Chain Reaction

One time I was teaching in an A.C.E. Christian school. I was in the habit of sometimes getting down on my knees at a student's desk (office) to help with school work. One day I was down on my knees, and the little kindergartners who had class in a separate room came out of their room single file and walked down the aisle where I had my legs sticking out.

The first little kid, who was looking around the room and not straight in front of him, tripped over my legs and landed face-down on the floor and on top of my legs. The next little kid ran into the back of the other and fell on top of him. The next one did the same until all the kindergartners were in a pile on my legs. Some were crying. I was laughing hysterically. A fun time was had by all, except some. It's one of my fond, non-teaching, teaching memories.

Needing Attention

I know a little girl who is about 10 or 12 yoa. She is very good at memorizing Scripture and getting all the answers and projects right in our church's midweek Bible class. She volunteers to do many things. She has a fun personality and a lot of enthusiasm. The problem is she gets into trouble a lot.

At school she's been in trouble several times lately for various things. At church regularly she is being reprimanded or made to come sit by her parents. She sometimes takes other people's things.

Some of the adults in her life have talked to her about doing right, about applying the memorized verses to her life. So far, apparently these talks haven't had effect.

I'm not around the little girl very much, but I have a possible explanation for her behavior. I think she gets a lot of attention for being bad. I don't hear people praise her for doing right very often, and that may be because doesn't do right a lot of the time. However, I believe that a child who craves attention will get it one way or the other. If negative attention is all they can get, then that's what they will try for. After a while this becomes a habit, and the child may not even think about whether to do right or wrong. I believe that if the adults and especially the parents would turn around and praise the girl for the good things she does, and praise her on a regular basis, she may start to change some of her behavior. Praise for doing right can go a long way.

I know one little boy who had acted up and out all day. He had gotten in trouble over and over until his mother was ready to "get" him. The mother decided to change her own behavior and started to praise him for small, not-so-important things that he did. That's all it took. He turned around and was a wonderful child for the rest of that day.

I know the little girl I've been talking about probably has several problems that are causing her misbehavior, but I believe giving her attention for the good she does instead of the bad may cause some change.

Elephant Crushes Baby Monkey

Actually the title has nothing to do with my blog, but I've already named two blogs about my ladies brunch, and I didn't want to name another one.

Ladies Brunch: It turned out wonderfully. We had a great turn out. The food was good. The people were lovely. The decorations were lovely. The music was great (a trio sang "God and God Alone, a group of girls sang "Mother" and the group sang several songs). I was able to give the Gospel in my "speech". There were several unsaved people there, and they heard. I had three unsaved friends there. It was a blessing.

We had good help cleaning up. There are some wonderful women who take that as their part and just work like steamrollers.

For those who need to hear about the elephant and the monkey--the baby monkey was riding on the back of an elephant and eating peanuts. The elephant put his trunk up to try to get a peanut and he accidentally smacked the monkey. The monkey fell between the elephant and the wall and got squashed. The keepers made the best of a bad situation and made monkey and peanut pie. A reprimand was put into the elephant's file and he was demoted. I made this up. Oh, really?

Ladies Brunch One More Time

Tomorrow is the ladies brunch at church that I have been working towards for about three months. All I have left to do today is help decorate, make a pretzel/jello salad, and prepare my devotional.

In the morning before I leave the house I have to make a hash brown casserole and some waffles, review my speech, and wash some clothes to wear. The brunch doesn't start until 10:30am, so I will have time.

The food should be great, and I think the program will be good. I'm a little worried about my song leaders. They are a group of two teens and one adult, and while they know the songs, I'm not sure they will be forceful and enthusiastic enough. And they may not know the songs well enough. But the dye is cast now, and there's no more time.

My husband has been a wonderful help to me because he formats all my inserts, programs, invitations and name tags and makes them beautiful. Each item has little hats on it, and some have flowers as well. He doesn't really like to do this, but he does.

When I get home from the brunch, I plan to rest.

Maybe more tomorrow.

Thursday 13 People I have had a crush on

My cousin Kay made a similar list to this one. I want to do it too.

1.Superman (George Reeves)
2. Gardner McKay (from Adventures in Paradise)
3. Michael (a co-student in 6th grade who asked me to marry him)
4. Jackie ( a boy who came to visit neighbors)
5. Captain Kirk
6.King Arthur
7.Paul ( a guy from college)
8.Joe (a guy from college)
9.Mike (a guy from college)
10.Gary (my husband)
11.Bob (a guy from college)
12.Last name Woodword (Sr. boy from high school who didn't know I was alive)
13.Bill (a high school boy who liked and married my sister's friend)

A Rescue Story

I attended Bible college in Morrison, Colorado at Western Bible Institute (no longer there). One day I went with some friends to the Red Rocks to look around and see what we could do there. Well, once there we did a little climbing. I went inside an area that wasn't exactly a cave because it was open at the top, but the sides were made of rock. I climbed up the side of a rock, and then guess what? I couldn't get down.

This actually wasn't unusual for me. As a kid I climbed trees many times and couldn't get down. The ladder had to brought out. I never seemed to learn my lesson. When I was still on the ground, I was always sure I would be able to get down.

Well, I was up on the rock at Red Rocks, and apparently someone had told some mountain climber guys that there was a girl stuck on the rock and she needed help. I didn't really feel I needed help. I just hadn't worked up enough energy/courage/oomph to jump/slide/fall down. Anyway, here comes this climber guy. He climbs up the rock, grabs hold of me and rescues me by carrying me down the rock. I don't think he even said much to me. Also, he had alcohol on his breath.

Once I was down on the ground, he quickly left the area so he could get back to his real climbing. I was a little unhappy to be rescued without my permission. I was a little dumbfounded because this was not my plan and it happened without any pause for thought. And I might have been a tiny, tiny bit happy to be on the ground again.

The possible morals: don't climb a mountain and then you won't fail.
Don't talk too much where strangers can hear you or you might have your life changed without your permission.
And, if you meet a stranger while mountain climbing, try to get his name and number. This may be a possible solution for girls everywhere!

The Weekend

At work on Monday morning, people always ask me if I did anything fun over the weekend. I usually say I had a great weekend but I didn't anything too fun. But the truth is my weekend was mostly fun. I went grocery shopping, worked on a long blog, wrote an article about my mother to enter in a writing contest, watched TV, went to church twice and to Sunday School, played for choir practice, played for church services, practiced a skit, fixed food for a potluck and for Sunday School, went to the pot luck and ate good food, did dishes, talked to my Aunt I. on the phone, fixed some meals, and many other tiny little things.

It was a good weekend and profitable.

So far, Monday has been good too. I've attended a training class for four hours and did a few other things. In the training we had to do role play. It was fun. I got to be the supervisor and tell the other person what was what.

From someone else who knows and loves you!

I thought long and hard about getting involved in this because of my belief that I'm always right, but I just couldn't stay away - sorry! Hope to be brief - yah, right!

I believe as you all have said that you must have both "being" and "doing" in the Christian life. I also believe that "being" is most important because that will prompt the quality (Holy Spirit leadership) and quantity of "doing". The deeper your "being" is, the more being Spirit-led and making right choices of "doing" will come about.

Remember, the "being" part of a Christian life is a growing process (a renewing of the mind). When we are children, we think and speak as children. I don't believe most children have the ability to come to that deeper "being" aspect of the Christian life. I believe childhood is the time to learn the "doing" part (the dreaded lists). Just think back to all of the good and sometimes great preachers, pastors and teachers you've sat under for spiritual guidance (I realize they all don't fit into this category). Are you saying that during all the messages, Sunday school lessons, Bible classes from kindergarten through college there weren't any who taught anything about "being"? Or perhaps they did and you, as most of us, weren't able to process that type of teaching until you became old and mature enough for the Holy Spirit to prompt you about your "being" in Christ.

And let me just say (and we've had this discussion many times) there are too many Christians in leadership who spend way too much time on the "doing" and not enough on the "being". But remember, for the most part as we get older we choose, hopefully under God's leadership, where and how much we "do". If we place ourselves in so much "doing" that we don't have time or don't allow emphasis on the "being" part of our Christianity, whose fault is it? Sometime we get ourselves into so much to "do" we can't write a blog all weekend :-). If we have been placed among folks that think we should "do" at all costs and not go to the desert once in a while, who's fault is it? You may say "the Lord's fault" for placing me here. Hmmmmmm...?

I struggle with this every Sunday and Thursday of my life these days. I don't get paid for serving, it's not my "job" so why shouldn't I just take this time for myself? I'm tired, I don't feel well, etc. Sometimes that argument wins out, sometimes I go because of what others will think if I don't and sometimes I go because it allows my pastor to spend more time concentrating on the preaching of the Word and gives direction to the Lord's day concerning music and because I enjoy it and it's the right thing to "do". I have to make that choice and I find that it's going to be made from the place and depth of my "being" in Christ. Oh, this doesn't mean that I won't take time to go to the desert once in a while, especially when I need it.

So we need to get as "deep" as the Holy Spirit will take us, but remember it's a growing thing. We need to ask the Lord to put us in a place we can best continue that growth and not let the "doing" get in the way. That means we have the option, if possible to get away to the desert, even if it's just down to the beach to spend some time with the Lord. Also we need not get to the place where we are only about "being" and not at all about "doing". I fear God will no longer need us here if that's where we are.

And remember (this is the last "and remember"), it's not just about what we didn't learn as a child that will make a difference about today. It's what we learn through the leading of the Holy Spirit today and tomorrow, and the day after that that will make the difference.

Hope this helps and doesn't compound the confusion. And please, no applause, just send money!

BTW, this is not from your mom but from someone else who knows and love you!

To List or Not to List. That is the Question

This blog is very long. It is in answer to a blog of my daughter's. I had no short answer, so I decided to do it as my own blog rather than as a comment on hers.

The Bible is filled with information and directives on how to live the Christian life. If those directives are compiled, guess what? They turn into a list, and they happen to be a list of what to do and what not to do. Here are some great examples of what God has to say in His word about Christian living:

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.
Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Abhor that which is evil.
Cleave to that which is good.
Be kindly affectioned one to another.
Be not slothful in business.
Rejoice in hope.
Continue instant in prayer.
Bless them which persecute you.
Be of the same mind one toward another.
Be not wise in your own conceits.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. (All the above from Rom. 12)
Flee from idolatry. (I Cor. 10:14)
Do all to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31)
Follow after charity. (I Cor. 14:1)
Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58)
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (II Cor 6:14)
Walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:16)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. (Eph 4:29)

Now, this is a VERY short list of items given in the New Testament. I didn’t choose this particular list to preach to anyone. I just found these as I was flipping through pages in my Bible. At least in the list I gave, most of the sentences are written in the positive, not the negative. God is not negative, but He does expect us as born-again Christians to obey, whether we are NOT TO DO certain things, or we are TO DO certain things.

When God does NOT specifically give direction in His Word concerning certain things, then we are to follow the principles set up in Scripture. Does this activity or thought glorify God? Will it cause harm to weaker Christians or to the unsaved? Will I offend others? And even though some have made fun of the WWJD mentality, we still ought to consider: Would Jesus do this activity? And we shouldn’t qualify that question by adding “in today’s world” or “with the modern-day mentality.” Jesus Christ and His Word are the same for all times: back in the New Testament times, today in modern times, and 1000 years from now. God does not change. The meaning of Scripture does not change.

Now to address the idea of the confines that children are put under in a Christian home and in a Christian school. When two parents are born-again Christians who believe God’s Word and who want to raise their children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord (I Cor 10:11),” does that mean we teach our children to do right even when they don’t yet know the Lord for themselves? A resounding YES! Does this mean that sometimes the rules and regulations grate on the children’s self expression and desire to live as they chose? YES! We cannot get away from the truth of God’s Word with its lists of DO’s and DON’Ts as already mentioned above. Do the children turn into Christians by following the rules? NEVER.

A side note: I think all responsible parents, saved or not, following God’s Word or not, will have rules for their children to live by. This is the only way the kids turn out to be responsible students, citizens and parents themselves.

Also a Christian school cannot function without rules. Does this mean that the students will like the rules? NO. Does it mean they turn into Christians by following the rules? DEFINETLY NOT.

Parents and Christian schools cannot legislate spirituality. All they can do is train children to see what is right and wrong and to do the right. What we hope and pray for is that our children will come to realize their need for Jesus Christ as their personal Savior through the process of living the life set for them by their parents and/or the Christian school and through correct teaching from God’s Word.

Does this always work? Sadly, I’m afraid not. I’ve seen many children from Christian homes and Christian schools who never did “catch on” to their need of a personal Savior. They conformed to the rules most of the time, heard the Gospel presented many times, memorized Scripture, had godly examples in the home, school and church, and maybe even did some of the ministry things involved in a true Christian walk. But some never became Christians. That makes me cry because they need the Lord, but we can’t force it through good teaching, through memorization, through church attendance, or through rules.

As for the list some people compile of things that Christians do (pray, come forward at church camp, read the Bible a lot, be baptized, etc.), let me remind you that we as Christians are to “work out our salvation,” not in order to become saved but in order to please and obey the Lord. This means we serve God in the ways and through the opportunities He gives us. If this means that these things are put on someone’s list and made to look as foolish, that can’t be helped. We all are accountable only to God. Sometimes that’s an easy accountability. Sometime it isn’t.

I’ve been pretty preachy in this blog. I don’t want to cause offense and I hope I haven’t. I hope I have been true to the Word of God in what I have said. If I haven’t please forgive me. God is always good. He is always right. He always wants a wonderful, grace-filled relationship with us. And He always wants us to live by his Word, something we can do only through His leading and through the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, the END.

13 Things I Would Like to Do

NOT things I'm necessarily going to do.

1. Learn to play the guitar
2. Write a book about sisters who become pioneers
3. Write a book of devotionals
4. Write a book of ladies programs
5. Have grandchildren
6. See the presidents in North Dakota and Yellowstone Park in Wyoming
7. Lose a lot of weight
8.Lead some people to Christ
9.Whittle down our belongings to a manageable level
10.Learn some French
11. Read 1000+ books
12. Do some good
13. Take a painting class

Weather Report

Oh, yes. I do like to talk about the weather. I think most other people do too. It is the one thing we all have in common, and even if we don't know someone, we always have something to talk about.

So here's the report for Northern Colorado. On Monday the temp got up to 77. Today, Tuesday, it may get up over 70 again. But tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 40s again with a possibility of snow that night. This IS springtime in Colorado. It will get down below freezing a couple nights this week.

Gradually, though, it is warming up. I've had the front door open a few times this past week or two. I see some spring flowers have come up and some of the bushes have leaves. I am looking forward to being able to have a picnic here at a park and at a place up near Estes Park. Warm weather is coming. Of course, I don't want the temp to get above 80-85. It will.

Here in Northern Colorado the temp goes above 100 usually a few times during the summer. In Pueblo where I'm from it goes above 100 five to ten days during the summer. Too hot. At least now we are living in a duplex that has an air conditioner. Because it keeps the house cool enough, I can turn on my oven in the summer without making us sweat for the entire day and part of night because of it.

Summer is good except for the heat. Without the heat I suppose it wouldn't be summer. Sigh.

Musicals

I have always loved musicals. "Camelot" is probably my favorite. King Arthur and Guinevere have always fascinated me. I also really like "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." It's a lot of fun. A bunch of brothers kidnap a bunch of pretty young woman and then get snowed in and their parents can't get to them.

Just recently I watched "Legally Blond--the Musical" on TV. It was wonderful. Very fun and compelling. I would like to own it, but I don't know that it's for sale.

Of course, "Sound of Music," "My Fair Lady," "Mary Poppins," "State Fair," "South Pacific," "Oklahoma," "Singing in the Rain," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," and most of the animated Disney movies, especially "The Little Mermaid" -- I love them all. The music is nearly always uplifting and fun.

When I was teaching, several different times I tried to get a group of students to start a spur of the moment musical. I told them if someone would start singing and then someone else would join in, before we knew it, we would have a musical going. I never could get one started. But it's not all over yet. We may still be able to start one. Maybe when I see you, you can help me!

Sing about your life or your activities. You may have a musical just waiting to be born. Go for it!

The Upcoming Ladies Brunch

Well, I finally got my bulletin board completed announcing the upcoming ladies brunch. It took me 4 to 6 hours to get all the letters cut out. In the old days when I was teaching, I nearly always used the already cut out letters (or I had students help me). But for this event I wanted fancy letters. They look great, but it took time. Then last night before church, my husband and I went 2 hours early to put the board up. We thought we could get it done and then quickly go out and get takeout for supper. It couldn't be done. We spent about 1 1/2 hours working on putting up the board, and then I had to do a few minutes more after that.

It turned out really cute. The main title, "Hats Off to You", is in cursive letters that have 3 layers (all cut out at once): black, dotted pink, floral green. Then the remainder of the words have 2 layers (black and one of the other colors). They announce the event, the date and time. Then I have three real straw hats (about 1 foot in diameter) decorated with flowers and ribbons placed on the sides along with a few cut out paper flowers.

One of the children who was at church for Master's Club wanted to know why I put hats up. It seemed obvious to me, but not so much to her. I told her they were they for decoration. That seemed to satisfy although I'm not sure she thought it was necessary.

Now I just have to get a bulletin insert ready for Sunday, prepare the printed program for the actual event, and prepare my speech/devotional. And oh yes, I have to practice with the skit, the ladies trio and the group of girls who will be singing "M-O-T-H-E-R". And then help decorate the day before the event. It should culminate in a good time for everyone.

Thursday Thirteen Things Starting with "T"

1. Talent
2. Therapy
3. Thrilled
4. Thorough
5. Thimble
6. Thrice
7. Thickening
8. Thalamus
9. Throne
10. Torrid
11. Tropical
12. Thanks
13. Titillate

I know. Who cares?

Sleep

They say (you know who "they" are) that a lack of sleep can and does cause problems. It affects our ability to think and to handle stress. It affects our ability to fight off disease and to be in control over our emotions. In fact, rats die when they aren't allowed to sleep over a period of days. Maybe that's why when we are in the "rat race" we are tired all the time. We may be closer to death than we thought if we aren't getting enough sleep!

I'm thinking that we all might have different personalities, be smarter, fight less, speak more gently to the children and the dog, make fewer mistakes, have fewer colds and flu, be more hospitable and giving, be able to communicate better, be more motivated, accomplish more for God, keep our houses cleaner and be in better control of our finances if we just got more sleep. In fact, sleep may be the "new" miracle drug for our times. We don't need sleep aids, sedatives, mood enhancers. We just need sleep.

So, the next time you are fighting with your husband or roommate, spending too much money, making your children cry, and having a hard time at work.....GO TO SLEEP!!

I think we might really find WORLD PEACE!

Pray for Renee

Most days I go to and from work the same way. The trip includes driving between two lakes off one of the county roads. There is a nice home that has its backyard right on one of the lakes. In its front yard it flies the American flag and the Jewish flag.

Several months ago I noticed a sign attached to the mailbox. It said, "Pray for Renee." I shed tears over this sign several mornings. It seemed to show such vulnerability and a desperation for the homeowner to just lay out there the need for strangers to pray for Renee. I prayed several days for Renee. I knew the Lord knew her problems, even though I had no indication of who Renee was or what her problems were. I didn't know if Renee was dying, had run away, or had terrible personal problems. I just knew things must be bad.

A couple of weeks ago, the sign was gone. I thought Renee must have died or gotten well or come home.

Early this week I saw a new sign. It said, "Thanks. Renee went home." I don't know if Renee went home to Heaven or home to California, but apparently God answered prayer. He answered my prayer. A blessing.

13 Things I Love (a relative term) X2

Not in any particular order, these are things I care about to varying degrees.

1. Chinese food
2. My children
3. Onions
4. Mexican food
5. My husband
6. My parents
7. My sister and brother
8. My memories
9. Being creative
10. Being involved in church
11. Spring days
12. Teaching
13. Reading other people's blogs

1. Reading
2. My Bible
3. Seeing my piano students learn
4. My bed
5. My co-workers
6. My extended family
7. Knowing I'll see loved ones in Heaven
8. Bible truths
9. My Savior
10. My car
11. Puppies
12. Horses
13. The mountains