Ancestor or Just Plain Silliness?

I was able to watch Ben Stien's "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" the other day and would like to encourage any and all who come across this blog to watch it as well. I dosen't really matter what your view on science, biology, or evolution is. This movie is intended to challenge, to pose questions, and encourage others to do the same. Intelligent debate about "Intelligent design" is being thwarted in a field of study that is meant to be challenged, science. In this country we can challenge such things and yet we do not. It was pointed out in the movie that Poland has more freedom in education reguarding how we came to be than we do and scientists who study such hyopthesies in France are treated with a measure of respect while those the "Land of the Free" are losing positions and tenure for slightly mentioning they might take it seriously in seeking answers. Answers to questions that Darwinism does not have viable answers to. Saying they cannot know how life began on earth because they were not there.

I believe in the God that was there and I believe it happened just as He says in the amount of time He tells us. I believe Him in Genesis because He is the "God, who cannot lie" of Christianity (Titus 1:2)

Click the photo for a little bit of an update.

A Busy Week

This week my usual flexibility has been spoken for by an occasional employer who has been very gracious. God has used them often in these last seven years to provide hours when nanny times have been sparse and when I've needed an extra bit of cash for this and that. The parents left for France on Friday and asked me to be a single parent in their absence. "Mom" who is extremely organized has arranged for family friends and neighbors to help out with pick-up from school and various weekly activities, which is a great help, but from 6:30pm to 7:30am They're all mine. This weekend we held a spy convention at the house creating legends and IDs for the neighborhood boys as well as nearly missing a baseball game one of them was to play in.

The time is, however, bitter-sweet. I recieved a call yesterday from dear, dear friends, a brother and sister in Christ, with a request for help that I really wanted to provide for them. God has blessed me so often with the ability and availability to say yes to so many things and I wanted to do so yet again but that door of ministry in time of need was closed. God is faithful to those needs that we don't even know are coming and has provided for the family who needed a helping hand and also for my sanity. Having two boys with heavy after-school schedules made the decision to say no heart-breaking and yet simple. Should the situation have been different I would not have hesitated to say yes, but the answer was no before I even knew what the question was.

Many prayers will be offered for the brother and sister and daily help will be offered by the Body of Christ. The members acting together for the preservation and benefit of one another. All of this will be done because of Christ's love dwelling in us for His glory. He is faithful to meet every need that may arise and meet it to the very end.

I thought I may drop into CA (hopefully more like a controlled landing) in October but my time is better spent here for now.

September 16th

View Larger

view the picture larger by clicking here

Psalm 104:5-9

5 (The LORD) set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At your rebuke (the waters) fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.

9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.


The hills of "the Ozarks" are witness to the power of God. Fossils found here are more common in areas near the sea or grand lakes not the land-locked central US (vs6&8). Caves in this area act as drains for much of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri (vs7). Nature compensating for what would be a massive flood-plain, I think not. God has made provision for His creation (vs9).

What You Been Up To?

Well... let's see...

You know it's really hard to keep up with more than a couple of things. I've found that in order to do even half of what I want to do with my flickr photos and visit friendly blogs on a semi regular basis something has to go by the way-side. And it turns out that this is that thing.

Fortunately it's more like the gutter of a bowling lane rather than that of a rubbish filled ghetto street. Still useful and sometimes visited :>)

So... I'll try to post once or twice a month and keep sane in the process.

Here's hoping many of you have a great school year and others a great nine months.

Some pregnant, most not :>)

Here's something cute to look at while you eagerly wait for my next post:

Watermelon Wishes

I have written before of smells that I love. Some are associated with people and others with places or things and I can't help but take a moment to reflect on that noun that they remind me of. Back in April I wrote of a smell that I associate with the warm days of spring and summer. The smell is that of a freshly cut lawn. I again caught a reflective sniff of such a day or so ago and remarked in my thoughts how closely it resembled that of a watermelon that has just been cut into. An instant smile arose from the thought and I've been longing for watermelon ever since.

Today's my 28th birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

Have a great "my birthday"!

Click the Pic to see what I've written about this special day.

The Funniest Thing I've Seen Today

A little view of my world today

This morning my boys and I made our way to the $1 summer feature at our local theater and was disappointed when the projector died and had to find entertainment else-where. So... we made our way to the market to pick up a few items needed for the house; milk, Cheerios, ham, juice, etc., etc. Then we took our "break today" at McDonalds Playplace. Therefore 2yr old little "O" was sufficiently worn out for his sleep.

As usual he made a little fuss as I carried him up stairs and put him in his cot, so I told him "night, night", closed the door and made my way down the stairs to play Chutes & Ladders with 4yr old "Z." We were both somewhere around #50 when the irritated cry from upstairs quieted and then made a comeback as more of a "I'm hurt, so come save me" cry. I made my appoligies to "Z" and hobbled upstairs to find "O" pinned between the side of the cot and the wall. However, I was without a camera and therefore must leave the scene up to your imagination.

There were many things that began to run through my mind but the first thing to escape my lips was "I told you it wasn't safe to climb out of your cot." Feeling vendicated, I then began to smile over the hilarious picture that presented itself and make my way over to the distressed toddler. I was greeted with a very appreciative hug (or maybe he was just hanging on for dear life). So after a moment of absorbing this display of affection, I placed the boy back in his cot and retrieved the comfort blankies he had obviously tried to get for himself and all was well. Sleep soon came and the scene was brought to a close. But I must honestly say that it was indeed the funniest thing I've seen today and perhaps even in a great while because is it continues to bring quite a grin to my face and a light to my eyes.

Enjoy your days!!

Lil' Buddy

Hey some of you know Jordan. She' taking the move a bit hard and needs a shout-out so drop by and encourage a sista'

YahooS

Click the Pic to see these YahooS Better

Back from camp and trying to get back in the swing of things.

Happy B-Day Lo-Lo

Keep The Light On

This is a picture of a lighthouse originally constructed near Cape Cod (East Coast) in 1881. It was thought until last year that it was taken apart and discarded in 1925 but recently an historian based in it's original location discovered that the lighthouse was just relocated and is still in service today about 25 miles south of San Fransisco.

Last year we had a pastoral intern join our youth staff. He was accustomed to a large church atmosphere and spending the last year of his internship in a small church was to serve as a different experiance to help offer a more well rounded youth pastor to some unknown church. Recently he and his wife canidated in Colorado and he recieved a call of invitation this Sunday. It's and exciting time for them and our little youth group. Even though we are sad to see them move on we know that the light they have to offer is needed elsewhere.

We've learned a few things and have tried to offer a bit of knowledge of our own over the last year and pray that the transition to ministry in Colorado will be smooth for them and those they will be ministering to as well as with.


Jake and Candace,
We've been blessed and hope that you have been as well through this year of ministry at Hope. We know that God will be honored in this new endevor and pray that you will see His hand working in your ministry.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Park Pics

I took the boys to the park the other day. Here's a pic or two.

The Older eventually hoisted the younger over.

Climbed the tree for this one.

Firsts

Okay so this is my very first posted video along with my very first posted song. I've wanted to post a song for a while now but couldn't figure out how. Then it hit me make a video with one. So I did. I thought this picture would look much better than me playing my guitar in a messy little apartment.

There is so much more I wanted to do with the video but maybe I can get to that later.

Enjoy!

________________________________________________________

Don't Waste Your Life!

"The greatest cause in the world

is joyfully rescuing people from hell,

meeting their earthly needs,

making them glad in God,

and doing it with a kind, serious pleasure

that makes Christ look like the Treasure He is."

Challenge: What are you doing to let your life be of profit. By "of profit" I mean profitable to God. Not to your bank account, or your reputation, or even your friends and family. How are you being of profit to God. He redeemed you if you are a believer. He paid a price for you to be freed from slavery to sin so that you could be in service to Him. So... how have you profited you Master today. Did you read His love letter to you? Did you converse with Him? Did you tell another of his splendor and majesty?

Eat your wheaties people.

It's time to get busy.

What Do You Value?

Remember that lovely angelic friend that I mentioned in a post last month? Well, she was teaching our LiFE Kids class again last night and as usual I learned something even if the kids didn't. We've been going through the character of God with these kids for the past eight months or so and will soon be wrapping up for the summer break that our teachers enjoy and this year our kids will too. So far the teaching has been pretty easy to follow but last night the lesson was on God's being righteous while a large part of it focused on God's glory being valuable above all else. A day later, I'm not sure what the connection was but I'm sure it was evident last night.

Okay, so let's get down to the nitty gritty.

The thing that left an impression on me was something that Ms. C said as almost an Anacrusis or pick-up note to a main point. In speaking of a miracle of God she said something about not putting value on the miracle in place of God Himself. It struck me then that we (I) can find ourselves trusting in or placing an undo amount of value on that which God has done by not recocnizing the value of He who accomplished it.

The miracle that came to mind for me is the most amazing miracle that I've witnessed, my salvation. The changing of one's heart is truly a great act and can only be truly accomplished by God. The Creator of this vessel has every right and power necessary to do so while a loved one, parent, or spouse has neither. God is the Author and Accomplisher of Salvation. But am I trusting in what happened one night over a decade ago or the God who accomplished it? Do I place more value on what He has accomplished or He who had the power to do so?

My prayer is to know and trust the God of my salvation more and more so that I may value Him more...

and more

and more and more

and more and more and more

and more and more and more and more

and more and more and more and more and more

and more and more and more and more and more and more

and more and more and more and more and more and more and more

...

My Buddy

Two posts in one week! What was I thinking?

As a kid I had one of those "kid sister" dolls.

I have since grown up a little and have a new friend.

This is now "My Buddy."