Of Note

A few noteworthy things:

"Unbroken" is a must read. I'm hoping that the film does it justice, and the powerful message of Christ's healing is extremely evident as it was in Zamperini's life.

Don't miss Trey Goudy as he addresses Gruber on C-Span. I'm sure you saw links to it today.

Ed's chemo went great today. Thanks for praying!

Our young friend canoeing down the Mississippi is having quite the adventure. That's his story, not mine, but it is amazing. His dad stopped by tonight to visit.

I just placed a large order from Caryl Matrisciana, the lovely Englishwoman who grew up in India, now filmmaker. Her DVD's and books are excellent. Let me know if you want me to lend them to you. Better yet, order from her and give her materials to someone for Christmas.

Another bad crash occurred in a very familiar location for me. Disturbing. Two weeks ago a young man suffered a fatal car crash injury across the street from our driveway. Today a head-on collision occurred in the small town where I grew up. Somehow these events are so jarring, as you experience them, even if you didn't know the victims personally.

I started a new blog featuring some of my art stuff. Click on my profile to find it. It's fun to find time for creativity again.

Thank you for keeping up with us here!

Added 12/10/14: 

From Ray Comfort's Facebook page:

www.livingwaters.com
A new movie is coming out on Christmas Day called “Unbroken.” It’s the true story of Olympian and World War II veteran, Louis Zamperini, who was able to extend forgiveness to his captors because he was a Christian.
Apparently, Hollywood was able to make the whole movie with hardly a mention of the reason for his love--his faith in God.

My friend Steve Sanchez saved me having to endure the movie. He went for review purposes and said, "Saw 'Unbroken.' Needs fixin'. Apart from them using Jesus' name in vain, there is no mention of Him. The only reference to his faith was at the end, and this was only as a footnote."
Shame on any Christian who sits through a movie that uses the precious Name of Jesus as a substitute for a filth word (Steve excluded).
After seeing the nutty "Noah" movie earlier this year (for review purposes) I noticed something that takes place when Hollywood's faith-based films hit the screen:
Bob to Fred: “I went to see that movie that they said was bad. It’s bad. Totally unbiblical.”
Next day. Fred to Bob: “Last night I went to see that movie you said was bad. It’s really bad. Horrible. Unbiblical.”
When we go to movies that pervert scripture, we empower and encourage Hollywood. Money at the box office is a big pat on their godless backs.
After hearing that some friends (who knew the "Noah" movie was horrible) went to see it, I thought, “You’re giving money to Hollywood!” But I didn't have to say anything to them. During the movie there was a large earthquake and they made a hurried mass exodus out of the theater. No kidding.
Speaking of a mass exodus, Hollywood’s "Exodus" comes out on Friday. I will go to see it then give you a review.
If they include forty-foot monsters sucking up the Red Sea so that the children of Israel can pass through it, I will tell you that it’s bad. Really bad. And you can then go and see it so that you can tell your friends it’s bad (the title already annoys me).

Delayed Intensification

Ed starts a new phase of chemotherapy tomorrow morning, bright and early.

Delayed Intensification is, as its name implies, intense. Ed will get a spinal tap and chemo, also meds to help with nausea. We will be at the clinic most of the day.

Yes, hospitalizations are not planned anymore, but our nurse told us that they were likely with the possibility of low counts and a fever from some bug developing. It is flu season, after all. Prayers are requested!

Fever = hospitalization

So, we start this phase, knowing that the next few weeks will be extremely busy.

No, I'm not putting up a Christmas tree. We aren't decorating this year, except for a few items. Jesus was probably born in September anyway. This is certainly the year to acknowledge that!

We will hope to exchange gifts on the 25th, (as the wise men probably arrived in Bethlehem on the 25th!--Check out Rick Larson's Star DVD) and my son's birthday comes this weekend. We have many things to celebrate, but we're keeping it extremely low-key this year.

Being Scandinavian I am always up for a party this time of year! I've raised my kids that way, too.

Partyers!

Swedish Smorgåsbord is part of our family tradition on the 24th of December. All the goodies will be enjoyed then. If that is the only thing we get done this year, that's okay.

There's an article quoting George Mueller that we read this morning. I want to share it, because it has such wonderful wisdom for these times we are living in right now.

Making the Most of your Devotions

As we turn our minds toward Christ this season, we can see an effective way to communicate with Him. I thought it was helpful.

May I make a gift suggestion for every person in your family? A Praying Life

It's on Kindle, too. What a powerful book! Energize your family!

You know, when I get up in the morning I still say "Maranatha!" (Come Lord Jesus!)

Life on earth just isn't all that great. It's so time to go home! But we all must live the appointed days, and in order to get through them, pacing ourselves until Christ changes us in a twinkling of an eye, we must rely on His ideas for living, that is, prayer, feasting on His Word, and trusting Him with each minute of each day. So simple,  so hard.

On Saturday I made pecan rolls. We also gave chocolates to commemorate Nicholas, the old fellow who helped a family of young girls in Turkey back in the 4th century (NOT the "Old Nick!"). The chocolates were mostly consumed by the dogs. Not on purpose. (And yes, they are fine, just a few extra trips outside!) The rolls were enjoyed by all who came to breakfast!

We had the joy of seeing our Chinese "son" who stopped by for supper last evening. It was wonderful to catch up with him. He came as a young freshman to the U of MN nine years ago now! We met through the Chinese American Friendship Association. Our good friends have returned from South Africa, glowing with a spiritual joy. They attended a wonderful Christian conference there last week. They stopped by on their way home from the airport yesterday. We hope to spend next weekend with them again.

Two bridal showers are in the works...which I am hosting for close friends. Exciting times! Margaret has finals this week. My husband just got back from a week in Indianapolis.

A few tea parties and concerts will round out the end of this momentous year. The sing-along "Messiah" is next Sunday at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Minneapolis. We are planning to go...

I hope to make rolls again several times soon. Stop by for coffee and...

 

Free breakfast at Ikea

We ARE in the End Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQdsoTUHSkY&list=TLYyO3ASj-LMc

This is a major "duh" for the watchmen, but sadly we must proclaim it.

There will be older folk who poo-poo the warnings of "The End is Near"----they've heard it all before, in the 20's (stock market), 30's (Hitler), 40's (WWII), 50's (Communism), 60's (Moral Decline), 70's (Vietnam, Abortion), 80's (Cold War), 90's (Socialism), 00's (Islam on the Rise), 10's (Here we ARE!)

You can go back and talk about the Chinese Revolution, the Communist takeover of Russia, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, ---

We can go back as far as we want, and nothing compares to what is happening now:

Unprecedented earthquakes, Israel, space phenomena, Israel, Christian persecution, Israel, demonic activity, Israel, corruption, Israel, immorality, Israel, apostasy, Israel, signs in the heavens (the Gospel in the Stars), Israel, Economic lunacy, Israel.

Political unrest is only ONE sign. We can't base our end-times indicator on politics alone!

Nations will rage...

People, it's time to proclaim the life-giving words of the Bible. That so many will slip into eternal fire for lack of knowing the Truth of Scripture is a travesty.

We must share Christ's Way like never before. Be bold. Talk about things.

I can't wait for that moment, that "twinkling of an eye," when we shall all be changed, and I think it is going to happen real quick here. If we are around next year at this time---December---I'll be flabbergasted.

I read a comment on the inter-webs from a woman my age. She put my thoughts down well----"I've been watching for the Rapture of the church for 40 years. I'm looking for it at every likely moment, but if it doesn't happen then I'll re-set my sights on the next possibility!"

We are watchmen. We ARE supposed to be aware of the times, the seasons, God's whole plan. We don't walk in darkness! We walk in the light of the Truth of Scripture, and Scripture tells us to WATCH! Jesus gives us signs!

We are seeing all the signs now, in multiples. They are happening more frequently, more obviously than ever before. The Last Days are here.

As David Jeremiah said recently, "We've been saying for years 'The End times are coming, now we say that the End Times are HERE!'"

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/understanding-the-times/listen/

Jan Markell's program on Saturday was excellent. Don't miss it.

Pace yourselves, friends. Repent, as Jesus Christ commanded. Clear the sin out of your life in preparation for His return. Jesus paid the price, but we are to walk in light, obeying His commands. If you aren't doing that you can question your salvation, and you should.

Don't walk in darkness.

Look up, your redemption draws nigh.

Those of us who've been watching for years are getting really excited. It's happening, friends! It's happening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WZJqIZdPRI 

Blessings

Time to count blessings: (I haven't done this in awhile!--You know what this means...)

Sunny skies
A warm home
A daughter who knits lovely socks and scarves for the people in her family and her friends
A cheerful son who faces a life-threatening disease. (More on that later)
A husband who gladly supports his family, and has a wonderful job
Minnesota ---the sparkling lights of Minneapolis, the clear air, the fresh snow, the crisp cold. Beautiful.

A really cool car to zip around town in. Yes, it's new, and I love it. My husband and I thought we were being sensible buying a Ford, just a little bigger than our old Focus, since we don't need a 12 passenger van much anymore. He insisted on stick shift (which I prefer, too) and the only car available like that anywhere nearby was ruby red.

I truly have the coolest car around now, hands down. Since I'm on the road so much with Ed it has been a joy---easy to drive, low gas mileage, and safe. It fits in the parking ramp at the hospital, too. I count it a major blessing.

Organ lessons for Ed, which started up again today after 7 months
Fun things to give for this season of remembering Jesus
A plentiful honey harvest
Parents who have excellent health, overall. (What a huge blessing!)

Wonderful friends, caring friends, helpful friends, servant-hearted friends!

A truly Bible-based church fellowship. What a precious group of totally great people!
No goofy seeker-sensitive mumbo jumbo at this church...just straight expository preaching. How refreshing!

(It's what actually works in reaching people who know they are lost, and some who don't know they are lost!)

Fun concerts: the Northern Lights Chorale just finished their fall season, and that was fun. We also went to the Episcopal cathedral of St. Mark's to hear a concert of music by Franz Liszt. Ed loved it. Liszt has never been my favorite, but some of the pieces were really beautiful.

Ed's counts were rather low this past week, so he couldn't continue with chemotherapy or other appointments as we had hoped. We always have good conversation in the car, and on Monday when we were driving I asked him about having the possibility of not getting well, of not beating the cancer, and how he felt about that.

"I'm ready, Mom," he said. Big sigh.

Yes, he is. Thank the LORD.

The nice thing about being a Bible believer is that you never have to rely on your own imaginary hopes about God. It's all there in the word of Scripture, our hope, spelled right out, and solid as rock.

The one who believes in the Bible has a mountain of solid authority to stand on, to face life's worst with.

It's like night and day.

So we are STANDING ON THE PROMISES, and we COUNT (Y)OUR BLESSINGS. 

Old hymn/choruses are so handy!

Yes, we can. We can count our many blessings.

Oh, yes, and we have such sweet pets: the cats, the black lab, the corgi. Smiles everywhere!

Thank you, Lord.

A Little Tozer For Today:

   WHAT IT MEANS TO ACCEPT CHRIST --
      "HERE WE MUST BE RIGHT, OR BE FINALLY LOST"
    
      By A.W. Tozer
 

          A few things, fortunately only a few, are matters of life and death,
     such as a compass for a sea voyage or a guide for a journey across the
     desert.  To ignore these vital things is not to gamble or take a chance;
     it is suicide.  Here it is either be right or dead.

         Our relation to Christ is such a matter of life or death, and on a much
     higher plane.  The Bible instructed man knows that Jesus Christ came
     into the world to save sinners and that men are saved by Christ alone
     altogether apart from any works of merit.

         That much is true and known, but obviously the death and resurrection
     of Christ do not automatically save everyone... How does that which Christ
     did FOR me become operative WITHIN me?  To fail here is not to gamble
     with our souls: it is to guarantee eternal banishment from the face of God.
     Here we must be right or be finally lost.

         Being spiritually lazy we naturally tend to gravitate toward the easiest way
     of settling our religious questions for our selves and others; hence the formula
     (most often heard) is "Accept Christ".  It has become a panacea of universal
     application, and I believe it is fatal to many. Though undoubtedly an occasional
     serious minded penitent may find in it all the instruction he needs to bring him
     into living contact with Christ, I fear too many seekers use it as a short cut to
     the Promised Land.

         The trouble is that the whole "Accept Christ" attitude is likely to be wrong.
     It shows Christ applying to us rather than us to Him.  It makes Him stand
     hat-in-hand awaiting our verdict on Him, instead of our kneeling with troubled
     hearts awaiting His verdict on us.  It may even permit us to "accept Christ"
     by an impulse of mind or emotions, painlessly, at no loss to our ego and
     no inconvenience to our usual way of life.

         To accept Christ is to form an attachment to the Person of our Lord Jesus
     altogether unique in human experience.  The attachment is intellectual,
     volitional (action of the will) and emotional.  The believer is intellectually
     convinced that Jesus is both Lord and Christ; he has set his will to follow Him
     at any cost and soon his heart is enjoying the sweetness of His fellowship.

         This attachment is all-inclusive in that it joyfully accepts Christ for all that
     He is.  There is no division of offices whereby we may acknowledge
     His Saviourhood today and withhold decision on His Lordship until tomorrow...

         Further, his attachment to Christ is all-exclusive.  The Lord becomes to him
     not ONE of several rival interests, but one exclusive attraction forever.

        That we accept Christ in this all-inclusive, all-exclusive way is a divine
     imperative.  Here faith makes its leap into God through the Person and work
     of Christ, but it never divides the work from the Person.  It never tries to
     believe on the blood apart from Christ Himself, or the cross or "finished work."
     It believes on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the whole Christ without modification
     or reservation, and thus it receives and enjoys all that He did in His work of
     redemption, all that He is now doing in heaven for His own and all that  He does
     in and through them.

  

Shake Up Your World

Twenty-five years ago I was exposed to some things that I had no idea would have any impact on my future life. I was clueless.

I never thought I'd live until I was 40 years old---now I'm past that, and here we all are, waiting for Christ's return, signs of the times all around us.

I saw last week that over half of all Americans believe we are seeing signs of the end.

As information becomes more available, and you know where to look, things start to come together for Satan/Lucifer. This anti-god is making his move, and he's becoming more blatant, practically by the day.

The New World Order predicted in Revelation is on its way. The great Apostasy predicted in Jude is roaring right now.

So we all need to wake up and be vigilant. Arouse yourself out of your sleepy complacency and become informed spiritually.

You will not like what you see here, but you will be aware of how things can come together quickly. No one wants to be "mean" or "judgmental" or "picky." Once you have been made aware of the spiritual warfare that is raging all around us your perspective changes.

Please watch this interview. Pray about this. Wake up.
Illuminati Infiltration

If you have questions, feel free to call me and chat. I can give you more information.