Friday, December 30, 2011

A Dark Christmas

I almost count it a blessing when the power fails - no TV blaring, no computer battles, children not glued to their gaming machines, yes power outages are mankind's friend.  I even remember a time when they knew how to read!

Christmas Day was an unfortunate time to have a power outage, but then again.....  So I thought you might like to see what happened on the other side of the lake from me:



Luckily, I make pasta salad for every Christmas Day.  The sour and lightness of the salad is a refreshing break from too much sugar and heavy meals.  So, we ate heartily and put on sweaters.

As for the mess?  Well, it is lucky that it is a 25mph speed zone or several cars could have been squished!  The trees were all cut up on the 26th and they reset the power poles on the 27th, so now it is line restringing for power, cable and telephone.  Naturally, with the northern lake road blocked, all traffic is being routed around to the south - where I live, but everywhere I have to go is to the north!  Yeah, freeways, church, stores, etc are all to the north.  Just a pain to put up with.....

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas n Gifts n Such

So how did your gift giving go this year?  Usually, I have presents for all in the family, pastors and close friends - as an average I spend about $3,000 and make quite a few as well.  But, not this year!  As my unemployed state continues to eat away at my resources that number has been greatly trimmed, by about 90%.  If the gift had to be mailed - you got a card.  If the gift was for non-family - you got jam, sweets or a painting by me.  For family it had to be small items I was able to pick up during the year.  So, in all, about $300 total.

Of course, everyone understood, except for son whom threw a tempter tantrum and sat in his room in the dark for about 9 hours.  Nothing like an "adult" throwing a temper tantrum to really make your day.  Nothing like Gaelic Girl making excuses for him to really piss me off big time.  She will make every excuse in the book for him to account for his poor behavior - but God help any of my daughters if they run afoul the GG!

My best gift had to be a copy of the Syriac Pishetta, which has been carefully restored from what we now have of the ancient texts, Latin additions removed, etc.  Very interesting work and also from the standpoint that what I have been writing on for next year's blogs and covered in detail - so I was not only to find that I was 99% in my understanding on the subject but also a few more chewy pieces I had not thought on before.  God's timing I guess.  You can expect the first week of the New Year blogs to really be offensive to almost everyone now!
:^)

This work, Aramaic English New Testament is not released yet, but will shortly be available:
Netzari Press
ISBN 978-1-934916-70-4 (1-934916-70-6)

I have never seen an ISBN with additional numbers in parenthesis before, so not real sure what it means.

I would give this work an A+ for being interesting and making you think in order to figure out the differences between the Aramaic and the Greek texts we are so familiar with.  About half of the work is explanations of differences between the Greek and Aramaic.  Some of the comparisons are humorous and others thoughtful, as you realize the struggle the Greek translators went through to take a pictorial language and make it fit a Greek logic sequence.

Will your faith be affected by reading this work and incorporating it into you faith?  Not really, if it does then you are either turning into a legalistic defeated believer or someone like Peter - torn between Judaism and Christianity (I believe Paul called him a hypocrite.....).  It might however help you walk that fine line between living your faith and being compromised out of it by this western culture which has watered down our belief set.

So, I need to get a move on.  Cousin destroyed his computer over the holiday and get to try and figure out what it was he did.....

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Movies At Christmas

At the theater, the Christmas Holiday viewing season is second only to the summer - in its ability to suck (mostly youthful) viewers in for massive spending on movies and condiments.  (and I only figured this out - that I am not longer part of their demographic!)  But, that is only part of it.  How about all of those movie rental opportunities, TV and cable showings as well?

So, it is now Christmas Eve, the kids are snuggled in their beds and it is present wrapping time.  What is more normal than watching a good Christmas flick while you are busy cutting parts of you pants off which the wrapping paper was laying across, cursing at the tape dispenser and of course - cutting the paper too small (even when measured!) to go all of the way around a present?  No, I am not talking Miracle on 34th Street (though very cute) or Its A Wonderful Life (where you have to not be a literalist in order to appreciate this movie!).

Gaelic Girl, now she likes to watch the Die Hard series while wrapping presents.  Here in small town USA, when I brought up this question, several of the church women's first choice was Jurasic Park!  OMG!  Somehow the female savage package wrapping is soothed through watching dinosaurs munch their way through a movie?!?!?!?!?  (Maybe they are more interesting than I thought!)

For me, it has to be Donovan's Reef.  John Wayne, Lee Marvin in his prime, and what was Caesar Romero doing in there?  But, it is comedy and a romantic one at that!  It soothes my inner romantic.  Then I can watch Jurassic Park!  LOL!!!

So, as usual, it was Donovan's Reef.  But, I still had more presents to do, so I clicked on the boob-tube and my favorite film of all time was just starting - and I have not seen it in over 40 years!

"For Heaven's Sake", is the story of two angels whom are trying to get a couple to have a baby because the soul of their waiting child is growing older and there is concern in heaven.  Robert Cummings is one of my favorite actors, but Clifton Webb stole the movie - he was magnificent.  Joan Blondell, a family friend I only knew in her later years, was just a blonde bombshell - fulfilling the requirement for a 1950/60's movie to have one.  Not her best work.


Heartwarming story, simple plot, just a feel good movie.  So, why do I care one way or the other about this movie?  Clifton Webb.  Apparently, he could play the harp - for real - and he did so several times.  Outside of this movie I have never seen a harp used to play some boogie-woogie - I was impressed.  And 40 years later as I watched this film again, I was amazed to find I still found the story good, the acting good, the harp awesome, the humor still brought a snicker.  And, it was good to see 'Aunt' Joan, a compatriot of my great-aunt again.  She has been gone now 32 years and with her went one of the funnier people I have known.

It was just a plain great night.....

:^)

Monday, December 26, 2011

Blessed

One of my few joys, from my old life (aka before the 1996 crushing of my car)) is to host a Christmas Eve dinner.  I love cooking, I love making candies and the kids have all dug in and helped every year make it special.  Sometimes, I wear out and one of the daughters will take over in order to make it all happen.  The kids all do the decorating and over due it every year!  (note no mention of my son and being helpful in the same sentence!)

This year my plan was simple: family only.  But, it would seem God had other plans.  First exception was New Daughter, whom I now needed to include - no biggie.  But, then the guy (whose daughter her age recently died and she has continued staying with after her mother had to go to the other daughter) wanted to come.  Okay.  But, then one of the families I have grown close to - just had twins, just moved, he was laid off on Monday!, then his mother died Tuesday - so that was the end of Christmas for them.  Of course, I invited them!  Then new mother's, mother came up to care for the kids while the parents were off at the funeral Friday in eastern Washington and now she is coming too.  I am counting on my fingers and going, "Oh my!"  Then add a even younger family, whom are struggling mightily in their marriage, new from Mexico, no friends locally, etc. and of course they need to be included as well.  Throw in the Swede, just out of the hospital on Thursday, but he is extended family anyway.

From five of us to now fourteen adults, six kids and two babies!

Yes-sir-ee, a challenge!

So how does all of this equal "Blessed"?  Because, God engineered an evening I would not have attempted - but thoroughly enjoyed.  It was sort of like old times.  But, the greatest blessing I will post about tomorrow.....

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Musical Saturday Morning

I was surprised to see I had not re-posted this from the old blog.  Of course, I have a funny thought to go with this.

One of the girls at church asked, "Whom did Last Christmas?"

I instantly replied, "George Michaels and WHAM!"

Another teen interjected, while giving me that famous stupid look of disgust, "Taylor Swift was the one whom wrote it."

The natural reply, "Taylor Swift was not even born when George Michael recorded that song...."

Of course, more evil eyes coming my way.....

 

Merry Christmas dear reader and fellow bloggers.  May you remember the reason for the season.....

Friday, December 23, 2011

Taking a STAND

In spite of our 'liberal' and 'diversity' loving culture, when you see Jesus' Critics Converging - you need to take a STAND.

Back to John 9:8-34.  Was the blind man's cure worse than his disease?  His troubles began with his healing!  Seems even when the miraculous occurs we still do not get to live happily ever after!  Consider this:

See trouble coming.  When you dedicate yourself to Christ, expect problems with the world.
Matthew 16:24 - take up your cross
Luke 22:36 - buy a sword

Take a history lesson.  When you are criticized, realize that it is not about you, it is about whom God is!  Jesus was hounded over healing on the Sabbath, "who's your daddy", etc.  The blind man was "arrested" and forced to account for his own healing!

Anticipate push back.  The blind man was "brought" in for interrogation - there was no joy over his healing.  Critics want to discredit Jesus - and use you to do it!  The now healed man learns that the Pharisees are not his friends.....

Note, even those closest to you will step farther away from you!  "Fear of the Jews, lest he be thrown out of the synagog" !  Even the blind man's own parents did not stand up for him when questioned!  Jesus was a threat to the Pharisees, so anyone supporting him was thrown out!  Kris' Weakest Link Theory in action and in the Bible!

Dare to tell your own story.  You must be able to witness your own story, not someone else's!  Be prepared to tell your truth of Jesus in your life.  You are not expected to know everything, just what you do know.  All the blind man knew: "I was blind and now I see....".

"And they threw him out of the synagog...."  Which meant he was stripped of his Jewishness and declared a Gentile - to be considered dead by both family and friends.  But, then again, he did find the Messiah.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas is for Real People

Christmas is for real people, just like each of us!  Have you ever considered just how much like each of us Jesus really was?  Well, break out your Bible and let us read Matthew 1:1-17.

There are broken people on Jesus' family tree!  As you read through this list of 42 generational names, perhaps more than a few rung a bell with you.  Some of those in Jesus ancestry NEVER sought God at all!  All of them were sinners.  Some did a few things right, some of the time.  An awful lot like people I know!

Shocking Grandmothers point to God's grace!  When checking out that list of names did you notice that there are only four women mentioned in Jesus' genealogy?  Jerry Springer has not much on these women:
Tamar: Genesis 38, a Canaanite whom seduced her father-in-law to get pregnant
Rahab: Joshua 2 and 6, was a Canaanite prostitute.
Ruth: was a Moabite, descended from Lot's indiscretion.
Bathsheba: David's adulteress, whose husband he killed.

But, before condemning any of them, let us remember that according to I Corinthians 6:9-11, we are all adulterers - that God reaches out to.

The Church is full of sinners, some saved by grace, some still needing to find that grace.  We are all broken, to be transformed by Jesus into something useful to God.

Rejoice!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Immanuel

Read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23

Immanuel has the meaning of "God With Us".  In the Isaiah verse we can see it used to describe Jesus, however Jesus never went by this name that we are aware of anyway.

God came to dwell among us.  His conception was miraculous, but he had a very normal birth and with no evidence to the contrary, a very normal first 30-33 years.

God's presence was in Jesus.  Jesus was with us.  Hence, God was with us!  But, Jesus was fully human.  He was fragile, breakable and killable as the Jewish leadership was to prove.

God gave of himself.  He gave us the gift of His presence.  And, with Jesus' death, God gave us His Holy Spirit - so He would always be with us.....

I might really hate Mike W. Smith's songs - but Immanuel does have a central Christian point!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sin In The Body

The Church I grew in was very much unlike anyother church I have ever experienced.  For example:

At the beginning of the service, a young man and one of the teenage girls came up on the stage and explained how they now understood that decisions they had made - had brought sin into the body.  Yeah, it seems that the direct results of said activities was to be arriving in a few months.  Women were in tears while I quietly folded my bulletin and slid it into my pocket.  This Sunday was now going to be one of those "emotional" services I loath so much.  I caught Dutchman's eye and we slowly crept through the crowd and off to pizza.

But the thought stuck with me.  Could something I did, really have an impact on the Christian body either local or at large?  Certainly we can see evidence of this in the Old Testament and what may have been behind the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.....  I have thought on this often through the years.

And so last week sin has struck yet again in my church's youth group.  Never seems to matter which church you go to, someone is going to derail and affect the body local - every year.  I know from decades of youth work that if you treat the youth as adults, with adult expectations, serious study - and some fun!, they pretty much seem to stay on track.  Luckily, it was not any of my kids whom failed - now that would have been a shocker!  But, I really feel for the Youth Pastor and the leaders of that group.  It is a hard one to meet with the kids and get them to understand and then their parents to get them to understand as well!

The youth rarely think 30 seconds into the future and repercussions are always a SURPRISE!  One of the reasons my classes are on a serious side and hence poorly attended.  Well, would you go where you have to read and think or where you can blow dope and er, etc?  No contest there.

So, next class is going to raise eyebrows, I named it "Really Bad Ideas".  I expect for the three adults to do some sharing and maybe even some of the youth.  I also know I have had many more of those "Really Bad Ideas" than others, so will have lots of material to draw from!

I will try to remember to update on how it all went.  I am expecting much laughter and some internal learning.  For now, we have a handful of kids and some parents with some trauma to deal with this Christmas Season.  You might want to remember them in your prayers for a few very rough weeks.

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Quandary of Pacifism

The shoot went rather well, fewer came than I expected or had bought ammo for.  Family, extended family and one of "My Kids" made it though.  Mostly I spent my time instructing New Daughter in her first shooting lesson.  I think she did just fine.  Will there be others?  I think so, I got the impression from her that her interest at the beginning of the day was to try something new and different; by the end of the day her desire was in bonding identities.  Either way, I had fun.  And, if true I am very flattered.  I may never understand how God works things out....

About 25% of what we were blazing away with!
New Daughter asked an interesting question on the way home: "In light of your shooting abilities, where do you stand on persecution for your faith and the ability to respond in kind?"

That is a hard one to answer when you are an avowed pacifist.....  (And what an awesome question!  I have not told her of this blog, so I doubt she will ever know I was really impressed by that one!)

I believe in the right of self defense, preferably without deadly force.  I do not believe that purposefully putting oneself in harms way, so that you are forced to defend yourself - is self defense at all.  Nor do I believe that using my abilities to kill someone at extreme distance is self defense either.  Both are murder.

So, when ordered to kill, I have through tremendous prayer, managed to never have to pull the trigger to do so.  No one has ever even been wounded by a gun I possess.  Scared out of their minds, into surrender for arrest - hecka yeah as my oldest daughter says.  And think on the amount of finely placed rounds that takes!

When requested to go to Africa to "support" Christian missionaries, through the usage of my "God given" abilities - I politely told the mission board that I would not commit murder and perhaps those missionaries would best be placed where people would listen rather than kill and eat them.  (And they learned about me how?????)

Yet, would I go into harm's way to protect my children?  Yup.  My extended family such as Dutchman, Swede, Gaelic Girl and the real Dutch Girl?  Yup again, assuming they were not the aggressor.  "My Kids", those students whom have become special?  Oh yeah, several times over - especially to get them out of drug dens, sexual orgies and other problems they never saw coming.  Small towns make it easy to know exactly what is going on where, with whom.....  Sometimes the shepherd has to hunt down the wolf, in order to protect the flock.

So, would I use a fatal weapon ever on a human - to kill them?  I pray no event in my life will force that to happen.

As for being persecuted, isn't that one of badges of courage?  To take a stand for Christ, unarmed by the world's weapons, against the evil which has clouded the minds of the many?  I have lost friends and family to real martyrdom and I have no doubt they went down with a prayer for their executioners - not in a blaze of lead.  Would that should my life come to this, I too will have the strength to do as I perceive they did.

Character is everything in our Christian walk.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Jesus In Public?

I was listening to talk radio, non Christian station, where the talking head was having an interesting discussion over a guy named Tebow, on some sports team, always praising Jesus.  Hmmmmm.

It was pretty obvious that the guest speaking, even if he had been to seminary, really does not know his Bible well, nor the roots of Christianity.  In fact, I would list him as a non-believer being critical about something he sought and did not find.  The radio host I do not believe was a believer either, but was irritated that this guy would criticize someone for the faith being displayed in public.  You have to admit it has got to be interesting when two clueless guys are going to duke it out on national radio.  They both agreed to disagree in the end.

Now I have long held the belief that God really does not care much about sports.  Prayers and praises before and after are man's way of justifying his worship of something which does separate him from God.  It is a false idol and a sickness within the church.

We teach our kids to worship the "Christian" heroes of the game.  Funny, I would bet there are just as many Christians on the losing teams as well.  But, no one seems to want to hear them thanking Jesus for the loss nor as inspiring speakers.  We teach our kids that Sunday is a perfect day to duck out of Sunday School and services to go and play at games while they are young and then go to when they are older.  This is worship guys and you are teaching that your faith in Christ is not real when you willingly bow to any Sunday performance.  Sorry, but the faithless kid you just raised had a reason for being so.

As for some over paid adolescent whom utters ".....blah-blah-blah Jesus blah-blah-blah .....".  So what?  Is he also that full of praise when his team loses?  Is he that full of praise when his injuries mount up?  Doubtful.  He will go on in life in some form of "Christian Ministry" often recalling how great God was when he saved the XYZ game.....

Now God can do anything He wants.  If He wants a team to win, I would wonder why.  How is God magnified by any form of sporting event?  How is His justice, who He is, what He has done demonstrated?  How is the price He paid to bring us from sin discovered through a field goal?

Tebow may be an amazing Christian.  I have no idea.  I doubt I will ever meet him because I have met many sports superstars and they all are about themselves.  When they meet a non worshipper of themselves, they move along looking for the next ego hit.  So I then do know exactly where that "Christian Witness" is coming from - and it isn't the God I know.  And yes I am discussing those "Christian"sports figures here.

So the god we are really talking about here is the fluffy bunny/teddy bear, American Theology created Jesus.  You know the one whom gives you everything you want and you approach daily with your never ending shopping list of demands from Him.  Yeah, truly not the God I know.

You love sports?  More power to you.  But please stop pretending that God is somehow behind any sporting event.  You might even want to take a break from sports and see how addicted you really are, then how far from the living God you have grown, and perhaps have your eyes opened to see how you have wasted so much of your life at sporting events and in front of the boob tube watching more sports, and let us not forget those all important recaps and blooper videos!

Thirty years ago I adopted an older Christian man to be a model for me.  As I grew to know him better I was horrified that he was a sports nut!  Yes, he was one of those whom would sneak out of church at 11:45 so he could make the game on the TV.  No it just was not the same were he to record it on his VCR, he had to watch if live.  Then one day I was helping clean his basement and I found he had kept journals from 1951 to date of every game, by every team, by the school he loved.  Yes, he is a solid Christian man but no one in his family would tell you that he could not have used that time far better and had tons less stress in his life (which he tended to take out on others when all did not go well.....).

As for the whole argument this started with?  We are told to not be public in our prayers and demonstration.  We are to keep it between God and us.  No one should need to know how often you pray, what you pray for or what you do in service to God.  Yes, I  am one of those people whom prays over a meal, even in public.  Yes, I am someone whom prays with others prior to an undertaking.  Yes, I will publicly witness as lead - to an individual.  Would I write verses on my face to draw attention to myself and the cameras?  No.  If asked a question, would I always start with, "Thank you Jesus......."?  No. Would I ..... , indeed would I go to the extremes this guy seems to want to go, for the purpose of drawing attention to myself - even if I could convince myself that I was really doing this for God?  This guy is really setting himself up to give all of us Christians another public black eye.  Get your ice packs ready.

I think our relationship with God needs to be taken seriously in this age of apostasy.  If God says your right hand must not know what your left is doing - then no one else needs to either.  That is if your service truly is to God and not yourself.....

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Politically Correct Bonhoeffer

Welcome to the 21st century, this is the century were - due to political correctness - history is constantly being revised in order to make events palatable to those too lazy to read primary sources for themselves.  Yes, so we now have another biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer for me to grouse about.

I will probably end my life as the modern German apologist for Bonhoeffer but by the time you have read this you will wonder if I am an apologist.  Unlike so many, I KNOW he was not a martyr, I KNOW he did not resist the Nazi's, I KNOW he later regretted exactly not resisting them when he had the chance.  Please note that unlike the author of the recent work, I have researched far enough into Bonhoeffer's own writings to KNOW whom and what Bonhoeffer was and did.  Not legend, reality.

Whom was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?  Someone from whose life you need to learn many Christian Lessons from.  What did he do?  Exactly the opposite of what you, as a mature Christian, must do - in taking your stand for God in a godless culture and society!

Bonhoeffer, rather than face the plight of the German people during the depression, founded what was for all intents and purposes a Christian Community, dedicated to teaching self subsistence - physically and spiritually.  He made the choice between having a small impact on a large group of people (Germany) and having a large impact on a small group of people.  Both are admirable.  But, we can look back and see that the larger group was what needed attention.  Many have commented that statement is hindsight and 20/20 - completely forgetting that God does not deal in hindsight.  God was to raise Bonhoeffer up to the National Church level at a crucial time (more on this later).  Hey, He even removed Karl Barth in the process of doing so!  (Don't even ask what I thought of Barth!)

Bonhoeffer's inner pull away from the German church was a lack of attention which allowed a despot to seize control of Germany, uncontested.  When the general population could have been trained on a national level, in spite of Barth, Bonhoeffer had moved out of the country.  Yes, he was to return, but he had a choice and he knew he was taking the easy way out (per his letters).  His reason for return the final time - to have a witness amongst his people once the war was over - "....to share in their sufferings.....".  He was correct on that score, if you want to have a mission and witness within a culture, even your own, you can not be an outside observer.  A lesson many a missionary needs to learn!

The Nazi's had it in for the Jews from the beginning.  Bonhoeffer's sister was in love with a Jewish man.  When it came time for the marriage - Bonhoeffer bowed to the political correctness of the Nazi movement and did not perform that ceremony.  There was no law he would have been violating, it was not even direct pressure put on him, and he willingly bowed to that perceived pressure.  Just as the Christian Church does today!  He was later to rethink this in prison and lamented his poor choices in this matter (per his letters).

When Bonhoeffer was head of the National Church of Germany, he was approached on the subject of executing Adolf Hitler.  He, like a great many German believers, personally felt Hitler was the physical presence of Satan and therefore a perfect target for killing.  Unfortunately, being a Christian whose views had become one of a Social Gospel, he failed to consider that murder is still murder, no matter how evil the target is. 

God does not appreciate murder and will hold you accountable.  We know this part the best; the bomb failed to kill Hitler.  Hitler's men through diligent research were able to round up almost the entire group involved - including Bonhoeffer - whom had given his blessing on the attempt.  Along with Bonhoeffer, his father brother-in-law and family friends, were all convicted for their part and executed as  well.  Hitler already had problems with stubborn Christians and many do not understand that he turned his wrath upon the Lutheran Church - executing close to 7,000,000 believers before the closing of the war.

Although claimed by the recent book, Bonhoeffer was not sent to a concentration camp, he was sent to a prison.  Yes, it was a grouping of political prisoners but do not think in terms of Auschwitz here.  He was allow visitors, books, papers, allowed to conduct services for the other prisoners, etc (per his letters).

Lastly, Bonhoeffer's tome, The Cost of Discipleship, I have read probably a dozen times - each reading taking about a year to accomplish and digest.  Personally, I believe this book to be one of the highlights of the 20th century Church writings.  Bonhoeffer, in his letters from prison, analyzes this work and laments that what he found was in his attempt to get German believers to understand that "Cheap Grace" is wrong and there is a cost for belief in Jesus, the Church came to embrace empty piety - and so still were not with any real understanding of their belief.

Bonhoeffer was a Christian minister offered a central place in German and what was to become world history.  And he avoided that task at all cost - even to the point of forgetting his calling.  Had he of stood his ground early in the 1930's, perhaps nothing would have changed other than we would now have the writings of a martyr to consider - rather than someone condemn for the attempted assassination of a national leader.  Until recent history, even the United States executed those wishing to assassinate their leaders.  I can not condemn the German Courts or executioner for doing their jobs; murders are deserving of State sponsored death - no matter how politically correct that assassination attempt was to be in history.

But, he was a man, just like anyone of us.  We may not be in the same place in history, facing a nation gone mad with evil, but we are still called to serve, to witness, to disciple, to baptize - where God has placed us.

When we allow a nation, a group or even a single man to hinder our call and duties as Christians - we will have made the same mistake as Bonhoeffer and compromised our witness.  When we step out into the ways of the world, to behave as the world behaves, to solve our solutions not with prayers but with weapons - we can expect God to withdraw His protection and support in order for our actions to run their full course and man's right to justice will prevail over us......

(Now your really did not expect any other kind of review from a German Hutterite, did you?)

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mail

Back in August I started a letter to family and friends - only life intervened.  It is amazing how so much could be so messed up in my life through the summer and fall - that a letter was really a moving target!  And I really did not want to send out a whiney-my-life-sucks-letter!  As my sister said, when she was out here for a visit, ".....maybe you should just write about how I wished life really was....."  I had a good laugh over that one but it was a true-ism.  Luckily, I was able to crank out something newsy and not negative over the weekend.  Thank God that is over and in the mail!  (So yes, dear aunts, it is finally on its way!)

So now I have decided to send Christmas Card's this year!  Now that is something I have only done like once in my life!  But, as soon as the letters were in the mail, I found stacks of pictures of the kids and grandkids that need to be sent - and no news for a letter. 

Hmmmmmm, yep, its card time.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Christmas Yummies

No this is not exactly the post for diabetics.

I love this time of year.  Not because of the gift giving or receiving, not for all of the family and friends, not even for super scrumptious meals!  No, I am drawn like a moth to the open flame of carbohydrate overload!

Last weekend was Krumkaka from a local baker I met and oh can she make the Scandinavian sweet breads!  Something I really miss from not be able to sneak a quick visit up north on occassion.

This weekend, I am enjoying Panettone sweet bread from Italy.  And next weekend I am already planning on having a German Stollen, but it is not a great Stollen.  Great Stollens I save for Christmas morning.  The kids have long ago come to understand that immediately after stocking unstuffing, it is time to dig into a yummy Stollen!

Yes, indeed it is a wonderful time of year and one that should drive my blood sugars off the scale.

:^)

Friday, December 9, 2011

32,000 Calories

Yes, it is the world's largest Gummi-Bear!  Out of the mold it is over 18" long, about 2" thick and just longing for a real home this holiday season!  Clocking in at 32,000 calories, of pure unadulterated high fructose corn syrup - this puppy is the diabetics suicide tool of choice!  Not diabetic?  Wanna bet you will be by the time you finish this puppy off?????

:^)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Catch Up On Prayer

My Baja, Mexico student came on Sunday - so it was great to have her catch up with us.  She really needs much prayer.  Her father was recentlyexecuted by bandits down in Baja.  Her mother and sister are now without support.  Not good for as hard of times as this in rural Mexico.

Kim, aka African Missionary Girl, is back home safely.

My ex-mining partner in Tucson has been hospitalized with problems in with his urinary system.  He is not doing well at all.  Due to a heart problem, and associated meds, he can not have antibiotics.  Much prayer is needed for him to reconsider his standing with God - and yes - for his healing too.  But, he is in his 80's and this is a great time for him to get past whatever his hang up with God is - at this time.  I heard that his wife's pastor came and talked with him last night and he even took communion.  Can his heart be melting?  I sure pray so!

For those whom remember all of the guy troubles a few months back - everyone seems to be doing better.  Swede had to have surgery and it was rather drastic.  :^(  I am praying he can get over and past this.  If I understood right, he will have one or two more surgeries to make "adjustments" as his body heals.  Brother in law had to have some chemo following his surgery.  Cousin and Dutchman are fine.  As for me, I am recovering and really never wanting to go through something like that again!  My weight has been swinging plus or minus 35 pounds, weekly, every since the end of September!  Which has brought on cramping all over my body.  I found out that Quinine helps with cramps!  So am drinking Tonic Water for a few days.  Last night was my first night of sleep without being awaken by severe cramps in the midst of the night!  PTL!

And thank you for your prayers concerning new daughter and I.  Each and everyday I am getting more and more confirmations that I am walking on the tightrope in the correct direction.  It is satisfying to be reassured that I am not deceiving myself and this IS of God.  Conversely, it is a little terrifying not actually knowing where a path leads.  There are times I can see in her eyes the strength that fails me - due to my own past and fears of commitment in another's life.  Today we talked at great length on comfort, discomfort, what is a Christian man and how saying "I love you", does not mean I want to have sex with you.  How this culture has poisoned our young!  I am more at ease today because she talked and expressed her inner self and demonstrated she is about as scared, cautious, wary and on the edge of acceptance of this - as I am.

Monday, December 5, 2011

When At The Cross Roads

John 9:35 - 41 and Mark 8:34 - 37

As I continue to think on the blind man whom Jesus healed, pain and suffering in general, a friend's injuries, my condition in particular.....

I try and do the right thing, for instance - in all meetings with youth I have never done so alone.  I always have a mature female Christian with me at all times.  At first that was easy as Gaelic Girl has for years worked with me.  If not her, then my lawyer's wife back home in Basle Stadt.  But, all of that was to change.  I am blessed to have a very down to earth lady from Montana now to help.  Unfortunately, she was badly injured a few weeks ago.  Tripping over a newly adopted cat one night, the fall broke numerous small bones in her left hand.

So this morning we talked with our class about healing and how much she has prayed for healing in the emergency room, and with each hospital visit, for relief daily from the crippling pain.  How much longer I have prayed for relief from the disaster cancer surgery wrought upon my body.  Yet, there is not a day that goes by I do not praise God for the ability to still walk.  How easy it would have been for Him to heal me and not have to have my spine sawn open.  How much easier for Him to heal those small bones in my helper's hand.  Yet, God chose the hard path for both of us - for very obvious reasons - suffering brings forth  faith, suffering brings awareness of other's pain, suffering challenges us to be overcomers.  And, like me, my helper praises God because she knows this is within His will.  And tough enough to endure.....

Our healing is guaranteed, the only question is as to when.  For the blind man it was that day in Jerusalem - as a witness to those on the street, to him and his family, to disbelieving Rabbis, the Pharisees and the faithful gathered at the temple that very special day.

For most of us, Heaven is the ultimate healing location and solution to our suffering (Hebrews 11:35).  Not everyone lives happily ever after, at least until Heaven, for most of us.....  Until then, we are to be faithful, even in our pain and suffering - just like the believers of old!  Unlike the disbelieving world, we have HOPE until the day that suffering will indeed end.  (Philippians 3:10-11)

Peace, pleasure and healing are all in Heaven, not to be found here.  Staying alive does not compare to a day in the service of Jesus.  (Matthew 10:39)  So many seek the bizarre to find healing, to end pain, to stretch those days out on this earth out.  As Mark 8:36 - 37 tells us, you can pursue all the things of this earth and lose your soul; to what end .....?

It is easy to imagine the blind man would have given anything for his sight, especially in a society in which he was condemned by all for his birth condition!  And yet, from the unexpected came his healing at the hands of Jesus.  Hmmmmm.

I love this part: the man asked whom it was, whom gave him his sight and Jesus answered that he had already seen whom.  And, the man immediately began worshiping Jesus!  That whole argument that Jesus was not worshiped in his lifetime - just ended there. 

For us today, our salvation has been bought through Jesus' execution and resurrection.  All any of us have to do is just to receive that blessing Jesus' left for us.  No, you may well not receive healing in this life, but you will be given what you need to overcome.....

So, when you reach that crossroad in life, much the same as presented itself to the blind man, be sure you pick the road leading the way to the CROSS.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Musical Saturday Morning

Gosh it is already December!?!?  Where did this year go.....

So, I have already posted one of the most iconic songs of the 1980's and thought I may as well as post the other one.

From the Breakfast Club, Simple Minds:

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

HOLY HUMOR

A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, "I know what  the Bible means!"

His father smiled and  replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?

The son replied, "I do know!"

"Okay," said his father. "What does the Bible mean?"

"That is easy, Daddy..." the young boy replied excitedly," It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.'

*********
There was a very  gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible  to her brother in another part of the  country.

"Is there anything breakable in here?"  asked the Postal clerk.

"Only the Ten  Commandments.", answered the Lady.

*********
"Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and  say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who  wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's  morning."

*********
A minister parked  his car in a no-parking zone because he was short of time and couldn't find a  space with a meter.

Then he put a note under  the windshield wiper that read:
        "I have circled  the block 10 times. If I don't park here,
        I'll  miss my appointment. Forgive us our
        Trespasses."

When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this  note "I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job. Lead us not into
Temptation."

*********
There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news  and bad news.  The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your Pockets."

*********
While driving in Pennsylvania , a family  caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because  attached to the back of the carriage was a hand  printed sign...
"Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust."

*********
A Sunday School  teacher began her lesson with a question,
"Boys  and girls, what do we know About God?"

A hand shot up in the air. "He is an artist!"

"Really?  How do you know?", the teacher asked.

"You know – ‘Our Father, who does art in Heaven...’ “

*********
A  minister waited in line to have his car filled  with gas just before a long holiday weekend.  The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars  ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump.  "Reverend," said the  young man, "I'm so sorry about the delay . It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get  ready for a long trip."

The minister chuckled,  "I know what you mean. It's the same in my business."

*********
People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.

*********
Sunday, after church, a mother asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about.

The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt."

Needless to say, the mother was perplexed.  Later in the day, the Pastor stopped by for tea and the mother asked him what that morning's Sunday school  lesson was about.

He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is Coming."

*********

Monday, November 28, 2011

Things For Prayer

So posting via my homeland ISP, so that I will at least have a Monday posting!  I am unfortunately off with my mother at the hospital today.  Not real sure what is up and she is having some exploratory surgery - with any luck her doctors will figure out what it is they are looking for.  Your prayers today are greatly appreciated.  And as always with my family, her making her peace with God is always the most important issue....  but first I have to get up at 5am to drive down and get her to the surgeons by 8!  .....yawn.....

While mom is in surgery, I am going to work on my application to go to college.  It would be good not to be so bored around the house and maybe even be an example for a certain son.  But, to do so, I will need funding - so that is what my application will be for - and if I do this right, my ex-employer will get to pay for it - but the government gets to decide if I will get a grant or have them pay.  :^)  I would probably prefer to get certification as a gunsmith or go to a non Nazi run art school but neither would be elegible for grants.  So, I know computer technology - thus it would make sense to pursue my way through a degree in such.  Yeah, my doctorate work in apologetics seems to not be worth the paper it is printed on - at least to mankind.....  And, being a pastor has never been my calling!  It will be an interesting time on my pc as I figure this process out.  I have until Friday to get this right; Friday is my paperwork review.

It was an interesting Sunday:
I ran into African Missionary Girl, aka, Kim - whom married and moved to the east coast this past year.  She and her husband were here and it was great to visit with them.  She is no longer on Blogger so I get no updates from her.  So, it was nice to know she is alive and happy with her husband.
Italian Missionary Girl, now confirmed Virtual Fourth Daughter, also visited for a while and is quite excited to get together later this week for the first of our weekly meetings.  It is a load off of my mind and a prayer all week long that this will be going well - for whatever purpose God has brought this about over.  Scarey to know you are being used by God and not knowing why.
Then I needed to pick up some art supplies for Christmas projects and I ran into one of my missing college girls from last year!  She is from Baja, Mexico and as sharp as a tack - and so traumatized from her time in Mexico that she can not handle life.  She is MIT level smart and I really hope she will get her act together this year and get into college based on her robotics work over the past two years.  Lots of prayer needed here for her to manage this!  I hate to see brilliance wasted.....
And finally, my class today only had one show up.  Unknown to anyone, this class was to be on exposing Satan and his work.  Every time I present this material - almost no one comes.  It is like clock work.  Satan really hates exposure and it is amazing how so many can be so waylaid from attending on those exact Sundays!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Vasily Alekseev

I was traveling to a very small town on the northern edge of the Caucasus Mountains.  Through truly a "God Thing", I had found the two children I had been searching for to complete my family.  A town so small, I had to pay for a telephone line to be run to the village so that I could speak (through an interpreter) with the director of the regional orphanage!  What I was looking for would not have been found in person nor through words - but discernment only.  I had to know, if what I thought I knew, was true.

 Having confirmed this, I next needed to do some research on the area and figure out what to expect once I got there.  With my incredible luck, this was the scene of the largest tank battle in WWII and had been lovingly under German domination during the war (NOT!).  So, Germans were going to be hated even worse there than they had been in Siberia the year before.  Sigh.....

One interesting fact about this small backwater: Vasily Alekseev had retired here.  Vasily was the giant of the heavyweight lifting of the Olympics. 

It was 1972, in Munich, the summer Olympic Games.  "Carlos", the unconfirmed mastermind behind the  execution squad attack on the Israeli team (and confirmed scum sucking swine), had damaged the Olympic image.  The world was in shock.

But, then there was Vasily Alekseev.  He was destined to win two Olympic Gold Medals, become eight time world champion, set 80 world records and lifted a massive 645 kg (1,419 pounds!).  This man lifted more weight than anyone has ever come close to.  One of my favorite pictures of him was his lifting the engine end of a VW Beetle over his head, the front wheels still on the ground!  It took six of us teenagers to duplicate that lift!  Well, we were not exactly thinking that one through (hint: a few problems putting it back down.....  The history teacher was NOT happy that afternoon.).

When I was to visit his small town, I really wanted to meet the man but he was having severe breathing and heart problems the month I was there.  Though I was not able to meet with him, I was to meet a very friendly lady whom did know him personally and went to him to ask for his signature for me.  He sent me a flyer on him, which he signed.  She also told me that he was touched to hear that someone would come so far to help two of the orphans of his village.

Since his fame as an athlete, he went on to become a business man and a power broker in the region.  Last I had heard, he was training his grandson to become an Olympic heavyweight lifter - as he had been.  He was plagued by bad lungs, bad heart, weight problems and all of his joints were worn out.  He paid heavily for those Olympic years.

In spite of some of the stories I heard about him when I was there, he left a piece of his town's history for me to share with my daughters from there.  He did not have to, I would have understood, the girls had probably never heard of him anyways.  But, he chose to do something for children he did not know.  I respect that in any man.  I hope he made his peace with his Creator, prior to his death in a Munich, Germany cardiology hospital.  He was 69.

One death I feel the world is poorer for.....

Friday, November 25, 2011

Interesting

So it was an interesting day, yesterday.

Dinner prep went well, the turkey took 30 minutes longer than expected to cook but was just about perfect.  Stuffing was a bit different in consistency as I had used different types of bread to make it with - ciabatta might not be the best choice in bread for this!   Totally forgot the veggies, guess there is a whole lot of corn on the cob in my future.  And, based on the prior two years of disaster revolving around gravy - I bought some.  It was good - not clumpy or greasy - just perfect and oh so stress free!  Youngest daughter made pumpkin pies, which were great.

My mother is a bit tricky to be around.  She pretty much has no concern for anyone other than herself - a lifelong affliction, so not a pleasant guest.  However, she was well behaved for one of the few times in my life!  Gaelic Girl was subdued as she has pneumonia it turns out and mother broke two toes on her foot.  GG and mother have NEVER gotten along with one another - and they were both pleasant to one another for the first time EVER!  So, no fights, no yelling matches, nothing thrown or slammed!  Wow!  How different is that?!?!?!?!?

When I dropped YD off at her store this morning, it was standing room only in the parking
lot!  Wow, outside of a Christmas Eve, I am not sure I have seen so a lot so full of cars!

As I was driving back home the radio was reporting on some woman in California pepper spraying other customers so she could get the electronic items she wanted.  Yeah, and people say Californians are normal.....  I hope she enjoys the holidays in jail for that one!

Well, I am warmed up now and it is time to get back to clean up.....

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I am busy today getting ready for having my mother over for a first Thanksgiving Day together in a few decades....

Yeah, no stress here!

I am doing a German style cured turkey, chestnut stuffing, hatchepuut (mashed potatoes and carrots), gravy, corn on the cob, salad, Waldorf salad, biscuits, pumpkin pie and lemon lust.  hmmmmm!  Yes, a busy day.

Hope you have a great day and far more peaceful than mine will be.

Being A Blessing

Thinking on John 9:1-5.

The Pharisees were looking to assign blame for the man's blindness.  However, Jesus was looking at the opportunity to bless the young man and his parents.

Of course, given the events across the past several days, I am seeing this verse in light of how can I be a blessing to others.  Saint Francis of Assisi took this to the extreme - living his life completely for others - which may not be so far fetched as an application - or could be an over reaction for you to follow his example.

Consider:
1 Peter 3:18 - Jesus died for others
John 15:13 - "... to die for those we love ..."

I am not suggesting you go to the point of death to be a blessing to others (unless it happens to be God's obvious will in your life at that moment!) but, this is an example we can see of the kind of commitment we should have to one another.  For one it maybe death, for another financial sacrifice, or as happened with me - to actually drop all of my walls and get real with a hurting sister/virtual daughter at that moment in time.

Of course, the absolute minimum any of us can do is to get serious in praying for others - whose needs we become aware of.

Which brings to mind, that if you are going to be in prayer for someone, or even for yourself, you have to give  God the freedom to answer prayers His way.  That also requires you understand God is going to bless you, or others you are praying for, His way as well!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Things Better Not Known

Did you ever hear the old saying, "Never let the pastor babysit your parrot."?  Of course, the idea is that you really do not want the parrot repeating to the pastor what is said in your house.  By the same token, loaning out your teenager might be a bad idea as well.

Yeah, I have had a close friend's teenager staying here (yes, from Europe).  And what a handful!  He is a nice 15 year old kid, but his language really leaves a great deal to be desired - far too many swear words.  But, then again I know behind my back my kids swear like sailors are said to - and it is the very rare occasion I hear my father's words depart my mouth!  So, perhaps this young man is just mimicking his culture back home and not his parents.  On the other hand, I know the particular words he uses are those his mother uses in frustration.... Hmmmm.

But the real shocker was when I picked up my latest Sunset magazine to read, "Oh, you just got your Playboy?"  What the ........ ?????  Then it dawned on me, why would he even associate magazine, with "Playboy", if it was not something found in his home?

My mind actually hick-upped.  A brother of over 25 years, a solid Christian, whose weaknesses I thought I knew all of - apparently is slipping sideways.  His wife is going to kill him.

So young man was surprised to learn that there are no girlie magazines in my house and I really do not approve of such!  I think his mind hick-upped at that point!

It is not hard to notice that he is so filled with anger and rage.  Am I beginning to see the effect of sin within his family?  It breaks my heart but tells me what I must be praying for and about.

I have long suspected that the spiritual welfare of a family is directly related to the strength of the father.  Father fails - family fails.  Father can walk the talk - family has a chance of success.  Of course our children can choose to do right or to do wrong even without any outside input.

When my kids chose wrong - is it because I have chosen wrong?  Is it something in my life that headed them the wrong way?  Well, I hope to learn the answer to that question one day.  And I really hope the answer is no, I would like to know that I did the best I could....

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Turkey

"Hey, Pops!  Where's the turkey recipe?"

"Out on the recipe site."

"Nope."

And, she was right.  I have been so distracted for months that I have failed to complete restoring my recipes.  Sigh.

Ok, so my dear - and for those of you whom may care:
http://pleasures-in-cooking.blogspot.com/2006/07/dry-cured-turkey.html

It will be a quiet Thanksgiving this year.  Oldest daughter is hosting her own dinner, middle daughter is working, youngest daughter will be joining me, son is working, Italian Missionary Girl is traveling, but Gaelic Girl will be up here.  She heard something about snow and is quite excited to leave the Texan sage brush for some white.....

Friday, November 18, 2011

Soft Boiled Eggs

As I was trying to wind down last night and go to sleep, for some reason I began thinking about soft boiled eggs.  Now I have no idea why that came to mind but it was interesting to remember some humorous events associated with soft boiled eggs.....

Remembering that I am European - eating something as simple as a soft boiled egg can not be a simple process.  First there is the egg cup, of which there are two varieties - single and double.  The single is pretty simple - end of egg goes in opening.  The double is not as believed to either eat the egg from shell by inserting in the small bowl and the large bowl for cracking the egg and extracting contents into the bowl.  No, the large end is where you put your second egg to keep warm while you eat the first one inserted in the small bowl.  Except, which end of the egg goes into the small bowl? 

Well, there are two schools of thought - narrow and wide.  You actually have to look and see if anyone else is having soft boiled eggs and which end they are using to eat the egg from.  It would never do to offend someone else's sense of propriety by eating from the opposite end!  Always good to arrive early to breakfast so you can eat your egg the way you like it (from the wide end!) and force everyone else to eat from the wide end as well!

Next, we have the tiny little spoon you are to eat your egg with - and no, you do not crack the shell with the backside of the little spoon - how uncultured!  You gently tap the area to peel the shell way from with the side of your knife.

And then you have the egg to consider.  Those whom are egg connoisseurs will tell you that a three minute egg is perfect.  Yeah, if you like runny white near the yolk.  Of course, a five minute egg is well on its way to being hard boiled, not acceptable at all.  I like a three minute egg not plunged into cold water to hold the cooked point, but rather let it continue to cook from residual heat until eaten.

The last time I ordered a soft boiled egg was when I was on a trip to Detroit (what a disaster that one was!).  I was the only one in the restaurant that morning and so could hear the argument my order brought from the kitchen - how long do you fry an egg to make it soft boiled?  I almost chocked on my grapefruit juice I was laughing so hard.  The manager told me later he fired the two of them before the lunch service began.....

Didn't know such a simple subject could be so convoluted, did you?

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Sometimes They Get It Right

Several of my friends are conspiracy nuts.  You would not believe the volume of questions I get from them daily on what the latest and greatest conspiracy theory is they have stumbled across!

Now I am not someone whom buys into conspiracies.  I see conspiracies all of the time - but they are rooted in the spiritual world, albeit with very physical outcomes in our world!  My cousin's teacher hates him - well yeah.  Cousin is a Christian, his professor (whom I know) is so far removed from Christian thought that it is not amazing that the spirit within him can not tolerate to even be around my cousin!  My kids have a mean boss and whom deals 'unfairly' with them - want to take a wild guess as to why?  For no reason at all, someone - whom is probably a really nice person in reality - dive bombs your car on the freeway.  Why you?  Just take a guess.  Yeah. as Christians you need to be aware of what does go on around you and try to figure out why.  Kris' rule of thumb: If you are doing something right, then the most bizarre of occurrences are about to happen to you, to distract you or stop you if at all possible!

So, conspiracies do exist.  But, they are rarely of the kind my friends are always wrapped around the axle over. 

The latest one has to do with yet another theory woven around yet another UFO coverup and conspiracy to  turn us all into robots to serve the aliens.  But, the guy did say something that was spot on:
"....one of these days 7 billion people are going to be waking up and realizing that they have been wasting their lives...."

How truer can you get?  One day all of mankind, across all of history is going to wake up and realize that they had indeed been wasted their lives.  Unfortunately, by then it will be too late because at that point they will be facing the Judgment Seat of the Christ!  And I would include more than just a smattering of Christians in that crowd - whom have been serving themselves and not following the will of a God whom is not the fluffy teddy-bear they thought he was!  But, as I said, it is too late for them.

All the more reason we need to be getting our lives right with God and then being the witness He needs to reach out to our fellow man.....  It can be as small as being nice to the guy behind the Wendy's counter, or being honest with a cashier whom gave you too much change back, or even actually witnessing to someone you honestly care about.....

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Jesus, the Christ

(I really hate it when anyone says "Jesus Christ", who the heck is that?!?!?!? His name, for us in English is Jesus, Christ is his title or position if you will.  It is like saying Bob Brick Layer, Fred Major General or Kris Retiree!  Heavens, get it right Western Christians!)

Big idea here is: How Are You Answering The Most Important Question Ever Asked?

Reading and thinking on John 8:48-59.....

Who cares who Jesus is?
Is it important to you to really know?
Nothing is more important than your understanding whom Jesus is.
He is the center of your entire understanding and relationship!
What forms your faith/understanding/belief springs from this:
- the deity of Jesus.
He is God
He is the Son of God
His unique birth
His unmatched ministry (think on those miracles!)
His prophecy fulfilling death
His resurrection

Who do "they" say Jesus is?
Yes, even unchurched, unbelievers, disbelievers have a belief in whom Jesus is!
He is a butt of humor.
He is belittled.
He is "All show".
etc

But, all they see of him, is not the real Jesus.....

Who does Jesus say Jesus is?
The Pharisees understood very well what Jesus said to them.  In verse 59, he claimed God-hood!  And they sought then to kill him!
He forgave sin.
He healed the body.
He claimed knowledge in excess of his age.

 "I Am, who I Am" - the God of Israel.  Yeah, there were a little angered at that one!

Claims:
- The Way
- Son of God
- Power in Heaven
- Angels obey
- Judges man
- All authority
- Forgives sin
- Raises the dead
- Rest for your soul
- Came from heaven
- Divine human
- Sinless
- Eternal
- With you always (eternally)

Who do you say Jesus is?
You really do need to have an answer here.  You need to know whom Jesus is if you are ever understand what He did.
Was he a liar?  If so, the best one ever.  He died for whom he thought he was.
Was he a lunatic?  I think the Christian and non-Christian writers of his time discount that one.
Was he Lord of all?  Well, that is whom he said he was.....

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Guy Health Status

Thought you all might like to know how my friends and me are doing.

Dutchman is just fine, Swede will be in surgery next week for some horrible repairs, brother-in-law now has an artificial bladder and recovering from that, cousin and I are doing very well, and finally friend in Oregon is not returning emails but I heard he is off working on his new antique car.

Prayers do get answered!  That freak day, when all of us were in the hospital yielded some much needed repairs for one, emergency cancer surgery for one, and for me the knowledge that it was indeed the Canadian shellfish poisoning which took out one kidney.  grrrrrrrrr!

Although cousin may have suffered the worst of it (outside of those whom are having surgery!), it is good.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Why, God?

In John 9:1-3, we have a normal - natural question asked of Jesus.  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why did 'xyz' happen to me?  What did I do to deserve this?

Such as good verse for this day, as you read this I will either be in or being prepped for another cancer screening.  I may never fully figure out why I have to go through this, but I'm called in faith to live life's experiences out to its ultimate conclusion......

Refuse to draw straight lines!
In this verse, why is this man suffering?  The man probably had heightened hearing due to his blindness, so he heard the question - as well as the answer!  It is a standard question, something many of us might have asked or wondered.  Of course, the answer has to be sin but whose sin was it which brought this blindness upon this man?  Jesus answered it was no ones sin!  It is for God's Glory, at that moment alone!

Think of Luke 13, where twice we are told that SIN does not equal  SUFFERING !

Resist the temptation to tell others why you think they are suffering!
Remember that SIN does not equal SUFFERING.
Remember that PERFORMANCE does not equal SUFFERING.
We all deserve punishment!  Because of our Greek philosophical upbringing in our western culture, we want to see cause and effect.  But we are not smart enough to be right about how God works!
(However, if you believe that you possess the gift of discernment, then you already know that any knowledge God gives you is for the uplifting of the suffering person - not their condemnation nor to make you feel superior.....)

Realize that the causes of suffering are countless!
Personal choices can bring suffering but Jesus tells us we are not always right as to how or why there is suffering.
Numbers 12:1-16, suffering caused by sin
Jonah 1, suffering caused by another's sin
Job 1, suffering caused by Satan
II Corinthians 12, suffering caused to humble
Genesis 45-50, suffering causes growth for future service

Respond to suffering with spiritual discernment.
Be faithful, seek God.  It is about eternity.
Never stop seeking answers.
Learn your lessons.
Accept transformation.

Friday, November 11, 2011

To The Memory of Those Whom Fought On All Sides

Americans now call it Veteran's Day, but it was known as Armistice Day when I was growing up - the day World War I, The War To End All Wars, came to an end officially.  Unofficially, it was another eight months of hell for the Germans because the French refused to surrender their weapons and it was still open season on any unarmed German.  They never did do very well against the armed ones.  Little piece of history not exactly preserved in the victor's history.

But, this day held special meaning to me because I grew up on the Maginot Line, in the Ardennes Forest; the ruins wrought by WWI surrounding me.  Of course, with my love for history I was all over the place hunting, exploring, learning.  There were still villas which had never been repaired following that war, trenches and bunkers whose intent had to be deciphered, as well as, the original French fortifications whose narrow gun ports had all pointed in the wrong direction.  You would be surprised at what you can learn by observation and thought - thinking through how did a bunker fall, where did the shot come from which made a bullet hole in a wall or tree.  And let us not forget calculating where the German rail guns had been hidden, from impact data in Paris.  Fascinating stuff.

Of course, it is the early 1960's and no one really cared anymore, except around Verdun, where the French released mustard gas on the German forces, without checking the winds first and almost annihilated their army from existence.....  The gas still sits in the soil awaiting wind storms to pick it up and drop in the valley of tiny Verdun below.

I have never fought in a war, it has been my express desire since becoming a Christian to never take a human life.  As a child I would sit in those 50 year old trenches and peer over to where the enemy would be coming from.  What had the soldiers thought whom had lived and died in those trenches.  What made them climb out to rush head-on into the German lines and their heavy machine guns?  They had to have known they would die, yet they did it anyway.

I have known many WWI veterans, from all sides of the war.  None of them really wanted to be there, all of them were pretty sure that if they had killed anyone it was a complete accident - throw lead in the air to keep the officers happy.  Several held the Croix de Guerre, one even held the US Congressional Medal of Honor, if ever I can find a picture of him, I will tell his story - how to get a CMH and not kill a soul!  My favorite tale teller held the Pour le Merite (also known the as 'The Blue Max'), Germany's highest award for valor.  What I would have given to have his metal - not so much for value but for the memories we shared.  Of all of them, none wore their metals or ribbons, even on Armistice Day, save for a few of the French on this day alone.

Without exception, all of those I knew from WWI lost their faith in mankind, a few their minds, and a few more their faith in God.  How could mankind have fought so uncivilized a war - over so poor of an excuse for war?  Truly, it was the war of Victoria's spoiled grandchildren! Farmers from the US were not prepared to face German technology.  No one was.  Even being German I can say I am glad the Allied Powers were able to end the war, and as a German sorrowful that politicians were allowed to negotiate the terms of surrender.  That little sticking point was what brought WWII to Europe.

This is now the first year where there are no survivors from those trenches left alive.  And yet, their memory and their stories must live on - if ever we are to learn from history - so it will never be repeated again.....

Even as a Hutterite, therefore a pacifist, I still appreciate veterans and the price they have paid for their beliefs - on either side of a conflict.  To those whom have fought for the concept of freedom - I thank you.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Fighting The Enemy

Returning again to John 8:44-47.

Satan is like a master fisherman.  He is excellent at hiding his hook in the bait which mankind will most likely bite on! And, then you are his, or your witness has been destroyed.  But, then that is the entire point of the game he plays with all of mankind.....

Know Your Enemy!
Satan means adversary.
Devil means slanderer.
Beelzebub means Lord of the Flies.
He is also known as:
  • The serpent
  • The tempter
  • Prince of this world
  • Prince of the demons
  • God of his age
Make no mistake, he is your enemy.  You are at war with him.

 Study Satan's modis operandi (MO for those of you whom watch too much TV!).
Satan is a LIAR and a MURDER and has been from that first encounter with man.
His goal is to side track you from serving God and being an effective witness.
He will use:
  • Deception
  • Doubt
  • Discouragement
  • Diversions
  • Defeat
  • Delay
 Whomever is the weakest liink in your life - he will use to pull you from what you must be doing to serve God.  Question is, are you strong enough to stand against friends, family and loved ones - once you have identified them as being used by your accuser.....

Identify and Understand Your Weaknesses.
Know that all power is really God's.
That all wealth is really God's.
That your failures are really sins against God.  (To quote Bill Bright, sin - (exhail your) confession - (breathe in) forgiveness, his idea of spiritual breathing)
Resist the lies of Satan that would make you think otherwise!

Stick Together With Your Christian Family.
Love,
Forgive,
Serve,
Encourage.
Confession with - hold one another accountable!

Walk Boldly In The Truth.
You have nothing to fear....

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Is It A Cult?

So, the strange message I got Monday, was from a family whose college daughter they fear is slipping into a cult. 

Instantly, I can think back and realize she has never attended any of classes since I have been at that church.  So I am surprised how, this young lady is headed in the wrong direction.....?  Apparently, she has done two conferences with this suspicious group and very interested in going all the way through their offerings.  Think real $$$$$ here!

I am always the ultimate skeptic, so I am not going to consider the family's concern as valid nor invalid.  I have to do a little research to figure this out for myself.

Now the group in question is one of the many of the self improvement groups professionals consider to help invigorate their careers.  The internet presents them in the light of being a leadership training / self help / inspirational conference provider.  Now I know nothing about this group, but I do know of the ilk - my last company sent all of their golden boys to the offerings of similar providers.  A quick look at their web site and you can find that they address the usual problems Americans are troubled by: poor self image, poor communication skills, poor non-verbal communication skills, poor ability to interpret their surroundings, etc.  You can go for the big bucks and learn how to dress for success, talk like you are educated and successful, have real confidence in yourself, learn the latest ideas on teaming, etc. 

All external fluff, cause it is the inside of man that needs changed not their outside....  But we are talking the world's values here after all.  The founder has even written a book covering his ideas by comparing what the code of the samurai with what great leaders (like you should be) have in common.  You too can learn not be a loser.  Everybody wants that, right?  And yes, I did read quite a bit of the book - it is just not a subject I am interested in.

Whomever did their website design gets a Kris' Golden Gummi Award!  It is very well done - does everything to project the group in a positive light - and yet say as little as possible about what it is they do or what you can expect to gain from attending their seminars!  Its content is totally vacuous! And as a prospective client I am interested - why?

Since their site presents nothing about their product, very little about their instructors and lots about their benevolence activities - obviously we are looking at a group whom has public image problems!  Or, at the least. has taken flak from the public and so now are trying to show that they do benefit others.  At least that is the message one can get from reading through their site and what is not on their site.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

If we start with Dale Carnegie and his, I'm Okay, Your Okay, (don't even get me started on that guy!).  Continue on in time to seeing how eastern religions were combined with those ideas to form Eckankar, a popular 1970 through 1980's cult.  And then springboard into the millennium with numerous self help and positive image groups - you have to wonder why.

From a totally human perspective, I have no problem with any of the non-religious groups.  They provides a service for people to try and get ahead via attending.  But, I do have a problem with this young lady taking this route.....

Why?  Because she is a Christian.  To be thinking in such a way that she NEEDS this training in order to "get ahead", then her eyes have to be fully and completely focused on the world - not what she is called to be as a Christian.

If you are a Christian and you are having self image problems, you are wanting to "get ahead", you want to be in leadership, learn to communicate better - have I got an offer for you!
  • Turn your eyes back upon Jesus
  • Get down on your knees and humble yourself before Him
  • Turn off the TV, pick up your Bible and start to STUDY it
  • Go to a real Bible school where relationship not religion is taught
  • Go on the mission field or into service for Him, not yourself
If you can do this, you will have accomplished not only everything you will have been seeking but also all in an eternal sense.....

Now, my advice to the family?  Try to woo her away from the world and its success she is hungering for.  Encourage her to attend Ecole Hall in Cannon Beach, Oregon for a year.  Her church is heavily involved in missions in Seattle, Mexico, Liberia, Chile, etc.  So, plenty of opportunity out there - just within their sponsorships.

Failing this, try to support her discovering she is not a loser and if she hates her life - change it!  Get a different job, better education - even at night, whatever it is that will help her gain the confidence in herself she lacks.  Going to a conference and not changing anything back home, is not going to help her in the long term.....  Will she go, I would bet on it.  Will it hurt her, I doubt it.  Will she succeed because of it?  You never know how God is going to either frustrate your activities or use them for His benefit - not yours.

Prayer item.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Of Family, Friends and A Horrible Day

It was a day for the books, I tell ya.....

Yesterday, I drove down to where my mother lives, a little over an hour from here, to have lunch with her and my sister.   And, weren't they both in just a mood!  I have seen stray cats in my yard get along better than these two hissing and spitting females.  If anything, my presence merely gave them something different to hiss and spit at.  Kris, however, does not do well in these situations so I was torn between being an adult and getting their faces - or - being a complete smart ass and mocking them.  Wanna guess which one I chose?

As I said, it did not go well; I may not have chosen wisely.  It is really unfortunate I never was able to crack the education and training of my early years in European schools.  I have often considered that I am far too polite and willing to take far too much (flak) from others - in the name of politeness.  Especially, when in reality they just need a good smack upside their head with a brick.  Sigh.

Unfortunately, I really wanted a few hours alone with Sommer so we could talk about father.  The major reason I have created my little biography on him is so that his last wife (and possibly any of the other 7) whom might like to remember him, could have a little memory book.  (Yes, their versions would be heavily edited not to include other wives, etc..)  With any luck, I will have it done come the end of next year - but I really need my sister so I can work some of her material in.  Being the golden-child, her perspective is a little different than mine.  Sigh.

Then back home was bad news that my mining friend of so long ago is now bedridden, his lumbars apparently collapsing and leaving him unable to sit up or walk.  This makes me very sad to think of him in this way.  Even sadder in that, when I was down visiting him last January for his birthday, he totally shut down any attempt to witness to him.  God has got to - well God has got to nothing - but I tell you this man really needs to make peace with his Creator mighty quickly....  Maybe you can add Dick to your your prayer list for the next few months.

My only other message was a strange request for some counseling advice from a family in the church I barely know.  But, I will save that one for tomorrow because you might be interested in the subject matter and it will be a bit long to explain.....

Monday, November 7, 2011

A Shooting Hits Too Close To Home

If you are a long time reader you know that the travails of my teenage son have driven me to distraction over the past 18 months.  Pretty much he has been in fail mode for the whole of this time and I am at the point where nothing would surprise me any more - I thought.....

So, Friday night he and his friends all decided to go out on a group date.  What?!?!?!? My son is going to do something right for a change?  Yes, indeed, it seems he is starting to think about past failures and actually changing behavior to what that "grumpy old man" told him was the way to do things.

But, the night did not go too well.  Since I already have heard this on the international news services, in all likelihood, you have heard about this already, as well.  You also probably saw his last ex-girlfriend being interviewed!  ( I miss her she is a sweet kid....)

So, son comes home from having watched, The Tower Heist, with his coed group of friends and is pretty chipper.  He roams off to play video games - I retire to my continued codeine haze for the past two weeks.

A little past two in the morning, he is on the phone with one of the "hotties" of the group when she is killed by a hail of bullets.

Seems she went over to a local parking area, down by the water, nice area actually.  But, still what was she doing there at 2am?  Yeah.  In any event. two gangs got into a shouting match and one group decides to teach the other a lesson and pump some rounds into the cars in the parking lot.  No one apparently knew the girl was in the car - she took four rounds.  Loud mouth from the unarmed group caught one round when he dove behind the car.  Shooters take off, unarmed group calls the paramedics and the police, then they find the girl.

I am hoping son sees this as a wake up call - that trash talking others can have dire consequences.  At least I hope he learns a lesson from this.....  And like so many kids around here, she really could have used a relationship with Jesus.  Sigh.

As for the kids around here, they are all in a bit of shock.  Many knew her, heavens, even I had run into her several times in the past few months.  I was really surprised when I saw her picture on the news yesterday - I did not know her name, she was just a nice, normal kid.

Simply amazing.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Musical Saturday Morning

This video dates from 2009 but the music from 1980's so it works in keeping with my musical theme.  For some reason I always thought that Debbie Harry did this, so was surprised to not find it under any Blondie works.  Nena I guess is whom it was I was remembering.  Well, as you will see they look so much alike!

Oh yeah, the English title is 99 Red Balloons, in German 99 Luft (Air) Balloons.  It was written as a satire concerning the Berlin Wall and how even balloons were perceived threats....

Friday, November 4, 2011

Nervous

So, I am nervously sitting here, waiting to go to see the specialist in an hour.  I am not really looking forward to this.  I dread the thought of hearing the "C" word again.  But, then again, you are stuck with the cards you are dealt and God promises to get us through whatever life throws up in our lives.  Sigh.

Gaelic Girl is coming up this afternoon, my sister flew in the other day, mother is wound tighter that a set of pig-tails on a 7 year old girl and the kids are all being nice.  Middle daughter even brought over some movies and bottles of ice tea to keep me awake and happy.  Hmmmmmm, maybe there is a positive side to all of this?

Swede is up for surgery in a few weeks for whatever they are going to do to him and his condition - it sounds worse than what I imagine will happen to me.  Dutchman is up and about, as are all of the others whom all ended up in the hospital on the same day!  Which is good - though really freaky.  I had so many at church last weekend comment on how utterly bizarre it was that happened all at once.  It was not like we were all out drinking contaminated water or something!

UPDATE:
All of the tests proved nothing other than impaired kidney function.  So nasty tests in two weeks.  Great, just great, they do think it is cancer.....

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Oh Fudge-icles!

I heard that from one of the kids at church and had a hearty laugh over that one!  Wonder how much frustration it takes for a five year old to get stressed that bad.  LOL!

But that is a good post title for this week!  Seems yours truly finally managed to do an overdraft on his checking account!  First time ever.  Luckily, I do have overdraft protection but still it really irritates me to make a blunder like that!  So, I had to figure out what went wrong.....

I usually keep $300 in my checkbook as a zero balance so I never have this problem.  My math is indeed so bad that +/- $100 when I balance is about as good as it ever gets.  Then twice a year I write no checks and see what my balance comes to at the end of the month and we begin again.  No, using a calculator does not help - big fingers, tiny buttons - same problem I have with cell phones!

In the end, it turned out that a loan I took out to pay for father's funeral trip costs had a pay date of the 15th, but I did not know that - so had budgeted to pay on the 30th.  Well, since I did not have the payment amount on the 15th, they drew down my savings to zero, maxed my VISA card, zeroed out my checking account and then hit me with $60 in fees to make a point.  Yeah, Kris is not a happy camper now with no savings and negative checking and credit limits.  Grrrrrrr!

As I told God, well thank you for the gentle reminder.....  Now, I really could use some money, any ideas God?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Another Raspberry Moment

So, I was to lose it again on Sunday morning.  I am running late, because I came home late Saturday - I was out playing with Swede after all, then I overslept, kitchen is a disaster thanks to my persona non-Grata son and so I pick up a bunch of stuff off of the table to go in the refrigerator.  I open the refrigerator door and

SWOOSH!

Out comes a cascade of refrigerated products the kids had just thrown into the refrigerator - not even bothering to set things on the shelves!  The worst of it was a tub of margarine that exploded when it hit the floor and then rolled across the kitchen and the diningroom living a trail of grease in its path.....  I lost it.

I threw everything in my arms on the floor and began screaming - out of my sheer frustration with the unbelievable pigs infesting my life!  So great my frustration - I hauled off and kicked one of my counters!

Now you have to remember that although Kris is a pacifist, he was trained to do horrible things to people by the military in his younger years.  The kick was perfect, the one inch thick plywood crumbled under the impact.

Yeah, I now have a very clean floor, a broken counter, extremely well behaved children, and a broken heal bone.....

Another extraordinary event in the history of Raspberry Moments and eight weeks of hobbling again on crutches.  Tomorrow is CAT Scan day neck, foot, abdomen - such fun.