Forgiveness

I've written about forgiveness before, how it has shaped my life, how I've learned to forgive and the deep effects of being unforgiving.

Recently I learned another lesson.

I was feeling rather thin-skinned lately. I felt I needed to forgive other people more for slights and barbs I felt were directed toward me than they needed to forgive me for my misdeeds toward them.

But then the light bulb went on.

When there is mutual unforgiveness there is disharmony.

If there is a slight, and the slighted one does not forgive, the next thing is that the slighter feels slighted!

Laughable, but true.

Forgiveness is a daily thing. Something horrible, "unforgiveable," may have happened far in the past---10, 15, 20 years ago----and if that isn't TOTALLY forgiven---it will haunt you, especially if it's a family person. (Those people just don't go away! :))

Scars are remembrances of that thing, but only a way to cherish the one who hurt you!

Blessing your "enemy" is really the only way to truly forgive.

Asking forgiveness is the first step, and it is very humbling. But even if it isn't asked, you must forgive.

But what about those people who you hurt, but you never knew you hurt them?

Better find out what the trouble might be. I'm thinking that your need to forgive THEM may bring you a  clue that they need to forgive YOU.

Interesting. Slights and Slighters. Forgivers. Clear the air, and live in peace.

Forgive, and live in forgiveness.

Milestones

This weekend we celebrate Margaret with her grandparents.

We keep our "high school" celebrations quiet, just immediate family, as our whole school experience up until now has been, well, private.

Yet it is an accomplishment, and I couldn't be happier. Allow me to "crow" a little.

My eldest son was awarded a 4 year complete scholarship to a private liberal arts school here in Minnesota. My second son has maintained top grades at the University of Minnesota since he began there.

Margaret has been awarded top scholastic awards at the local community college, and has maintained a top GPA for her entire time there. She is graduating with two years of college under her belt, and will have only two more to complete her B.A. or B.S..

We are so happy, and thankful for how God has blessed them all. Home schooling is really wonderful.

And we are thankful for the two daughters-in-law that will soon be joining the family. Both are finished with college, and they are wonderful.

We'll be celebrating one wedding in August, and one in January.

Military life has its challenges, but it is rewarding and exciting. There is nothing else like it.

Quite frankly I couldn't face it except as a Christian Believer. The uncertainties are too great. Yet, it is a necessary part of our culture, to maintain a strong presence of order. If all goes well in a few years our soldier sons will be finished with active duty and on to other rewarding things.

For now they have a year of college left.

And I just can't help but believe Jesus' return will play a role in our lives before long. I just can't help it!

Look around the world. Look at the GMO poisoning we are experiencing! Look at the skies and how different they are becoming! Look at our government and how it lies to us. Look at the world and see the suffering. Can anyone figure out the economy? (Check out Wilfred Hahn, he's very helpful)  Look at our own lives, and see those who are suffering around us!

Look at how Satan wants to win this war he knows he is going to lose. Look at how he is trying to re-establish his known presence in our world today. Those who don't believe in him will soon see that he is real, or they'll start believing another of his lies: spiritual deception.

We are all soldiers. We are on the winning side, but there is a battle raging, and it's going to get pretty intense.

A Prophetic Manifesto: The Blight of Cultural Christianity

A Prophetic Manifesto: The Blight of Cultural Christianity

French Apple Cake----like Lincoln Del's

    This is an apple cake similar to the one I loved from the Lincoln Del.

I tried many recipes to figure out something similar.

It is also known as "Apple Babka"

Cake:
 1 cup warm water
 1 T. yeast
 5 1/2 cups flour
 1/2 lb. butter
 2/3 cup sugar
 5 eggs
 1 1/2 t. vanilla

Mix as for bread.

Filling:
1 lb. apples (about 3 cups) peeled and chopped
2 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Roll out dough, spread the filling over it and roll it up into a large roll. Place in a greased bundt or tube pan, wrapping the roll around the center of the pan.

Streusel Topping:

3 T. sugar
6 T. flour
3 T. butter

Strew on top of the cake. Let rise for 1 hour or more.

Bake at 350° F for 1 hour.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Scout Woes

By now you've heard the news of the BSA decision to allow openly homosexual boys join scouts. 

Here's my take:

It's only a matter of time before they will bend to protests from the gay community about homosexual leaders.

Churches rightly should back down from sponsorship.
(And this will reduce troops by scores)

Any parent that has children involved always should be present at any scout activity anyway. YOU are responsible for YOUR child, not the Scouts.

When you talk of permitting SIN openly and without censorship, unchecked, you are writing a recipe for disaster.

I truly believe that the Scouts just voted in their death. It's going to be a slow death, but it will end badly.

Being an Eagle Scout will no longer have any "merit."

Our summer plans are sprinkled with Scout obligations. I really have no reason to believe our troop will be affected in any way by this vote. HOWEVER, things change fast. Come fall we will assess the damage to the organization and act accordingly.

This is an ongoing issue.

Sadly, it will lead to changes for us all, whether we like it or not.