Dad's Surgery

So my dad had his hernia surgery.

It apparently went well.

He is still in a bit of pain from the surgery, but mentally is doing okay. This is a huge praise 'cause Dad and surgery and anesthetic don't go so well together.

So YEAH GOD! :)

I also heard from my hubbie. He's coming home LATE tonight (or really early tomorrow morning) depending on your take on things, instead of noonish tomorrow. He'll be tired, but he will be home. Able to sleep in a real, our home bed! :) Well..except the house is so hot he will probably want to sleep in Justin's day tent.

I offended my dog.....

Yes, I did.

I totally offended her.

Instead of spending 45$ to get her professionally groomed I decided I could do this myself. (boy the confidence of the unproven).

First I bought some clippers for about $50.
Then I warned her. :) yeah..like that tells her anything. :)
Then I gave her a good brush out and CUT out the worst of her tangles and brushed her some more, all the time warning her that this wasn't the end of it. :)
Then I gave her a bath. AND made her stay clean. (she wanted to roll in the dirt, and hide under the canoe) She was offended.
Then I walked her so she could get good and dry. By then the urge to roll subsided and the heat dissipated a bit so no more canoe hiding.
Then I started to clip her.

NOTE: I have NEVER clipped a dog before in my life.

NOTE: it didn't take Sassy long to figure this out.

After hitting snag number three Sassy bailed on me permanently. She left the main floor of the house, she HID in the basement. I found her, and said, okay lass, here's a cookie, you are a good girl. We're all done. She forgave me... but not the clippers. Evil eye they got! We called it quits for the night.

IN the morning, I'd had time to rethink my approach. I scissored the nasty areas.
THEN I clipped very slowly and from different angles.

She's shorter (in the hair).
She's trimmer (not neatly though).

I made some errors, which hopefully I won't repeat next time. :)

AND we survived.

My neighbours (Bob and Audrey) both said you can tell she's been clipped, doesn't look too bad! :) Aren't they gracious folks? :)

I should take a picture... but it's late at night and I'm not convinced this girlie will pose for me at this hour. and the lights not good now anyways. :)

He who has an ear, let him hear .....

I will admit, Revelations is NOT the easiest book in the world for me to read. It really isn't.

When I think of this book all I think is two things... it's a book about the glory of God (courtesy of Dr. Shell at RBC) AND.... boy is this book hard to understand and does it really matter?

And yes... I know it really matters, but I just wonder if it matters for ME personally to try to figure it out when other folks have tried and sometimes failed. :) I guess what it really comes down to is that I don't trust myself to make heads or tails out of it in the long run.

So today's reading in Revelations was from chapter 2. The first two chapters of Revelations are spent talking about the seven different churches.

What I found interesting in reading these was the repeated line:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Regardless of which church God was talking with, this line was repeated with some type of saying attached to it.

So I have to ask this....how many churches today really hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches? Seriously...do we listen or do we blithely go about our own business not really paying attention and just doing what we think is best?

Do we tolerate things that we aught not?
Do we seek after things that should not be sought?

I really wonder about this sometimes because we just seem to be rushing head-long into garbage, just stuff that GOD says no to, but we find a way to justify it.

I'm no better in my personal life...not better than some of these churches John writes about. I tolerate things I shouldn't because I don't want to make waves. I'm learning to stand my ground, but still I give way to the world's way of thinking because the battle just seems too much at times.... BUT this scripture reminds me that GOD himself is watching me. He is the one who will judge me, and the churches. He will note the good but he will also hold the bad out for me to see as well. How well will I listen to the Spirit? How well will the churches around me listen to the Spirit?

A visit to church members

This is a picture taken at Teo and Sieka's house when Justin and I went up to visit on Monday morning. Justin had a needle in the morning and since we were more than 1/2 way there, I thought we'd pop in for a moment. Sieka served a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches. Teo cut the lawn, Justin was curious about the mower but couldn't quite handle being there by himself. It was a nice visit.

We have plans to go swimming there some time this summer, Justin saw their pool, swimming, swimming he said as he searched for a way in (it's fully fenced). not sure when we'll go, but we will at some point. :)

Dog in Pool

Okay

This dog made me laugh.

Hotel Magnetic Card

Ever wonder what is on your hotel magnetic key card?

Answer:
a. Customer's name
b. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee re-issues the card to the next hotel guest.
At that time, the new guest's information is electronically "overwritten" on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.
But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT ! The bottom line is:
Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them.
NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room.
They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.
For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket.
Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!

Information courtesy of: Pasadena Police Department

Female Heart Attacks

Female Heart Attacks.

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read.

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction)

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack...you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,"A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up." A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the s tomach. This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

"After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when adminstering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.

"AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an Myocardial Infarction happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!" I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in moment."

"I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

"I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stents to hold open my right coronary artery.

"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents.

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a "false alarm" visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said "Call the Paramedics ". Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER --you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high,and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

He is the God of our Salvation

For those interested in life without Jim, go here.

This morning life without Jim started at 6 a.m. with a boy hollering to get up 2 hours earlier than normal. Impressed? I am not. :)

But we did have a lovely walk this morning in the sun. Just very lovely (minus the screaming of a boy frustrated that I wouldn't let him out of the stroller to run after big trucks)... but nice none-the-less. :)

So I found it hard this morning (like yesterday) to be able to concentrate on doing my devotions.

As I was attempting to read Psalm 85, it was impressed upon me how God is indeed the God of our salvation, and we can call out to him. Check out these words written by the sons of Korah.

1LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin.
Selah
3You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.

God is the one who forgives our sin. God is the one who restores his people.

4Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.

His people can call out to him. They can plead with God to show his love. They can plead with God to grant them salvation. His people can call out to him. They can say, Oh God, please help us. We need you. Restore us, let us rejoice in you.

8Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.

And what will God do? He will listen. He will bring his salvation to his people. He will let them glory in him.

10Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12Yes, the LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

Do you see that the Lord knows what is best for his people?
The Lord's way is the way of righteousness. The Lord is steadfast in his love for his children. Where the Lord is, so is peace, love and righteousness.

Does my heart good to read these words today. May it do your heart good as well.

Girls Night Out

So last night I went out to a Girls Night Out Event.

I LOVED the music and singing. Just absolutely loved it. I miss GOOD praise and worship music. Especially where it is well done. You know, where the worship leader leads by taking a back seat to the music and just letting people praise God? Way Cool. Just very fun and God-filled.
LOVED IT!

They provided decent snacks.

The speaker was Sue A___________. She speaks well. Not my style though. Didn't learn anything. Left early feeling bored with the cliche lines and stories she was applying to HER life that I've heard in numerous places. Just really start to distrust someone who does that. Makes for a fun talk, but I don't need "fun" talk. I need meat to live by and grow on.

I also disliked the impression that "women of worth" are only women who are doing something to change the world in a meaningful way. and not in the way of mothering a child to be a person of God! Her advice was good, but not particularly biblical unless one says biblical is picking and choosing verses to fit what she was saying. Could have been spoken anywhere.

Did meet a couple of nice ladies who were sitting next to me. One a mom of three boys, the other a mom with one grown boy living at home who is divorced with two daughters that she helps care for frequently. Both love God dearly. so that was cool as well.

Would I go again? For the worship.... MOST DEFINITELY. For the speaking....ah.. probably not. :) It was free so at least I'd go for the music and snacks and conversation.

Does this explain?

One of the things I often hear from people who don't believe in God is that religious belief is the construct of one's own mind.

When I was reading in Isaiah this morning, chapter 29 I came across these verses:

15Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel,
whose deeds are in the dark,
and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?"
16You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
"He did not make me";
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
"He has no understanding"?

Do these verses explain then the futility of such an argument? I've always thought that it was a silly argument to make, but I never really knew how to respond to it. These verses appear to give me the answer.

Granted, if I'm talking with someone who really doesn't believe in the bible either, they probably wouldn't accept it, but at least they help me better understand the futility of such an argument.

Huh...rather neat I think. :) See how God met a need even before I was fully aware of it?

He's leaving me......

Well a day, well a day... in 7 1/2 hours my hubbie is leaving me for one week (well okay, 5 days).
Justin and I will be holding down the fort without my dear heart by my side.

He has new to us tires on the van. He has it all cleaned spic and span. He is all packed and ready to ride. :) Leaving at 630 in the morning.

Where is he going you ask?
He is going to his all-time favourite pastor's conference!

The Banner of Truth US Conference

Saying that he is excited is probably the under-statement of the year.
He was even asking me today where the iron was for ironing his clothes. He NEVER irons his clothes (not that I do either - just to make the perfectly clear). So, all I can do is blame his excitement.

Wish him well with me! :)

Oh...what does he like about it all?
1. good solid teaching
2. the ride down with other pastors - he drives the van, they go down a night early, they have all their favourite stops etc
3. meeting other conservative male preachers and elders. :)
4. THE BOOK SHOP!!!! What pastor doesn't like a good book store .. especially one where you get good bang for your buck!
AND
5. they give him a new shirt almost every year. He likes new shirts. :)

It all comes down to Christ

Reading today in 1 John 4.

It all comes down to Jesus. Who do people think Jesus is?
If they do not think that he comes from God. If they do not think that he came in the flesh. If they do not confess Jesus.

Then those folks are NOT from God.

If they are not from God, then they are very simply the Anti-Christ.

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

If you are not from God, then you are from the world and only know then the things of the world. You can't know truth from error. God's children can know this. Because we know more than just the world's way of doing things.

4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

John reminds us to love each other. Love is from God. If we see love in the life of another, we know that it has been born of God. For "whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." God showed us what true love is when he sent his son to die for us. His son died that we might live. So again...it all comes down to Christ. Christ shows us the result of true love.

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

God perfects his love in us. He does this by giving us his spirit. Those who testify that Jesus is the Son of God is in God, and God is in him. Our belief in God shows that we see God's love for us ..... that we know it and believe it. Therefore we love as God has loved us. God loved us so that we can love others. If we say we believe in God and yet don't show love to each other... then what does that really say about us? No Love = no true belief in God.

13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

I have to admit. It took me a while to understand "There is no fear in Love, but perfect love casts out fear." I used to be scared of people I met, particularly strangers if I was walking after 9 at night. And God showed me this verse one day and it just hit me. That first I had no business being scared of these folks, God made them just as he made me so they too are made in the image of God. And two, God knows what he is doing so trust him! Love these folks regardless of who they are, what they are doing, what they look like or whatever. If I truly trust God, the rest of it really doesn't matter. So that means that I can indeed truly love them.

This is a very good reminder for me to have this week when I have felt so very let down by different people in my life. I have to stop seeing that, and just realize once again, that God does indeed love me, he does indeed know what's best for me. he sent his son to die for me for goodness sake! All he asks is that I show love to the people he has placed in my life. I can do this, especially if I SEE him, and see him truly.

All the praise be to God.

Praise to God

I was reading in Isaiah this morning, chapter 25.

O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

These words made me ask myself this question: how often do I praise God for the things that he has done? For the things that he will do? How often do I just PRAISE him?

Yes, I say YEAH God for things. Or I mention...oh..that was a God-thing, neat huh?
But to actually take the time to really praise him, how often do I do that?

Not as frequently as I aught to.

In this passage Isaiah goes on to list the things that God has done, and how God's might and grace will be shown. Give it a read, it might inspire you to praise God too!

It's up again

So Christian Carnival is up and running again, here are the posts that I liked the most from it.

Go bible from Jeremy's Consumer's Corner. Free bible on your cell phone.

Imago Dei posts this on James - Attitude, Prayer, Gossip and more. Post is worthy of thought.

This one surprised me: the bible really isn't a nice book.

For the rest of them, head on over to Pseudo-Polymath. Perhaps you'll find some that you like too!

Kid's Bible Stories

STORY OF ELIJAH
The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the
Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the
altar, put wood upon it, cut the steer in pieces, and laid it upon the
altar. And then, Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of
water and pour it over the altar. He had them do this four times "Now, said
the teacher, "can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah
pour water over the steer on the altar?"
A little girl in the back of the room started waving her hand, "I know! I
know!" she said, "To make the gravy!"

***************************************************************
LOT'S WIFE
The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and
turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, "My Mummy
looked back once, while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and
she turned into a telephone pole!"

***************************************************************
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good
Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She
described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the
drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the
roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"

A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

***************************************************************
DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a
lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?" "No," replied David. "How could he,
with just two worms?"

***************************************************************
HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children , " We have been learning how
powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power.
Can anybody tell me what it is?"
One child blurted out, "Aces!"

***************************************************************
MOSES &THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey, was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday
school. "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy
lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got
to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people
walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements.
They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."
"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.
"Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never
believe it!"

***************************************************************
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the
most quoted passages in the Bible; Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month
to learn the verse. Little Rick was excited about the task -- but, he just
couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past
the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the
congregation, Rickey was so nervous.
When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The
Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

Can you Park this Car?

CAN YOU PARK THIS CAR?

So ya think you're a good driver ... uh? Let's see how well you can park a car! Click on the link below. Use the 4 arrows on your keyboard, and the space bar for brake. This is addictive:- http://www.107.peugeot.co.uk/peugeot.swf

Screwtape Emails

I have to admit, I don't really get these, but I thought some of my readers might and they might be able to "get them" for me. :)

_________________

From: “Screwtape” screwtape@wormneverdies.org
To: “Wormwood” wormwood@wormneverdies.org
Date: May 7, 2007
Subject: Re: Theology List

My Dear Wormwood,

I gather you are distressed because your patient has joined an online theological discussion group. You fear, perhaps, that his participation will foster a sense of community with other servants of the Enemy as well as providing him with indoctrination in the Enemy’s cause—spiritual nourishment, I believe they call it.

Nothing could be further from the truth, my dear nephew.

While it is indeed possible for these online discussion forums to strengthen our Enemy’s troops, there is also great potential for doing them harm. The opportunities for spreading twisted distortions and bizarre variations of the Enemy’s teachings, for offending fellow servants of the Enemy, and most of all, for multiplying rancor as the bitter discussions spill onto various blogs—oh, the possibilities!

You are familiar with the term “blog,” I hope. A Luciferian can not afford to be a Luddite as well.

I look forward to hearing how you plan to exploit your patient’s new pursuit.

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

--------------------

From: “Screwtape” screwtape@wormneverdies.org
To: “Wormwood” wormwood@wormneverdies.org
Date: May 10, 2007
Subject: Re: Theology List

My Dear Wormwood,

I see that you have not kept up with current trends in technology quite so well as you might have. I am rather disturbed to discover that you don’t own a computer. You are rather imposing on Slumtripet by constantly popping in to use his, I am sure. May I suggest you procure your own immediately? And I would also suggest selecting one that uses the Windows operating system; it was designed by some of our own people and is very likely the most significant catalyst for spontaneous profanity currently in existence. But I digress.

The first step in using your patient’s new online theological discussion group to full advantage is to plant the idea of his creating an anonymous username. This will likely result in far more unreasonable and hysterical rants than he might otherwise engage in if he were to use his real name. Doctrinedude or 4Truth4Evr would do nicely, I think.

As for his participation in the group: remember that not all theological debate is helpful to Our Father Below. The Enemy, after all, says, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Therefore, you will need to see to it that your patient goes about this in the proper way. For example, it is important that he take whatever is written by fellow list members out of context, and in the worst possible light.

He may use emoticons such as the smiling or winking face at first, but at some point should be weaned off them lest they have the effect of making his attacks seem less harsh.

Restraint in posting is to be avoided at all costs. As the Enemy also says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

It is best if your patient regularly responds to those with whom he disagrees immediately after reading their posts (or better yet, after only a quick skim), lest he have time to reflect on what they are truly saying or, even worse, take time to craft a careful and charitable response.

Impatience and escalation should be the modus operandi.

Your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape

----------------

From: “Screwtape” screwtape@wormneverdies.org
To: “Wormwood” wormwood@wormneverdies.org
Date: May 16, 2007
Subject: Re: Theology List

My Dear Wormwood,

I see that your patient is getting along rather nicely in his discussion group. I note with particular delight that the “h” word has begun to appear in several of his posts. I refer, of course, to “heresy.”

He is currently using it in a rather oblique manner. If I may quote him: “I don’t doubt Re4mation2’s sincerity and love for the Lord, but there are signs that his unusual interpretations could lead down paths better left untrod, especially the path with the sign reading ‘Heresy, 2 miles.’”

You expressed some concern about his desire to expose “false doctrine.” Of course, if Re4mation2’s ideas are truly heretical by the Enemy’s standards, then your patient’s warning could indeed be harmful to the cause of Our Father Below.

However, the word “heresy” is increasingly used to label theological positions with which the hearer simply vehemently disagrees. This use is to be encouraged, for then the word becomes meaningless.

Your patient should eventually be nudged to drop the H-bomb in full force. For example: “I hope Iztagodthing likes the idea of hangin' with Arius, assuming heretics are grouped together in hell!!!”

You see what I mean.

He should be encouraged to think of himself as a modern day Athanasius, standing alone for truth against the entire world--including fellow servants of the Enemy. “Too many Athanasii spoil the Bread and Wine,” as we old-timers are fond of saying.

One final note--try to keep your patient at his computer as long as possible each day. The many hours spent without interacting with those nearest him—whether friends, family, or neighbors—can only be good for our cause.

TTFN (please ask Slumtripet if you are unfamiliar with this acronym).

Your affectionate uncle,
Wormwood

Pecans in the Cemetary

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big,old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two
boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight,and began dividing the nuts.

"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you,one for me. One for you, one for me." He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery
dividing up the souls."The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me."

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord."

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."

They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the kid on the bike.

Fellowship with God and others

Reading this morning from 1 John 1.

John writes this book, so that "our joy may be complete".
What is the reason for the joy?

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

That people can worship and fellowship with each other about the things they know of Christ. Things that have been from the beginning, that have been heard, that have been seen, that have been looked upon and that have been touched.
These things which concern the WORD OF LIFE.

The word of life, which was made real (manifest).
Jesus was seen, and heard, and now is testified to. Jesus is proclaimed so that others might also know all these things. And that knowing brings fellowship with other believers. And that fellowship is really with God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

Mmm... I have to think about that for a moment.
The fellowship that I have with other believers is a fellowship that is really with God and Christ. It's not just a human to human meeting and chatting and stuff. It's really a fellowship with God and Christ and the other person(s).

And John writes all these things down so that joy may be complete.

John moves on then to start talking more about just what his message is to us.

God is light. In God there is no darkness at all.

5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Think about that for a moment.
Everyone that I know, regardless of how good they are, has some nastiness in there somewhere. They really do. Even in their goodness, there is nastiness. No person living now, or in the past, has been able to hide their darkness completely.
BUT GOD doesn't have any nastiness, any darkness inside of himself. he has nothing to hide. God is only LIGHT!

In some whats that seems hard for me to understand, to really comprehend as I have nothing physical here to base it on. But that doesn't change who God is... God is light. God has no darkness in him at all. I just find that amazing. :)

Of course this does have ramifications for us.
One who has no darkness in him, cannot have fellowship with one who does have darkness within. The two simply don't go together.

BUT! And here's the big BUT! IF we walk in the light GOD changes us!
His son, the blood of his son, washes that darkness away so that WE (the darkness bearers) can have relationship, can have fellowship with God the Father!

Isn't that just way cool?
Isn't that just so amazing? God allowed his son to take care of all the darkness we have within ourselves so that we can have a relationship with him.

6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

It just blows me away sometimes.

I have to ask this.... Have you chosen to walk in the light today? Have you accepted this amazing gift that the Lord God himself has given you? His very own Son?

If you haven't... do it! Fellowship with the God of Light is WAY better than anything else this world has to offer. Just so much more....

Sunday Hymn

Hymn from this mornings service

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Reading with Daddy

Like his mother, Jim does not like having his picture taken.

I have to sneak them in whenever I can.

This is my boy, sporting his new "do" while attending to "business" while his daddy reads his ever so favourite "Cat" book to him.

How People Find my blog - 3

Thought I'd check out this morning just how people manage to find my blog.

I have a growing list of people who must have me linked or something, but I still get lots of what I think are totally random hits.

• calla lilies omens
• deuteronomy 24:5 first year ministry
• list of random things
  
• prayer for learning
  
• jerusalem wall christ return white horse brick
• vet opinion rawdogfood
• snopes bird brain coins
• moab burning machines
  
• overgrown burning bush

I have to admit, I find it cool when people from Japan, Iceland, China, Australia and such like stop by to check out my blog. It's like there's no way they are connected with me, and yet some of these are folks who stop by regular like.

Just rather neat to see this.

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

Last night I was watching, I think it was Bones, and it told the story of a woman who killed her challenged daughter because she thought her daughter would out live her and her challenges were such that no good foster home would take her in.

Temperance's final analysis of it all was that what this woman did was wrong, but she did it out of love for her daughter.

Having that in mind, when I was reading this morning in 1 Peter 4, I found these verses

7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Did you know this? Did you know that love covers a multitude of sins?

Consider it well.

Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
God loved us, despite our sin, he loved us enough that he sent his son to die for us. THAT's how God showed his love for us.

Isn't it the least we can do? To show love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?

We do this by arming ourselves to think like Christ.
We do this by showing hospitality towards each other WITHOUT grumbling about it.
We do this by serving each other with the gifts GOD has bestowed upon us.
We do this by glorifying God in all that we do.
We do this by living differently than the world does. By controlling our actions, by thinking soberly (using good judgment and not flying by the seat of our pants)

So the question that remains for me is a simple one: how will I show my love today?

Psalm 68

Consider this Psalm

Psalm 68

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!

4Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
5Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
Selah

Do you see God caring for his people?
He didn't just do that in the Old Testament.
He does this still today.
Those who truly love the Lord can Delight in how he takes care of us.

19Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Selah

20Our God is a God of salvation,
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

God strikes at our enemies. He doesn't let them continue in their evilness.

The righteous of the Lord need not fear him.

24Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--
25the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26"Bless God in the great congregation,
the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"

28Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

32O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,
Selah

33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel--he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

We can call out to God. He will hear us. He will answer.
Blessed be the name of our Lord!

Psalm 67

Psalm 67

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
Selah

2that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah

5Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Balak is Angry

Continuing today with the story of Balaam and Balak as found in Numbers 24. we learned yesterday that King Balak wanted Balaam the prophet to curse the nation of Israel. He wanted to ease his fears, he wanted assurance that God would be on his side in a battle against the people of Israel.

Balak did not get what he wanted. He tried twice and did not get what he wanted. When we left these men they were setting up to try it a third time.

1When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him

And this is what Balaam said:

"The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
4the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down with his eyes uncovered:
5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6Like palm groves that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that the LORD has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be in many waters;
his king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;
he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall break their bones in pieces
and pierce them through with his arrows.
9He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you."

So Balak did not get what he wanted this third time. In fact he got rather angry about it.

10And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. 11Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, 'I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."

Balaam's defense was.. he was a prophet of God. All he could do was speak the words that God would have him speak.

12And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak'?

And in fact, Balaam had some final words from God to speak to Balak so that Balak would know what would happen with him and his people.

"The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18Edom shall be dispossessed;
Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!"

Balaks' worst dreams were to come true. This nation that he feared, that he had hoped to curse would indeed defeat him and his people. It won't happen right away, but in time, a person will rise out of Israel who would defeat the enemies of Israel, the enemies of God's people.

I have to admit, when I read the words of blessing that God gave to Balaam, I can just picture a father sitting down looking at his offspring and being so glad in them. He sees the beauty in his children. He sees so much of their potential. He loves for his children just shows in the words he gives to Balaam.

Makes me think that's how God sees us his children. How he sees me. He sees me running around doing my daily stuff and he is pleased with me. He is happy and loves me, his child. He wants to bless me and to bless those who bless me. He is unhappy with those who would curse me, and would curse them in turn. He is like the best Dad a gal could ever want. :)

Front Window Garden Pictures

I will admit right off the top that I'm not the world's best picture taker.
Hopefully though you will get a decent idea of what my newest flower garden looks like now. For the before picture see here.

This is the end of the garden. The droopy stuff in front are silver dollar plants. They don't like being transplanted. It's for me an experiment. :) In the back is a wegunia bush (or something along that line) gets really pretty pinkish/red flowers later spring. in the back I have irises from mom and dad's, a burning bush (baby bush) and in front some white (we hope) peonies, a mystery plant that just smells lovely, and a couple of plants I can't think of the name now. they get a LONG tap root and often dislike being moved.

See my big burning bush in the back? Needs to be pruned a bit, but we won't do that until the baby bush is growing well lest we accidentally kill it. :)

In front of it I have a whole whack of tiger lilies (the type you see growing in bushes and ditches like everywhere around here). A red peony, some different lilies in the back that came with the house, some smaller lilies from my parents, some other type of lily (the ornamental ones? freestanding, get rather tall, many people stake them out), and some small mystery plants from the neighbour that just looked interesting.

oh, and I almost forgot! I moved Jim's rhododeren over about 3 feet. It used to be more central to the garden but I shoved it over more in front of the burning bush. added a small white bleeding heart too. Doesn't it look nice there? :)

I left room in front for my calla lilies and amaryllis bulbs. They should look good blooming there this summer. :)

Anyways, I'm pleased with my work. :) I'm hoping that next year everything will grow just a bit taller and it will get a bit of the crowded hodgepodge english garden look. :)

oh and before I forget...here's my darling mom-in-law. And no, she didn't want me to take her picture! :) The purple plant you see hanging there? It has our yearly nest of baby birds in it. A purple finch? house finch? builds a nest there as long as I get the basket out before the beginning of May. Right now she has three eggs hatched... two more to go, and perhaps the added mystery eggs might hatch too. 3 brown and white speckled ones.... We'll have to wait and see.

My way or God's?

Boy oh boy did I have a hard time concentrating on my devotions this morning. My mind just kept a wandering away on me. I dislike it when I am like that.

Anyways, one of my readings this morning came from Numbers 23. This is the story of Balaam and Balak. When I finished reading this, my first thought was...boy did Balaam take a while to learn. Was he stupid or something? I know...not very nice of me to think this, especially when I stop to think how long it takes me to learn stuff sometimes.

Balak was the King of Moab. I learned in Chapter 22 that

Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

So that gives the reasoning for what he tried to do. He was greatly afeared of the Israelites.

So he called for Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor,

saying, "Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel. A cursed people wouldn't be able to fight so hard and therefore would be easier to defeat. Knowing that the people they were fighting against were cursed would also inspire confidence in his people. (at least that's my reasoning)

So in Chapter 23 we find Balak following the instructions of Balaam.

"Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams."

Then Balaam went off to get the message from the Lord God.

God told him what to say.

"From Aram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab from the eastern mountains:
'Come, curse Jacob for me,
and come, denounce Israel!'
8How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
9For from the top of the crags I see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, a people dwelling alone,
and not counting itself among the nations!
10Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!

Not exactly the curse that Balak was looking for! As he said

"What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them."

All Balaam could say was

"Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

So Balak decides that maybe the time and place weren't right for a curse to be said. So off he took Balaam to another place. The result was no different.

"Rise, Balak, and hear;
give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
19God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20Behold, I received a command to bless:
he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
21He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The LORD their God is with them,
and the shout of a king is among them.
22God brings them out of Egypt
and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
23For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
no divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
'What has God wrought!'
24Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up
and as a lion it lifts itself;
it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey
and drunk the blood of the slain."

And it didn't work. All Balak learned was that God doesn't lie. He doesn't suddenly change his mind. What God says will be, will be. And the people of Israel are his people.

Not exactly what Balak wanted to hear, and he didn't really seem to hear them. His response to the Balaam was "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all."

And he wanted to try yet a different place, saying to Balaam

"Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there."

He just didn't get it.

So I thought by this point... what an idiot!

Not very charitable of me. I look at my life and all the times when I say God I want this because I want it! And God always says, don't do this, I don't like it, no excuses you offer change that. I am God and I am holy and you need to follow me truly. And other such things. Sometimes I think it is part of human nature to just want what we want regardless and it's hard to see past our own selfishness sometimes.

All Balak wanted was to get his own way. He wanted the Israelites cursed so he and his people wouldn't be afraid of them anymore. He couldn't see past himself to see what God was really trying to tell him.

His fear, his selfishness wasn't the important thing here. What was important was seeing what God was saying. Of realizing that God can't change. That his people are important to him and that quite frankly, he knows better than we do.

We need to see past ourselves to see God.

I need to do this as well.

God's way is so far superior to mine. I just need to see it.

Bird-brain!

I'll refer you to snopes for verification of this story.
Isn't it amazing the ingenuity God has given to his creation?

Bill owns a company that manufactures and installs car wash systems. Bill's company installed a car wash system in Frederick, Md. Now, understand that these are complete systems, including the money changer and money taking machines.

The problem started when the new owner complained to Bill that he was losing significant amounts of money from his coin machines each week.

He went as far as to accuse Bill's employees of having a key to the boxes and ripping him off. Bill just couldn't believe that his people would do that, so they setup a camera to catch the thief in action. Well, they did catch him on film!


That's a bird sitting on the change slot of the machine.



The bird had to go down into the machine, and back up inside to get to the money!


That's three quarters he has in his beak! Another amazing thing is that it was not just one bird -- there were several working together. Once they identified the thieves, they found over $4000 in quarters on the roof of the car wash and more under a nearby tree.

And you thought you heard of everything by now!! !!

And to think the phrase "bird brain" is associated with being dumb. Not these birds. Share the story!!

Pgiges and a boy child

My boyo likes critters.
Yes he does!

Here he is enjoying the results of mommy cleaning out the piggies. This would have been taken about 2 months ago probably. yes I know, I'm a bit slow at downloading pictures off the camera sometimes. :)

Anyways, he is holding Topper's fish that he insisted he had to show to our ladies.

Yes, he gets rather dirty, but boys' are indeed washable (as are the clothes they wear).

And he just has so much delight for the 3-5 minutes that he actually is in there saying hello to the piggies. And I do like to foster that delight in animals.

I like hearing "popper, popper" come out of his mouth. Knowing that he wants to go visit Topper the pig, or that he wants to show the mice his newest train, or that he wants to go for a walk with Sassy. These things bring me joy. Who knows...maybe this boyo will grow up to be vet! (wouldn't that be cool!) But more likely he'll want to fix cars or something like that. Ah well....God knows! And I have the delight of waiting to see.

in the meantime though...PETS ARE IN!

Boy children and reading

This is me and my boyo.

We are engaging in one of his favourite activities.

READING!

He does like his books.

Granted right now trains are an important part of the picture too.
And he has discovered Thomas the train dvd's as well, well him and then there's Timothy and Yoko! Fun fun for a boy child.

But reading remains one of his delights.

Big Project

I will need to later this day show you the results of digging out and changing this mess.

This garden has a tad bit overgrown. The burning bush you see in the corner had three off shoots off of it. I removed them. One went to the other side of the window. Two are being held for Jim's mom to come and get.

I removed 99% of the ground cover. I will admit to some disappointment in being able to dig out the whole thing, but there were too many roots in the ground for me to dig properly.

I moved the rhododenren (that I got Jim for his b-day last year) over about 3 feet, so it's kinda in front of the burning bush. Inserted plants from my mom and dad's, and my neighbour will be seeding over her garden so she gave me a few plants as well and Tada! Two weeks (off and on) work done!!!!

YEAH!!!! Should look much better this summer I hope. :)

My "kidney" garden

Kidney garden you wonder?
Yes, :), this garden is what I call my kidney garden because that is the basic shape of it.

I have plans this summer to remove the bricks that surround it and replace it with a quick crete border with bricks just inside it. Will mean moving it over the the left (away from the hedge you can't see) about 6 inches to make it easier for Jim to get the trailer in and out of the back yard, and expanding it probably a couple of inches wider to make it easier to mow.

But that's not what this post is about.

It's all about the fact that I LOVE MY TULIP garden! Just absolutely love it.
I enjoy the positive comments it engenders.

I like the colours...yes, I know rather basic red with just a bit of yellow...but I like my garden. It makes me smile.

It has mostly tulips, one wayward daffodil, and a few regular hyacinths... and the object that my boyo likes to decimate. Read about that at Vellenga Views. :)

Anyways, now you know about one of my joys. :)

The Tongue

Regardless of how many times I read this passage in James 3 I feel convicted.

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

You see... I grew up learning that certain words were just words. My dad used them, I used them, family used them. Barnyard language..nothing bad....just words to me. Not swearing, not using God's name in vain..THAT's just wrong.

Then I worked for a year and a bit with a lady (I did one-on-one care for special needs lady) who swore like a sailor... no kidding she did. It was for her, an effective deterrent to keeping people far away from her when she was irritated. I learned that language can indeed be an effective deterrent and a defense (not a good thing to learn).

I have to nasty habit of easily being able to pick up words and incorporate them into my language without intending to.

For the most part I can control my thoughts and stop my tongue...but add pain or injury or insult to a situation and I have to be really careful.

I am also quick to speak wrongly when I am angry.
I am slow to speak clearly when I am caught off guard.
I am so much aware that MY TONGUE, can be a huge stumbling block for myself.

I am working hard at changing it, but like many things, I want it NOW! And I get frustrated when what I want doesn't happen as quickly as I would like. I have a mimic-ing toddler to encourage me most strongly in this so that helps.

I must say though.. when I read these words:

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison

--- I fear for my abilities to be able to control this tongue of mine. The trouble it can get me into...my... with my tongue I can sing praises to God, and then turn around and speak wrongly of his people.

With my tongue I can speak flowery language and then speak not so flowery language.

As James says "these things ought not to be so"

So I stand convicted.
Ready again to repent and turn and try again harder... learning each day that only way I can tame my tongue is to plead.. God help me! (and meaning that in a good way). :)

And that's all I can say today... I stand once again, convicted.