VMI Band in Rose Bowl Parade

You may be interested to know that the VMI band will be in the Rose Bowl Parade... on January 1, 2008!!! It begins around 10AM CST. John is the piper major, and they are unit# 24, just behind the Rose Bowl President's Float. The Rose Parade will be broadcast on ABC, NBC, Univision, HGTV, Travel Channel, Discovery HD as well as KWHY and KTLA in the Los Angeles area. The Parade is also seen in more than 150 international territories. http://www.tournamentofroses.com/roseparade/

Oliver North's "Persons of the Year"....

My "Persons of the Year" are men and women who voluntarily took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies." Though fewer than 3 percent of their countrymen know a single one of their names, they continue to make extraordinary sacrifices while wittingly and willingly going into harm's way on our behalf. They are, on average, just 20 years old, yet they are brighter and better educated than their peers in the same age bracket. All of them have been entrusted with the awesome responsibility for the lives and safety of others, and all of them are held accountable for what they do or fail to do in carrying out that responsibility. During the past six years, my "Persons of the Year" have spent an average of 31 months far from friends and family and the comforts of home. Tens of thousands of them have been wounded, and more than 4,000 have been killed defending our nation from radical Islamic terror. Many celebrated Christmas this year on lonely patrol bases where even the most basic amenities -- showers, sanitation facilities, drinkable water and hot food -- are considered luxuries. Like Time magazine's Vladimir Putin, my "Persons of the Year" ride around in armored caravans because evildoers want to kill them. But unlike Putin, most of my honorees wear heavy protective vests and helmets and frequently have to use the weapons they carry. Though Putin frequently speaks about making life better for his people at some point in the future, my honorees actually are doing it in two countries. During 2007, my "Persons of the Year" built more than 575 schools in two countries, opened nearly 500 public health clinics and hospitals, provided clean drinkable water for more than 6 million people and electricity to about the same number. While most Americans prepared for Christmas by hunting for gifts imported from China, my honorees were hunting for deadly improvised explosive devices imported from Iran. If you haven't figured it out already, my "Persons of the Year" are the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan -- the very ones with whom I spent most of the month of December. Unfortunately, Time magazine, like most of the so-called mainstream media, has a long history of ignoring the good being done by young Americans in uniform.

tribute to Benazir Bhutto by Condoleezza Rice

Here is a text of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's message of condolence for slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto: I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Bhutto, to her supporters and to the people of Pakistan. She was a woman of courage and a champion of democracy. Her legacy will be one of commitment to freedom for her people and deep love for her country. Condoleezza Rice

American War for Independence

I gave this set to Gilbert for Christmas.

American War for Independence: Men and Battles

I just listened to the first CD and learned a lot of background re British culture....no wonder we won! But it scares me a bit to think about the future in regards to our present-day American culture! All I can say is "Onward Christian Soldiers." Let's pray and work for the advance of our Lord's kingdom ....these earthly ones seem to be built on sand!

Lillback, Wilkins, and Wilson blaze a trail of early American history wide enough to fit seventeen cranky liberal historians abreast. These lectures dispel popular myths about the American War for Independence (or as the British often called it, the "Presbyterian Rebellion") and illumine the triumphs of unsung battlefield saints, such as Israel Putnam and Francis Marion.

The following topics are included in this set :
1. 18th Century English Clintons - Steve Wilkins
2. The Black Regiment - Douglas Wilson
3. Richard H. Lee - Steve Wilkins
4. God and General Washington - Peter Lillback
5. Israel Putnam - Steve Wilkins
6. Valley Forge: The Battle for the Soul of America - Peter Lillback
7. Francis Marion - Douglas Wilson
8. Paul Revere & the Midnight Ride of the Huguenots - Peter Lillback
9. The Battle of Saratoga - Douglas Wilson
10. Questions & Answers - Lillback, Wilkins, & Wilson

The Top 12 Blunders of the Presidential Campaign....

The Top 12 Blunders of the Presidential Campaign From John Hawkins over at TownHall: 12) Mike Huckabee attacks Romney's religion 11) Mitt Romney "saw" his father march with Martin Luther King 10) Obama's Flag Pin and National Anthem Flap 9) Hillary's campaign says Obama is a coke-dealing Muslim liar who has been lying since kindergarten 8) Fred Thompson skips New Hampshire For Leno 7) Southern Fried Hillary 6) John Edwards' running feud with Ann Coulter 5) Fred Thompson's rejection of a Constitutional amendment to ban abortion 4) John Edwards' $400 Haircut 3) John McCain supports the Senate amnesty bill 2) Fred Thompson gets in the race late 1) Hillary's drivers' licenses for illegals flap

Black Russian/White Russian

From dark to light, Justin Brown and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will explore the contrasting works of two of the most influential Russian composers. Virtuoso Vadim Gluzman plays Shostakovich's passionate and soulful Violin Concerto No. 1, and Maestro Brown follows Tchaikovsky's troubled but ultimately life-affirming Symphony No. 5 next weekend January 4 and 5. Gilbert and I are going on Friday night, the 4th! Can you join us? Listen here Concerto No. 1 in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 99: I. Nocturne - Adagio by David Oistrakh, Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra

The Holy Innocents

...... notes and prayer from The Daily Office about The Holy Innocents:

We read in Matthew 2 that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod, fearing for his throne, ordered that all the male infants of Bethlehem be killed. These children are regarded as martyrs for the Gospel -- "martyrs in fact though not in will." Augustine called them "buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves."
written by James Kiefer

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Daily Office

Merry Christmas

Joy to the World! The Lord has come. Let earth receive her king!

Our Lord's coming.....

Last night we enjoyed a service of lessons and carols. Joyce and Jessica Terry, Vicki Winstead, Don and Laura Steele did a superb job of choosing and presenting songs coordinated with the bible readings reflecting progression from "promise to fulfillment, prophecy to realization, type and shadow to reality" ....bridging the advent and Christmas seasons. What a blessing!

Here is a quote from St. Augustine on the Lord's "coming."

"The first coming of Christ the Lord, God's Son and our God, was in obscurity, no one recognized him but his own servants; when he comes openly he will be known by both good people and bad. When he came in obscurity, it was to be judged; when he comes openly it will be to judge."

diligence....

Anonymous The diligent man has a hard day, but the lazy man has a hard life.

Missions

A really good NT Wright Quote....."Christianity did not spread by magic. It is sometimes suggested that the world was, so to speak, ready for Christianity: Stoicism was too lofty and dry, popular paganism metaphysically incredible and morally bankrupt, mystery-religions dark and forbidding, Judaism law-bound and introverted, and Christianity burst on the scene as the great answer to the questions everyone was asking. There is a grain of truth in this picture, but it hardly does justice to historical reality. Christianity summoned proud pagans to face torture and death out of loyalty to a Jewish villager who had been executed by Rome. Christianity advocated a love which cut across racial boundaries. It sternly forbade sexual immorality, the exposure of children, and a great many other things which the pagan world took for granted. Choosing to become a Christian was not an easy or natural thing for the average pagan. A Jew who converted might well be regarded as a national traitor. Even slaves, who might be supposed to have less to lose than others, and hence to appreciate an elevation of status through conversion, might face a cost: as we saw, Pliny thought it normal to interrogate, with torture, slave-girls who happened to be part of the early Christian movement. We have no reason to suppose that interrogation under torture was any easier for a young woman in the second century than it is in the twentieth."Why then did early Christianity spread? Because early Christians believed that what they had found to be true was true for the whole world. The impetus to mission sprang from the very heart of early Christian conviction. If we know anything about early Christian praxis, at a non- or sub-literary level, it is that the early Christians engaged in mission, both to Jews and Gentiles....This missionary activity was not an addendum to a faith that was basically 'about' something else (e.g. a new existential self-awareness). Christianity was never more itself than in the launching of the world mission."

Evangelism Opportunity.....

Muslims and Christians at the Table: Promoting Biblical Understanding Among North American Muslims

This book gives a very good analysis of the growth of Islam in North America in context of our culture and theology. I can't find my book at the moment, but intend to read this again when I find it :-). There is a new mosque in Hoover. Another didn't get the permit to build recently. Gilbert and I attended a philanthropic fundraiser put on by one community of Islamists, the Agakahn group, ?sp who were raising money for relief in the middle east....seemed to be a very good work. Pray that we Christians will let our lights shine to the world around us and help these people created in the image of God know Him in a more personal and life-giving relationship, that they will repent and be baptized and brought into the true community of faith. Also pray that the Lord will forgive US already IN HIS COMMUNITY for our lack of enthusiasm and faithfulness, that WE will turn and DO His will (on earth as it is in heaven!). The book gives good practical tips on befriending muslims (and all others of diferent faith)...some basic guidelines for friendship evangelism.

an advent prayer.....

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. BCP

A Faith That is Never Alone

This is a response to Westminster Seminary California. You can order it here: http://www.lulu.com/content/1189642. Our own Pastor Rich Lusk is a contributor.......as well as other respected theologians you will enjoy!

“Combining careful, thought-provoking exegesis with a deep indebtedness to Calvin’s emphasis on union with Christ, the contributors to A Faith That Is Never Alone engage in stimulating theological reflection on the relationship of faith and good works. While their conclusions will no doubt elicit a wide range of responses from the Reformed community, they cannot be easily dismissed. In short, A Faith That Is Never Alone is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate over justification.” Douglas J. Green Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology Westminster Theological Seminary

Abortion Politics 2008

Here's an article from First Things with some serious thoughts about voting IF Giuliani gets the Republican nomination.....http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=6085

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree....

I put up our Christmas tree last night. It looks nice. This is the 2nd year I have used the artificial one. In years past the boys were always working the Boy Scout Christmas tree sale but usually we couldn't afford to buy one there, so we would always wait until the trees came onto the lot at Mazer's, 84 Lumber or one of the Home Goods stores.......I would gather up James and Gray and we would ride down and find the two biggest ones we could locate on the lot. We used to always get a 10-12 foot tree "in the good ole days :-)". But alas, I am very happy with the 6 foot artificial tree which I put upon the top of the coffee table......... so it looks like it's about 10 feet tall!!!! ......sweet!

Parmesan Shortbread

I haven't tried this, but I intend to. Perhaps it would be like cheese straws..... 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp 1/2 t salt 1/4 t ground black pepper pinch of cayene pepper 8 ounces grated parmesan cheese 1 cup all purpose flour Preheat oven to 350. Mix butter, salt, black and cayenne pepper at low speed until blended. Add cheese and flour alternately and mix at low speed until smooth. Shape dought into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-1/8 inch thickness and cut into desired shapes. Bake on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake until light golden, about 13-15 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes then transfer to racks to cool completely. ....doesn't that sound good.......I won't get to attend Sarah's cookie swap this year, but if I did, I'd take this! I'll let you know how it turns out when I try it!

Fresh Flowers

There are some occasions when fresh flowers simply make the difference in how a special celebration looks and feels.....Flowers bring a sense of cheerfulness and classical beauty! This is a combination of white "innocence" roses and Christmas greenery. I made the arrangement and it was the centerpiece at mama's birthday party....I have always been a little nervous about flower arranging, but with the help of a few books on the topic, trial and error, and a little obsessive compulsiveness about whether this bloom is in the right place or not, I think I have had some stunning results (if I do say so myself!).

.....Fred's stand on the issues

The choice is clear if we look at the candidate's stand on the issues.... http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Fred_Thompson.htm

80th Birthday

My mother (Rose Mary Semon Nettles) was born born Dec 3, 1927. We celebrated her 80th birthday this weekend with a nice party in Selma, Alabama. All her children and grandchildren were present except our son, John and Tiffany's son Braxton. ....that means Cindy/Gilbert, Mary Jane/Clay, Rose Ellen/Michael and Johnny/Tiffany and 20 grandchildren were in attendance. AND in addition, Mama's siblings, Uncle Manny and Aunt Dessie made it and friends from UMW, PineBelt, the surrounding communities AND some relatives drove from neighboring states to attend! It was a happy occasion for all and we're planning to do it again in 20 years!

A Collect for Sunday

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of you Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Advent of our God our prayers must now employ. And we must meet God on the Road with hymns of Holy joy. The everlasting Child incarnate deigns to be. Selects a servant's life to live, God's people to set free. Before the dawning day let sin's dark deeds be gone, and all our old life put away, our new life to begun. All glory to the Christ who comes to set us free, with God and Spirit ever One throughout eternity Words: Charles Coffin (18thC), tr. John Chandler (19thC)

like Miss Congeniality, I'm for "World Peace"....seriously

Pray for peace among nations. Pray for President Bush, Secretary of State Rice and members of their teams as they continue to instigate the peace process between all the key parties. Pray for wisdom and strength at every turn as they influence these leaders toward peace. Presidential Prayerteam Notes Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. BCP

Today marks the beginning of the Advent fasting in the Coptic Church. BLESSED IS EGYPT MY PEOPLE (Isaiah 19:25) The Coptic Church is the Egyptian Church, Copt and aygipt are the same word. The Coptic Church began its history as established by St. Mark the Evangelist in the first century of Christianity. It is now more than nineteen centuries old. We notice that In the Old Testament we have a prophesy concerning the Coptic Church. As it is written in the Book of Isaiah the prophet, Chapter 19, "there will be an altar in the midst of Egypt." Why did our Lord chose Egypt for His altar? That is something special. Egypt was a land of civilization and great history. Its civilization began more than 3,000 years before Christ. The Bible references key people that visited Egypt enriching its civilization. Some of these key figures are: 1) Moses, the prophet, who was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. 2) Abraham, the father of fathers; 3) Jacob; 4) Joseph, Jacob’s son; 5) the twelve tribes of Israel; 6) Jeremiah, and others. The crowning point of the sojourns was the visit of the 7) Holy Family at the beginning of Christianity during the childhood of our Lord. Egypt was blessed by the visit of our Lord, and it was the only country in the world, except for His birthland, that our Lord visited. Many miracles took place there during the visit of the Holy Family and many places were blessed. Many churches have been built in the places where the Holy Family lived. These churches are holy places visited by people from all over the world. We implore our Lord, Who completed our salvation by coming down to redeem us from the bondage of sin, to help us to do what is pleasing in His sight during this holy fast and through all the days of our lives.

Thanksgiving .... at the Glovers'

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing.....

A day in the life of a military chaplain....

Here's a very moving letter from Dolly's mom with an account of a day in the life of a military chaplain. Don't forget to pray for our military men, women and their families.

Bury St Edmunds

When Rosemary and her papa visited England a number of years ago, they went with Noel Leithart and the children to visit the quaint town of Bury St. Edmunds and see the museums and abbey there. While there they saw a small crowd of people gathered near the abbey. Gilbert happened to strike up a conversation with a nearby Constable who told him that Prince Charles was in the abbey....and if they stood nearby he would be exiting at a particular point. They stood around and as Prince Charles came out he stopped right where their group was standing and shook hands and welcomed them....what a nice chap he was! One of the prince's interests is restoration of ancient abbeys and cathedrals in England, so that was his mission of the day there at Bury St. Edmunds.... and it made for a memorable day for Rosemary and Giii! Here is a little background about how Bury St. Edmunds got its name......it's literal! Edmund of East Anglia, 20 November 870 When the heathen Anglo-Saxons invaded Christian Britain in the 400's, they eventually established seven kingdoms: Essex, Wessex, Sussex (East Saxons, West Saxons, and South Saxons), Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia (three kingdoms of the Angles), and the Jute kingdom of Kent. (The borders between these ancient kingdoms are still borders between regions speaking English with different accents today.) Under the influence of missionaries from the Celts and from continental Europe, these peoples bcame Christian, only to be faced themselves by a wave of heathen invaders. Edmund was born about 840, became King of East Anglia in about 855, and in 870 faced a horde of marauding Danes, who moved through the countryside, burning churches and slaughtering villages wholesale. On reaching East Anglia, their leaders confronted Edmund and offered him peace on condition that he would rule as their vassal and forbid the practice of the Christian faith. Edmund refused this last condition, fought, and was captured. He was ill-treated and killed. His burial place is the town of Bury St. Edmunds. written by James Kiefer Prayer O God of ineffable mercy, who gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his poeple by nobly dying for your Name: Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith, with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer.....notes from Luke 18:9-14

I just read the notes on prayer in the St. James Daily Devotional Guide, by Patrick Henry Reardon....He points out three characteristics of pure Christian prayer from the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector......the theological structure of prayer. In this parable, prayer is not purely private devotion, but is set in the context of "organized religion." 1. The two men "went to the temple to pray." They could have prayerd anywhere....in the woods, at the beach, etc, but they chose to make a special trip to the temple, a special house set apart for the purpose of worship. .....It was corporate prayer in this parable ....but one prayer was justified, the other was not....why? 2. The publican's prayer was persistent. He was not afraid to repeat himself in prayer. The publican prayer "Lord, have mercy" was repeated many times........ Maybe he was singing the Kyrie eleison....The pharisee seemed to be giving extemporaneous oratories to God of all his own good deeds to justify why God should listen to him. 3. The publican's petition was for divine mercy. It was a "pure" prayer of humility and repentance. It was not self-righteous, puffed up, or seeking its own fulfillment or seeking to "justify" himself. He goes on to say that a man who prays with spiritual purity stands in stark contrast to those who pray in order to find some sort of personal spiritual uplift or devotional high. He says that these qualities are not essential to pure prayer and that they may serve as distractions...and what is important is the faithfulness, purity and unselfishness of prayer. "The Publican's prayer represented the gift of himself to God. True, it was a poor gift, because he was a sinner, and he knew it. Yet, according to Jesus, 'this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.' Such is the prayer of the man who is justified by faith, not by his own merits. His prayer is pure because it is based soley in the mercy of God. This is the prayer that Jesus teaches in the parable of the Publican."

Rikard's Mill

Tonight's front page of the Birmingham News has an article about Heritage Days and the sugar cane syrup making at Rikard's Mill in Beatrice, AL. The mill was built and owned originally by my grandmother's first cousin, Jacob Rikard. (That would make him my first cousin twice removed :-)). Now it is a state historic site.... a living history museum. My mother said that the equipment presently being used at the mill was donated by a man from Pine Hill, Alabama who made the cane syrup we grew up eating! Yummmm it was good! Wish I had some now!

Thompson Delegates...State-At-Large

Well, Gilbert and I decided to run as State-at-Large delegates pledged to support Fred Thompson for President. He has a fairly consistent conservative voting record. It was a hard choice, but we believe he is the best suited to serve as the next US President. We signed up tonight at the Alabama Republican Party HQ and we will be on the ballot for place 15 and 16 out of 24 state-at-large delegates pledged to him. If Thompson wins 50% plus 1 of the popular vote ALL delegates pledged to him will go to the national convention. Any candidate who wins 20% of the popular vote will take a proportionate number of delegates to RNC. I expect the vote in Alabama to be split between Giuliani, Romney, McCain, Paul and Thompson, but I think Thompson will win our state. We would like to go to Minneapolis /St.Paul to national convention next September and will get to go if he wins by big enough margin to take at least 16 delegates :-).....so VOTE FOR FRED, and for Gilbert and ME in our Republican primary on Feb 5th!
Thanks.

It's Rosemary's birthday....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Rosemary!
I found a poem just for you!

A daughter is a wonderful blessing,

A treasure from above.

She's laughter, warmth and special charm,

She's thoughtfulness and love.
A daughter brings a special joy,

That comes from deep inside.

And as she grows to adulthood,

She fills your heart with pride.
With every year that passes,

She's more special than before.

Through every stage, through every age,

You love her even more.
No words can describe the warm memories,

The pride and gratitude, too.

That comes from having a daughter,

To love and cherish... just like you!

Toxic Stress

"Stress is such a common term that we might tend to trivialize it, assuming it's a convenient fiction for the weak who do not wish to do their best. Such an attitude would be a mistake. Stress is real, it is increasing and it can be highly pathogenic. While a life of no-stress is fatal and a life of low-stress is boring, a life of hyperstress is toxic to health, relationships and faith. God has created us enormously adaptable. Once we exceed our limits, however, the adaptability mechanism breaks down. Dysfunction results. The modern stress epidemic is not a single-point source problem, meaning we need to be vigilant in many directions." (Source: Richard Swenson, quoted in News & Views, The Christian Medical & Dental Associations, November 1, 2007; Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:7-11

Rebuilding Iraq...

I just read about the Classical School of the Medes located in Northern Iraq. This looks like a work of the Lord that will really make a difference. I like their motto: "Rebuilding Iraq one Child at a Time." http://csmedes.org/

Weighing in.....

Did you know that at least 25% of adults in 20 states are obese as defined by having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. ALABAMA is 3rd in the list of top heavyweights! It is thought that the main reason is that so many of us are "couch potatoes." Here are some new exercise rules recommended by American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine for us fabulous fifties age-bracket folk: Moderate cardio 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week OR Vigorous cardio 20 minutes/day, 3 days/week AND 8-10 stregth training exercises (8-12 reps of each), 2 times/week If you want to check your BMI, you can use this free online calculator at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi .

Weddings

Go eat your bread with joy,

And drink your wine with a merry heart;

For God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white,

And let your head lack no oil.

Live joyfully with your wife whom you love

all the days of your vain life which he has given you under the sun, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands,

You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

In the very heart of your house,

Your children like olive plants

All around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you out of Zion,

And may you see the good of Jerusalem

All the days of your life

YES, may you see your children's children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 128

Blessings!

We had a wonderful day of celebration yesterday, at worship and then at our annual Reformation party. We have been blessed to have been able to host parties here on the property through the years. Alas, we may be moving within the next year. One thing we are praying about for when the time comes for us to re-locate is having a new home where we could continue to use the gift of hospitality......please add that onto your prayer lists when you think about us!

Enthusiasm alone.......

Late one afternoon, a medieval knight was returning to the castle, and he was a pitiful sight to see. His horse was limping and he was skewgee in the saddle. His armor was dented, his lance was broken and the proud plume on his helmet was crumpled and hung down over his face. The Lord of the castle saw him coming and rushed out to meet him. “What terrible thing has befallen you, Sir Percy?” he asked. “Oh, sire,” he said, “I have been laboring all day in your service, robbing and pillaging your enemies to the West. “You’ve been doing what!!” exclaimed the nobleman. Thinking he was hard of hearing, the knight replied, much louder, “I have been robbing and pillaging your enemies to the West.” “But I haven’t any enemies to the West,” was the horrified reply. “Oh!” said the knight. And then, “Well, I think you do now.” ooooops........pray that we will all have zeal "according to knowledge" (Ro 10:1-5) and be pleasing to the Lord!

ECCLESIA SEMPER REFORMATA

YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CELEBRATING
OUR REFORMED HERITAGE

ECCLESIA SEMPER REFORMATA --the Church is always reforming



THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2007, 4:00 PM
1868 PATTON CHAPEL ROAD, HOOVER

Gilbert’s Famous Beer-Can Chicken provided!
Bring your lawn chairs, and a side dish, drink or dessert
Children’s Moon Walk, Games, Tug of War, Bon Fire, Special Music
FUN and FELLOWSHIP for ALL Ages

On the Eve of All Saints, Day, October 31, 1517, Augustinian Father Doctor Martin Luther, professor of scripture at the University of Wittenberg, Germany posted an invitation to debate on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral. The invitation to debate contained ninety-five points, or theses, concerning the sale of indulgences. Luther chose this date for posting his theses because the coming holyday would bring many of the community to services, ensuring that his statements would receive wide exposure.

The Church is in constant need of ongoing renewal. Jeremiah 31:31-34 tells of the coming New Covenant where God will write His law on every human heart. Romans 3:19-28 declares the central tenet of the Reformation, that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. John 8:31-36 enjoins us to be constant in the Word in order to be freed by the One who is Truth.

And since the law is not yet perfectly inscribed on every heart and all are not yet fully devoted to the Word, the task of Reformation is not yet complete. Ecclesia semper Reformata--the Church is always reforming.

Fall at VMI

We went to Lexington, Virginia this past weekend where we attended parent's weeend at VMI...John is a 1st Classman now. This was our last parent's weekend and I admit, I will really miss the trip and event in the future! It has been a lot of fun and has been a blessing to see how the Lord has been maturing our son through the years! Overall, he has had many positive experiences at VMI. We have made good friends with a number of parents of John's classmates and have enjoyed unbelievably good food at the tailgate parties. On Friday, we had a picnic at Goshen's Pass, a lovely place nearby in the Shenandoah Valley. The fall colors were beautiful and we enjoyed climbing on the rocks in the riverbed of the Maury River. Wish you all could have been with us!

..there are no tricks to prayer

Here are some encouraging remarks on prayer: http://www.leithart.com/archives/003369.php This week's Daily Devotional Guide begins with The Gothic Missal: "We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully to correct our wanderings, and by the guiding radiance of Thy compassion to bring us to the salutary vision of Thy truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Cultural commentaries....

...I think this book about Alabama football fanmania might rival the NC/Dukie book PJL writes about as a cultural commentary!!! Roll Tide!

NC Rivalry
Peter J. Leithart, October 15, 2007
Over at the Books & Culture online magazine, Jason Byassee of the Christian Century - and a Duke PhD - lists some of the best lines from Will Blythe's To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever: A Thoroughly Obsessive, Intermittently Uplifting, and Occasionally Unbiased Account of the Duke-North Carolina Basketball Rivalry (HarperCollins, 2006):
"The delight in the book is Blythe's hand as a wordsmith. Interestingly (from this Dukie’s perspective) some of his greatest phrases come in begrudging praise of Duke players past and present. A crucial three-pointer fired in crunch time by Ichabod Crane lookalike Mike Dunleavy brought this delightful curse: 'If the shot didn't fall cleanly through the hoop and stab me in the heart like the sneakiest cheatin’ girlfriend.' Bobby Hurley was a 'New Jersey white kid' who used to 'blaze up and down the court like a Chevy Camaro about to throw a rod.' And more recent Duke great J.J. Redick would weave his 'ceaseless figure eights around the court, rubbing defenders off big men down low, darting for the cover of successive screens like a roach desperately seeking a hiding place' . . . "But Blythe wields a powerful pen praising the Tar Heels as well. Shooter Joe Forte could launch jumpshots that fell 'into the net like groceries plopped into a bag by a pimply checkout boy.' When all-time great Michael Jordan dunked the ball, he would 'throw it down as if punishing it for insubordination.' And when Sean May almost single-handedly defeated Illinois for the national title, he did so by 'fouling out every big man in the state of Illinois, including ones not yet born.' The gentle giant had magnificent hands: 'Watching him shoot was akin to watching a bear dine on salmon with a knife and fork—such unexpected refinement captured one's notice.'"

If there is....

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world .....So let it be. —Scottish Blessing

Trinity Presbyterian

Did you know today is the 20th Lord's day of Trinity season? Our church is named Trinity Presbyterian.

Our pastor says:
Understanding the Trinity is the key to understanding ourselves. God’s Triune existence is a model for humanity, made in the image of the God who is three-in-one. Because God is a communal being, we know we were made to live in community as well, indwelling one another’s lives as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all indwell one another. The Trinity is our pattern: As God is, so the church should be – a holy family, sharing a common life. As God lives, so we should live – in mutual love and fellowship. As God does, so we should do – giving ourselves to one another in humble service and sacrifice. Our church desires to be a place where the Trinity is not just a doctrine, but a way of life.

“Church” comes from the Greek term ekklesia, meaning “the called out ones.” As a community of God’s people, we have been called out of the world in order to serve the world. We are against the world as it is, so we can be for the world, reshaping it by God’s grace into what it should be. Biblically, the church is defined as God’s temple and kingdom, as well as Christ’s body and bride. It is a royal priesthood, the City of God, and the new Israel. The church is the place of salvation and the one institution that will endure for all eternity. When family and state have disappeared, the church will still stand. Not even the gates of hell can prevail against her.

.....AND about being Presbyterian,
We are “Presbyterian,” in that we trace our lineage back through the great Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries. This is our theological and ecclesiastical heritage. While we believe the church is always in need of reformation – and hence view “Reformation” as a continuing “project” rather than a finished “product” – we are greatly thankful for the renewal God gave to his church during that crucial period of history. Reformed hallmarks include the sovereignty of God in saving his people from sin, an aspiration to glorify God in all of life and culture, a focus on the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as incarnate Son of God and only Savior, justification by a living faith, and the ultimate authority of the Scriptures as God’s perfect and final revelation. We desire to learn from our brethren in other branches of the church and we do not believe the Reformed tradition is flawless. But we also believe Presbyterian faith and practice best exemplifies the biblical pattern for the church in the present time, and this historical connection is a major feature of our church’s identity.

Edward the Confessor

Edward the Confessor 13 October 1066 Edward was born in 1003. He was the last Saxon king to rule (for more than a few months) in England. He is called "Edward the Confessor" to distinguish him from another King of England, Edward the Martyr (c962-979), who was assassinated (presumably by someone who wished to place Edward's younger half-brother on the throne), and who came to be regarded, on doubtful grounds, as a martyr for the faith. In Christian biographies, the term "confessor" is often used to denote someone who has born witness to the faith by his life, but who did not die as a martyr. Edward was the son of King Ethelred the Unready. This does not mean that he was unprepared, but rather that he was stubborn and wilful, and would not accept "rede," meaning advice or counsel. Aethelred was followed by several Danish kings of England, during whose rule young Edward and his mother took refuge in Normandy. But the last Danish king named Edward as his successor, and he was crowned in 1042. Opinions on his success as a king vary. Some historians consider him weak and indecisive, and say that his reign paved the way for the Norman Conquest. Others say that his prudent management gave England more than twenty years of peace and prosperity, with freedom from foreign domination, at a time when powerful neighbors might well have dominated a less adroit ruler. He was diligent in public and private worship, generous to the poor, and accessible to subjects who sought redress of grievances. While in exile, he had vowed to make a pilgrimage to Rome if his family fortunes mended. However, his council told him that it was not expedient for him to be so long out of the country. Accordingly, he spent his pilgrimage money instead on the relief of the poor and the building of Westminster Abbey, which stands today (rebuilt in the thirteenth century) as one of the great churches of England, burial place of her kings and others deemed worthy of special honor. He died on 5 January 1066, leaving no offspring; and after his death, the throne was claimed by his wife's brother, Harold the Saxon, and by William, Duke of Normandy. William defeated and slew Harold at the Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066), and thereafter the kings and upper classes of England were Norman-French rather than Anglo-Saxon. Edward is remembered, not on the day of his death, but on the anniversary of the moving ("translation") of his corpse to a new tomb, a date which is also the anniversary of the eve of the Battle of Hastings, the end of Saxon England. written by James Kiefer Prayer O God, who called your servant Edward to an an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

prayers from BCP for today....

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Next President

This month the National Federation of Republican Women met for their convention in Palm Springs, California. Giuliani was the winner of the straw poll taken there with 50.25% of the 756 votes cast. Fred Thompson only polled 20.94%. However, Joseph Bottum, the editor of First Things predicts that Fred Thompson will win the nomination AND a slim election victory over Hillary Clinton....Is this but wishful thinking for a true social conservative??? Here's the ending paragraph to his article... Or, at least, so far. Rudy Giuliani will have to run the table on Super Tuesday, winning nearly every primary on February 5 after losing all the ones before. Maybe he can do it. But the deeper into the winter the campaign goes, the more Thompson benefits. A Fred Thompson nomination, a slim election victory over Hillary ­Clinton, a stealth pro-lifer slipped on the Supreme Court through a Democratic Senate—that weak ­scenario is about the best a social conservative can hope for today. Everything else is bad. Very bad. For the whole article as well as predictions by others, here's the link: http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=6065

....caring for orphans

http://www.ethicsconference.net/ David will be a contributor at a conference next week on adoption ethics and accountability. Here's a nice bio of David which was published on the conference website: David Smolin David M. Smolin is Professor of Law at Cumberland Law School, Samford University, and Director, Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics. He works together with his wife, Desiree Smolin, on adoption reform issues. Many of Professor Smolin’s adoption-related articles are available online at http://works.bepress.com/david_smolin/ . A broader listing of his articles, including work on children’s rights and child labor, is available on his faculty web page at http://cumberland.samford.edu/cumberland_people.asp?ID=475 . Desiree Smolin’s web blog on adoption corruption issues can be found here at http://www.fleasbiting.blogspot.com/ ; her adoption-related web site can be found here at http://adoptinginternationally.com/. David and Desiree are the parents of eight children, including two adopted as older children from India.

Peace

"And let the peace of christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col 3: 15-17

This is a "peace" rose. Isn't it beautiful. It was on a bush in my mother's back yard and I picked it and made this arrangement for her.

After WWII a peace rose (the most famous and successful garden rose) was given to each of the delegates at the inauguration of the UN with the note: "We hope the 'Peace' rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace".

Jim Jordan says in "How to stop the killing in Darfur" that the world is not changed by direct human action. The world is changed when God is persuaded to change it. The Church alone has the power to come before the Throne and cause the world to be changed.....the church, not the UN! Priests are to sing psalms in the presence of God on behalf of the world (that's us...remember the priesthood of ALL believers). He says the prayers for justice and vengeance are scattered all over the book of Psalms and that it is very clear that God promises to change the world, to turn the world upside down, when His people come into His presence during worship and pray as the importunate widow "avenge me on mine adversary." (Luke 18) He says it's liturgical warfare...conquering principalities and powers in high places, and it will bring peace to the world! I'm going to try to sing (or chant) the psalms more often!

Pastor Nazareth from Tanzania

We had a nice visit with Pastor Nkumbu Nazareth Mwalyego from Mbeya, Tanzania recently. We met him through Reed Terry. He had previously attended the Birmingham Baptist Bible College but had returned to Tanzania and had been church planting there for a while. He came back to Birmingham and has visited some others cities in the US telling about his church and the Lord's work in Tanzania. He told us about how the Lord is blessing his congregation with much growth. They are in an area with many pagan people. The adults do not want to change their way, but they are willing to send their children to the local church....he said the church is growing greatly with the attendance of these children. It seems that the children are believing the gospel story, being baptized, going back into their homes and the parents are noticing changes (i.e. children obeying their parents, prayers being answered, etc) and NOW, guess what, the parents are becoming interested in the church....hallelujah, "a little child shall lead them." He said he is hoping to be able to build a larger church and he is trying to get workers to begin "children's church" ministry. We shared with him a little about liturgical worship, covenant renewal and how children can learn the responses, readings, prayers, etc and can participate in the service with adults. He took one of our TPC bulletins and was interested. Pray that Pastor Nazareth will be able to continue to win these children, that they will mature and there will continue to be rebirth, renewal and our Lord's kingdom will grow through the work of his church in Tanzania.

Don't forget to order your tickets for Bella

Check out this website: http://www.bellathemovie.com/ United For Life Foundation is working in the Birmingham area to assist in bringing the movie BELLA -- a small independent film that tells the story of a girl in a crisis pregnancy -- to our media market. Bella has the potential to bring the message of hope and love to our hurting world thru the mainstream entertainment media, but we need to sell out the two theatres in Birmingham that will be showing the film the last weekend in October and first weekend in November in order for it to be picked up in neighborhood theatres around the country. Please encourage your friends and family to see this movie. United For Life Foundation will be hosting a Premier of the movie Thursday October 25th at the Alabama Theatre at 7PM as a fundraiser for its on-going crisis pregnancy commercials which have been very effective- for every $12 in media purchase one girl has called the option crisis pregnancy hotline! You can reserve your seat by registering on-line at the website Unitedforlifefoundation.org

Remorse vs Repentance

.... from the book: Pardon and Peace. "Sorrow for sin has two aspects, two slants as it were, one backwards and one forward. Looking back, the penitent regrets and detests sin; looking forward, he determines to avoid it. Determination to avoid both sin and its occasions, in other words, firm purpose of amendment, is the crucial test of the reality of contrition. He who is determined to do his best to avoid sin, undoubtedly has true repentance, even though he feels spiritually dry as a desert and indevout as an iceberg. The proof of contrition is in the effective will to reform. It is all-important that there should be no misunderstanding about the true meaning of contrition; remorse must on no account be confused with repentance." (intro Chpt 13)

Walking uprightly

"For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from thoe who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!" Ps 84: 10-12

Onward Christian Scholars

Numquam Bella Piis, Numquam Certanima Desunt — “For the faithful, wars shall never cease.” Here's a link to an article in the New York Times about New Saint Andrews College. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/magazine/30Christian-t.html?_r=3&ref=magazine&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Dating, Courtship and Marriage

This month's Touchstone Magazine has a symposium on dating, courtship and marriage. I have enjoyed skimming the articles and plan to read them closely. The points of view range from parent's choosing their children's spouses to discussing the wisdom of "third party" Christian match-making services to seeing the issues in terms of civil liberty. Here are some of Jocelyn Mathewes comments about the distorted culture of romance and the tendency to extend adolescence...which she believes have created a toxic environment for seeking a mate. She adds: "The culture of romance created very unhealthy attitudes towards our relationships with one another, sexual and otherwise. Marriage as both an achievable and desirable goal is no longer a universally accepted norm. And lifelong marriage as the primary purpose of seeking out a partner is no longer the accepted norm. They have been replaced by the search for a soul mate, a very diferent goal, involving ideals like "sexual compatibility" and "lifestyle choices." Sex outside of marriage has become a part of the search, and because sex now takes a more casual role in relationships, it has helped turn "hanging out" into "hooking up." This extended adolescence encourages ongoing romantic torment and "experimentation" even into one's thirties. Many (some scarred by divorce, their parents' or their own) seem to live in terror of making any sort of commitment, for fear of getting it wrong. Some have had no examples in their lives of how such a commitment could go wonderfully right."

Family Matters

Dr. Allan Carlson, president of the Howard Center, a think tank for Family, Religion and Society says " The natural family is the fundamental social unit, inscribed in human nature, and centered on the voluntary union of a man and a woman in the lifelong covenant of marriage. The natural family is defined by marriage, procreation and, in some cultures, adoption. Free, secure and stable families that welcome children are necessary for healthy society. The society that abandons the natural family as the norm is destined for chaos and suffering. The loving family reaches out in love and service to their communities and those in need. All social and cultural institutions should respect and uphold the rights and responsibilities of the family." I think his organization has some of the best research available for "pro family" thinkers..... http://www.profam.org/Default.htm

Why pray?

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. --I Timothy 2:1-2 BCP For Peace Among Nations Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Married with Children...Could anything be crazier?

Here's an article on marriage and family by Kate Bluett. ....... from Salvo magazine..... http://www.salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo2/2bluett.php

Thank you Dr. Bollinger..

Columbia University President, Lee Bollinger gave a public dressing down of Ahmadinejad today! .....It is a critical premise of freedom of speech that we do not honor the dishonorable when we open our public forum to their voices; to hold otherwise would make vigorous debate impossible. .....Let’s, then, be clear at the beginning, Mr. President you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator. Here's a link to President Bollinger's remarks in full: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/07/09/lcbopeningremarks.html

Bella coming to Birmingham

United For Life Foundation is working in the Birmingham area to assist in bringing the movie BELLA -- a small independent film that tells the story of a girl in a crisis pregnancy -- to our media market. Bella has the potential to bring the message of hope and love to our hurting world thru the mainstream entertainment media, but we need to sell out the two theatres in Birmingham that will be showing the film the last weekend in October and first weekend in November in order for it to be picked up in neighborhood theatres around the country. Please encourage your friends and family to see this movie. United For Life Foundation will be hosting a Premier of the movie Thursday October 25th at the Alabama Theatre at 7PM as a fundraiser for its on-going crisis pregnancy commercials which have been very effective- for every $12 in media purchase one girl has called the option crisis pregnancy hotline! You can reserve your seat by registering on-line at the website Unitedforlifefoundation.org

Books on Order

I just read an advertisement for two books guaranteed to help you conquer your flaws and grow in the faith. That sounds great doesn't it! One is called Pardon for Peace....helpful advice if you find yourself confessing the same sins over and over, or guidelines for thorough, not excessive, examination of conscience. The second book is about mistakes parents make in raising their children, how to avoid them OR how to lessen their impact if made. It is called Sins of Parents. These are distributed by www.BooksforCatholics.com if you're interested. If you use this code at checkout, you'll get a hefty 66% discount...FT1007. I'll give an update when I read them.

RWOS Meeting Wednesday, Sept 26

AL Dept of Homeland Security Assistant Director, Joe B. Davis will speak at Republican Women of the South September meeting this Wednesday, Sept 26th. Col Joe Davis is responsible for Alabama homeland security strategic planning, interoperable communications, information technology, grant management, programming/accounting and office admnistration. The meeting will be at Vestavia Country Club, 10:30 AM Coffee, 11:00 AM Program with Col Davis speaking, 11:30 business and lunch at noon. YOU'RE INVITED.

ART

Here's a link to a juried art show with works by my niece, Rachel Owings Bahr's husband, Greg. .....as you will see, he is very talented! http://www.flickr.com/photos/12740389@N02/sets/ One day I hope Rosemary and I can take a "girl's trip" to New York City. I'd like to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art again and visit the Museum of Biblical Art....here are links to their sites. http://www.metmuseum.org/ http://www.mobia.org/ Did you know that the Birmingham Museum of Art is hosting a collection of exhibits from Pompeii beginning in October. We went to Mobile to see a part of the exhibit when it was there. I'm looking forward to seeing this exhibit this fall! http://www.artsbma.org/

Cheers, to your health!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/562474_print

James H. O'Keefe MD, FACC; Kevin A. Bybee MD; Carl J. Lavie MD, FACC

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50(11) ©2007 Elsevier Science, Inc. Posted 09/10/2007 Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

An extensive body of data shows concordant J-shaped associations between alcohol intake and a variety of adverse health outcomes, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, stroke, dementia, Raynaud's phenomenon, and all-cause mortality. Light to moderate alcohol consumption (up to 1 drink daily for women and 1 or 2 drinks daily for men) is associated with cardioprotective benefits, whereas increasingly excessive consumption results in proportional worsening of outcomes. Alcohol consumption confers cardiovascular protection predominately through improvements in insulin sensitivity and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The ethanol itself, rather than specific components of various alcoholic beverages, appears to be the major factor in conferring health benefits. Low-dose daily alcohol is associated with better health than less frequent consumption. Binge drinking, even among otherwise light drinkers, increases cardiovascular events and mortality. Alcohol should not be universally prescribed for health enhancement to nondrinking individuals owing to the lack of randomized outcome data and the potential for problem drinking.

Cardioprotective alcohol intake is generally defined as 1 or 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women. A drink is considered to be 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, 1.5 oz 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz 100-proof spirits, all of which contain approximately 13 g to 15 g ethanol.

The St. James Daily Devotional Guide

If any of you are looking for a daily bible reading plan, I recommend the St. James Daily Devotional Guide for the Christian Year. It is compiled and written by Patrick Henry Reardon. and published by The Fellowship of St. James www.fsj.org. It uses both the continuous reading method (reading a book straight through) and the select reading method (chosing biblical passages that are appropriate to special days or seasons in the Christian calendar or specified themes of the life of Christ). Here's the gospel selection for today: "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6: 43-49

Southern Living at Home Party

I'm hosting a Southern Living at Home Party next Thursday night, September 27th, 7:00 PM, at my house. Here's how they advertise on the website: When you go to a Southern Living At HOME party you get boutique-quality products, shopping mall selection, and the comfort and convenience of a home setting. Shop at home with friends and family and learn about our exclusive product line from a Southern Living At HOME Consultant. Your Consultant can answer all of your questions and even offer styling tips! I went to my first party at Dolly Larson's house and part of the SLAH business plan is to sign up others to host parties.......their items are very nice, so if you want to do some early Christmas shopping, buy a special wedding gift, or just look for something special for your own home, please come on over!

Weight a minute!

The bottom line? It’s all about the calories. Both curbing calories and exercising more are both equally effective for losing weight. If you are not able to exercise as much, you have to cut your caloric intake. I think the South Beach is a good way to start. It is set up in 4 phases. Phase 1 is a 2 week FAST of carbohydrates. That means…..NO bread, NO sweetened anything (tea, soft drink, dessert, etc), and they even say NO fruit because of the high fructose…but it is only for 2 weeks. Basically during that time you only eat vegetables and meat and drink water, unsweetened or splenda sweetened drinks. I think we did eat sugar-free pudding on occasion for dessert. It was really hard to stay on it, but it really works. However, I might add that the Tufts research says this initial weight loss is mostly water-weight, but I think the fast also helps you quit craving sweets. After 2 weeks you can introduce fruits and whole wheat bread in moderation….that is to last for about 3-4 week. After that you may introduce a greater variety of carbohydrates. The recipes in the book are good. Gilbert and I really didn't stick with phase 3 or 4, but tried to maintain/blance our carbohydrate intake and exercise. I do think that in addition to the carb-cuts, it is best to cut the saturated fats and CUT OUT the trans-fats which South Beach doesn't emphasize. We're still working on these "life style" changes, i.e. taking in fewer calories than we expend!!! Here's what the Tufts University School of Nutrition says about South Beach...they point out the inconsistencies in the science.....I tend to agree with their analysis, but I don't think it hurts to use it as a "jump start" cut-out-the-sweet method for dieting. PS Of course, this as well as any type of weight-loss dieting "advice" should only be followed by non-pregnant, non-nursing women :-).

Tufts University School of Nutrition

Weighing In On the South Beach Diet

http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/85/Tufts_University_School_of_Nutrition.htm

FV Discussion

Here's a link to a current Federal Vision discussion: http://deregnochristi.org/

This poem is a balm to my soul.

From an old English parsonage down by the sea There came in the twilight a message to me; Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven, Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven. And on through the doors the quiet words ring Like a low inspiration: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.” Many a questioning, many a fear, Many a doubt, hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from Heaven, Time, opportunity, and guidance are given. Fear not tomorrows, child of the King, Thrust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge. Do it immediately, do it with prayer; Do it reliantly, casting all care; Do it with reverence, tracing His hand Who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing, Leave all results, doe the nexte thynge Looking for Jesus, ever serener, Working or suffering, be thy demeanor; In His dear presence, the rest of His calm, The light of His countenance be thy psalm, Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing. Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge.

--Anonymous

Here is an exhortation on marriage.

http://www.leithart.com/archives/003306.php

Gilbert and I are in our 30th year of marriage, I would add particularly for wives, to "pray without ceasing" for your spouse, family and never give up on using the helps the Lord has given for every area of life (in addition to prayer, obey His word and participate in covenant renewing worship)...especially when those feelings of alone-ness overwhelm or you think you are fending for yourself....remember that "feelings come and feelings go and feelings are deceiving"....and we are NEVER alone for the LORD is with us and will help us in our struggles with our marriages and families.

I guess my marriage and family mantra through the years has been ....ora et labora (pray and work) and never give up.....do the next thing to the glory of God!

HAPPY CONSTITUTION DAY! Sept 17, 2007, marks the 220^th year since the signing of the Constitution of the United States! It is said to be the shortest written document which has governed a major world nation for the longest period of time! I think it’s because her principles were derived from the Bible, though not exclusively because the constitution has it’s mix of Greek and Roman philosophy as well.

I like what Justice Antonin Scalia said about the so-called “living Constitution”….

"...the Constitution that I interpret is not living but dead...It means today not what current society (much less the Court) thinks it ought to mean, but what it meant when it was adopted."

Although, the culture of our founding fathers wasn’t a perfect “Christian culture” the majority held a Christian worldview and expected it to be a “given” that our moral and civil law was established by God, thus being the basis for the political pact called our constitution in order that:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!" Ps 50: 23

Hospitality

"The front door of the home is the side door to the church." Over the years, Gilbert and I have had opportunities to welcome people into our home for meals, overnight stays and sometimes for extended stays. It has been a blessing to us. We are praying that the Lord will continue to give us opportunities to open our home to others and that He will help us understand more biblical patterns of hospitality. Christine Pohl in her book, Making Room, Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, reminds us that Paul urged fellow Christians to welcome one another as Christ had welcomed them. He challenged the early believers to "pursue" hospitality. For the people of ancient Israel, understanding themselves as strangers and sojourners, with responsibility to care for vulnerable strangers in their midst, was part of what it meant to be the people of God. For most of the history of the church, hospitality was understood to encompass physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of human existence and relationships. It involved shared meals; historically, table fellowship was an important way of recognizing the equal value and dignity of persons. Hospitality, because it was such a fundamental human practice, always included family, friends, and influential contacts. The distinctive Christian contribution was the emphasis on including the poor and neediest, the ones who could not return the favor. This focus did not diminish the value of hospitality to family and friends; rather, it broadened the practice so that the close relations formed by table fellowship and conversation could be extended to the most vulnerable. Hopefully we will be able to picture Christ by showing hospitality to others....and the church will grow. "The front door of the home is the side door of the church." ora et labora