In My Life

Abortion

2012-02-05T17:36:00.000-08:00

The issue of abortion is now front and center. Following are some data and four different perspectives on the matter.

Abortion data from U.S. Census Bureau:
Number of Abortion in the U.S. in 2008 (the last year for which data is complete): 1,212,350

Number of Life Births in the U.S. in 2008: 4,247,694

This data would suggest that for every 4 babies born, a fifth baby was aborted. In other words, conservatively speaking and without taking into consideration miscarriages or birth control medications/devices, at least 20% of babies conceived in this country are aborted.

INSIGHT FROM THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:
"If you could look at this from an advanced society somewhere in the future, abortion will be judged as just as barbaric in it's historical context as Mayan sacrifice of young girls, as killing infants for their female gender, as parents being within legal bounds to kill their children -- all of these things the norm in their time, in their context. Rationalized thought -- that a broad societal consensus that it is ok, and that given the time, will make it acceptable. We may truly believe, both sides of the issue, that we are making the most sensible, albeit difficult decision for the lives of those who are affected. I believe, to the bottom of my heart, we're getting this one wrong. God is at the heart of it for me. But even if you don't believe in God - history will judge this as low and base and barbaric. Particularly; particularly in a highly advanced society." Perspective of a registered nurse who is a friend of mine.

INSIGHT FROM TWO RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES
“The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and considers each person to be of infinite value and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and redeemed. Human life is sacred because it is made in the image of God and has an eternal destiny. (Genesis 1:27) Sacredness is not conferred, nor can it be taken away by human agreement.”

The Salvation Army deplores society's ready acceptance of abortion, which reflects insufficient concern for vulnerable persons, including the unborn. (Psalms 82:3-4)

The Salvation Army holds to the Christian ideals of chastity before marriage and fidelity within the marriage relationship and, consistent with these ideals, supports measures to prevent crisis pregnancies. It is opposed to abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or for any reason of mere convenience to avoid the responsibility for conception. Therefore, when an unwanted pregnancy occurs, The Salvation Army advises that the situation be accepted and that the pregnancy be carried to term, and offers supportive help and assistance with planning.

The Salvation Army recognizes tragic and perplexing circumstances that require difficult decisions regarding a pregnancy. Such decisions should be made only after prayerful and thoughtful consideration, with appropriate involvement of the woman's family and pastoral, medical and other counsel. A woman in these circumstances needs acceptance, love and compassion.

When an abortion has taken place, The Salvation Army will continue to show love and compassion and to offer its services and fellowship to those involved.”
From the Salvation Army Website

“A core text in rabbinic law crystallizes the status of the fetus. The Mishna explicitly indicates that one must abort a fetus if the continuation of pregnancy might imperil the life of the woman: “If a woman is in hard travail, one cuts up the offspring in her womb and brings it forth member by member, because her life comes before the life of her foetus. But if the greater part has proceeded forth, one may not set aside one person for the sake of saving another.

As a general rule, abortion in Judaism is permitted only if there is a direct threat to the life of the mother by carrying the fetus to term or through the act of childbirth. In such a circumstance, the baby is considered tantamount to a rodef, a pursuer after the mother with the intent to kill her. Nevertheless, as explained in the Mishna, if it would be possible to save the mother by maiming the fetus, such as by amputating a limb, abortion would be forbidden. Despite the classification of the fetus as a pursuer, once the baby's head or most of its body has been delivered, the baby's life is considered equal to the mother's, and we may not choose one life over another.” Daniel Eisenberg, M.D.

MY THOUGHTS
To me, a 20% abortion rate would suggest that abortions are definitely NOT being limited to situations where the mother's life is in danger. This would also suggest that the abortion procedure is being abused and misused. This would then in turn suggest that many women are seeking because of fear, misinformation and/or intimidation.

PEOPLE!!! What can we do to change this???? Lives are hanging in the balance!!!

And, by the way, if you want to know how Facebook feels about the abortion issue, this is a link to an article about Facebook apologizing to a reproductive rights doctor for removing her post on how to "Do It Yourself" Abortion.

Congressional Reform

2011-12-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this is really from Warren Buffet, but this email I received has some good points. Congress and other public servants should not become a wealthy class unto themselves as a result of taking it from the people they represent in the form of taxes. That sounds like a little too much like the monarchs our ancestors left behind in Europe.

"Winds of Change....

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!"

Blessings

2011-06-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

Standing with Israel means blessings for those who support her. As Psalm 128:5 says, "The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!"

At this moment, as in times past, Israel is threatened on all sides and by most of the world. And, no one is neutral on the subject. You are either for the state of Israel or against it. Therefore, if you dare stand with Israel, I challenge you to go to the website below and make a public declaration of the fact.

Those who support Israel are blessed to be a blessing.

http://unitedwithisrael.org/declaration/

Other Biblical references:
Psalm 20:2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
Psalm 134:3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Psalm 135:21 Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

My God is not....

2011-05-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, descriptions of the nature of God lose their meaning. For instance, God is love. God is kind. After a conversation with a discouraged person who is upset with God, I began to think. Maybe it would help to specify what God is not. Especially in light of the horrible weather tragedies. So, here goes...

God is not arbitrary.

God is not cruel.

God is not unjust.

God is not callous.

How can we understand, then, the bad that happens to us and others? By changing the way we think.

Being on the receiving end of discipline as a child was not fun. I did not think that it was an expression of my parents' love. I thought a spanking hurt - especially my pride. I usually disliked being corrected when I said or did something mean to my siblings. But, the result was that discipline shaped my character for the better. I have benefited by it.

I'm not saying that tragedy equals discipline. But, as in discipline, it is not fun or enjoyable. Despite that, in tragedy and hardship, let's search for goodness, pour out love, banish bitterness and learn something. God created good. Life is good. Every breath is a blessing.

Goodbye to Endeavor

2011-05-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

The last flight of the space shuttle Endeavor is scheduled for tomorrow. After it, Atlantis will make a final voyage in July. These will end an exciting 30-year chapter in our nation's history. A history that included tragedy and amazing discoveries.

NASA has not developed a replacement or improved spacecraft. The last flight of Endeavor really does mean an end to our country's heart for space endeavors. So much has been gained and so much remains yet to done.

I mourn the loss of this dream and my heart aches to see the passion of our country for space exploration fade out and fizzle only to be replaced by an obsession with fantasy sci fi. We don't seem to have the passion to be a world leader any more. And, I believe this stems from a spiritual failure.

We lack the faith to dream, to fail and to try again. Our vision has been obscured by greedy corporations, terrorist threats and, worst of all, complacency. We want our MTV, our refrigerators, our HD TVs, and our cell phones. And, if we have those, we can retreat from the world and the responsibilities that come with privilege and freedom. So, goodbye Endeavor - in every sense of the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/15/chiao.spaceshuttle.farewell/index.html?hpt=C1

NASA and Our National Vision

2011-03-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

I visited the Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida for the first time recently. I had already been mourning the rumored gutting of our country's space program. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to watch the launch of the Mars probe in person. The launch amazed and enthralled thousands of other spectators as well. All my life, I have been so interested in all of the launches, in the Hubble telescope's amazing pictures and in the courage, persistence and endurance of the men and women working in all aspects of the program.

After touring the Space Center, I was struck anew by the waste of abandoning the Space Shuttle program and scaling back our country's dreams and visions. In this time of hardship, it is even more important to grasp onto a vision. It is more important than ever to push forward with innovations and new technologies and new explorations. Working for NASA has been the dream and goal of the brightest and best. It has been a beacon to students encouraging the study of Math and the Sciences. Our national heroes are Astronauts and the people who get them up into Space. What do we have without it? A generation of students addicted to computer games and who never leave their bedrooms?

I ask every voter to consider the value of the program for future generations. "Without a vision, the people perish."

Topaz

2011-02-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Topaz in its purest form is colorless? The various shades of the jewel Topaz come from impurities! Information like this comes from my husband, who listens to scientific discussions for fun. Aren't husbands great?!?!?

Oh How I Love Saturdays

2011-02-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

For me, Saturday mornings hold the delicious promise of time. Like choosing from a menu in your favorite restaurant, Saturday mornings offer a wonderful assortment of choices like: to listen to Handel's Messiah while cleaning up the kitchen; or to sit, listen and meditate on lyrics from a favorite song; or to gaze out at the sparkle of clean snow; or to call a long-neglected sister. And all the while your story plot sits in the background soaking in it like meat in a marinade. There is no hurry. There is no deadline.

How delightful!

I Am NOT a Mormon

2011-01-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

I've noticed Mormon advertisements popping up on my blog. I don't endorse Mormonism, nor do I equate it with Christianity. Mormons do not confess the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed. They do not believe in the Trinity. Their main scripture is called "The Book of Mormon." This book was written by Joseph Smith, the religion's founder, in the United States in the mid 1800's. Mormons also call their church "The Latter Day Saints." Many Christian leaders have categorized Mormonism as a cult. From my point of view, other than the violence of Islam, those two religions treat women in much the same way.

I AM NOT A MORMON nor would I ever encourage anyone to adopt the Mormon faith.

Enjoying Motherhood - a new blog by my friend Estela Rosas

2010-12-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

Please check out my friend Estela's new blog. It is fresh and insightful.
Enjoying Motherhood.

Revisiting the Past and Bringing It Forward

2010-11-27T07:11:00.000-08:00

Facebook or LinkedIn or MySpace inspired me to start looking up some friends from high school. I had been quite envious of my husband's ongoing relationships with friends he had known since grade school. They all had music in common... and politics... and religion... I had one particular friend, Kay, who had taken piano lessons from the same teacher, sung in the same church choirs, acted in the same plays and stood in the back of the band with me along with the tubas and percussion. She played the timpani and I played stand-up bass. The last time I really remembering seeing her was at her wedding!

I started searching. The old way would have been to ask my parents to give me her mom's address, and then send a letter requesting my friend's phone number or address. This is still a reliable network, but it seemed that I could never remember to ask my parents at the right time. And then, they would have to remember to give me the information... Too many "ifs" in that equation.

I set about an Internet search using Google and found her name on a website of a place where she did some work. I knew it had to be her - it was the right profession and the right town. I finally got up the gumption to call the place and left a message. Low and behold! She called back!

We had a great conversation on the phone, and now, after 30 years, we are getting together.

What a gracious God we serve, who restores relationships and brings good things to our lives!

Abuse of Contempt of Court Imprisonment - It's Happening in Your Own Backyard!

2010-11-14T15:13:00.001-08:00

Following is a link to an article that succinctly points out the grave potential for abuse by family court judges in contempt of court incarcerations. Interestingly, the United States has the highest imprisonment rate and the largest number of people incarcerated on the planet - this includes China and the USSR. Some experts state that one of out of eleven males will be incarcerated at one point in their life and that rate increases to one of out four for black males.

For those interested in preserving the ideals of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, this article should be compelling: http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2229

To Love or To Hate....

2010-08-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

^9-10People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.

¹¹For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.

^12-13We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.

^14-15The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together.

^16-17This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. (1 John 3 - MESSAGE)

Thought for the Day

2010-08-19T08:20:00.001-07:00

A Psalm of David; when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is. (2) So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory. (3) Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. (4) So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. (5) My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips (6) When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches. (7) For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice. (8) My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me. (9) But those who seek and demand my life to ruin and destroy it shall [themselves be destroyed and] go into the lower parts of the earth [into the underworld of the dead]. (10) They shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a prey for foxes and jackals. (11) But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him [that is, who binds himself by God's authority, acknowledging His supremacy, and devoting himself to His glory and service alone; every such one] shall glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies shall be stopped. (Ps. 63:1-11 AMP)

Facebook Summer Vacation

2010-08-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

Last night, I felt as if I was at a big lovely party. It was a Saturday night, and I was sitting at the kitchen table while Dave was practicing music for Sunday. I opened up Facebook and my brother popped up! First time ever that we had chatted on Facebook.

Friends and family of all ages started showing up with funny or serious or informative comments or links. Multiple conversations went on. It was hugely entertaining!

Then, an old friend from my hometown turned up with some very funny bits and hometown talk. Even more fun ensued when the links were music and my husband began playing along with his guitar!

When it started to get late, I hated to "go home". I had been having a delightful time!

So Facebook is where all the fun people go to hang out on a Saturday night. I'll have to do this more often.

With God Nothing Is Impossible!

2010-07-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

This has been a very creative brain stimulating week - starting with an amazing worship service last Sunday evening, a reading group meeting on Monday night, and then my writing group on Tuesday night. My husband and I listened to a really interesting man named William Lane Craig speak via podcast last night and tonight I just needed to rest - a little.

Now, I need to share back in blog world. It's not that I don't have something to say. I just don't have enough time to write it. However, I have to make time, because someone needs to be encouraged and someone needs to turn from the path they are on, and someone needs to laugh or make a different choice - and I have to do my part by writing my life and sharing it, so that maybe I can help somebody avoid my mistakes or recover from mistakes that I can uniquely understand or empathize with.

I need to ration my time a little more carefully. And, I need to be in the moment as much as possible when I am with people I love - especially my husband. I want every moment in my life to count towards good. I know that this is virtually impossible, but I can still want it. "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment."
(Luke 1:37 AMP)

Image Clear Ultrasound Elgin, IL and nearby areas Mobile Pregnancy Services

2010-07-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Image Clear Ultrasound Elgin, IL and nearby areas Mobile Pregnancy Services

Illinois Memorial Day Images

2010-05-31T14:56:00.001-07:00

God bless America!

Memorial Day

2010-05-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

This is a weekend during which we specifically give thanks for and remember those people who laid down their lives on behalf of the citizens of this country. Those service men and women made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live in peace and safety. They shed their blood to protect the values that we in this country hold so dear and precious: the pursuit of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. To honor them, we must honor those values that they sacrificed to protect.

Life
The value of all human life is a fundamental principle that drove the founding of this country. To behave or legislate otherwise is to violate this principle. Every institution in this country has the mandate to protect individual's lives - hospitals, schools, churches and government. Even prisons are under this mandate - prisoners on death row are cared for and protected until the moment that they must pay the penalty - and that penalty was designed to protect other human lives. In this country, we also go out of our way to protect the lives of those who cannot protect their own or who are more vulnerable members of our society such as the disabled and children. But we still have a long way to go. Many unborn children and many immigrants seeking refuge have a precarious existence, yet.

Liberty
To live together in freedom is an ideal protected by amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Women and people of different ethnic backgrounds and races have been declared by this country to own the right of liberty. That precious commodity guarantees freedom of speech, religion, and discussion in groups. It also affirms that the citizens of this country will not be vindictively, carelessly or arbitrarily locked in jail, nursing homes, mental institutions, etc. or held in bondage in any way.

Pursuit of Happiness
This country believes that individuals' dreams and visions are essential to the well-being of the nation. What a marvelous encouragement this is! This concept has served as a beacon attracting families, entrepreneurs, dreamers, inventors, creators and builders to this country since its founding. In fact, we in this country believe that the pursuit of happiness alleviates poverty, depression and tyrany: "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..."

This weekend, let's honor the values fought for, as well those who fought. And, let's not be stingy in sharing our values. Let's get back to being a world leader by the good example of living as if we believe in our values.

Saturdays!!!

2010-05-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

What a lovely day of the week! The weather is warm (although a bit damp) and the day is free. What a delightful day to rest and recover - funny how God designed it to be that way - the sabbath.

Enjoy your Saturdays and may they be many!

National Take Your Child to Work Day

2010-04-22T19:33:00.001-07:00

What a joy to see all the parents who took their children to work with them today! What a wonderful opportunity to sow good seeds into the next generation–not only to show them what Mom or Dad does all day and where, but to inspire kids to take on the challenges of leading their generation. Workers are leaders. They have a vested interest in ensuring that life has a certain level of security. And, they control a large part of the wealth of the country because they earn it and manage it. So, investing in developing a good attitude towards work is one of the best gifts a parent can give a child.

Working for a Lawyer

2010-04-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

What a pleasure to learn new shades of meaning to God's law by learning more about how men's laws work.

Josh. 22:5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 119:97 Amplified Bible
Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:113 English Standard Version
Samekh I hate the double-minded,but I love your law.

Psalm 119:136 Amplified Bible
Streams of water run down my eyes, because men do not keep Your law [they hear it not, nor receive it, love it, or obey it].

Psalm 119:163 New American Standard Bible
I hate and despise falsehood,But I love Your law.

Psalm 119:165 Amplified Bible
Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Proverbs 28:4 The Message
If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity; if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail.

Disposable People

2010-03-21T04:54:00.000-07:00

To many, unborn babies are disposable people. The political feeling is that unless the pregnant mother desires to have the baby, that unborn life is disposable. I believe that attitude arises from lack of relationship. We human being can't seem to care about others unless we have a relationship with them - preferably a mostly positive one. We just can't bring ourselves to care if no relationship exists.

In the case of unborn babies, I have a passionate connection. Although I have not experienced abortion in my own body, I have witnessed its effects first hand. Since I have not been able to have children, I have considered adoption many times - but the cost is exorbitant and foreign adoptions are "easier." There are just not as many children in this country who need a home and parents. In my own family, my parents have lost nearly a third of their grandchildren to abortion. This is quite shocking if taken as a common statistic. Could it be that nearly a third of our future has been killed before birth?

One of the wonderful things about ultrasound is that unborn children are no longer unseen and disconnected. Ultrasounds permit others to develop a connection with that unborn child because a relationship is established. We see, therefore we believe. It is becoming more difficult to make the case that the "disposable cells" in a mother's womb is not a valuable human life.

In this country, fathers are also becoming disposable people. The value of a father to a family is considered merely a financial obligation. Our courts and our society clearly understand that value. What seems to be missing from the equation is that a father's connection to his children is critical for their well-being and his.

Those people who believe in biblical principles understand this. And, those "believers" seem most able to care about "disposable people" when others can't. They find a relationship or connection to all human life that makes no one disposable and every life valuable - because God values every life and God values the father-child relationship. God values the people across the globe - even in places like Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, India, Morocco, Columbia, China and Russia. And God instituted the father-child relationship himself with the creation of Adam.

Psalm 139:13-15
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

A Sunday Update on the Moroccan Orphans

2010-03-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

Overlooked in the midst of the Moroccan government’s widespread enforcement of its “non-proselytizing laws and consequent expulsion of Christian aid workers is the story of how these foreign aid workers live side by side with local Moroccan citizens, and how all parties have learned to form lasting bonds of community, friendship, trust and respect.

Over the last fifty years, the American aid workers running The Children’s Haven Orphanage in Azrou and the Moroccans living in that area have formed social relationships that have become the anchors and staples of their everyday lives. The American aid workers have, for decades, given their medical supplies and personal assistance freely to the locals, and the Moroccans, in turn, have come to know they can trust and rely upon the aid workers.

As such, the government’s current threat to deport the American aid workers from The Children’s Haven is a threat to the local community as well. Just as the confidence and security of the aid workers in calling Morocco their home, and in being parents and family to the orphans they care for, have been shattered, the security of the Moroccan locals has been shattered too.

Prior to the government’s recent expulsion of Christian foreign aid workers in general, and from a neighboring orphanage in specific, the Azrou locals didn’t question how their medical and community needs would be met. They had their answers in the long established traditions of turning to the American aid workers. The orphanage workers are available to help the locals in any way they can, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. And the villagers know to depend on the orphanage and seek its help.

But with the government’s recent practices of expelling Christian aid workers, such as those who ran the Village of Hope Orphanage, the welfare of local Moroccan citizens is just as uncertain as the welfare of the children living at the Haven. This is why area villagers joined together and prayed at the Mosque last Friday, for the protection and safety of their local orphanage. And they continue to pray.

Local citizens are literally knocking on the orphanage’s doors to express their support and to say they are standing by the orphanage. As one of the villagers stated in recent days, since the Haven has come under investigation, “That [The Haven] is the light of the village. You kick those people out and the light goes out.”

Update from Morocco

2010-03-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

This is really quite interesting and encouraging:

Local Moroccans, in the villages and towns surrounding the Children's Haven Orphanage, flocked to the Mosque on Friday, March 12, 2010, and prayed for the protection and safety of the American aid workers and orphans who live at and run this local orphanage. The Moroccans prayed on the word of The Prophet who said, “I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this,” putting his index and middle fingers together. (Saheeh Al Bukhari ::Book 8 :: Volume 73 :: Hadith 34 ) The Children's Haven has, for over fifty years, provided essential care services to the residents of neighboring towns and thus has been and is an integral part of the local community.

Due to the Haven's great value to the locals, they fear its loss to their community and fear the void that would follow. For decades the American aid workers at the Haven have given free daily medicine to the community; have participated in local births, weddings, circumcisions and burials; have helped the sick and poor receive medical care from local hospitals; and have provided needed transportation for emergencies and everyday life. For these reasons, local citizens joined together to pray for the ongoing protection and welfare of The Children's Haven.

The Children's Haven, which is run by American Christian aid workers, is under threat, due to the Moroccan government's recent deportations of foreign Christians, for the purpose of enforcing "non-proselytizing" laws. The most recent and alarming example to Moroccan locals of Christian deportations, was the sudden expulsion of all foreign Christian aid workers (21 adults) on Monday, March 8, 2010, from another nearby orphanage, The Village of Hope. This left 33 orphans, some with medical needs, without care. The current government investigations of the American aid workers at The Haven, and the deportations of the European and American aid workers from The Village of Hope, appear to be the result of a radical shift by the Moroccan government away from its long-standing tolerance of Christianity. Both orphanages, since the 1950's, have, until the present, operated safely and comfortably with the government's knowledge and consent. In particular, both orphanages have always complied with government policies and completed all required paperwork. But both organizations have been caught in a seeming anti-Christian dragnet that started sweeping the country a year ago this March.

Because the Moroccan government insists its investigations and expulsions of Christians are based in law enforcement and not anti-Christian policies, the question of "due process" has arisen. The expelled Christians, from the Village of Hope, for example, were not allowed to defend themselves properly to the authorities. As U.S. Ambassador Samuel Kaplan recently stated, "Although we expect all American citizens to respect Moroccan law, we hope to see significant improvements in the application of due process in this sort of case." The European response, particularly by the Dutch, has been much more critical and forceful. Political parties in Holland "denounced the attitude of the Moroccan authorities." As well, Morocco's standing with the European Union might come under examination.

Regardless of how the Moroccan government justifies its actions and deportations of Christians, the damage by these policies to innocent Moroccans, including orphan children and local citizens, is undeniable. The cost to the Moroccan government is still unknown, but currently unfolding. At the least, Morocco's long-standing reputation for religious tolerance is crumbling. The Moroccan government, to those watching worldwide, appears to be reversing itself and moving backwards toward radicalism. Consequently, its impossible not to admire and respect the Moroccan locals who have shown, and remain prepared to show, their unified support for the Christian aid workers, such as the Americans running The Children's Haven, in their communities.

Salim Sefiane

Terrible News from Morocco

2010-03-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

This report was sent to me by a friend who was raised in this orphanage.

Christian Orphanage forcibly shut down in Morocco

Greetings from Morocco :

I have devastating news.

This afternoon, I received a phone call from Herman Boonstra, the director of the Village of Hope saying that the police had just told them the staff needed to pack up and leave for the airport to be deported out of Morocco this evening.

Let me step back and describe the events that led up to this.

In March 2009 the police raided a woman’s bible study in Casablanca and sent the five foreign women who were visiting out of the country.

In November 2009 the police raided a Christian meeting in the north and sent five foreigners out of the country.

In January 2010 the police raided a Christian meeting south of Marrakech and sent the visiting American out of the country.

Then this past weekend, in a coordinated effort, coming from the highest levels of the government, Christians around the country were called in, questioned overnight and sent out of the country the next day.

The list thus far: British couple from Essaouri, American from Fez (his wife and daughter have been permitted to stay until the daughter finishes her school year), Brazilian from El Jadida, British man from Tangiers (his wife is allowed to stay until her card runs out in August), Korean pastor from Rabat (has led the service before ours), Congolese man from Marrakech, three Americans ( I think) who were running a handicap center in Nador. An American was denied entry into the country when he tried to come back home. A South African was pulled out of his work as a teacher in Casablanca to be questioned. A man in Meknes was pulled in to be questioned.

There is so much going on that I may be forgetting some. Throughout the day I have been receiving phone calls and emails and Skype talking about all the latest developments.

The police, as part of this national campaign, came to the Village of Hope on Saturday about 3:30 PM. They said this was just routine and had a few questions to ask. They asked if they could see one of the houses and were invited in. They immediately began opening closets and drawers, going through bookshelves and taking whatever materials they considered incriminating. They interviewed each of the children. They interviewed all the staff and volunteers. Finally, at 3 AM they left.

They came back on Sunday after interviewing some volunteers who were staying in nearby Azrou. They continued interviewing children, getting documentation. There were three groups of police and each wanted their own copies.

Herman was called into the town of Ain Leuh to meet with high level police officers. He called me last night at 11:40 PM to say this was really serious.

They had collected all the passports of the staff and then finally announced to Errol and Herman that they all had to leave.

So in less than seven hours, the parents and staff had to pack their bags and say goodby to their children.

The oldest of these children have been there for ten years. These are the only parents they know and the government has ripped them away, traumatizing the children and ripping out the hearts of the parents.

We are all stunned. The American Embassy has been wonderful. They are following these events intensely. A couple of the embassy families were just at VOH last weekend to paint a room in the infirmary and worship with the community. So this is personal.

I am not happy that the government has deported so many people. But that pales in comparison with what has happened at the Village of Hope .

A second children’s home, Children’s Haven in Azrou, is on the same track and it is expected that the staff there will also be sent out of the country. But maybe not. We will wait and see.

All my analysis of the political trends in this country have proved to be wrong. But I am not alone. No one understands what is happening. This is a new wave sweeping across Morocco .

The King appointed new ministers of Interior and Justice in January and it seems that these men are driving the campaign and the campaign seems to be pulling Morocco away from openness and liberty into a more Islamic state.

May God have mercy on them.

It is obvious what to pray about. The parents and children are at the top of the list. Pray also for those who have been deported. And please pray for me.

We have no idea who is next or who else is on their list.

I am unable to understand why God would allow this to happen, but then there is so much suffering that takes place in the world on a daily basis, much worse than this, and I do not understand that either. This suffering is closer to home and that is why it hurts so much.

For those of you who can read French, here is the official report that came out of the Moroccan Press Association.

Hope

2010-03-01T19:13:00.000-08:00

And now Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. Ps. 39:7

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
Ps. 6:9-10

The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Ps. 103:6

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (MSG)

And now these three abide: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13

And Now for Something Entirely Different

2010-02-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

I read through my last few blogs and realized that I haven't shared much happiness, laughter or funniness lately. Therefore I must correct this situation immediately!

Call in the Silly Sailors, the Bombadiers of Belly Laughs and the Army of Incompetent Clowns. When our pastor reaches this point, he pulls out his old faithful jokes that still garner laughs - some out of genuine humor and some out of politeness. However, I don't have much of an arsenal. I'll have to dig in my dog anecdotes closet or my Broadway lyrics library or my own pratfalls and mis-speaking history.

That said, hmmmmm. About dogs. Dogs are funny people with funny habits and funny ways of communicating. My brother-in-law, who has a one-year-old baby, recently told me that dogs have more intelligence than a human being up to the age of two. Now, I absolutely believe everything that my brother-in-law says, but I wonder if he might not be a bit biased in this recent revelation. His baby girl is developing her voice and learning to understand words. She has no teeth, yet, and has a wobbly walk. Gates guard all the stairways in their house. Her babble is hilarious and is beginning to sound like sentences. Our dogs do that, too. My husband is convinced that our dog Larry says, "Hello you!" Both species seem to communicate quite well, despite the language limitations.

However, unlike our dogs, our little niece does not choose to sleep on electrical wires, rush outside to bark at the neighbors on the other side of the fence, chase snarling raccoons up trees or roll in foul-smelling objects in the yard for perfume. I'd say that gives her a definite edge in the intelligence arena.

Thus ends my discourse of the day. Unfortunately, the Humor Army, Navy and Air Force failed to show today. Maybe tomorrow.... Maybe someday...

Postscript: Our fierce guard dogs had their first tangible tangle with a skunk this past week. Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish soap makes for the best internet remedy we have discovered so far - plus it would make a great science experiment!

Being Hated

2010-02-13T21:08:00.000-08:00

Matthew 10:22 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."

Knowing that you are actively hated can be a frightening thought - especially if those who hate you can also hurt you. Hate can also be incredibly painful when it comes from family members or those who have been close to you. However, followers of Jesus should not be surprised by hate, nor should they fear it.

In Matthew 10:16-22, Jesus warns his twelve closest disciples of the cost of following him: "Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves. Be on guard against men [whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God]; for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues, And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to bear testimony before them and to the Gentiles (the nations).

But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment, For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and will have them put to death.

And you will be hated by all for My name's sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved from spiritual disease and death in the world to come]."

Notice that Jesus said not to be anxious. And, why could he say this? Because the world does not have the power to hurt his believers. Our earthly physical bodies will be shed when we die anyway - to be replaced by with new ones. Our duration after death is eternal, our duration on earth is very short.

While Jesus warned his twelve disciples - and therefore, all of his followers (even to this day) - he also promised a life of fullness and abundance. In John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."

Believers live in this strange position of being hated and persecuted but also having a life full of abundance. 1 Peter 5:8 says "...your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." But verse 9 continues, "Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."

Christian persecution certainly exists in America - often in the form of "Christians" who disagree with other Christians' faith and practice. How tragic this is considering that this country was founded to guarantee freedom of religion. Persecution is not, however, surprising. Jesus guaranteed that his followers would experience persecution. And, Jesus' promises never fail even when governments' promises do.

The one thing that Jesus' followers can not do is to hate back or to nurture hate for their oppressors. If they did so, then the thief/the devil/the roaring lion would win. Jesus said that hating someone in your heart is the same as murder. Hatred and fear are sin. Sin separates us from the goodness and abundance of God.

Therefore, "Fear not! If God be for us, who can be against us?" Or as young David put it, "Who is this uncircumsized Philistine!" Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Believers will be hated, but don't need to hate back because they experience such great love from their merciful, just, loving and patient God. Endure!

from Citizens for Legal Responsibility

2010-02-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

In the ongoing process of research for my novel, I have been reading about judicial corruption in the state of Illinois - which has no shortage of public corruption, as everyone knows. I found the following discussion of judicial responsibility very interesting and wanted to share it here for the purpose of further educating voters making decisions in this election year.

TRESPASSERS OF THE LAW
The Illinois Supreme Court has held that "if the magistrate has not such jurisdiction, then he and those who advise and act with him, or execute his process, are trespassers." Von Kettler et.al. v. Johnson, 57 Ill. 109 (1870)

Under Federal law which is applicable to all states, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that if a court is "without authority, its judgments and orders are regarded as nullities. They are not voidable, but simply void; and form no bar to a recovery sought, even prior to a reversal in opposition to them. They constitute no justification; and all persons concerned in executing such judgments or sentences, are considered, in law, as trespassers." Elliot v. Piersol, 1 Pet. 328, 340, 26 U.S. 328, 340 (1828)

The Illinois Supreme Court held that if a court "could not hear the matter upon the jurisdictional paper presented, its finding that it had the power can add nothing to its authority, - it had no authority to make that finding." The People v. Brewer, 128 Ill. 472, 483 (1928). The judges listed below had no legal authority (jurisdiction) to hear or rule on certain matters before them. They acted without any jurisdiction.

When judges act when they do not have jurisdiction to act, or they enforce a void order (an order issued by a judge without jurisdiction), they become trespassers of the law,and are engaged in treason (see below).

The Court in Yates v. Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 209 F.Supp. 757 (N.D. Ill. 1962) held that "not every action by a judge is in exercise of his judicial function. ... it is not a judicial function for a judge to commit an intentional tort even though the tort occurs in the courthouse."

When a judge acts as a trespasser of the law, when a judge does not follow the law, the judge loses subject-matter jurisdiction and the judges orders are void, of no legal force or effect.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 1687 (1974) stated that "when a state officer acts under a state law in a manner violative of the Federal Constitution, he "comes into conflict with the superior authority of that Constitution, and he is in that case stripped of his official or representative character and is subjected in his person to the consequences of his individual conduct. The State has no power to impart to him any immunity from responsibility to the supreme authority of the United States." [Emphasis supplied in original].

By law, a judge is a state officer.

The judge then acts not as a judge, but as a private individual (in his person).

Citizens for Legal Responsibility.

Coming soon, a study on the improper use of indirect civil contempt as a punishment tool rather than a coercive one.

Winds and Quakes and Truth

2010-02-10T16:47:00.001-08:00

An earthquake shook northern Illinois this morning. Strangely enough, I hadn't been feeling well and slept very badly. I was awake even before the quake occurred and even had a premonition of it - vaguely wondering how people would deal with an earthquake in the middle of snowy winter.

The quake emanated from a town about 20 miles from my own, and I heard it even before I felt it. I heard a rumbling sound outside and then felt the shock waves in my bed. It seemed to last forever. While the shaking lasted, I felt disconnected from it and observed the phenomenon with interest. A moment after it passed, I felt the terror and weight of divine judgment. This little earthquake was just a nudge compared to the shaking in Haiti, but power of it – beyond human control or understanding – certainly humbles one in the face of the Almighty's power.

Human life is indeed fleeting and fragile. However, we were born and continue to exist by the grace of God and by His voice of truth. What a blessing to serve an all-powerful God who deigns to speak to us and, most remarkably, loves us!

1 Kings 19:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

10He replied, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

11And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;

12And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.

The Joy and Pain of Funerals

2010-02-09T15:55:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the funeral of a friend of mine. She had been a healthy woman in her early 40's. Two weeks ago, she died unexpectedly and almost instantly of a brain aneurysm. Although, I felt heart-broken at our loss, I rejoiced in her victory. Karen is rejoicing in heaven with Jesus. She lived an exemplary life on earth and left an incredible legacy of giving and goodness.

The church was filled with friends, family and co-workers. Karen was a much-loved woman. She was from Jamaica and I loved the lilt in her voice when she spoke. I imagine her dancing under heavenly palms with the only bridgegroom she has ever known, Jesus himself.

Revelations 21:2-7
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."

Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio

2010-01-27T19:36:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I was a provided a free copy of this book to review for Thomas Nelson Publishers.

I chose to read Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio without knowing who Diamond Rio was, and it seems to me that a book should be able to stand on its own merit as literature. However, I think that only fans of the famous country group would really love the book that is their collective autobiography. The book did propel me to listen to some of their music, and it is really fabulous. However, the storyline of the book really got bogged down in the name-dropping arena and with so much inside detail about the Opryland and Nashville music scene.

The book opens with the group's artistic crisis, and then traces the development of the group. It then veers off into the careers of its individual members, with many, many photographs included. Although many of those stories have potential, I just didn't feel the depth of the drama or that the real personalities of the group members connected with the reader. Again, this may be because I am not a Diamond Rio fan. However, I had hoped that the book would transcend the genre and transport me to their world. The book just did not do that for me.

I am sure that Diamond Rio fans will love this book. It has so many pictures and a very detailed history of their long-term success and relationships. As a reader with a different perspective, I had a difficult time maintaining interest. So, non-country music fans may want to skip this one.

Voters Guide

2010-01-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

With the upcoming primary election in Illinois, the Illinois Family Institute has published a voter's guide.

Civil Contempt and Judicial Abuse of Discretion

2010-01-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

What is Civil Contempt of court and why is its abuse a dangerous precedent in the American legal system?

Civil contempt "generally involves the failure to perform an act that is ordered by a court as a means to enforce the rights of individuals or to secure remedies for parties in a civil action." For instance, parents who don't pay court-ordered Child Support may be held in contempt of court under civil contempt or journalists who refuse to divulge their sources. The problem with civil contempt is that people are imprisoned indefinitely and they are forced to prove a negative. If a parent who is ordered to pay support based on false premises fails to pay, the judge can choose to ignore evidence and send them to jail indefinitely. None of the protections of the constitution are afforded them, and judges are allowed great discretion - including up to 14 years imprisonment - with no due process, no guarantee of legal representation and no jury trial. Many judges abuse this power of discretion. Fortunately, in Illinois, our judges are no longer merely accountable to the next higher court. In this state, judges must now hold onto their offices through an election. Judges are now directly accountable to voters.

To protect themselves, their children and their future, voters need to wake up and research the candidates they vote for. Voting for judges may seem like a confusing matter, but with the Internet making so much more information available, candidates are being forced to present themselves and their past actions to public scrutiny. This can only be a good thing. Corruption and abuse of power don't thrive in an environment of truth and revelation.

For more information about this topic, go to Legal Affairs Articles

CONGRESSIONAL REFORM!!!!!!

2010-01-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

A good friend sent this along to me. And, I believe it is high time for MAJOR ACTION in this country:

"My friends and neighbors want to promote the "Congressional Reform Act of 2010." It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights so many years ago who are now "spinning" in their graves today!

I know many of you will say, "This is impossible." Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans "We the People" can join together to reform Congress - the entity that is supposed to "represent" us.

We need to find a brave Senator to introduce this bill in the U.S. Senate and a brave Representative to introduce a similar bill in the U.S. House. These two people will become American heroes.

Thanks,

A Fellow American

***********************************

The Congressional Reform Act of 2010

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options are below.

A. Two Six year Senate terms

B. Six Two year House terms

C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

2. No Tenure/No Pension: A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves over into the Social Security system immediately.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people they serve.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people they serve.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are NULL & VOID effective 1/1/2011. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

If you agree with the above, pass it on to all in your address list. If not, just delete.

Harder to pass, but still a good idea is the 28th Amendment. It's a similar idea to rein in the Congress.

Amendment 28

Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives. And Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States. All bills presented before the Congress shall have a preface that will outline the constitutionality for such bill, and each spending bill will pertain to one issue and not have attachments or "ear-marks."

The term of all elected members of Congress is limited to a maximum of 12 years."

Politics

2010-01-06T20:21:00.001-08:00

Philosophically, I consider myself more in line with Republican ideals. However, because too many Republicans have abused their power and merely given lip service to the concepts of less government, protecting the lives of unborn children, and being fiscally conservative, I no longer vote along party lines or even identify myself as a Republican or Democrat.

Because lying, corruption and hubris have overtaken the process and become the norm (for both main parties), there are VERY few in government who are not tainted. Of course, we are all human and therefore prone to human mistakes and error - no matter how brilliant or self-sacrificing we are. That said, there are far too many elected officials - judges, law enforcement, administrators and lawmakers - who represent only a very narrow group - sometimes only themselves! And the reason for the corruption comes right back down to you and me. Not enough voters take elections seriously and do their homework. It is a responsibility of every adult citizen of this country to participate in the process.

Since I wasn't raised in Illinois, I still don't understand all of the Illinois' government processes and positions. One of the most puzzling still remains the process of how judges are appointed and elected. In my blog over the next three weeks, I will be sharing what I have learned about the judicial election process.

The first thing that I know to share is that Tuesday, February 2 is the primary. This is the election where each party chooses the candidates who will run in the general election in November. In the primary, Democrats run against Democrats and Republicans against Republicans. Early voting begins next Monday. So, the time is now! No more delay. Homework time!

Love's Victory Forever

2009-12-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Hallelujah, for the God omnipotent reigns - King of Kings and Lord of Lords - forever. And he shall reign forever. Worthy is the lamb that was slain. And has redeemed us to God by His blood to receive power, and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever. Amen."

Perfect love came down at Christmas and perfect love casts out all fear. The angels said it, "Fear not!" Jesus (love perfected and made manifest) said, "Do not be afraid! Be anxious for nothing." Forever. He paid the redemption cost. God With Us sacrificed himself in our place.

Sin is broken. Evil is defeated. That means they have no power, no authority, no standing. Nothing will ever separate us from the love of God because of Messiah.

Forever. For eternity. We never have to be afraid again - of anything - injustice, pain, sickness, poverty, lack, ridicule, failure, torture, humiliation, death. We have the victory in Jesus! Now and forever! And we reign with Him now and forever! Love conquers all! Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever.

Strawberry Point Christmas

2009-12-24T14:48:00.001-08:00

This heart-warming story from the Chicago Tribune is about my home town and the nearby town of Oelwein. I know some of the people in the story personally. And, I am happy to say I grew up and was educated in this area and with these values.

Click here for the story.

Christmas Giving

2009-12-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, as in many Christmases past, I have no money to spend on gifts. This was making me very sad this morning. So when the people at Tyndale sent me an email about this free download from Matthew West, I wasn't going to bother with it. But, they usually provide good links and I like what they have to say, so I followed up and went to Matthew West's web site. I was so moved by his song with Amy Grant, that I haven't gotten any further. I want to share the link here, because it ministered to me today. You can also hear Matthew reading the Christmas story from Luke at www.thechristofchristmas.com.

As I was growing up, my family did not emphasize spending lots of money and shopping for gifts, but we often made each other presents. What do you give when you have no money and few material resources? In my case, I can tell stories and sing and play music. I can pray for other people instead of focusing on my own problems. I can encourage and smile and say a good word to people who might ordinarily be ignored.

I can do this! So can you! Whether you are rich or poor, give away as much Christmas as you can. Let someone know how much you love them and that you care about them - especially someone who might not be able to return the favor - like your enemy, or that beggar outside Burger King, or the kids who always leave their litter on your front sidewalk, or people in prisons and jails. So, in this season of light, let your light shine!

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

Editing

2009-12-16T18:55:00.000-08:00

I have begun the challenging process of editing my NANOWRIMO novel. This is not nearly as exciting as the adrenaline-fueled process of writing. Now, I am actually reading to catch and correct the inconsistencies, repetitions and flaws. Despite this, it's kind of fun to read and edit. I have to say that, as of page 26, I like the story. Since, at this point, the words of the novel seem unfamiliar and foreign, I feel more objective - at least on the micro level. Structural changes may be more difficult. So stay posted. I may serialize the book here just as Charles Dickens did more than a century ago with "Little Dorrit."

Love

2009-12-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

My husband and I know a man from India named "Prem" which means love. God loves Prem passionately - as he does all the people of India, which I like being reminded of periodically. In his usual friendly fashion, my husband befriended that man Prem. As a result, we were privileged to meet a wonderful group of people from India. This is just one aspect of my husband's personality that I appreciate. He tends to see something good in almost everyone he meets because he sees them as God's children - and they tend to love him back.

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday. And, although this has been a terrifically challenging year for us, I am actually grateful to people who have been directly responsible for some of those challenges placed before us. I am grateful because what is absolutely important to Dave and me has been clarified: loving each other, serving God and rejoicing in all the good He has done in our lives. And we have had incredible opportunities to minister love, compassion and hope to others who are experiencing difficulties as well.

God is the absolute essence and power of love. And we rejoice knowing that we will be privileged to spend eternity with Him. We know this with certainty! We know it deep inside! We are saved through grace by faith, and definitely not based on our own works. And, despite all our failings, nothing shall separate us from the love of God. I love the Apostle Paul's eloquent chapter in Romans:
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Just as it is written,
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Because of this assurance, I can say that my husband will have the happiest birthday ever and we look forward with confidence to the future because God's plans for us are good. "The Lord delights in the prosperity of his servant."

Honoring Fatherhood

2009-12-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 5:16

This is the only commandment that carries with it a promise. There is a blessing attached to honoring your parents. God is our heavenly father - our eternal parent. Honoring God with the tithe is to honor our heavenly father, which would seem to be a natural extension of the original commandment. In the following quotes from the book of the prophet Malachi, God says it plainly.

“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the LORD of hosts. “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the LORD of hosts. “Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts! So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.’ Malachi 3: 8-15

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts. “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” Malachi 4

Most of us would have to agree that our country – and our world – is not prospering right now. In fact, the opposite would seem true as people continue to lose their jobs or their businesses or their homes or their children. We would seem to be under a curse, and the Bible makes it plain why a land is cursed – dishonoring parenthood. Mocking God. Mocking fatherhood. Punishing those who tithe.

Galatians 6:7 further clarifies, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

We, the people, and, therefore, our government have been sowing some bad seeds. This is obvious from the harvest. If the people of this country do not repent and turn from their current path, we won’t be destroyed by foreign terrorists, but will be destroyed from within as families cease to exist. When both parents can no longer teach them biblical principles and lovingly discipline their own children, then the United States of America, one nation under God, no longer lives. Children are a heritage from the Lord, and when that heritage is taken away, there is no future.

Matters of Conscience

2009-12-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

“In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.” –Gandhi

The other day, I saw a bulletin board in my nephew’s school. It outlined the principles that the school stands behind and teaches. One of those principles resonated with me because I haven’t thought about it in a long time. I read:

“’Conscience Is the Most Sacred of All Property’ (James Madison): ‘God requires faithful stewardship of all His gifts, especially the internal property of conscience. This is a tool for self-government as each child learns the revelation of consent. Each individual governs his life through the voluntary consent to do right or wrong.’”

I realized that there is a great deal going on in this country that is hurting my conscience. We must object to unjust and ungodly rulings and laws made by our government. Our consciences will not permit us to do otherwise. To live with a seared conscience is far worse than to suffer imprisonment or hardship.

For example, when a judge can dictate “that 100% of all monies earned on work release be applied toward child support and credited toward the purge amount,” then something in this country has gone very wrong. Did we not abolish slavery in 1862? Are we not required to pay income tax on money earned? Are we forbidden to support our church and to practice our religion, which teaches tithing?

"One great lesson arose from all the beatings, tortures, and butchery of the Communists: that the spirit is master of the body. We felt the torture, but it often seemed as something distant and far removed from the spirit which was lost in the glory of Christ and His presence with us. When we were given one slice of bread a week and dirty soup every day, we decided we would faithfully “tithe” even then. Every tenth week we took the slice of bread and gave it to weaker brethren as our “tithe” to the Master." (from Tortured For Christ by Richard Wurmbrand)

This American judge’s ruling is especially egregious when the “child support” is 1) based on false information and a judge refuses to accept or consider exonerating evidence; 2) unequally determined and administered throughout the state and the nation; 3) demanded for healthy adult “children”; 4) becomes “college support” and is demanded and paid for children of the wealthy only. And, what is shocking about this judge is that he has been appointed to a federal organization to teach judges across the country his collection techniques.

As I see it, to pay what the court demands in this case would be to violate conscience. The demand by this judge amounts to a violation of civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and challenges the very concept of "equal protection under the law."

I would strongly urge the citizens of this country to wake up their consciences. The erosion of civil liberties ultimately results in the inability to worship and serve God as He directs us to. The reason God told Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt was so that they could worship Him as He directed them to. Their deliverance from slavery and provision of the promised land were the outcomes of their obedience. A numbed conscience can’t hear clearly from God.

The Finish Line

2009-11-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

I posted this on The Last Draft blog, but I am so excited I had to post it here as well.

I just finished writing a novel in 30 days - and I had a one week break where I didn't write at all. Talk about a marathon! The bulk of the novel was written in the last 5 days! And, last night when I went to bed, my creative energy felt bone dry. But, I prayed for an infilling. I prayed that my brain would be like the jars that the woman rounded up for the oil that Elijah miraculously multiplied for her. I prayed and this morning, I felt like the story was writing itself!

I know the whole thing will now need some major editing. There are quite a few loose threads hanging, but overall, I'm pleased! The Dad Wars is a complete work.

Thank you, Beth and Christine!!!! And, NANOWRIMO, someday, I want to give you buckets of money!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T04:23:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone in this country sits down to count their blessings today. We have so much to be thankful for!

"Then on that day David first entrusted to Asaph and his brethren the singing of thanks to the Lord [as their chief task]:

O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually![Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered [as in Egypt], O you offspring of [Abraham and] of Israel His servants, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.

Be mindful of His covenant forever, the promise which He commanded and established to a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His sworn promise to Isaac He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the measured portion of your possession and inheritance. When they were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it, When they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm. Sing to the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day His salvation. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He also is to be [reverently] feared above all so-called gods. For all the gods of the people are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in holy array. Tremble and reverently fear before Him, all the earth's peoples; the world also shall be established, so it cannot be moved. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns! Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it; let the fields rejoice, and all that is in them. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge and govern the earth.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! And say, Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us together and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever! And all the people said Amen! and praised the Lord....

Then all the people departed, each man to his house, and David returned home to bless his household." 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, 43

The Dad Wars

2009-11-22T06:01:00.001-08:00

Working on a novel for NANOWRIMO inspired by both the attacks against fatherhood in our society and my husband's battles, but also a modern re-telling of the King David and Absalom story.

It will definitely not be a work for the faint of heart.

Water and Weddings

2009-11-11T05:09:00.001-08:00

The ocean humbles me. It’s relentless power, unending waves, massive size, and strange beauty captivate me. I love it’s sound and the spray of the waves. A morning sunrise over the ocean shows me God’s endless supply of newness and his methodical ways. Our God is the God of order as well as the God of the universe and the God of Angel Armies.

My husband once physically experienced waves of God’s love as tangible as the waves of the sea. He said it was so overwhelming and amazing that he could only endure it physically for a short time.

I envy my husband that powerful experience, but I have experienced God’s love in other tangible ways – the peaceful love that filled my heart when sitting on the sand surveying the pounding surf, the peaceful love that calmed my mind when a baby slept all afternoon in my arms, and the peaceful love inspired by watching two passionate lovers exchange wedding vows.

How is it that God knows exactly what you need at every moment? The God who created and sustains the oceans and the universe, cares for me, personally. Why? I still can’t fathom that one. But, He does care for me and provides for my every need. His Word is sufficient, but He also speaks to me in the still small voice and through his creation – so that I can’t possibly miss his messages.

Jesus, the bridegroom, is coming soon for his bride, the church, and our father in heaven is preparing each one of us for the day. He has already paid the dowry. He will never leave us or forsake us, but with patience, groom us for himself and that great marriage feast day.

Isaiah 54:1 (Message) For your Maker is your bridegroom, his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, known as God of the whole earth. You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief, and God welcomed you back, Like a woman married young and then left," says your God.

Matt. 25:6 (New American Standard Bible) "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

Review of the audio drama: The Screwtape Letters

2009-10-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Fascinating listening, the audio drama, The Screwtape Letters, gives an amazing and insightful voice to those nagging thoughts and destructive emotions that plague all of us. Particularly appropriate as a radio-type drama, The Screwtape Letters was written by C.S. Lewis in England at the beginning of World War II. And, the measure of good literature, as editor David Brawn said, is that “it works as well today as it did 50-60 years ago.” Fortunately for all of us, The Screwtape Letters is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

This Tyndale House/Focus on Family production is excellent: the actors portraying the various characters are wonderfully appropriate and dynamic; the music and sound effects fresh and skillful. Andy Serkis as Screwtape is the epitome of malevolence and seduction, and Bertie Carvel as Wormwood brings slimy and whiny to new heights. I enjoyed every moment of it – including the DVD commentaries.

C.S. Lewis’ teaching itself is compelling storytelling and reinforces the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB): “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” and in Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

To be taught from the opposite viewpoint, challenged my thinking and exposed the enemy more clearly. I felt surprised, again, to discover how subtly the enemy works in our thought lives – in situations both mundane and dramatic – and that is where the believer’s battle is truly fought. I feel like I'm fighting trench warfare in my own life, and night-time is the worst for those demonic thoughts. Thank God, I'm learning to recognize them more quickly, and fight them with the word of God.

It was a brave thing that C.S. Lewis did, giving voice to those principalities and rulers of darkness. According to the notes provided in the production, he had to put himself in a dark place mentally to write The Screwtape Letters, which was perhaps inspired by a Danish book, Letters from Hell. In doing so, C.S. Lewis has helped so many to learn to distinguish those wicked voices from the voice the Good Shepherd.

I highly recommend this radio drama, especially in this era of MP3 player and iPod listeners. I hope that many listeners – young and old – will be blessed and will grow in their understanding as a result. And, the production is entertaining enough to listen to again and again.

Produced in partnership between Tyndale House and Focus on the Family, The Screwtape Letters audio drama will be available for purchase beginning on October 15 - just in time to understand what Halloween is truly about.

"Children of Eden" a review

2009-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

I took my little neighbor, Anna, to see the musical "Children of Eden" for her birthday. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and the story by John Caird, the musical was “freely based” on the creation, the fall of man and the flood in Genesis. The show itself was a nicely directed and choreographed ensemble production by the Fox Valley Youth Theatre. However, I soon began to feel the story and message of the musical were extremely negative. After the glory of creation, God was portrayed as an arbitrary earthly father. And, can you imagine a Noah story with no rainbow?

Two messages disturbed me. First, the musical conveyed the message that creativity belonged only to God and not to curious humans. That seemed to be a major theme and was repeated again and again.

A second message of the musical was that God was a racist – unbiblically portraying God as prejudiced against the children of Cain.

The musical’s final message was that we should love each other. Ironic, since the musical showed human failure to keep every promise made, especially loving your family.

The only thing I could say to Anna at the end of the musical was “thank God for Jesus.”

Lovely Summer at Last

2009-09-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

September can be a lovely month. And, this has been one – perfect temperatures, very little rain and lots of sun. No other place on earth seems as lovely as our backyard with its geraniums and petunias and sedum and astors. Even the cucumber vine is pretty with its bright yellow flowers and silly looking fruit. And, I would still like to get to Iowa to eat the grapes and apples that are ready, now.

The mood of the country seems to be more upbeat, too. And, the economic news is improving. The Jewish new year is celebrated tonight and for the next two days. It is a fitting time for a new year. This is a great time for a new start.

Shanah tovah!

History and Community

2009-09-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! The Elgin Housewalk tour was Saturday. The Elgin Housewalk is a wonderful, volunteer event that involves people who enjoy history, appreciate old houses, and love the people of the local neighborhood. Annually, more than a thousand people walk through the houses on tour.

I helped as a house co-captain, and earlier had assisted housewalk veteran Bill Briska with some writing for the booklet. As a writer, I researched four of the homes and talked with their current owners, learning more of the history of Elgin and its inhabitants. As house captain, I worked with thirty volunteer docents and talked with many of the visitors. I loved hearing their stories.

The homes on this year's tour were mostly built between 1870 and 1910. Just walking down the streets of Elgin, you can see the tremendous variety of architecture. This year's tour featured an elegant Romanesque revival brick mansion, a cute little second Empire style house with Mansard roof, a traditional American foursquare, some Queen Anne's and a bungalow.

Inside the homes, you can feel the sense of history, and also see how our lifestyles and attitudes have changed. Kitchens and bathrooms have become more important. Smoking rooms and parlors have gone out of use, replaced by family rooms and dens. Servants, with their own quarters and own stairs, are no longer common for middle or even upper middle class families.

But, the families who lived in these houses experienced the same pain of loss when babies or husbands or family members died, when houses were lost to bankruptcy or when the local economy suffered. They also celebrated life milestones, loved decorating their houses and serving the community in their own unique fashion.

Certain aspects of life change, but the fundamentals do not. How quickly we all come and go from life's stage. What lasts seem to be the things that people do with love and care for others - both in the short term and the long term.

Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

Luke 12:16-21
Then Jesus told this story: "There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.' Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and other goods. Then I can say to myself, "I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!"'

"But God said to him, 'Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?'

"This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God."

Book Review: Fearless by Max Lucado

2009-09-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the current global financial crisis fueled by fear, Max Lucado has written Fearless. The book examines the “why” of fear, and then encourages Christ-followers to “fear not.” Chapter by chapter, Lucado disarms the fears of global calamity, of death, for your children, of the future, of failure, of violence, of insignificance, and of financial ruin. Using short stories, poetry, song lyrics and anecdotes, he speaks with a calm, matter-of-fact voice and uses scripture to back up his assertions.

An easy-to-read book, Fearless reaches across class, ethnicity and age. My favorite chapter was the last and it contained a segment, that, for me, summarized the message of the book: ‘Courage does not panic; it prays. Courage does not bemoan; it believes. Courage does not languish; it listens. It listens to the voice of God calling through Scripture, "Fear not!" It hears Christ's voice comforting through the hospital corridors, graveyards and war zones: “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.” (Matt 9:2)… “When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic.” (Matt.24:6) “Let not your heart by troubled.” (John 14:1)’

Just after those encouraging words, Lucado includes a wonderful poem by William Fariss – seven-year-old. This poem is filled with glorious imagery and a global perspective.

For the many who fight fear every day, Fearless is a profound encouragement, and can be read again and again. As the book cover says, “Imagine your life without fear.” And, for some of us, this is a daily – maybe even hourly – assignment.

The Value of Volunteering

2009-09-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

Today, a friend introduced me to a lovely city park, the Hawthorne Hill Nature Center. Located on the west side of Elgin, this 65 acre plot was once part of a Girl Scout camp. I helped pull weeds out of the prairie planting bed. It was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours on a warm sunny day, and to get to know June, a volunteer, and April, the woman who oversees volunteers and activities here.

I wish that everyone would volunteer to help maintain our public parks or buildings, or to assist in one of their programs. The library, the museums and the parks belong to us all and remind us to value our community. The volunteering experience and commitment reinforce our personal ownership of these wonderful assets. If we would all spend a little less time in front of the television or computer, and a little more time volunteering to help in our communities, we might discover new or hidden treasures and meet some good-hearted people who share common interests and goals.

I guarantee that those who give of their time would receive back a hundred-fold blessing for their efforts.

Why are Amish stories so popular?

2009-08-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

Amish stories are among the most popular fiction for Christian women. With new books by many authors – both established and new, from Beverly Lewis to Amy Clipston – Christian publishers continue to supply a raft of novels for hungry readers.

Beverly Lewis' first Amish fiction book was The Shunning. Published in 1997, it was the first in the Heritage of Lancaster County series. However, two years earlier, Hallmark had entered the Amish story market with its production, Harvest of Fire, starring Patty Duke and Lolita Davidovich. The film went on to win a Primetime Emmy and a Writers Guild of America award. Filmed on location in Iowa, many in the Mennonite community near Iowa City helped out in various ways with the production. The film pointed to incidents of Amish persecution, but its main theme was the cohesiveness of the community.

Amish people make incredible sacrifices to keep their unique community intact, and to limit the influence of the outside world on their children. Those sacrifices include cutting off members who leave (called shunning), ending education in the 8th grade, resisting the use of electricity or owning modern transportation, and maintaining use of the peculiar strain of German that they speak.

The Amish have also endured many types of persecution. In the 1960s, the Iowa government tried to interfere in Amish education by insisting that they hire “state certified” teachers. The Amish community near Oelwein refused, citing the increased cost. It is against Amish principles to go to court against anyone, so they were virtually defenseless. Newspapers, Chambers of Commerce and the Iowa Education Association publicly supported the arrest of Amish parents who wouldn’t comply despite the fact that, at the time, almost no parochial school and only about half of the public schools in the state met that requirement. According to a Donald B. Kraybill, in his book The Amish and the state, at this point the National Council of Churches stepped in and made the point that this was a religious issue. All the while the Amish were being fined thousands daily in court.

The issue in Iowa and other states was resolved at some point because the Amish still operate their one-room schoolhouses in the country. In Wisconsin, the Amish won a big victory due to the support of Christians outside the Amish community who advocated for them. These victories may have paved the way for the home-schooling movement.

Currently, the Amish community in northeast Iowa seems to be thriving. Not reliant on loans, they purchase farms with cash and are expanding into nearby areas. Obviously doing something right, their hard work keeps kids out of trouble and enriches families.

These factors seem to have attracted a great demand among women for Amish stories. They relate to the Amish struggle to educate their children as they see fit, and admire the strong Amish family model. Home-schooling parents have had to fight government interference, in many cases, to establish the “right” to educate their own children
The Amish choice to refuse telephones, computers and televisions may also provide inspiration to parents who wring their hands over the messages bombarding their children through their peers, the media and the Internet.

Amish families hold to a traditional structure where women keep the house, cook, clean, sew and mind the children. Men work with their hands to provide for their families. And, when someone has trouble, the entire community pitches in to help.

In addition to legal woes, the Amish have withstood much criticism and mockery from those who don’t understand their choices. Now that many practicing mainstream Christians are experiencing persecution in courts or ridicule in the media, they can empathize with and look to their Amish brothers and sisters as role models.

Christian books about Amish
* The Amish and the state, by Donald B. Kraybill, pages 98-112

Help! I need comedy Rx!

2009-08-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

I am going to write something totally, hilariously funny and clever…

Not!

I just can’t do it alone! Beatrice had Benedick, Lucy had Desi, and Jerry had George. If only I had Debbie Bock’s quick wit, or Beth’s hilarity, or my neighbor Karen’s teasing humor. If only they were sitting right here feeding me one-liners.

If I were onstage, I could walk smack into a door or fall flat on my back on the floor, or make a totally silly face at someone the minute they turn their back. That would be funny… but only live and in person.

If I were a guy, I could drink down an entire glass of something and burp loudly afterward. Or, I could whine about not understanding what women want. Of course, I’d have to have an audience of other guys who would then compete over who could burp the loudest or complain the longest. A contest always helps.

But, I’m writing on a blank white computer page. It has no comedy whatsoever. I can hear the little boys in the house behind ours splashing in their pool. Earlier they were shooting the hose straight up into the air, while dogs barked all around them. Little kids can be funny – what they say and what they do. Too bad I don’t have a recorder that I could sneak out and put by the fence. Then later, I could transcribe what they say! I can't even take credit for the photos above of our nephew. My husband shot them. And they make me smile.

But, that doesn’t make this blog funny. And, now that I think about it, I haven’t read anything lately (except Beth’s blogs or Karen's emails) that even made me smile, much less laugh out loud. Where has all the humor gone?

Celebrating the Young and the Old

2009-08-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Family reunions and August, they go together. August is a fitting month, too, since it was my grandfather's first name. It seems that we grow gentler toward one another as we get older. Or maybe it is just me...

Onix and her sisters

2009-08-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

illustration by Meghan Jones

Onix snuggled deep into her downy quilts as her father’s song poured through the halls and grounds of the palace. Her younger sister, Ruby, in the bed to her left, had already fallen asleep. Her older sister, Topaz, lay in her bed on Onix’s right with her eyes closed, smiling to herself and nodding in time to the tune.

Tomorrow, she and her sisters would leave for the winter palace at Fortiscaelum to prepare for Christmas. Of all three sisters, Onix loved the winter palace the most. There she could roam freely and spend time with those who were so dear to her.

Even though Onix knew her father’s lullaby well, she fought sleep to hear all of the words tonight. She loved his rich deep voice as he sang:

My precious children
More treasured by me
Than exquisite sculpture
Or a great symphony.

My son set like a Diamond
My daughters, my gems
Topaz, Onyx, Ruby
In my best of diadems.

I wonder if I’ll ever see my brother, Onix thought as her eyelids fluttered shut and she fell peacefully asleep.

A few days later after settling in at the winter palace, despite the freshly fallen snow, Onix found her copy of the royal cartographer’s map of Fortiscaelum’s lands and sped to the stable to saddle her palomino, Ancilla.

The royal squire sauntered over to the stall. “Welcome back, Princess. Going out?”

Glancing up, Onix frowned. It was Roger, a sturdy-looking kid with straight blue-black hair that always fell into his tawny-colored eyes. Onix answered, “Yes, Topaz is having ‘ideas’ today. I needed to get away for awhile.”

Roger nodded. “Your older sister always seems to have something planned for everyone.”

Onix felt her face warm in embarrassment. Why did Topaz have to make a splash wherever she arrived? She would take charge and tell people what to do – even if they didn’t need her to. Upon their arrival, she had insisted that their music and books be unpacked and the rehearsal hall set up – even before saying hello to the staff and having tea.

“I’m headed for the woods near the castle.”

“Want some company?”

“No… thanks. I just want to be by myself.”

Onix certainly did not want Roger’s company, or anyone else’s, for that matter. Her younger sister was next to Topaz on Onix’s list of people to avoid. Ruby had commandeered Onix first thing in the morning to dance with her and play with her and listen to her endless chatter. Onix simply could not take another minute.

Roger patted Ancilla’s flank. “Be on your guard. I’ve heard reports about increased spy activity around here.”

“I have my bow, and I’m not going far.”

And with that, Onix gave a final tug on the girth. Roger opened the gate for her and she took off. As she cantered through the courtyard, the thought occurred to her that although Roger tried to be a good friend to her, he wasn’t very interesting.

The red feather in her cap fluttered in the wind and a cluster of her jet-black curls teased her face as Onix galloped Ancilla through the snowdrifts. Girl and horse sent the snow flying as they headed to a clearing within view of the main castle entrance. Since it was one of her favorite spots, the place had become known as Onix’s Meadow.

At a high point, Onix reigned in Ancilla and studied her well-worn map. Then, inhaling the smell of the evergreens, she spun slowly around in the saddle, enjoying the prospect. To the east, the mountains sparkled brilliant white in the bright winter sunshine. To the west, the castle itself shone golden warm and inviting even with its creamy white frosting. Chickadees and cardinals flitted and chirped here and there, and danced in the air around her. She felt so free! “Thank youuuuuuuuu!” she shouted, and her voice echoed back, “Thank youuuuuu! Thank youuuuu!”

Onix tucked the map into the quiver on her back and jumped down from Ancilla. Her sharp eyes scanned the area. To her left, high in a tree a squirrel swished his tail and watched her. The slight smell of skunk lingered in the air to her right. As her gaze traveled upwards, she squinted her eyes as she saw a potential danger at the top of a rocky outcropping. There appeared to be two glass orbs buried in the snow.

Instantly kneeling, she whipped the bow from her shoulder and an arrow from her back. Nocking the arrow, she felt the smoothness of its feather fletching on her cheek as she sent an arrow flying low over the orbs.

Two bushy eyebrows popped out of the snow and field glasses emerged next. A black-streaked face with an enormous mustache followed.

“Who are you?” she shouted out, nocking another arrow.

“Don’t shoot at me. I’m Brevis,” he answered back in a froggy voice. “I mean no harm. I was just leaving.” He continued looking at her right through his field glasses.

“I’m certainly not afraid of you!” she said as she took in his diminutive form and charcoal-stained tunic and beard. “You're a spy! I should pin you to a tree right now!”

“So… What are you doing out here today?” he asked. Brevis slowly backed up to the cover of the trees.

“I need more target practice,” Onix said, sending another arrow zinging over his head.

Brevis lowered his head and cowered.

“Don’t worry. I’m getting much better,” she said.

Then, glancing quickly over her shoulder, Onix jumped and ran for the cover of a tree. Spotting a downed log, she ducked out and shot. Then, she aimed and shot at clumps of grass, knotholes in trees and both ends of the log, using up all the arrows in her quiver. Not a single one missed its target.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Brevis sit down. Unaware that the princess could still see him, he eased a tattered piece of parchment out of his rucksack and scribbled on it with a gnawed-on piece of charcoal. After he finished his message, he folded the parchment around a stone and rolled it down to the base of the rock. A skunk scuttled out of hiding, picked up the note in its mouth and scurried into a thicket.

Just then, the King’s patrol swept through Onix’s meadow. Brevis shook with fear and disappeared.

Miles, the tall captain of the guard, swept up beside her on his glossy dapple gray horse. Miles seemed surprised to see her out alone so late in the day. He questioned her with his ocean-colored eyes as he asked, “And, how are you today, Princess Onix?”

Onix heart skipped a beat at hearing him address her by name, but she certainly didn’t want him to notice.

“It’s a great day for target practice, Captain!” she answered, glancing up at the rock. The spy had disappeared from it; and the sun had sunk down and was poised to dive behind it.

“Good for you,” he said, his eyes following her gaze, “but don’t stay out too much later. The sunlight disappears fast in the winter.”

“I’m ready to come in,” she said and gathered up all her arrows except for the two shot over Brevis. They seemed to have disappeared, along with the strange little man himself. The patrol rode a circuit around the meadow as she whistled to Ancilla, who trotted over shaking her mane and flicking her tail as if she wanted to tell the captain herself about Onix’s escapade.

“He is so handsome. Isn’t he, Ancilla?” She stroked her horse’s neck dreamily.

Onix headed back to the castle, and a little song formed itself in her head and flew out of her lips. The exquisite sound floated purely over the high notes and rang out even on the low notes.

The sky so blue, the trees so green,
Colors so brilliant by sunlight seen.
Or watch the sky unfold at night!
The moon so close, the stars so bright,
Even the night-time possesses light.
If only my sisters would share with me
Just one single interest or common delight.
What joy that, a song worthy to write!

As she reached the castle courtyard, the sound of her song drifted up through the bare trees and hovered outside the windows of the King’s study. Hearing that resonance, the King’s most trusted servant and the princesses’ tutor, Amadeo, flung open his windows to let the music come wafting in. His tall frame and silver-hair made him distinctive and the princesses called him “the silver tower” behind his back. When Onix’s song ended, Amadeo called out to her, “Onix, if only you weren’t afraid to sing out for others to hear! Your songs could melt the hardest of hearts.”

Her face flushing red, Onix hung her head and mumbled, “Nobody else thinks so.”

“In that, you are mistaken, Onix,” he said and retreated back into the King’s study.

As Onix led Ancilla to the stables, the sound of a trumpet blared through the courtyard. From up in the watchtower, the castle watchman roused the King’s household and every creature for miles around. Onix nearly jumped out of her skin.

“A messenger approaches!” the watchman announced. Captain Miles and his men turned around and headed back out to meet him.

A few minutes later, her heart pounding, Onix watched from Ancilla’s stall as the captain’s guard escorted the racing messenger over the drawbridge. His horse and clothing were spattered with mud and his face dripping with sweat. The great horse reared up at the stables, his nostrils flaring. Still frothing at his bit, the horse dwarfed Roger, who ran out to help. Ignoring the squire, the messenger leapt from his mount and immediately walked his steed in a circle speaking softly to him all the while. When the horse had quieted, the messenger handed the reins over to the young man and sprinted inside to meet with Amadeo in the King’s reception hall.

Onix raced inside and up three flights of stairs to the grand rehearsal hall. Since her sisters hadn’t appeared after the horn blast, she knew she’d find them there. They spent most of their free time in that room at the top of the castle: Topaz endlessly practicing intricate melodies on her flute, and Ruby dancing with her slender legs and willowy arms, bringing the music to life as if she were dancing before hundreds of nobles and princes.

As Onix burst into the room, Topaz looked at her in surprise with her large purple eyes. Topaz gently drew the flute from her lips and set it down. A strong pang of envy passed through Onix. Topaz looked so lovely with her slim fingers and her long honey-colored hair that fell in plump curls to frame her face. She had an elegant composed manner and boys always noticed her first.

Completely opposite, Ruby’s vibrant red hair flowed and swept around her head as she used a Pas de Basque to reach Onix, grabbed her hands and demanded, “"What would the king have me dance next? A love song of the meadowlark or a tempest driving forth the mighty ships at sea?” Then, she laughed and spun around in a perfect pirouette.

Ignoring her sister's fantasy, Onix cried out, “A messenger is with–”

But before she finished, her sisters flew from the room. Onix chased them down the stairs to the hallway outside the reception hall. Amadeo, heading out of that magnificent room, intercepted the three princesses. Joyously, he announced to them, “Your brother returns! He has won the war and plans to be home for Christmastide!”

The three sisters hugged each other and jumped up and down ecstatically. This would certainly be a Christmastide like no other! But, for the first time in her life, Onix felt a twinge of disappointment over the Winterberry tradition. She had never desired to be crowned the queen, but now... Well, she just wasn’t pretty or talented enough to be chosen as the Winterberry Queen, even if the unpredictable berries appeared this year.

Weekend Rejuvenation

2009-08-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

What a lovely weekend we had – full of weather variety, fascinating new people, exotic travel and wonderful cuisine. Okay so maybe it was a garage sale, a concert and fireworks show six blocks from our house and rural Indiana, where we ate fried chicken and potato salad and saw a community theatre production of “The Music Man.”

It is my husband’s fault (time for finger pointing here). He got me involved with a neighbor’s garage sale. Generally, I dislike that kind of thing, but the women running it were great fun, and I really appreciated getting to know them a little better. Even though the weather was unseasonably cool and rainy, I didn’t mind wearing a jacket and meeting the people who braved the weather to go garage sailing - especially the man who bought the collectible Matchbox cars, and then came back with his daughter to purchase the 50's dinette for her first apartment; or the older gentleman who was totally out of breath from walking up the hill who came to buy the bike; or the lovely young woman with big brown eyes and gorgeous short-cut jet black hair who bought a designer sweater.

I didn’t sell much, but the whole experience required little work on our part and I had fun. I really did! I definitely would not do a garage sale on my own. It’s only fun if you have other people around to talk with. And, other people’s stuff makes for a more interesting inventory.

Creedence Clearwater Revived provided the music for the outdoor concert on Elgin’s riverfront. The drummer and bass player from the original Creedence Clearwater Revival play with this band. The lead singer had a real John Fogerty-type voice, and the band was really tight. They were very good and I enjoyed it, although I was glad to have my Blackberry with me because, after all, they only played old hit songs and after an hour I got a little restless.

However, the fireworks had me on my feet. It was absolutely thrilling. I had never seen a laser light show outdoors, or those fire columns. Paired with the traditional fireworks, it was a spectacular show.

Spending Sunday in Indiana opened my eyes to a whole new side of that state. Just like Iowa, Indiana can be very maligned by some Chicagoans who prefer Wisconsin or Michigan. Bass Lake was lovely with a beautiful breeze and gorgeous sunshine. And, there is nothing like attending a well-directed community theatre show. The full-house audience absolutely adored the actors – many of whom were friends and family. The chorus was hardy and strong, the leads were graceful with pleasant voices, and the set was a veritable work of art. And, I have always loved “Iowa Stubborn.” Since I’m from Iowa, I can say that. And, I must say it brought a tear to me eye.

Very refreshing – like cold sweet watermelon on a hot day.

"For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes." Jeremiah 31:25 (NASB)

Anniversary Time

2009-07-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Today is the 13th anniversary of our wedding. We have faced some amazingly tough times together, including major illness. But, God has preserved us. And, we are grateful.

It really isn't easy to stay married. It seems the forces of hell (and very often, the government) are arrayed against marriage and family because these are supposed to be the ultimate bastions of love, protection, encouragement and agreement. So, despite the odds and opposition, most men and women continue to marry with that hope and promise.

As in our marriage, I hope that in all those marriages that start with such hope and promise, the two partners grow together or that they will have patience when one or the other gets a little out of sync. It happens. But with God at the center you have a fighting chance. And, prayer and patience work wonders, as well as forgiveness and sometimes having a bad memory.

I really like this version of what Jesus said about marriage.
But Jesus said, "Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn't for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you're capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it."
Matthew 19:11 The Message (MSG)

Thank God for his protection and provision, and for the blessings of marriage.

And, honey, I love you more than ever!

Sean Tries On Grandpa's Uniform

2009-07-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ev Sets the Record Straight

2009-07-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

Recently, I wrote about my parents' wedding anniversary and mentioned my father's military service. He wants to set the record straight, so here is his story:

"I was inducted into the army from Quincy, IL in late June, 1954. I had a student deferrment for four years while I attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. I volunteered for the draft after graduation.

[Note: When I asked him about this terminology, my father answered that he volunteered rather than wait to be called up, so that he had more control over the timing. By volunteering in June, he would get out of the Army two years later in the summer–just in time to get a teaching job in the fall.]

July-August, 1954, I attended basic training for 8 weeks at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. There, I had the opportunity to audition for the Army band school. As a result of the audition I was ranked #3 against a quota of 2. However, the #1 man got sick and was put back a cycle (2 weeks). So I moved up to #2.

September-October, 1954, I attended band school at Ft. Ord, CA. After 8 weeks of training, I was assigned to the 324th Army band at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, along with Tony Archuleta. Joe Viola came 2 weeks later.

In June, 1955, Jean and I married in Madison, SD on June 19th. On June 21st, a telegram arrived from Band C.O. Bearman informing me that I was to be sent to Far East Command."

[Ev's side note: After my marriage, I got one half of the $78 monthly pay and Jean got the other half. After Laura was born, my Spec. 3 pay was up to $135 monthly, Jean got half of that and Uncle Sam added $55 (I believe) for Laura.]

Back to Ev's story:
"Tony Archuleta, Joe Viola and I, all clarinetists, arrived on August 4th for 2 weeks' wait at Ft. Lewis, WA, certain that our destination was Korea. But when a Korean-bound troopship left without us, we hoped it would be Japan.

From mid-August, 1955 to mid-April, 1956, with less than a year of service remaining, the Army flew us to Japan via Hawaii and Wake Island. I was assigned to the U.N. Headquarters Army Band at Pershing Heights, the site of the former Japanese military academy in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This was the 293rd Army Band with Marion Durbin, C.O.

We played for all ceremonial troop reviews at Pershing Heights, troopships coming and going at Yokohama Harbor, concerts around Tokyo, civilian parades, Far East football playoffs (Torii and Rice Bowls), plus regular season home games, and the huge and moving ceremony for the return of the unknown Korean war dead. This ceremony was held in the early spring of 1956 at Yokohama harbor.

From mid-April to late May, 1956, the entire headquarters band transferred to Camp Drake (an hour from Tokyo and site of the Japanese Kamakazi pilot training school). We were re-designated the 1st Cavalry Division band.

On June 4, 1956, I arrived in Sioux Falls, SD after an eleven day voyage aboard the U.S. Fredrick Funston troopship from Yokohama to Seattle via Adak Island, AK. I attained the rank of Specialist 3rd Class - the equivalent of Corporal."

Book Review: The Last Ember by Daniel Levin

2009-07-13T15:19:00.001-07:00

From the moment you step off the plane at Rome’s airport with main character Jonathan Marcus, The Last Ember takes you on a fast-paced ride through archeology sites and research labs, courtrooms and U.N. offices, churches and catacombs from Rome to Jerusalem and back again.

The story begins when Marcus, a New York lawyer, unexpectedly arrives in Rome, the scene of his academic disgrace seven years earlier. His past passions begin warring with his common sense almost immediately after examining a chunk of the Forma Urbis Romae (a detailed marble map of Rome made around 200 AD) at the center of the case. When his colleagues discredit his long-lost girlfriend in court, Jonathan Marcus can’t ignore his feelings or the lure of archeological sleuthing.

A modern web of terror, destruction and deception as complex as the ancient Roman-Jewish world it parallels emerges as Jonathan slips, once again, into the fray. At the center of the vortex is the preservation of the ancient Jewish temple menorah and the secrets of controversial Jewish historian, Josephus. Powerful and elusive enemies seek this artifact to corrupt and destroy history, along with all Jewish and Christian Temple Mount historical treasures, as Jonathan and Dr. Emili Tavia fight to uncover the truth and preserve it.

This thriller reveals the high stakes and dangerous world of archeology in the Middle East, and the very real threat to historical preservation and archeological research. The actions described in the book are reflected in headlines and even in Congressional bills to stop the destruction of the Temple Mount.

For an exciting summer escape and a crash course in ancient history and languages, pick up The Last Ember

Halfway through Summer

2009-07-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

This past week and half felt as if it didn't even happen. Time flew by so quickly. We are nearly midway through the summer. Events that loomed so large - like the Chicago Telegu Festival with its vibrant music and dance - have come and gone.

I am sad about missing the ICVM Conference in Denver last week. The filmmakers, actors, producers, writers, musicians and tech people who attend are always amazing. They come from all corners of the earth and their energy, joy, prayer, worship and fellowship feeds the soul. The speakers this year, as always, were exceptional. Next summer, the conference will take place in St. Louis, MO. I hope that its being closer to Chicago will make my attendance more feasible.

But, this summer still holds promise and adventure. My writers' group is planning a little getaway weekend. My sister from Florida will be visiting. At the family reunion in August, the family will get to meet my cousin's legendary twin baby girls. And, who knows what unplanned exploits and escapades lie in store?

I am looking forward to the second half and I know this will be a summer that leaves a sweet smell of remembrance.

The Chicago Telegu Association Festival

2009-07-06T12:16:00.001-07:00

The Harvest Waits for No One

2009-06-30T09:17:00.001-07:00

For the last two days, I have picked raspberries in my backyard - lots of them! The plants have been in the ground here for four years, but this is the first really good harvest. For several years, we have been trimming tree branches, which has gradually allowed more sunlight for the raspberry plants. Last year I had to battle Japanese beetles, which nearly destroyed the plants. Early this spring, I dug around the plants to give them more ground to expand to. With the abundant rains, they grew like crazy. Four weeks ago when they bloomed, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were so many blossoms!

In the last week, I had been watching and waiting, and picking a few unripe ones because I couldn’t wait. But now, the berries are ripening. And they will wait for no one. If I don’t pick them, now, they will fall to the ground. And, I’ll have to check and pick every day for the next week until the first harvest is complete. I’m not the only one who has noticed, I have to fight with the squirrels and birds to get there first.

Most garden fruits and vegetables are that way. You have to harvest them at exactly the right time. And, when that time comes, you have to act because delay means loss.

The Bible uses agricultural analogies frequently. Modern-day farmers (I mean real farmers–not the corporation farm owners) and gardeners understand those analogies and teachings in a way that no one else can. If you have never dug in the dirt or sand with your hands, you’ve missed out on the tangible experience that God had in creating man. If you have never fought with weeds, weather, insects, deer, raccoons or birds for your crops, then you may not understand the parable of the sower quite as viscerally.

If you have never watched and waited for your trees’ fruit or your garden produce to ripen, then you have missed out on the full impact of God’s teaching about seedtime and harvest – especially the great end-time soul harvest. The cool thing about my raspberries is that they are called ever-bearing. That means there is an early harvest in June, but there is also an even better late harvest in September when the berries are even bigger and juicier because of the cooler temperatures.

Luke 10:2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Spy Stories and Summer Silliness

2009-06-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

All right, I confess! I love spy stories. As a kid, I adored Honey West and Harriet the Spy and Mission Impossible. When I wasn’t pretending to be a nun or a princess-knight in King Arthur’s court or a prairie girl, I wore my trench coat and carried my brother’s cap gun. My friends and I would range throughout their farms or the water tower hill in town running from the Germans or the Communists. I even made hiding spots in our house to escape from the secret police, or my brother, when he was looking for his cap gun.

I still love spy stories, only now they are called thrillers – even if I do have to shut my eyes for the most violent parts. My favorite spy story recipe includes: international travel (use foreigners in the U.S. as a substitute), hiding or chasing intrinsic to the plot, snooping on a government or other large corporation, and a daring rescue or escape. And for a nice high-stakes blend, some espionage or theft of top-secret documents that will save the world adds great flavor.

There are very few thrillers due out this summer. But there is a genuine “spy” movie coming out: G Force (about some high tech spy guinea pigs). I look forward to comparing it against my favorite recipe. Who knows? Maybe I’ll have to add a few more ingredients.

G-Force coming July 24.

Book Review: Between Wyomings

2009-06-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Between Wyomings: My God and an iPod on the Open Road should be required reading as a cautionary tale for anyone who may be set upon the pedestal of popular success. Through his leadership in the music industry, Mansfield fundamentally shaped, influenced and reflected the world of the Baby Boomers and beyond. Although born again in the 1980’s, he doesn’t fully recognize or let go of the showbiz world’s illusions until he makes the road trip described in Between Wyomings.

Every generation of successful artists will be faced with the same choices as Mansfield – even Christian artists. Jesus said in three of the four gospels, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” He also said in Luke and Matthew, “You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Maybe it is a function of my age, but I enjoyed the non-linear progression of the book. The poetry and lyrics were a natural accompaniment to the story. I loved the disorderliness of Mansfield’s thoughts and crowding memories being set right by reflection and journey and relationship. This book may not be for everyone, but musicians, actors, filmmakers, writers and artists could all benefit from the insights that Ken Mansfield offers from his viewpoint on the "open road."

This book is published by Thomas Nelson and is available from Amazon.com

Halfway Between Wyomings

2009-06-24T14:20:00.001-07:00

Half-way through… Isn’t that a strange place to be? I am reading Between Wyomings by Ken Mansfield as part of Thomas Nelson’s book reviewer bloggers program. The only reason I chose it was because there was no fiction on their list of available reads and this looked to be the most interesting. Intrigued by the title, I saw that it was about the music business. I thought even if I didn’t enjoy it, my husband – a musician himself – might like it. Now halfway through it, I am absolutely engrossed.

Ken Mansfield tells the story his life’s journey in the framework of a God-inspired road trip with no specified destination. As he and his wife Connie drive in their van (named Moses) they take off from their home in Northern California and wind their way down to Los Angeles and beyond. In the process, Ken talks with God, revisits sites of his tragedies and triumphs, and recalls history, relationships and experiences in the music industry. And, it is this mix of recollections, King David-like arguments with God, present-time reality and scripture that make for such fascinating reading. This man lived and worked and breathed at the pinnacle of the Hollywood pop scene in the 60’s and 70’s, and then went on to work as producer with legendary country performers Waylon Jennings, Willy Nelson and Jessi Colter. He also suffered from the same high profile maladies as his many of high profile peers: drug addiction, financial ruin and a sojourn in New Age religion. But, because of the prayers and choices of his fourth wife, Connie, he found salvation in Jesus Christ in the 1980’s.

I like that this book meanders and winds its way through time and space with a poet’s taste for words. Although I’m tempted to say the book was really written for us baby-boomers, I am sure that anyone who has embarked on a spiritual journey with Jesus Christ will find rewards in reading Between Wyomings.

On Friday, I should have wrapped up my reading and will complete my review.

The Stoning of Soraya M. – Part Two

2009-06-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

“At its heart, this movie is a human drama filled with tension, peril and hope – but it is also a true story that I felt strongly had to be told, a story the whole world needs to know.”– Director Cyrus Nowrasteh

There could be no better time than this Friday for this film’s release. At this moment, the women of Iran are at the forefront of the revolt against Iran’s unjust elections. And The Stoning of Soraya M. illustrates clearly what the people of Iran have been terrorized with and how powerful is the bravery of just one person telling the truth.

According to the film’s producers, the film’s subject “is incendiary: the thousands of women who are hounded, conspired against and murdered in cold blood around the world for so-called and often trumped-up ’crimes of dishonor,’ such as adultery or premarital sex. But the film’s treatment is universal, wrapped in a classic, gripping drama of one woman’s danger-fraught quest to bring the conniving evildoers in her remote village, who think they are acting with impunity, to global disgrace.”

The production notes continue: “From the beginning, Cyrus and Betsy made the decision to focus the tale’s suspense around Zahra, the savvy, outraged village woman who attempts to protect Soraya and ultimately tells her story in the hopes of saving others. Her quest for truth and justice amidst lies, betrayal and fraud became the driving force of the story. Meanwhile, Soraya and her accusers were etched as the two opposite poles of innocence and corruption between which each of the villagers must make a choice.”

To me, this message transcends the situation in Iran and other Islamic countries and should cause all of us to be vigilant about justice in our own backyards. As director Cyrus Nowrasteh said, “At its core this is a story that is very relatable, because it is about a conflict between a man and a woman and you connect to the characters in an emotional way as husband and wife.” Like the Apostle John, we need to examine ourselves and continue to look for the truth. We have huge problems with marital strife and abuse and injustice in our country. 1 John 1:8 (NKJV) “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” If we look at injustice in Iran and judge it without scrutinizing ourselves, we are hypocrites.

Happy Times

2009-06-19T20:31:00.001-07:00

Today is my parents’ 54th wedding anniversary. They were married in the 50’s in Madison, South Dakota just before my dad was sent to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. He had been drafted and played in the Army band.

For their honeymoon, my parents spent time in New York City going to all the hot jazz spots, including Birdland, which was pretty amazing for those two babes in the woods! Both of them were from rural areas and had met while at a small Lutheran college in Waverly, Iowa. But, my dad, a music lover and musician, was intrepid and they still remember that trip as a highlight of their lives. Of course – it was their honeymoon!

My husband and I watched Grease once again last night – Hollywood’s musical view of high school in the 50’s. My parents’ world and the Grease world were far apart in some ways, and very close in others. The stigma of being an unwed mother and unofficial hot rod car racing did represent certain norms across the entire country. But my parents and the students in their high schools were definitely not as disrespectful of adults as the Grease kids. It just wasn't done – because teachers, principals and parents simply wouldn't tolerate it. Those were the days of physical discipline – a reality missed in the movie.

However, the 50's era was a very special time, and its jazz, pop music style and dancing are great fun and still draw an audience. Perhaps, this music reminds us of a more innocent time – something our society may never recapture or value again.

The Stoning of Soraya M. - Part One

2009-06-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent election in Iran and in anticipation of next week’s film opening, I have begun reading the original novel, THE STONING OF SORAYA M. by Freidoune Sahebjam. Sahebjam, who died a little more than a year ago, had led a life fraught with danger as an Iranian-French journalist. Kidnapped and tortured by Islamic militants in Paris in 1979, he was rescued by French police and went underground. He slipped into Iran many times to cover stories there and was the first to break the news about Iran’s use of twelve to fourteen year old boys as soliders.

However, THE STONING OF SORAYA M. may one of his most important because it highlights a global problem – abuse of women by their husbands and corrupt justice systems that condone the men and condemn the women. Although this is a particularly gruesome story of an entire village’s complicity in a stoning, it happens in every country, every day. Christians and Muslims, Europeans and Africans, and yes! even Americans – all face this story, or even the convoluted reverse – where the husband is the victim.

To address this issue, the film website has a “GET INVOLVED” menu button. Anyone who desires to may register their name in support of a petition to the UN calling for women’s human rights.

And, in a more immediate way, readers in the Chicago area can help the Elgin Community Crisis Center. This organization averages one suicide call per day, and without immediate financial assistance will have to close on July 1. Supporters of the center are asking for 25,000 people to donate $10 in the next 24 hours. Contact Jeri Hodal at littlered1321@yahoo.com for more information.

Psalm 103:6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

On Friday... more about the process of turning the book into a film, and a report on the Elgin Community Crisis Center.

FOR ANOTHER FILM ABOUT IRAN: A Cry from Iran

Give and it shall be given back to you

2009-06-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

There’s just something about kids and dogs, and sunshine, and green grass. Ahh… the beginning of summer when celebrations abound and a warm day is a treasure, and where babies and 99-year-old grandmas eat cake and ice cream together.

I am reading Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. The book, an autobiographical story, takes place in Iowa during the Great Depression. And, what I find amazing is that kids still enjoy the same things – sweet treats, running around outside, cuddling up on a lap and playing with animals; and, that multiple generations enjoy each others’ company. They all have something to give and receive from each other.

A happy family and friends’ celebration stokes the fires of peace and prosperity – even when the economy says different. A community that walks in love and care towards each other is recession-proof whether money and jobs do or do not abound. To me, every business decision is a community decision, and should be held to that standard – the larger the company, the more responsibility. And, if our communities took better care and more individual responsibility for each others’ well-being, our government would have much less to do. And, isn’t that really the idea?

Writing for Profit

2009-06-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

I just began writing for Examiner.com as Chicago's Christian Fiction reporter. To that end I have written and posted two reviews, one for Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble and the other for Face of Deception by Lis Wiehl. I enjoyed both books and felt confident recommending them. Unlike past writing jobs, I don't get paid by the word or project but by the number of hits on the articles themselves. With so many journalists and writers being laid off and publications closing, this payment method certainly takes the burden of marketing off the employer and, in that sense, forces writers to reach their audiences on their own.

I wonder where all this Internet social media communication flood will end, and I now have some grave concerns about how much more vulnerable we as a society are becoming. Newspapers and magazines don't require electricity to read, and are not dependent on a cable or satellite. What I hope is that somehow after the chaos of the economic crisis and digital conversion, we will still have a fair amount of printed newspapers and magazines that remain well-staffed and viable.

But, for the sake of blatant self-promotion and economic survival, here is a link to my examiner page, please enjoy!

http://www.examiner.com/x-13313-Chicago-Christian-Fiction-Examiner

Don’t like the ending? Look online!

2009-06-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

With the publishing world in an undeniable state of change, Michael Hyatt, Thomas Nelson Publishing’s tech-savvy CEO, is taking the bull by the horns by experimenting with digital delivery. A few weeks ago, he and author Colleen Coble offered to readers, via Twitter, a free download of her latest romantic suspense novel, Distant Echoes. Published by Thomas Nelson, the book is the first in her new Aloha Reef series and set in Hawaii. Just recently, Thomas Nelson also gave away a free PDF of its Expanded Bible New Testament – also announced by Hyatt on Twitter.

As many publishers scramble to deal with sales decreases, Hyatt has been forging into new territory. Recently, he blogged about the pros and cons of the Kindle 2, Amazon’s new wireless reading device. As a Kindle user, Hyatt liked its accessibility to over 250,000 titles and fast downloads. However, he believes there will not be wide acceptance until the device has a color screen and touch screen interactivity – standards set by Apple’s iPhone.

An established writer, Coble has adopted a personal and interactive approach to her readers. On Coble’s web site, visitors can: email her; sign up for her newsletter that offers an epilogue to her new paperback, Cry in the Night; see pictures of her family; discover her other novels; or even click on a YouTube link to a video commercial for her novel, Anathema.

What does all this interactivity and digital delivery mean for the future of books? From the looks of it, readers’ immediate accessibility and feedback have already begun altering the way authors tell and publishers sell their stories.

Lilies and Parsley

2009-06-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

Funny how a few chilly, rainy days in June will make you very grateful for a sunny 70 degree day in June! The garden plants all seem to be looking fine, although the strawberries are still just as white as they were several days ago, and no parsley seedlings have sprung up, unlike the basil and oregano.

How amazing that the plants and trees in my yard do not complain. They grow when it rains; they hibernate in times of drought. And, I’m sure the parsley will come up in its own good time. If only I could be as patient and unworried as the plants. Jesus said, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” [Luke 12:27-31 KJV]

So for today, I’ll start by being grateful for sunshine and God’s divine provision.

My New Favorite Place

2009-06-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Christian books in the public library? I never would have guessed.

Since the economy has forced me to change my habits, I began going to the library instead of the bookstore. And, to my utter surprise, the library had most of the authors I wanted to read on their shelves. I found titles by Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and Tyndale House – three big Christian fiction publishers. I had no idea that a public library would offer Christian literature – because I never bothered to look. This has caused me to really re-think my attitude towards libraries. With so much anti-Christian sentiment in media and government, I never dreamed the library would be so fair and broadminded in their offerings.

The Gail Borden Library in Elgin, Illinois is spectacular. Built in 2003, the library’s designers created so many pleasant places to curl up and read – unlike my old haunts, the upscale bookstores. The Gail Borden Library boasts a spectacular round reading room, called the River Room. This light-filled room overlooks the Fox River and has a fireplace! If you want to sip and munch while you read, the La Tazza coffee shop on the first floor brews a great cup of coffee. The staff is pleasant and knowledgeable. And, small meeting rooms are available for small groups.

Having lived in a town without a library for seven years, I had no idea what libraries had become. What a wonderful discovery! So, if your budget is curtailing your reading, check out the public library!

Prologue

2009-05-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

In the early dawn, Cobus squinted through blood-shot eyes and surveyed the scorched earth lying in ruins around him. The air still reeked of death and smoke, although it had now been three days since his sworn enemy, Prince Joshua of Fortiscaelum, had been imprisoned lifeless underground.

The prince’s ineffectual army had broken and scattered the moment that he had fallen. Or had he fallen? Cobus wondered fretfully. The thought nagged at him that his victory had been too easily won.

The immense golden crown rested heavily on Cobus’ head. Never before had he noticed that the weight of it practically crushed the vertebrae in his neck. But, he brushed the pain aside and stroked his spiky blond hair into place. After all, he had worn it for years. And, once again, he had prevailed and proven to the King how weak his subjects were.

“This land, and everything in it, still belongs to me! Now, to take Fortiscaelum! Move out!” Cobus shouted to his generals as, deep inside him, anxiety simmered. Thankful for the transformative white cape that disguised his age and deformity, he still wished his voice sounded lower pitched and more authoritative. He would have to counter with harsher measures to keep his army in line.

“Sir!” an officer bowed before him. “The work is ready for you to inspect.”

Cobus strode over to scrutinize the prison entrance. Laborers had worked ceaselessly over the past three days to seal the great stone in place with cement and iron chains.

“No one from either side will ever be able to move it,” the captain in charge said.

Cobus inspected the work, and gradually became convinced that the entrance had been secured. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to leave a contingent of his most elite guards at the site. “Kill anyone who even approaches this place! No one must come near it!” he said.

“Yes, sir,” the captain said with a salute and a bow. Twenty heavily armed soldiers took their places in a semi-circle around the entrance and twenty more positioned themselves on the slope above. Cobus, satisfied, turned to go.

At that very moment the earth underneath his feet shook and undulated, knocking Cobus to his knees. Dust filled the air and painted his cape a dull gray. The crown flew from his head and rolled downhill. The metal circlet bounced and bumped along the ground and landed directly in front of the great stone.

Cobus’ troops screamed in terror as deep cracks formed in the earth, swallowing up huge numbers of them. Even the elite guards were flung to the ground, where they lay frozen with fear as boulders and dirt came crashing down around them.

A giant warrior dressed in white suddenly appeared beside the stone. With one hand he pushed against it, snapping the metal chains and rods as if they were twigs. The stone rolled aside as easily as a door on rollers. Then, he picked up the crown that had fallen from Cobus’ head and kneeled in front of the entrance in anticipation.

As the morning sun burst over the horizon, rays of light simultaneously exploded from the hole in the hillside and Prince Joshua stood visible to all. As he walked out into the morning light, in the distance behind him moved an army of millions – one by one – as if awakening from a long hard sleep. The prince stopped in front of the giant white warrior who, at a gesture from the prince, stood and placed the crown on Joshua’s head. Every creature in sight fell to his knees – except Cobus.

As soon as the ground had stopped moving, Cobus had stolen away, unnoticed, to his lair. Insurgo, his silver-scaled dragon, lay sleeping inside.

“To Treabhlaim!” Cobus shouted as he sprinted inside, gathering up his bag of tricks and removing the magical white cloak. He needed no disguise with Insurgo. In seconds, he and the dragon soared through the air to his one remaining stronghold.

Almost relieved, Cobus plotted as he flew. He still had a sizable force hidden away in Treabhlaim and solid information still flowed from his spies in the field. I will call a meeting and carry out a new plan, he decided.

Pleased with himself, Cobus urged on the dragon, his anxiety subsiding. With a lucky break and some good information, he thought, Fortiscaelum can yet be brought to its knees. After all, the King has vulnerabilities – his three lovely daughters.

Living in the Past

2009-05-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Making history come alive is fun! And, researching history almost transports me to the past. As a child, I secretly wished I had been born one hundred years earlier – just so I could wear “real” long dresses and petticoats every day! Now, I wouldn’t willingly exchange my blue jeans and clogs for corsets and uncomfortable shoes, but I do long for the days when communities were smaller and more close-knit; when the chief entertainment was a local sporting event or theatrical group or a great book.

Tonight, I am meeting with some writing members of the Gifford Park Association (a.k.a. GPA), a local group dedicated to the preservation and safety of our neighborhood here in Elgin. GPA’s big money-making project is a house tour every year in late summer. Homes selected for the tour represent various types of architecture and interesting approaches that their owners have taken in preserving and decorating them. GPA puts together a well-researched brochure that accompanies the tour and details the history of each house.

The writing portion of the project begins tonight as the GPA writers gather at the Elgin Historical Society, which is appropriate. We’ll be assigned our houses so we can begin the research phase, which includes visiting with the current owners and getting a tour of their houses – a special bonus of this task. I am already looking forward to my trip in the way-back machine through local history!

I'll post some of the interesting tidbits I come across, as a sneak preview.

Count Your Blessings

2009-05-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

So much news seems meant to scare me: GPS will fail in a year, our environment will soon be uninhabitable, our children will carry an impossible tax burden, there is no sign that the recession is improving, the publishing industry is failing, children are becoming addicted to computer games, and so on and so on.

In this state of affairs, what have we got going for us?

On Sunday, my husband’s father celebrated his 80th birthday! A man who has suffered incredible heart issues, is now strong and chipper, and doesn’t look a day over 65. His backyard birthday party included many of his favorite people – close friends, neighbors, his wife, his brother and his wife, most of his kids and their spouses, and four grandchildren. Dad just beamed – all day! And, talked – all day! This is a man who grew up during the Great Depression – a time of little hope. Then, he lived through World War II, several gas crises, nuclear scares and radical changes in manufacturing. Yet, he has endured and his life is good!

We all need to take stock of what we’ve been given. The human race survived without GPS! The human race survived a small ice age in the Middle Ages. After World War II, cities and countries needed rebuilding and people got it done!

Planted inside each of us are seeds of ideas – tangible ways to help other people, inventions to simplify tasks, methods to maintain and improve our environment. If we can all just give thanks for what we’ve got, we’ll realize that we have so much more to share! We live in a small world, now, and Americans can use their position of leadership for such good! We need to endure and do good.

We are so blessed. God bless America.

Documentary Making

2009-05-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

I went to a video production tradeshow and saw the trailer to “Malatya” both in the same day. I am newly inspired to re-visit my old love, documentary-making.

For a number of years, I have wanted to produce a documentary: “Children of the Americans” – the story of an orphanage begun by two single American women in the 1940’s in Morocco. One of those grown up orphans is our friend, Sal Semlali. He was the person who introduced the story to us, and who is part of the story himself.

I wonder what impact those original 70 or so children have had on the country of Morocco and on the world. The orphanage still exists today, and I wonder how it has changed. I wonder about the real Morocco – its religious culture, and how its ordinary men and women interact.

The world of Islamic culture remains something of a mystery, and Africa itself holds so many secrets. I remember reading a story of the Berbers in 6th grade and how they built beautiful buildings in Spain and practiced advanced medicine in Europe and North Africa while most Europeans suffered in the Dark Ages. As a child, I also loved reading the Tales of the Arabian Nights and delighted in musing on the unique viewpoints and lifestyles revealed in those stories.

Now, as an adult, I am amazed that two unmarried American women missionaries could have accomplished so much in a country that, dominated by Islamic culture, allowed women no authority. How did those two women do it? Was the path opened up and protected for them by God’s divine will? Would political correctness condemn their work in this day and age?

Maybe I will have the opportunity to answer these questions and more. Maybe this is the right time.

Wisdom of Silence

2009-05-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. Proverbs 17:28

O that you would be completely silent, And that it would become your wisdom! Job 13:5

A Future and a Hope

2009-05-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

My niece just moved in for a few months. Her name is Lindsay and she is doing an unpaid internship at the Jesse Brown VA Hospital in Chicago to complete her degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Northern Iowa.

Lindsay told me that she couldn’t believe how hard she had to search just to be able to work for somebody else for free! And, Lindsay isn’t your typical 22-year-old college grad. She is twenty-seven years old and a graduate of the school of hard knocks as well. While in college these last few years, she has been working two other jobs – one as a cocktail waitress and the other as an aerobics and fitness instructor.

Lindsay has spent a great deal of money and time to earn a degree at a respected university. She has learned to manage her time and her finances wisely. She is enthusiastic and personable, and has practiced many of her degree skills already. However, finding employment in her field of training will be challenging. She faces a tough market – as do all graduates this spring.

We must, for the sake of our children, turn this situation around. Both college and high school students who study diligently, work hard and complete their education MUST be rewarded with employment. Business owners, not-for-profit executives and even corporate America must make a place for new graduates, and not by simply firing all the older employees to replace them with younger cheaper ones!

Instead, we need to think optimistically and creatively, as well as soberly and conservatively, about how to integrate these young people into the workforce. Don't rely on the the government to solve this problem. These new graduates represent your personal future and hope, as well as mine.

If you, personally, are not part of the solution, then you, personally, are part of the problem. What will you do to help?

Unity

2009-05-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I wrote this two years ago, but updated it just a bit for today:

Hine Ma Tov - How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

I have been hearing this message from multiple sources lately–even in my parents’ Lutheran church on Sunday. And, what a powerful message it is! So much good can be accomplished when people live and work together as one. It is a dynamic and amazing thing that happens. For instance, despite their differences, the people of the United States agreed to form a common government with certain principles – certain inalienable rights. They agreed that God was the authority under which they established those rights.

When a group of individuals agree on a script and the direction of that script, then a produced play or film results. A band can’t play unless the band members work as one.

And, unless we live together in unity in our homes, neighborhoods, towns, cities and churches, we will have warfare, lawsuits, broken families, poverty, abuse of power and apathy. Living in unity means living in agreement. When a group of people agree on a certain course of action, what a powerful difference they can make.

Right now, the people of the world are suffering in a recession. But, here in this country, I am seeing signs of hope. I see people encouraging each other. I see food distributions and job fairs. Let’s live together with the united purpose of helping each other – those in need both in our own neighborhoods and in our global community.

"Christian" Propaganda

2009-05-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email from a Christian friend with the subject line: Very Important Notice. The subhead said: Scary Stuff Happening. The email went on to complain that: “Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas Refugees to the USA. This is the news that didn't make the headlines...

By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in "migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees and "conflict victims" in Gaza…”

The email was right. It was a very important notice, and I was very disturbed by it – although probably not in the way the writers of it intended. First of all, I refused to be “scared” by anything that is going on! I am a person of faith. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is the weapon of choice of terrorists. And, I refuse to be manipulated that way! Yes, I disagree with many of the actions that President Obama has taken. But not all! And, after I have expressed my opinions on legislative issues to my representatives in Washington, I pray. I continue to pray for our leaders in every area of government.

Today, I discovered a link that pointed out clearly to me why bringing Palestinian immigrants to this country could be a really fantastic opportunity. Tass Saada was a Palestinian terrorist who came to this country to go to school. Because of the loving kindness he experienced in Kansas City, Mr. Saada became a follower of Jesus Christ. Here is a link to a recent interview with Mr. Saada: http://onceanarafatman.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/once-on-fox-4-news-in-kansas-city.html

Mr. Saada's story should be a call to action for every American citizen! We can win our enemies over with love, compassion and kindness - and these are not difficult to do! That is something that we Americans do well! Just look at what happens in the time of disaster. So, c'mon, America. We don't need to wait for a hurricane or tornado or earthquake. Let's do what we do best – care about each other and the people in this country who are hurting.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt said during his first inaugural address in 1933, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Hidden Talent

2009-05-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

Jim Gattone is the creator, executive in charge, energy and drive behind the Hidden Talent Theatre Company. Along with co-founder, Tim Smoot, Jim wanted to provide a professional level venue for actors in Chicago’s northwest suburbs as well as including opportunities for inexperienced actors – thus the name Hidden Talent. Begun with the help of Life Changers Church, the two founders also hoped to include Christian themes and new works in the theatre company’s offerings.

At the end of its first season, Hidden Talent produced its first original play, “Slow to Anger,” which examined themes of mixed race marriage, adoption, and violence against women – in the context of Christianity. Well-received, the play enjoyed a second run six months later, and talks are underway to tour the show throughout the Chicago suburbs.

Coming off a busy year and smacking up against the economy, Hidden Talent has also been re-grouping and re-evaluating its venues and its charter. A few questions remain to be answered – where to perform and what will our season’s message be? Can the company produce quality Christian themed plays that are current, relevant and of high caliber? And, where will these plays come from?

The Christian book publishing industry provides an excellent model in that it produces both high quality literature and highly popular literature. Just as Christian literature has expanded to include much beyond Bibles and devotionals, so Christian theatre can include far more than passion plays and sermon skits.

Hidden Talent is poised to create quality Christian themed theatre with its CAST commission and to capitalize on the use of technology to be more inclusive and responsive. With social media, dialogue with potential audience members, actors, technicians, musicians and writers is possible. Imagine a new way of developing an original production that included ongoing input from the far corners of the country; and, of growing a new generation of theatre-goers!

Exciting times are in store for those willing to try the waters! And, Hidden Talent is on the diving board.

Increasing Personal Productivity

2009-05-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

My new goal is increased personal productivity. Almost immediately, this morning, I observed myself sliding off track with what I was planning for my day. However, it was a Monday morning, and there were messages to be dealt with from over the weekend..... Note to self: Monday mornings must include message response time and phone call time.

Now I am back on track.

Gregory A. Dale Ph.D. (Professor of Sport Psychology and Sport Ethics at Duke University and Director of Mental Training and Co-Director of the Leadership Program for Duke Athletics), on dealing with distractions, says: “Even when you can't prevent them from happening, you can learn to respond to them. Athletes of all ages and abilities are constantly being forced to cope with all kinds of distractions. Unless they learn to deal with them, they are going to experience a frustrating drop-off in performance.”

In my capacity as writer and self-employed businessperson, I am an athlete, of sorts. I run a race every day – all day. I can't afford a frustrating drop-off in performance. I face the fact of distractions – internal and external – just as athletes face. Now, how can I deal with them successfully?

Chris Yeh, writer and Harvard Business School MBA, writes that you can run from, hide from or fight distractions, and he provides practical advice on how to do that. His final sum-up is this: “The key to making this strategy work is iron willpower. You have to take a stand and stick with it, no matter how reasonable the arguments against your stand may sound.”

So that is what it comes down to – self-discipline, which is, of course, how successful people succeed. Tomorrow: the concept of self-discipline.

Twitter Class 101

2009-05-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

“If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh, why can't I?”

Now, you can fly beyond the rainbow with the bluebirds. The little bluebirds of Twitter will take you there, if you just learn how. And, that’s exactly what we did in a class taught last night by Twitter teacher and avid Twitterer, Duong Sheahan.

Fresh from a weekend of SOBCon, Duong showed us the Twitter 101 ins and outs, and sold me on its really amazing communication potential. Using Twitter gives an ordinary person access to and the benefit of some of the best minds in the country. It also provides an amazing potential for reaching many people, and discovering resources you may never have had access to, including professional and special interest groups.

Duong also covered TweetDeck, which helps organize information and messages that come flowing in when your Twitter account gets up and running. If you are serious about maximizing Twitter’s potential, you are going to have to organize the content that comes pouring in when the faucet is turned on. And, if you don’t, you’re going to waste a lot of water or even swallow some that should have been filtered!

Having Duong for a teacher was also a real bonus. Always positive and courteous, with a great sense of humor tossed in, she exudes enthusiasm and imparts practical knowledge and truly inspires her students! I know that with more people like her in the world, there is a lot to look forward to!

To follow Duong, go to:
www.twitter.com/DuongSheahan

Thoughts About Praying

2009-05-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

The National Day of Prayer is tomorrow. Interestingly, this observance was established in 1952 by a resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Who can pray? Everyone – Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, people who don’t know what they believe, people who want to believe in something, people who feel like they have no hope, people who feel that they have no future, toddlers, children, teenagers, parents, single people, middle-aged people, elderly – everyone

What to pray? Pray for the welfare of this nation and wisdom for its leaders. Pray that the people of this country would walk in compassion for their families, their neighbors, their enemies, their fellow citizens and for citizens of the world. Pray for wisdom and compassion for yourself.

How to pray? Say the words of your request to God out loud – any time or anywhere.

History documents that George Washington was a man of prayer. According to Rev. Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, an ordained Presbyterian minister, graduate of Princeton with a degree from Dickinson College, "I felt much impressed in his presence and reflected upon the hand and wonderful Providence of God in raising him up and qualifying him with so many rare qualities and virtues for the good of this country and the world. Washington was not only brave and talented, but a truly excellent and pious man of God and of prayer. He always retired before a battle and in any emergency for prayer and direction."

Even Joni Mitchell believes in prayer (from “The Same Situation”, Album: Court and Spark):
“Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around”

So, these are my prayers for tomorrow: First, what Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Then, what the ancients recorded: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” And, finally, St. Paul’s words: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.”

The Daily Discipline of Writing

2009-05-05T07:31:00.001-07:00

I have not always loved writing. In fact, I do not love writing. It is an unhappy love affair with only brief moments of satisfaction. But, I persist. And, it is good discipline for the mind to write daily.

From the age of six and into my twenties, I practiced piano daily (except for Sundays, when I played in church as I grew into my teens, or on vacations). Some days it was a despised chore and on others it was a pleasant escape – especially as I began to find music on my own that I loved playing. Since piano practice time had to be shared with my brother and two sisters, I often chose the morning slot at 6 a.m. in the morning.

I am calling on that imprinted practice of daily discipline, now. I probably won’t be up at 6 a.m. every morning, but I will try to make a habit of daily thought writing. I am sure that my reward will be remembering better what I’ve read, meditated on and prayed about – and even developing new ideas and connections or exploring concepts I’m writing about in longer format.

So … here goes!

Upcoming National Day of Prayer

2009-05-04T12:22:00.001-07:00

I am quoting from my friend, Marcy Grams, who is representing the entertainment industry at Minnesota's capitol on Thursday:

"Dear Friends,

I'm watching to see if the current President will encourage Americans nationwide to pray this Thursday on the 58th Annual National Day of Prayer.

We all know America needs help - even the lost recognize this fact. Prayer is our only hope.
I am writing to encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer (even fasting) this Thursday and to encourage your friends to do the same.

Corporate prayer is powerful when we stand together, united with one voice, as the disciples did on the day of Pentecost before the Holy Spirit came upon them with tongues of fire. A re-awakening occurred - a revelation of what Jesus really did on the cross, with signs and healing miracles to follow. Acts 2 - 5.

Stand with me - as no one can wake up America alone. We need each other and the voice of an army to shout down the walls of the enemy.

God bless you!

~Marcy~"

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NATION ON THURSDAY. A UNITED VOICE IS A POWERFUL VOICE.

WAKENING THOUGHTS OF THE SOCIAL NETWORKING ADDICT

2009-05-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

What will the day be like, she wondered as she kicked back the covers and planted her feet on the chilly floor. White light lined the edges of the shades. Cool. More of the endless rain.

Fear nudged her heart in the stillness. So dark. So dreary. A Monday…

She hotfooted it over to her computer, flipped open the cover and the cool blue of the screen appeared. The computer emitted burps and bells as messages and notifications poured in. Peace rose within her. The world had not ended just yet. She was not, in fact, the last person alive on the planet. Her day would be perfectly fine.

"Honey! You up? Tea's made!" her husband called.

Yes, her day would be perfectly fine.

My Husband Dave

2007-07-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

In Honor of My Husband Dave Who Is in the Fight of His Life
(I wrote this a couple of years ago, but it is still good.)
My Husband Dave

I just have to ponder male humor. It is uniquely distinct from female humor, or mixed company humor. My husband Dave seems to have humor phases. Right now, inspired by “The Two Towers”, he is having fun with names. For instance, "I am a Worthling. I am Beloved, son of Brown Stranger." David grew up in Worth, Illinois. David means beloved. Donald means brown stranger. His brother Steve is Crowned One son of Brown Stranger. His male friends immediately jumped into the fray ready to play, which leads me to nicknames (where did that word come from, I wonder?) My husband Dave has a friend who calls him Fax , pronounced with a southside accent that makes it sound more like faykssss. My husband calls him Dag (pronounced daygg). My husband and his brother call each other endearing names like Stinky or Eeeeoooh What’s That Smell.

Dave's dad has this strange humor thing going with his own brother. They have exchanged the same big huge birthday card back and forth for at least 15 years, and they laugh at it every time! My husband Dave's family also delights in leaving the absolutely most horrible rendition of the birthday song they can possibly muster on each other's answering machines. In fact, because of this custom, our three dogs now howl hideously whenever they hear anyone sing the birthday song.

Humor is important to women. I love to laugh. But, with men, or least with my husband Dave, it is as important as breathing. This is the man who told a joke on the operating table to the nurses and doctors as he was being anesthetized for emergency open heart surgery and sang while he was turning purple on the emergency room gurney. My own father loves telling jokes, especially Ole and Lena jokes or Oestfrisien jokes.

Music is a big part of Dave's humor universe, which makes sense since he is a musician. One of his favorite songs to sing is a Texas blues song called "If You Dig It, Don't Do It". He and his friend Dag also make up little ditties to go along with their biannual camping/canoeing/rafting trips. The documentation in song is almost more important than the trip itself, and, I suspect is perhaps funnier than the trip itself. I believe this particular type of male humor behavior has ancient roots going back further than Odyssus.

Our Pastor Keith, who visited my husband Dave frequently in the hospital and at home while he was recovering, is also part of this humor club. In fact, he encourages it as part of good health! "Laughter is good medicine! A merry heart will do you good. The joy of the Lord is my strength," he said. Pastor Keith is a hardy laugher. I like the sound of hardy male laughter with all its bass notes and reverberations. Just hearing laughter like that makes a person laugh. Maybe a CD composed entirely of various laughters would be a good prescription for people recovering from illnesses! I know my husband Dave would have great fun making a recording like that!

It amuses my husband Dave to try and make me laugh. He tries out different faces and laugh sounds to see my reaction. Usually it happens after he shaves in the morning (must be all that time in front of a mirror.) He'll say, "Honey, what do you think of this?" And he'll contort his face in some cartoonesque fashion. Or he'll make some ridiculous sound with his throat and say, "How do you like my new laugh?" Or he'll make two faces and say, "Which do you like better, A or B?" The bigger the element of surprise, the more successful is his desired outcome.

I don't know how long Dave's current "humor in the name" phase will last or how complex it could become, or what lasting impact it will have. His name could change forever. I may have to start calling him some Greek word for Beloved, or Strong Husbandly Man, or Man Who Laughs A Lot. Who knows? At least it's a change from the German (pronounced "Cherman") designer humor that has made him, his brother and his friends laugh for quite a spell. By the way, if you know him, don't mention this column or I'll have to listen to a lot of "Jahs", long words ending in "en" and comments about small eyeglasses for the next several days. And, don’t tell him that he really does make me laugh. People (especially guys!) are usually funnier when they aren’t working at it.