"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ."
2 Thess 3:5 NKJV
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday with the Clintons
Well, almost...
Yesterday I was at the Tillamook Cheese Factory less than an hour before President Clinton was to arrive to give a campaign speech in the parking lot, with the aroma of cows (money!) in the humid air. I kind of thought that was cool until...
The same afternoon at the Portland airport, the flow of traffic getting into the terminal all of the sudden came to a complete stop for more than five minutes for no apparent reason. Then came the dignitary entourage! Motorcyle cops sped ahead followed by a really special looking tinted windows (assuming bullet proof - but then again I've probably watched too many movies!) car with none other than Senator Hillary Clinton herself!
That reminds me of a funny story I heard about a year ago on the radio from a good friend of the Clinton's, Rush Limbaugh. For the transcript of the story, see this article: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bill_Clinton_tells_Rush_Limbaugh_Youre_0517.html
Monday with the Clinton's was interesting. But not quite as outstanding as the encounter Rush had. Maybe next time...
Yesterday I was at the Tillamook Cheese Factory less than an hour before President Clinton was to arrive to give a campaign speech in the parking lot, with the aroma of cows (money!) in the humid air. I kind of thought that was cool until...
The same afternoon at the Portland airport, the flow of traffic getting into the terminal all of the sudden came to a complete stop for more than five minutes for no apparent reason. Then came the dignitary entourage! Motorcyle cops sped ahead followed by a really special looking tinted windows (assuming bullet proof - but then again I've probably watched too many movies!) car with none other than Senator Hillary Clinton herself!
That reminds me of a funny story I heard about a year ago on the radio from a good friend of the Clinton's, Rush Limbaugh. For the transcript of the story, see this article: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bill_Clinton_tells_Rush_Limbaugh_Youre_0517.html
Monday with the Clinton's was interesting. But not quite as outstanding as the encounter Rush had. Maybe next time...
Book Review: Bright Valley of Love
I just finished a classic and heart-warming book by Edna Hong, “Bright Valley of Love: The True Story of a Handicapped Child Who Finds a Haven of Love in the Nightmare of Nazi Germany”. The book could be read by a young child and enjoyed just as much as I did, I imagine. After seeing the movie about the effects of Social Darwinism (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed) last week, this book left me really thinking about my worldview. That must be a good book when it gets you thinking about worldview!
Gunther, the main character, is severely “deformed” of body and was dropped off as a child by his grandmother to Bethel, a Christian community of persons with special needs, to be cared for. “We are simply and solely the arms of Christ.” (25) “But the word ‘hopeless’ is not in the language of praise which is spoken in the Valley of Bethel. Because the people who live in that valley know a love that has no limit, the voice of thanksgiving is stronger in that valley than the voice of complaint.” (46)
“He’s a looney, too! They’re all looney here!” muttered the grandmother.
“Maybe so and maybe not,” answered the father. “Maybe they’re sane and we’re the looney ones.” (23)
Gunther began to learn that he too was created in the image of God.
“In a wave there flooded over the boy a dim and jumbled but wildly wonderful realization of the possibility of life—that he was not a piece of human garbage carried along on a gray and endless tide of time. He could be. Time was for being. Time was for becoming. Time was for becoming what he could be…” (38-39)
As Gunther’s friend Kurt died due to his illness, Gunther learned to express grief and emotion.
“Gunther,” said Brother Herman. “Cry your tears and do not be ashamed. Tears, too, are a gift of love. But think of how rich you are to have had such a friend. And think of how rich we all are that Jesus Christ came from the heavenly home to live among us as a friend.” (65)
“Who is my closest relative? Who is nearest and dearest to me? The one who suffers most!” (76)
“Tell me,” he asked, “what do you think is the best work, the truest calling?”
“To be a minister or a missionary,” several answered at once.
Pastor Wilm chuckled. “Many people think so, especially ministers and missionaries. But God has different ideas, and I suspect that sweeping streets and mopping floors is just as good and true.”
“A soldier,” said Wolfgang.
“A mother,” said Minna.
“No,” said Pastor Wilm. “You may name all the jobs under the sun, and I will still say No. I believe with Paul and Martin Luther that the true calling for us human beings is to glorify God, to glorify him in spirit, mind, and body. Whatever we do with our lives, our first and foremost talk is to glorify God.” (98)
“If I ever again talk about being good for nothing, give me a good swift kick in the butt,” said Klaus on the way back to Capernaum.
“Same goes for me,” said Gunther aloud, but the Gunther deep within sang a freedom song. Not only had his fear of the future vanished, but the icicle of hate had melted. His disgust and his hatred of his parents, his grandmother. His disgust and hatred of his crippled body. He was no longer afraid and sad to be Gunther. There, deep inside, it truly seemed as if he had been born all over again and was brand-new.” (100-101)
“Yes, indeed,” chimed in Sister Marie. “When you sing praises to God, Gunther, somehow you remind us that we are not carrying our sorrows and troubles all alone.” (109-110)
Gunther, the main character, is severely “deformed” of body and was dropped off as a child by his grandmother to Bethel, a Christian community of persons with special needs, to be cared for. “We are simply and solely the arms of Christ.” (25) “But the word ‘hopeless’ is not in the language of praise which is spoken in the Valley of Bethel. Because the people who live in that valley know a love that has no limit, the voice of thanksgiving is stronger in that valley than the voice of complaint.” (46)
“He’s a looney, too! They’re all looney here!” muttered the grandmother.
“Maybe so and maybe not,” answered the father. “Maybe they’re sane and we’re the looney ones.” (23)
Gunther began to learn that he too was created in the image of God.
“In a wave there flooded over the boy a dim and jumbled but wildly wonderful realization of the possibility of life—that he was not a piece of human garbage carried along on a gray and endless tide of time. He could be. Time was for being. Time was for becoming. Time was for becoming what he could be…” (38-39)
As Gunther’s friend Kurt died due to his illness, Gunther learned to express grief and emotion.
“Gunther,” said Brother Herman. “Cry your tears and do not be ashamed. Tears, too, are a gift of love. But think of how rich you are to have had such a friend. And think of how rich we all are that Jesus Christ came from the heavenly home to live among us as a friend.” (65)
“Who is my closest relative? Who is nearest and dearest to me? The one who suffers most!” (76)
“Tell me,” he asked, “what do you think is the best work, the truest calling?”
“To be a minister or a missionary,” several answered at once.
Pastor Wilm chuckled. “Many people think so, especially ministers and missionaries. But God has different ideas, and I suspect that sweeping streets and mopping floors is just as good and true.”
“A soldier,” said Wolfgang.
“A mother,” said Minna.
“No,” said Pastor Wilm. “You may name all the jobs under the sun, and I will still say No. I believe with Paul and Martin Luther that the true calling for us human beings is to glorify God, to glorify him in spirit, mind, and body. Whatever we do with our lives, our first and foremost talk is to glorify God.” (98)
“If I ever again talk about being good for nothing, give me a good swift kick in the butt,” said Klaus on the way back to Capernaum.
“Same goes for me,” said Gunther aloud, but the Gunther deep within sang a freedom song. Not only had his fear of the future vanished, but the icicle of hate had melted. His disgust and his hatred of his parents, his grandmother. His disgust and hatred of his crippled body. He was no longer afraid and sad to be Gunther. There, deep inside, it truly seemed as if he had been born all over again and was brand-new.” (100-101)
“Yes, indeed,” chimed in Sister Marie. “When you sing praises to God, Gunther, somehow you remind us that we are not carrying our sorrows and troubles all alone.” (109-110)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Our God is Still Mighty to Save
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Oregon
Nathaniel Carlson and his fiancee Leann.
Eric (left) was my roommate my senior year at Barclay. He just graduated a couple days ago! Next to him is his girlfriend, Michelle. Jeremiah Williams is to my right. Now a student at Barclay, I led his Junior High small group when he was in 7th grade at Haviland Friends!
Josh Walworth (left) was my main running partner in college and still is a good friend. Eric (right).
Silver Falls near Silverton, OR.
Coming to Oregon is such a treat and now a tradition for me. Here are my highlights:
-This is my fourth consecutive May trip (sixth in four years).
-I love Tillamook (cows, Cheese factory, beef jerky, lots of green everything)!
-While the locals don't seem to like cold, rainy, windy, and cloudy 50 degree days like today, I like it because it "just seems" appropriate to me for the NW.
-It's always fun to be with such good friends like Josh & Marcy.
-This year we were able to go to Silver Falls (the largest state park in Oregon) and see several great waterfalls.
-Another special thing this year was to get to see the Barclay College choir (they put on a fabulous concert) on tour here in Oregon at Silverton Friends Church last night. They came to Tillamook today to visit the Cheese factory and also to visit Rockaway Beach and Twin Rocks Camp. It was fun to catch up with several Barclay friends.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
Last night I saw "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" with Ben Stein. Everybody should see this documentary movie! I was a bit skeptical going in but it was a fascinating look at what seems to be the shunning of Intelligent Design in many academic and scientific circles. The film is interesting, entertaining, and intensely thought provoking. The concept of Intelligent Design (acknowledging the possibility of a Supreme Designer to explain the complexity of life) is great because it maintains the humility of Job 38 but hints at the wisdom of Colossians 1:15-17. The most challenging concept is the underlying worldview that is the logical conclusion to Secular Darwinism.
http://www.expelledthemovie.com/
http://www.expelledthemovie.com/
Monday, May 5, 2008
The Extra Mile
"The Extra Mile: One Woman's Personal Journey to Ultrarunning Greatness"
by Pam Reed
"Late night talk-show host and comedian David Letterman, who's a runner himself, is one of the few media personalities who's given attention to ultrarunning. In 2003, when I was the overall winner of Badwater for the second year in a row, David invited me to be a guest on his show. I thought he struck the perfect note of appeciation for what ultrarunners accomplish as well as amusement at what it involves. He asked me what I had won, what the prize was. I told him it was a belt buckle. "A belt buckle?" Reaching for a pad of paper and a pen, David leaned toward me and asked conspiratorially, "How can I get in on this?" p.5
"Even though I've done it now more times than I can remember, when I start thinking about running 50 or 100 miles, it seems like a long way-and it is a long way. Then I start running. Almost always, within the first few hours, a moment comes when I feel like I've made a huge mistake: "Pam, what were you thinking?!" But I keep going. Then time starts playing some really amazing tricks. It goes slow and fast at the same time. Although I never ask how long I've been running-and I never look at my watch even though, for some perverse reason, I always wear it-I do think about how much time has passed and how much is left. This is where it gets weird. Sometimes, at the same time what it seems as if I've been running forever, it also seems like time is passing incredibly quickly. Then I think that I've got to make the best use of every possible moment.
Then all of a sudden, the race is over. As slowly as it seemed to be going, it also seems like it was over in a flash. Hours of pain and fatigue are compressed into a single snapshot in my memory." p77-78
[So true of life, too! Time plays amazing tricks!]
by Pam Reed
"Late night talk-show host and comedian David Letterman, who's a runner himself, is one of the few media personalities who's given attention to ultrarunning. In 2003, when I was the overall winner of Badwater for the second year in a row, David invited me to be a guest on his show. I thought he struck the perfect note of appeciation for what ultrarunners accomplish as well as amusement at what it involves. He asked me what I had won, what the prize was. I told him it was a belt buckle. "A belt buckle?" Reaching for a pad of paper and a pen, David leaned toward me and asked conspiratorially, "How can I get in on this?" p.5
"Even though I've done it now more times than I can remember, when I start thinking about running 50 or 100 miles, it seems like a long way-and it is a long way. Then I start running. Almost always, within the first few hours, a moment comes when I feel like I've made a huge mistake: "Pam, what were you thinking?!" But I keep going. Then time starts playing some really amazing tricks. It goes slow and fast at the same time. Although I never ask how long I've been running-and I never look at my watch even though, for some perverse reason, I always wear it-I do think about how much time has passed and how much is left. This is where it gets weird. Sometimes, at the same time what it seems as if I've been running forever, it also seems like time is passing incredibly quickly. Then I think that I've got to make the best use of every possible moment.
Then all of a sudden, the race is over. As slowly as it seemed to be going, it also seems like it was over in a flash. Hours of pain and fatigue are compressed into a single snapshot in my memory." p77-78
[So true of life, too! Time plays amazing tricks!]
Friday, May 2, 2008
Retreat
Where is there a more beautiful place in all the world than Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado?
The first picture was taken while climbing the Illuvial Fan in RMNP with Jeff, Jesse, and Matt. The second was right outside the dining hall with Jana Mullen, the pastor's wife. Jeff took both of the pictures with his cell phone.
I was blessed to be able to participate in a Friends Pastors Retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies near Estes Park, CO this past week.
The first picture was taken while climbing the Illuvial Fan in RMNP with Jeff, Jesse, and Matt. The second was right outside the dining hall with Jana Mullen, the pastor's wife. Jeff took both of the pictures with his cell phone.
I was blessed to be able to participate in a Friends Pastors Retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies near Estes Park, CO this past week.
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