Glimpses of Our World

IMEA 2012

2012-01-27T10:52:00.003-06:00

Rachelle is a different child compared to our older daughter, LaRae.LaRae always liked for me to be involved in her music events. She liked for me to go with her to lessons and take notes. She enjoyed knowing I was listening to Youth Orchestra rehearsals, experiencing the joy of the music with her. She always liked to share IMEA experience with me as well. So, I would sit in the back and soak up the music, soak up the teaching style of the various conductors, and end up with lots of shared experiences at the end of the day.

But, back to Chelle ... she never told me she'd just as soon go alone, but she is clearly happy to have some independent experiences like this. So, I am enjoying time with my Curt!

And Chelle is enjoying sharing with us at the end of the day what she has experienced.

It's all good. : )

We are in a nice hotel, so we can share a leisurely breakfast in the beautiful atrium, and then we can work on our computers, read our books, listen to audiobooks, just enjoy some slower-paced-work-side-by-side days. I'm enjoying it so much.

IMEA 2012 and Rachelle's 16th Birthday

2012-01-26T17:12:00.004-06:00

Curt, Rachelle, and I are at IMEA All State this week. Chelle just found out she made 5th chair in the Honors All State Orchestra; she is thrilled!

Earlier, she sat waiting for the results, texting her daddy a count-down of sorts and some other goofiness that kept me laughing.

She turned 16 this past week. She isn't a party-girl--wanted a simple celebration with church family at a gym so they could play volleyball all evening and not really "focus on her." It was a fun evening. She requested mocha punch instead of ice cream. That stuff is so delicious! If anyone is interested in the recipe, leave me a comment on this post requesting it, and I will post it for you.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Wednesday Walk

2012-01-25T10:24:00.001-06:00

My sweet husband, who, by the way, caught up yesterday with the age of--as he puts it--"the older woman he married," sent me this happy quote today.

"The homemaker has the ultimate career.

All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career."

~ C. S. Lewis

He loves that I love making a home for him and our children, and he supports me in every aspect of that endeavor.

My dear friends who might be struggling today with the mundane of housekeeping and making a home, take heart! Realize that we really do pursue what we love. Do we love our husbands? Do we love our children? Do we love bringing delight to their lives? Do we want to have the spirit of Jesus dwelling in us and living through us?

I'm reminding myself today to examine the choices I make. I know if I spend more time doing things that are for my own entertainment, avoiding things that need to be accomplished here around the house, I will be choosing to love myself above my family; I will be walking after my "flesh" rather than the spirit of Christ.

Realizing I will do what I value can help me take the steps to make the right decisions and truly choose to love others above myself.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Happy 16th, Rachelle!

2012-01-23T20:05:00.000-06:00

Sixteen years ago today a gusty little gal made her grand appearance

into this world! Our lives have never been the same!

What a joy she is to our family. In the picture above, she is sleeping while LaRae poses--

the proud big sister.

In this picture, Rachelle enjoys San Diego beach the first week of Jan. 2012.

Happy Sweet 16th birthday, Rachelle Evonne!

We thank God every day for you!

Love,

LaRae, Momma, and Daddy

The Way to A Happy Home

2012-01-19T13:35:00.000-06:00

The way to a happy home
The way to peaceful living
The way to a hope-filled, satisfying life
The way to joy ...

Believe with every fiber of your being that Jesus is who He said He was.
Trust every aspect of yourself to Him.
Seek to understand His teachings.
Apply them to your life.
Do whatever you can to help others find the joy you have found!

Enjoy the journey!

Transformation in the Process: Responding to Mishaps

2012-01-18T10:30:00.000-06:00

~Coast guard headquarters and lighthouse at Point Loma, CA; the Islands in the distance are in Mexico.

So, from the fish market mishap to Wednesday night Bible study...

The topic was "Taking Inventory."

It was a discussion about the inventory of what is within us.

What do I bring to the world? What characteristics, what spirit or attitude, what does my life offer others? How do I affect others?

It is so easy to know what should be in us and therefore assume, of course it is. But we were reminded that night:

1. "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life" says the Proverb writer. ~Prov. 4:23

2. "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile a man." Matt. 15:18

3. "We do what we value" ... just another way to say what is in our heart flows out.

I pondered... when Curt accidentally dumped the supper containers on the table, and the cold ice water and greasy tarter sauce spread out over my lap, what did my response of focusing on my discomfort say about what I valued? If I really valued the other person before myself, what would my reaction be?

In response to taking inventory, i.e. watching over my heart with all diligence, I saw I needed to change.

But how do I go about changing?

Some would say I am forever condemned to a life of failure in this area. If so, why would I be admonished to watch over my heart, to be renewed?

Thanks be to God! He whom the Son sets free is free indeed! ~John 8:36

There is hope! There is a way, a plan!

The gospel message is that we do not have to live "according to the flesh." We are to put "to death the deeds of the body" and live! (Romans 8) The flesh--just the natural physical house in which we live--is not evil. The good or evil has to do with my will, my heart--which makes choices. The flesh is simply independent. It felt the cold, greasy mess and said, "I hate this feeling." But the spirit (the will/heart) must respond, "Be silent, flesh. I put you to death. I care about others more than I care about what you feel or what you hate. I will think about them, not how you feel. I will be "led by the spirit of God" for I, more than anything else, want to be His child. As His child, I want His likeness to be seen in me.

The Apostle Paul tells us to "be renewed in the spirit of [our] mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness..." ~Eph.4:23

He tells us in Romans 12:2 that we should "be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind, so that [we] may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

As I took inventory that Wednesday evening, I realized that what proceeded out of my heart (via my attitude) was not in the likeness of God. I was focused on self. I asked God (and Curt) to forgive me and asked God to help me have a change of heart. I made myself accountable to others in our discussion at church. (There is nothing like accountability to others that will motivate you to be honest with yourself and God! I'm so thankful for a church family that is living honestly before God just like I desire to. That's the kind of people you can trust in accountability. I realize I am blessed with these people.)

God is helping me. I find my mind going to the perpetrator of "mishaps" almost immediately now, even though it has been a long-term habit of self-focus in this area. What I've experienced so far is this: something happens, I jump--a physical response that is conditioned and will probably take time to smooth out--but then the thought comes, "What's the perpetrator thinking? How does he/she feel? What is a Christlike response?" I'm faced with a choice. With God's help, I have tangible hope of being characterized as a new person when it comes to mishaps.

A Call to Peace

2012-01-17T09:04:00.000-06:00

MY FACE IS SHINING UPON YOU, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face to Face with Me, Your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out "Help me, Jesus!" and I will lift you up.

The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of my design. I am always beside you, helping you face today's waves... Stay close to Me.

Come to Me, and rest in My loving Presence. You know that this day will bring difficulties, and you are trying to think your way through those trials. As you anticipate what is ahead of you, you forget that I am with you--now and always. Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they occur. Do not multiply your suffering in this way! Instead come to Me, and relax in My Peace. I will strengthen you and prepare you for this day, transforming your fear into confident trust.

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, 2011 Hallmark Gift Books

Responding to Mishaps

2012-01-13T16:28:00.001-06:00

It all started at a fish market.

I ordered what I wanted to eat, washed my hands, and went to find a table for six.

The girls and my sister-in-law Rachel came with me.

Curt stayed with Keith to bring the styrofoam containers which held our supper.

We girls filled six large styrofoam cups with ice and water, numerous paper cups for tarter sauce and ketchup and sat down at the table placing paper napkins on our laps.

My chair was nestled up snugly against the walls both behind me and on my right, and Rachel was to my left. We enjoyed a bit of conversation, chatted about how hungry we were, how chilly it was-- considering we were in southern California--and waited patiently for the guys to bring the anticipated authentic fresh seafood.

Before long they came, and we all smiled as we breathed in the aroma wafting our way. They arrived, and just as Curt started to set the stack of styrofoam containers on the table (directly across from me) the top container began a slow slide, a dreadful descent; it slipped off--ever-so-gently--as I stared at it--mouth open--unable to move. It flopped onto the table, knocking over two 20-ounce cups of ice water and two or three cups of tarter sauce, the contents of which splashed onto my paper-napkin covered lap, the whole greasy mess soaking me to the bone.

Pause for a little background:

I am an extreme preventionist.

I go out of my way to plan ahead, to avoid messes, to keep order in my life.

I do not wing much of anything if I can help it.

Growing up, I had a dear friend who was an accident-waiting-to-happen... well, actually, it wasn't waiting, it WAS ALWAYS happening! (What is it with so many metaphors? They defy logic!)

After many years, I realized that my friend didn't improve at all, and it was because she had the attitude, "Oh, that's just the way I am." (Since then, she has realized this and worked hard to exert diligence in this area. When accidents happen to people who are trying to be careful, it's a lot easier to deal with, and that's how she is now.) But, as I was training my girls (Curt was right with me on it) I didn't want them to be lazy and careless, and I had a tough time figuring out when it was carelessness and when it was an unavoidable accident. In the early days of parenting, I probably erred on the harsh side of this issue. I have continually tried to be more perceptive and gracious, but for many years my habitual response, deeply imprinted on my brain as it was repeated, has not been what it should be. I've realized lately that some people are just born more accident-prone--there are two in my house! ; ) I am wondering if God allowed this to help teach me His kind of love, but it has been a long hard lesson, and up until this week, I hadn't figured out just how to go about it.

But, back to the fish market...

I had packed three skirts for the trip. Just three. When this happened, I was shocked, wet, cold, miserable, my paper napkin stuck to my black skirt in tiny pieces when I tried to get it off. The tarter sauce was oily and left stains. It was a silly little accident that should have been immediately smiled at and released. When I look back, I know Curt did not do it carelessly or on purpose, but due to my long-term pattern of thinking, I couldn't seem to get past my discomfort and look through his eyes immediately, in a loving Christ-like way.

Oh, by the way, there were three more mishaps within the week which I won't go in to presently, but let it suffice, I concluded, after four such mishaps, it was time for me to do some digging.

Now, in case you are thinking I blew up, yelled at Curt, was mad and insensitive to everyone around, it wasn't exactly like that. I learned long ago that I had to control what came out of my mouth in situations like this. I really do care how I make other people feel. When it first happened, I exclaimed, "Ah!" The girls tell me (for it's easy to forget what you say at times like that) that I really didn't say much of anything. I just exclaimed the sound of "Ah!" several times, sort of "hyper ventilating"--LaRae's says. ; )

I went to the bathroom and did my best to get the pieces of paper napkin off my skirt and wiped the tarter sauce off the best I could with brown paper towels. I actually remember praying, "Father, you've got to help me. I'm upset. I cannot believe this happened. I know Curt did not mean to, but I'm still so miserable and I don't want to make him feel worse. Please help me have your sweet spirit." I came back to the table, sat down, and looked my dear husband in the eye. He had the most pitiful look on his face. I said, "I'm not mad at you. I'm just still in shock."

It took a while for things to get back to normal. We all began eating in relative silence. I thought as I ate, this is so ridiculous to be so stressed about something so trivial; and then I'd feel the cold wet greasy stuff all over my skirt (which had of course soaked through everything and would be a long time drying) and I'd have to swallow and silently continue eating. Finally, I was able to laugh and say something pleasant to break the silence.

The incident got me to thinking, but it wasn't until church Wednesday night back home in IL that things started falling into place in my mind as to how habits like this are changed.

I'll share more in my next post.

A Week In San Diego

2012-01-09T22:23:00.000-06:00

Our family enjoyed this past week in San Diego, CA. The sunsets were spectacular!

We put the recording on hold as it was eating up too much time over the holidays. We hope to finish it this summer when the girls are both home again.I am so far behind on house work. My blogging will pick back up again, but I'm not sure how soon.

I trust the new year is off to a good start for you!

Why I'm Not Posting...

2011-12-29T13:11:00.000-06:00

One of my readers said, "Please, Laura! Post again! I miss reading your posts!"

Hopefully, the above photos will explain my absence. :)

The girls and I are recording a new CD!

Our home is presently a recording studio!

Phones are off, batteries removed from clocks, computers and printers unplugged (most of the time), and wind chimes lying flat on the front porch. :)

I'll be back as soon as possible!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T14:42:00.002-06:00

We've been helping with the cake

And licking out the pan,

And wrapping up the packages

As neatly as we can.

And we have hung our stockings up

Beside the open gate,

And now there's nothing more to do

Except To Wait!

~Marchette Chute

We love to receive cards and pictures from friends and family!
Thank you, everyone, who sent warm Christmas greetings!
Blessings to you all!

Christmas Eve

The door is on the latch tonight,

The hearth-fire is aglow,

I seem to hear soft passing feet

The Christ child in the snow.

My heart is open wide tonight

For stranger, kith or kin.

I would not bar a single door

Where Love might enter in.

~Kate Douglas Wiggin

Merry Christmas, my dear readers!

A Christmas Prayer

2011-12-19T13:44:00.000-06:00

Prayer

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of the angels,

the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,

and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children,

and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,

forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen!

~Robert Louis Stevenson

A crisp frosty December morning outside my window...

The Beauty of a Thankful Heart

2011-12-16T15:16:00.000-06:00

"In thankfulness for present mercy, nothing so becomes us as losing sight of past ills."

~Lew Wallace, Ben Hur

The Paramount Quest

2011-12-15T15:29:00.000-06:00

If you find yourself confused about the issue of government health care, check out Curt's new post today. It's informative and easy to comprehend.

Our girls and their Grandpa Bailey; Rachelle-right-is in her 1950's drama outfit.

It's VERY busy around our house this week! On Monday, LaRae called me and said, "Mom, do think I'm crazy? I am considering driving home (6 1/2 hours!) tomorrow morning and then driving back on Wednesday for my last exam Thursday morning. I really want to surprise the kids and see the dramas, and I feel I can easily finish getting ready for my exam Wednesday evening when I get back to school." I told her I'd meet her half way, and we could park her car in a friend's office lot. That way she wouldn't be driving 6 and 1/2 hours three days in a row, for today--Thursday--she is headed home for a whole month! We made the trip, and everyone was so glad she could work it out!

The dramas went splendidly well. We're thankful for the dedication of our church family and how they give of themselves over and over for the benefit of others.

I enjoyed Ravi's Slice of Infinity this morning. I'll share it before I scurry off to clean more of the house. Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Show Us the Father

At a Christmas Eve service we attended one year, a short play was featured. It was a monologue by Joseph as, moments after the birth of Jesus, he held the little one in his arms and spoke to him. He looked into the face of the baby and with all the musings of a new father playfully talked about his resemblance to his mother. But then he paused and in all seriousness whispered, "I wonder what your father looks like." One could sense that the hundreds in the audience echoed those sentiments.

Throughout history artists, writers, musicians, scholars, and all who have read the life of Jesus have wondered what he looked like. Interestingly enough, those who actually saw him took the search a step further: "Show us the Father," they said. Indeed, one of the first questions the disciples asked of Jesus was, "Where do you live?" (Sheer humor would have wanted him to respond, "You'd never believe me if I told you!") Whether the Jesus of history or God the Creator, many have wondered what he looked like.

Saint Augustine wrote of a Faustian-type encounter when a momentary delight was offered to him. The only condition was that he would forfeit the pleasure of ever seeing God. He concluded without hesitation: "No pleasure is worth that loss."

In the Father's grace and wisdom, God has blessed us with intellects and senses that long to see, to hear, and to know Him. At the same time, God has allowed our imaginations both liberty and limitation. God cautioned us never to make a graven image. It bears reminding that though we exalt a person by carving him or her in stone or painting on canvas, attempting the same for God, we are warned, only reduces God. Circumscribing God is fraught with the peril of our own prejudice, to say nothing of it being contradictory.

The Scriptures tell us little about the physical appearance of Jesus. We shall all, therefore, have to await the day when "every eye will see him." But where physical features have been guardedly presented, and with reason, the Scriptures are profuse in describing for us God's person, God's character, and how God's loving revelation to us. In mining the wealth of that content we come to understand how profoundly God has responded to the cry of the human heart—"Who are you, God?" This ought to be the paramount quest of every man, woman, and child, because from that knowledge flows every other answer to the cries of the heart and mind.

Ravi Zacharias is founder and president of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

Dress Rehearsal

2011-12-12T22:21:00.001-06:00

The teens and younger children at our church--with the help of a few adults--will be presenting evenings of meaningful drama tomorrow night and Wednesday night at 6 pm.

Tonight was the dress rehearsal.

The teenagers who wrote the scripts, along with the ladies who edited and produced these plays, truly inspire me. I'm so thankful for each one of them.

This first shot reflects a family who has not embraced the reality of the difference Jesus can bring.

Quite a change here, wouldn't you say?

Scene two...

a visitor arrives and things begin to happen...

Come see the full story and worship the Savior with us!

Below are shots from the children's drama.

Their drama will make you laugh and think, and will beckon you to worship.

The three wisemen--

turn into shepherds!

Mary isn't always this concealed, I think the little

actress put her own head-dress on this time. ; )

What a wonderful time of year!

More Than A Moment

2011-12-12T09:28:00.000-06:00

For just a moment the world sees the truth

They bask in the love and the peace that's from You

For just a moment they quiet their hearts

And know deep within where life truly starts

For only a moment the world hears the Word

They stare in wonder at what they have heard

For only a moment they ponder their path

And painfully recognize all that they lack

More often than not they run from the truth

They choose to avoid the love that's from You

More often than not they turn on the noise

That drowns out the sound of your calling, your voice

May someone this Christmas respond to your love

May someone embrace the peace from above

For more than a moment may some quiet their hearts

And ponder, and humbly trust who You are!

I wish you Jesus,

Christmas 2011 Decor

2011-12-11T14:59:00.001-06:00

I've gotten some more decorating done over the weekend...

Still only have lights on the tree. LaRae enjoys helping me on such things,

so I'm waiting on her help for that.

I got a couple of wall signs at our local "Rusty Nail" for above the dining room "fireplace."

One of my Christmas presents is a table runner that is fairly plain but versatile;

I'll add that when it gets unwrapped! :)

What Child Was This?

2011-12-10T08:47:00.001-06:00

He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry hungering.

He who is the Water of Life ended His ministry thirsty.

Christ hungered as man, yet fed the multitudes as God.

He was weary, yet He is our rest.

He prayed, yet He hears our prayers.

He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeems sinners.

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet he is the Good Shepherd.

He died, and by dying destroyed death.

~Author unknown

Invitation: Two Delightful Dramas

2011-12-09T16:53:00.001-06:00

When: Tuesday, December 13 and
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
6 PM each evening

Where: The Wesleyan Church @301 South Broadway, Salem
~across the street from Health and Fitness and next door to
Dr. Suppiah's office

What: Children's Drama- Two Roads; One Gift

written by Rachelle Ferguson; edited and directed by Rebecca Hoard

Teen Drama- On Thin Ice

written by MacKenzie Branch; edited and directed by Julia Thomas

~scene from last year's Simple Things

~scene from last year's The Weston Family Christmas

Quotes from folks who attended in past years:

"These dramas are my favorite thing to attend during the Christmas season."

"What a hidden treasure! More people need to know about these!"

"These are not the typical small church Christmas programs."

"These are better than the community college drama I just saw!"

We would love to have you join us!

Our Greek Scholar, At It Again

2011-12-08T19:37:00.001-06:00

I knew she had done well on another big Greek exam,

so when she called I asked for a picture...

She said, "Mom, this is getting a little embarrassing."

I get tickled at her but cannot help but be thrilled she is diligent

yet does not have a haughty spirit. She isn't striving for excellence just to be better than everyone else. She truly wants to be a "sharpened tool" for God's purposes.

She now has two ivy wreaths from her Greek Professor.

(For the highest grades on the first two big exams this semester.)

And, she has two trophies for the best Greek essays.

The hilarious thing is that the trophies--if you saw my earlier post--are from yard sales!

This second one is a soccer trophy.

What a funny professor.

I think if I had to home school over again, I'd visit some yard sales...

A Gentle Christmas...

2011-12-08T11:14:00.001-06:00

Takin' my time...

Ever-so-slowly, I am getting some

decorating done for the Christmas season.

I determined to keep this season as calm and
peaceful as possible this year.

I want to savor these days of December and then
have no regrets come December 26th from
over spending or stressing out.

I've been enjoying Ruth Graham Bell's Christmas book entitled,
A Quiet Knowing Christmas.

I've tried to keep the decor simple and meaningful.

Last year LaRae and Rachelle did it all for me;

but that won't work this year.

LaRae won't be home till the 16th,

and Rachelle is having to spend too much time studying.

She just got her PSAT score and is in the running for a National Merit Scholarship.

We're so proud of her.

She felt a lot of pressure--no matter how much we assured her

she didn't have to match her sister's score--and she prepared diligently.

This Saturday she will take the ACT.

I was asked to write a guest article for a women's inspirational magazine this month.

As I pondered what I might share, it dawned on me how, in nearly every area of my life,

I seek to live purposefully. But for years, when the Christmas season rolled around,

I, more often than not, got caught up in the frantic pace and ended up weary and numb when it was all over. Upon this recognition, I purposed to slow down and make this year different.

It's amazing what happens when we set our mind to make it happen.

Thank You, Abba, for Your ever-present help!

Sweetness Fills the Air

2011-12-07T16:38:00.005-06:00

Lo, how a rose e're blooming,

From tender stem hath sprung!

of Jesse's linage coming

As men of old have sung.

If came a flow'ret bright

Amid the cold of winter,

When half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,

The rose I have in mind.

With Mary we behold it,

The virgin mother kind.

To show God's love aright

She bore to men a savior

When half spent was the night.

This flow'r whose fragrance tender

With sweetness fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendor

The darkness ev'rywhere.

True man, yet very God,

From sin and death He saves us.

And lightens ev'ry load.

~Praetorius

One of my favorite carols...

Visiting Our College Girl

2011-12-03T18:18:00.000-06:00

We arrived last night on campus to visit LaRae for the weekend.
She has an orchestra concert and a trio concert while we're here.

We were thrilled to see snow!

We felt like we had arrived in Narnia!

The Jilly Bean coffee shop is so much fun.
Enjoyed lunch there today.

Curt was a little overwhelmed with three women trying to prepare him for a photo session!

Curt and his girls

Goofy kids...

They bring so many smiles to my life.

Love my girls.

Busy Collecting Praise

2011-12-01T09:23:00.002-06:00

Jesus once asked, "How can you trust? You're busy collecting praise from each other, instead of seeking praise from God only." (John 5:44)

Right before He asked the question, He stated, "I don't collect praise from men, but I do know you people- I know that you have no love for God in you! (John 5:41-42)

Many in our day would read these words and exclaim, "That's not Christlike; it's unkind."

Ummm...

well...

uh,...it's a quote from His lips.

We've got to remember, we are needy! We won't change for the better if we are never confronted, never contradicted, never questioned. Thank God, He doesn't just seek to make us feel good about ourselves! He loves us enough to say, "Wait. a. minute. You need My help."

Our culture is plagued with the love of affirmation. We feel valuable when people praise us. We have always had this drive to be praised by others, but modern social networking has upped the ante, and we can literally feast every moment of the day, as people--those we don't even know--feed our craving.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just as human as the rest of the world. I like it too. I've just recognized it can become addictive like anything else these human bodies desire. I'm seeking to bring the hunger under the mind of Christ for I see it can destroy even my recognition of a need for God's praise or affirmation.

When Jesus asked, "How can you trust?", He points to the fact that when our emotional tanks are filled with the praise of other people, we can be blinded to our need for God's approval, our need to be in a trusting relationship with Him.

How do we do bring these cravings or desires under the mind of Christ?

We must never stop asking ourselves questions. Why am I doing what I am doing? What is my motive for this? Who am I seeking to please? Does this conflict with Christlike values? Am I being controlled by the praise I receive from others? Am I devoted to please God above all else?

As I honestly seek to understand myself and compare what I am doing--which tells me what I am valuing--to what Jesus taught is valuable, I pray for His help and embrace His perspective. I reject the praise of men as the foundation for my worth, and I make choices that reflect my value of His opinion over all else.

I am grateful when others think kindly of me, but I must not let their praise control my decisions.

Quick and Easy Goulash

2011-11-30T15:47:00.001-06:00

This is a quick and easy dish, a favorite at our house.

1 lb. ground beef

1 c. uncooked pasta; elbows or small shells

1/2 c. chopped onion or 1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. salt

1 can tomato paste

1 tsp. chili powder

3 tsp. sugar

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 1/2 cups hot water

1/4 c. water

Brown meat. Pour off drippings. Add pasta, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, chili powder, and hot water. Cook 10 minutes. Combine tomato paste and 1/4 cup water, add, and cook another 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Our Thanksgiving Celebration

2011-11-28T15:33:00.003-06:00

We enjoyed Thanksgiving Day to the fullest!

We had seventeen dear friends (the eternal kind!) and family join us for the day.

Delicious food was enjoyed by people with grateful hearts,

and inspiring, meaningful conversation filled every moment of our day!

Our guests seemed to enjoy my simple decorating efforts...

I really didn't spend much time and spent no money this year.

(That's exciting!)

It was a joy-filled day.

Of course, having LaRae around for four and one-half days was pretty spectacular too!

~Thank You, Abba, for precious friends and family who love You above all else.

Thanksgiving Never Ends...

2011-11-23T15:33:00.001-06:00

HE keeps on giving and giving...

May you and yours enjoy treasured moments

as you celebrate the special day set aside for remembering.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rachelle's SLSYO Concert

2011-11-21T16:11:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Rachelle's first youth orchestra concert this season. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

They played difficult music and played it very well.

Both Grandma Ferguson and Grandpa and Grandma Bailey were able to attend, along with Uncle Keith and Uncle Dan, Aunt Carma, and "Aunt" Dorinda.

Curt took this one of our little group...

And Dan took this one, so Curt could be in it.

I'll bring my big camera next time. There is just no comparison in quality.

Big Sis, LaRae, won't mind though. I'm sure she is just happy to see any pics since she couldn't be there with us.

We don't want to ever take this amazing opportunity for granted!

Our girls have had an incredible blessing being part of such a wonderful orchestra.

Taking The Steps

2011-11-18T11:55:00.003-06:00

Once we began to see ourselves as eternal spirits housed within temporary flesh, and we start to recognize some of the forces the flesh puts on us, we can began to make decisions that free us from the bondage it would put us in.

So many modern-day Christians--in an effort to make sure they stay true to the Reformation idea that we can do nothing to earn our salvation, which, from what I can discern, is a reaction to abuses related to buying and/or earning our salvation, and is another topic for another time--are scared of talking about "my part" in salvation. Lest any of my readers forget, I do believe God is ever working in me to accomplish His good will. I do not think I am out here on my own bringing myself to salvation. That's ridiculous and impossible. I fear some go that direction (of constantly reiterating, "I can do nothing") because they like the idea of doing nothing. If God will just do it all, I can do what I want. May that not be true of us.

But back to the forces we feel and the decisions we must make...

One of the first forces I recognized was related to my sense of worth. I would be interacting with people in one way or another and the thought would come to mind, "You are not as talented as she," or "You are not as smart, as pretty, as organized or successful." I would feel that sinking-heart feeling, that depressing sensation that I was less valuable.

What do we, as Christians, do with thoughts like that?

Well, first of all, I immediately recognize that those thoughts are self-focused. They are not about focusing on the eternal welfare of others--a Christian concept we followers of Jesus want to have flowing from our hearts. When I speak of "self-focus," my mind immediately makes a connection with the flesh. The flesh, in its independence, has no thought for anything or anyone but itself.

So, I see those thoughts as the flesh putting its force on the real me. The real me, my eternal spirit--given over to the will of its Maker--wants to focus on others and their eternal good. I therefore ask myself, "What does my Maker say about my worth?"

Oh, what joy! He says I don't have to be the best pianist, the prettiest female, the smartest human, the most organized or successful. He says if I will just place myself in His hands, He will make of me something useful and beautiful.

So, I refuse the thoughts about how I compare to everyone else. I embrace His view of me. It's powerful reality! It's "if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!"

That's how this understanding works in my moment-by-moment living. Once I embrace God's perspective and refuse to accept the fleshly viewpoint, I can then seek His approval, pray for wisdom as to how He wants to use me, and focus on the eternal welfare of others as I go about doing whatever I believe I should do to please Him.

Now, does this mean that my flesh will never suggest that old depressing thought again? Of course not. However, the longer I live, and the more I embrace God's perspective, the less those kinds of suggestions affect me negatively.

I pray this helps at least someone who reads!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Walking After The Spirit

2011-11-17T15:11:00.007-06:00

The Apostle Paul refers to "the spirit" and "the flesh" in several of his letters. I specifically refer (in this post) to his letters to the Galatians and to the believers in Rome. He admonishes them to walk after the spirit--which brings life and peace, rather than walk after the flesh--which brings death. (Romans 8:13)

For years, I saw "spirit" capitalized in my English version of the Bible, and I thought Paul was always referring to the Holy Spirit. I didn't realize that in the Greek, spirit is never capitalized. When I thought spirit always referred to the third person of the trinity, I was sometimes left with a cloudy understanding.

From what I presently understand, sometimes Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit when he uses the term spirit, but often he is referring to the forever aspect of us which is being made into the image of Jesus as we trust and "walk after" Him.

The flesh is that physical part of us which is dying. It is not evil, it is just independent and will go its own way, do its own thing, unless something is done about it. It gets hungry and says, "Give me something to eat." It gets lonely and says, "Somebody hold me." It gets bored and says, "Give me something fun to do." It sees something it likes to look at and says, "I want to see that." On and on its demands go. If we follow its demands, if we do not subject every one of its requests to the understanding Jesus has given us, and ask the question, "What is pleasing to Him?" we will follow the flesh to our own destruction.

At various stages in life, the flesh demands different things. Our children are subject to forces of the flesh that we sometimes forget we dealt with as youngsters. Depending on our gender, the desires vary somewhat.

As long as we live, we are trapped in this flesh; we have to deal with it. Paul gives us the Christian answer to our dilemma. "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus," he states, "have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Gal 5:24 NAS)

When our flesh puts a force on us to do something, to feel something, to think something, to gaze at something, we have the responsibility to prayerfully examine and crucify, in our own mind (or die to) what is not Christlike. We do not have to give the flesh what it wants.

Getting a better understanding of these two concepts has been life-changing for me, something to sink my teeth into! It's real and exciting, and it works! It's not spiritual-pie-in-the-sky, empty terminology, but it is a way of life that makes everything change for the better! It makes Jesus's teachings, as well instructions from the other New Testament writers come to life! Every situation, every thought, every word, every attitude, every deed must be examined in the light of this reality.

While we never escape feeling the forces of the flesh in this life, we can say with Paul, "I [will] die daily." And we can share in the promise that "if [we live] by the [s]pirit [we] are putting to death the deeds of the body, [and we] will live." (Rom 8:13 NAS)

Thanks be to God who has made a way for us to become His sons and daughters! Do you realize what that means?! If the Bible is true, and we really can become heirs of God... it's just too amazing to comprehend! I'm going for it!

A Reason to Rejoice

2011-11-15T10:06:00.000-06:00

When all Thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I’m lost
In wonder, love and praise.

Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,
Before my infant heart conceived
From Whom those comforts flowed.

When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,
It gently cleared my way;
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be feared than they.

O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravished heart?
But thou canst read it there.

Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Hath made my cup run o’er;
And, in a kind and faithful Friend,
Hath doubled all my store.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the last a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.

Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I’ll pursue
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

~Joseph Addison, 1912

The Next Fun Thing

2011-11-11T15:35:00.003-06:00

"Mom, I'm so bored," I heard a young child say the other day. It put me to contemplating. What is at the core of that sentiment? In our desire for fulfillment, we start out life looking in all the wrong places and have to learn what diffuses boredom, what truly fulfills.

I'm. bored.

It took me a few days to wrap my brain around the memory of that feeling, because for a long time the thought hadn't entered my mind. But once I pondered a bit, recall started kicking in--the memories actually started flooding my mind!--me, as a young girl, moping around, feeling bored, waiting for the next fun thing to come my way. How miserable I was.

As I grew a little older, the problem played itself out in other ways. I was always looking forward to something that hadn't happened yet. Things that I had just looked forward to the day before were not what they were cracked up to be once they happened. New stuff got old. The fun ride ended, the huge hot-fudge sundae was so sweet, it made me almost sick. I wasn't embracing the moment or enjoying the journey, for I was seeking fulfillment in things that don't fulfill. The only way I could begin the process of fully embracing and enjoying the present, of ending the boredom, of finding true fulfillment, was to be at absolute peace with God, and then pursue the things that my relationship with Him naturally lead to. It was my moment-by-moment trusting relationship with Him that finally ended my waiting-for-the-next-fun-thing and dissolved the feeling of boredom in my life.

"A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones," says the Proverb writer. Ah... aren't those beautiful words? I physically--literally--relax when I read scripture like that. My pulse slows, and I breathe a quiet peaceful prayer of gratitude...

Once a parent, I realized that this tendency in my children had to be addressed. I had to help them see that pursuing pleasure--thinking any aspect of this physical world could bring lasting fulfillment--was empty and destructive and produced nothing but a cycle of ever-returning boredom along the way.

In the early days, when a young child demands, "Do it again! Do it again," she has felt the momentary adrenaline rush of physical pleasure, and she will deal with that thrill in whatever way her parents train. If she is encouraged to pursue it without restraint, we train her to follow mindlessly the force that could eventually prevent her from developing self-control, the force that could prevent her from even seeing her need of a relationship with God. Now, does that mean we never let a child enjoy a simple thrill or pleasure she happens to like? Of course not. This is a long-term, over-arching perspective we parents must understand as we help our children walk after the example of Christ. However, we must always be watching for signs that reveal the direction in which our child is headed, for they are always headed somewhere--either toward God or away from Him.

As little girls mature, they tend to fantasize and seek the thrill of being the center of attention; they pursue relational highs. They want to be THE princess, the ultimate definition of beauty, the sought after mysterious maiden. All these things must be discussed and thoughtfully worked through so as to help them see where fulfillment is and where it isn't. We must realize the danger of feeding on one fantasy romance after another, of filling the eyes and the mind with endless glamour magazines and catalogs, of listening to music and watching movies that incite this natural propensity for vanity. This is not the path of a follower of Jesus Christ and will produce in us: boredom, jealousy, self-centeredness, and eventual destruction.

Many young boys push the limits for bigger and bigger thrills in their playtime. If parents fail to train properly, boys can progress--pursuing the ever increasing desire for adrenaline highs--from the innocent thrill of four-wheeler rides and sporting accomplishments to drugs, alcohol, and even pornography. New brain research indicates that addictions of all sorts are related to these simple basic adrenaline highs. (Quite an interesting and helpful topic to study if you haven't.) If parents allow young boys to pursue thrills for the sake of the thrills, without teaching them to understand themselves and keep temperance, moderation, and thoughtful proactive Christ-centered living as their heart-motivation, the end of their story will most likely be one of destruction.

In contrast to this natural way of the flesh, which pushes us to try to fill our emptiness with all the wrong things and to appease the boredom of life with temporary highs, we must help our young ones by lighting the fire of loving-to-learn-truth, by doing all sorts of learning play and work with them, ever teaching them what truly brings fulfillment. We must show them a Christlike example, finding our own fulfillment in God, demonstrating what a follower of Jesus pursues, how he chooses his very next thought, his very next word, his very next action.

We cannot ever forget, when our little one says something like, "I'm so bored!", it means something. Our precious children will not naturally find the path to true fulfillment. They needs us to disciple them every moment of the day. May God help us all.

"Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy;

In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." ~Psalm 16:11

Come Hear the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra!

2011-11-09T19:05:00.003-06:00

On November 20, 2011, at 3 PM, the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, of which our Rachelle is a member, will give their first performance of the 2011-2012 season at beautiful Powell Hall in St. Louis.

The program:

ROSSINI   Semiramide Overture
RAVEL   Pavane pour une infante défunte
TCHAIKOVSKY    Francesca da Rimini
DVOØÁK   Symphony No. 7

For tickets and other information:

St. Louis Symphony
718 North Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 534-1700
Web: www.stlsymphony.org
Email: tickets@stlsymphony.org

This clip is from a concert at McKendree College in April of 2010. Our older daughter, LaRae, was in the first violin section in this one but is to the left beyond the camera.

Check out this New York Times article about the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra on channel Nine's Networks Living In St. Louis: Our daughters, LaRae and Rachelle, are both in the orchestra clips on this video. LaRae is Assistant Principal 2nd Violinist and Rachelle is in 5th chair of the first violins. This was recorded last year when LaRae was still home, a senior in high school.

This is an invitation to any and all who enjoy beautiful orchestral music and are within driving distance of St. Louis, MO. The tickets are much cheaper than normal symphony orchestra tickets, but the music is wonderful!

Good Gone Bad & Our Calling

2011-11-09T11:07:00.000-06:00

C.S. Lewis has so many analogies that help me think outside the box. This one adds a touch of mystery and excitement to my thoughts today. I've taken up "arms," and I'm convinced the "rightful king" will win!

One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe—a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.

Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening--in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery. I know someone will ask me, ‘Do you really mean, at this time of day, to re-introduce our old friend the devil-—hoofs and horns and all?’ Well, what the time of day has to do with it I do not know. And I am not particular about the hoofs and horns. But in other respects my answer is ‘Yes, I do. I do not claim to know anything about his personal appearance. If anybody really wants to know him better I would say to that person. ‘Don’t worry. If you really want to, you will. Whether you’ll like it when you do is another question.’

~C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1952; Harper Collins: 2001) 45-46. (emphasis mine)

Abiding In Christ Despite Feelings that Come and Go

2011-11-08T10:04:00.001-06:00

Another beautiful and meaningful song from Fernando Ortega...

I wrote about abiding in Christ a few posts back. There is a very real deep abiding peace--a sense of "everything is OK"-- that stays with me as I walk in humble trusting obedience, seeking to please my Abba. However, I also recognize a layer of feelings in my humanity that change; they come and go with varying intensity. I have learned not to rely on these.

Feelings are fickle. They are a part of the flesh in which we dwell, a part of the natural physical meat of our being. They are a product of chemicals that flow through these temporary houses of our eternal souls, and they can be as unpredictable as the wind. They are not evil or bad, just independent and unreliable. I have learned to treat them as forces on the real me which I must choose to respond to appropriately.

When I feel happy, it isn't that I don't enjoy the feeling, I just try to keep everything in perspective. When I feel heavy-hearted or depressed, I try to keep treating others the way I would want to be treated. I try not to dump my depression on others or stop being grateful for all my blessings. As soon as I allow my mind to focus on the negative--which my feelings would push me toward--I end up acting unkind, angry, or selfish. When I remember, this feeling is going to pass, I must hold steady, read good things, listen to good music, and talk to my Abba, before long, the feelings are dissolving away and have not gotten the best of me.

So, my friend who asks, "Do you sometimes feel God is far away?" My experience is that as long as I walk in obedience, despite some surface feelings that come and go, there is a deeper level of peace (or joy) as C.S. Lewis puts it, that abides.

On a side note: I do not know how God does His part of making me into the image of His son, and so I often focus on my part, my responsibility. Some might mistakenly assume I think this is only about my efforts or that I don't give proper credit to God. To help clarify, I turn to C.S. Lewis, who once again says things so well:

And now we begin to see what it is that the New Testament is always talking about. It talks about Christians ‘being born again’; it talks about them ‘putting on Christ’; about Christ ‘being formed in us’; about our coming to ‘have the mind of Christ’.

Put right out of your head the idea that these are only fancy ways of saying that Christians are to read what Christ said and try to carry it out—as a man may read what Plato or Marx said and try to carry it out. They mean something much more than that. They mean that a real Person, Christ, here and now, in that very room where you are saying your prayers, is doing things to you. It is not a question of a good man who died two thousand years ago. It is a living Man, still as much a man as you, and still as much God as He was when He created the world, really coming and interfering with your very self; killing the old natural self in you and replacing it with the kind of self He has. At first, only for moments. Then for longer periods. Finally, if all goes well, turning you permanently into a different sort of thing; into a new little Christ, a being which, in its own small way, has the same kind of life as God; which shares in His power, joy, knowledge and eternity.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1952; Harper Collins: 2001) 191-192.

This is life! Bask in it! Choose to trust The Lord of Eternity. Walk in humble obedience, no matter what your surface feelings say, and you will truly live.

Rachelle and the District 6 IMEA Senior Orchestra

2011-11-07T10:59:00.002-06:00

Rachelle enjoyed district 6 IMEA Senior orchestra over the weekend. She was principal 2nd violinist. Her sweet friend, Jasmine, also in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, was concertmaster and beautifully played several solos.

This year's district 6 IMEA concert was in SIUC's Shryock auditorium. Usually, they are in the huge sports arena where it's difficult to hear. We loved the change!

Needless to say, we are proud of Rachelle for being diligent and using her talents to produce something of value to others.

LaRae's Greek Essay Trophy

2011-11-07T10:44:00.001-06:00

LaRae sent this picture this morning.

Her Greek professor continues to amuse us.

He probably found it at some yard sale.

She received it today because her essay--written in Greek and titled, A Socratic Dialogue: Democracy, Tyranny, and Oligarchy--was, as Dr. Garnjobst described, "so outstanding it had to have a spectacular award."

Given past awards from this professor--bubble wrap, fortune cookies, homemade ginger-pear preserves, and stickers of all sorts--she knew it would be pretty amazing!

She calls it her Herbie trophy, after Herbie, the old VW Disney "character."

It's so ugly it hurts my eyes, but I can't quit laughing.

Better Than Life

2011-11-04T10:36:00.000-05:00

Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Thy lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Thy truth. ~Psa 26:2-3

How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; And Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. For with Thee is the fountain of life; In Thy light we see light. O continue Thy lovingkindness to those who know Thee, And Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. ~Psa 36:7-10

Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth will continually preserve me. ~Psa 40:11

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life. ~Psa 42:8

Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee. ~Psa 63:3

May His lovingkindness drench your days in joy!

What is Our Goal In Life?

2011-11-03T09:11:00.001-05:00

Rachelle and I listened to this selection from C. S. Lewis's book, God in the Dock, this morning. It was so good, I had to share it with you! I pray it inspires you as much as it inspired us.

Chapter 12 in Part I of

God in the Dock:
Essays on Theology and Ethics

by C.S. Lewis

Man or Rabbit?

“Can’t you lead a good life without believing in Christianity?” This is the question on which I have been asked to write, and straight away, before I begin trying to answer it, I have a comment to make. The question sounds as if it were asked by a person who said to himself, “I don’t care whether Christianity is in fact true or not. I’m not interested in finding out whether the real universe is more what like the Christians say than what the Materialists say. All I’m interested in is leading a good life. I’m going to choose beliefs not because I think them true but because I find them helpful.” Now frankly, I find it hard to sympathise with this state of mind. One of the things that distinguishes man from the other animals is that he wants to know things, wants to find out what reality is like, simply for the sake of knowing. When that desire is completely quenched in anyone, I think he has become something less than human. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe any of you have really lost that desire. More probably, foolish preachers, by always telling you how much Christianity will help you and how good it is for society, have actually led you to forget that Christianity is not a patent medicine. Christianity claims to give an account of facts—to tell you what the real universe is like. Its account of the universe may be true, or it may not, and once the question is really before you, then your natural inquisitiveness must make you want to know the answer. If Christianity is untrue, then no honest man will want to believe it, however helpful it might be: if it is true, every honest man will want to believe it, even if it gives him no help at all.

As soon as we have realised this, we realise something else. If Christianity should happen to be true, then it is quite impossible that those who know this truth and those who don’t should be equally well equipped for leading a good life. Knowledge of the facts must make a difference to one’s actions. Suppose you found a man on the point of starvation and wanted to do the right thing. If you had no knowledge of medical science, you would probably give him a large solid meal; and as a result your man would die. That is what comes of working in the dark. In the same way a Christian and a non-Christian may both wish to do good to their fellow men. The one believes that men are going to live forever, that they were created by God and so built that they can find their true and lasting happiness only by being united to God, that they have gone badly off the rails, and that obedient faith in Christ is the only way back. The other believes that men are an accidental result of the blind workings of matter, that they started as mere animals and have more or less steadily improved, that they are going to live for about seventy years, that their happiness is fully attainable by good social services and political organisations, and that everything else (e.g., vivisection, birth-control, the judicial system, education) is to be judged to be “good” or “bad” simply in so far as it helps or hinders that kind of “happiness”.

Now there are quite a lot of things which these two men could agree in doing for their fellow citizens. Both would approve of efficient sewers and hospitals and a healthy diet. But sooner or later the difference of their beliefs would produce differences in their practical proposals. Both, for example, might be very keen about education: but the kinds of education they wanted people to have would obviously be very different. Again, where the Materialist would simply ask about a proposed action “Will it increase the happiness of the majority?”, the Christian might have to say, “Even if it does increase the happiness of the majority, we can’t do it. It is unjust.” And all the time, one great difference would run through their whole policy. To the Materialist things like nations, classes, civilizations must be more important than individuals, because the individuals live only seventy odd years each and the group may last for centuries. But to the Christian, individuals are more important, for they live eternally; and races, civilizations and the like, are in comparison the creatures of a day.

The Christian and the Materialist hold different beliefs about the universe. They can’t both be right. The one who is wrong will act in a way which simply doesn’t fit the real universe. Consequently, with the best will in the world, he will be helping his fellow creatures to their destruction.

With the best will in the world ... then it won’t be his fault. Surely God (if there is a God) will not punish a man for honest mistakes? But was that all you were thinking about? Are we ready to run the risk of working in the dark all our lives and doing infinite harm, provided only someone will assure us that our own skins will be safe, that no one will punish us or blame us? I will not believe that the reader is quite on that level. But even if he were, there is something to be said to him.

The question before each of us is not “Can someone lead a good life without Christianity?” The question is, “Can I?” We all know there have been good men who were not Christians; men like Socrates and Confucius who had never heard of it, or men like J. S. Mill who quite honestly couldn’t believe it. Supposing Christianity to be true, these men were in a state of honest ignorance or honest error. If there intentions were as good as I suppose them to have been (for of course I can’t read their secret hearts) I hope and believe that the skill and mercy of God will remedy the evils which their ignorance, left to itself, would naturally produce both for them and for those whom they influenced. But the man who asks me, “Can’t I lead a good life without believing in Christianity?” is clearly not in the same position. If he hadn’t heard of Christianity he would not be asking this question. If, having heard of it, and having seriously considered it, he had decided that it was untrue, then once more he would not be asking the question. The man who asks this question has heard of Christianity and is by no means certain that it may not be true. He is really asking, “Need I bother about it?” Mayn’t I just evade the issue, just let sleeping dogs lie, and get on with being "good”? Aren’t good intentions enough to keep me safe and blameless without knocking at that dreadful door and making sure whether there is, or isn’t someone inside?”

To such a man it might be enough to reply that he is really asking to be allowed to get on with being “good” before he has done his best to discover what good means. But that is not the whole story. We need not inquire whether God will punish him for his cowardice and laziness; they will punish themselves. The man is shirking. He is deliberately trying not to know whether Christianity is true or false, because he foresees endless trouble if it should turn out to be true. He is like the man who deliberately “forgets” to look at the notice board because, if he did, he might find his name down for some unpleasant duty. He is like the man who won’t look at his bank account because he’s afraid of what he might find there. He is like the man who won’t go to the doctor when he first feels a mysterious pain, because he is afraid of what the doctor might tell him.

The man who remains an unbeliever for such reasons is not in a state of honest error. He is in a state of dishonest error, and that dishonesty will spread through all his thoughts and actions: a certain shiftiness, a vague worry in the background, a blunting of his whole mental edge, will result. He has lost his intellectual virginity. Honest rejection of Christ, however mistaken, will be forgiven and healed—“Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him.” 1 But to evade the Son of Man, to look the other way, to pretend you haven’t noticed, to become suddenly absorbed in something on the other side of the street, to leave the receiver off the telephone because it might be He who was ringing up, to leave unopened certain letters in a strange handwriting because they might be from Him—this is a different matter. You may not be certain yet whether you ought to be a Christian; but you do know you ought to be a Man, not an ostrich, hiding its head in the sand.

But still—for intellectual honour has sunk very low in our age—I hear someone whimpering on with his question, “Will it help me? Will it make me happy? Do you really think I’d be better if I became a Christian?” Well, if you must have it, my answer is “Yes.” But I don’t like giving an answer at all at this stage. Here is door, behind which, according to some people, the secret of the universe is waiting for you. Either that’s true or it isn’t. And if it isn’t, then what the door really conceals is simply the greatest fraud, the most colossal “sell” on record. Isn’t it obviously the job of every man (that is a man and not a rabbit) to try to find out which, and then to devote his full energies either to serving this tremendous secret or to exposing and destroying this gigantic humbug? Faced with such an issue, can you really remain wholly absorbed in your own blessed “moral development”?

All right, Christianity will do you good—a great deal more good than you ever wanted or expected. And the first bit of good it will do you is to hammer into your head (you won’t enjoy that!) the fact that what you have hitherto called “good”—all that about “leading a decent life” and “being kind”—isn’t quite the magnificent and all-important affair you supposed. It will teach you that in fact you can’t be “good” (not for twenty-four hours) on your own moral efforts. And then it will teach you that even if you were, you still wouldn’t have achieved the purpose for which you were created. Mere morality is not the end of life. You were made for something quite different from that. J. S. Mill and Confucius (Socrates was much nearer the reality) simply didn’t know what life is about. The people who keep on asking if they can’t lead a decent life without Christ, don’t know what life is about; if they did they would know that “a decent life” is mere machinery compared with the thing we men are really made for. Morality is indispensable: but the Divine Life, which gives itself to us and which calls us to be gods, intends for us something in which morality will be swallowed up. We are to be re-made. All the rabbit in us is to disappear—the worried, conscientious, ethical rabbit as well as the cowardly and sensual rabbit. We shall bleed and squeal as the handfuls of fur come out; and then, surprisingly, we shall find underneath it all a thing we have never yet imagined: a real Man, an ageless god, a son of God, strong, radiant, wise, beautiful, and drenched in joy.

“When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 2 The idea of reaching “a good life” without Christ is based on a double error. Firstly, we cannot do it; and secondly, in setting up “a good life” as our final goal, we have missed the very point of our existence. Morality is a mountain which we cannot climb by our own efforts; and if we could we should only perish in the ice and unbreathable air of the summit, lacking those wings with which the rest of the journey has to be accomplished. For it is from there that the real ascent begins. The ropes and axes are “done away” and the rest is a matter of flying.

1 Luke xii, 10.
2 I Cor. xiii, 10.

How To Abide in Christ

2011-11-02T14:57:00.000-05:00

Ibelieve we can consistently abide in Christ. But it will only happen as wepurpose to make it happen.

WhenI am successfully abiding in Him, it is because:

I amchoosing to trust Him, doing everything I know to please Him.

Afteryears of studying the New Testament, I am convinced that what God wants me todo is trust Jesus completely. As I choose to trust Him withevery aspect of my being, I am compelled to walk as He walked--seeking to dothe will of the Father. In a trusting relationship, I am responsible for what Iunderstand. I do not have any fear that He will hold me accountable for thingsI don't realize are wrong. But if I'm seeking His will and willing to dowhatever it is as soon as I see it, I experience a continual peace with God. Ibelieve this is what the scripture refers to when it admonishes us to abide inHim.

Ihave certainly experienced the frustration of feeling distanced from God attimes in my life. But as I have continued to dig to understand myself, and thenstudied the message of Jesus to understand how it all works, I’ve found thereare things that help me stay in close fellowship with Him:

1.Talking to Him every morning first thing, as well as throughout the day andbefore I go to bed

(Curtand I pray every morning together before we start the day, and we pray againwith our daughter before we go to bed. These are short prayers, but they meanso much to all of us.)

2.Listening to music throughout the day that keeps my mind aware of Him

3.Reading something every day that serves as spiritual food for thought

(Besidesthe reading I do on my own each day, after breakfast, Curt and I listen to ashort section of an audio book or read a short Bible passage together with ourdaughter before he leaves for work. It's incredibly grounding.)

4.Writing my thoughts and prayers; sharing some of them with others via bloggingor other means

5.Having family and numerous friends who are living just like I am, sharing thisgoal

6.Attending Bible studies with those friends and family members twice on Sundayand once mid-week

#4, 5and 6 all share the concepts of openness and accountability to others. I havefound this is critical to my being able to walk the talk. (And it's only when I'm absolutely walking the talk that I am abiding in Him and experiencing the peace it produces.) I am absolutelyconvinced we need the body of Christ--other committed believers--if we hope tobe all He wants us to be. There is a certain level of accountability to fellowbelievers which is helpful, and being even more accountable to my believingfamily members is crucial to my success. They know me best and watch me everyday. I need that accountability. We help each other in this way.

The scripture admonishes us to abide in Christ. Imust purposely choose the things that fill the moments of my day in order to do this. If I just do what the culture around me does--the normal, the accepted "not bad" stuff--I end up somewhere out there on my own. Givenmy particular tendencies, I have to limit the things that increase my desire toendlessly shop or to entertain myself a million different ways. I have realizedthat these are all things my flesh tries to use to fill the emptiness whichonly abiding in Christ can address. Thatdoesn't mean I never buy anything or that I never enjoy an entertaining movieor book, or go to a concert or drama, but it greatly diminishes the amount oftime I spend on these things. And when I do, I carefully choose only thosewhich have some eternal value which will help me achieve my non-negotiable goalof staying close to my Maker.

Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness andput on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not incarousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not instrife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisionfor the flesh in regard to its lusts.

~Rom13:12-14

...let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easilyentangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joyset before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at theright hand of the throne of God.

~Heb 12:1-2

And now, littlechildren, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, andnot be ashamed before him at his coming.

~IJohn 2:28

It'sa wonderful way to live!

Thoughts from the Attic

2011-11-01T13:35:00.000-05:00

I am not spending much time at the computer presently. I started, early last week, cleaning and organizing our huge attic. We moved into our new home when LaRae was six months old. She will be eighteen this coming February. So, you can imagine what kind of build-up a family of four has over seventeen and a half years!

I have taken two van loads to one of our local consignment stores, and this morning I took a huge van load to the Goodwill. What a joy to get rid of stuff we no longer need!

One of my favorite rooms in our house these days is the dining room.

It is cozy and comfortable and makes my eyes so happy.

Thought you'd enjoy these pictures better than pictures of all my boxes, shelves,

bags, and stacks in the attic!

If you've seen similar shots before on my blog of these spots in our home, you'll notice I'm always tweaking a little here and there.

I pray you are enjoying health and all the beauty of fall. But even more than that, my prayer is that you are choosing to allow the spirit of Christ Jesus to flow through you more and more with every passing moment. I've found that if I am not abiding in Him and with Him, nothing else works right; I cannot fully enjoy anything else.

I wish you Jesus.

My Brother's Birthday

2011-10-29T21:03:00.002-05:00

My one and only sibling, Keith, turned fifty today.

Half a century! How can it be? We have so many treasured memories.

I could not begin to tell you all the ways he has inspired me.

Nobody ever had a better brother, I'm certain.

Rachel, his wife, had to be out of town today, but she planned his party and had a friend make this amazing cake. Keith is a woodworker (along with being an electrical engineer and a host of other things). But being raised by a timber jack put woodworking in this blood. He has a rocking chair factory and a sawmill. This "log" cake is truly a work of art.

We hoped we surprised him, but I don't think we did.

Dear, dear friends joined the celebration.

Thanks, everyone!

Our precious parents.

Happy Birthday, Keith.

I cherish you.

Worship

2011-10-27T08:57:00.002-05:00

"Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose—all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable."

~William Temple

Hope for All

2011-10-26T11:20:00.000-05:00

No matter what we've done or what we've been, if we come to Jesus in humble broken repentance--reaching out to Him for forgiveness, restoration, and healing--our testimony can be:

He has relieved me in my distress
For He has brought to me forgiveness

He has put gladness in my heart

I rest peacefully

I dwell in safety

~Psalm 4 (my paraphrase)

Whenever a pot he made came out imperfect, the potter took the clay and made another pot with it, in whatever shape suited him.

~Jer 18:4

Look! You,... are the same in my hand as the clay in the potter's hand.

~Jer 18:6

"If I can just find the right person, I'll be happy..."

2011-10-25T10:52:00.002-05:00

C.S. Lewis never ceases to inspire me. On our trip home from parent's weekend, we listened to two of his books: The Great Divorce and The Abolition of Man. I've read both before, but I get more out of each reading.

Lewis captures incredible insights in the most concise and unique ways. More than any other writer (outside of Biblical writers), he has impressed upon my mind that this process of being made into the image of Christ is not passive acceptance. Rather, it is active, aggressive, ripping away of layers we habitually form about ourselves. It is a completely different path than we naturally pursue. We must give up what we think we want and trust that God alone knows what will truly fulfill us--seeking His wisdom--His very definition of fulfillment.

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither," Lewis writes.

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair."1.

I recently saw a quote posted by an old acquaintance. The essence (my paraphrase) was, someday when I find the right person, I'll know why every other person couldn't fulfill my desires. I read the quote, and, for a stunned moment, sat in silent amazement at the blindness of the writer; my heart still aches for him. I am convinced that he will spend the rest of his life (unless he admits the error of his way and commits to the path of truth) trying one relationship after another, discarding what he doesn't devour, ending up in desolate despair. Adding to my sorrow for him, I observe him trying to drown his incessant emptiness with alcohol and entertainment, the path so often repeated in the sad tale of human experience.

C.S. Lewis tells us, and of course, the Bible--Lewis's greatest source book--admonishes us, the arm of flesh will fail. Death is at the end of pursuing our natural desires.

I started out on that path (pursuing my natural desires) like everyone else, and I am absolutely convinced it is not the path to stay on! I pray for all who are still trudging along. May they see, as C.S. Lewis succinctly puts it,

"To love you as I should, I must worship God as Creator. When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.”

May we all choose a life lived in pursuit of the will of God, learning to truly love Him; and may we share in the pure fulfillment that follows this decision!

1. All direct quotes from C.S. Lewis

Parent's Weekend Fall 2011

2011-10-24T20:03:00.000-05:00

We thoroughly enjoyed this past weekend with LaRae.

Rachelle cherished the moments with her big sister.

It was our first parent's weekend, and what a privilege it was to meet and talk with her professors along with enjoying time with our sweet girl.

The college orchestra gave their first concert Saturday evening.

LaRae is the principal 2nd violinist; so (for those of you who don't know) that means she leads the 2nd violin section. Her experience in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra is serving her well.

I look forward to hearing her perform later on in the semester with her assigned chamber group, a trio: violin, cello, and piano.

We enjoyed taking her and her roommate along with another friend out for ice cream when we arrived Friday evening. (Unfortunately, I was so busy talking and enjoying the time together, I didn't take any pictures!) Then, on Saturday after we had our meetings with professors, we had fun checking out several of the large antique stores in the area, along with getting a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. I think it was good for both LaRae and her roommate to get away from the campus for a bit. They seemed to enjoy the break.

It wasn't nearly as hard to leave our sweetheart since she is safely settled in, doing so well, and we were making the long drive.

I pray your week is off to a splendid start!

Giving All

2011-10-24T17:23:00.001-05:00

“All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy." -”
~C.S. Lewis

“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”
~C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

“Each day we are becoming a creature of splendid glory or one of unthinkable horror.”
~C.S. Lewis

Abba, I am yours!

Our Greek Scholar

2011-10-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

LaRae sent me this picture this morning.

She has a delightful Greek professor at college.

They have quizzes every day, and he is continually giving gifts like bubble wrap, fortune cookies, or various other items he picks up at yard sales. Once in a while, he brings his homemade goodies as prizes--fancy brittles, jellies, etc.

This is Rae's first experience with Greek, but she is loving it and doing well.

The prof. grows ivy in his yard. He told the students that he would make an ivy wreath for the person with the highest grade on the big mid-term exam. You can see who got it. :)

She is one of two freshmen in the class, the majority of the students being upper classmen... we're pretty proud of her, as I'm sure you guessed.

We're also excited as we are headed up to see her this weekend!

It's parent's weekend, and we get to meet her four main professors as well as hear the first orchestra concert for the semester.

May your weekend be filled with many joys.

Bent But Not Broken

2011-10-19T16:36:00.002-05:00

In the woods in front of our home are two bent trees.

This first one is not bent quite as sharply as the one below.

This one is a perfect tree for our swing, but the bend is extreme. I observe it in amazement. How did it escape breaking when it was young and tender? Surely, the sustenance it drew from within is the only reason it survived...

I know several dear ones who suffered emotional and physical bending--nearly to the breaking point--when they were young and innocent. I see them today, strong, reaching out to those around them, filled with inner sustenance that spills over to bless those they meet.

I thank Abba they not only survived extreme bending in their childhood, but were able--with His help--to become adults who are tall, strong, stately souls used continually for His purposes.

I'm so thankful they chose to allow Him to heal them.

He can do that; did you know?

I pray so.

To Be Faithful

2011-10-18T10:10:00.004-05:00

Every moment of the day, choice after choice comes my way:

What I feed my mind, what I feast my eyes on,

What I grasp and hold closely,

What I listen to,

All these things inform my choices.

I Sing to Him.

Prayer from a Heavy Heart

2011-10-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

Oh, Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end.

Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my Friend.

I shall not fear the battle If Thou art by my side,

Nor wander from the pathway If Thou wilt be my Guide.

Oh, let me feel Thee near me, The world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle, The tempting sounds I hear.

My foes are ever near me, Around me and within.

But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer, And shield my soul from sin.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised To all who follow Thee

That where Thou art in glory There shall Thy servant be;

And, Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end.

Oh, give me strength to follow, My Master and my Friend.

~John E. Bode

Fall Retreat

2011-10-17T19:45:00.002-05:00

We had such a delightful fall retreat weekend at Mode campground.

The weather was gorgeous, and the people were a joy to be with!

I feel so blessed to have friends who want to be like Jesus more than anything else in the world.

We had delightful drama,

softball, for those who could stay on their feet, (just don't ask)

delightful children,

autumn sunshine,

Dorinda's cute dog,

delicious food,

and lots of time to just be with friends.

LaRae was able to be there since she had fall break.

Sunday after lunch she had to drive back to school. The trip is just not easy. She isn't a complainer, but I am well aware that it isn't an easy transition for her or us.
The tough stuff makes us stronger though, doesn't it?

I don't think I have felt a deeper joy than when I see my children developing in their personal dependence on Jesus, drawing from His strength, resting in His love.

It was a good weekend.

Coming Home For Fall Break

2011-10-12T14:06:00.001-05:00

I'm watching.

She'll be coming down the drive around suppertime.

My heart beats a little faster.

I say a prayer.

Abba, please keep her in Your care.

^{~Behold, children are a gift of the LORD;
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.}^{(Psa 127:3-4)}

The View Out My Window

2011-10-11T18:45:00.002-05:00

I can see it from the kitchen where I'm working at the counter.

The light plays with the colors throughout the day.

So short-lived, temporal, passing, soon turning gray-brown, barren; the breathtaking beauty is but a shimmering mirage of forever.

Like a shadow, it slips from my fingers as I reach to grasp it.

I've learned. I gaze on it. I turn my mind to the One who made it... He stays.

Delicious Brownie-Cookie-Oreo Bars

2011-10-11T09:59:00.004-05:00

On Sunday, one of the church ladies brought a delicious dessert to lunch at our house. I took a bite and thought I tasted peanut butter... every bite was so delightful!

I had to know what was in it.

When I asked, I was amazed at the combination.

No peanut butter... but really really good!

Here is the link.

Enjoy!

Autumn Afternoon

2011-10-07T15:46:00.002-05:00

The pathway leads from house to trees.

The autumn sun glistens on fluttering leaves.

Wild blooms wrap white picket-posts, and the empty child-swing sways in the silence.

~Laura

Lord, loosen in me the hold of visible things;

Help me to walk by faith and not by sight;

I would, through thickest veils and coverings,

See into the chambers of the living light.

Lord, in the land of things that swell and seem,

Help me to walk by the other light supreme,

Which shows thy facts behind man's vaguely hinting dream.

~George MacDonald, The Diary of an Old Soul

Busy Days and Beautiful Colors

2011-10-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

I just had to show you this beautiful aster from my garden!

It's got to be the happiest combination of colors I ever saw.

I wish I understood better how botanists create these mixes;

I'm sure I'll eventually be unable to resist googling it.

Several family members said they loved hearing about Rachelle.

So, let me fill you in a little further. : )

She is preparing for three AP exams next May.

She is taking two online AP prep courses and will study on her own for the third exam.

Next week she takes the PSAT. So, we are going through note cards by the dozens.

Here she is studying vocabulary.

I thrill to see the way my girls have embraced the joy of learning! I'm so thankful.

It is a good year for Rachelle to be extra busy; were she not, I'm certain she would miss LaRae more.

Along with keeping up her violin for lessons, SLSYO, and IMEA auditions--which are coming up next Monday-- she will take the PSAT next week, then the ACT in December, the SAT next January, and three AP tests: English, U.S. History, and Chemistry in May of 2012.

What a year for her!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

October Days

2011-10-04T21:40:00.004-05:00

I delight in these cool nights and warm October days!

Saturday found me working in my flower beds from dawn till dusk.

Do your flowers seem to start coming alive again in late September-early October,

once the extra-hot days are passed? On those scorching August days, I look at mine (as I come and go from the house), and they just seem to droop with exhaustion.

Once it's cooler, everything seems to perk up, and I am ready to get to work on preparing for the next season.

We had some issues with a few of our hollies this spring, so we cut them way back.

Most of them are finally starting to fill out. It was actually a good thing to clear out the overgrowth; I had forgotten some of the things that were hidden behind and beneath!

Now, I'm enjoying more variety.

On another note... I am enjoying hearing Rachelle play piano these days! It seems that since her big sister left for college, piano is a welcome break from school work and violin practice. I gave her lessons for several years when she was younger, but once she had a basic foundation, she focused on violin. So, when, all of a sudden, I started hearing harder and harder piano music sounding better and better, I was amazed at how even her violin studies have enabled her to pick back up with piano and advance quickly. I'm deeply grateful for blessings like this.

(Oh, and in case you happen to see Curt sitting there on the side; that's another blessing!

Some days he gets to do some work at home! I love it when that happens. : )

May you enjoy these October days as you take note of your blessings!

Our Rachelle and the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orcehstra

2011-10-03T11:58:00.002-05:00

While LaRae is off to an exciting new world of learning (college), our second-born treasure, Rachelle, is enjoying another season in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. I enjoyed their rehearsal this past weekend.

It was picture taking day.

I can't help but reminisce... this was before she started lessons. She was imitating her big sister, loving every minute of it.

Then came the day when she got to start lessons!

We are so thankful for this precious little girl who is almost all grown up.

What a blessing she is.

Thank You, Abba!

Oh,The Hope

2011-10-01T13:26:00.002-05:00

^{If any man will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Let us not sleep, as do others: but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober.}

^{Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

______________

Matthew 16:24; 1Thess. 5:6-8; Titus 2:12,13;}

Oh, the glorious hope!

I pray you share the hope.

A Prayer

2011-09-30T09:56:00.000-05:00

We have not stopped praying for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all the wisdom and understanding which the Spirit gives; so that you may live lives worthy of the Lord and entirely pleasing to him, being fruitful in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God.

We pray that you will be continually strengthened with all the power that comes from his glorious might; so that you will be able to persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light.

~Col 1:9-12

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecan Granola

2011-09-28T16:21:00.001-05:00

2 ¼ cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
½ cup margarine(softened)
½ cup unsalted butter(softened)
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup homemade *Pecan Granola
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter, margarine, and sugars until smooth, about 2 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla, beating well. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing until thoroughly blended. Stir in granola and chocolate chips.

Drop cookies on ungreased cookie sheets using a medium size cookie baller. Bake on bottom rack of oven for 3 minutes. Move to next-to-top rack for 5 minutes. Remove and cool for a few minutes in pan and then move to a cooling rack.

*Pecan Granola:

6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
3 cups pecan halves
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon(I use Penzey's; it is delectable!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the oats, coconut, and pecans in a large mixing bowl. Combine the oil, brown sugar, peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until smooth. Pour over the oat mixture and stir until well combined.Line a large shallow baking pan with foil. Spread the mixture in the pan.

Bake until browned - about 40 minutes - stirring every 10 minutes with a large spatula. Cool in the pan
on a wire rack; then stir once more. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Amusing Ourselves to Death

2011-09-28T10:55:00.001-05:00

I recently finished Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves To Death. As I thumb back through the pages, I notice numerous highlighted passages. Full of insightful, thought-provoking ideas, the book challenges me to think about my culture and its effect on me.

"TV," Postman writes, "makes everything about the present." It "is, indeed, a beautiful spectacle, a visual delight, pouring forth thousands of images on any given day. The average length of a shot on network television is only 3.5 seconds, so that the eye never rests, always has something new to see. Moreover, television offers viewers a variety of subject matter, requires minimal skills to comprehend it, and is largely aimed at emotional gratification."

"American television is devoted to entertainment," says Postman, and while he believes entertainment has its place, he goes on to explain that television "has made entertainment itself the natural format for the representation of all experience. Our television set keeps us in constant communion with the world, but it does so with a face whose smiling countenance is unalterable. The problem is not that television presents us with entertaining subject matter but that all subject matter is presented as entertaining, which is another issue altogether."

We are pulled from one topic to another, one image to the next, and we are not asked to think or ponder anything abstract; we are not challenged to make any connection of meaning from one idea to the next. Thinking or questioning statements and assumptions just doesn't keep the show moving. It is boring to watch someone think. "Thinking doesn't pay well on television."

Postman argues that our image-laden culture has helped propel us in a harmful direction, and we are suffering although many of us don't even realize it. He concludes with a reference to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. "Huxley," he says, "was trying to tell us that what afflicted the people in Brave New World was not that they were laughing instead of thinking, but that they did not know what they were laughing about and why they had stopped thinking."

I highly recommend this book.

Neal Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (Penguin Books, 2006).

Banana Granola Pancakes

2011-09-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

Ingredients:

½ cups all-purposeflour

½ cup whole wheat flour

1 ½ tablespoons sugar

¾ teaspoons bakingpowder

¼ teaspoon bakingsoda

pinch salt

1 3/4 cup granola

1 egg

1 ¼ cups buttermilk

1 bananas, sliced thin

1 ½ tablespoonsmelted butter

Warm maple syrup

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder,baking soda, salt, and granola;

stir to combine. In another bowl, beat the eggwith the buttermilk.

Pour the egg mixture over the flour mixture.

Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Fold in banana slices.

Gently stir in the melted butter.

Rub a stick of cold butter on a large griddle or skillet incircles just big enough for each pancake and pour 1/4 to 1/3cup batter on each circle.

Cook until bubbles form on top and edges start to dry.

Flip pancake over and cook until golden brown.

Repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve with warm maple syrup.

Enjoy!

Songs for LaRae

2011-09-26T14:49:00.000-05:00

I thoroughly enjoy Fernando Ortega's Hymns of Worship album

as well as his Beginnings CD.

I'm posting these two songs especially for my daughter, LaRae.

I love you, Rae.

Momma

No Happier Tears

2011-09-25T17:13:00.001-05:00

I just watched my daughter drive down the driveway. She is off to college again.

She has a month of classes behind her and is completely at peace about the college she has chosen.

Her leaving hit me differently this time.

You see, tears were welling up in her eyes as she walked out the door;

It was drizzling outside; she was facing a seven-hour drive all alone.

I was pretty sure I understood what she was feeling as she walked out the door... I remember the pain of leaving the safe haven of home, going into a world where few embrace Christ in His fullness. I remember the loneliness of the drive back to campus, the teeth-gritting adjustment. I also recall how those difficult days made me come to grips with who I was, what I believed, and where I was going to take my life.

I remembered, and I cried for her. At the same moment, I realized life has ripped her away from my protection, that I have had to surrender that responsibility to Abba.

I prayed, placed her in His hands--again, and rested; I fell asleep on the couch.

Then the phone rang. It was my girl!

She was at her first stop and wanted to tell me something.

"Momma," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat, "This is good for me.

I am learning to personally trust Jesus. It is easier when I am with you all. It's safe there and easy. But this is good for me."

My tears won't stop now. But they are happy tears, happier tears than I have ever cried!

Some things we cannot do for our children. If they are to become all they can be in Christ, we are demanded to let go. It can be scary and painful. Is it worth it? YES!

My heart sings a song of joy, of thanksgiving, of praise to Jesus.

"...he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Mat 10:39 KJV)

And the Gifts Go On

2011-09-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

Fall colors surround, and their earth-colored warmth

wraps the heart like the arms of God.

Color...

one of His gifts.

Thank You, Father.

I made some more fresh granola yesterday, and so this morning I found a quick granola muffin recipe. Delicious!

For those of you wondering, LaRae is thoroughly enjoying college. She found out yesterday that this semester in chamber music, she will be a member of a piano trio (piano, violin, and cello).

She is thrilled to have the opportunity to develop her violin skills within this new genre.

As for me missing her; between rollover minutes on our cell phones, free chatting online, Facetime--where we actually see each other as we chat--well, we haven't missed a day talking. She calls every day--at least once--to update me on how classes, lessons, orchestra, and dorm-life are going. I will see her this weekend for the first time in a month. Need I tell you I am excited?

May You sense the blessings, recognize the gifts, and feel the loving arms of our Creator Father today. We are so indebted.

Nevada Landscapes

2011-09-19T20:24:00.001-05:00

Curt and I spent a few days last week in Reno, NV... not a place I would ever choose to go;

but he had continuing ed and some teaching responsibilities.

I like to be with him, and he likes for me to come along,
so I went along and enjoyed being with him and seeing the splendors of the dessert.

The southwest holds a unique beauty.

I especially enjoy the drive from Reno to Virginia City.

On our return flight,
It was raining when we got to Denver where we changed planes.

There was a quiet, eerie beauty in the air.

Even raindrops on the window hold their own beauty.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Morning Prayer

2011-09-12T11:16:00.000-05:00

ADONAI, you have probed me, and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I stand up, you discern my inclinations from afar, you scrutinize my daily activities. You are so familiar with all my ways that before I speak even a word,

ADONAI, you know all about it already. (Psa 139:1-4 CJB)

Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.

See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way. (Psa 139:23-24 CJB)

Thanking HIM this morning that HE knows me and HE cares about me!

Why?

I guess HE'S just like that. Maybe someday I'll more fully understand...

For now, I'm deeply grateful. Sensing that HE knows about and cares for me shapes my life,
moment by moment.

Thanks You, Father.

Country Dining Room Decor

2011-09-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

I am gradually re-decorating my dining room. I got a new chandelier and put up some country valances. Curt helped me bring up an old fake fireplace mantle from the basement. My folks took it out of an old house they tore down years ago. We used it in plays for many years at church, then finally, I brought it home to decorate our basement. I had been thinking I'd love to have the warm look of a fireplace in the dining room, when tah-dah! I thought of the old fake one downstairs! Curt couldn't believe I wanted "that thing" in my dining room, but I'm enjoying it. I need to do some work on it--still trying to decide what all should be done.

Isn't it funny how our tastes evolve over the years? I assume others have that same experience...

I'm saving for a braided rug now--leaning toward an oval one. Do you think oval or rectangular would look better? I'd love to hear your opinions.

Enjoy your weekend!

Training Our Children To Know Themselves

2011-09-08T17:39:00.000-05:00

While some of life is not predictable, it seems to me, quite a bit is. Many times, if we look carefully, there is at least some method to the madness. There are certain "laws" about living that seem to cycle. As we study history, lives around us, and the Word of God, it is possible to gather wisdom and avoid a lot of heartache.

My mind travels back to early days with our girls. (Just so you don't misunderstand me, while I fully realize life is nowhere near over, and much could change, it seems to me our girls are both fully committed to doing the will of God, trusting in Jesus, and following His example as best they know. That being the present situation as I perceive it, I continue.) Thankfully, we had help in thinking critically about the effects our decisions would create. We were taught there is a continuous cause and effect to choices being made, that actions always bring consequences, and that it was up to us to study the end goal of training our children so that we could do our part (God certainly lovingly does His) in preparing our girls as best we could for what life would bring. We were cautioned vehemently to pay attention to this reality of life; I'm deeply grateful this insight was shared with us.

Training a child to begin the lifetime effort of "knowing" herself begins early. There are numerous parts to the project. On the changing table, when she starts to fling her arms and wiggle away; in the high chair as we train her to feed herself with dignity, when she first begins to express displeasure with having her will crossed; all of these scenarios are early opportunities to train her that there is structure and meaning to life, and she must surrender herself to that structure. As she matures, we must communicate continually, explaining each and every scenario from the Christian paradigm, building the mental framework in her mind that will be the foundation for future understanding.

I remember Curt going on and on with long explanations to the girls even when they were toddlers. (Some of our friends still tease us about that.) Whether or not those little minds fully comprehended, their attention span was stretched; and eventually we started adding questions to see what they were getting. That led to priceless conversations with quite little people. Any time we saw an action or attitude we didn't believe was right, we described how that action or attitude related to the framework of the Christian paradigm, and then we followed through, making sure it was clear that action or attitude would not be continuing.

For those of you who aren't sure what I mean, let me give examples. There are obvious things like hitting others, yelling at others, or saying no to a person in authority, but I am also talking about things like moodiness, whining, complaining, not concentrating, being possessed by a desire to be entertained, not doing neat work, being wise in our own eyes, pursuing vanity, putting ourselves ahead of others, actions and attitudes that many people consider "to be expected from children." When we vigilantly address each and every topic like this, accompanying such things with a discussion on how these things are connected to our problematic "natural" self (or "flesh" as Paul calls it), and we help our children understand themselves in that light, we are building their ability to "know themselves."

Does that make sense? There's really nothing magical about it. It's just consistent hard thinking and praying and acting upon what the Word teaches.

From what I can tell so far, understanding myself is a lifetime process. I have to stay vigilant or duplicity sets in, and before long problems arise.

May God help us in this process, both as parents and in our own lives.

Nothing To Be Sad About

2011-09-07T11:24:00.011-05:00

I just got a call from my seventeen-year-old daughter. In her first semester of college, she is nearly four-hundred miles away from home. She has been there for a week and a half. I homeschooled her from birth. She took one trip without us the summer she was sixteen; but other than that trip, family church-camp (where she stayed in the girls dorm) and a few nights with grandparents or aunts/uncles over the years, she has spent few nights without us; there have been few days we have not been together. When she shared the latest news with her daddy and me this morning, I hugged him and said, with some happy tears running down my cheeks, "We are so blessed! God is so good!"

Some folks find it hard to believe how happy I am these days. "You should be crying sad tears," they insinuate. And I do miss her, believe me! But, every time that feeling comes, I immediately take my mind to how happy she is, how thrilled she is to sit in lectures that challenge her mind, lectures that enable her to examine her present understanding of the world and sift through what is being presented; how motivated she is to prepare well for what may lie ahead in life; how grateful she is for more opportunities to reach out to hurting people. How could I be sad?

I passed her empty bedroom this morning, and I pondered over the way my mind works. My thoughts went like this:

1. She isn't here.
2. The room is very quiet and empty.
3. But I know where she is.
4. I know she is where she should be.
5. She wants to be there.
6. She is learning about herself and the world in ways I cannot teach her.
7. She is influencing others for Christ in a quiet and beautiful way.
7. I am with her, she is with me, in spirit.
8. How happy I am for her to be where she should be.

I am fully convinced that my Creator, her Creator, has her in the palm of His hand.

What is there to be sad about? I didn't have children to fill some empty place in my heart. I wanted to give another eternal soul an opportunity to enjoy the goodness of the Creator and find his or her place in God's eternal kingdom!

I further pondered this morning what is helping her refuse to buckle under peer pressure, what is causing her to quietly explain (when asked) why she does what she does without condemning others? What is motivating her to study hard and get perfect quiz scores in Greek (the class she has had her first quizzes in)? What mindset produces a student who says, "A lot of kids don't like my English/Great books prof., probably because she is tough! She doesn't lecture much. She expects us to read and then come articulately discuss what we have read. I really like her, Mom!"? What is going on in the mind of a teenager who says, "I didn't want history class to end! The discussion was fascinating!"?

Obviously, there are numerous factors, but I believe one of the most important aspects is that she has developed a basic understanding of herself, and she has a purpose to her life; her life is headed in a nonnegotiable direction.

"Know thyself," the ancient Greek aphorism admonishes. I recently noticed a round-about-reference to this concept in a Slice of Infinity from Ravi Zacharias. He wrote, "Psalm 119 promises that God's statutes keep us from being double-minded." Being double-minded is a product of not knowing ourselves, of lacking purpose, being devoid of a commitment to God and His objectives.

True to the wisdom of the Psalm, when we study the Word of God, we are brought to a clear, single-eye-understanding of ourselves and the world around us. We are called to understand what we naturally are without the spirit of Christ being lived through us; then we are required to face ourselves--head-on, asked to make the commitment to die to the natural and walk after Christ's Abba Father--"Yes, Daddy!"--spirit. When we do so, stability and usefulness characterize our lives.

I've watched as my daughter has developed (and continues to do so) in her understanding of herself and God. She wants to please Him more than anything else in the world. She is striving to follow Christ's example. I have nothing to be sad about.

Thank You, Abba!

Peach-Pecan Baked French Toast

2011-09-07T09:17:00.000-05:00

I had some dinner rolls (bought at Sam's) left over from Sunday dinner, so I decided to use them up in a baked french toast dish this morning. We have tried numerous baked french toast recipes. My Curt doesn't prefer them with cream cheese, and he doesn't like them soggy. This one was just right according to him. :)

Ingredients:
French Toast-
leftover medium-size dinner rolls (10 to 12 of them; enough to fit one layer of torn pieces on the bottom of a glass 13 X 9 baking dish)
4 whole eggs
1 and 1/4 cups of 1% milk
not quite a 1/2 cup of sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Topping-
not quite 1/2 cup flour
not quite 1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
1/3 stick cold butter, cut into pieces
frozen peach slices
pecans pieces

Grease 9 X 13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Tear bread into chunks or cut into cubes and evenly spread over the baking dish.

Mix together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in fridge overnight.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter pieces and cut into the dry mixture until mixture resembles fine pebbles. You can do this at night and store it in a Ziploc bag in fridge or just mix it up in the morning right before baking.

When you are ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from fridge and spread pecan pieces and frozen peaches evenly over bread, then spread the topping over evenly. Bake for one hour.

Drizzle maple syrup over and enjoy!!!

Toasty Granola and Fall Decor

2011-09-06T13:51:00.001-05:00

I made this delicious granola last week.

It's a new recipe to me. Just click on the any of the words, "this, delicious, or granola" and you'll be taken to the recipe.

The weather has been so cool; it put me in the mood for fall a little early!

Even got started on fall decorting.

Those of you who read my blog regularly, did you notice the words in the scripture I quoted yesterday?

"The effect of righteousness [is] quietness and assurance."

I have been pondering those beautiful words. Have you found them to be true in your life? When I walk in humble obedience, pleasing God as well as I know how, my life is filled with a deep quiet assurance. Then, and only then, am I able to enjoy any of life at its fullest delight!

Thank You, Father, for this promise and the reality of it in our lives!

You are so good.

Dear reader, may you fully enjoy these refreshing days!

Resting Places

2011-09-05T10:15:00.000-05:00

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. ~Isa 32:17-18

Thank you, Father, for times of quiet rest.

Be Still

2011-09-02T13:46:00.001-05:00

Found an old favorite of mine... hope you enjoy.

All Things Good

2011-09-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

Our family had such an enjoyable time in the Smokies this past month.

We were blessed with unusually beautiful weather for mid-August!

I treasure the memories we made. If you read my blog regularly, you know that our firstborn is now away at college and that we are experiencing a new stage of life. For those of you who want to know, LaRae is doing well, and so we are too... : )

She has plowed into her first year of Greek, is getting ready to audition for a seat in the college orchestra, is writing her first essay, and is adjusting to dorm life--meeting lots of new people, all while walking, walking, walking, walking, more than ever before.

So many people have thoughtfully expressed their care for me as I adjust to this change, and I deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness. It truly is a joy to see our children learning and growing into adults who are able to reach higher heights than we ever could! My heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise to my Creator. He makes all things good, in His time, in His way.

~the goodness of God endureth continually.

(Psa 52:1 KJV)

A New Stage of Life

2011-08-29T13:14:00.002-05:00

We have started a new stage in life... our firstborn is officially a college student. We enjoyed her convocation yesterday. It was a beautiful day.

Curt and Rachelle found seats early.

We enjoyed the string quartet...something LaRae will most likely enjoy being a part of at some point.

Me and my girls...

Our last glimpse of LaRae for a while..

The gift of a gorgeous sunset on our way home...

~Father, You are so good to us.

Thank you for peace in the midst of change.

Glimpses of Our World

IMEA 2012

IMEA 2012 and Rachelle's 16th Birthday

Wednesday Walk

Happy 16th, Rachelle!

The Way to A Happy Home

Transformation in the Process: Responding to Mishaps

A Call to Peace

Responding to Mishaps

A Week In San Diego

Why I'm Not Posting...

Christmas Eve 2011

A Christmas Prayer

The Beauty of a Thankful Heart

The Paramount Quest

Dress Rehearsal

More Than A Moment

Christmas 2011 Decor

What Child Was This?

Invitation: Two Delightful Dramas

Our Greek Scholar, At It Again

A Gentle Christmas...

Sweetness Fills the Air

Visiting Our College Girl

Busy Collecting Praise

Quick and Easy Goulash

Our Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving Never Ends...

Rachelle's SLSYO Concert

Taking The Steps

Walking After The Spirit

A Reason to Rejoice

The Next Fun Thing

Come Hear the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra!

Good Gone Bad & Our Calling

Abiding In Christ Despite Feelings that Come and Go

Rachelle and the District 6 IMEA Senior Orchestra

LaRae's Greek Essay Trophy

Better Than Life

What is Our Goal In Life?

Chapter 12 in Part I of

God in the Dock:Essays on Theology and Ethics

by C.S. Lewis

Man or Rabbit?

How To Abide in Christ

Thoughts from the Attic

My Brother's Birthday

Worship

Hope for All

"If I can just find the right person, I'll be happy..."

Parent's Weekend Fall 2011

Giving All

Our Greek Scholar

Bent But Not Broken

To Be Faithful

Prayer from a Heavy Heart

Fall Retreat

Coming Home For Fall Break

The View Out My Window

Delicious Brownie-Cookie-Oreo Bars

Autumn Afternoon

Busy Days and Beautiful Colors

October Days

Our Rachelle and the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orcehstra

Oh,The Hope

A Prayer

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecan Granola

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Banana Granola Pancakes

Songs for LaRae

No Happier Tears

And the Gifts Go On

Nevada Landscapes

Morning Prayer

Country Dining Room Decor

Training Our Children To Know Themselves

Nothing To Be Sad About

Peach-Pecan Baked French Toast

Toasty Granola and Fall Decor

Resting Places

God in the Dock:
Essays on Theology and Ethics