Honoring the Fathers In My Life

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Barbara Harper

My father passed away several years ago, but I want to honor his memory. He did not come to know the Lord until 6 years before he died, and though he had a lot of problems, I honor the position the Lord gave him as my father. He did love me in his own way and tried to do right as he knew it. One of the major things he taught me was to have respect for those in authority.

I want to honor my step-father. I honestly had problems with the idea of a step-father having any say in my activities when I was 15. I have written here and there that after I became a Christian, God had to teach me that honoring and obeying my parents was a matter of obedience to Him regardless of whether they were Christians or were doing what I thought best. After that I wondered how a step-father fit into the picture. Then one day I realized that Jesus had a step-father — Joseph. The Bible says Jesus was subject to both Mary and Joseph, even when they didn’t understand him (Luke 2:50-51). Over the years I have come to greatly respect my step-father as a steady, dependable man who cares for his family, is an extremely hard worker, and would do anything in the world to help those he cares about.

I wrote earlier about my “spiritual mom,” Mrs. C, and the godly influence she was in my life. Mr. C was a shining example of a Christian father to me, and I am so glad the Lord brought them into my life.

I honor my husband as a caring, thoughtful, sweet, fun, loving companion and father to our boys.

And I honor my heavenly Father who gave me life, loves me dearly, brought me to a saving belief in Christ, speaks to me through His Word, shows me His love and care in a hundreds of ways every day.

Here are a few other Father’s Day posts from the archives:

Dad’s Famous Sayings

Favorite Father’s Day poems here and here

Jokes for Father’s Day

Favorite quotes about fathers

Fathers and sons, good and bad

Paul Harvey on Fathers

A couple of memes about dads

From Rob at ivman, a job decription for dads that is both funny and poignant.

Laudable Linkage

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Barbara Harper

Here are a few posts that especially caught my attention this week:

A new normal. How does one ever get back to “normal” after something horrible has happened? “God shook the snow globe of my life, and some truths that were obscured by complacency have now taken a more prominent place in my thinking.”

What to do when the compliments don’t come. Excellent.

When You Take the Scraps of Lies and Make a Truth Quilt. Even if you don’t make a quilt, applying the truth counteracts the lies we’re prone to believe about ourselves.

The Great Awakening of the 21st Century, a renewed focus on grace. “I knew I was saved by grace, ‘To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.’ Eph 1:6 …but was I to be accepted in the body of Christ only when I did the right things? Were the only people approved by God the ones who kept The List too? And I noticed other people had different lists.”

Motherhood as a Mission Field. ” It is easy to become discouraged, thinking that the work you are doing does not matter much. If you were really doing something for Christ you would be out there, somewhere else, doing it. Even if you have a great perspective on your role in the kingdom, it is easy to lose sight of it in the mismatched socks, in the morning sickness, in the dirty dishes. It is easy to confuse intrigue with value, and begin viewing yourself as the least valuable part of the Church.”

It takes darkness and light to make a good book. Yes! I appreciate Sherry’s balance here.

A Faithful Man…Proverbs 20:6. This is a note on Facebook, but I think it is public so all can read. It’s a tribute to Justin Ridley, whom some of you knew or knew of, who died in an accident at a Christan camp a few years ago. My middle son happened to be at the camp that week, and many people were profoundly influenced by Justin’s life and death. Justin’s mom was the first person to reach out to us in our new church.

Thoughts on Simple Church (House Churches). Good analysis of the benefits as well as the concerns.

How to make a Bible notebook.

Ten Suggestions for Missionary Presentations. Unfortunately, the drive to compact speech into sound bytes affects even missionary presentations, but these are good tips to make them more concise and effective. On a side note, I’m so glad the churches I have been in have generally given a whole service to visiting missionaries rather than asking them to squeeze their life’s work into x number of minutes.

He would be what he wanted to be. Interesting that boys don’t generally dream of being daddies like girls dream of being mommies, but here is one sweet book about that dream.

When being silent can cost you in relation to blogging, HT to Laura Lee Groves. Balance is something most bloggers struggle with almost constantly, but it is true that the more time you invest in other people’s blogs, the more visitors and commenters you’ll have in return. Setting up a blog is not like moving into a new house where people know someone is there by the moving van in front of the house and the increased activity, lights on at night, etc. When you move into the blogosphere, no one knows you’re there unless you tell them or visit them first (or unless you write something unique that shows up on search engines). But of course we should visit and comment sincerely and not just to get return visitors.

And here’s a dose of funniness:

Happy Saturday!

Friday’s Fave Five

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Barbara Harper

Welcome to Friday’s Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, in which we can share five of our favorite things from the last week. This has been a wonderful exercise in looking for and appreciating the good things God blesses us with. Click on the button to learn more, then go to Susanne’s to read others’ faves and link up your own.

Here are a few faves from the past week:

1. Good results from my annual mammogram, plus just getting that over with for another year is a fave as well.

2. Dinner for Six. I think I mention this every time we participate, but it IS a favorite every time. Dinner for 6 is a program at our church where they divide participants into groups of six people who then take turns hosting each other for dinner over the next three months. It’s a great way to get to know people beyond what Sunday morning small talk allows. We had our first dinner with a new group this past Monday and just enjoyed it completely.

3. Framed cross stitch. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago having some great framing coupons at two different stores, so I was able to get my finished cross stitch pieces framed. I just got them back this week and love how they turned out.

Now I just need hubby’s help to hang them up. I really need to learn how to deal with the drill for these things that need more than just a nail to hang upon.

4. An exercise mat. I’ve started the Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout for the Kinect (and I’m feeling it!), but was horribly uncomfortable with any of the exercises on the floor until I got this.

I like how the strap keeps it rolled up and provides a handle as well.

5. Ceiling fans. I’ve mentioned AC on FFF before, but even with that I still sometimes get hotter than everyone else, especially while exercising or cooking. Ceiling fans really help provide extra coolness in the room I’m in so I don’t have to freeze everyone else out and run the electric bill higher by turning the AC down.

Happy Friday to you all!

A day of funny observations

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Barbara Harper

Yesterday I was scheduled for my annual mammogram (I almost said something on Facebook about having a smashing good time but refrained for the sake of the men and teenagers who read there, not to mention my own kids. 🙂 ) In the waiting room with me was an older man and his even older mother. I doubt she was there for the same procedure, but the office there did all kind of imaging.

He was filling out the form for his mother, and said aloud to her, “They want to know if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.”

She responded, “Breastfeeding.”

I looked up to give him a smile over what his mother said, but he continued filling out the form as if what she had said was perfectly normal.

It was kind of bizarre. But it did strike me as terribly funny.

I thought maybe one of both of them thought the question was whether she ever had done either, but then, she would have answered yes to pregnancy, too.

By the way, when I bring up funny things elderly people say or do, it is not to make fun of them. It’s more in the same vein as bringing up funny things our kids said or did as they were growing up. Though sometimes with the elderly the fact that their brains don’t always make the connections they used to can be sad or even disturbing, most of the time with my own mother-in-law, we take the stance that it is better to laugh than to cry or be frustrated.

Then last night I noticed the extra toilet paper rolls in the ladies’ restroom at church were labeled with the brand name “Heavenly Choice.” Appropriate, yes?

And I got a text message from someone during church last night, and when I reached down to turn off the phone I checked the text message as well. It said, “Hey, this is Asa.” I don’t know any Asa, but since that’s the name of an Old Testament king, Jim later suggested I should have responded, “Hi, this is Jehoshaphat.”

🙂 🙂 🙂

Hope you have a good day — it’s been a week of errands and I am off to take care of some more.

Two reviews: The Judgment and Mine Is the Night

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Barbara Harper

The Judgment by Beverly Lewis is the second in The Rose Trilogy about two Amish sisters, Rose and Hen, whose lives took very different turns due to their choices. Hen married an Englisher, an outsider, but now that her little daughter, Maddie, is getting older, Hen becomes concerned about the worldly influences her husband Brandon allows and she misses the wholesome influence of her heritage. In the last book she took Maddie and went to her parents’ home, going back to Amish dress and customs. Brandon is infuriated and unwilling to compromise on any point. Hen struggles with her vows before God to her husband when honoring those vows would be detrimental to Maddie.

Rose has become secretly engaged to Silas, but her heart still hurts over the departure of her best friend, Nick, adopted son of the bishop. Nick never came completely to terms with Amish ways in his heart, and an accident resulting in the death of his brother has the whole town sure Nick was at fault. So Nick leaves, and his adopted father is under the threat of being removed from his office as bishop due to Nick’s behavior. Meanwhile, a former member of the community, Rebecca, has come back to help a young mom with twins, and Rose can’t help but notice her own fiance’s enthusiasm as he renews his acquaintance with Rebecca and can’t help but wonder what it means.

I enjoyed this book very much and appreciated that it brought up some different twists to the genre. Hen’s struggle, in particular, is very relevant to the problems that arise when a person of faith marries an unbeliever, problems with no easy answers. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series due out this September.

Mine Is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs is the sequel to Here Burns My Candle, both books based somewhat on the life of Ruth in the Bible but set in 18th century Scotland. This books begins with Elizabeth and her mother-in-law, Marjory, arriving back in Marjory’s home town nearly destitute, hoping to prevail on the good graces of her cousin for a place to stay, yet they are both tainted by their previous affinity for the Jacobite cause. Ruth finds employment in the household of a handsome admiral, and her industriousness and kindness (as well as her beauty) draw his notice. Of course, as this is based on the Biblical Ruth, the reader knows where this will lead, but it is still an enjoyable story in finding out how they get to their destiny. As I said with the first book, it’s probably best enjoyed as a story on its own merit without comparing it too much to the Biblical version except for the “bones” of the story. For instance, we have no record that the Biblical Naomi found another love interest after the death of her husband or that she was proud, haughty, and unkind before being humbled by circumstances as this story’s Marjory was. I don’t begrudge Marjory finding happiness in love, but that whole subplot as well as three different women proposing to their intended husbands in that era seemed a little implausible. It’s a lengthy book at 480 pages, but it didn’t take long at all to read. Liz is an excellent storyteller, and it was easy to get caught up in and enjoy this tale.

Here are trailers for both books:

(This review will also be linked to Semicolon‘s Saturday Review of Books.)

Flag Day

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Barbara Harper

June 14 is Flag Day. I’ve been sad to see a regard for this symbol of our country declining over the years. Maybe we’re too far removed from the days of waiting, hoping, praying through the night to see if “the flag was still there.” I think we take our freedoms too much for granted. No, we don’t “worship” the flag, but we honor it and what it symbolizes and those who fought for it so we might be free.

I posted this once before but it is a good reminder:

I Am Old Glory

I Am Old Glory: For more than ten score years I have been the banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans.

Born amid the first flames of America’s fight for freedom, I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group of thirteen colonies to a united nation of fifty sovereign states.

Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American Faith my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions.

Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage.

They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity.

They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men.

So long as men love liberty more than life itself; so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.

Originally written by Master Sergeant Percy Webb, USMC.

The Week In Words and a Giveaway Winner

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Barbara Harper

Welcome to The Week In Words, where we share quotes from the last week’s reading. If something you read this past week inspired you, caused you to laugh, cry, think, dream, or just resonated with you in some way, please share it with us, attributing it to its source, which can be a book, newspaper, blog, Facebook — anything that you read. More information is here.

Here are a few that spoke to me this past week:

Seen at Semicolon:

“When the storytelling goes bad in society, the result is decadence..” ~ Aristotle

That seems a very true development in our society.

From a friend’s Facebook:

“Your children need a relationship with Christ more than they need comforts, sports, education or popularity. You are their primary source for knowing Him.” ~ J Kenney

From the May 30 reading of The Invitation by Derick Bingham concerning John 12:28:

Christ was willing t0 suffer whatever was necessary if only the glory of God would be promoted. If people were to think better of His Father through what they saw in Him, that was what really mattered.

The second sentence struck me as the essence of what it means to glorify God.

From Mine Is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs, p. 33:

However grim Reverend Brown’s countenance, however dour his sermons, this was where she would spend each Sabbath, finding a secret joy in the holy words themselves.

This was both an encouragement and rebuke to me. I’ve admitted to getting frustrated and discouraged with particular types of preaching that are the speaker’s “take” or thoughts about the text rather than a drawing out and a giving the sense of the text itself, or preaching that is a ranting and raving style. But if I have “ears to hear,” I can take great joy in the Word of God itself that is being presented.

And finally the winner of the giveaway of Warren Wiersbe’s With the Word and a couple of other little surprises from last week’s WIW is Katrina at Callapidder Days! Thanks so much to all who entered!

If you’ve read anything that particularly spoke to you that you’d like to share, please either list it in the comments below or write a post on your blog and then put the link to that post (not your general blog link) in Mr. Linky below. I do ask that only family-friendly quotes be included. I hope you’ll visit some of the other participants as well and glean some great thoughts to ponder.

Don’t forget to leave a comment, even if you don’t have any quotes to share! 🙂

The Old One Hundredth

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Barbara Harper

I came across this old hymn flipping through a book yesterday and realized I hadn’t heard it in a long time. It is based on Psalm 100, and an interesting history of it is here. “Old 100th” is also the name of the music by Louis Bourgeois.

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

~ William Kethe

Laudable Linkage and Videos

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Barbara Harper

I have just a few to share with you this week:

I am happy, I just express my happiness in a different way than you. Great encouragement that it is okay to be an introvert! And maybe helpful for those who do not understand introverts.

Time In. I haven’t liked the idea of “time out” for a number of reasons, and this presents a good alternative.

Richard Dreyfuss reads the iTunes EULA. HT to Challies. This is kind of funny: actor Richard Dreyfuss reads some of the technical “end user license agreement” and such like. It does make it easier to understand hearing it that way!

Onesie and pants set — cute baby shower idea.

My son shared this on Facebook:

I’d be afraid of bits of balloon going down the dog’s throat (that was always among the dire warnings I heard with babies, not to let them mouth or chew on a balloon lest it pop and part of the balloon choke them.) But love his enthusiasm and joy.

And this is just amazing:

Friday’s Fave Five

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Barbara Harper

This was one of those weeks that wasn’t bad, but wasn’t really filled with a lot of standout great things, either — unlike last week when I kept a running list all week lest I forget one of the many good things I wanted to recall. But that’s one thing FFF is good for, looking for highlights that we might otherwise miss. Here are a few:

1. McAlister’s Deli. I may have mentioned them before, but we hadn’t gotten anything from there in a long while. I almost always get a Memphian and a cup of one of their potato soups. I did notice when I went to pick up our take-out order that they have cake slices now….but I resisted. This time.

2. Rain. Though I prefer non-rainy days, we do need rain sometimes, and it’s been pretty dry lately. A brief thunderstorm yesterday helped a bit, and I think we’re due for more over the weekend.

3. The CD Wondrous Love by James Koerts. Our assistant pastor mentioned it on Facebook, and I clicked over and listened to some of the samples. I love choral music, but sometimes I love really beautiful instrumentals, too, and this CD of great piano arrangements of hymns has been played a lot at our house since I got it.

4. Jeopardy on Facebook. The last thing I need is a new game addiction, but this is limited in how much you can play, so that helps, and I set aside Wheel of Fortune to play this. Sometimes it makes me feel really dumb! But most days it helps stimulate the ol’ brain cells.

5. Willing, cheerful volunteers. Jim has always divided up the lawn-mowing with the boys, and now, of course, we only have one boy left at home. A few weeks ago when Jim had a really busy weekend, I suggested to Jesse that perhaps he could go ahead and get the grass cut on his own. This morning I was pleased when he did so on his own initiative.

Then last weekend we were getting Jason and Mittu moved into their new apartment. I don’t know why we didn’t think of calling people for help — maybe because we weren’t sure of the exact times we’d need it or more likely because we felt they didn’t have all that much stuff. But after Jim, Jason, and Jesse went to SC to get their things out of our old house there, getting off to a later start than planned, and then got back here it was after 7 p.m., and they still had to load their things here and then unload everything at the new place. While we munched on pizza, Jason texted a young couple who has befriended them to see if they were doing anything and wanted to come help. As it happened, their plans for the evening had been canceled, and they did come. Just having two extra pairs of hands helped immensely. Jim said he didn’t think we would have gotten everything unloaded that night without their help.

And now Jason and Mittu are happily setting up housekeeping in their new place.

Have a great weekend!