Women keep silent?

First Corinthians 14

14:30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.

14:31-33 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

14:34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.

14:35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

14:36 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

14:37,38 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment, but if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

14:40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

(chapter 15 goes on to define the gospel: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…how He appeared to five hundred at one time..some of whom were still alive when Paul wrote this)

Context is important.  I was dismayed to see 14:34 pulled out by itself recently on the internet. It is a verse that angry Christian men and women like to throw back up in our faces.  It is one even the non-believers bother to memorize for the same purpose.  It is a hard verse. Yet, I have to believe, I have to trust that God the Holy Spirit allowed it for a reason. Preachers like to hop, skip and jump over it, and since it is couched in a chapter about spiritual gifts that most think have “ceased”, it is rare to find a preacher to wade into these shark infested verses. (sharks being the women’s “liberation” movement and hypersensitivity of our own arrogance as women. Even God warned Eve: your desire will be to rule over your husband.) 

So, remember that the whole chapter deals with keeping order and peace in our church assemblies.  Paul wanted Christians to remember that we are to be a draw, pleasing, always alert to the needs of the unsaved who are invited or who venture into our midst.  We are not to be stumbling blocks.  We are not to use our freedom to trip another believer or unbeliever. We are not to be a distraction from the Gospel:  Jesus Christ came as He promised in God’s perfect time and plan, and died for our sins on the cross, and was buried, but rose again three days later just like He promised He would. Jesus appeared to the women first, then His disciples, and then over 500 people at one time for forty days…before He ascended into heaven.  Jesus gave us clear, concise directions and purpose.  He wants us to spread this Gospel, this Good News, to ever corner of the world.  Even to the Jews and the Greeks, and the Gentiles…That God loved them so much that He sent His uniquely born Son, born of a virgin for this very purpose: to die on the cross in our place.  But, He did not stay dead.  He is alive now, seated at the right Hand of God the Father, praying for us, and waiting for the day God the Father has planned for Him to come back, rule and reign, just as He promised.  Angels repeated this as He ascended.  God preserved His Word, His Book, the Bible, down through the ages in order to offer each one this free gift of eternal salvation.  We believe what He promised.  Those in the Old Testament looked for the Promised One, and those of us this side of the cross look back and see God’s perfect plan, the fulfilled promises, and more promises yet to be fulfilled.  God does not force Himself on us.  Jesus did all the work of salvation so that we can believe and put our trust in His work.  We cannot save ourselves.  It is the work of God the Father who planned it, God the Son who created the world and was willing  to come down and live among us for 33 years and go to the cross, and the Holy Spirit who empowers  Jesus while on earth as our example, and now endwells us so that we can do His work to spread this Gospel, this good news.

Today, I’d like to ponder the hard words Paul writes in first Corinthians 14:34.  That is the purpose of this blog post.  For myself, selfishly, and to order my thoughts in preparation for the instructions of verse 35, to ask my husband at home.  Thankful, I have a husband to ask, and that God empowers him.  My prayer is for the women who do not have a Godly husband to ask.  Please do not be bitter.  God will provide.  Whenever I have a question, God answers in a sermon within just weeks or months.  I tremble when I then hear it, as I know God is answering me.  God cares about our questions, and knows our prickly frame…how we are easily insulted, and beset with pride.  I will never forget studying a passage, even writing a little song, about the woman with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume oil who anointed Jesus’ feet—how bold, how amazingly brave she was.  I studied it from every angle, and then God sent a preacher from England to our little church and he preached on it.  I about jumped out of my seat. 

Many of the most awesome sermons, like the one Jesus gave on the road to Emaus, are not recorded. In my opinion, this is because God wants us to dig it out ourselves.  Last week in John, my husband who is also our Sunday School teacher taught the passage where Jesus stands up and preaches in the Temple in Jerusalem.  John dwells on how the Temple religious crowd plot to kill Jesus.  Jesus’ brothers and the disciples are more amazed that Jesus came to this feast of Tabernacles, because He had told them to go ahead. And Jesus slips in an out of the crowd in a miraculous way.  But, did not one take notes?  What did Jesus preach?  God the Son is standing in the Temple in Jerusalem preaching---and no one thought to record it?  Was Jesus quoting Scriptures they already knew and thus, did not seem strange to their ears??  People often say, if only God would audibly speak aloud---then, I would listen?!   Ha.  Jesus Himself spoke from the Temple in Jerusalem on the Feast of Tabernacles (a picture of His future kingdom) and no one recorded what He said! 

Back to First Corinthians---Remember, Paul is writing to a church in Corinth.  They have been doing  it wrong.  The folks in Corinth have been doing church wrong.  Paul is correcting their behavior, and instructing them in how to worship.  Assembling together as a family, as an assembly is commanded, but it does not come naturally, and we are all at different stages of maturity, from baby believers, and literal babies to the old gray haired sages and feeble, and then there is the sin problem.  Some of us women do not like to hear “shut up”.  “Sit down and be quiet”.   Our pride gets in the way.  Why go?  Work in the nursery, help out with the children’s ministry, visit the sick, feed the hungry, but don’t use your brain?!  Is that what Paul is saying?  And what is this “JUST AS THE LAW ALSO SAYS”.  Whoa.  Paul is indicating that the behavior of women in the church, in the Body of Christ, in the new Church Age is still under THE LAW that Jesus gave Moses. 

This is an opportunity to go back---go back to the Old Testament, given for our instruction, and look again at any passage dealing with women.  God invented man and God invented women.  God created man first, from the dust of the ground, God fashioned a body for that first man.  Look again at Genesis chapters 1 and 2.  Remember, we are on a quest for what God says about women and women’s roles and God’s purpose for women.  We are on a quest to see without the baggage of our pride, our pre-conceived ideas, the lies spoken even there in the Garden by the enemy using the voice of a snake… 

Genesis 1:1- In the beginning God 

I believe God existed and planned His creation, and was doing just fine without us.  God does not need us.  We need Him.  God created the most marvelous universe and set it in motion.  God created angels first, and recorded their story---the part we need to know, later in the Bible.  But, first, there was God.  God the Father, the planner, and God the Son, the Creator, and God the Holy Spirit.  Three Persons, One God sharing attributes and character in perfect harmony and happiness and we call it The Trinity.  God invented time.  God is eternal, outside, before, and beyond time.  God speaks the universe into existence.  Maybe it was the big bang.  And in a tantalizingly, fun way, God recorded all the clues we needed in words---again, God’s creation, how it happened.  Billions of years ago.  God created the heavens and the earth. 

I believe there is a huge gap between verses one and two.  Look at 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.

Chapter 2 goes into more detail, telescoping down on a restoration of the earth in seven days.  Why did the earth need restored?  Go back to Genesis 1: 1 and 2: 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the (frozen) waters.

Did God create the earth formless and void and locked in ice?  I don’t think so.  The earth is a little blue marble set in the universe just so…in perfect position, unique among the planets.  The rocks tell us of upheavels, layers, shifts, and continents and oceans moved about.  Even in the genealogies here in Genesis, (Gen 10:25) mentions a time when the earth was divided.  Earthquakes? Continent shifts? Peleg lives after the tower of Babel. (Gen. 11:18)

The sun and moon are not positioned until Day 4, yet the Holy Spirit moves, warms, unlocks the earth and prepares it for man.  Restoration in 6 days just makes more sense.  Human history, going back to Adam is only 6,000 years.  (5773 to be exact) but the earth and universe proclaim themselves to be much older, or to be made to look old.  Take your pick.  It makes sense to me, that God created the heavens and earth, angels---and that those angels had their history.  They saw an earth of dinosaurs, a swampy earth created and packed down for billions of years to make that rich oil and gas that we now mine beneath the surface.   Angels saw a rebellion.  Satan convinced a third of them to follow him.  God judged Satan, cast him out of heaven.  Maybe cast him out and onto the earth.  There was a trial, and Satan appealed with “how can a loving God cast His own creatures into Hell?”  So, God locked the earth in ice.  Restored it in six days, and we are the answer to that appeal.  We demonstrate how a loving God can create, save, and then make it possible for the puny humans without wings to rule over angels someday.  God sets in motion from the dust of the ground, puny creatures---fragile in angel’s eyes, yet those first men lived a thousand years on the restored earth.  Not until after the flood, not until Noah did the age of man start to decrease to the eighty or so years people live today.  Before the flood, diet was different. Vegetarian. Climate and maybe ultraviolet did not age them so quickly.  God created His best in man.  Adam lived over a thousand years.  The first ten generations to Noah, did not father children until they were hundreds of years old.  And we have recorded in the Bible, every possible type of government, farm, travel, as history is played out.  Wickedness started early, but God had a plan.  And even though satan would seek to defeat each generation, kill the promised one, thwart and deceive mankind, God’s theme, God’s promise---from Adam and Even in the Garden, to Noah, to Abraham to Moses---God kept His promises.  God was at work to seek and save those who desired to know their Creator.  Whenever a spark of wonder was found, God revealed Himself to that person no matter what no matter where---rich or poor, on an island or in a city…God has been faithfully working, protecting, revealing His perfect plan in the war that is the angelic conflict.  Maybe we, the believers…from Adam and Eve to now, maybe we replace those third satan pulled to his side.  And in the future, satan and his third will be thrown in the lake of fire for final judgment.  The Bible says it is a day coming. 

So, in the beginning, God.  God created the heavens and the earth.  (the angels were created, lived their history, and satan and one-third rebelled. God sentenced them to the Lake of fire.)  The earth was formless and void. Locked in ice for a time.  The dinosaurs died.  Oil and gas reserved were formed for our future use.  Between creation, the swampy time of the dinosaurs, it could have been millions of years.  How long does it take for swamps to make oil?  How long does it take for gas pockets to form beneath the rocks?  Did satan and the fallen angels play and party here for a time?  Not much evidence of theirs is left if they did.  We don’t know.  They battle even today between heaven and earth.  Unseen to us, unless silly folks play with the Halloween variety.  And demon possession was problem back in Jesus’ days on the earth.  Jesus threw out demons.  Jesus freed people enslaved by demons who had taken over their bodies.  The demons gave them strength, but they also did stupid stuff like cut themselves---even as the demon possessed do in our time.  Every time you turn on the tv or look at movies in the theaters, there is no escaping the nightmares that are demon possession.  Everything evil and mean and base and scary and terrible is from the dark side of satan and his demons. 

God created the heavens and the earth, and restored our planet to sustain human life.  With just the right mix of oxygen, with marvelously exsquisit cells, blood, eyes, OH, we are so SO blessed with marvelous bodies.  A little lower than the angels indeed!  We do not have wings to fly.  Yes, we are fragile, we break, we get sick.  But, God created out of the elements here---out of the dust of the ground, Adam, and breathed into him life.  Physical life, spiritual, mental, emotional---it is so amazing how that first perfect man was made. 

Genesis 1: 26-31 “God said: Let us (three members of the trinity. Plural) Let us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness, and let them---mankind, rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them; and God said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth. …then God said: Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you….”

We are there, ladies! Female. God thought of us, planned us, created us when He created that first man.  Yes, Adam was first.  Because God desired to show Adam his need for us.  Man is not to take the woman for granted.  God created and instituted something so special---free will, and the ability to choose, and learn, and hear, observe and see—God created that first man with a full vocabulary, brain, mind, spirit, the ability to see and hear and talk with God!   God created man.  Gave him breath and lungs to breath the air here.  Food.  A beautiful planet, but we telescope down now to a special Garden.  A special stage where God will reveal to the man the animals---creeping things and birds, but how they are different.  They do not have a soul.  They are given instincts to reproduce, eat, etc., but they are different from man.  This parade of zoo animals is brought to Adam to name.  We don’t know if they took days, weeks, months, even years.   God lets Adam figure it out:  Genesis 2:19-20  “…..but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.”

A HELPER SUITABLE

Go back to Genesis 2:18  (after the commandment to cultivate and keep the Garden, vs 15,  and after the commandment in verse 16 and 17 to eat freely EXCEPT from the one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the warning---“the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”   After these verses, verse 18 says:  Then the Lord God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 

God says He is going to make someone very special for Adam.  A helper suitable.  But, first , God forms out of the ground, animals and parades them before Adam for him to observe and name.   God says He is going to make something special for Adam, but first does something else.  Don’t you just love God’s sense of humor?  That same theme---creating the heaven and the earth, and letting angelic history take its course, all the while, He had us in mind!   All the while, He knew ahead of time that satan would be created the most beautiful, but fall. And take a third with Him.  This is not a surprise to God.  God was not caught off guard.  The same theme…God sees, and proclaims, not good for man to be alone.  Adam, man, like our husband---created with a need for us to complete and help and complement.   And when God puts Adam to sleep---Genesis 2:21 and took one of Adam’s ribs and fashioned  into  a woman the rib…from Adam’s side.  Forever Adam is missing a part…and in the marvelously complex parts we don’t even know yet---how a woman, that first woman, was formed from a rib sharing the same blood type? Yet made so beautiful, so exquisite, the Adam proclaims loudly: (when he first sees her)  Genesis 2:23  “Bone  of my bones, and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.

Verse 24 continues with the curious:  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Before there were fathers and mothers, before families---God is declaring the sacred, God’s invention, of free will, the individual, then the couple---of ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN leaving and joining together to make something so powerful, so sacred, Marriage.  Leave and cleave.  Oh, this is rich, as I am an old grannie now, and see how important it is to leave and cleave.  Choose wisely.   Two of my sons have picked their mates, gotten married, started their own families…an this verse warns the mother-in-law in me to back off.  Respect them.  My sons will always be my babies…but they are one with their wives now.  One man and one woman.  Marriage is under attack today.  Because the enemy seeks to undo God’s perfect design.  Marriage came BEFORE the fall.  Before sin.  God instituted marriage, families, nations…to keep civilization going despite the unseen forces that would seek to destroy us because the enemy has heard God make promises…promises that God cannot fulfill if there are no humans to come back to.  Satan went after the promised one throughout the Old Testament.  What makes you think he has changed?  Satan and his enemy forces seek to destroy mankind from within or without.  We are at war.  We are in a war whether we like it or not.  We have entered the stage that is history in the final acts of this play.  Best to find out what went on in Acts one and two…so God graciously preserved them in the Bible for us to read and know.  If each dispensation is an act in the play of history, I believe we are in the Church Age.  Jesus comes back and after the tribulation period of seven years establishes His Kingdom in a millinial reign of one thousand years.  After that, the Bible says one more rebellion, then new heavens and new earth.  We will live with God forever and ever.  This time, these acts in the play of history are but a drop in the bucket of eternity. 

So, as women, we need to understand our place in history.  Our place in God’s design.  Our role as helper suitable, and mother to sons who grow up to be husbands and fathers themselves someday. 

One flesh.  Helper suitable.  What do they mean?  Created, invented before the fall---and we must understand the fall and how it changed everything.  Yet, God preserved His design, of marriage and family and then nation respecting other nations, so that civilization could continue.  When nations or people groups set aside God’s design and ignore God’s plan, the consequences are sin, death, evil, slavery, and there is no excuse.  God established laws and had Moses write them down, and gave them to a stubborn and stiff necked people, and showed us down through the ages what happens when His laws are obeyed, and when His laws are ignored.  We have no excuse.  As women, we are responsible to know the Bible.  Know what happened.  Know the Laws that protected nations.  And know that each of us as individuals are responsible for teaching our children.  Each generation stands on its own, and each individual will give an account to God for what we were given.  God gives us a family to be born into, and God keeps us alive to hear the Gospel, and make a decision.  If we reject Him, it is often a hard life.  Full of sorrow and sin and fear and violence.  If we trust Him, sin is still a daily problem that we need Him to help us battle within ourselves, and within our children, and within our cities and nation.  But, He has promised to be with us, to help us, to guide and He gives us a purpose a mission…

Remember---you were created in God’s image!  You are not an accident nor are you descended from monkeys.  Evolution and abortion are attacks on the individual and marriage institutions.  See them as they are.  Understand the fall.  God loves you and wants the best for you. 

 

 

Tell your sons a story to help them understand recent events when they ask

Once upon a time, a young man grew tall. His Daddy was six foot four, and he could not wait to be taller than his Dad.   At six foot, two, and 17 years old, some called him, “Slim”.  It was a nickname.  Slim.  Slim loved sports.  He could play football or basketball.  He wore glasses, but they broke, and besides, some silly girl and his friends were calling him four-eyes, and one cute girl said he looked better without them.  Why bug his stepmom? Dad was busy driving trucks, and while it was hard to see the whiteboard/blackboard, Dad’s girlfriend was not going to take him to get his eyes checked.  One night in February, it was raining, but Slim got the munchies.  He heard that mixing skittles with Arizona tea and cough syrup made a sipping opiate, but drugs are bad.  Marijuana gave him the munchies.  Slim enjoyed chatting on the phone with his friend from his old school, in his old neighborhood, Rachel. Rachel did not do marijuana, but she did not judge his twice a week smokes.  Sometimes they’d chat all day on the phone about school, family drama, birthday parties and stuff.  No, there was no way he was going to ask Dad’s girlfriend to take him to the mall for glasses.  He did not want to hear the lecture about being careful. Eyeglasses break.  So, he called his Dad and asked to go to the store.  If only he had his own car, his own wheels.  But, a car, car insurance, gas all cost money.  Dad already forked it over for the new white track shoes, and his Mom said it was a race keeping him in jeans as he was growing so fast.  Slim cut through a neighborhood and noticed this dude in a truck watching him. Creepy.  Since Slim couldn’t see clearly at long distances, he hid and waited for the dude to get closer.  The creepy guy got out of his truck and came towards Slim.  Still chatting with Rachel, she wondered if the creepy guy was a rapist.  And Rachel dared him to punch the guy in the nose.  Slim didn’t want this creepy guy to follow him home because he was home alone with his Dad’s girlfriend’s son.  So, he waited until the creepy guy got closer and jumped him. Slim knocked the creepy guy down, and started punching him and the creepy guy started yelling!  “help!” And when his shirt slid up, Slim saw the gun.  But the creepy guy shot up through Slim’s chest and Slim said, “you got me” and fell back.  The creepy dude was able to roll free.  Come to find out, the creepy guy had called police.  The creepy guy was Mr. Z, who thought Slim might be a robber, as Slim was wearing a black hoodie, and slinking around the houses where some burglaries had occurred.  Mr. Z cooperated with police, and was handcuffed and taken in for questioning.  And his head wounds, and broken nose photographed, and treated.  The next day, Mr. Z did a walk through with police and a cameraman and explained what he saw and experienced.  Mr. Z was a crime watch captain for his neighborhood.  He was not on duty that night, but on his way to Target he noticed Slim in the black hoodie and called it in to police as he had been trained to do.  He was waiting for the police to arrive, and checking for a street name and address house number, when Slim jumped him.  Slim punched him in the nose, and sat on his chest and repeatedly banged his head into the sidewalk and Mr. Z thought Slim was going to kill him.  He did not know Slim.  He had never seen him before that night.  What if he blacked out and Slim found the gun in his holster? Where was that phone in his jacket pocket?  Surely, the police would be here soon?  When his shirt and jacket slid up as he tried to get out from under and away from Slim, Mr. Z was afraid Slim had seen the gun, and so he grabbed it first.  Mr. Z did not realize he had fired it until Slim fell back and rolled off him.  Mr. Z got up and hollered some more for help.

That dark, rainy night in February, it took hours for the police to take notes, for the coriner to come, and the witnesses to give their accounts.  Flashing lights and police tape and reports were taken until 2am.  Rachel found out two days later that when the phone call ended at 7:17pm, that her friend had died.  Slim’s Dad did not miss Slim as he assumed Slim was at a friend’s house.  J

Tell our sons that story.  For want of eyeglasses…

Did you notice that in telling the story, not once did I mention anyone’s race.  It was dark, light rain, and the neighborhood robberies and home invasions had been committed by black “youths” and Mr. Z was concerned that the black-hooded tall person he saw might be one of the perps.  But, he merely observed and reported, as neighborhood watch persons are trained to do all over the country.  Call in suspicious people, try to get a description, direction which way they are headed, but stay in your vehicle.  Slim was tall, in a black hoodie, walking in the dark in the rain, through a neighborhood which had been recently burglarized. 

Make the story you tell your sons about the eyeglasses, and how neglect happens sometimes in broken homes, the need of compassion, help…of even a pencil or food if a fellow student comes from a home of high drama.  Make it about what a child CAN do:  never make fun of someone who needs glasses, food, or help with homework.  Bring an extra pencil to share.  Lift up.  If someone is being a bully, tell an adult.  Encourage.  And use this opportunity to give your sons permission to defend himself and his sisters.

In a speech on March 22, 1964, MLK said: “We must learn to live as brothers or perish together as fools.”  His niece, Alveda King wrote 7-18-13:  “Every human being is part of the one single human race. We are one blood. One race.  We are created with a dream inside, and when we are allowed to be born and to live out our God ordained lives, we have a chance to be great.”

Journaling

First, this most unusual weather.  To have a low sit upon us from the northeast in July giving us rain, gentle, soft, sweet rain ALL day and night and Day again...a miracle.  In July. In Texas--where most summers we see no rain until Sept./Oct.  Wow.  Windows open.  I walked around during and after my birthday saying, "wow".  Again yesterday.  and today.  "wow."  You have my attention, God.  Wow!  Blessing rain.  no wind.  no thunder nor lightning.  Just gentle, sweet rain.  I want to sit out in it.

Thank you, Lord.  We neither earn nor deserve it.  You know we need it.  And I hope it helps dampen the anger and protests.

Now, the political.  I am a news junkie.  I poke and prod the internets looking for conservative news: the truth.  I think we have been played.  The mainstream media stirred up the emotions and anger and are partly to blame for the rioting.  And skittles and Arizona tea and robitusson makes a sipping opiate.  It was not just a young boy buying candy.  Trayvon Martin was a druggie. a thug. a punk. He towered six foot two inches.  He was in shape, but it was just a matter of time, as the drugs made him angry and he slunk around burglarizing houses.  He was kicked out of school because of a third violation with stolen property, jewelry missing from local houses, in his backpack.  His parents received a huge settlement suing the housing association.  Supposidly, his mother is a church going, Bible verse quoting, praying lady.  Surely, she knows her son.  She had to endure weeks of listening to the shots, the pictures, the stories, testimonies...she even testified.  She mourns for her baby.  Did she pay for his cell phone?  minutes?  Did he ever steal from her?  Pawn her jewelry? 

Would one relative, one honest person please come forward and say the truth?  Trayvon was punk.  He was going to hurt someone.  It was just a matter of time.  he texted and facebook chatted and spoke with friends about getting a gun.  He was a ticking time bomb.  But, no. 

As parents we are cowards.  Our baby.  Our reputation.  Our family story.  We are too afraid to admit that our children are SINNERS.  we are all capable of murder.  And we all desire self-defense. 

What of George Zimmerman?  He co-operated with police!  He had a judge for a father.  He knew the rules.  He tried to comply.  He tried to be a law abiding citizen.  he tried to be a man protecting his neighborhood from robberies.  His life was taken from him 17 months ago when after the night he defended himself, after trayvon tried to pound his head into the concrete, after the gun went off in his hands and after George was able to roll Trayvon off of his chest, he helped the police.  He answered all their questions.  He had his hands cuffed.  he was CLEARED.  He even did re-enactment walk throughs with cameras recording.  (should have been filmed at NIGHT, however, to be correct, as in daylight, things look different.)  all those videos and interviews were used against him during the trial.  the trial that the media and liberal progressive politically "correct" mob insisted upon.  And they were not going to be satisfied with manslaughter, either.  the threats on the family, the jurors...

Imagine being in your fifties, minding your own business, not bothering with news or newspapers.  Busy taking care of your own families, work, grandchildren, pets... hearing about some "young boy" being shot...but not bothering to research it.  Well, you get called onto a jury.  six women.  peers.   They get to sit through the trial.  Listen to all the evidence.  See the grieving parents, and family, and hostile witnesses.   Lawyers rant and rave and act and do their performance.   And these six ladies had to sit there and take it.  They had to become familiar with the new lingo, the legal terms, the strict times, sequestered...not allowed to talk about the case until it is dumped in their laps.  And the whole world waits for their verdict.

the whole world...except for my own children...too busy to pay attention as they have children, road trips, relatives to visit, sites to see... and yet they want the guns for self-defense...you'd think they'd be curious how this case went down.  But, no.  and I am still in shock.  As the country melted down with riots, where were my children???  wearing black hoodies in one of the cities.  that  night.  I. kid. you. not.   I guess I should be glad they were not wearing sheets to a kkk rally.  But, seriously?  black hoodies in a downtown where stores were being looted, windows smashed?? 

Saturday night...we are watching the Texas Ranger game on TV.  we are only allowed to WATCH the baseball game on Friday nights on channel 21 or 27.  but, for some odd reason, getting ready for the all-stars break, Fox 4 generously showed the game.  on a Saturday night.  we marveled at the Detroit crowd---NO black people in the stands in any of the games...neither Friday night nor Saturday.   I have heard bad stuff about Detroit.  How come only white people attend the games in a stadium downtown Detroit??  Don't the black people and muslim people of Detroit like baseball?  And they refused to show our black manager.  They kept showing Mattox, not Wash.  strange.  prejudice cameramen???  WTF?

So, I check twitter after the game, and the jury said, NOT GUILTY.  I find the live lawyers blathering and patting themselves on the back.  They should have shut up.  The Florida prosecutor that blocked evidence and fired whistleblowers was blathering on and on...someone should have cut her mike.  yikes.  now is not the time for celebration.  was she out of her mind?  or just loving her fifteen minutes of fame?

George Zimmerman's brother, Robert junior, spoke eloquently.  Revealed how their family had been homeless, on the run. persecuted, silenced.  Unable to respond and were on their own.  Their brother tried to defend himself, and their lives were forever changed that night in February. the 26th of Feb.

Did you know George has been on a curfew for 17 months?  wearing an ankle monitor?  hated by the press, and all who believed the lies?  Yikes.  His mother was born in Peru. 

Irony---a Zimmerman is buried at Arlington. 

Is George Zimmerman safe?  Will his marriage survive?  Where can he live and breathe free?  What can he do?  Write a book?  The Department of Justice is threatening to come after him.  Angry black mobs have sworn to murder him.   He desired to become a policeman someday.   He feels betrayed by a country, a media, a government, and has been unable to defend himself except through paid lawyers.  His father has had to hire lawyers.  The other side outspent them by how much??  I'd like to know.  If your son defends himself and shoots a person...no matter what color, should we get an insurance policy just for this?  So that we can afford the lawyers, the hotels, the life put on hold?

On the spiritual side:  did Trayvon's church going momma take him to church?  did he hear the gospel?  will we meet him in heaven?    and Martin L. King's daughter---she is all for nonviolence, but she just wants a boy like trayvon to be able to go about his business...buy his candy and walk home on a rainy February night in a neighborhood that has been suffering break=ins.... 

When are we going to talk about the black on black murders in Chicago??  When are we going to talk about the black abortions??  broken homes? 

apathy.  ignore the news, and you get to be on a jury.  stay current, and your children will wear black hoodies in a downtown city where riots are breaking out.    what a country.

Wednesday, July 17  More thoughts on the trial. verdict.

Again, what I'd like to ask Trayvon:  did your momma take you to church? any of your step moms?  Did you hear the gospel?  Let us assume you did.  Knew your need of a Savior, and are now in heaven.  What would you like to warn your friends?  future boys your age?

1. eyeglasses.  I saw you wearing them during a formal occasion---one of your Dad's weddings?  But, other pictures do not show them.  Did you have lasik? contacts?  or did your glasses get broken playing sports or rough housing around?  Were you too embarrassed to admit it?  Boys are rough on glasses.  And being sent to three or four stepmoms/girlfriends houses, did any of them notice your need?  Is that why you acted up in school?  any reading problems?  Counselors and teachers need to be alert and aware of students who for want of eyeglasses...  But, in this looks-is-everything culture, all it took was some stupid girl making fun of your or your friends calling your four-eyes for you to be too embarrasses to wear them? 

2. drugs? Did you take drugs? autopsy showed brain damage and liver damage.  Who paid for the drugs, cell phone, minutes chatting all day with your friends? 

3. Did no one warn you that slinking around in the dark in a dark hoodie was dangerous?  Sure, we'd all like to roam about, but in a neighborhood plagued with robberies, was that such a good idea?

4. Were you a ticking time bomb?  Talking guns and drugs and immoral behavior with your friends? What were your plans?  What kind of music, video games, movies did you enjoy? 

5. We don't get a do over.  But, I sure wish parents, teachers, pastors would use your life to redeem others.  Too, too many are murdering each other in Chicago.  Innocents are being caught in the crossfire.  I heard Rachel J. say she "doesn't do def" but someday, we will all die.  What is our legacy? 

6. since you were six foot two inches...why not basketball? did you enjoy football?  back to the eyeglasses question. 

Can we substitute "earthly father" for "husband" ?

My earthly father may have abandoned me.
My heavenly Father adopts me (Rom. 8:15).

My earthly father may see me as a situation to manage.
My heavenly Father sees me as his daughter to redeem (Isa. 43:1).

My earthly father may lie.
My heavenly Father speaks the truth (Isa. 45:19).

My earthly father may be deceptive and dark.
My heavenly Father is light (1 John 1:5).

My earthly father may believe he’s perfect.
My heavenly Father is perfect (2 Sam. 22:31).

My earthly father may demand perfection from me.
My heavenly Father gifts Jesus’ perfection to me (2 Cor. 5:21).

My earthly father may be selfish.
My heavenly Father selflessly gives me his Son (Rom. 6:23).

My earthly father may want glory for himself.
My heavenly Father deserves all glory (Rev. 5:13).

My earthly father may judge me.
My heavenly Father is the only judge (Isa. 33:22).

My earthly father may want to be king.
My heavenly Father is the King of kings (Rev. 19:16).

My earthly father may want me to pay for my sin.
My heavenly Father provides Jesus as payment for my sin (1 John 4:10).

My earthly father may accept separation.
My heavenly Father brings me near (Eph. 2:13).

My earthly father may place a burden on me.
My heavenly Father put my burden on Jesus (Col. 2:14).

My earthly father may ignore me.
My heavenly Father hears me (Ps. 10:17).

My earthly father may not truly know me.
My heavenly Father not only knows me, but he designed me (Ps. 139:13–16).

My earthly father may have mistreated or abused me.
My heavenly Father is my refuge (Ps. 18:2).

My earthly father may scare me.
My heavenly Father’s love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

My earthly father may be unpredictable.
My heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).

My earthly father’s love may be based on my performance.
My heavenly Father loves me despite my performance (Eph. 2:4–5, 8).

My earthly father may not value me.
My heavenly father sees me clothed in the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29).

You are the loved daughter of the perfect Father, and nothing will ever change that. So then, it is safe to look the wounds from your earthly father in the face. Psalm 30:2 declares, “O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.” Tell him your hurts, your fears, your pain. Though he already knows them, there is healing in bringing to light those deep places of your heart (Eph. 5:11–14).

There is this dangerous hour or two---before church, when your husband is putting the final edits to his Sunday school lesson (or for the preacher's wife---his sermon) and the enemy is extra busy.  Snark happens, and while he may regret what he said when/if the HS convicts him, you are laid low.  sad.  Having to hear and be humbled, but to the point of suicide or divorce?  Instead, handle it with humor and realize that as you lean on Jesus to be like Jesus to submit and be subject to, He never heard His Heavenly Father say what your husband just threw at you.   Enjoy!

My earthly father died in March.  And guess what.  He was an earthly father.  He was not perfect.   But, now he is.  And while I can do this list for/with my Dad, I read somewhere that we marry a guy like our Dad in some/many ways.  I arrogantly think I rejected my first three boyfriends because they reminded me of negative things about my Dad. 

My Dad never enjoyed the phyco-babble and to dredge up stuff to him meant I had not forgiven.  We kinda held each other at arms length in the final years.  But, I was so thankful to be there the week he died.  It was an awesome experience.  I never want to forget how he saw something we could not see.  He wanted to get up and go there!  

(I need to credit the list to another site. I need to go find her name. I would not want you to think I came up with the list. ha)

gifts are not my love language

Okay, I confess, gifts are not my love language.

My dear sister once sent us alligator heads for our boys for Christmas.  They had glass marble eyes.  I sent them back.

My son and daughter-in-law tried to give me the new special Whataburger ketchup for my birthday. But, I gave it back to them.  I have plenty of Hunts.  And little packets of Whataburger.  And the Heintz is unpatriotic.

Nope. I do not receive gifts well.  I either re-gift them, or give them to them that might use or want them.  

My husband gave up trying to buy me clothes.  I took a sweater back---don't remember if it was the wrong size/color or what.  Just did not want to see it go to waste. 

Getting to play with all the grands---that is the best gift.  Getting to see my sons, and daughters-in-law and future daughter-in-law.  That is better than jewels or trips or dust collectors. 

I'd rather have bottles of Tazo tea than a cake.  Cakes do not keep.  Bottles of Tazo tea will be fun for days and days.  I'd rather have a fun meal out than cake.  Salmon at BJs, or ribs at Angelos or lasagna at Olive Garden, lemon veal piccatta at Carrabbas, limas and lemon chicken at C. Barrel, catfish at Babes...

no, fat ladies do not need cake.   Oat meal cookies---perfecting a recipe with a dollop of sour cream, and olive oil and butter...much better than cake and roses.  roses fade.  But, the memory of little guys playing lasts a long, long time. 

My "wow" birthday 2013

Journaling the memories here---for next year.  I am walking around the house, doing dishes, picking up, as Bob vacuums and sorts toys...saying "wow" over and over.  God gives THE best birthdays.  wow

Last Sunday, at church, I thought my birthday would be sorta quiet.  I thought Bob would go to work, as he had been in Alabama the week before and needed to catch up.  I thought we might see James and Amber on the 4th.  just for an hour, as they needed to get west.  But, mostly, I thought we'd be staying cool. indoors. poking around on facebook and twitter.  maybe see a movie.  ha.

After church, We met Ben and Tiffany and Tiffany's grannie and her friend Ashley at BJs for lunch.  They serve the best salmon I have ever tasted.  impressive. 

And Monday I talked to Suzanne on the phone, and mailed some packages.  And we rode the roller coaster of James contemplating a deployment---which by Monday afternoon he found out the door on that slammed "violently" shut.  yay.  But, it is like we were put on notice, tested, for some reason.  And with things unsettled in Syria, Jordan, Egypt...  But, thankful the cloud was lifted for their vacation. 

Tuesday, Andy called and said they were headed up...and so I started cleaning, shopping.  They attended a college buddy's wedding right across the street from my Mother's house, and had been staying with her, visiting Lauren's folks and grandparents and friends.  I was glad they decided to come here for my birthday before heading back to Florida.  It was a wonderful chance to see Abby and David...  and we still thought we'd see James and Amber on the 4th...

Ben and Tiffany came over Tuesday night after Andy and Lauren got here about 5:30pm.  Abby is getting so tall, and she is so patient with her little brother.  David talks amazingly, and if you set the timer for each hour, potty trained! 

On Wednesday, my actual birthday (even though I had been celebrating all week) James found out at 2pm that they had been released early, so they were headed our way by 2:30pm.  wow.  They got here by 9pm??  And Ben and Tiffany came back even though they were in the middle of painting Tiffany's kitchen cupboards.  I got to sit and watch all my grands play.   And Abby got to experience what it would be like to have three little brothers.  Sometimes they ganged up on her, and tried to tickle or tackle.  And there was lots of spontaneous hugging.  Baby James and Baby David are about the same height.  It was so cute to see them hugging each other.  eye-to-eye.  sometimes gently, sometimes in a take down tackle.  amazing.  And little Matthew, who turned one in March, who is walking and climbing just gets right in there, too.  Gets a toy, shares a toy, has a toy snatched from his hands...but he does not seem to mind. Rolls with it.  And smiles so big. 

What more could I have wanted for my birthday?  I got to babysit my grands, play, watch them, delight in their interaction, and see my sons and my daughters-in-law and my future daughter-in-law.  Eat ice cream.  What more is there?  I do not need gifts that collect dust.  We are trying to give away those things to good homes.  simplify.  Someday, we will move the bed from the middle bedroom to the little house and make it another spare room for when both families are here---on those very rare, once every two years or so occurances/miracles. 

This morning, the 4th, I made coffee, careful not to wake sleeping babies.  And I got to watch them eat breakfast sitting on our breakfast stools.  More hugging, foot fights, fork waving...as their daddies packed the cars.  Now one has pulled away to the east, and one to the west coast.  Florida and California.  with their little dvd players and juice bottles, and books and toys...

What a fun, fun 4th!  They ran in the back yard.  conquered the hill.  talked to the neighbor dogs as long as GrandDad was near.  And gave us lots of hugs and kisses.   so fun.  I bet they all take naps on the trip.  

Thanks again to my sons and their families.  I wonder if we won't all be together here again until next March when Ben and Tiffany get married??  what fun.  wow.

Colossians

I wanted to title this "Commands of Colossians" but I was afraid that might be off-putting.  I love the commands of the New Testament.  I love it when Jesus says do what I said, and makes us responsible for what He has commanded, then empowers us to do them.  But, in this culture, people don't like being told what to do.  That is sad.  They think authority is evil, but God's authority is for our protection.

Colossians 1:17  He (Christ Jesus) is before all things and in Him all things hold together. 

So when we lean on Christ, when we draw near, hold fast, (more of my favorite phrases) we are completing the circuit or plugging into it?  ((electrical analogy---seeing as how my husband is an electrical engineer, and my youngest is an electrician))

Colossians 2:2  "...KNIT together in love."   (sorry, but I am a knitter---so I jump on those verses)

Commands of Colossians:

1:10  Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work.  (it is not a suggestion) 

Walk...bearing fruit...good work 

1:12  Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.   (what/who are "saints in Light?")

1:23  if you continue in the faith firmly established.  (continue is the command to me)

2:6  ...as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in Him,

2:8  See to it that no one take you captive through philosophy and empty deception,

2:18  Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize

2:19 (taking the liberty of rewording the command here from the negative)  Hold fast to the Head Christ (the whole Body of Christ) grows with a growth which is from God.

3:1,2  "...keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  vs. 3  For you have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

3:5  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 

(idolatry is immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed.  where/how am I immoral?  impure?  passionate as in crusader arrogance, where do I have evil desires? where am I greedy?  I curse and say bad words when I am angry, frustrated, impatient.)

Col. 3:5-11  Put aside:  immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech from your mouth, do not lie to one another, put on the new self... where there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, BUT  CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL

vs 12-17  You are chosen of God! Holy and Beloved. 

Chosen of God, Holy, Beloved, Christ is all and in all...in you.  Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other, forgive just as Christ forgave you. 

Put on Love which is the perfect bond of unity, 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 rightly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

How do we admonish one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?  I think it points to a corporate worship.  singing together---which means we need to assemble together, and maybe too, as responsibility and knowing the psalms we sing! 

(keep all the previous verses in mind---in context---are you sitting down??)

Colossians 3:18 WIVES BE SUBJECT TO YOUR HUSBANDS, AS IT IS FITTING IN THE LORD.

(still with me?  do you find this offensive? irritating? mean? don't miss the blessing.  hang on. repent and stay with me here)

Don't lift it out of context and beat your wife or daughter or daughter-in-law with it.  Keep it in context.  Go back and re-read Colossians so far, if you need to.  "Fitting" means right, good, proper. 

fun aside:  I see Mammy, in the movie, Gone With The Wind, saying: "It ain't fittn'...it just ain't fittin' " for something Scarlet is planning on doing. 

"Subject" to your husbands is important for unity and peace and "in the Lord" reveals by the Lord's power and done as UNTO the Lord plus not as in a crime and/or being an accomplice. 

Only You, Lord, can empower, motivate, show me how to be subject to my husband without sinning in my heart, without eye rolling, without respect.  quietly.  lovingly, just as Christ is subject to His own Heavenly Father: serving, praying earnestly to, communicating, beseeching, (see Gethsemine) but when it is time to move, time to act, time to go to the cross, do so with honor, love, willingness, without fear, doing your job, your duty, giving your loyalty, devotion, giving all without reservation on that cross JUST AS CHRIST.  Just as Christ:  obedience, endured, was spat on, beaten, despised, misunderstood, meek, praying for His enemies.  When your husband asks you to do something hard, something you'd rather not, something painful, even to the point of death, remember Christ our example.  Jesus asks us to submit. Be subject to our husband even as Jesus is/was subject and submitted to the Father.  And as our example--we don't do it blindly, but LIKE Christ, we tremble, sweat blood, pray for this cup to pass from us, yet we TRUST, go, serve, do, even if...

Even if ...

Hard times are coming when marriage is under attack, ridiculed.  I think this privilege---this opportunity is not being taught to women.  Our Christian daughters and dear daughters-in-law need to know that soon the world will revile, despise them for being subject and submitting to their husbands.  But it is a GIFT, on this earth, now.  in time.  not in heaven.  We can only do it now.  We are going to be given the daily, hourly, private or maybe public opportunity to demonstrate Jesus Christ, our example, as a wife.  To submit, to be subject to our husband.  I tremble, Lord.  For me, for my daughter-in-law, for the friends and women at my church, and the women in the Body of Christ:  Help us not miss this unique opportunity to stand up for marriage.  Marriage is Biblical, created by God!!  God's design.  God's purpose.  God's objective and mission.  Give us Your supernatural strength in our hour of need, Lord.  When persecution comes, when teaching our sons and daughters, at church, in public, for we desire to hear:  "Good and faithful servant" when we get to heaven.  

The enemy, in the disguise of the equal rights women's movement has been attacking and depriving women of this for years.  Men are told to Love their wives just as Christ:  even being willing to lay down their lives for her.  provide. protect. And it is easy when respect, love, trust is there.  But, computers can be hacked, reputations ruined, silly laws broken, or immoral laws--stood against costing a man his livelihood and family security.  When a husband has to stand for what is right, he answers to God and often it costs him his life, his job, his ability to provide for his family.  Please give my daughters-in-law and granddaughters the knowledge of why You set it up this way and a clear understanding of the privilege to be Christlike in subjection and submission--but only to our own husband and only as unto God.  We are not told to be subject to other women's husbands.

This opportunity, this test, this obedience, posture, needs to be done in the Filling of the Holy Spirit, hourly, daily, in the household tasks, in the watchcare over the children, teaching of the children, as well as in deference to the husband in household  decisions, plans, upkeep, as well as decorum at church, in public, with friends, encouraging your friends to be so also with their own husband...for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health...  Watching your husband's back, serving, sensitive, respectful, loving and gentle.  I tremble.  I am afraid because the tests often blindside us and I am guilty of being unkind, frustrated, impatient, sarcastic, mean, selfish, picky, unforgiving, moody. 

When we get to heaven and we see the stack of crowns of missed opportunities, it will be too late.  And I have been married 35 years...lots of wasted opportunities. 

When those who shack up, live with---before marriage, they miss these opportunities to be like Christ.  To love just as Christ.  To forgive just as Christ, to serve, wash feet, endure persecution, endure beatings, being spit on, slapped by the world, by the cruel religious, dirty, mean, immoral crowd, who see you as a threat.  They are the truly intolerant.  Please get us ready, Lord.  Gird up our loins.  help us strap on the full armor of God, know our scripture, and how to use it, help us know when to speak, when to fight, when to stand, when to wait, when to run, when to endure.  In Jesus name.  Help us remember that Jesus is the example for the husband as well as for the wife.  Only here can we do this.  Only here on earth, in time, before we die or are raptured, can we honor Your Son, Jesus, in suffering, in service, in persecution, in sharing the Gospel, in boldness.  Keep us with our priorities in proper perspective.  Help us avoid  crusader arrogance, fear, phoniness, idolatry, greed, gluttony, escaping into books, movies...bring EVERY thought into captivity for Christ.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men...it is the Lord whom you serve.

Mrs. Clara Martin Williamson

Today is my husband's Mother's Birthday---she would be 93.  Born in 1920, but forever 33 as she is in heaven.  Can't wait to meet her.  She died just after Bob left home for the Army.  He has told me the story of what a struggle it was for her to attend his commissioning.  He has told me of stories of growing up with seven brothers and sisters, so I know she was a saint in more ways than one. 

I love the stories about how Bob's Mom was a Sunday School teacher, and how as a little boy, he was fascinated by these giggling girls.  She also played the piano, and kept the books for her husband's construction business.  I cannot imagine being the Mom of eight---and when the triplets were babies, Bart was also still in diapers. 

I wish she could see what wonderful women the triplets have become.  And what would she say to hear so many are pastors, Sunday School teachers, soldiers...among her sons, nephews, and greats. 

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Clara Martin Williamson.  She was a daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, wife, Mom, Grandmother---what a legacy. 

Fun With Twitter

10,555 tweets
1,464 following
783 followers

Numbers that can disappear tomorrow! Computers crash. Internet is fragile. Pictures and files are lost. or you can be thrown into twitter gulag. Isn't that special?

But, with twitter---news is instant. You can chuckle with your funny and/or satire tweets, cry at the news of a fallen soldier, murdered baby.

News from around the world--because my sons could be deployed again, so what is going on over there? And what is the president up to? Reducing the military, cutting library programs for kids, turning off the AC in commissaries and yet expecting troops to go over there where they HATE us and bring peace?! That.

Twitter is a place to encourage other believers, stand up and be heard. Get alerts to sermons, and be amazed at the pithy words of the master satirists.  Poke fun at each other, keep a sense of humor.  Yes, twitter is fun.  Mostly, to retweet what others say, as in, "wow, I like that!" or "wow, I like how you worded that."  I agree.  Amen, I believe it.  I agree.

Light Blogging lately. conquering twitter.

I am still alive. Enjoying the challenge that is twitter.  Still need to find a book for dummies on the subject. 

I stayed home with the grandbabies Memorial Day Sunday, and was so sad to hear that our church has given up on a nod.  they mixed up Memorial Day and Veteran's Day for years, but sad to hear they gave it no mention at all.   I got to thinking, if I were a pastor---and that'll NEVER happen, as our church do not believe women's role is pastor/teacher above men.  But, if I were pastor, and were tasked writing or composing or delivering a Memorial Day message, which book in the Bible would I turn?  Chronicles.  First Chronicles.  My o My, the gems there.  All those lists---valiant men, men of honor, trained, ready, provisioned, prepared, wow.  Names upon names...to let us know what happened to the rest of the story. 

For example, in Genesis, we leave Hagar and her son with an angel visit, and a promise.  Sure enough, the promises come true.  Ishmael has lots of sons, and his descendants are listed.  Esau, Keturah's sons...listed and accounted for.  The book seems to hone in on David, as if it was written in his time.  Details only he would know, and a cleaned up version of certain events...maybe his son, the wisest, Solomon wrote it.  or at least started the writing of it.  One translation says it is one of the last books written chronologically...first and second Chronicles together. one book. 

If you were needing a Father's Day message---"heads of households" and "heads of their father's households" would preach.  The phrase appears over and over. 

So, between searching Chronicles, and figuring out twitter, and listening to the Blazecast---Scott Baker's interactive show online, and Stu and Pat--and a little of Glenn, I keep busy.  Refilling the birdfeeder, watching the grass grow, and talking to the white cat in the back yard who has adopted us.  Fathered by the old white tom we used to call Phantom for his face markings....this white guy has similar stains on his head---more in the shape of a v.  He loves to sit in the windowsill and watch the birds swoop in to the feeder, see him, and fly off. 

Saw my Mother Memorial Day weekend, too.  She stayed with my brother in Grapevine, but we motored up to see her Saturday and Sunday.  Helped our son, James with da babies as his wife was on a women's retreat.  The babies were so cute.  Baby Matthew is walking full time now.  Amber's folks have driven out from California.  So glad they are finally getting to see them in almost a year. 

Rain yesterday brought cooler weather.  So nice to be able to open the windows.  Had to get a new AC the Friday before Memorial Day, and the new Freon or motor or something gives a faint burnt smell.  I hope it fades.  Or, maybe the new carbon filters I ordered will help. 

Bob teaches Sunday School each week, so Saturday he is busy composing a lesson.  They are good lessons, so I am grateful.  (why don't we spell it greatful?). 

an update on my menopause---absurd name if ever there was one.  I had the heaviest, blot clot filled months of December, January, February, March, April and then half way through May--it stopped.  wow.  a break.  I had bought a case of the heavy-duty purple overnight pads.  I hated to go anywhere because I need to sit on a towel for leakage.  We will see. 

Years ago, I went to doctors and just wanted them to explain that it would get messy, heavy, but eventually stop.  Instead they advised hysterectomies, surgery---ridiculous at my weight, and with sleep apnea and allergies...no thank you.  Stuff (supplements) different ones---chiropractor, friends, relatives suggested had bad side effects.  I noticed I was getting sensitive to the sun!  And sun is good for mental health in reasonable doses...and in chasing babies.  So, I stopped all supplements. 

Life is good.  Twitter is fun.  I have a few "followers". what a hoot!  It is a way to encourage, teach, reach out, learn, keep up on the LATEST news...receive links to live tornado storms, etc.  Watched the El Reno one blow up online from a small cloud to the biggest recorded one ever.  I still can't believe the weathermen were so scared from the week before's storm that they advised people to get in their cars and out run it south.  It was way too late to clog the roads.  18 or 19 died.  Even three storm chasers.  amazing.

More later from Momisaverb.

Hey Jude, what a pertinent and fascinating Book of the Bible you are.

I am so spoiled as Bob knows more about computers and can help me out of my wrong turns into malware.  I clicked on the wrong thing on Friday, being impatient---and it took HOURS to remove that malware.  yikes.

 

I am also thankful that God has provided me Bob as Sunday School teacher.  Sometimes it is hard to be quiet...and let him study on Saturday.  (and Sunday morning...like right now) 'cause I have been reading the book of Jude this week, dissecting the verbs, lists of bad boys, and pondering certain phrases...and can't wait to ask Bob about them.  It is amazing to me how when we have questions about the Bible, God answers within days or weeks with a radio preacher's sermon, or sermon at church, or even a special speaker.  I about had a religious experience one time when I had a question about the anointing feet with perfume stories, and this speaker from England came to our church and preached the VERY passage I was going over and over on my own.  God is good.

 

We need to be ready to combat the culture.  Marriage is being questioned, and the homosexual agenda is evil.  Like is says in Jude, the license for evil among our own who want to use grace to justify their immoral behavior! yikes.  And I like the Net Bible translation better---they are not "hidden reefs at your love feasts", they are rocks along the shore as in a shipwreck analogy---pillars in our churches, false teachers spouting--- 

 

I can't wait to ask Bob about our command to "contend for the faith" versus was the worst Michael could say to satan over the body of Moses: "the Lord rebuke you!"  (also in Jude).  And I love how Jude highlights stories from Sunday School---and makes us responsible for them in the church age.  Balaam was a story that looks tame but fun for little kids because the donkey talks! But, you have to dig around deeper to find out that Balaam was guilty of encouraging the infiltration of Israel through the women of Midian:  sexual immorality!!  yikes.   It would be like North Korea unable to get their nukes to work, so he sends north Korean prostitutes to undermine our government and nation.   or it would be like radical islam, unable to knock down the new Freedom Tower, sending the Muslim Brotherhood to rewrite our textbooks, and military training materials...and Balaam sitting there protesting, but I did not send the prostitutes, nor the Muslim Brotherhood, I just ADVISED them that that is how you take down the USA. 

Legacy

What if a grandfather wanted to tell his grandchildren, great-grandchildren even great-greats that he loved them, and thought of them, and prayed for them..?  Yes, that grandfather would tell his children and grands, by living to be almost 100 and telling them every day in word, and deed.  He would write letters to those far away, and postcards they could keep.  He would record things in diaries, and write funny things about trips they might enjoy reading and sharing.  And he would try to set up his will such that the great-greats knew someday that they came from a farm.  A farm he desired to keep together and keep in the family to provide a place to raise food though the world go to hell. 

Once upon a time, our God rescued and set apart a people He loved.  To help them remember where they came from He directed them to celebrate once a year with a special feast.  In that family feast, were all the elements to teach the children what happened and repeat the promises that no matter how hard things get, God is coming back to rescue them and rule and set everything right. 

Just a small people, on a small plot of land. Set apart, and rescued down through the ages, though dictators have tried to exterminate them, God preserves a remnant, and gives them the task of keeping His Commandments written in the Torah.  They have changed some celebrations, even Jesus came and pointed out where they had strayed from the letter of the Law.  All the elements pointed to Him.  Jesus Christ is our Passover. 

The rest of the world hates the Jews because they are a tiny flame, a light to the world that God keeps His promises.  There will come a time in the future when the enemy tries to wipe them out and when unsuccessful again, turn and try to kill all who follow Jesus.  In Revelation, it says the enemy will be drunk on the blood of the saints.  Align yourself with the Jews, and Jesus, and persevere until the end. Some may be called upon to defend themselves, some will be taken captive. Again. Do no despair. God is in control.  God wins in the end.

Saints in Christ

As Christians, we are saints in Christ.  It does not mean we are perfect this side of heaven, but because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are positionally in Him.  His. 

I don't want to turn my Dad into an idol.  Neither do I want to dwell on the past because we all make mistakes.  We all sin.  Jesus died for the sins of the entire world. 

If I could have---no regrets---but, because I blubber easily, I'd like to list a few things I'd like to tell Dad thank you:

Thank you, Dad, for giving me a love of learning about God, the Bible, taking me to visit the pastor's wife, Mrs. Algrim, who explained the gospel to me at 10 years old.  Your conversion and mine are linked by that week in October 1963. 

Thank you for taking us to church faithfully after that...to learn more about the gift of salvation Jesus paid so dearly for us.  Thank you for showing us by example how important it is to go to church, learn God's Word, pray with, sing with and encourage others.

Thank you for giving me a love of music, especially, singing.  I am sorry I was never a good enough pianist to accompany you, as you longed for me to be.  Thank you for giving me voice lessons---from you, from professionals, from teachers.  From early age---what was I, five or six?? when you taught me the "Where is Love" song from Oliver.  You taught me to love musicals. 

Thank you for giving me a love of books, of reading, and learning.  Thank you for being such young parents with energy, a love of people, parading, inviting people into our home. 

Thank you for taking me to school, picking me up, making me responsible, accountable,

Thank you for teaching me to drive...and insisting on excellence because a huge automobile can do serious damage if you do not pay attention.  (even though I resisted, knowing I could never drive as safely as you)

Thank you for moving us to Texas my sophomore year in high school where we could attend church and study the Bible every night and where I met my future husband, and learned to socialize.

Thank you for trying to impress on me the importance of staying in shape, eating right, taking vitamins. 

Your boldness in sharing the gospel was amazing.  Your boldness as a salesman was impressive--sorry I did not turn out to be the salewoman with NFIB you desired me to be.

Thank you for giving me away to my husband 35 years ago, even giving up your wedding ring to help move the ceremony along.   Thank you for providing for me growing up--I never went hungry.  I knew you loved me.  And I knew you and Mother enjoyed the grandsons.

Thank you for the phone calls, the wisdom, the modelling of good behavior, paying off debts, gracious hospitality, opening your home to all, and most of all--

How do I thank you for your Voice?  God gave you a tremendous talent, but you worked at it, took lessons, cultivated an opera Voice and yet you chose us.  You could have been famous.  You could have gone to New York or Hollywood, but you decided family was more important and you saw the dangers lurking in fame.  You chose us.  Your children and grandchildren and now four great-grandchildren will never know what all you sacrificed for us.  But, we thank you, and we thank God for you---and while it was hard to watch you struggle physically these past few years, you modelled perseverance.  Grace.  You were given the tests of blindness, liver failure, and challenges from your bi-pass intestine operation (30+) years ago.  Yet you used your voice to bless others in solos, leading the singing, entertaining, plays (in Illinois), and around the house--we were blessed. 

Even your last days here, you sang out, "It is Well" in the chorus of that famous hymn.

Forgive me for talking you into wearing cowboy boots with your tux for a solo before wearing cowboy boots with a tux was cool. 

Forgive me for being judgemental, a bad speller, fat.   In heaven, my faults will be gone, too.  I can't wait.  Love you, Dad.  I know you are having a wonderful reunion with Kenny, Skoneee, Dick Duke, your parents, grandparents, Abby's great grandmother, (Abby said, now you can be friends with her again! wise little six year old). 

Maybe God has a plan for your Voice as Jesus comes back and sets everything right.  Shout to the Lord.  Sing out a new song.  Praise His Name.  

yes, this is what I'd like to tell my Dad.  

http://marshill.com/media/who-do-you-think-you-are/i-am-afflicted

Good sermon from Pastor Mark at Mars Hill. 

It was hard watching my Dad die, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I never wanted it, I would have never chosen it, and I don't want anyone else to go through it, but I wouldn't trade those ten days because I learned so much about Jesus.  So, I cherish it.  Hopefully, God will use this to help someone else.  It is okay to grieve, but don't lose heart.  Ephesians 3:1-3.   Fight.  Fight for your marriage, your kids, your joy.  God doesn't always answer our "why?'s but promises His Presence. Just be there, comfort one another.  Talk about it.  just like the Apostle Paul did.

Notes from Dad’s Death compiled by Joyce Williamson, oldest daughter of Max M. Howe (May 27, 1935 – March 5, 2013)

 Bob and I drove down Monday, Feb 25, 2013. (Arlington, Texas to Kingwood, TX)  Bob took a week of vacation time to help out.  I packed to stay longer if needed. 

On Thursday, February 28^th, my Dad seemed different..sleeping more, no appetite, etc. so Mother called for an extra nurse visit.  The Hospice Nurse, Mary, said to watch him overnight, but also start the smallest dose of morphine as the strees/pain indicated in the eybrow, brow, and clinched fists were pain indicators.  And she said he might be in or starting “transition”.  She warned that anything ingested –water or food—the danger of going straight to the lungs, so we were instructed to wet his lips with the small sponges.  Dad showed no aversion to the bitterness of the morphine which indicated his sense of taste is diminished.  He slept well until midnight and was a little restless---arms and hands to face to wipe eyes and nose.  Mother and I observed his breathing all night, but did not see any other indicators like rapid respiration, etc.  At 4am I stood next to his bed and he said, so sweetly, so gently and softly three times:  “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

And “I love all of you” and “thank you” whenever we gave him a sponge of water to sip or put water on his lips. 

Friday, March 1, 2013 

The aide gave him a bath, and washed his hair.  Output is down and no blowouts (bowel movements) since yesterday morning—had to change the sheets with that last one. 

Breathing easy.  Sleeping and coughing and clearing throat seldom compared to spitting yesterday. (he always was a phlegmy person).  The wet, combed hair gives him a much more normal appearance to me.  More noble compared to the wild-professor look of the bed-hair head. 

I sent out an email to everyone saying that I am so thankful all have visited that could.  And please pray for strength for my Mother as the next stage indicators to watch for, and being up and down with Dad all night can physically wear her out….  We so covet your prayers thus far, as we see God working so smoothly, seamlessly. 

We’d ask him if he was in pain, and he’d say, no.  We played music on the laptop, sermons on the radio KHCB.

 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

4:30 am  I felt a poem coming on as I sat in a chair beside Dad’s bed so Mother could sleep.  So, I got up and wrote my thoughts down in a rough draft.  Basically, it documented Dad’s illness for me to help with the chronology.  Mother said Dad had not felt good in years.  (two hospital stays, one in January, and one in February… Jay and Mother brought him home to die under Hospice care Feb. 8^th?  Our sons visited the next weekend of Feb. 16^th, to say goodbye and help.  Tina came and stayed 10 days.  Jay came back on weekends. Bill the weekend of Feb 23^rd.) We witnessed Dad rally for visits from church members visits:  Vance King, Pastor Larry, and members brought jokes that made Dad smile, stories, and food for all of us.  Pastor Larry shaved Dad a couple of times, and helped lift Dad for clean up jobs. 

5:30am I asked Dad how do you feel?  He replied, “Terrific” 

The loogies make me gag at first.  Hocking loogies, spitting at 6:30am Saturday.  (but, then, he was always a spitter)  It helped to sing this to the Count your Blessings song:  Hocking Loogies get them off your tongue…

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Bill called on his way to church.  We put the phone to Dad’s ear.

Don Huber called and Dad said, “Don!” as I believe Dad recognized his voice.

“JIM ! JIM ! JIM!” when we put the phone to his ear when his brother called from Illinois.

Bob prepared to leave Sunday, and then we sang some hymns for Dad.  I had read some Psalms aloud that morning, as Mother requested a few by number, too.   Our first hymn, “It is Well” ---Dad belted out the mens’ part in the chorus.   “Be Still My Soul” (Bob’s fav) and “Overshadowed” p. 263 in the Making Melody hymnal Mother found for me.  Dad sang it as a solo at Berachah years ago.  (Claire posted on facebook that Grant in Sunday School had learned that Jesus healed the blonde man.) My Dad has been practically blind since catarak surgery.  A genetic problem was discovered after which he emailed everyone about at Christmas.  So, Jesus truly did heal the Blind man in our story.

Bob left for Arlington at 1pm and called us at 4:44pm. 

3-5pm deep restful sleep.  Finally. 7 breaths per minute.  

5pm awake, asleep, awake, asleep. Snoring. 

6:40pm told him who I was and asked if he wanted water? “I love you” was his answer. 

7pm turned on his left side all by himself.  We re-arranged covers to match, but he only stayed there 10 minutes or so. 

8pm legs up, uncovers himself. Is he bothered by itching? (when we asked later, Tomeka suggested it might be a morphine side effect.) We put sweat pants on him because he just would not keep covered.  Mother administered secretion medication and morphine.  

Monday, March 4, 2013 

7am sleeping

8am visit from old neighbor. Sleeping good. 

9am Tomeka, the wonderful aide that came by M-F to give him a bath, came and positioned him with his head high up.  He usually slept after a bath because it seemed to wear him out, but his nap stretched 2 hours, then 4, and the Hospice nurse, Mary could not rouse him patting his feet, putting water on his lips, poking him in the chest.  His arms and legs stayed where Tomeka had positioned him.  I continued to watch him from the foot of Mother’s bed with Dad’s laptop perched atop some hymnals.  At 7pm, I noticed his breaths had increased from the usual 7 or 8 a minute to 12 to 13. 

We were amazed how long he was sleeping—from 9am Monday until 1am Tuesday…no moving, hands and legs in same position.  Such a contrast to Sunday. 

I want to remember how when we went to  bed, knowing how Dad was, peaceful, not moving, wondering, was this the night?  Would he get to go to heaven tonight?

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

1am  Dad coughed.  The first sound we had heard him make in 16 hours, and it had been 18 hours since last morphine dose.

2am  we cleared phlegm, used drops, rinsed his mouth

3am breathing 26 breaths per minute

3:15am morphine dose.  Only slight eyebrow movements. More phlegm clearing.

4:20am another morphine dose after Mother called the Hospice nurse.

4:40-5am  set a Tommy Nelson sermon from Denton Bible Church going to give us something to listen to while Dad breathed rapidly---as high as 30 breaths per minute.

http://dbcmedia.org/sermons/2-samuel-1/ (link to the sermon)

5:25 to 5:27 (Dad’s birthday is 5-27-35) I noticed that Dad’s breath was finally softer, slower, with spaces, and I touched Mother’s shoulder to say, I think he is going. 

I thought the clock said 5:35am when we saw him breathe his last few breaths, but, we sat and watched him a while to be sure.  Felt his hand, chest.  Such a peaceful end.  A peaceful face.  Eyes closed.  I called Bob, and then Mother called Mary, the Hospice nurse. 

6:44am Mary started taking vitals, and declared him at 6:46am.  That is the time that will appear on his death certificate.  But we know when he died.  I wonder if he started to leave us earlier, as he had always moved his arms, hands, legs and feet until 9am Monday.  Was his brain stem just breathing for him from 9am until 5:25am the next day?  Did he have a stroke?  It does not matter now, but because Mary had told Mother that she would see her Wednesday, Mother seemed to think the nurse did not think he would die until after Wednesday.  Mary and Mother washed his body, crushed and destroyed all pills and medication, and in another hour, the first of the two funeral home men arrived.

Funeral home men came to pick up the body with a gurney.  Carrying his body out covered in a red velvet blanket.  then the hospital rental company picked up the bed, oxygen equipment, etc.

Jay arrived before noon.  Helped Mother re-arrange, vacuum, took us out to lunch.

(Later, one of the men came back to answer questions, and pick up the pictures for the video at the Memorial Service.)  We started making phone calls, going through Dad’s cell phone, wait on calls about the church time availability.  5pm Memorial Service, with 4pm family visit time at Kingwood Bible Church around the corner Saturday, March 9th. (Pastor Larry and my folks attend a church that meets at the Y, but Dad lead the singing at KBC for many years.) Mother tasked Dick Mills to lead the singing of hymns.  Only Pastor Larry is to preach. Mother had to answer a hundred questions from the life/science people on whatall Dad had been given, vitamins and prescriptions.  After the body is cremated, ashes will be taken to Illinois to where his headstone waits in the spring—better weather.

 

Memorials (no flowers) go to:  Jack Young Benefit fund for Emily Young at any Wells Fargo 4080.  Memorial Service to be held at: Kingwood Bible Church,3610 West Lake Houston,Kingwood, TX 77345 

Here is Pastor Tommy Nelson's comment from my email telling him about the last sermon Dad heard: 
 

Joyce,

There can be no greater honor for a pastor than to be the last words from earth before a saint enters into the presence. He went victorious into a glorious reception... we have a mansion in the heavenlies.

Press On,

Tommy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Tommy Nelson
Senior Pastor
Denton Bible Church
Equipping the Saints for the Work of the Ministry
2300 E. University Drive
Denton, TX 76209
940.297.6700
www.dentonbible.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: your sermon last Sunday was the last one Dad heard

Dear Pastor Tommy Nelson, My husband and I enjoy listening to your sermons online. I spent a week near Houston with my parents last week as my Dad was dying of liver failure. He has been a strong Christian for 40 years. I was helping my Mother at his deathbed, and yours was the last sermon he heard this side of heaven! Your sermon of Sunday, 3-3-13, which is jam packed with so much---I have had to listen to it four times, and I don't think I have it all. wow. My Dad was breathing rapidly about 4am, and I set your sermon going on his laptop and at the end, the online audio cuts off before you say, Amen, but I noticed my Dad's breathing was getting shallower, softer and spaced out. I told my Mother, I think he is going...and we watched him take his last breaths. wow. so peaceful. an answer to prayer! Dad just slipped away to heaven home when you were finished speaking. How polite! My Dad's name is Max Howe. He would turn 78 in May. I just thought you'd like to know. Thank you for your faithfulness. Your sermon was such a comfort! Love, Joyce Williamson