New Selling Features at Grocery Stores?

I have to admit, it took me a while to "get this" one. But then thought it worth a smile.

New selling features at Grocery Stores?

The new supermarket near our house has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and sniff the scent of fresh hay.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The veggie department features the smell of fresh buttered corn.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more.

YOUR BANK ACCOUNT

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual

description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it."

"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.

I am still depositing."

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.

$20

Sometimes we just need to be Reminded!

A well-known speaker

Started off his seminar by:

Holding up a $20.00 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked,
"Who would like this

$20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this

$20 to one of you

But first, let me

Do this.
He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.

He then asked, "Who

Still wants it?"

Still the hands

Were up in the air.

Well, he

Replied, "What if I do this?"

And he

Dropped it on the ground

And started

To grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.

"Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a

Very valuable lesson.

No matter what

I did to the money, you still wanted it

Because it did not decrease in value.

It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives,

We are dropped, crumpled, and ground

Into the dirt

By the decisions we

Make and

The circumstances that come

Our way.

We feel as though we are

Worthless.

But no matter what has

Happened or

What will happen, you

Will never lose your value.

Dirty or

Clean, crumpled or finely creased,

You are still

priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our

lives comes not in what we do or who we know,

but by WHO WE ARE and

WHOSE WE ARE.

You are

special

-

Don't EVER forget it."

If God brings you to it -
He will bring you
through it.

Learn to Speak Chinese in 5 minutes

LEARN TO SPEAK CHINESE IN 5 MINUTES

You will need to read these out loud for them to make sense

English Chinese

That’s not right Sum Ting Wong

Are you harboring a fugitive HuYu Hai Ding

See me ASAP Kum Hia Nao

Stupid man Dum Dum

Small horse Tai Ni Po Ni

Did you go to the beach Wai Yo So Tan?

I bumped into a coffee table Ai Bang Mai Ni

I think you need a face lift Chin Tu Fat

It’s very dark in here Wai So Dim

I thought you were on a diet Wai Yu Mun Ching

This is a tow away zone No Pah King

Our meeting is scheduled for next week Wai Yu Kum Nao

Staying out of sight Lei Ying Lo

He’s cleaning his automobile Wa Shing Ka

Your Body odor is offensive Yu Stin Ki Pu

Not being a burden

So I've been doing some thinking lately on this passage 1 Thess 2:9-12

9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 God also,You are witnesses, and how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how, like a father with his children, 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Jen, Baxter and I have been doing a bible study on Thessalonians. We're going through the book slowly due to our busy schedules, and it's been slower lately since I've been pondering this passage in my head for a while.

Part of our conversation has been focused on the thought that many church goers are just exactly that. They go to church. They hear the message and they go home. They attend services. This isn't right and isn't what we are called to do, which is what makes this passage hard for pastors and their families.

But as I've continued to think about this, knowing that I can't expect in this day and age for pastors to work a full-time job in order not to be a burden on the people I've also been forced to consider what other things come into play. It's more than the financial -- and the financial we know from other other scripture shouldn't even be an issue -- the pastor, the workers in the church should be cared for so that they can devote their attentions to the work of the Lord.

We, the workers in the church, are not to be a burden to the people that we serve before the Lord.

It's been dawning on me that it is the little things that add to "burdenship".... like keeping the lawn mowed so that people are not deterred from worshiping God because they are (unrightfully) distracted by the state of the pastor's house. It's having a positive attitude about the members of the church. It's holding up a good example of what it means to be a believer....even if it is hard sometimes and you feel so mightly discouraged even by the members of your own church. It's doing things like turning off the lights, conserving water, etc particularly if you are living in supplied housing.

This passage has been more of thought-provoker than I expected it to be...and I still feel like there is something that I am missing in this whole idea of not being a burden to the people that we serve before the Lord.

I welcome your thoughts.

i love this picture

Wheatley

For more on the start of our camping trip, visit Vellenga Views.

We started off our vacation a couple of days early. Jim had a classical appointment at Kingsville Reformed Church. Since Kingsville is a three hour drive from home, and because Justin was coming with us this time. We thought it would be better for him if we went up a bit earlier so that the day wouldn't be rough for him. Wheatley Provincial Park is really close to Kingsville.

What a nice park! Like really nice, especially for families.

First two picnic tables for each campsite. Very nice when you have a boy wanting to play with Take along Thomas.

Mommy Stop! I'm playing!

They had quite a nice playarea there. Justin had a lot of fun at it. Slides, stones, racing mommy from the slides to the steps. Lots of giggles.

In this pic Justin is burying his trains.
Just loves to do this, especially in small stones.

Slide?
Will he or won't he?

It was rather neat. One time I was coming back from the park with Justin, we walked over the foot bridge. There in the swamp we saw 6 snowy egrets. Very beautiful. I'd only seen these birds in the wild once before, and that was up in a tree so you really couldn't see how big an beautiful they were. I talked with a couple who said that sometimes they can have as many at 20 birds there for short time periods. Justin could have cared less, but I really liked it.

Jim thought it grand. Often when we camp he can't set up his hammock. This site he could! Wow, what a way to relax! :)

Boy and dad.

Camping and fires, sitting out by them just seems to go together.

Silly boy, enjoying his first fire this year.

Thursday to Sunday morning was the length of stay at Wheatley. This is a park I would happily go back to. Leamington is a nice town to visit. I even did some garage-saling there on Saturday morning. :) The town of Wheatley is very small, doesn't even have a grocers.

John Henry

Sorry for the later than anticipated update.

He had his operation Wednesday last week and all went okay!

He cannot use his leg for 3 months, can be in a wheelchair, and of course , needs help with everything.

He is in hospital closer to home.

They fixed his elbow as well, took a few splinters out and it is partly in a cast, but don't know too many details about that, Dad talked to Aunt Hen this morning and he's not so good on the details.

So that's all I know. Thanks for the prayers.

They are Filled with Praise!

Have you ever noticed how much the Psalms are filled with Praise to our Lord and God?

yes, I've noticed that before, but this morning as I was reading Psalm 148 it really struck me. The Psalmist just loved to praise the Lord. it wasn't always David who wrote these Psalms, and yes, he did write the majority of them --- actually makes me want to meet him. But throughout the Psalms you just find this praise for God.

Makes me wonder --- Just how much do I take the time to just praise God?
Not often enough. I take too much for granted, or I get distracted. I must say, I am getting better as the years go by at saying YEAH God! Wow...that was neat (or whatever adjective seems right). But I could do an even better job of it. Something to think on (and do).

1Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!

3Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

5Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
6And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!

11Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!

13Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!

Jen's fault

Okay, a blogger friend of mine got me going.

in her comments on THIS post Jen said "Who in the world loves an animal more than their children?"

My response is.... LOTS of people.
I belong to various dog lists, from reactive dogs to rawfeeding to training. I find them fascinating, just reading what people do, and how they patiently resolved an issue with their dogs. sometimes just fascinating and insightful. SOMETIMES I am horrified.

I am horrified when I read comments of "my dog bit my child, now I'm wondering if I should send my child to live with my ex". "my dog took off after by boyfriend last night, how can I teach my dog it's okay for me to 'cuddle' with my boyfriend." "My dog has been deemed dangerous and my neighbours don't like him, but I really want to keep him and my hubby and I fight about it, everyone is so mean, what should I do.?"

it's like ARGH!!!! People! IT"S A DOG!
A dog. Created by God. NOT made in the image of God. Distinct difference.

yes, love them, care for them, train them...please... train them.
BUT When they bite you....so that they break skin, or chase/threaten your children/hubby/significant other with intent to do damage,... LET THAT DOG GO! Seriously...let it go.

If it is doing that type of behaviour, unless you are willing to do major intervention.. find someone else who knows how to handle an ill-mannered dog. Some people are able to train such dogs to be model citizens....many people, particularly people who manage to raise an ill-mannered dog are NOT equipped to re-train said dog.

if you can't find someone willing to retrain that dog.. then kindly, for the sake of other folks, and for the sake of the dog, put it to sleep quietly. Seriously....it's better all round.

Don't be angry with me about this. :) But sometimes folks you have to realize a dog is just a dog. And even though we are called of God to care for and protect that which he has given us, sin does affect EVERY part of this world. And some dogs well.... they aren't nice dogs, and people need to be protected from them. and it's not kindness to keep them locked up forever, it's kinder to let them go. JMHO

Holidays are here!

Before I forget, we're on holidays.

Things will be sparse around here for the next bit. Never fear (or perhaps do fear) depending entirely on your perspective, I will be back........

Five random questions meme

Jen from joythruChrist tagged me with a meme. It's a five random question meme which keeps it interesting as it changes from person to person.

Here are Jen's questions
1) What's the worst weather event you've ever experienced?
2) What was your scariest encounter with wildlife?
3) What's your favourite story in scripture?
4) Can you bait your own hook? Your bait of choice?
5) What is your favourite musical genre? Favourite artist or group?

1. worst weather
- severe rain and hail storm, on family farm, probably 19 years old. Caused a lot of damage around the place. Torn doors off the driving shed. What I remember most is it rained on my box of felt board pieces and I had to toss them out.

2. Scariest encounter with wildlife
- 645 in the morning. Walking the dogs along the train tracks in town, being stalked by a BIG skunk. Not fun when you have two dogs pulling backwards because they want to "say hi". Stupid dogs, BIG skunk who looked like he meant business.

3. Favourite story in Scripture...
- hmm... daniel in the lions den? Downfall of Jericho? Clearing the temple and then healing people right after? Jesus' resurrection? All these qualify.

4. Bait my own hook
-- yes for sure. Not a problem. Regular old worms work for me. That's what I grew up with. Jim has introduced me to lures and fake bait. That works too. But I tend to first think...worms! :) Just think, in another year or so I can introduce Justin to the world of fishing too! :) Right now it doesn't work as ALL he wants to do is GET INTO THE DEEP water (which mama says no to)

5. Favourite musical genre
- I like country, oldtime gospel and country, some pop music, big band,
- love the music of Fernando Ortega, Abba, early Shania Twain,

So... my five questions and who to tag.....
1. Best vacation as a child?
2. Who taught you, and by what method did you learn to ride a bike?
3. First Pet?
4. How did you meet your significant other if you happen to have one?
5. What type of literature is your favourite and why?

I tag......(play if you would like)
Jen, Kim of UC, Baxter, Holly, and who ever else wants to play. Sorry, can't think of anyone else t do. :)

Actions and words

This passage generally makes me think :

28"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

It can be found in Matthew 21 and is part of a chapter of parables and action. Jesus tells parables to tell the truth, but in a way that disguises it from folks who really don't want to know. He takes action against sinful doings, therefby giving us an example to follow.

But this passage specially reminds us that actions speak louder than words. That doing what we are supposed to do is more important than sounding correct. It's like saying you will pray for something when you won't. It's like fervently attacking the sin of another while ignoring your own. There are so many ways to say things that mean nothing. And this passage reminds us that our actions tell more about where are hearts are. Yet James has a whole book where he reminds us that our tongues, what we say is very important as well. ANd elsewhere in the bible we learn that what we speak shows forth our hearts.

So both are so very imporant. we do need to watch what we say, but we do need to be aware that what we do really shows up who we really are.

Justin is TWO!

Thomas the Tank Engine!
Papa (grandpa) looks on and mommy smiles.

So my little boy is now a two year old. He's Two, he's two. :) Toot toot! says Justin.

I'll be posting a pic of him up later, but right now just wanted to quickly update you on our weekend. UPDATED: SEE I added pictures, Me, I did it! :) (took a while, the boy keeps stealing my gadget!)

Friday was his "big day". Turned two, we had apple turnovers for breakfast. Then off to toddler time at the park. Justin made me very proud of him, after all this fighting at home to get him to wear his ear protecting headband, he put it on at the park like a champ and then went swimming. He had a total blast in the wading pool.

He made me laugh. He had this thing at home where he likes to have his trucks in the wading pool. Well... make me laugh that he didn't to the same thing here. He took all of the big trucks and all the little trucks had to sit in the big trucks and he brought them into the wading pool. He had everything all organized. Got mad when the other children unorganized them, but got over that quickly enough. Just made me laugh this little organizing boy of mine. :)

He fell asleep on the way to KFC for lunch. Didn't eat more than 1.5 french fries, and then home for a nice nap. Had a long one, got up at 5 p.m. then we headed off to London for the Sunfest. Oh...what fun. International music and booths to look through. He ran and played. I managed to convince him to eat some supper (two yogurts) and some candy that he lifted from a booth that I ended up paying for. (little potential thief).


















I get some too! See, I can help!
He managed to blow it out too! :)

Saturday we celebrated his birthday with a party. Family came over for a BBQ supper. We had sausage, beef on a bun, and salad followed cake and ice cream with strawberries.

Justin received socks, money, clothes, a big new truck that makes noise!, tractors, a DVD that he already had and my sister will look for a different one and a Thomas the train outfit.

Thomas the tank engine! OH BOY! he had to put that on right away! Pulling at his shirt "On! Thomas.....different, different ... Thomas on!" He happily pointed out Thomas to anyone who asked. :) He had to wear that outfit to church too, even though it was dirty from the previous days experiences.

But mom, I have this one!
George? George Shrinks!
(now repeat several times and run towards the TV... do it now)

It was a good busy weekend, time to get back to normal. :)

Paint jam - this is neat

check this out :)

Psalm 139

1O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

For a person who is somewhat claustrophobic and hates to be hemmed in my people, for some reason these verses, these words are one of comfort as opposed to "ooooh... get me out of here". In fact what these words tell me is how protected I am by God.

7Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,"
12even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

I cannot escape the Lord. he is with me regardless of where I am or go or do.

13For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there were none of them.

He knew me before I was even born, and that didn't stop him from wanting to me his own.

17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Oh that this were true. So often things get in the way. I want to be able to say these words and mean them full well. I want, I long for God's words to be this precious to me.

19Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!
21Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

I have to admit, I do struggle with this. how do I hate the hatred that others show God, How do I hate their action and still love the person beneath it? The person that God has created in his own image? I don't know yet how to do this well. To really hate that which is against God.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

This remains my heart-cry. That God know my heart, that he knows my thoughts, that he continues to search me and try me so that wickedness with in me goes away and I am led in the way of everlasting.

Neat psalm isn't it? :)

Things to know - 8 points I suppose

So Dana , at principled discovery tagged me with this meme.

The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

I have to admit, I did like how Dana did her. Made me smile. :)

Anyways, 8 facts about me.

1. Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit. Part of my life, today, tomorrow and forever. My relationship with God gives meaning to substance to my life. I'm not the world's best example of a Christian, I fail frequently despite my best endeavors, which reminds me daily that God is the one who makes all things possible.

2. I LIKE critters... almost all critters of all shapes and sizes and models. That doesn't mean I like all types of critters in my house. I.e. NO SPIDERS in my house. Nope, not even one. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. I will not voluntarily raise reptiles, snakes, spiders, or any of those creepy crawlies. Yes, I can admire them, just don't want them in my house. Then again, I also love mice, rats, ferrets, rabbits and such like. Don't particularly want them in my house either. THEY STINK! Well..okay, they probably wouldn't stink to badly if I cleaned out and washed their cages daily, but I'm not that dedicated. So I'll raise mice and rabbits outside in the summer, but that's about it. Guinea pigs on the other hand, and fish... those I"ll do in the house. And I have a cat and 2 dogs. Life is good. :)

3. books books and more books. would life be complete without books? nope, not! I need my books. I'm thrilled that at this point in his life my boyo likes books too! :)

4. my boyo has his second birthday this Friday (hey, that's tomorrow). I'm making him a cake, his gramma will ice it. My larger family is coming too. Should be fun.

5. grew up on a farm. Given my druthers I'd be on a farm again. I'd have a small mixed farm. I'd raise rabbits and chickens. I'd have barn cats and one house cat. I'd do pet care. I'd have a big garden and sell the excess. Ah... would be good, but God hasn't called me to that lifestyle at this point in my life.

6. Oh.. can't forget gardening. Just love gardening. Seeing things grow and change right before my eyes. It's fun, it's physical and yes...it's dirty too. And yes... I don't mind dirt. :)

7. ARGH... I need two more random things? ARGH... can't do it. Granted, doesn't help that just before doing this I read Dana's entry and the 8 points being important in Buddhism just kinda sets me off wanting to do 8 points so... um... anyways, moving on.

8. not sure if I know anyone who would want to do this. Who could I tag? Granted, anyone I did tag wouldn't have to feel obligated to do it........ okay.... you know what? You want to play, play along, if you don't that's okay too. Just let me know if you did and I can link to you from here. sound fair? :)

Care for our elderly

I was listening to the radio the other day, it was a talk show (I do enjoy talk radio, much more than music radio) Anyways,....they were talking about what children do who have been raised in unkind homes, unkind, not necessarily abusive, but parents who really didn't care about their children as they aught to have. And now those parents are old and want their children to care for them. The question was... what should those children go? Should they treat their parents as they were treated, OR should they step up and be nice to their parents regardless of past history? People were divided on the issue.

I listened and thought well.... God would want better of us than to stay in the past. He would want us to care for our parents anyways. And I thought, well... if you can't stand to with your parents, the very least you can do is provide for them. A good nursing home, arrange for volunteer visitors and such like and YES bite the bullet once in a while, go and be nice for 1/2 an hour, trust me, it won't kill you!

So I was remembering that talk show when I read these words from Matthew this morning.

1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." 3He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, 6he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8"'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

This isn't a new struggle that people have. It seems in many ways a normal thing to avoid caring for those you don't wish to. Whether it be revenge for past hurts, a desire to keep one's wealth, lack of thought or whatever. God wants us to care for our parents in their old age. They cared for us in our youth. EVEN IF they didn't do it as well as perhaps they should have, they cared enough to see us through to adulthood.

And if one looks at it in the light of all that God has done for us, while we were still sinners (Therefore unworthy to even be seen by him) isn't it a small thing then to extend care and grace and love to those who raised us up? It's like nothing we do can match what God has done for us, but we have to at least do what we can to do what God wants us to do. Care for your parents, regardless!

And Jericho fell

I have to admit, after years of reading this story, I still find it fascinating. Found in Joshua, we find God performing the amazing through his people.

First off, Jericho was a real city. It had real people, it was surrounded by a real wall. It was solid. Thought to be impenetrable.

I found this kids site which talks about it abit. Christian Answers. This site talks about how archaelogists have proven that everything said in the bible is accurate. I found it useful to acutally picture what the city might have looked like.

So Joshua had the people do just what God had commanded:

8And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. 9The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout." 11So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

12Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. 14And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

Can you imagine?
Just walking. No talking, yelling, screams of defiance, just walking around a city for six days. All the noise heard was the trumpets of the Lord sounding.
Then on the seventh,

15On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.

on the Seventh day you walk seven times, shout loudly AND... the WALLS FELL DOWN!

I find that totally amazing.

Totally shows the power of God over anything that man can create. GOD is WAY Better. it is just too neat this story of God at work AND his people being faithful.

God's way not so easy

So I'm reading the bible readings this morning. Gleaned insight, was left with...but how to I write what I'm thinking about any of this?

Came up with nothing.

As I've thought over the morning, and have a bit of time now (waiting for Justin to settle for his nap), I've been thinking how all that passages I read this morning allude to how doing things God's way isn't always so easy.

For instance Joshua 5 speaks of how the Israelite needed to be circumcised.

2At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time." 3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

Not exactly a pain free way of obeying God and heeding his will. It laid them up for while.

Then in The Psalms we learn how hard it was for David that God did not have his own place.

1Remember, O LORD, in David's favor,
all the hardships he endured,
2how he swore to the LORD
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3"I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
4I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5until I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

In Isaiah 65 we learn what happens to people who don't follow after God. Especially those who have turned from him.

6Behold, it is written before me:
"I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their bosom
7both your iniquities and your fathers' iniquities together,
says the LORD;
because they made offerings on the mountains
and insulted me on the hills,
I will measure into their bosom
payment for their former deeds."

But it is in Matthew 13 that we really see that God's way is not so easy. Sometimes finding it is a feat in and of itself. Jesus taught in Parables. It's one of the things that he is known for. His disciples asked why?

10Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

"'You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
15For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.'

But Jesus told the people what they needed to hear. He did reveal all to them.

34All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

"I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."

And to those of us who do understand, he will say ....

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

If we take the time to hear and to understand, and to ask God to help us, we will "get it". God will make his way clear to us. It's as simple as that.

Answering the dog call

kim from Upward call has put out a call for dog pictures. so... here are ours. :)

Old dog Riley. He's a shepherd-husky mix. About 14 years old. Doesn't like the cold anymore and spends most of his time sleeping things off. :) Long walks now tire him out but good. he's a good old chap.


one of my favourite pictures of Sassy. :) Here she is about 4 years old, she's a year older now. Part of agility training is teaching a dog to down on a table. I taught Sassy to down on all types of things, which helps to fool-proof her against the vagaries of different tables. :) Willing spirit. likes to work but can be ever so stubborn about how to do it.

Blessed to be a blessing

Did you know that God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others?

Jim preached on that yesterday in Church using Psalm 67 as his text.

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!

Do you see it? We ask God to be gracious and bless us. Why? So that his saving power and His ways are known on the earth. Later in the Psalm we learn that God does bless us. So what we ask for we get....and we get it so that God is glorified.

I was drawn to remember this lesson as I was reading from Joshua 4 this morning. This chapter deals with how the people of God (Israel) would remember what God did for them to help them escape from Egypt. They walked on dry ground through the Jordan. God commands them to gather up 12 stones (one for each tribe) so that their children would know what God did for them.

23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

It is important for them to know, so that others might know (aka the world) that The Lord God is Mighty and worthy of being feared. God blessed and helped his people so that the rest of the world might see who HE is.

God gives us, asks us to find ways to remember him. why?

21And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' 22then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'

And that leads to the world knowing who God is. Because like children, the world wants to know why God is so important to us. Why these things we hold dear are important and what they tell us about about God.

Makes me ask myself... how am I showing the world who God is?
What remembrances am I placing in my life so Justin will ask.... why is this important? What did God do for us here? and so forth.
How do I show who God is to the people in my world?

I have to admit, I don't have the answers right now. I need to change that.

Prayer Request - cousin

Just got this from my mom regarding my cousin

I want to let you know that he was in a bad car accident Friday night, close to home. He was airlifted to London wth a badly broken hip and a broken elbow, he was in a lot of pain before they put him in traction. His mind is good and they discovered no other internal injuries. On Tuesday they will operate, whether he needs a full artificial hip or what, we will find out later, same with the elbow. So would you keep that family in your prayers?It will be a few tough weeks for sure!

My cousin John has a wife and I think four children (could be off by one either way).
They are a bible-believing family. Surgery may be difficult because John is prone to embolism like my dad is (family thing).

Happy Canada Day

So Canada is another year older today. Happy Birthday CANADA! :)

Exeter is having their fireworks display tonight.
Justin and I walked up to the park tonight, and was invited IN to see one of the fire trucks. It was actually a rescue truck and Justin got to sit in the seats and peer over the back of the drivers' seat to see everything in the front. The helpful gentleman explained everything to us. while his assistant kept Sassy from bolting with the tests of the fireworks stuff. Justin was one very fascinated little boy. Had a hard time leaving, kept saying "bye fire" "bye fire"

Exciting times for wee boy... almost 2 years old! ACK!!! Where has the time gone?

Sunday Hymn - Only a Sinner

Only a Sinner

Naught have I gotten but what I received;
Grace hath bestowed it and I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I'm only a sinner saved by grace!

Only a sinner saved by grace!
Only a sinner saved by grace!
This is my story, to God be the glory,
I'm only a sinner saved by grace!

Once I was foolish, and sinned ruled my heart,
Causing my footsteps from God to depart;
Jesus hath found me, happy my case;
I now am a sinner saved by grace!

Tears unavailing, no merit had I;
Mercy had saved me, or else I must die;
Sin had alarmed me, fearing God's face;
But now I'm a sinner saved by grace!

Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows,
Loving his Saviour to tell what he knows;
Once more to tell it would I embrace—
I now am a sinner saved by grace!