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Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Mayberry Goes To Hawaii
At church our youth group (and some of the 'older' members of our congregation as well) performed a play called "Mayberry Goes To Hawaii". We also provided a dinner so our guests could come and eat and then enjoy the performance. Everybody had a great time! They're even talking about having another one sometime soon!
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Saturday, March 15, 2008
The Need For Balance
In the Skagit Valley Herald today there was a big article on the front page of the Religion section about a preacher named Micah Armstrong. Basically, Micah travels around to different college campuses preaching (his version of) the Bible. In a nutshell, Micah is loud, obnoxious, and seems to take great pleasure in provoking the crowd to anger.
I believe in the great commission: to go into all the world preaching the gospel of Christ to everyone. We all need to do this whenever the opportunity arises. Everyone needs to know that Christ died for them...that He was the perfect sacrifice for us all. We need a savior, and if Christ hadn't died then we would have no hope. We are all sinners and in need of a savior.
I agree that we need to warn people who are not Christians of the reality of an eternity separation from God...of a hell that is very real...of their need to accept Christ and then to repent and live their lives the way He tells us to in the Bible. But...how does a person reason that going out and yelling at people will accomplish anything? Shouldn't we be trying to reach people with things like gentleness...and respect...and love?
To go out in public and say things like women with short hair, who wear pants, or who have jobs are going to hell; or "women have two places: in front of the sink and behind the vacuum." What kind of insane person is this anyway?
In my opinion, a person like Micah Armstrong, though he may have good intentions, is doing a great deal more harm to the kingdom of God than good. He makes those of us who are truly trying to obey the Bible and live our lives as Christians look like idiots as well. Because the world tends to lump all "religious" people into one big pot. I, for one, definitely do not want to be identified with such a person as Mr. Armstrong.
Having said that...this religious extreme can swing too far the other way as well. There are groups within the church that I would not (in any way) wish to be identified with either. Those who are so adamant that they are right and...if you disagree even one degree from the way they do...then you are branded to be disfellowshipped. And anyone who dares to even talk to you should be disfellowshipped as well. The people who fall within this group are doing just as much harm to the kingdom of God as the other extreme (such as Micah Armstrong). Are these people showing gentleness...or respect...or love? I don't think do.
So...I continue to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and continue to strive to be the way God wants me to be. As I study the Bible, I learn how I need to change and how I need to live my life. Look to Jesus as your example...not the men who make up these two extremes of the swinging pendulum!
I just had to add this from the article about Micah Armstrong: On one of the campuses where he was preaching a student from the crowd asked:"Brother Micah, can God microwave a burrito so hot he can't eat it?"
"Chuck Norris can!" someone screeched, prompting a roar.
I believe in the great commission: to go into all the world preaching the gospel of Christ to everyone. We all need to do this whenever the opportunity arises. Everyone needs to know that Christ died for them...that He was the perfect sacrifice for us all. We need a savior, and if Christ hadn't died then we would have no hope. We are all sinners and in need of a savior.
I agree that we need to warn people who are not Christians of the reality of an eternity separation from God...of a hell that is very real...of their need to accept Christ and then to repent and live their lives the way He tells us to in the Bible. But...how does a person reason that going out and yelling at people will accomplish anything? Shouldn't we be trying to reach people with things like gentleness...and respect...and love?
To go out in public and say things like women with short hair, who wear pants, or who have jobs are going to hell; or "women have two places: in front of the sink and behind the vacuum." What kind of insane person is this anyway?
In my opinion, a person like Micah Armstrong, though he may have good intentions, is doing a great deal more harm to the kingdom of God than good. He makes those of us who are truly trying to obey the Bible and live our lives as Christians look like idiots as well. Because the world tends to lump all "religious" people into one big pot. I, for one, definitely do not want to be identified with such a person as Mr. Armstrong.
Having said that...this religious extreme can swing too far the other way as well. There are groups within the church that I would not (in any way) wish to be identified with either. Those who are so adamant that they are right and...if you disagree even one degree from the way they do...then you are branded to be disfellowshipped. And anyone who dares to even talk to you should be disfellowshipped as well. The people who fall within this group are doing just as much harm to the kingdom of God as the other extreme (such as Micah Armstrong). Are these people showing gentleness...or respect...or love? I don't think do.
So...I continue to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and continue to strive to be the way God wants me to be. As I study the Bible, I learn how I need to change and how I need to live my life. Look to Jesus as your example...not the men who make up these two extremes of the swinging pendulum!
I just had to add this from the article about Micah Armstrong: On one of the campuses where he was preaching a student from the crowd asked:"Brother Micah, can God microwave a burrito so hot he can't eat it?"
"Chuck Norris can!" someone screeched, prompting a roar.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
For Mom
This post is sort of a follow-up of my last one...I have always been very close to my mom and we are physically very far apart right now. I found this and it reminded me of her:
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my drawing on the icebox and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and learned that little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who do not.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grew up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt but it is all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I would need to know to be a good and productive person when I grew up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thank you for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking!"
Author unknown
I love and miss you mom.
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my drawing on the icebox and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and learned that little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who do not.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grew up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt but it is all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I would need to know to be a good and productive person when I grew up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thank you for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking!"
Author unknown
I love and miss you mom.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Happy 84th Birthday Mom!
Yes...another birthday. Today my mom is 84. I can't be with her because she lives in Texas now and I live in Washington state. (the picture above was taken a couple of years ago...I think it was her 82nd birthday?) Every year I would ask mom what she wanted for her birthday...and every year she said she wanted me to bake her a carrot cake! In honor of mom, here is the recipe I use. It is the BEST carrot cake I have ever tasted (a huge thank you to Ruby McCaleb, the lovely lady I got this recipe from!)
Carrot Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups sifted plain flour
1 1/2 cups salad oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans (I usually use walnuts because I don't have pecans!)
3 cups grated carrots
1 teaspoon vanilla
Sift together sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Add carrots and pecans. Bake in 3 greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.
Icing
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
small amount milk
1/2 stick margarine
Cream all ingredients together and spread on layers. Stack and ice completely.
Enjoy!
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