Valentines

After a week of activity, seeing the doctor, doing all the usual----swimming, errands, lessons, Friday feels like a welcome respite! Today I have projects here at home, and I hope to make significant progress.

Ideas cook in our heads, and I have been amazed at the wonderful response to the Ham/Nye debate a week ago. There is a real confrontation of worldviews going on, and that is healthy.

The world continues to suffer with cold, with distractions and delusions. Hearts do "wax cold." Here in the white coated Northland we have acclimated to the below zero temps and we plow through our days, thankful for central heating and convenient grocery stores!

I have started to implement the "Trim Healthy Mama" diet. Since I've done it for a week I think I can say something. I think it's good. Great, even. It aligns with so many things I already believed in, but it tweaks the areas I needed to change. I recommend.  I try not to write about my health too much here (how boring!) but with my unique health issues I always feel compelled to pass on helpful information when I've found it.

Tonight is "family dinner night" and I'll be excited to see who shows up! I'm setting the table for 10 so far...

We're having spaghetti and meatballs, angel food cake, and a few other goodies. I'm looking forward to it. Today is good!

Rosaria Butterfield Writes Eloquently

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2014/02/14/you-are-whatand-howyou-read/?repeat=w3tc



  Please take the time to read this today!

Organ Concert, Dr. John Schwandt

It was a privilege almost missed last Friday.

We headed out to Plymouth, St. Philip the Deacon, to hear Dr. Schwandt play a wonderful concert on the Schantz organ. It was so cold and the Olympics were to be on....but we got in the car and made the trip to hear this guest organist from Oklahoma.

I think he must be one in a billion for talent.

My favorite thing was his improvisation. Given four melodic strains, he wove them together into brilliant organ compositions right off the top of his head!

I understand now that organ improvisation is a particularly French technique, but this had to be extraordinary.

Dr. Schwandt was given "E'en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come" (by Paul Manz), a tune by the Beatles, an old love song, and an island dance theme to put together into something truly gorgeous. I loved it. Everyone loved it!

I'm not sure how he did it, but I could see he had a complete knowledge of scales and key signatures. Maybe it all just came naturally?

I do a little improv on my flute from time to time, but Pipe Organ improvisation is a whole different level. Four, or even five manuals, full pedals, and myriad stops to maneuver makes this type of music spectacular.

I'm really not sure how he did it.

We are just so glad we didn't miss it. Improv is so fleeting. It's so momentary and "aktuell."  It would have been a shame to not have heard that unique work. Michael Barone was recording the evening, so perhaps we'll have the joy of hearing this particular work sometime again. I hope so. I'd love to.

We were able to hear another pipe organ concert at Como Park Lutheran on Sunday afternoon. That was sweet too. Those 4pm concerts are restful and quieting. That particular organ is so perfect for that space. Not too big, not too small, just right.

Looking forward to the next concert...

____
On a different front, but still musical, we purchased tickets to hear Eric Whitacre direct the Minnesota Chorale, and his Israeli wife sing here in Minneapolis in April. So excited for that event too! Should be wonderful.

Still "Fortressing"

Such interesting times we live in.

I'm down for the count here this month of snow, cold, ice and February. February always gives me my greatest challenge, cyclically.

About the only thing meritorious about the month is the increase in daylight!

It's an excuse to knit and do puzzles. This year we get to watch all those Norwegians get medals in Russia.

I do enjoy the snow, and the skiing. I gave up skating a while back.

And I am still figuring out life with this new curve ball thrown at us. Ed's illness has significantly stabilized, yet this is an on-going journey, and each day has its challenges.

Out in the bigger picture, the world, it looks like God is doing great things. Millions of people heard the Gospel last week when Ken Ham debated Bill Nye.


Many Christians were introduced to the idea of Scripture being an authority---even on science. The idea that God really is the Creator, as He said in Scripture. That we are not to worship an idol, made in the image of observable science. Humanists/Naturalists will not see this without the help of a transcendent calling from the Holy Spirit, the eye-opening, I call it, but Christians sometimes need to be shaken to their core, questioning their faith-----Who is it that they really believe in? A God that speaks creation into being, and reveals Himself in Scripture, or an image that conforms to Darwinian science.

It's a good question for all of us to ask. Is your god all powerful, or not?

Also, with another Christian leader under fire, many who have loved his writings and his help are going through crisis. I can only imagine the anguish, as I grieve as well.

The good that these people have been doing in the world has quieted as they wait and watch and mourn. IBLP has a remarkable legacy. It will be fascinating to see how God turns this whole issue into His glory, won't it be?

As we read from the "Commands of Christ" series today the command of Christ we covered just happened to be "Beware of False Prophets." What excellent teaching. The character quality is "alertness." There are Scriptures cited for the recognition and the dealing with false teaching and teachers.

Let's see what happens. God has a mighty plan, and He doesn't leave us in despair.

Big things are happening!

The prophecy world that I like to watch and keep track of has been in an expectant mode for years now, but there are rumblings of economic hardship, wars, rumors of war, and weird events on a daily basis. It's hard to keep up with it all! Isn't it cold out there? Don't get me started....

It's wonderful that Jesus is coming soon.

I look around myself and see hardship on every side----friends, relatives, family. Illness, joblessness, difficult relationships, despair.
These events separate the sheep from the goats. Who will cling to Christ? They are gifts in disguise. We are forced to choose between ourselves and the world or Christ Jesus.

You will understand this as you go through deep waters. It's a refining process.

So we are still in our quiet state. We've built strong walls on an even stronger foundation. Our worldview can take direct hits, and it won't crumble. We are in a fortress of God's love.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus.

"Hell's Best Kept Secret" -Ray Comfort

The Debate

I admit I haven't, and didn't watch the debate last night, yet.

My people did, and the general consensus was made pre-debate: two worldviews that ne'er shall meet!

Here is an excellent article by Albert Mohler.

http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/02/05/bill-nyes-reasonable-man-the-central-worldview-clash-of-the-ham-nye-debate/

I'll try to revisit this subject soon. We're having a busy week here.

Margaret ended up in the snowbank last week, her pick up's lights aren't functioning properly as a result. This is a problem on these dark winter days.

The alternator on my vehicle decided to give up the ghost this week. Off to the shop....as it's below zero outside and my amazing husband drew the line on this one.

My friend's mother had a stroke, and I am making every effort to be there for her. My friend is here from Chicago.

So, getting everyone where they need to be is truly a challenge.

Peace.

Prophecy of End Times by Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj, August 2012

   Very interesting 2 hours.

I was always fascinated by Sadhu Sundar Singh. Here is a man that has faith in Jesus Christ, like the Sadhu.



Watch with discernment. God is working in many ways, and he has an interesting perspective. Let me know what you think.