Some years ago I heard a dear older missionary read a poem about going back to the field, and it had the recurring line, “I’m going back. Are you?” I’ve tried googling that line and other search possibilities, but I can’t find it. Has anyone else heard of it or know any more about it?
Monthly Archives: July 2008
Book Review: Peculiar Treasures
I had enjoyed all of Robin Jones Gunn‘s Sisterchicks series, so when I saw a new release from Robin titled Peculiar Treasures, I picked it up.
If I had realized it was a continuation of the Christy Miller series, aimed, I think, at teens and younger women, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up since I am not in that target audience. But I am glad I did. It was a good story, plus it was a reminder of the kinds of things women that age face.
The story opens with Katie’s maid of honor duties at Christy’s wedding. Katie has just finished her junior year of college, has summer school classes, a part-time job, an “almost boyfriend,” an almost-rival, an offer for a new job and level of responsibility, questions about her major and direction in life, hurts from the lack of involvement and care from her parents an incredibly busy senior year ahead, and adjustments to make as one friend has just gotten married, another friend and her husband are expecting their first child, and another friend is out of the country.
How did any of us ever survive that time of life?
But Katie survives and thrives, growing and learning along the way with grace and humor.
I think this book is not only good for women in this age group but also for any of us who have women in this age group in our lives. It’s a good reminder for those looking back and an encouragement for those looking ahead that God’s grace is sufficient for even the busiest seasons of life.
A big sale for the frugally minded…
..or those who want to learn how to be more frugal.
TODAY ONLY you can get an incredible ebook package from MoneySavingMom.com–over $100 worth of money-saving ebooks, homemaking helps, and encouragement for only $5.97. She’s offering a lot of good stuff a great price and I’d highly recommend you run over here and check it out.
What makes this deal so good is that this ebook package includes the ecourse Supermarket Savings 101–this course alone is worth much more than $5.97 and will teach you how to drastically reduce your grocery bill. If high fuel and food costs are discouraging you and leaving you strapped for cash, I’d encourage you to check out this ecourse. You’ll learn how to cut your grocery bill by up to 50% or more.
Go here
to read more about this huge sale! Hurry, though, the price goes up tomorrow.
Book Review: Mistaken Identity
I had seen the book Mistaken Identity on bookshelves, but hadn’t really looked at it. I thought it was fiction, and I had read other fiction books with a mistaken identity plot line, and, though they were interesting reads, there was still an air of unreality about them. This couldn’t really happen, at least not to this extent where closest family members are mistaken.
But it can. And it did.
I caught an interview with the families on one of the evening news magazine programs, and my heart was knit to theirs as their faith shined through their tragedies. I then went out and bought the book as soon as possible.
Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerak were among several university students riding in a van back to school after working at a banquet when they were all involved in a horrific accident. Five people died, and Laura was taken to the hospital with several broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. Only it wasn’t Laura: it was Whitney. She was misidentified based on a nearby purse with Laura’s driver’s license in it. Though at first glance the girls look different enough to tell apart, when you look at individual features, they share an uncanny resemblance. Laura’s family had no reason to believe this girl was not Laura, and all the little inconsistencies could be explained by the accident (calling her sister by four different names, for instance, was consistent with the type of brain injury she had). Whitney’s family had chosen not to see her body; they wanted to remember her as she was.
It was not until five weeks later, when Whitney was able to communicate a little more clearly, that they realized she had been misidentified. The Ceraks were at first unbelieving but then overjoyed to find their daughter alive while the Van Ryns had to come to terms with their daughter’s death, and they all had to deal with unwelcome media attention during these events.
What touched my heart even more than their stories was the way their faith was evident at every turn. The Scriptures shared at various junctures perfectly upheld them, though of course it did not take away from the pain they experienced. Their grace in dealing each each other, the truck driver who caused the accident, and everyone along the way is evidence of God’s grace in their lives.
In Isobel Kuhn’s book, In the Arena, she quotes I Corinthians 4:9 (“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men”) and explains that Paul probably had in mind the Roman arena where Christians were thrown in to be devoured by wild animals. Our trials great and small can have multiple purposes, but, she says, one of them surely is to reveal God, His power, character, and grace as it is worked out in His people’s lives (not only to people, both believers and unbelievers, but to “principalities and powers in heavenly places“) . I often think of that when I hear news stories that have captivated the nation and then find out that the people involved are Christians.
One of the paragraphs that most grabbed me was a journal entry by Carly, Whitney’s sister, before she knew that Whitney was still alive:
Death is Satan’s greatest way to attack this world. Amazingly, then God takes what Satan uses to attack us and uses it to bring us together and reveal Himself the most. Through Satan’s greatest strength, God’s power still overcomes and is stronger.
I had never thought of death in that way, but it is so true that even at Satan’s strongest point, God overcame not only to resurrect those who have died but to provide immeasurable comfort to those who are left behind.
I highly recommend this book to you.
Bloggy Carnival Giveaway #2
Comments are now closed. The winner of this giveaway is #41, Nikki at Angels of Heart.
Melanie is once again hosting the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival this week where hundreds of bloggers are giving away some really neat things!
My second giveaway this week is the book Changed Into His Image by Dr. Jim Berg along with the corresponding workbook, Taking Time to Change.
I have read this book at least twice, maybe more, and should probably make it a yearly event. Dr. Berg originally wrote it for his daughters as they neared adulthood, and it developed into a handbook of how to live a godly Christian life. Both the Scriptural instruction and clarifying illustrations are tremendously helpful.
You can download the first chapter here.
If you’d like these resources, just leave a comment on this post. I am happy to ship anywhere. If you don’t have a blog, be sure and leave an e-mail address so I can let you know if you win. I will draw a name Saturday morning.
A blogging anniversary
Sunday the 27th marked my two-year blogging anniversary.
Wow!
According to my blog stats I have had 1,154 posts, 11,125 comments, and 41,421 spam comments.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this medium of communication and hope to continue for a long time to come!
I should do a give-away or something. But the Bloggy Give-away Carnival is this week, and I want to do something for that, though I haven’t decided what yet.
So I’ll take this opportunity to answer the Blogging Questionnaire made up by Kate at A Simple Walk which I originally saw at Elle’s of A Complete Thought.
1. Do you keep a running list of blog post ideas?
I do keep a running list where I jot down ideas that I don’t have time to develop but don’t want to forget in the meantime. A few of those have gone on to become blog posts, but most of them are still waiting there…
2. Do you only blog on certain days and about certain topics?
Usually I blog whenever something comes to mind to blog about, but on the days I participate in regular weekly memes, like Show and Tell, I try not to blog about anything else that day so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.
3. Do you limit the number of memes you will participate in? And if so, what qualifications must a meme meet in order for you to join?
I don’t have a numerical limit, but when I see a few interesting ones around the same time, I might either space them out or do them all together so I am not doing one a day. My only qualifications would be that I’d have to be able to write somewhat creative or interesting answer (I’ve bypassed some just because I couldn’t think of any responses), and that it not be off-color in any way or too personal.
4. Do you keep your family anonymous, or do you use real names?
I use all of our real first names, but I don’t use our last name.
5. Do you feel guilty if you don’t post for a few days?
Guilty? No. It’s more like I’m afraid people will forget me if I don’t post regularly. 🙂 But I have let a day or two go by without posting if I am busy or just don’t have anything worthwhile to blog about.
6. Are there any off-limit topics that you will not blog about?
Anything too personal.
7. Do you monitor your blog stats on a regular basis?
Yes, at least the ones on my WordPress dashboard. I am signed up with Sitemeter but don’t get full benefit of it because WP doesn’t allow javascript links, which Sitemeter needs to fully process all the stats they do (Argh!)
8. Do you ever sit and stare at your computer monitor, waiting for inspiration to hit, only to give up and decide to just post tomorrow? (Or, even better, when that inspiration does not hit, do you think “Oooh, I know, I’ll ask everyone else about their blogging habits!”)
🙂 I do stare at the computer sometimes like that. Sometimes I wait, sometimes that’s when I’ll do a meme or share interesting links I’ve found or post something funny.
9. Do you, without fail, refrain from blogging on any certain days of the week?
No, I blog most days, but Sundays it’s often just a poem or hymn or quote, because Sundays are busy for me and seem to be for most of my readers as well.
10. Do you do most of your blogging in one day and then just publish throughout the week?
No, it’s more off-the-cuff with me, though if I am blogging about something very important or delicate, I’ll let it sit and incubate for a day or two or three and then come back to it to make sure I’ve said it the way I really want to.
11. Do you limit the number of posts you will do on any one day?
Not specifically, though the more posts you do in one day the more likely some are to get lost in the shuffle. Some blog visitors will only read the post at the top, so if I have something I feel is really important, I’ll only post that for the day or I’ll make sure it’s at the top for that day.
If you’d like to do this questionnaire, too, be sure to let Kate know.
And thanks to those of you who come by and read these “stray thoughts!” Ultimately I want to blog as unto the Lord, but I do have to admit that personal responses are nice as well. I have met some amazing people through blogging!
(Photo courtesy of the stock.xchng.)
A discussion for Taste of Homes fans
My friend Ann at From Sinking Sand is disappointed with the new Taste of Home magazine and explains why on her blog here. If you are a fan, or used to be a fan, I’m sure she’d love to hear your thoughts on the discussion at her place.
Saturday Scavenger Photo Hunt: Hanging
Theme: Hanging| Become a Photo Hunter
Though this isn’t the most picturesque view of it, this is Spanish moss which hangs from a lot of trees in the Charleston area.
It’s used a lot if floral arrangements, and at the time we visited it was illegal to just pick it off the trees, because then probably too much would be stripped off.
I thought we had a picture of one place we visited that had a stream and a bridge and full, shady trees just dripping with Spanish moss, which was a really pretty setting — but all I could find was this one.
The Saturday Scavenger Hunt is sponsored by TN Chick.
Show and Tell Friday: Grandma’s albums
Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home hosts “Show and Tell Friday” asking “Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there’s a story behind your special something, that’s even better! If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your “Show and Tell” on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky. Guidelines are here.
My mother-in-law, at the age of 80, has tons of pictures, but there are three albums that are exceptionally special.
One is a scrapbook my nieces made when my in-laws celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary several years ago. I didn’t take a picture of the outside of it, as it is just a plain blue scrapbook on the outside. But on the inside there are multitudes of pictures of the various family members and a few close friends who gathered together for that special occasion.
This is my husband, his parents, and his siblings then:
They also passed out a piece of decorative paper to everyone who attended and asked them to write a little something about what Jim’s parents meant to them or congratulating them, etc. My children were — I think ages 3, 9, and 12 — and here are their entries:
The second album is one my husband put together after his dad’s funeral. His dad had an added-on room at the back of the house that they called his “smoke room.” He never was able to kick his smoking habit, but he took it outside, which, of course, can be quite cold in the winter in ID. So this room had a small wood-burning stove, big flannel jackets on nails, a TV, his tools, and various odds and ends. A lot of times early in the mornings or later in the evenings, he could be found out there, and a lot of times the family members gathered out there. My husband took pictures of that room while he was there for the funeral, knowing that someday it would probably be cleaned out or rearranged or just otherwise different, and he wanted to remember it just as it was. He also took pictures of the various family members who were able to come and a few discreet pictures at the funeral (not the part in the church, but at the graveside). All of that seemed too personal to share here, but I did want to share one picture from the funeral that shows two veterans saluting the coffin:
That almost brings tears to my eyes every time I see it.
The final album is another one our nieces made, this time for my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday just before she moved here in July. It was the first time since the funeral in 2002, I think, that all four kids were together.
Her birthday cards were inserted in the back pages.
These albums have become her treasures, and it is special to go back and look through them.
Some of the other things her daughter has sent here from ID are several pictures. We’ll have to figure out which to hang up in her room and which to take out of frames and put into albums, but I’ve enjoyed discovering some of the older ones, like this one of Jim’s Mom — I’m guessing maybe in her 20s.
And this one of his parents I think during their dating days.
Don’t they look like they’re right out of a 40s movie?
Thanks for having a look at these special albums and scrapbooks with me. I’m sorry the pictures aren’t the best quality — I was having trouble with the lighting in the room and the flash with the lights off being too bright, but the pictures without them aren’t terribly clear.
You can find or share more treasures at the site of our hostess, Kelli, at There’s No Place Like Home.
Repost: The Claims of Christ
I first posted this on October 5, 2006, and for some reason it has been on my heart to post it again. Perhaps someone reading needs the truth of these verses.
Some years back I read that someone said that Jesus Christ never claimed to be God. I was astounded that anyone would say or think that. Sure, He never stood on a mountaintop and said, “I am God” in those exact words. But He did proclaim His Deity. The next time I read through the New Testament, I put a “C” (for “claim”) next to every verse I found where Christ claimed something about Himself. Here’s what I found:
1) When the devil tempted Him to throw Himself off the pinacle of the temple if He was the Son of God, Jesus answered, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” I think He was referring not only to the situation of doing something foolish and expecting God to intervene, but I think He was also referring to Himself as God who should not be tempted. (Matthew 4:5-7)
2) He claimed the authority and the ability to forgive sins.
Matthew 9:6: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (In Mark 2:5-11 and Luke 5:18-25, those listening to that claim acknowledged that only God can forgive sins, but they did not accept that Jesus was God: they thought He was blaspheming. His subsequent healing of the man was to give them something they could see that demonstrated Who He was.)
3) He claimed to be greater than the temple.
Matthew 12:6: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
4) He claimed to be greater than Jonah.
Matthew 12:41: The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
5) He claimed to be greater than Solomon.
Matthew 12:42: The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
6) He confirmed that Peter’s proclamation of Him as the Christ, the Son of God, was revealed to Peter by the Father.
Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
7) He claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath (in response to the Pharisees fussing about his activities on the Sabbath).
Mark 2:29: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
8 ) He proclaimed His purpose in coming was to give Himself as a ransom.
Mark 10:45: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
9) He claimed to be the Christ.*
Mark 14: 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
10) He claimed to be the One whom Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms foretold and the One in whose name repentance and remission of sins should be preached.
Luke 24: 44-47: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
11) He claimed to be in heaven even while He was speaking to someone on earth, indicating omnipresence.
John 3:13: And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
12) He claimed that whoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:14-16: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Also John 6:47; 10:28-29)
13) He claimed to give “living water.”
John 4:10, 13-14: Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water….Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 7:37-39: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
14) He claimed to be the Messiah.*
John 4: 25-26: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
15) He claimed to be the Son of God many times over: here are two examples:
John 5: 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
(The reaction He got indicates they understood what He meant in claiming to be the Son of God.)
John 9: 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
(See also John 10:36)
16) He claimed that whoever heard His word and believed on Him that sent Him would not come into condemnation, but would pass from death unto life.
John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
17) He claimed that the Scriptures testified of Him.
John 5:39: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
18 ) He claimed to be the bread of life.
John 6:35: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:48: I am that bread of life.
John 6:51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
19) He claimed He would raise up those who believe on Him at the last day.
John 6:39-40: And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
20) He claimed to be the light of the world.
John 8:12: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
(Also John 9:5)
21) He claimed to be from above and not of this world.
John 8:23: And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
22) He claimed that if whoever does not believe in Him would die in their sins.
John 8: 24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
23) He claimed to be not only before Abraham but to be the “I am” who spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:13-14):
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
(The reaction to this statement shows they knew exactly what He meant [though they did not accept it] and to me this statement is one of the strongest proofs of Christ’s deity.)
24) He claimed to be the door of the sheep.
John 10: 7-9: Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
25) He claimed He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
26) He claimed He is the good shepherd.
John 10: 11, 14: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
27) He claimed to be one with the Father.
John 10:30: I and my Father are one.
28 ) He foretold His betrayal so that when it happened they would know who He was.
John 13:18-19: I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
29) He claimed to be the true vine without Whom we can do nothing.
John 15: 1, 5-6: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
30) He claimed that we have peace in Him and that He had overcome the world.
John 16: 33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
31) He claimed that eternal life is knowing the Father and Himself.
John 17:3: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
*For an explanation of what is meant by the terms “Messiah” or “Christ,” please go here and put the term “Messiah” in the search box. (I couldn’t get the direct link to the definition to work.)
Well, I think that adds up, don’t you? If I have overlooked any, please let me know in your comments. Some of these make more sense and have greater meaning in context. There are other things that attest to Christ’s Deity: the fulfillment of prophecy (something I did at the same time as this study was to also put a “P” in the margin beside every verse in the gospels and the first few chapters of Acts which spoke of some prophecy being fulfilled), His works, the testimony of others, the testimony of the Father (”This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well-pleased.” )
I hope and pray that any of you who have not recognized Him as Lord and Saviour would believe on Him even today, and I hope that the faith of believers will be strengthened by these truths.
(I am submitting this to Thursday Thirteen for the day though there are more than thirteen claims.)
Stray Thoughts 
