inquired.
“Satan deceives us when we plunge into believing there is no hope.” Agnes began with a detailed story about her young family who had set off on a lovely jaunt one Sunday afternoon. They had walked the two mile hike downtown to investigate the summer art festival on display. On the return trip they happened upon a sidewalk painting which blocked their path toward home, something her three year old daughter had never seen until then. She described it.
“ The painting portrayed broken bricks in the sidewalk which opened up to a deep sea and a large shark leaping out. The illusion appeared very real to all of us but especially to my two and a half foot tall daughter who screamed and ran to her daddy for safety.

He picked her up in his strong arms, quietly and calmly spoke to her, telling her it wasn’t true. He explained, ‘We will walk right past this “so called“ shark, even on top of it as we head towards home.‘ “He knew the truth she could not perceive with her limited knowledge and experience. Her childlike trust was tested. She whimpered as he took her closer to the delusion. It took her daddy one step onto the broken bricks and she scrambled to higher ground, twisting herself to the top of his shoulders. Her wide frightened eyes scrutinized the top of the water. When they stepped right onto the sharks head she finally could see with the perspective of her father. As he jumped up and down holding her far above its sharp teethed mouth she too could see how flat it really was. The stillness of her body showed us it had lost its power over her. Finally with eagerness she too wanted down to step on the sharks head.” “I wonder if she had continued to believe that lie without the security of her father’s arms would she have ever moved in the direction towards home?”
“Unlikely,” Mandy and I said simultaneously.
It was a terrific story but Mindy’s cool nature expressed she was a little stumped. It was not connecting to what they had been talking about.
Agnes moved on, “So too it is the same as with the eyes of our hearts. It’s as if there is a scene that projects onto the screen of our minds…a misunderstanding of the present circumstances, a child perhaps in rebellion, or husband veering toward seclusion, maybe those whom you’ve served faithfully in church walking out the door, never to return….and its hard to understand. Perhaps the shark we see is our perception of what the future holds. The friend holding unbelievable bitterness toward you becomes an image in your mind that leaves you insecure, vulnerable, or exposed. Or that husband that won’t speak to you becomes a setting of future loneliness, without relationship, significance or love.”
Mindy finally blinked, scooted back to settle more solidly in her chair and lay her hands in her lap showing she was computing the data. “I know the evil one also loves to play scenes from the past… like a movie being played over and over again so that it grips you from ever moving forward.”
“Absolutely, Mindy. And does your movie come with audio?”
“Oh yes.”
“And what lies are whispered in your ears from the enemy?”
“He tells me I’ve blown it too big to ever move forward. The screen depicts too high of a wall between myself and my husband. ‘Nothing can really ever break that down’ says the devil.” She lowered her head and took a sip of the coffee.
“Do you believe it to be a fortress too strong to break through?”
“At times.” There was a moment of silence. “Do you have any truth to give me?”
Agnes leaned over and rested her forehead onto her palms. One would think we had confused or frustrated her, but Agnes lifted her face a moment later. She pierced us with her serious expression. “Listen, girls, I am no counselor but I do know the best counselor there is. The Holy Spirit who lives in you. Who better than the one who knows you best.” She paused. “He does not promise quick solutions and answers to all of our problems. Sometimes the best answer in a given moment is ‘patience.’ “He uses His precious word and yes, people like us to help you walk through it, but don’t let a person stand between you and Him. God did not make everything easy for us. It‘s all about relationship. We must seek Him for the answers and in the process we get to know Him better.”
“Now back to it. Reflect for a moment on the details of my story: My daughter, Jill had to pass the shark if she wanted to keep heading home. It was the father’s arms she ran to for security . Her daddy carefully carried her into the trial in the direction toward home. Do you see the connections? We must pass through certain trials in life in order to ‘head towards home’ …that is …to be conformed to the image of Christ….to perceive as the father perceives. Jill’s perspective changed after seeing from her father’s viewpoint. And her experience gave her a greater understanding of how her eyes can be fooled to believing things which are not true. Isn’t that the same with us when we encounter spiritual roadblocks? So my advice to you is first to run to the Father’s arms. Let Him lift you up with scripture and truth so you can gain his perspective. I love God’s word in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ~ ‘For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
She took a deep breath and added “When I take every thought captive in reference to the verse I also like to include ‘demolishing arguments and every point of pride ~ toward those He lives in’. Thus I train my mind to love, trust and believe in my family of God. ”
“I heard it once said that we are to recognize the wallpaper of lies lining the walls of our minds, tear it down and then put up new wallpaper with God’s truth.”
“Yep. But do understand this is all done by His grace. He knows that becoming like Christ is a process, not an event.”
Agnes took a little pouch out of her purse and emptied the contents onto the table. Several little pieces scattered toward the edge of the table which were stopped by her quick hand. We looked closely at all the pieces trying to guess what they were? “Do you always carry crazy little pieces of metal around in your purse?”
“Hee hee!” she laughed with amusement at the disturbed looks on our faces.
(to be continued)

Summer Family Fun

2009-09-28T17:09:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Nineteen Years of Marriage !!!!

2009-07-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

In light of our recent anniversary I wanted to take a moment to write briefly about Jonathan. In honor of You, My husband ~
How grateful I am to have lived 19 years with you. I can’t think of a better companion with which to have spent these latter years of my life. There are a lot of awesome people I have met in this life but you have been the single most influential person outside the precious, powerful grace and goodness of Jesus.
I remember the day I prayed and wrestled with God over the option and idea of marriage. Can God really give his anointing over a marriage when it is “better to be single than married”- as Paul states. He has taught me so much about Himself through you. I delight in you! - You are FUN, funny, risk-taking, adventurous, easy going, athletic~ with high pain tolerance-(that has spilled over into the rest of life), positive, peaceable, creative, brilliant, hard working, not demanding, kind, pursuer of good health and eating habits, cheerful, lover of God’s word, forgetful of other’s wrongs- forgiving, an incredible Good Shepherd- (it’s fun to see you with your sheep- literally!), discerning, caring, genuinely interested in people…, sexy….what more could I say.
It’s amazing to think out of 19 years I have never lost attraction to you- How can that be!!?? I never knew it could be that way. You have cherished me even when I didn’t feel worthy of being cherished. You have been faithful to be the biblical man who loves his wife. God has been good to call me alongside of you to minister together for Him as imperfect as we both are! Thank you for this privilege to raise our children together as well as God’s children.
Thanks for being you.

Here is a pic of our anniversary after a LONG hike over the mountain pass in Montana- eating at a Burger Joint- - we were STARVING.

Praying Wives.

2009-06-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Summer is here. I gotta story working in my brain and heart. But it will wait for at least another week.
Meanwhile we just started another six weeks of Praying Wives. A small group of women growing and learning how to pray for their husbands. These women are paired together and they call each other once a week to pray twenty minutes for their beloveds. It is fun to see how many women really want to be involved. I am looking forward to seeing what more God is going to do in these women's lives this next six months.

I was Praying awhile back for something in particular about another person close to me and wondering why hadn't God answered yet? Why was this on hold to seeing good decisions in this persons life. i felt impatient! But while I was praying God gave me a picture in my mind of a broken watch with all the pieces scattered. Now Janie you wouldn't pray for the crystal to be put on and demand it now(!) would you? No, all of the pieces would need time to be put together so that they would function properly when the final piece - the crystal was put in. So you can have patience- sometimes as we pray for those we love we must wait patiently for the experiences, knowledge, and proper faith to be put into place so that the polished finish can be in set in motion towards its use.
Ok- Jonathan is waiting to go to lunch and I wrote this all so quickly- rough draft you know.
God bless!

Good 'Ol Texas

2009-05-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know it has been a long time and I've got lots on my mind that I would love to share. Yes. Pouring myself out for those things which are worthy. Loving my kids. Thankful, oh so thankful for them. God is good.

I haven't given up on writing my LOL part4. But priorities are priorities, they are joys as well.

Meanwhile, Dannah and I took a break and went to Texas to visit my sister and good 'ol Texas friends. I miss them Oh so much as well as TEXAS. I have never considered myself a True Texan simply because I have never suffered the symptoms of Texamania which are:

1. A growing sensation of unhappiness whenever a foot crosses the border from Texas to another state.

2. A strong need to secede from the United States.

3. Consideration that everything is bigger and better in Texas- (however portions of food in a restaurant really are bigger in Texas!!)

4. A strong need to dine out every night.

- I am sure I could think of more if I had time. One thing I do miss is the heat and sunshine.

This is my "truth" friend. Shana. She is not afraid of speaking the truth to me. Everyone needs a truth friend. - And I love her as my sister:

My physical sister, Becky. I love her much!

Waiting

2009-04-22T15:35:00.001-07:00

Still waiting for time to write. . . but until then here are pictures of some of my favorite kids.

2009-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Making My Way Back

2009-03-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Our Home in China.

It began 8 years ago in a land far away on a sunny Resurrection Day. Our Swedish co-worker/ neighbors joined us for a hearty celebration lunch and in the course of the meal proceeded to tell us about a conversation they had with one of our Chinese neighbors and fellow teachers. On what should have been somber Good Friday he arrived at their apartment with a question. “I thought the Martins were Christians?”
“Yes, they are,” our friends, replied.
“Well how come I saw Mrs. Martin hanging out laundry on Good Friday?” he retorted.
Wow. What a blow. Our very identity in Christ was being questioned. After all, the Swedes celebrate a whole week before Easter and do nothing on Good Friday but rest and they are considered to be one of the most thoroughly secular nations on the planet. The Muslims in our corner of the world, empty as their religion is, were and are very religious about fasting the whole month of Ramadan and celebrating with a sacrificial lamb for each family during Korban festival. But it seemed the Martins were not even a little reflective of the meaning of this consequential week and day- the crux of our Beliefs. I wonder if the possibility had risen in his mind that since we did not know how to celebrate the holiday perhaps we were only American spies posing as Christians. Wouldn’t a true believer recognize the significance of this week?
Honestly, at first I wanted to defend myself. After all the washing machine had done all the work and I was only hanging up clothing. But as I am a reflective person it didn’t take long for me to see the picture. My heart was broken that I had been habitually passing over the entire Passover week till Resurrection Sunday when we started our celebration by hiding eggs for kids to search and find. At least we had done some things to make that time significant with them finding the rock, nail, cloth and little things hidden in the eggs in order to explain the Resurrection story. Certainly in comparison we had done little to reflect on the body of Jesus, which was broken, and the blood of Christ which was spilled during that Passover week millennia ago.
Hmmmm. During the following year we considered how we could incorporate some meaningful traditions that would lend towards reflection and celebration of the season. Sad as it may seem, my own Christian culture had left me as empty as the tomb on that one. Even Christian operated schools and businesses just keep right on going without much thought. I may not be able to change my whole culture, but what I began wondering was how at least in my own home I could make it meaningful. As Easter season was coming near again I suddenly remembered that I had tucked away a magazine article about how to do a Passover Seder at home. As I read, it seemed easy enough to at least try.
That first year we only invited a few of our team members to join us. Oh, what a potent experience for our children and us! The following year we decided to invite some of our Muslim raised friends - a couple of new believers and one that had not trusted Christ yet. Afterwards they told us they had never experienced anything more meaningful.
It has become more substantial to us over the years to reflect on our roots in history. It is vital to remember where we have come from. Each year as we observe what the original Passover feast meant, it places an even greater importance on Christ’s fulfillment of this celebration.
Over the years as we have practiced, our new tradition has become a little more refined and defined. Last year we had our Passover Seder with friends here in Oregon. We gathered and reclined on the floor against colored throw pillows. Coffee tables were set Middle Eastern style and decked with wine glasses and white candles. Jonathan, as the head of the family household performed the ceremonial Seder. Afterwards we ate a meal of lamb and vegetables with the traditional cheroseth with matzah. Afterwards I passed out a paper to inform our friends how to establish the tradition in their home.
Did you know there are a total of 168 verses dedicated to Christ’s birth in the four gospels? But the book of John alone offers 268 verses covering the Passover week? The four gospels dedicate a total 712 verses to these life-altering events! Why do we spend months preparing for Christmas but tragically little is done to reflect on this Powerful week? I have come to the personal conclusion that the Passover, good Friday, and the Resurrection –- ought to be recognized as THE most important holiday a believer celebrates based on it being the cornerstone of our belief.
Has our focus on Christmas (I love Christmas too :) diverted our eyes from the absolute essence of who we are in Christ and left us with something powerless? We need to reflect on the power and promises of the cross.
Consider making this year your first of many to put back into focus Christ’s Passover week. I really believe you will find a greater joy and deeper appreciation than you might ever imagine.

Some celebrate Passover on the Thursday before Good Friday so as to reenact the actual event.

This little lamb did not go to School but to church

2009-03-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

We have a very spiritual little lamb!

My little Lambs!

( Language of Love Part 4 on the way.)

Language of Love (3) - see below for parts 1 and 2

2009-02-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

{ I have recently had two friends walk out of their marriages. My heart grieves with those left behind- spouse and children. This has been the inspiration behind The Language of Love. I simply desire to take others to a deeper reality of marriage which includes contradicting choices which our society, aka. the world, would have us choose. I also desire to create an awareness of messages our culture gives us by which some of us are influenced. }

It had been several weeks since the three of us met together. Life was full for Mindy with four kids in school. She and I had previously decided we would each put up cards of Scripture around our homes and ask the Lord how it might play out that day in our lives. For the first time her soul truly consumed the truth of God’s word.
Mindy told me matter-of-factly, “Life has not been easy these last few weeks but that verse you suggested for me has carried me through.” It was a verse that had helped me through some tough years and now her life was being impacted by it.
“How so?” I questioned.
Mindy gave an account of life after our last meeting together. First, she had arranged time alone with her husband, Dan, to sit and talk. The feeling of being married so long to a stranger disturbed her. Who was he anyway? Could she really ever have feelings for this man? Was there truly any hope? It comforted her to truly sense God’s presence in her life like never before. And in her feelings of helplessness Jesus reminded her of the words she had planted in her heart that week: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. She had a moment to pray “Oh, Lord, please help me in this time of drought.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she considered how parched her marriage was. “Lord, help me to bear fruit.” Her lip quivered as she tried to imagine how one could be fruitful in a dry marriage and even more so how to bear lush leaves of green in a time of emotional suffering.
While thinking about what she would say the scene from a movie flashed in her mind of two lovers making up and delighting in one another. She desired that her confession would end in hugs and feelings of oneness and happiness. Without realizing it her hope rested on this storybook ending and human emotion. Human emotions—the target which movies and romance novels exploit for profit and in the process train us that anything less than this is simply undesirable.
Sitting face to face across the coffee table from him the pangs of emptiness and longing seized her. Nervously, over the next hour, she explained to Dan about her conversations with Agnes, of course skipping the part about divorce. “I realized I needed to ask forgiveness from you for the anger I have held inside these last few years.” Those words were difficult to speak because she had always liked being right. But after she voiced them she felt a little relieved. He just sat there quietly, barely responsive. There was still distance between them not only in physical proximity but there was also a nagging coldness separating their souls.
At first she felt hurt and that turned inward to anger that he was not responding to her the way she had envisioned he should—the way the movie had ended. She excused herself and retreated tearfully to a quiet place, her bedroom. There she had a moment to consider the last hour. As she buried her head in the pillow she cried, “Oh, Lord, I thought it was supposed to end happily if I did the right thing.” She really wanted to understand how it was supposed to work in the Lord’s scheme of things. Just then she became aware of her previous expectations of hope for a climax of happiness. She remembered Agnes’ words about media discipling our minds as to how to think, feel and act in every situation. The Lord opened her mind to see how she had fixed her hope on fulfillment of human emotion realizing in turn it had led her to a counter productive disappointment and anger. With tears wetting her cheeks, she asked with the eyes and ears of her heart open, “Well, what do I do with this, Lord?” In a moment of silence, as if listening for an answer He illumined her mind and she gained an inner power to do what she knew was right. “No, I am not going to place this demand on him. I am going to be patient, and put my hope and trust in the Lord and his timing.” She confidently got up washed her face headed to the kitchen and began cooking dinner. With the Lord at her side she could smile kindly.
Dan acted aloof but nevertheless he acknowledged her act as good and said he would forgive her. She had not understood the kind of doubt a person is plagued with the first hour someone says they are going to change. Words are merely words unless action follows and he wanted to see if this was the real stuff.

We had listened intently to Mindy’s story. “What do you think about all this, Agnes?”
She responded, “There is power in an apology. It’s possible Dan thought this could just be another ploy to tell him how wrong he was to cause such bitterness. As you consistently, daily choose acts of love over selfish interests he will see that you mean it.”
“On another note God is at work. You caught yourself with that movie scene that flashed in your mind. You counteracted that when you used God’s wisdom to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
“Media, movies, etc. with their masterful stories and perfectly matching background music have the potential to train us that our emotions should be our guide—that they should even be our God.” She paused a moment, smiled, then said, “You allowed your mind to be transformed by allowing God’s truth to renew your mind. You know… Love is patient, love is kind….. Love does not demand its own way…”
I was hesitant but curious “ Mindy, how did it make you feel when God’s truth was finally realized?”
Her eyes looked downward in order to reflect on that moment. She thought for a moment and replied, “I’ll have to say… it altered my feelings. His peace, which surpassed understanding, replaced the anger. Even amidst the emptiness I felt his peace and a power I have not had before. Afterwards it was as if Jesus put his arm around me.”
I exclaimed “Mindy, This is what your verse meant!”
“I don’t understand?” Her eyes squinted.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord… the tree will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” “You yielded fruit.”
The realization empowered her. She was becoming the living word. We left our time encouraged that God indeed was at work.

February 16th - Engagement Day

2009-02-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

Jonathan and I celebrated our engagement day yesterday, which is actually more celebrated than Valentines. We enjoyed taking time to remember the weekend I had visited him in California 19 years ago. We have an amazing story of how God ordained us to be married. After 4 years of not seeing each other- He in china, I in Eastern Europe, and two years of not talking or hearing from each other the Lord miraculously brought us back together one week after a specific prayer was prayed. Someday you'll have to ask for the story. It was a confirmation from the Lord.
On February 16th, my beloved led me up a mountain near his home in Southern California. We hiked about an hour when finally we looked off a hill and saw a guitar lying there on the ground near a tree. What in the world could that be doing up here? Well, Jonathan went on to sing a song he had written to me asking me to marry him. It was very special and later was sung at our rehearsal dinner as well as our wedding. Jonathan surprised me last night coming to the bedside where I was all tucked in and playing the song again. (Obviously I am NOT against romance!) BOY it sure brought back memories of a lovely time. Not that now isn't lovely but that day 19 years ago was so magical- full of mystery- for we really had not spent much time with each other before we were married, yet we both were assured in the Lord's calling us to be married. We were made for each other- Through the good times and hard times HE has made that clear to us over the years. Our anniversary was lovely and meaningful. How good God has been to me. How good is His undeserved love and compassion.

Here is a picture of our engagement day- not a good photo but maybe you can tell a little something.

I just had to put this fun picture in of our kids. I love spending time with them especially when we go hiking.

Language of Love part three in progress-

Valentines, the martyrs

2009-02-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

I copied this excerpt from Wikipedia. Wow. How opposite of romantic love - rather these heroic men named Valentine loved their Lord unto the act of martyrdom.

Saint Valentine
For more details on this topic, see Saint Valentine.
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.[4] Until 1969, the Catholic Church formally recognized eleven Valentine's Days.[citation needed] The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).[5] Valentine of Rome[6] was a priest in Rome who suffered martyrdom about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome.[7] and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.

Valentine of Terni[8] became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been killed during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).[9]

The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.[10]

No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the fourteenth century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost.[11]

In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on February 14 was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14."[12] The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan (Malta) where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Vatican II calendar.

The Early Medieval acta of either Saint Valentine were excerpted by Bede and briefly expounded in Legenda Aurea.[13] According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.

Legenda Aurea still providing no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail. In an embellishment to The Golden Legend, on the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he wrote the first "valentine" himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved,[14] as the jailer's daughter whom he had befriended and healed,[15] or both. It was a note that read "From your Valentine."[14]

Language of Love part 2

2009-01-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

Part2
So tell me “Do you ever go for a walk and talk with your husband or does the perfect date call for flowers and dinner?”
Mindy had agreed to meet Agnes and me at the local park. She zipped up her jacket as she watched the cool air blow the fallen red leaves in a swirl down below their feet at the park bench. “I really never have gotten into walking but maybe I should.” Mindy felt desperate to learn from this woman who seemed to know so much.

Agnes opened up; “My husband and I often found ourselves on a tight budget, especially when our children lived with us. We learned delightful ways to enjoy one another such as walking and biking or simply having coffee in the mornings together. We made fun with what we had and just ignored the messages around us that said we always had to spend money on extra things in order to make each other feel loved.” It’s interesting how the media and marketing has built idols in our minds of what life and love is “really” all about.”

I was taken back by her remark. “I have never really thought about that. Wow.” I wondered for a moment, “How easy it is to build little idols in our minds and seek to have those around us conform to those idols.” I paused. “And what about us? Do we live up to the “idol” image of a woman that our husbands have been taught by the world’s marketing and media standards or even yet the perfect image of a godly wife? Wow, when I look at it that way I see what magnificent grace I would need from my man.”
Mindy admitted that she unfortunately fell quite short to living up to the “ideal” marketed woman. Her extra 50 pounds gained over the years still hung on her. She became conscious of how unforgiving and demanding she had been while overlooking her own fault of bitterness. Until now she had always pointed the finger at her husband and his mistakes but now sorrow began to fill her heart and she thought to herself, “How can I find a way through this? Lord, please help me.” For the first time she realized that she was the one in need of forgiveness simply for her bitter spirit. A cool wind blew on her face making the tear feel cold on her cheek.

I comforted her. “It’s ok to feel sorrow, Mindy. Sorrow turns us to God and He gives us hope for a transformed life and it is in that hope that the greatest of all joy can be experienced. The Lord is more concerned about a bitter spirit than an ideal weight our magazine racks display at the grocery counter. Do not neglect taking care of yourself physically, spiritually and mentally as well as intellectually. Mindy, as you give yourself to the Lord you become attractive in many ways, mind you never perfect but always moving onward with Him.

Agnes interrupted our thoughts, “I have been thinking of practical ways I have seen love expressed in marriage. The world has taught us there will always be something more we will need to be satisfied.”
“I remember the ways my mom and dad loved each other when I was young. They would often make time to go in their bedroom and give massages to each other after a hard week.” She smiled fondly, “We would sometimes find them kissing and then they would play a game of hide and kiss until we found them. After a while they would bring us into the kiss machine with them and we’d all end up playfully kissing.” She giggled.
Mindy pondered this. “But I am not sure my husband could ever be so playful.”

“Maybe. But a good start for you might be to find joy and contentment in what you do have. I’m sure there are some wonderful qualities in your husband for which you can be thankful. It isn’t wrong to want or discuss with him your desire for more time together but you can sure be thankful that he is hardworking and responsible.” “You might find one of the reasons he doesn’t buy special gifts for you is because he values frugality and thriftiness.”
“No, I just think he’s thoughtless.” She was reminded of her bitterness and asked Jesus to help her grow in understanding rather than accusations.
“Perhaps your husband needs you to have confidence and trust in him. You might be right that he needs to grow in that area and do pray for him. But believe the best about his motives rather than the worst. Wouldn’t you want the same from him? Undoubtedly your man needs for you to have a positive outlook on life no matter how it looks. This is where you must meet face to face with your God about everything.”
“Our God connection is where we find our strength for all of life. We expand our understanding of His ways, the deeper our hurts the broader our experience with Him. Friends should also help us see more clearly. If you have friends who are not encouraging you to respect your husband but instead fuel your anger toward him then I would choose other friends.”
Agnes jetted in “Books can also help us love our men. I read a book once about five love languages. Most men feel loved when you want him physically. Yes, I mean sexually desire him. Making love should never be a duty. I know, I know those childrearing years can be physically exhausting and there are times some women just feel tired. But when you think of what a delightful gift of love you bring to the most important man in your life tiredness can actually be turned over to God and enjoyment take over.”
“How come you never say anything about what he could be doing to help our marriage? Don’t you have any good advice for him?” Mindy inquired.
“ Mindy, I am not talking to your husband. I am talking to you two ladies. We cannot change another person but we can change ourselves as we walk forward with God.”
Mindy recalled a time when she was younger and had mentioned to a friend about her membership at a gym because she had wanted to get in shape for her husband. The friend told her “That is ridiculous! You do what you want and not what he wants.” She realized she had taken that approach in everything. Now, Mindy was turning the ears of her heart to Jesus. She heard the Spirit speaking words of scripture “Do not merely look out for your own interests, Mindy, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard him as more important than yourself. Don’t merely look out for your own interests, but also for his interests.” Boy, that one was going to take a lifetime to learn.
The time they spent together was life giving. Mindy was anxious to get home and start putting into practice the things she had learned. She remembered what Agnes had said earlier that we each need the Lord to guide us to know how to love our own man. Agnes had told a story about her granddaughter being a perfectionist in her home. She had constantly nagged everyone around her for not keeping house “picture perfect” like she wanted it. Her husband had told her ‘No Better Homes and Garden Home for us’. He desired a home that was comfortable and looked lived in with lots of relationships going on. They compromised together on how they would run their home. Now Mindy was determined to connect with her husband and find out what he would like. She had never given her heart to that before.

I thought for a while with Jesus and asked him, “What does unity in marriage look like, Lord?”
“Unity is like-mindedness in as much as two people have shared like personalities, similar experiences, have the same knowledge and have been given the same measure of faith. Each has shaped our core values, goals, and desires. Obviously there will be differences because no two people share the same life experiences, personality, knowledge and faith. In marriage two individuals with unique skills and talents merge to establish new values and goals. Marriage is a place where two wills collide, two lives become one.”
“So what happens if one of those wills is unyielding, Lord? What happens to our unity in marriage?”
“In each circumstance one has the capacity to give more than the other through the grace of my Spirit. Always one will let the other go forward.”

As we parted that day Mindy had made the bold decision: Her first step would be to ask her husband for forgiveness of her own sins in the marriage. She resolved to take one day at a time and draw nearer to her Lord.

Merry Snowy Christmas

2008-12-24T23:47:00.001-08:00

The Language of Love

2008-12-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

(My heart has connected with women all over the globe, both American and foreign and I’ve found similar issues that many women face. This fictional story is a composite of many of them.)

I had noticed the perked ears of the elderly lady next to us. She had phased out the delicious taste of her ham and cheese omelet as she overheard the weeping of Mindy while disclosing her feelings to me. Blonde haired Mindy was of fair complexion and the mother of four children. She had hinted to her friends for a long time of her intentions she now allowed to escape from her mouth. “I don’t think he will ever change. I just don’t love him anymore.” Tears spilled from her eyes and with a quick blowing of her red nose she allowed those words she never believed she could verbalize to sink in. “The feelings left a long time ago. We hardly have anything in common. He goes to work and I have my work. We just don’t talk anymore. It has been so long since he bought me flowers or even took me out to dinner. He isn’t romantic like he was when I first met him. For years our church leaders have said romance is vitally important in a marriage yet he doesn’t catch a clue”. She spoke these words with bitter hurt. He isn’t interested in what I do during my day yet expects to come home to a clean house and dinner at the table on time. I have tried to be a good wife and one he could feel proud of but he never notices when I do those good things. He hurts my feelings and I feel empty…. God is love and wants me to be happy.” She paused “I am leaving him this Friday.”

The elderly woman sitting nearby could not restrain the passion of God prompting her spirit. She graciously walked over to our small round table and introduced herself as Agnes. She tenderly handed Mindy some flowers she had previously bought for some other purpose. Agnes gently voiced, “I couldn’t help overhearing what you’ve been saying, do you mind if I join you?” We couldn’t resist her sweet spirit and agreed to have her join us. “Honey, there are so many religions here these days, which God are you talking about that wants you happy?”
“Oh, I’m a Christian and God is a loving God.” With authority she declared Jesus’ words, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.”
“Oh, dear thing.” She offered a Kleenex to my tissue deprived friend. “The abundant life is promised to those who ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’.
“I’ve done that. I’ve gone to church for years, tried to be good, attended Bible studies … sniff. I’ve prayed that God would change him. But still nothing has changed!”
Agnes poured some water into Mindy’s glass. “Drink. With many tears one must drink more. Sweetie,” she paused, with her southern accent extending “God doesn’t want your rules and religion. He wants a relationship with you. “Jesus revealed in John ‘This is eternal life that they may know You, the One true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’.” You have been chosen to know the living God…to fellowship with ALL that He is. God isn’t just a God of love. He actually hates too.” At that Mindy’s eyes incredulously widened. “He wasn’t concerned about hurting anyone’s feelings when he said ‘I hate divorce’. Nor when he spoke through Paul in First Corinthians when he said, “A woman shall not leave her husband, or a man his wife.” “We say and hold to our vows with a Holy fear knowing we make a choice to display God’s glory to the world...” She cleared her throat and continued, “which is the model of Christ and His bride the church.”
With her words which truly were God’s words I sensed the Holy Spirit indeed putting holy fear in Mindy’s heart and mind as well as my own. But then with a downcast spirit and bowed head she peeped the words “I don’t see how.” You could sense she was being pulled in two different directions. “He certainly isn’t Christ.”

“Though good feelings can truly be in a marriage God’s love isn’t merely a feeling love and romance the way this culture and time presents it. We have been discipled by the god of Hollywood. And it starts you know when you’re a child… Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and more.” We listened with the ears of our hearts, but still Mindy questioned “But love IS when you feel good about your spouse. What is love without the feelings?”
“Clearly the truest of all love is only visible in the face of the cruelest of hatred. It suffered to the point of shedding blood. Jesus wasn’t feeling happy, gooey feelings toward God when he was carrying the cross to Calvary. But it was the joy set before him that he endured it. Not that we should just endure marriage or even treat it like a cross but rather come to a place where we thrive”

“Can you expound on that a little?” asked Mindy with fixed, glassy eyes as truth was spoken to the depths of her heart. This was clearly a different language than she had heard in the world. The new definition of love was making a slight break into the confusion of her mind and bringing understanding to the sacrifices a marriage partner brings to the altar.
Agnes reached for the water pitcher and politely asked if she was done with her half emptied milk and juice glasses. Mindy nodded. She proceeded to pour water into the glasses and stirred a bit. “You see, there isn’t anything much different when you mix water into these liquids which contain the same properties.” We were a bit bewildered with what she was up to. She grabbed the oil for salads sitting on the table and poured it into the cups and stirred. “This oil stands out. You can tell it is different from everything else. In every circumstance it stands out. God wants to show the world there is a distinction between His love and the world’s kind of love. He has chosen you as his means of doing that.” She smiled. The illustration was bringing it home to the core.

“He must have chosen the wrong person.” Mindy whimpered, “ I don’t think I can …do that. I cannot even fathom it.”

“Look here, the last thing I desire is to be preachy.” Putting her ringed hand on her chest Agnes expressed “I have walked the same road as yourself.” But with a reflective spirit added “Trust me. Marriage continues to teach me how to really love. It is the essence of giving up self for another. Not that I have laid hold of it yet but I forget what lies behind and press on toward that which He called me to.” Her face radiated her fiery spirit. “If we could understand the truest purpose of our marriage is that we might be made holy” she pointed to the glass, “like the oil, to become distinct in nature, separated from the world.”
Mindy knew the words Agnes spoke were true but her tears revealed too much reliance on self. I told Mindy “You’re right. You cannot do it. The only way is to allow your nature to be made more like His by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. And that means you deepen your fellowship and experience with Him. You come to know Him.”
The older enlightened woman leaned over with a sweet gentle smile across the table where my middle-aged friend was sitting and put her hand on Mindy’s arm. Her wise words made it seem as though she was one who had escaped the boundaries of time and place yet lived it all at the same time. “You precious dear. There truly is hope.” She moved closer to take hold of Mindy’s hand. “I urge you to do as Jesus did. Pour out your heart, fast and pray, cry out to God, and hear His voice of wisdom, comfort and peace. Have others pray for His grace upon your life. By all means, hang out with true and holy believers. Let’s be as Jesus towards those with false counsel. He said to his good friend Peter ‘get behind me’ recognizing anything other than the will of God is of Satan. This is a selfish world in which we live but let us each here allow God through our marriage to teach us how to really love, His love which is eternally best for our spouse and for us. Let endurance have its perfect result that our character be proven worthy. A fuller joy indeed comes when we drink from the deeper well. And over time you may find as I have in many women’s lives that your husband’s life is changed and genuine delightful feelings reside with you and your man.
Our time with Agnes involved many hours as we discussed what it all meant. We know that there is no quick fix for a lifetime of character development but being with her was like being with Jesus, hearing His strong voice and feeling His comfort. Mindy held off on her decision and promised to meet again the following week with Agnes and me.

My Man's Home!

2008-11-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

Yippeeee. It is so much fun to have my Man again. We met Jonathan with a baloon, cookies, and posters! I'm in love with you!

Seek Truth with All your Heart!

2008-10-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Things aren't always what they seem at first glance. That is why we must seek the truth in everything.

2008-09-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Wilderness and the Tetons

2008-08-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

What do these have in common? Mountains. We did a lot of mountain backpacking this summer. In the Tetons, Jonathan climbed the Grand Teton with Darragh and Dannah. How delighted they were to reach the top AND to get back down again ALI

Here are a few pics of the Tetons:

check out the boot at the bottom of this next pic. Shows how steep it was in some places.Papa with his daughters.

What's up in California?

2008-07-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

So what's up here? I have found that California is rich with the resource of the SUN! Yes, i am delighted to be here with Dannah and Daylon my three nephews and inlaws. They are fantastic. I love 'em. Yesterday we enjoyed the sun at the waterpark- got lots of excercise running up stairs galore and sliding down rides like the Drop out (my favorite) , Bermuda Triangle, Speed slide, the Vortex (Amy's favorite) and running around from ride to ride. The only thing missing is my daughter Darragh who is in Czech and my beloved- Jonathan whom I adore. Sorry no pics- I am not on my computer.

Who's Dirty Anyway?

2008-05-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

I sat up leaning over the small table while the cantankerous old teacher leaned forward to whisper a secret. “I don’t like those Uigher people.” The grumpy old Chinese didn’t surprise me with her opinion. Nevertheless with a glance at the open first floor balcony window and a quiet voice, I responded “why?” “They’re dirty!” wrinkling her nose. “They are lazy - just sitting around with each other all the time. They don’t study and aren’t very smart.” I happened to know that the brightest student and best English speaker in Jonathan’s class was a Uigher man who took two years to find a teaching job while his Chinese classmates only after a week of searching found some great English jobs. I simply listened and asked questions. “Why do you think they are dirty?” Shaking her head with contorted features she frankly replied “They let their kids play in the dirt outside.” Her raspy growl and expression spoke more than what her words declared. I left with a feeling of needing a bath. I wonder if she thought the same of us Americans and our children who not only played in the dirt but actually had a marvelous time once while making mud pies. We we dirty?
That afternoon as the Uighers celebrated the Korban holiday I dropped by an old Uigher friends apartment to eat the traditional pollo (lamb mixed in rice and carrots). While we enjoyed the merry mealtime the conversation turned unusually private. Gulzeera disclosed her thoughts to us. “I don’t like the Chinese.” To draw out more of the meaning I asked the question “Why?” She confidently with a half crooked smile explained, “They’re dirty!”
What did she say? How could this be? I began to feel that the earlier morning’s confabulation was merely a rehearsal for the latter. What could she possibly mean? “How are they dirty?” I repeated my line from the earlier drill. As an inferior in the Chinese society she seemed self confident of her superior islamic culture. “They grow their nails so long. And they never have time to talk. They are all so busy and never have time for relationship.” Hmmmm. Now this was different. I had not previously thought about how disgusting long nails would be on women who knead bread and noodles everyday.
This day was an exercise in learning about the conflicting values people and cultures have not only around the world but even within one country, one state, one neighborhood. Where one values tasks and learning another finds meaning in relationships. Who is right?
This doesn’t happen in church does it?

Prejudice......

2008-05-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

To explore the whole nature of prejudism expands way beyond black and white, rich or poor, young or old. It's center is the core heart in each of us. Consider that each human is raised with certain values, practices, dreams to hope for, convictions all boiling down to world view. At the center of each of us we sacredly hold true to what we deeply have been convinced of. When we encounter one of another kind (which really is everyone and anyone) if we have not been taught differently we humans tend to judge those others according to our personal standard. Next is a little story which illustrates .....

a little prejudice

2008-04-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

I am partial to a cute little fellow i found in the field just yesterday! He is so tiny i hope he makes it. It was a beautiful site to see Jonathan pastor this little one by bottle feeding him his first food- just enought to boost him to be able to get up and nurse on his mommy. - Jonathan indeed is a good shepherd.

Then Cocoa wanted to be fed also from Darragh's apple cider.

Pride and ........(title to be continued- fill in the blank)

2008-03-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

One of the first things that occurs in the process of revival is a new or renewed understanding of how great God is compared to our humanity. Being humbled by the mightiness of God?
After living in China with a number of people from different nationalities I made some observations regarding pride and humility. When a person of one nationality would seek to express humility in one way the other nationality would think he was being proud. For instance: Here in America we are trained to say thank you when paid a compliment. If you say thank you to someone from another race they might think “thank you” is admitting with pride that indeed your dress looks nice or that you look good today etc. and are acting in pride. Another example of this is some nationalities offer a gift to someone and make sure they play it up big, “I got this in a very expensive store and paid much money for it.” They were taught to do this because one wanted the receiver to know how important and worthy they are to buy an expensive gift. However others are taught in humility to play it down, “It isn’t anything too special, just something I picked up.” on order that the person would not feel too uncomfortable or committed to the giver on account of an expensive gift. One might consider a person proud because he or she views another’s behavior in light of their own experiences and knowledge. The same is experienced even with people in the same culture but in different families.

In pursuit of humility one of my favorite quotes the last five years is this quote by Ben Franklin. “Pride perceiving humility honorable sometimes borrows her cloak.” Any of us can “look” humble. We can become good actors. Ok, so why all this talk about humility? What matters most is - Are we truly humble before God or are we faking it before man? Has our cultural practices or personal convictions defined us before our great and Mighty God? Do we actually recognize the inconceivable greatness of God in comparison to our feeble humanity. And then do we ignore or implement the joyous truth that our frailty is covered by His clothing of grace. This is humility but probably incomplete in definition. Just my thoughts as i keep moving forward.

scenes from a favorite movie- "Pride and Prejudice"