Year's End

And holiday end!

What a couple of weeks it has been at Corgi Hollows!

We said good-bye to my now "daughter from Canada" yesterday. She spent the last 10 days with us, and I claim her as my own. I thoroughly enjoyed her visit. She's Margaret's friend, and now my daughter. I love her.

My grandson visited. Heaven.

We saw friends, sat quietly, read books, watched a couple of movies; "Hidden Figures" and Keira Knightly's "Pride and Prejudice." We did a little shopping and a lot of cooking.

We sampled a Chinese restaurant in a nearby town and pronounced it "great."

We finally got to Giordano's, which has come here from Chicago, and the kids loved it.

We visited the Mill City Museum, downtown Minneapolis, which I HIGHLY recommend. I've been there dozens of times and I love it each time! Some of the kids went to see "A Christmas Carol" at the Guthrie Theater.

Yesterday I attended the funeral of my very good friend's dad. He was a world famous intellect, and I was privileged to know him. I commuted to the University with him and his daughter back in college on occasion. My friend grieves, but she is one of the strongest women I know. Her father is with Jesus. What a comfort.

I wanted to connect with several people over the break, but it wasn't to be. I have such wonderful friends and I love spending time with them, but now that I'm a working gal I think of them---and wish for time spent with them!

Can you believe it? I'm lined up for subbing five days at the the beginning of the new year already! It promises to be a very busy spring for a substitute teacher!

I did not send my stack of Christmas cards. Thank you to ALL who sent us cards! I love getting them, and usually I love sending them! It wasn't to be, this year!

Maybe Resurrection Sunday?

I didn't even get my gifts sent to my two brothers in New York and Chicago! They are still sitting under the decrepit tree that needs to come down today. Maybe I'll get to the post office next week....

It's been crazy fun, nuts, and wonderful all the same.

Corwyn wins hearts everyday. She has a sweet personality, very friendly, very affectionate. She is a cuddly thing, and loves to warm your lap on these frigid evenings. Blackberry just dozes by the fire. She complains when it's time to go out...

Topaz, the enigmatic black feline, has truly conquered all of us. His gem-like eyes fix on his next victim and there is no resistance. He wins. You must pet him, hold him, even against his wishes. He's powerful.

Predicate, the ghost of the house, especially since Corwyn came to live here, appears from time to time.

You have heard how cold it is, right? Minnesota weather at its best: minus 10? Minus 20?

It's cold! We try to walk up the road a bit and the air is like knives in the sinus. Ya, youbetcha, it's COLD in MINNESNOWTA!

I read yesterday that we may be in for a mini Ice Age again.

I hope not, but I'm grateful for a shed full of wood out back.

We have the most beautiful fires. Ed is a scouting expert at making a perfect-looking fire and it truly is a work of art each time.

Ed's blood platelet counts are still abnormally low, so I tend to slip into bouts of worry. I'm so human.
I know his days are in God's sovereign hands, and I DO give up my fears to God every moment, but I do pray for Ed, too.

I want this whole cancer thing to be DONE, OVER, Vorbei, as the Germans say!

But we're not done yet!

Actually Ed will need to go to the clinic for blood tests for the next 10 years. Every month for now, then at greater intervals. We will be praying for excellent progress each time.

I look up and say to the LORD---"Maranatha!"

He cannot come soon enough for me.

As wonderful and beautiful as life on earth is for us Western Christians it cannot compare to the glories of Jesus' face.


I had a dream I was able to sing in both the Northern Lights Chorale and the Minnetonka Choral Society this spring, just like my husband is going to do. It was such a nice dream. Impossible for me, but nice! I'm looking forward to choir rehearsals already!

It's pipe organ season now too! I'm excited for Sunday afternoon concerts around the Twin Cities. Usually they happen at 3 PM or 4 PM, so let me know if you want to join us! It's the most excellent way to calm the mind and heart for the upcoming week.

I live in the musician's dreamland.

Happy New Year!

May 2018 bring the LORD'S return! May it be a blessing to you and yours.
God bless you!

Newsweek:

http://www.newsweek.com/ufo-existence-proven-beyond-reasonable-doubt-says-former-head-pentagon-alien-758293?amp=1

For the Sad Today

It was years ago when I started listening to New Age music and darkened my soul. Since then I have had bouts of blue, not clinical, but definitely affecting.

Christmas time can be difficult for me. I know it can be difficult for many---loss of family, loss of friends. Memories that haunt us of the past.

I can be surrounded by the most wonderful people in the world, and I can still feel a tightness in my heart that seems to have no explanation.

SAD, or seasonal affect disorder, is par for the course for those of us in the dark December northern hemisphere. Certainly this plays a role.

The sun is shining outside, the beautiful music plays on the radio. (Classical MPR is online too, and their Christmas line up is wonderful!)

There's no reason for SAD, but it is there.


Those of you who don't understand depression cannot feel our poignancy.


I've learned to address my thoughts and feelings pragmatically, at least as much as possible.

Physically; exercise, reduced sugar, vitamin C, extra sleep (that means going to bed around 8 PM!)

Spiritually; Daily Bible reading, Praise singing, Prayer, Trust.

Sunshine. Light. Corgis.

Christmas is the time of lights. I've been hard on the thoughts about pagan or heathen influence with Christmas. I know all the background on solstice and Saturnalia. I don't celebrate Satan Clause! Whoops, I mean Santa---

Christmas is a time to read Scripture, sing about Christ's birth (a total miracle) and survive the deep dark winter. BAH HUMBUG!

Lights, Smorgasbord, gifts, decoration, family, church. It's tradition. It's what we need this time of year.

The miracle of Christ with us is to be celebrated each day of the year. Freemasons think Jesus was born on September 11. Some say September 23, some the 26th. Probably He was born in September, as the shepherds were abiding in the fields, and the place where Jesus was born, a sacrificial lamb birthing floor outside of Bethlehem, was clean and empty. Mary treated the baby exactly like a sacrificial lamb, wrapping him in swaddling clothes. Perfect baby lambs were also wrapped in swaddling clothes to protect them from harm or damage before sacrifice.

Isn't God amazing? Such patterns, such exquisite foreknowledge. I can only praise Him!

So, Christmas. Cheer up, friends! Remember your blessings!

To my atheist friends I wish you well, I wish you a Christ experience in your life. In fact I pray that for you. To anyone who hasn't received Christ as LORD and savior I wish you would. I pray for that every day.

This makes me happy, knowing that God has His plan for you.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My Hope Is in the Lord

Exactly

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/good_riddance_evangelicalism_incorporated.html

Momentous

https://youtu.be/344Pp928KJ4

Christmas

https://grandmageri422.me/2017/12/19/a-crowded-inn-a-jewish-handmaiden-and-the-birth-of-gods-messiah/

The List: (Be Informed)

http://mobile.wnd.com/2017/11/4621979/

Let's See (The Cleansing Trump Effect)

https://truth.americanewshub.com/2017/12/16/report-congress-will-rocked-next-72-hrs-dozens-potential-resignations/

Soft Disclosure

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/unidentified-flying-object-navy.html?referer=http://www.drudgereport.com/

Frohe Weihnachten!

It's the final countdown to the ultimate holiday of the year.

I mean that in the sense of "last" for those of you who don't have genius wordsmiths in the family!

I have baked pfeffernusse, Cherie has made gingerbread cut-outs, Margaret has made "Peanut Blossoms," I mixed up Lois's Butter sugar cookie cut-outs, and my grandmother's recipe for "Date-Nut Loaf" is in the oven right now.

It smells lovely and sweet.

My sweet better half has been on mission after mission to procure the ingredients for all of our special recipes that usually denote Christmastime at our home.

My son, who loves Ginger's German Sour Cream Twists, is coming to Minnesota and I'd love to make up a batch. I usually serve those around Easter, but I'm willing to make some now!

I have to bake some Limpa, the Swedish orange rye with fennel and caraway.

I still have those pretty green cornflake wreath cookies with red hots to turn out, plus some chocolate fudge.

I want to make Christmas cookie plates for the neighbors, something I haven't done since I moved here three Christmases ago. I have good intentions.

This past week I had many brushes with Down's Syndrome. I started the week as a paraprofessional (not a teacher) for a two young Down's kids. I had contact with another one, and then I met two teachers with Down's children. I saw some sweet stories online about Down's Syndrome and read about a Down's Syndrome young woman who competed in a Minnesota beauty pageant.

I have such a soft spot in my heart for these people. Corrie Ten Boom wrote a book called "Common Sense Not Needed," and it is available on Kindle. That book is just so sweet and affirming of God's special people on earth.

Of course I was subbing for all sorts of things this week; Science, art, Special Ed. I sub next week, too, all the way up to Christmas! I start out again three days during the week that follows the New Year.
I'm busy.

My work at the deli is sporadic, and Margaret takes most of our shifts these days. It's pretty convenient to have back up for a particular shift! I'm working this afternoon, so come by and buy my delicious chicken! The salads are wonderful, too! I can slice some scrumptious Boar's Head meat for your sandwiches. I'll rearrange the Christmas goodies from the bakery and I'll tell you Merry Christmas. That's what I do.

This time of year everything seems so food related.

I've been musical, too, though.

The Minnetonka Choral Society had their concert last weekend. I sang my duet, Silver Bells, with Justin, the choir providing back up. Our director, Maestro Jere Lantz, gave practically a lecture on all the carols we sang. It was a fun concert! All of the Christmas music we've been practicing all fall has put me in the holiday spirit early and fully!

It's been a very incredible year. I've met SO MANY NEW PEOPLE, and I certainly wasn't even looking for that!

I'm not unsociable, I just have the most wonderful friends in the Universe already.

Since January I started working at the Deli, Substitute teaching, and singing in a new choir. That's quite a few new faces to get to know and learn!

Changes. It's all good.

Ed finished his courses at North Hennepin Community College with high marks in Calculus 3, Japanese Culture, and Communications. Margaret also did well in her pre-nursing classes, even Anatomy. I know, I know, smart kids!! Praise God! Ed really likes his job at the bank. He's a whiz there, too. Margaret will make you your morning coffee most days at the Caribou.

Cherie snuggles and reads and does math by the fire. She literally keeps the home fires burning and enjoys her grandparent's company. We have frequent contact with "the neighbors." This week we had a brief visit with my niece, who needed to go to the airport. Cherie and I spent the day, after dropping her off at the airport, at the Mall of America. We walked around each floor but the fourth. It was quite the work-out! We even bought stuff, which normally I don't do at that mall!

My husband is back to pushing snow off of the driveways, completing various house projects, and keeping up with his job. This house is a gift that keeps on giving----one project after another! Even in the winter months.

Surely you have heard of Hygge these days? It's a Scandinavian word for being cozy and quieting your life in the dark and cold winter months.

I used to practice it regularly. Working outside the home has changed things for me.

It's all good, though. Life isn't dull. Never boring.


Tomorrow there is a sing along Messiah at a Lutheran Church in Roseville. We like this church on Sunday afternoons in winter, concerts with the organ ---- a Casavant with 19 ranks, a tracker organ, fully mechanical. It's one of Ed's favorite organs. Tomorrow it plays with a chamber orchestra, too.

I'd like to go. We'll see.
Enjoy this week!

Echo Chamber

Aren't they beautiful?

We love our echo chambers. Everything we say is agreed with, what we think is stated continually.

They are dangerous, though. There's a world out there that is not echoing your ideas!


I find it interesting, as a conservative Bible believer, to see that there is a certain personality that loves their own echo chamber and refuses to listen to anything outside.

I've been "abandoned" by several liberal mind-set people in this past year. I'm not even a Trump supporter, but they can't handle my conservative views.

I don't back down from relationships because of my views. I pursue them! Isn't that what Christ-followers do? We are to engage! We are to love! We are to serve and help!

We aren't supposed to back away.


Lately I've been thinking about 1 Corinthians 15:21 "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead."

That verse defines my views more than any other in Scripture. It is pivotal. The next verse is powerful too: As in Adam all die, in Christ, shall be made alive.

If these verses are true my life should reflect the Word of God and its teachings.

This includes a "Young Earth" view of history. It affirms the centrality of Christ in the saving of mankind and the earth for a millenial kingdom. It states a worldview that recognizes our need for Christ, and Christ alone.

The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is powerful. I should memorize it. G.F. Handel quoted it freely in "The Messiah."

It is amazing.

We all love the beautiful promises of Scripture, but we tend to become echo-chamberish when quoting these things.

God defines Himself, and that is LOVE.

But He is a holy judge, and we must recognize His commands for living----marriage standards, selflessness, His story (not ours, not "science's").

Don't we all want to define God our own way? We want a nice little grandfather/mother in the sky who looks like us, who only blesses, only drops candy. This Person would never condemn "love."

No wonder the first commandment, repeated by Jesus Christ in the NT is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me!"

It's the command we find the easiest to break.

Let Scripture define your God. The God of the Bible is real, powerful, active, and working out a massive plan for humankind.

Believe Him. Don't even try to define Him to fit in your echo chamber.

He won't. He defines Himself, and you can read all about it in His Word.

It's time to leave your chamber.

Clinton Body Count

http://mobile.wnd.com/2016/08/clinton-death-list-33-most-intriguing-cases/

Alicia Colon

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1217/colon121217.php3

Obama's Legacy: Elite Richer than Ever

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/06/the-richest-1-percent-now-owns-more-of-the-countrys-wealth-than-at-any-time-in-the-past-50-years/?utm_term=.9528463f7234

This is a Portrait of Corruption

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/weinstein-s-complicity-machine/ar-BBGhvM9

Discovering Winter!

Advent! Advent!

I can hear my friend Lynn's voice saying "Advent! Advent!"

She had her memorial service today. She passed away two weeks ago, from cancer. She was my friend, my apartment-mate in Germany, (Hepberg, just outside of Ingolstadt), her dad and my dad grew up together and were life-long friends.

She loved her family, her husband, her Germany, her Lord and Savior. She was a loyal friend, and I'm going to miss her!

We didn't live in the same city in the states, so I hardly ever got to see her here since Germany, but we maintained our friendship via distance.

I couldn't go to the service today. I was teaching. I have too many obligations here these days to travel much. The weather turned nasty this week, and I can't stand driving on very icy roads.

Lynn loved Christmas in Germany! We had a tree, lovely ornaments, and special presents. I'll never forget my Christmases in Germany.

The smells! Oranges, lebkuchen, spices, pine! Apples and chocolates---
The bite of damp winter cold! Candlelight. Crunchy snow. Beautiful carols, Heilige Nacht...

Bright foil packages with special things inside. Tutte (little sacks) full of treats! Germany is a wonderful place to be at this time of year!

I brought a bit of Germany back with me---a few ornaments, an advent wreath. I have good friends that supply us each year with coffee and chocolate from Munich! I sent them some American instant coffee and bite size American candy bars this year. I know there isn't any comparison, but I want them to see how much we appreciate their generous thoughtfulness at remembering our "want" of such European delights!

I'm remembering Lynn and her love of Germany. It goes together with my Advent celebrations every year.

I taught only half a day today, and before I left for school we put up the Christmas tree for decorating. It's a white pine, from Menards---only $18!

It smells so good, better than cut flowers!

Cherie and I are going to get lights on it soon. We decorate less and less each year, but there are some things that never change. Tradition is fun.

I KNOW that Jesus was born in September, probably. I know that Christmas is questionable as a day to celebrate. I've read all about it.

I still think we can honor Christ this time of year by celebrating His birth on earth. I talked about Advent at the jail on Sunday evening. I used it as an opportunity to share the Gospel message. I could tell that half of the women had never heard the Gospel before.

There are many lost folk out there.

Christmas is a perfect opportunity to talk about Christ Jesus. People need to know!

I'm meeting more and more desperate people, both at the jail, and in the schools where I substitute teach. I see the pain, the need. There are tears.

This world isn't easy! So many people suffer daily! To give hope for a future (Jeremiah 29:11) we need to share our faith.

It's amazing how many things fall into line for people who are truly in bad straits when they come to know Jesus! Things may not be greatly improved physically, but attitudes and spirit are transformed!

Jesus is powerful!

We never talk about the decision to follow Jesus resulting in ease, or wealth. We say the opposite! No prosperity gospel preached here!

But there is hope for these dear ones. I don't talk about Jesus at school unless there is some blatant reason to. I do talk about Jesus at the jail. The time I spend there on Sunday evening is considered "church time" for them.

We talk about Jesus.

We talked on Sunday about Advent.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Next Sunday is our Minnetonka Choral Society Christmas concert. I am singing a duet with a young tenor----"Silver Bells."  All of the songs we're singing are really quite fun, and there will be acting of vignettes to accompany the music. Really, it's going to be charming!

I've enjoyed the music this fall, and it definitely put me in a Christmassy mood even before Thanksgiving.


_____________
I want to say a word of apology, sort of. I'm sorry that my posts offend some people. They do, and that isn't my intent. I write about the things on my mind, the developments in society and in the church. I take things to Scripture and search for the Biblical answer!

My questions are met with God's truth, straight out of Scripture. My interpretation may not be particularly merciful, but I'm trying to understand the absolute truth. I don't want to water down a truth from Scripture. I want to be right before God.

If you know me personally, you know that I love you. There isn't a question about that in anyone I have met. The kids at school are all my favorites (even the bad ones!). My church friends, my jail friends, my old friends from other times in my life---my family! Everyone knows my love for them.

I must say what the truth is, though, as God reveals it to me through His word. Refute me when I am wrong! Give me good reason to change my words! I want to be teachable!

I must follow Christ. He loves you, and so do I.

God bless.
_______________

Lynn, enjoy a perfect Christmas this year. The most perfect one ever, even with your high standards!

The Concordia Chapel Choir - All My Heart This Night Rejoices, Z. Randal...

Christmas Gone Viral - Full Movie (2017) HD

Quandry

I know someone who is "practically perfect in every way."

She is a loving mother and grandmother, not critical, always wise. She loves God and she is a joy to be with.

I always think about her and wish I could be like her.

I think she really demonstrates Christ's love.

She is an example.


She's not like Charles Spurgeon or Jonathon Edwards. These old preachers weren't afraid to tell people unpopular things. Unpleasant things.

I think it takes all kinds of people, and I am always torn between being only loving and being truthful.


I guess I become more concerned about being truthful and I risk relationships because of it.

I try to be kind.

I am loving. I think the most loving thing you can do is be concerned for someone's eternal welfare. To dally along the primrose path of an unconvicted life seems a great hazard eternally.

So there must be this perfect balance, a golden mean of sorts, of care and careless---of sweet and stern, of judgment and mercy.

It is a path of great value and really few find it.

I listen to my fellow believer's stories of children who are lost, friends who don't respond, family who rejects. It's heart breaking. I know.

And we care. We want to have a sweet joy of shared faith, assurance of salvation, and honest fellowship. It's out there, but it is with ones God gifted you with, perhaps outside of your inner circles, and unexpected. It surprises.

But we can continue to pray for our dear ones who need Jesus.

Jesus saves. We are His workmanship, we are His living Gospel.

Preach it. Love. Serve.

And leave it in God's hands.

Catching Up

I had the most lovely Thanksgiving surprise.

My son and daughter-in-law flew in for the feast days without any warning, no inkling, no suggestion. I've never been so unsuspecting of a pleasant event in my entire life. It was marvelous.

We had a wonderful feast day, with ten around the table. All the expected dishes were served including a 23 lb turkey. We all contributed, and it was rather easy to put it together!

Excellent.

I bought four books over the weekend. "The Paradigm," "Trumpapocalypse," "Love Your Body," and "The Mysteries."

I read "Paradigm" already, and it is very interesting.

For all the sad ones who hate Trump it may be comforting for them to know that he is compared to Jehu in the Biblical narrative. There is a fascinating pattern that includes him, the Clintons, Obama, and other politicians and how they parallel certain Biblical personalities.

Fascinating.

For those of us watching for a revival of Godly values-----no more child sacrifice, sexual immorality, Christian persecution----it presents a call to faith.

It is disheartening to see so much apostasy running rampant.

https://medium.com/@jcweatherby_49412/its-time-to-start-calling-evangelicals-what-they-are-the-american-taliban-4a41731296e4 A liberal news site equated Believers with the Taliban. There is so little understanding of God's nature. So many try to fashion God into a different being than He is, an idol who pleases them.

How Baalish.

Sadly, many of us have family and friends who have chosen the broad path, not the strait one, the path that leads to destruction, that breaking of the first commandment about having other gods before the Creator of the Universe.

I'm afraid that command is pretty important. Jesus is the ONLY way.

I'm so excited to see the end times unfold, but I grieve for those I believe are headed in a different way. God is the judge of their hearts, but I can only see compromise with the world by their actions and words. That saddens me.

I read God's words, and I see an unattainable standard. Yet I see the command to obey, and the fruits of the Spirit as evidence of godly lives.

I'm responsible to preach Christ. I'm responsible to live Christ-like. I'm responsible to be loving to everyone, including my enemy.

My enemy can be someone fairly close, sometimes.

Call me out, call out my sin! I beg you to show me my errant ways! I want to be clean before the LORD.

Sometimes we don't see what others do. Can we take the pain of conviction?

It's worth trying.

If your children are serving the god of abortion and homosexuality, you need to examine your life, your salvation. They are in danger of hellfire.

If you are in sin, by marrying a divorced person, repent. God hates divorce. Please God, not men. Don't try to justify your sin! Read the Word of God and follow your own heart.

Are you married to a divorced person? Ask God to forgive you, and live in obedience to Him from now on. Don't try to justify or encourage others in sin. Their blood will be upon your head.

Are you enslaved to a past wrong? Did you sexually harass someone? Expose yourseld in a moment of carnal lust? Repent. Ask God to forgive. Ask the person you wronged to forgive you.

Too often a person who has committed a sexual sin against an innocent victim cannot forgive themselves or humble themselves. They prefer to hate the victim, hide the sin (if possible) and pretend it did not matter.

Al Franken is learning the consequences of that right now. So is Trump, Bill Clinton, Roy Moore, Clarence Thomas, Dennis Hastert, Al Gore, and just about every guy I've ever heard of.

Seriously.

I'm blessed to be married to the geek/nerd/brain that loves God more than himself. I got one of the few truly good men to be my husband.

I'm jaded on the rest of the species.

No, I'm not a feminist. Women are just as prone to sexual sin as men. They are just as guilty. I'm just sick and tired of sexual perversion and human nature. I'm guilty of sinful thoughts. I've let my tongue run wild like fire with terrible things that never should have been said, borne the embarrassment of sin, humiliated, tainted.

Needing to repent.

(Some of the accused may not have been guilty, but some clearly are sexual predators. It's easy to generalize men and their lust. The man who can control his lust is a rare species. Men who have an appetite for perversion are even more guilty. There are levels of guilt.)

I'm saying STOP the sin. REPENT! Don't condone sin in your life, or anyone's.

God made us sexual beings with a place for sex. MARRIAGE, xx - chromosome + xy chromosome.

Committed, monogamous relationship, life-long.


That's His standard.

You failed? You have company. Repent, ask forgiveness, ask for spiritual help in overcoming.

Read the little book by Richard S. Taylor, "The Disciplined Life."

This may help you overcome your sin in this brief life. Don't give up hope. You are running a race of endurance, and the race is almost over. Jesus IS coming soon.

Maranatha

Tillerson

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/11/24/the-taming-of-the-shrewd-change-agent-rex-tillerson-takes-rusted-state-dept-down-to-frame-career-diplomats-apoplectic/

Outstanding

Happy Thanksgiving from Corgi Hollows!

From a Liberal Publication:

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2017/11/is-pope-francis-a-liberal-protestant

Celebration Cake, Hemonc Clinic

Thank You

Blog Readers, tomorrow we are celebrating the end of Ed's cancer treatment. I'm sharing my letter/speech of thanks for this clinic visit. We are bringing cake to mark this milestone of BEATING CANCER! I think that the medical personnel in the HEMONC clinic don't get to celebrate the successful end of treatment as often as they'd wish.


I am not a speaker. I'm a writer. I have something to say to you all, so I'm writing it out to read to you.

This is my word of thanks to all of you standing here.

It was Friday the 13th, June of 2014, after a significant battle with "tonsillitis" Ed ended up at Urgent care for antibiotics, which channeled us via Mercy Hospital ER to Children's Hospital Minneapolis.

Leukemia had been mentioned but that wasn't even on our scope of understanding. Such a foreign word. Fearful.

That Friday morning I remember Dr. Richards gently preparing us with the unwelcome news that Ed probably had leukemia.

I held on to the 15% unsureness he said he had left after 85% sureness that Ed had leukemia. It's funny how we remember these pivotal moments. I can see him sitting there in the room up on seventh floor, still dark outside after a sleepless night, his calm demeanor, and his quiet words.

A parent's heart fails. A head reels. A family quakes. It's catastrophe all at once. Heartstopping.

///

It was at that time of severe disquiet that you all stepped in with reassurance, comfort, and a life line of hope.

We all turned inward to find some strength to be able to handle the reality facing us. As people of faith I went immediately to Scripture:

Job 14:5 Seeing man's days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.

I love BBC films and in the series "Wives and Daughters" the old squire character said to a suicidal young woman -"you must live the appointed days."

I thought about that a lot, and I trusted God to give Ed his appointed days, and YOU ALL to work your chemo magic.

Ed is still here. He has lived to this day, and that is because you kindly, carefully, compassionately took care of Ed. I thank God, and I thank you.

How does a mother express her gratitude to a team of medical personnel who saves her son?

It's hard. A cake of celebration doesn't scratch the surface. I want you all to know that we are touched. We have been blessed by you, and we want you to know it.

Thank you for everything.

Thank you to all who saw Ed here in the clinic, who were with him upstairs on that difficult floor in the hospital. Thanks for the fun moments, Jodi, the Twins Games and the Shine Bright Bash, the concert... Those came at just the right moments, always, it seemed.

Thanks for making Camp Mak a Dream possible. Ed has gone twice and come back enriched.

Maybe our cancer experience wasn't as devastating as some cases you see here in the clinic, but it was ours, and we were blessed by your help and healing.

We have grown to love you too! Dr. Rawwas, your sensitive and careful manner, your expert care! You are someone we have really loved to get to know. We always had total confidence in you.

Sarah, thank you. We couldn't have done this without you.

John, your jokes and banter are the spice needed to offset chemo flavors! Thank you for your quick response when Ed slipped into anaphylaxis. You did save his life. For that we will be eternally grateful. :)

Joan, Claire, Erin (who isn't here anymore) wormed their way into our hearts. Thank you for all those many visits we had with you and choosing Ed as your patient!

Theresa, from Iowa, was there the first day in the hospital and the last day in the clinic! Thanks.

Jodi, and Sam it's been a joy to get to know you. Thanks for all you do.

Chaplain Hal, you're pretty wonderful. You and Ed hit it off, and I really treasured your time with him and with us. Cancer is a spiritual battle as well as a physical one, and I do believe the spiritual battle must be won to take on the physical one. You play a vital role.

All of you here, I mention all of you, because anytime we saw your faces you were an encouragement to all of us. Thank you.

Dr. Bostrum, thank you for being Norwegian and for dressing up like Thor. It's nice to have some solid Scandinavian humor around here, especially for those of us who grew up on it.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

And this is "thanks," not good-bye!

Bruised

I had a rough day yesterday.

I felt horrible, coughed and had a stuffed up head. Headache, sore throat.

I had an hour long conversation with a friend who is a universalist. We've "fought" for 40 years, and he's closer than a brother to me, but when we get into arguing it can get ugly. Don't worry, we ended with a big hug---but I felt bruised afterward.

I had a discussion with two people about the Rapture of the church online. I find it interesting that the argument "that's not Scriptural" can be tossed around even after pointing out specific scriptures to refute the argument!

*sigh*

I understand why people don't even try to convince other people of their convictions.

I KNOW THIS. But I am an evangelist type, and the preaching of conviction, the preaching of the Gospel, the preaching of the truth I perceive----

So I take the hits.

I'm getting a lot of blog hits from Italy lately. Ed joked that the Pope is reading my blog.

That would be something...

We are at war, and the battle grows wearying.

This is a weekend of music. My husband still sings with the Northern Lights Chorale and they are having a concert today and tomorrow. I'm planning on going to both, but I'll sit near the back so I can leave to cough.

You can't imagine how annoying even a single cough can be in a choral moment. I know this.

My choir, new for me, but actually one of the oldest community choirs in the area, has its concert on the 10th of December. I'm glad to be a part of a choir, but this is a totally different experience than being with the Northern Lights Chorale.

It's a much older choir. The sound is not as pure. The director knows this, and he picks music that suits the sound, but I miss that pure Lutheran college choir tone.

Changes.

My son has accused me of changing over the years, my friend accused me of changing over the years. I have changed. They apparently grieve the loss of who I was---but I don't.

I'm a living, changing creature and God is good. My change has been to grow closer to God, trust in Him more, see His ultimate plan working out, and shine for Jesus.

I'm a bruised, battered, imperfect, sinful, ugly failure on so many counts, but I'm changing. I'm growing toward Christ.

Spend time in the Word today. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, comfort you, heal you, teach you. That's what I'm going to do.

Thanks for your prayers!

Jonah Goldberg

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/16/fact-check-jonah-goldberg-proves-hes-clueless-on-clintons-and-the-russian-uranium-deal/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

For Reference

http://www.dailywire.com/news/23599/watch-shep-smith-destroys-uranium-one-scandal-ben-shapiro

Fascinating:

https://youtu.be/sAoUEfBtwDM

Why Do Bible Believers Like Donald Trump?

https://youtu.be/UzfBGS6ZH50

Helpful Sources

Do you have issues with translations of Scripture?
The film by John Rhys Davies about the KJV is really good.

I'd recommend it. There are several preachers out there that are KJV only folk. I'm gravitating toward their camp. The more you learn, the more reason to do so.

Look up Christian J. Pinto of Adullam Films. His research is noteworthy.

Check out LA Marzulli. What a sweet and humble spirit, looking for Christ's return! Also, a watchman.

Ken Ham's newly re-released book "The Lie," is a wonderful "argument" against secular humanism and evolution.


Check out your theology. Theology is important, but are you getting a balanced diet? In which camp do you stake your tent? Do you care? You should.

Theology matters. Doctrine matters. You are first of all accountable to God for your decision to follow Christ. After that you must seek a Bible believing fellowship to belong to.

Do not forsake the gathering of the saints.

Don't just follow a herd. Be an active and questioning member.

Don't follow personalities. This NEVER ends well. People, men, are sinners. Whether it's John MacArthur, John Piper, RC Sproul, Joel Osteen, Mac Hammond, Joyce Meyers, Kay Arthur, ----You recognize the name?  Don't follow.


People disappoint.

There are skeletons in everyone's closets.

There are mistakes, false emphasis, outright heresies! Don't get sucked in. Stake your tent, pitch your tent on God's Word.


Stop calling names and stop accusing! JUST PREACH CHRIST, and Him crucified, resurrected! Be prepared with a good answer for questioners. Be like the Apostle Paul. Study to show yourself approved unto God!

The Holy Spirit will give wisdom and help.

Test the spirits. The Bible tells you to do this, so do it!

Perhaps we live in a world that advocates a denial of the supernatural, but a majority of us humans have actually experienced the supernatural, therefore we know it exists.

You cannot prove it to those who refuse to believe or chalk it up to nerves or drugs....hallucinations....but that doesn't stop us from going forward in our faith walk.

We know. We believe. We may have doubts, but that is all the better! We learn of Him with a steady diet of reading Scripture, OLD and NEW Testaments. We take it to the Word.

Check out a Systematic Theology----Ryrie's is very readable. Grudem's is good.

Read a Bible Story Book, like Hurlbet's, or Voss. These scholars have helped the reader understand the overlapping stories in the New Testament in particular. Very helpful.

Spend time with the LORD in prayer. Trust Him to work out ALL DETAILS whatever happens.

He does. All things work together for good, according to those who believe.

Trust Him with your time, your body, your work, your abilities. He made you, He loves you, He is using you in His vast plan. You belong to Him and He cares. He has your days numbered, and He is watching everything you do. He knows your every thought.

AND HE LOVES YOU ANYWAY!

Don't grieve Him. Believe Him. Love Him. Serve Him.
Watch for Him.

Our Duty

We believers stand accountable to God alone. We have alliances on earth that we honor, but the final commitment is to God and what matters to Him is our main focus, our main reason.

Is Jesus coming soon?

Well, I hope so.

There is a sense that every man in any position ever has committed unspeakable acts against helpless victims.

Is that true?

Is anyone innocent?



This is the age of fake news. We are easily discouraged by what we hear, what we believe.


I look at this time as a gift. There is NOTHING on this earth that you can trust but the written word of God. God affirms His Word himself.

Our society has completely abandoned any semblance of morality in light of Judeo-Christian values. We are in the borderlands of anarchy.

Secular Humanism is in control. Atheism is the acceptable creed of the government, school systems, and the media.

But not for long.


Even IF Jesus tarries we know the inevitable end comes.

Morals go down the toilet. God is mocked. Believers are accused falsely (?) and mocked. Debunked.

We are completely aware of our sin, our failures, but we know a God who forgives, and loves.

More now than ever we cling to His Word, his promises, our blessed hope-----the Rapture of the church.


Is there oil in your lamp? Are you filled with the Spirit? Have you repented from all of your sin? Are you living for Jesus? Do you believe?

Have you been baptised?

It's time. Get right with Jesus. Clean up your act.

Jesus saves, but you have the responsibility to obey Him. He alone knows your spiritual status, you alone know if you believe and have repented of sin.

Go and sin no more.

Don't marry against God's commands! Don't allow lust to reign in your flesh. Don't, don't, Don't.

Stop justifying sin in your life and repent.


There may be little time before you lose your head, die peacefully, or watch the children of God disappear from the earth.

I fully expect to see Jesus soon. I anticipate that meeting daily.

Maranatha. Time is short. It has been for 2,000 years, and the USA is another blip in the passage of history. Things are out of control and we know it.

Our duty is to keep our focus on the chart of God's Word and weather this latest storm.

Hold fast.

I'd Rather, he said:

http://nypost.com/2017/11/13/gop-senator-id-rather-see-a-democrat-win-than-roy-moore/

Much Going On

There was a report that WWIII almost started three times last week.

At our prophecy study on Sunday evening there was talk of all of the happenings across the world---Saudi Arabia, Asia, Russia---Trump in Asia. It seems as if everything is on tenterhooks.

The church is full of issues, too. Christians are good at airing their dirty laundry. So are political conservatives. It seems that leftists deftly slide their garbage under the rug and pretend nothing happened.

Roy Moore. What to believe? We are in the throes of fake news stories, and these stories are coming from all sides. Even well-meaning believers can pass on fake stories in good faith. I've done it. I'm guilty.

It makes us all unsure, tentative, and unconfident.

But what a wonderful time to wholly cast ourselves on the authority of Scripture!

If Roy Moore and Harvey Weinstein are sexual perverts we are little affected. Bill Clinton and all of his sexual exploits mean little. The televangelists and their shenanigans are nothing.

We are all affected by sexual immorality, though, and it is rampant. Rampant.

We do live in a degenerate age.

People are fornicating, committing adultery, having abortions, murdering, lying, stealing, disrespecting parents and God Himself.

Our age is full of idolatry, making God into our own image, casting away the things that disturb us, creating a being that does not exist, yet our finite minds persist in the prideful exercise of God-conjuring.

When you don't have an authority (the Bible) you have nothing.

I watched a little clip from a movie I think. It had Alec Baldwin mocking Christians for disobeying the Bible by touching a pig skin, eating shellfish, and wearing clothing that was against Mosaic ceremonial law. He mocked the stoning that was called for in the Old Testament.

Taking things from Scripture and twisting their significance is an old trick that Satan has mastered. As spirit-filled believers we know better. We know the context of ceremonial law, Christ's sacrifice to pay for the sins of breaking God's law, and our efforts to please God as believers in this world----in the world and not of the world.

The law stands. It is not nullified. Christ gave Himself to satisfy the law, blood shed on the cross for our sin.

Satan loves to trip us up.

We know that God declares us clean. We remember Peter's dream and we know that Gentiles are also included in the saving grace of God.

It's getting dark out there!

I'm glad for the inner light that comes from reading God's Word daily.

I don't know how anyone gets through the day without His promises.

It's beyond me.


I've been managing a cold this past week and a half. I think I relapsed. Not working the Deli, and I don't want to be Typhoid Mary.  I am at school this week, but I'm keeping my distance from the kids, floating through the assignments.

Thanksgiving next week, and I've pulled the significant cookbooks from the shelves to plan the holiday feasts.

Tonight we are going to see the "Genesis" movie. I've been interestedly watching the development of this film for about five years now, so I'm excited to see it tonight.

Genesis is true. It's history.

And that is faith, believing that God revealed Himself through creation and His Word, and then taking Him at His word.

That's the part that messes some people up. They just cannot bring themselves to let God Define Himself.

They always have a better idea about who God should be.

As if.

There's a lot going on. It's so freeing to rest in the knowledge that God has it completely under control. All of it.

Must Read:

https://amgreatness.com/2017/11/09/nevertrump-makes-a-left-turn/

Cult

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/howie_carr/2017/11/carr_donald_trump_hate_is_a_cult

Must Reading

http://interactive.nydailynews.com/2016/11/op-ed-case-against-hillary-clinton/

Jesus said:

Illinois; Leftist Fruit

http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/illinois-learns-what-happens-when-you-let-democrats-control-the-pursestrings?utm_source=FBLC&utm_medium=FB&utm_campaign=LC

Marxism

http://walterewilliams.com/what-do-leftists-celebrate/

Remember???

http://lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=927111

Deep State Stuff ala Lester Brown

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/02/prince-william-warns-many-people-world/

The Leftist NPR Mess

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/544808/#ampshare=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/11/whats-happening-at-npr/544808/

Bucking the System

http://fullmeasure.news/news/cover-story/bucking-the-system

Time, Times, and Half Time

I'm home today.

Yesterday I fell down the stairs at the Middle School, right as kids were coming in from the bus. I knew I'd hurt my foot, but since I had tight boots on I made it through the day, hobbling around.

The kids were sweet, sympathetic! I was teaching English for the fifth grade.

The doctor says I sprained my foot, and I am so grateful it isn't broken! Today I can take it easy, and there was much healing during the night. I can get around with an ace bandage.

You never know what a day will bring, do you?

But God knows! How comforting.

This time it wasn't serious.

Today I get time to catch up on the Times. I miss having the time to read articles on the internet. I'm a news junkie to a point. Since I didn't log onto Facebook this week until this morning I missed out on some interesting news.

That's okay.

But these Times are surely fascinating. Prophecy watchers are ALWAYS interpreting the news in light of the prophesied events, and we cannot deny the significance of the Trump administration, the global issues, the natural disasters.

Even dyed-in-the-wool pagans are predicting things the Bible predicted! Mass extinctions, dire conditions.

It's coming, and it's time to get in the ark of salvation. It's the ONLY hope.

My husband celebrated a birthday this week. I had to calculate his age. I've become accustomed to our regular occurrence of birthdays, and forget the exact one now.

This weekend we celebrate a month of marriage weeks. Or a month of marriage years! Four times seven. Twenty-eight. We've stuck it out, through thick and thin!

It's an anniversary worth celebrating!

Sevens figure prominently in Scripture. We are looking ahead to a Bridal feast that will last a "week"----most interpret that as seven years, not days. "Yom" isn't used here, the Hebrew word for "day."

Humans have their earth-rotated days as symbols of times in eternity. A week of years is a tiny fraction of our eternal existence.

This week corresponds to the time of tribulation that falls on Yahweh's bride here on earth. But there is hope. They will come to salvation! Everyone who is of Israel will be saved! All, says the Word. Hard times, but hope for the end.

They will recognize their Messiah, they will look on Him and grieve. (Isaiah)

Jewish people need to repent and ask Jesus to be their savior to be saved eternally, but they do have that prediction that in the Tribulation they WILL do that. They will see Jesus and they will believe. That's prophecy.

Those of the "Replacement Theology" mindset don't believe in Scripture, and they preach that the church has completely replaced Israel. They "interpret" all the Scriptures mentioning Israel as referring to the church.

There has been controversy about Martin Luther and his anti-semitic views. He read Scripture, saw the prophecies concerning Israel, believed them, became frustrated that the Jews he knew weren't "getting on with things!"  Angered, he decried their lack of understanding and published some very nasty things.

He had a problem with anger, apparently. He had a problem with alcohol. He had problems. He was an imperfect human.

But he sure got a lot right! Abandoning the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church for the truth of Scripture was pivotal and world-changing.

When we forget the plain reading of Scripture, with the knowledge of cultural context, we find ourselves in murky waters. Each and everyone of us should be looking for Christ's return for HIS bride, the church (distinction here, from Yahweh's bride----Israel) and that has been the case for 2,000 years. We all want Him to come and get us!

And we are watching and waiting.

The Bible says that half way through the Tribulation period there will be an abomination set in the temple by the Antichrist. This is the Half Time I mentioned. We can be confident that we will not see that event because we believers will be with the bridegroom celebrating our bridal week in heaven!

We can be confident that we will be with Christ because He is returning with his BRIDE at the second coming! We will all return to earth on white horses and reign with Christ for 1,000 years.


So get ready. Have oil (the Holy Spirit) in your lamps. The shout is about to be heard, and the bridegroom is about to come to take us to His mansion.

How exciting. How romantic.

I love a love story. It's time to be watching, and the time is ripe.
Believe today.

Victor Davis Hanson

http://amp.nationalreview.com/article/453245/liberal-insurance-supporting-progressive-causes-absolution-moral-wrongs?utm_source=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_medium=PANTHEON_STRIPPED

The Left Unhinged

http://mobile.wnd.com/2017/10/that-other-plot-to-bring-down-trump/

Feldman, the clarity:

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/10/implausible_deniability.html

Steyn, the inimitable:

https://www.steynonline.com/8218/how-to-steele-an-election

The Purpose For the Tribulation

http://www.raptureready.com/2017/10/25/the-purpose-for-the-tribulation/

Charges---clever comments on this:

http://lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=926539

Fascinating Week for Trump Haters

 I wonder if Blogger will publish this post because I used the H word.

I generally try not to use profanity. I believe it is a demonic force. People under its power can't speak a sentence without using some expletive, and I try to muzzle my mouth---and my thoughts so I never give in to that demon.

I do think there is a demon behind every corner, every tree. There are a lot of them, but God's warriors, His angels, are out there protecting me from their power at all times.

Really.

The supernatural world is real.

My hat's off to Disney for their "minion" characters. Demons are oft referred to as minions, and they are legion. Disney knows this. They are cute in the movies, but they are anything but cute in reality. I'm glad Disney calls attention to their ubiquitous presence.


I use the word "hate" carefully. Hate can be a trigger word these days. I do remember "Bush Derangement Syndrome" from 8 years ago.

I had a form of Obama derangement syndrome. I admit it. I survived those eight years he was in power.

I'm seeing "Trump Derangement Syndrome" in ways that BDS never manifested.

I was having a nice dinner with someone this past summer. She asked me who I voted for, and I said "Not Hillary."

She rose from the table, let out an expletive, and ran to the bathroom!

Her son said, "Why does she always do that??!!"

That's TDS.


Now that Hillary Clinton is bound for jail, (the Russia thing) I wonder what these Hillary supporters are really thinking.

Expletives?

Probably.

I'm not stupid.


As someone who TRIES to please Christ I want to show love to these people. I need to hold MY tongue, and NOT give in to expletives, ever.

I can't stop other people from using them, but I can hold my tongue.

I can't force my convictions on anyone, but I can live them. I can prove that following Christ is the best possible way to navigate this short life.


Politics come and go. Crime happens. People swear and use foul language. It's all a part of our world. What is important is staying true to the One who really matters, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Ezra Klein Doesn't Like Conservatives

News flash, right?

Last night I heard him rant against conservative YouTubers.

He accuses everyone of fascism and bigotry. He calls everyone "alt-right" and White Supremicists.

He is a liberal writer for the Huffington Post, and his accusations, completely unfounded, are ridiculous.

He is lying.

If there were not the alternative media we'd all be brainwashed by NPR, FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC.

But we have other sources of news now, and we are happy to be able to learn from them.

I actually think the BBC is more balanced than any American mainstream source.

As Michael Snyder pointed out this week in his excellent article, the media is owned by a very elite group. He fingered the media parent groups and their bias.

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/how-the-elite-dominate-the-world-part-3-90-of-what-you-watch-on-television-is-controlled-by-just-6-giant-corporations

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/10-things-about-the-u-s-news-media-that-they-do-not-want-you-to-know

It's good to have balance, people.

Listen with discernment. Check out the bias of the writer.

I'm up front with my biases. You've been warned.

If you are only listening to any of the above mentioned news sources you are getting fed a party line.
Be thankful for free speech and our rights here in this country.

http://www.lucianne.com/

	Hillary implicated in Russia probe  It's all coming together in one great sticky ball.
	The Comey Conundrum  A man with two faces...or three or four.
	Let the Russian-crimes whistleblower testify  Whistleblower is lawyered up and anxious. Let's roll.
	Mandalay Bay owner insisted security guard Jesus Campos appear Only on Ellen and not be grilled by TV hardhitters fearing his answers to timeline questions*  An attempted cover-up that's just getting started.
	Dem Rep On Weinstein: It’s The Responsibility Of The Female Not To Behave In A Way That’s “Inviting”  Sure. It all began with a cave girl's tiger skin being too short.
	Reporter Produces Witnesses to Back Up Claim New York Times Killed 2004 Weinstein Exposé  Brave reporter located Weinstein's procurer years ago.

Leftist Fascism | Dinesh D'Souza and Stefan Molyneux

Conspiracy, Again

As you know, by now, I am a total conspiracy theorist.

I believe Lucifer is the grand Conspirator, the evil one, and he is constantly scheming to beat God.

God, who also could be and has been labeled the "Grand Conspirator," has his plan that is marching on daily, new events He prophesied in Scripture being fulfilled at a record pace.

God is LOVE.

---And He is just. The punishment comes.

That said, I am always amazed by the blind optimism of the human race.

I, too, am a person of hope. I have the blessed hope of Christ's return for me.

I have zero hope in this world. I can't wait to see Jesus' face!

Today, as a reader of current events, I am not exactly surprised that there is not a single mention in the MAINSTREAM MEDIA of Project Veritas' new undercover videos, conversations revealing incredible bias and dirty tricks within the staff of the New York Times----the "Old Gray Lady."

We all know the NYT is liberal. It's heinously so.

Next up, the BBC is talking about Trump's conversation with a war widow and how despicable it was. So says a liberal Democrat Congresswoman.

A general who has also lost his son to war listened to the Trump side of the conversation and he found nothing amiss with Donald's condolences to the widow.

It's all perspective. The BBC says this will "ruin" Trump. It's only one side of the story, but their blind hate of a person colors everything for them. It's a conspiracy to report the side of the story unflattering to Trump.

I am no fan of Trump, but I certainly see the bias against him. I think he is the person in power for this crazy time of the end. God put him there, clearly, and though I do not respect him I can see how things are working out.

And what about the uranium deal the Clintons had with Russia?

Crickets.

There is this sense of personal high ground in most liberals----in all of us. We all think we have the moral high ground, right?

Unless we realize that we are dirty sinners, all of us have the seeds of a Harvey Weinstein in us. Look back----you stole something once, at least, right? You've lied. You've cheated. You've thought lustful things and you've hated.

Adultery and murder, says God.

You are guilty.

You badly need Jesus!

How can you navigate the wiles of the devil, the Conspiracy Mogul, without the moral foundation of God's Word?

It's impossible, and you know it, deep down in your heart.

There is freedom in Christ. You can place your trust in Him, believing He shed His blood on the cross for your sins. You can receive Him into your heart by asking forgiveness for your sins and turning away from them.

Oh, you'll sin again. That's a given. The Apostle Paul talked about the sins he continued to struggle with, the things that he was not freed from in this body. He's so right. We all have our struggles. But we are free from the deathly punishment that is coming for sin.

We have hope.

Eyes wide open, my friends. The Devil is a player, and he's cunning, wise, and very attractive. He's happy to have you believe the Bible is a myth, a fairy story.

If you believe that you are right in his palm.

The Rationalists have no concept of the supernatural. They keep their heads in the sand regarding anything beyond their own five senses. They have not been born again spiritually, able to sense the unseen realm that permeates our existence.

And they won't. They are blind. They refuse to see.


If you want to know Christ, ask. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Take out your Bible, and read it with the mindset that you are OPEN to His presence, His forgiveness, His love.

Start in the book of John. It's so succinct.

The Bible is the most amazing book ever.  Those of us who know it, read it daily, study it, hear it, fellowship around it, are aware of this! We are satisfied.

Knowing the Truth is always helpful in navigating this life journey we are on. I'm so thankful for my salvation in Jesus Christ.

God is so good to me.

Open your heart. Trust Him.

You have all of eternity to thank Him for saving you.

The Grand Scheme plays out, and you want to be on the side of Truth.

You Need to Be Aware

https://breaking.projectveritas.com/NYTimes4.html

Interesting Research

http://www.thenazareneway.com/likeness_of_our_saviour.htm

For This Halloween

https://youtu.be/wqx8JKyJeDI

And, No, Trump and Mussolini aren't Alike (Because the Marxists would like you to think so!)

https://amgreatness.com/2017/10/15/yes-trump-is-winning/

I Should be Planting Tulip Bulbs

Every morning when I get in the car to head for school I sing my "Maranatha" song. I feel so acutely that Jesus is coming soon, and I've been watching for decades.

The world is plumb crazy.

Harvey Weinstein, hurricanes, earth tremors, Trump hate, Hollywood garbage, Sex, Crime, Conspiracy, Disease, Mayhem.

It's all there.

As believers we are the most stable of stable. We knew this was coming, we are ready for it. We are the stability in this mad, mad world.

Like I said, I should be planting tulip bulbs, in hope of a springtime appearance of pink flowers. I wonder if spring will come this year.

I wonder.

Can this world keep on this track of sorrow?

My liberal friends are moaning and groaning. They think Trump is the reason for every evil.

What a burden for a man to bear! I wonder how he does it.

I watched the Project Veritas clips from the New York Times. There is a terrible bias against Trump, but even more against Mike Pence---who from all accounts is just a decent guy.

Something stinks.

Maybe Pence is evil. Maybe he is the devil incarnate, masquerading as an evangelical Christian.

Oh, wait! The liberal mind thinks that EVANGELICALS are the devil incarnate.


We're getting used to it. Lucifer laughs. He loves calling wrong right and right, wrong.

There is this "Me Too" campaign running on social media. I can't imaging there is a girl on this earth that hasn't experienced some type of harassment, or what could be termed that. There are those who have been raped, gutted, and beheaded, too. I believe that we all suffer from the sinful nature that pervades this earth.

However, the perps are probably far fewer than the male population as a whole. One perpetrator can do a lot of damage. I'm afraid for my sons, strong, upright young men, as far as I know, and what the World of the Female is accusing the masculine world of right now is frightening.

Sexual harassment is experienced far and wide. It's sin. Not every man has experienced it like most women have. That's a given. It's good to finger it, to stop it. Unfortunately the blame is laid at the feet of the innocent sometimes.

There are more than one of the Harvey Weinstein type.


The only way to make sense of it is to call it sin, and deal with it like one deals with sin.

Our compass is Scripture, and if it isn't your compass you have very little to stand on.

I spent two days listening to Dr. Tommy Mitchell MD from the Answers in Genesis ministry. His first message was on the authority of the Bible and that is where we all must begin.

If you don't stand on Scripture you don't have much to stand on, do you?

Scripture identifies sin, so if you have sin in your heart the Word of God is extremely unattractive.

BUT, if you want the answers to everything, and a hope for eternity, freedom from sin, power to face each day----The Bible has it all for you.

And it is the only thing that has the answers from the One who made you.

There is that sin above all others that seems to block even the best, the "goodest," among us. PRIDE.

It got Lucifer, and it's getting most of the human population, born in sin, born condemned already.

God, the judge, hates pride.

If you struggle with pride, and the ideas that you know more than God's Word, you have a huge problem. You have more to overcome than the vilest rapist. You think you are right, and you aren't, and you will end up with the same end as that criminal.

Because sin is sin, and God's rules are that it is forgiven only by Christ's shed blood on the cross. Jesus did it, for you.

So, I will go plant tulips. I hope I don't see them in the spring---I hope that the LORD JESUS comes to get us before then.

But we must live the appointed days.

Watch Therefore

https://youtu.be/brxxVZij7Jk

Some Corgi Hollows Scenes

From the Ends of the Earth

From the depths of the sea,
Throughout all the ages---
Your Name be praised, LORD!

I have a rejoicing heart today. My son was deployed in Afghanistan and he is finished with that deployment and back home with his dear family in the USA.

The months of heartfelt prayers for a "hedge of protection" around him are through. I will still pray for him daily, but the risks are so much less.

He travelled back to his base, so we haven't seen him, nor will we for awhile, but knowing he's no longer on the front lines is a blessing.

May God be praised!

As I think of how He has brought Ed back from the brink of death, and on a long, three year + journey of chemotherapy ---and been faithful to all of us! ---I can only give praise to the Creator of the Universe, who cares so infinitely for each one of us.

He is a joy to serve---even to the end. Think of the beheaded Christians in the Middle East. Great is their reward.

We live for the next life. Satan has perverted that dear hope through countless other religions, but we know the truth because it is written in the Word of God.

I'm a reader. I love to read. I always peruse the Goodwill book area, second-hand stores, used book stores, home-school sales for interesting, valuable, or unusual books. I find books that I want to give to all my children. I find them for friends and other relatives.

Yesterday we stopped for a quick look. I found a classic book on edible plants from North America. Not corn or soy! I paged through it and felt instantly smarter.

I found a famous (to me) book about prayer by Evelyn Christiansen---"What Happens When Women Pray?" which is full of practical truth. I'm going to give it away.

I got a book by John Stott, famous English pastor. It's about the Bible and its context. Very interesting chapters in the beginning, complete with maps. It's a little paperback book, but full of content.

I picked up a scholarly tome about Thomas Aquinas, and I got "The Return of the Black Stallion."

All for less than $5.

John Stott was a pastor who believed the Bible, but not everything in it. He was a scholar, very eloquent. He had everything mostly right----

But I think not everything. I am leaning more and more on Scripture as I age, and its authority. If you don't have an authority in your life, are you relying on your own brain?

I saw a shock claim yesterday about Alzheimer's meds being delivered to the houses of Congress in Washington D.C. Probably fake news, right?

We're all skeptics now.

I increasingly rely more and more on Scripture, and I'm thankful for the distinguished scholars and scientists who share my views on Scripture and who see all evidence pointing toward its truth.

You need to watch "Is Genesis History?"

It's really good. But there are dozens of DVDs and books that lay out wonderful evidence for the truth of God's Word regarding the scientific record. I've been reading them for years now, and I can honestly say that I see the Bible as my only authority.

Only.

It's the most reliable authority, gift from God, in this existence.

God says that it is His Word, and if it isn't He's a big liar.

God doesn't lie.


"In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!"

There are so many Scriptures about the WORD and its authority.

I know there are some of you out there that think I'm a kook. A crazy. A lunatic.
I believe in an ancient book with ancient laws---
That qualifies me for insanity.

But I'm not crazy. I have incredible kids, a husband who is a genius (yes, he is, MENSA could come calling here!) I have and hold two different jobs and I teach all subjects, all grade levels. I understand mental illness like many don't. I have the knowledge of how to manage it, even. I live in a Minnesota paradise and my house is clean and I cook balanced meals.

I'm not bragging. I'm proving that I'm not crazy.

It is by the GRACE OF GOD that I exist and manage this life, and I am fully aware that everything can come crashing down in a heartbeat. My trust is not in the economy, nor money, nor my employers---
My trust is certainly not in the government nor the powers that tweak the media and the Federal Reserve!

If you have false trust in any of these things you need to realign your values. NOW!

You exist by the grace of God, and He sustains you. That sickening word "sustainable" has been copped by the millennials to mean that they have some sort of control over their future.

They don't. Only God sustains.

You can be a good steward of your responsibilities----That is a command of Christ! But you have no control over anything else.

Look at Santa Rosa, CA. It disappeared with six minutes' warning.

Your life is a thread. It hangs in a cosmic balance.

You can trust one thing, and one thing alone, GOD THE CREATOR.

So I'm not a kook. I've read philosophy. I've been educated. I teach the theory of everything.

I've found the ONE THING trustworthy----

Your Creator.

Worth Reading:

https://isgenesishistory.com/biologos-needs-geological-linebackers/

Don't Miss

https://youtu.be/bRdxyVkzwbM

Straight from the horse's mouth:

https://breaking.projectveritas.com/NYTimes1.html

Never Trust a Liberal. Never.

https://prepforthat.com/liberals-suddenly-expose-harvey-weinstein/

More Thoughts Later

http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/former-satanist-is-shocked-parents-allow-kids-to-celebrate-halloween.html

Start at 15:30, then watch the rest...

https://youtu.be/dxmWbiYMNSI

We Are in Unprecedented Times

The nation grieves today. So many lives lost---

And we can only speculate why.

Guns? There are many gun laws in effect already. Lawbreakers still misuse them.
Taking away the self defense of a people is a principle of Communism and Fascism. When there is no opposition one is forced into the bondage of the dictator.

To oppose the Second Amendment is to embrace Marxist philosophy.

Antifa? I've heard comments about the shooter's anti-Trump views.

Radical Islam? Isis supposedly claims he converted to Islam recently.

Mental illness? His father was a certified psychopath. How did he maintain "normalcy" for so many years with no one suspecting?

How about Luciferian influences? I concede that this conspiracy of the evil one makes the most sense to me today. Check out Russ Dizdar on Google. He has a presentation about the Black Awakening. It's worth being informed about. It stems back from the mind control experiments documented after the second world war. Sounds crazy, but remember who we are up against: the spirits of darkness.

They do not have limitless power, but they do have power.

Only by the blood of Jesus Christ are we immune to the fiery darts of the wicked one.


As I write this I reflect on all the various ideas put forth today. Each one makes some sense.

But we really don't know what happened yet. Perhaps we will never know. I do know that we are in perilous times, and our faith is under full attack by the enemy.

When we come up with a spiritual reason for the debauchery in the land we are considered kooky. Leftovers from the Bronze Age. (I was basically called that today :))

Are we willing to be maligned for standing for Biblical truth?
We'd better be. It's here. We're under attack.

Nothing sharpens your defenses as an attack (if you survive!). It's time to get into the Word of God and apply it, the Sword of Truth.

Above all, love. Preach the Gospel.

Snatch ones from the fire. Jude. Read it tonight. It's the book for the times before the end times.

As in, right now.

Love,

The Swamp

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/nearly-400-children-rescued-348-adults-arrested-canadian-child-pornography-f2D11599561

The Lie

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/09/25/dinesh-dsousza-colin-kaepernicks-big-lie.html

Powerful

https://youtu.be/dfOhzl4-jbM

Poverty to Prosperity

https://home.isi.org/path-poverty-prosperity

Special Message from Don Perkins “Abuse in Bible Prophecy in the Last Days”

Entreat Me Not to Leave You - Dan Forrest

Wading Into the Deep

There is a heaviness in the atmosphere, and it's not the rain and gray clouds that are overhead.

Anyone who has access to media knows that football took center stage----over Israel, Syria, the Kurds, radical Islamic terrorism at a church in Tennessee, the earthquakes, the fires, the hurricanes---

Upside down, crazy, dark sadness.

We had a full weekend, and it was marvelous in our own little world at Corgi Hollows. Friends, family, birthday celebrations, church, good food (a wonderful Thai place in Maple Grove) cupcakes, cake, cake cake. We had the prophecy study, a boost to the spirit. I listened to Jan Markell and Michelle Bachmann's fascinating conversation on "Understanding the Times."

We live in our quiet joy.

But outside there is confusion.

You get on a slippery slope away from God's Moral Law and you have trouble finding footing again.

It literally takes a conversion to gain a firm foundation.

A word about the National Anthem nonsense: (I could go on!) As Sarah Huckabee said so succinctly, there is nothing wrong about defending the National Anthem, nor the pledge of Allegiance. I have my issues with the pledge, but the Anthem (as Garrison Keillor said recently) elicits feelings of gratefulness and warmth for the sacrifices made that we Americans all can live our lives in relative luxury compared to the rest of the entire world.

Should racism be acceptable? God forbid. I don't believe in race. The presence of melanin in skin should have zero consequence.

Cops should always arrest people for doing bad things, not because of who they are.

Come on, people, racism has recently blossomed because of Barack Obama. He became the spotlighter for something that had become passe. He reignited it, and Trump, who one must admit is no paragon, is hardly a racist. Accuse him all you want----his actions speak louder than his words.

I know Donald Trump is the second judgment on our nation----his debauchery (and I do believe in repentance and conversion!) follows him and his beautiful wife.

Your past will follow you, so watch your reputation, people. Have you been perverse? Homosexual? Gluttonous? Prideful? Lustful? Have you lied? Have you been greedy or envious?

Have you sinned? Watch out. Your reputation may never recover, as Donald Trump's hasn't.

He could have been anointed by Jesus Himself, right in front of you. Nothing will change the perception of Trump.

Sorry, folks. YOUR reputation matters.

There is one person I can think of who seems to have overcome her sordid past. Rosaria Butterfield.

She was a lesbian professor of women's studies at an eastern university. She became a Christian----total conversion. She renounced her homosexuality, and she is truly living for the LORD now.

I think people realize her change, her complete repentance. It's real.


Then there are those that continue to justify their sin before God. Revel in it. Deny His moral law. That is their choice, and we all live with that.

I'd love to believe that gluttony isn't a sin, and I could eat all the delicious cake I desire to. I'd like that kind of dispensation, too. But denying God's moral law is death to the soul.

You will go to hell if you believe you can be an unrepentant sinner and get to heaven.

So WAKE UP! Leave your homosexual life, your gluttony----whatever your sin is! Don't condone it. Don't excuse it. Don't go that path. It is the path of death.

Every single one of us struggles with human nature, sinful, fallen. I was born with it. You were born with it! That doesn't excuse it!

Jesus died for that reason! Don't call good evil, and evil good.

Don't try to twist Scripture into saying something it doesn't. God doesn't change. He is the same yesterday, today, forever.

Repent.

Join the path of love and light. Join the path of forgiveness and spiritual power. Convert. See Jesus as He is----the LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS, able to forgive, able to help, your advocate in heaven against eternal judgment.

And don't say sin is okay. It's not.


My friend who has cancer is deteriorating. It's hard for me to believe how quickly it's progressing. I'm sad today.

I know that should the next chemo treatment they are going to try doesn't work she will be with the Lord very soon. Her dad passed away a few weeks ago. We never imagined she might follow so soon.

Please pray for her. Pray for her pain, which is significant. Pray for peace as she faces the great divide between life on earth and eternity. She knows where she is going, but the process is hard.

Pray for the Rapture of the Church. Even so, Come LORD JESUS!
Maranatha!

Testimony

https://worldtruth.tv/lady-gaga-i-regret-selling-my-soul-to-illuminati-dark-forces/

Sound familiar?...heard this a few times:

I know many sincere Christians who do not recognize the signs of the times because people have talked about Jesus’ soon return for so long and nothing has happened. They point to World War II and how bad things looked then, but we recovered from that. “Things may look bad now,” they say, “but history has a way of correcting the extremes in society.”

From the following article at Rapture Ready