We arrived home from a wonderful family vacation this evening about 6:30. We left Tennessee this morning at 9:48 Michigan time, stopped for a leisurely lunch and several little stops. We got slowed down in some traffic and took a wrong turn in Indianapolis. So considering all that, we made it in really good time!
We were able to spend some great time together as a family, deepening our relationships through times of fun and fellowship. We also really got to know the people that hosted us at their lovely guest house. Such wonderful Christian fellowship we had with them enjoying their 100 acre property in the rolling hills around Nashville. Rhiannon and I are anxious to return in late October/early November to take a little vacation after harvest is over, since she wasn't able to go with us this time. Can't wait! It's good to be home, but I really had a hard time leaving. I shed a few tears because I've grown so attached to that area after several trips there to visit family and just do the tourist thing!
I felt like I was just able to give my brain a rest this week. The stresses of everyday work were lifted and we just relaxed and entertained Emma! We visited the zoo and a waterpark, some parks, and a little farm that served ice cream and had kid attractions especially for her enjoyment.
I will try to start posting on courtship again with some tidbits of information gleaned from my grandparents' letters. I was sorry to pass by the military cemetery where my Civil War grandfather is buried both on our way down and back. There just wasn't time to stop. We did stop there last fall and got Emma's picture beside the grave. It is a family tradition to go there and take a picture--my cousin and I did that when we were on a family vacation in the early 70's. Several other family members have visited as well. My grandfather (actually great, great, great grandfather!) appears to have enlisted in January of 1864, I believe, went to war, was captured and became a prisoner, was sent home (walking) and died and was buried the same day, July 2 or 3, of 1864. He had a son born after he died, a son he never saw. The son was named after him and became my great, great grandfather.
Just a little bit on the WW1 letters from my grandpa and grandma--this is so sweet! He asked her if she would like to have a set of buttons from his uniform as a keepsake. He tells her in the letter that several of the guys buy a set of buttons and send them to their sweethearts! Apparently it was the thing to do to show a special bit of caring for a girl back home. How innocent! If we would return to such honorable innocence, wouldn't we all be better off? Blessings, LORI
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Getting ready to go to Tennessee! The trip we've waited for for a long time! We are planning to leave for Nashville area on Sunday after church. We've been preparing for the trip this week. All of the canning and freezing were actually part of the preparations. I needed to get that done so I could go without thinking about all the veggies and fruit going to waste. There will be tomatoes to do when I get home, I'm sure. After that the late apples for applesauce should be ready and then I can quit canning for the year!
The big Stauffer family reunion is to be held tomorrow and we plan to go. Lots of food and fun! Plus that we'll be packing the car. I got all the cleaning done today and get to spend tomorrow cooking and preparing food for the reunion and possibly some stuff for around here. I hope to make granola, which I haven't done in a long time. I want to have it on hand for when we return since the day after we get back we have company coming from the south! Homemade granola is always a big hit. I love it with blueberries on it. I just put about 18 pounds of berries in the freezer in the last two weeks after we ran onto that really good deal on them.
We will spend our first night with our cousins in Kentucky and less than a week later while we're still in Nashville, they are coming to Michigan for a trip to the bridge. They will be at our house when we get back. That's why I'm considering making the granola for quick breakfasts.
I probably won't post on this blog until I get home since I don't think I'll have access to a computer without going out of my way to do so. I hope to continue a bit more about courtship after we get back, plus all the details of the trip! I have been re-reading through my grandma's letters that she received from my grandpa when he was in the service in WW1. He was only her "beau" at the time, but I thought it would be educational for the courtship discussion to look at some of the old-fashioned attitudes toward romance! Those letters are very interesting and contain some really neat historical references that shed light on life in 1917-18. Too cool.
Yesterday I received a call to speak at a ladies' retreat in October. I'll be speaking twice on a Saturday, so now I'm in the process of praying about what the Lord would have me share with these women. Hearing the voice of the Lord is one of my favorite subjects and so now I get a chance to really put that into practice! I am leaning toward just speaking on that very thing. It's so important for us to realize that the Lord is speaking to us and wants a relationship with us that is alive and vibrant. Pray for me on that if you think of it. I want to be faithful to deliver what the Lord would use to specially encourage these particular women. Blessings, LORI
The big Stauffer family reunion is to be held tomorrow and we plan to go. Lots of food and fun! Plus that we'll be packing the car. I got all the cleaning done today and get to spend tomorrow cooking and preparing food for the reunion and possibly some stuff for around here. I hope to make granola, which I haven't done in a long time. I want to have it on hand for when we return since the day after we get back we have company coming from the south! Homemade granola is always a big hit. I love it with blueberries on it. I just put about 18 pounds of berries in the freezer in the last two weeks after we ran onto that really good deal on them.
We will spend our first night with our cousins in Kentucky and less than a week later while we're still in Nashville, they are coming to Michigan for a trip to the bridge. They will be at our house when we get back. That's why I'm considering making the granola for quick breakfasts.
I probably won't post on this blog until I get home since I don't think I'll have access to a computer without going out of my way to do so. I hope to continue a bit more about courtship after we get back, plus all the details of the trip! I have been re-reading through my grandma's letters that she received from my grandpa when he was in the service in WW1. He was only her "beau" at the time, but I thought it would be educational for the courtship discussion to look at some of the old-fashioned attitudes toward romance! Those letters are very interesting and contain some really neat historical references that shed light on life in 1917-18. Too cool.
Yesterday I received a call to speak at a ladies' retreat in October. I'll be speaking twice on a Saturday, so now I'm in the process of praying about what the Lord would have me share with these women. Hearing the voice of the Lord is one of my favorite subjects and so now I get a chance to really put that into practice! I am leaning toward just speaking on that very thing. It's so important for us to realize that the Lord is speaking to us and wants a relationship with us that is alive and vibrant. Pray for me on that if you think of it. I want to be faithful to deliver what the Lord would use to specially encourage these particular women. Blessings, LORI
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Pictures of the Great Corn Freezing Process!
Here's a few pictures of yesterday's project! This is only a small fraction of the total amount of corn I picked! I backed the truck up to the back deck and carried the corn into the kitchen and did the messy cutting on the deck!This next picture is just a shot of some of the ears after right before I boiled them. The corn was absolutely wonderful this year! I was so thankful for being able to get some to freeze. I used to can some as well, but haven't for the last few years. Seems like the freezing is all I can get done. We have some folks in the family that prefer it canned and some prefer it frozen!
The time consuming boiling process. We had three water pots going at once to speed up the process.
Now here's a good way to dispose of all those cobs once the corn is cut. Our tractor has been one of the best investments we've ever made. I can't imagine how we'd do country life without it! When I was done cutting the cobs at the nearby table I just tossed them into the bucket of the tractor and Clint dumped them in the fencerows. I suppose some little animal will enjoy the remains. The cobs will eventually rot down and become humus!
Now for the continuing thoughts on courtship....
While I was out driving in the truck yesterday heading for the corn patch, I heard some news reports on a Christian radio station that were alarming to say the least. I was not in a position to get a pencil and take down statistics, but to the best of my remembrance, the reporter was saying that co-habitation in this country has climbed by 1000% in just the last few years. I believe they mentioned that the percentage of babies born to unmarried parents was now 40% in the United States. Figures like these only gave me more incentive for continuing my articles about courtship. Let's face it, it's time for drastic answers to the problems that plague our society. And we, the church should be the salt and light leaders in setting the temperature of society. I fear we are just the opposite, often sporting stats for divorce and the such like that are very close to that of the rest of society.
Jesus gave prophetic insight to John in the Revelation that indicated the spiritual temperatures of the seven churches of Asia Minor. The Laodicean church was lukewarm. It existed, but was not on fire as it should have been. This displeased the Lord. I like to take my spiritual temperature once in a while and see where I'm at. I conjecture that most of the church's spiritual temperature concerning issues of moralitiy is shockingly lukewarm. We accept alot and really don't challenge people to do much better. Things that were unacceptable when I was growing up are now commonplace, even in the church.
Courtship or betrothal is one area where we can change and impact the society for the better. In my opinion, dating sets couples up for divorce. You are expected to date alot of people before marrying, (possibly even having it suggested that you live together to 'try it out')never really intending to settle on a committment to any one in particular and then suddenly at the whim of your heart, you find someone and all is supposed to change in your thinking. It usually works for a while right after marriage and when the infatuation wears off, so does the committment. Oh, that reminds me; one of the statistics mentioned today on the radio was that 18 months is about the average duration for a "living together" outside of marriage relationship. Think of that! Lots of people out there are living together and breaking off these arrangements after only 18 months, probably to go on to another trial arrangement! And no one considers the children that are so often affected by the shiftiness of their parents' lives. Imagine a child never knowing how long a man will be in the home? It's one person for a time, then another. Confusion. We must consider that people get their concepts of God from their experience with their father. If Dad was absent, barring a real, true experience with God's grace, you will see God as absent. If Dad was harsh, you will see God as harsh, and etc., if Dad was abusive, then your concept of God is that He is abusive, and so on.
One thing I was pondering today was the obvious practice of betrothal in the Bible. I do not claim to know all there is to know about how that worked, but from the example of Mary and Joseph, Isaac and Rebekah, and Ruth and Boaz, it was serious business. I suppose opponents of the practice would argue that proponents are dangerously close to a system where arranged marriages begin to occur without the consent of the girl, or even the man in extreme cases. I want to say that that is NOT AT ALL what I am suggesting and I can prove it scripturally. I'm not saying arranged marriages never happened, but we have scriptures to indicate that we do not have to arrange marriages and equate courtship with that practice. In the story of Isaac and Rebekah, Abraham's statements in Genesis 24:8 seem to indicate that Rebekah had a will to choose whether or not she would accept the proposal. Other scriptures in the same chapter seem to indicate that the family had their mind made up that Rebekah should go to be Isaac's bride, but before it finally comes time to leave, she is personally consulted and allowed to answer for herself (Genesis 24:57-58) Now for a New Testament example, check 1 Corinthians 7:39. This scripture, addressed to believers, indicates that the a person can marry "whom she wishes," but only in the Lord! No marrying an unbeliever! This doesn't sound like something that was arranged by a third party with no consent on the bride's part! Lots to think about...Blessings, LORI
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
QUICK NEWS
Just wanted to post a quick note to tell you all of my busy day! I'm taking a break from the courtship articles, though I plan to return to them tomorrow if time permits. I have been looking up related scriptures on the subject and did that for a portion of my devotional time this morning.
We were busy all day. After going with Clint while he got a haircut, we met Rhiannon for lunch. She brought me home and Clint went to do some pastoral visiting. I had to come home since I had gotten out several pounds of round steak from the freezer and was waiting for it to thaw for canning. I cut it up and canned 17 pints of meat in the pressure cooker! It really looks nice! I was down to one jar and we love that pre-prepared meat for spur-of-the-moment meals. All the while I was watching the canner (you can't just ignore a pressure cooker!) I was emptying cupboards and washing walls, shelves, woodwork, dishes, etc. I re-arranged cupboards and drawers and even though the meat takes 75 minutes once it reaches pressure, I still only completed about 1/3 of the kitchen cupboards and drawers. I was hanging out a mega bunch of laundry as well. I was thankful for a day with wind for it to dry. Got all that done and when the meat was finishsed I went out and weeded profusely in the garden. Got alot cleaned up but not nearly all of it and that's the third weeding in a row!
Discovered that the green beans are ready again, so after getting the laundry down, I picked those! Tomorrow I have to go pick corn and freeze that. The work is never-ending this time of year! I'll be ready for vacation at the end of the week! Blessings, LORI
We were busy all day. After going with Clint while he got a haircut, we met Rhiannon for lunch. She brought me home and Clint went to do some pastoral visiting. I had to come home since I had gotten out several pounds of round steak from the freezer and was waiting for it to thaw for canning. I cut it up and canned 17 pints of meat in the pressure cooker! It really looks nice! I was down to one jar and we love that pre-prepared meat for spur-of-the-moment meals. All the while I was watching the canner (you can't just ignore a pressure cooker!) I was emptying cupboards and washing walls, shelves, woodwork, dishes, etc. I re-arranged cupboards and drawers and even though the meat takes 75 minutes once it reaches pressure, I still only completed about 1/3 of the kitchen cupboards and drawers. I was hanging out a mega bunch of laundry as well. I was thankful for a day with wind for it to dry. Got all that done and when the meat was finishsed I went out and weeded profusely in the garden. Got alot cleaned up but not nearly all of it and that's the third weeding in a row!
Discovered that the green beans are ready again, so after getting the laundry down, I picked those! Tomorrow I have to go pick corn and freeze that. The work is never-ending this time of year! I'll be ready for vacation at the end of the week! Blessings, LORI
Sunday, August 16, 2009
BROKEN HEARTS, WOUNDED HEARTS
Isn't summer great?! I have been enjoying the variety of fresh foods that are available right now for just pennies! Summer is great for that fact alone. We eat so much less fruit and vegetables in the winter just because they are not as readily available as they are now. Just this week we were privileged to eat green beans, onions, potaotes, tomatoes, blueberries, watermelon, corn, peaches and probably more than I've forgotten--all fresh and in season. Our gardens are about to bear another crop of red raspberries and some watermelon in addition to more squash and all the other stuff like potatoes that are still waiting to be dug. I am hoping to get the gardens all cleaned up before we head out for a vacation next Sunday right after church. We will be going to Nashville with most of the family. Looking forward to that, but that means my week is shaping up to be a busy one with housecleaning, gardens to attend to etc.
In the continuing discussion of courtship, I want to focus today on "broken hearts, wounded hearts." The common system of dating creates both of these in abundance. I tend to think that most often girls are the ones affected by this, yet I know it can certainly be true for the guys as well. When we cling to a system that requires no committment, we find many broken and wounded hearts left in the wake. Humans were never intended for that. Before the fall, we have the example in Adam and Eve. Adam had one wife, Eve. He was designed to give his heart and committment to one woman for life. There was to be no death and no separation. Since the fall, all kinds of "less than perfect" living has resulted, fueled by a sinful nature. I ask you, which system further promotes the sinful or lower nature of a human being, "dating", or "courtship"? It seems to me to be obvious. In dating, no committment is expected and often it is even discouraged. How many times have you heard parents say, 'I want my child to date around and experience alot of different people before they settle on one person for life.'? That's the popular thought--you can't possibly know what you want unless you've tasted all the variety that's out there. Again, this thinking leaves the working of the Holy Spirit completely out of a life. He can help us to understand what's best for us without trying all the different options, saving us much confusion and heartache.
I have known of girls (and even guys) that are left heartbroken after dating breakups. The nature of a woman is to pour her heart out in love. It is easy for women and girls to do this. The nurturing aspect of a woman is strong and when misdirected (dating) and then rejected, it can be devastating. At the very least, it creates a heart that is wounded. A part of your being that should have been reserved for one person for life (until death do us part) is now gone, sacrificed on someone else that didn't care, had no committment, or decided you were not right for them for one reason or another. We have an epidemic of girls in this country that are plagued with eating disorders and other self destructive issues. Is it possible we have set up a system that contributes to their lack of respect for themselves? I think we have. Dating and being rejected sets a person up for a warped view of their value. The same can be true of the guys, I just think it happens less. Of course, these self-destructive behaviors are not only caused by dating, it's just one more contributing factor that we've let slip in.
Some of my favorite movies are the depictions of Jane Austen novels. In one of the movies a certain gentleman in the story had made a committment of engagement to a girl in his younger years. He later realized he had done something hasty in his youth that turned out to be unwise. Instead of walking away from what he considered a binding committment, he was going to go through with a marriage even though his heart had certainly changed and his youthful impulsiveness was discovered to be unwise. These stories were set in the early 1800's and that just goes to show how much we've changed. Back then your word was your word. If you said it you meant it and you followed through. Thinking of this story reminded me of a verse in Psalm 15:4 In part the verse says, "he who swears to his own hurt and does not change." This Psalm is describing high character qualities and that's one of them--a person is willing to swear or commit to something and follow through even if it hurts him. We have come so far from that. Our lifestyles in pre-marriage do not mirror anything even close to that and the result is many devastated and broken hearts.
Marriage and committment are good for a society. Why then do we hold on to a system that promotes the exact opposite?
I hope to write more on the subject tomorrow. I hope you're not bored with these "articles." I think it's important for us as Christians to ponder some deep subjects and be ready to discuss them for the sake of being salt and light. And....having been a pastor's wife for 17 years, I can honestly say we have seen much of the destruction that happens to people and so much could be avoided, especially in this area if a little change in our convictions were to take place.
Got to spend some time with Emma today after a whole week of not seeing her and that was surely fun. Had a nice time at church with much encouragement from the Lord. I hope you can say the same! Blessings, LORI
In the continuing discussion of courtship, I want to focus today on "broken hearts, wounded hearts." The common system of dating creates both of these in abundance. I tend to think that most often girls are the ones affected by this, yet I know it can certainly be true for the guys as well. When we cling to a system that requires no committment, we find many broken and wounded hearts left in the wake. Humans were never intended for that. Before the fall, we have the example in Adam and Eve. Adam had one wife, Eve. He was designed to give his heart and committment to one woman for life. There was to be no death and no separation. Since the fall, all kinds of "less than perfect" living has resulted, fueled by a sinful nature. I ask you, which system further promotes the sinful or lower nature of a human being, "dating", or "courtship"? It seems to me to be obvious. In dating, no committment is expected and often it is even discouraged. How many times have you heard parents say, 'I want my child to date around and experience alot of different people before they settle on one person for life.'? That's the popular thought--you can't possibly know what you want unless you've tasted all the variety that's out there. Again, this thinking leaves the working of the Holy Spirit completely out of a life. He can help us to understand what's best for us without trying all the different options, saving us much confusion and heartache.
I have known of girls (and even guys) that are left heartbroken after dating breakups. The nature of a woman is to pour her heart out in love. It is easy for women and girls to do this. The nurturing aspect of a woman is strong and when misdirected (dating) and then rejected, it can be devastating. At the very least, it creates a heart that is wounded. A part of your being that should have been reserved for one person for life (until death do us part) is now gone, sacrificed on someone else that didn't care, had no committment, or decided you were not right for them for one reason or another. We have an epidemic of girls in this country that are plagued with eating disorders and other self destructive issues. Is it possible we have set up a system that contributes to their lack of respect for themselves? I think we have. Dating and being rejected sets a person up for a warped view of their value. The same can be true of the guys, I just think it happens less. Of course, these self-destructive behaviors are not only caused by dating, it's just one more contributing factor that we've let slip in.
Some of my favorite movies are the depictions of Jane Austen novels. In one of the movies a certain gentleman in the story had made a committment of engagement to a girl in his younger years. He later realized he had done something hasty in his youth that turned out to be unwise. Instead of walking away from what he considered a binding committment, he was going to go through with a marriage even though his heart had certainly changed and his youthful impulsiveness was discovered to be unwise. These stories were set in the early 1800's and that just goes to show how much we've changed. Back then your word was your word. If you said it you meant it and you followed through. Thinking of this story reminded me of a verse in Psalm 15:4 In part the verse says, "he who swears to his own hurt and does not change." This Psalm is describing high character qualities and that's one of them--a person is willing to swear or commit to something and follow through even if it hurts him. We have come so far from that. Our lifestyles in pre-marriage do not mirror anything even close to that and the result is many devastated and broken hearts.
Marriage and committment are good for a society. Why then do we hold on to a system that promotes the exact opposite?
I hope to write more on the subject tomorrow. I hope you're not bored with these "articles." I think it's important for us as Christians to ponder some deep subjects and be ready to discuss them for the sake of being salt and light. And....having been a pastor's wife for 17 years, I can honestly say we have seen much of the destruction that happens to people and so much could be avoided, especially in this area if a little change in our convictions were to take place.
Got to spend some time with Emma today after a whole week of not seeing her and that was surely fun. Had a nice time at church with much encouragement from the Lord. I hope you can say the same! Blessings, LORI
STILL MORE ON THE SUBJECT OF COURTSHIP!
Thanks for permitting me another post on the subject of courtship. I hope this is creatively challenging you to check the scriptures on the matter.
Yesterday I mentioned a New Testament example of something akin to a courtship. Did you guess wha the account was? It was the story of Jesus's birth and Mary and Joseph's betrothal. If I understand the customs correctly, betrothal was a binding contract that had some elements of our modern engagements and some elements of a marriage all rolled into one. The couple that was betrothed could not break the agreement without something that resembled a divorce. It was that serious, yet the couple was not living together until the actual marriage ceremony took place.
To the best of my knowledge a betrothal also involved a system of honor based on the integrity of the two families and in this case, their religion as well. Maybe an arrangement had been made even years prior to the actual betrothal by other family members and therefore, to break the betrothal was unthinkable. That explains why Joseph had a mind to "put her away privately" when Mary was found to be pregnant. He would have had to "divorce" her and this would not be easy. However, remember this was still before the Holy Spirit had come to indwell every believer. God still spoke to His people and communicated to them on a different basis than we know today. I think we take for granted the beautiful role that the Holy Spirit plays in all our lives unless we purpose to think about what it would have been like to have to depend on a prophet or a dream or such for God to reveal His will. But that is what happened in this account. Obviously God was pleased with this couple and how they conducted themselves. He saw in Joseph and Mary the character that He wanted in two individuals that would be the earthly parents of His Son! This lends some credibility to betrothal right there!
Even the fact that Joseph was willing to keep Mary as his wife after God showed him in a dream that it would be ok, says alot about the man's character. Put yourself in Joseph's place. Even with a dream to back up your decision there would be much to overcome in such a situation!
Well, few are the actual "betrothals" that we see today. Although I know there are a few Christians that embrace this becuase I've read their testimonies. But you may be asking by now, "what's really wrong with dating," or "doesn't it serve the same purpose in the end?" To that, I'd give two hearty answers, "there's alot wrong with dating!" and "NO, not necessarily!"
Dating is a faulty system on a lot of levels. For instance, in a betothal or courtship the young man is expected to be financially sound before ever even approaching a girl's parents with the intention of pursuing her. That is biblical since the scripture gives ample thoughts on providing for your family and even goes so far as to suggest that women be "keepers at home." I'll not go into that any further, since it opens a whole new discussion about women in the work force and that's not my subject here. You can study that for yourself if you're interested. But let's face it, in the dating scene, all the financial stablility you need is to have enough money for a little gas in the car, some fast food, and a movie! And worse than that, maybe nowdays the girl will pay for her food and movie and maybe the guy's too! Wow! Have things ever changed? I remember being instructed that if a guy wasn't intending to pay for the date, he wasn't worth my time and consideration, and that was the faulty dating system! Now you don't even need a job, you can save up your birthday money and be ready for a date!
This is just ONE of the many reasons that dating is not a sound, reliable system to foster healthy marriages and families. You may be asking, "why is it so bad for a girl to pay for her date?" Well, consider this, when we let young men off the hook in financial matters, it's like removing responsibility that mirrors what a healthy marriage should look like. It's like saying, 'you can have anything you want with no responsibility to make a financial committment.' Think about that and see if that's not really true. Anytime we relieve any person of responsibilities that are biblically sound (financial stability, work ethic, morality, etc., etc.) we do them a great disservice. We are stripping them or their potential and identity and the very best that God desires for the individual. What if you told your child he didn't have to obey his parents because it was an old-fashioned idea? Then you allow him or her to go their own way until they are about 19 or 20 or 21 and they are supposed to suddenly mature and be upstanding citizens? It just doesn't work that way. In the same way, dating fosters a lack of financial responsibility, among other things. Blessings, LORI
Yesterday I mentioned a New Testament example of something akin to a courtship. Did you guess wha the account was? It was the story of Jesus's birth and Mary and Joseph's betrothal. If I understand the customs correctly, betrothal was a binding contract that had some elements of our modern engagements and some elements of a marriage all rolled into one. The couple that was betrothed could not break the agreement without something that resembled a divorce. It was that serious, yet the couple was not living together until the actual marriage ceremony took place.
To the best of my knowledge a betrothal also involved a system of honor based on the integrity of the two families and in this case, their religion as well. Maybe an arrangement had been made even years prior to the actual betrothal by other family members and therefore, to break the betrothal was unthinkable. That explains why Joseph had a mind to "put her away privately" when Mary was found to be pregnant. He would have had to "divorce" her and this would not be easy. However, remember this was still before the Holy Spirit had come to indwell every believer. God still spoke to His people and communicated to them on a different basis than we know today. I think we take for granted the beautiful role that the Holy Spirit plays in all our lives unless we purpose to think about what it would have been like to have to depend on a prophet or a dream or such for God to reveal His will. But that is what happened in this account. Obviously God was pleased with this couple and how they conducted themselves. He saw in Joseph and Mary the character that He wanted in two individuals that would be the earthly parents of His Son! This lends some credibility to betrothal right there!
Even the fact that Joseph was willing to keep Mary as his wife after God showed him in a dream that it would be ok, says alot about the man's character. Put yourself in Joseph's place. Even with a dream to back up your decision there would be much to overcome in such a situation!
Well, few are the actual "betrothals" that we see today. Although I know there are a few Christians that embrace this becuase I've read their testimonies. But you may be asking by now, "what's really wrong with dating," or "doesn't it serve the same purpose in the end?" To that, I'd give two hearty answers, "there's alot wrong with dating!" and "NO, not necessarily!"
Dating is a faulty system on a lot of levels. For instance, in a betothal or courtship the young man is expected to be financially sound before ever even approaching a girl's parents with the intention of pursuing her. That is biblical since the scripture gives ample thoughts on providing for your family and even goes so far as to suggest that women be "keepers at home." I'll not go into that any further, since it opens a whole new discussion about women in the work force and that's not my subject here. You can study that for yourself if you're interested. But let's face it, in the dating scene, all the financial stablility you need is to have enough money for a little gas in the car, some fast food, and a movie! And worse than that, maybe nowdays the girl will pay for her food and movie and maybe the guy's too! Wow! Have things ever changed? I remember being instructed that if a guy wasn't intending to pay for the date, he wasn't worth my time and consideration, and that was the faulty dating system! Now you don't even need a job, you can save up your birthday money and be ready for a date!
This is just ONE of the many reasons that dating is not a sound, reliable system to foster healthy marriages and families. You may be asking, "why is it so bad for a girl to pay for her date?" Well, consider this, when we let young men off the hook in financial matters, it's like removing responsibility that mirrors what a healthy marriage should look like. It's like saying, 'you can have anything you want with no responsibility to make a financial committment.' Think about that and see if that's not really true. Anytime we relieve any person of responsibilities that are biblically sound (financial stability, work ethic, morality, etc., etc.) we do them a great disservice. We are stripping them or their potential and identity and the very best that God desires for the individual. What if you told your child he didn't have to obey his parents because it was an old-fashioned idea? Then you allow him or her to go their own way until they are about 19 or 20 or 21 and they are supposed to suddenly mature and be upstanding citizens? It just doesn't work that way. In the same way, dating fosters a lack of financial responsibility, among other things. Blessings, LORI
Friday, August 14, 2009
COURTSHIP CONTINUED
Yet another segment in the courtship chronicles! I had not gotten this posted so the date is a day old. I'm posting this on Saturday in caes you were wondering!
Two days ago I had a really nice article all written with my thoughts in order on the subject when somehow the computer kicked me off and I was not able to recover the same thoughts--will trust the Lord to bring them to mind again if they were worth writing!
I had made some comments on how I think we can sometimes get a little bogged down with rules for courtship. I would love to see all of western Christianity embrace something like courtship wholeheartedly when it comes to finding a mate. But we are certainly far from that. I also hope that as the idea and concept of courtship "catches on" in the broader church, that we can raise the standards a notch even from what we currently see.
Let me refer further to what I said yesterday. I think instead of trying to stick to lists of rules about how a courtship goes, we would be further ahead to emphasize the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of all believers. For instance, if a young man and a young woman are living very close to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will guide them, teaching them the Word and bringing it to memory. This kind of close relationship will result in people who do the right thing because of a relationship to God, not a set of rules. It would be a committment to purity and Spirit-led living borne out of the heart and the rules would be secondary. I've known of courtships where the parents and young people did everything "right" to the best of their understanding and still the courtship didn't last or result in marriage. We are humans and subject to making errors.
I think we really need to catch this kind of vision for Holy Spirit-led living in realtion to courtship since more than just the very young are looking for mates. For instance, many people are waiting to marry later in life than they did a few decades ago. At least it seems that way to me. It is totally thinkable that people just out of their teens would be guided more closely by the input of their parents in a courtship situation, but what about those who have been out of the home and in careers for some time? What about widows and widowers? This is one reason why I believe the Holy Spirit filled life is the key here and not the parent-led, it-has-to-be-done-this-way method. I am not knocking parent-led courtships--they have their place, but we need to develop a mindset of purity that accommodates many different age levels and family situations. Remember, the standards of purity don't change with a person's age, but maybe how a courtship is conducted would change.
I know a very Godly family that actually were the ones who first introduced me to the whole concept of courtship many years ago. Even they admitted that when one of their daughters married, the courtship was conducted a bit differently than the traditional definition that they had first embraced. The groom was a pastor, obviously older and more mature than some other young men might be. Still it was all done in a pure, God-honoring way, but maybe with a bit less chaperoning than a younger couple might desire. Their experience describes my point exactly. It seems to me that the courtship can be led by the Holy Spirit according to the particular couple involved. After all, the actual definition of courtship is not spelled out in the New Testament. Standards of purity are given. Some Old Testament examples exist to give us clues of what marriage and betrothal practices were like in ancient days. However, we must remember that examples that we cite from the Old Testament to support courtship, were occurring at a time when people had not yet received a full revelation of the scripture or complete understandings of the nature of God, because Jesus had not come to earth yet.
Now, don't run out on me here--what I am saying is that for the Christian, we now have the full revelation of God through Jesus Christ as taught to us in the New Testament, coupled with the Old Testament. The patriarchs were coming into the knowledge of God's character and so were not always operating the same as a Christian nowadays would or should, though we learn from their lives and give them due respect. Plus, as a New Testament church, we have the Holy Spirit given to every believer since Pentecost. So let's be wise and careful when we cite only Old Testament practices to support our thinking. We may partially be seeing various cultural practices in the Old Testament. However, I can think of one very important betrothal in the New Testament that gives us a little glimpse into the practices of Israel? Can you? Clue: This particular betrothal occurred before the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church. I'll mention the answer to that one tomorrow.
I hope this stimulates your thinking on the subject and of course, I realize that I may have missed something in my explanations, but I am doing my best to encourage thinking on a subject that is dear to my heart!
Yesterday I had another busy day. I got a chance to crochet on another project that has been under construction for too long. It's my "tv-watching" project. Remember that I spoke of consistency the other day? Well, I'm trying to practice this and it's paying off! This particular project actually looks do-able after only a few days of consistent 1/2 hours spent on it. The same is true of the gardens. I weeded some more yesterday after the sun dipped behind the woods and the temperatures lowered. I am making progress. Canned 7 more quarts of peaches yesterday and 14 more quarts tonight to finish off the batch. We found a great deal on blueberries and bought a case. Clint helped me wash and freeze all of them and finish canning the peaches since we were out grocery shopping with friends most of the afternoon. The cooker is just now coming to a boil with the last batch of peaches. I'm tired! Blessings, LORI
Two days ago I had a really nice article all written with my thoughts in order on the subject when somehow the computer kicked me off and I was not able to recover the same thoughts--will trust the Lord to bring them to mind again if they were worth writing!
I had made some comments on how I think we can sometimes get a little bogged down with rules for courtship. I would love to see all of western Christianity embrace something like courtship wholeheartedly when it comes to finding a mate. But we are certainly far from that. I also hope that as the idea and concept of courtship "catches on" in the broader church, that we can raise the standards a notch even from what we currently see.
Let me refer further to what I said yesterday. I think instead of trying to stick to lists of rules about how a courtship goes, we would be further ahead to emphasize the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of all believers. For instance, if a young man and a young woman are living very close to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will guide them, teaching them the Word and bringing it to memory. This kind of close relationship will result in people who do the right thing because of a relationship to God, not a set of rules. It would be a committment to purity and Spirit-led living borne out of the heart and the rules would be secondary. I've known of courtships where the parents and young people did everything "right" to the best of their understanding and still the courtship didn't last or result in marriage. We are humans and subject to making errors.
I think we really need to catch this kind of vision for Holy Spirit-led living in realtion to courtship since more than just the very young are looking for mates. For instance, many people are waiting to marry later in life than they did a few decades ago. At least it seems that way to me. It is totally thinkable that people just out of their teens would be guided more closely by the input of their parents in a courtship situation, but what about those who have been out of the home and in careers for some time? What about widows and widowers? This is one reason why I believe the Holy Spirit filled life is the key here and not the parent-led, it-has-to-be-done-this-way method. I am not knocking parent-led courtships--they have their place, but we need to develop a mindset of purity that accommodates many different age levels and family situations. Remember, the standards of purity don't change with a person's age, but maybe how a courtship is conducted would change.
I know a very Godly family that actually were the ones who first introduced me to the whole concept of courtship many years ago. Even they admitted that when one of their daughters married, the courtship was conducted a bit differently than the traditional definition that they had first embraced. The groom was a pastor, obviously older and more mature than some other young men might be. Still it was all done in a pure, God-honoring way, but maybe with a bit less chaperoning than a younger couple might desire. Their experience describes my point exactly. It seems to me that the courtship can be led by the Holy Spirit according to the particular couple involved. After all, the actual definition of courtship is not spelled out in the New Testament. Standards of purity are given. Some Old Testament examples exist to give us clues of what marriage and betrothal practices were like in ancient days. However, we must remember that examples that we cite from the Old Testament to support courtship, were occurring at a time when people had not yet received a full revelation of the scripture or complete understandings of the nature of God, because Jesus had not come to earth yet.
Now, don't run out on me here--what I am saying is that for the Christian, we now have the full revelation of God through Jesus Christ as taught to us in the New Testament, coupled with the Old Testament. The patriarchs were coming into the knowledge of God's character and so were not always operating the same as a Christian nowadays would or should, though we learn from their lives and give them due respect. Plus, as a New Testament church, we have the Holy Spirit given to every believer since Pentecost. So let's be wise and careful when we cite only Old Testament practices to support our thinking. We may partially be seeing various cultural practices in the Old Testament. However, I can think of one very important betrothal in the New Testament that gives us a little glimpse into the practices of Israel? Can you? Clue: This particular betrothal occurred before the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church. I'll mention the answer to that one tomorrow.
I hope this stimulates your thinking on the subject and of course, I realize that I may have missed something in my explanations, but I am doing my best to encourage thinking on a subject that is dear to my heart!
Yesterday I had another busy day. I got a chance to crochet on another project that has been under construction for too long. It's my "tv-watching" project. Remember that I spoke of consistency the other day? Well, I'm trying to practice this and it's paying off! This particular project actually looks do-able after only a few days of consistent 1/2 hours spent on it. The same is true of the gardens. I weeded some more yesterday after the sun dipped behind the woods and the temperatures lowered. I am making progress. Canned 7 more quarts of peaches yesterday and 14 more quarts tonight to finish off the batch. We found a great deal on blueberries and bought a case. Clint helped me wash and freeze all of them and finish canning the peaches since we were out grocery shopping with friends most of the afternoon. The cooker is just now coming to a boil with the last batch of peaches. I'm tired! Blessings, LORI
Thursday, August 13, 2009
PICTURE OF THE LACE SHELL AND MORE COURTSHIP THOUGHTS
Hi, Friends! Here's a picture of the knitted lace shell that I recently finished after about two long years of knitting! I like it so well, it's bound to become a staple item in my wardrobe.Just a few more thoughts on courtship to add to yesterday's article...
I wish there were another word to describe the subject of courtship. This word is old-fashioned, that's ok, but most folks don't know what it means except to imagine that it refers to an earlier day when stricter rules of behavior were the norm. In a way that's what's meant in the kind of courtship I'm talking about, but it's so much more as well.
Many Christian families today are returning to the concept of courtship. In the strictest definitions of that practice you have a young man approaching the father or father and mother of the girl he would like to court and asking their prayerful permission before pursuing her. If they discern that it's the Lord's will, then the girl is asked to consider this matter in prayer. There is not actually "dating" as most of the culture knows it, but rather a more supervised arrangement where the couple can get to know each other based on the prior conviction that they have already discerned God's will in the matter. Church functions, family activities, letter writing, etc., are the usual means of getting to know one another better. Ideally, at some future time a marriage follows. This is the general procedure that I described in "The Fields of May."
Yesterday I said that I have had a few criticisms of the book, although very mild and they usually concerned the fact that people don't live this way, the characters are too nice, and that it's a rare young girl these days that has a home life conducive to such an arrangement. I agree that some of those observations are founded, especially the last one.
The way I just described courtship will work well in families that are rooted and grounded in biblical teaching, but will hardly be possible for families who are not. And I know there are many different convictions even among Christians that practice courtship as opposed to dating. What one family finds acceptable, another may not. For instance, I think many times the girl involved in a courtship already knows or surmises that a certain young man is interested in her before he speaks to her parents, either because he shows extra attention to her or because she too has already considered him in prayer. Some families are not opposed to the couple being out together on what would resemble dates after a courtship is in progression. There are just alot of different ways courtships are conducted.
I sometimes think that we as Christians are missing one or two key ingredients when we lay out strict formulas about something as important as a courtship. Often we hear all the rules put forth, to the exclusion of the need for couples to really be submitted and led by the Holy Spirit. I think the strongest emphasis in the whole matter needs to be centered on whether or not a young man or young woman is mature enough to really have a solid relationship with God that is fueled by a genuine love for Christ and His word, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. All decisions of life for a Christian, from the smallest to the greatest, should be borne out of their love for God and their close communication with Him through His Spirit. If most of us really lived that way, we'd be so much better off, wouldn't we? The Christian life is a relationship, not a set of rules.
I know there is so much more to say on the matter, but I'll leave it for tomorrow and the continuing courtship subject! Still, I'm only hitting the tip of the iceberg!
Today was a really busy one for me. I canned 7 quarts of peaches this morning. After that I hung out lots of laundry. The day became pretty warm here and my ideas of garden weeding waned with the rising temperatures! I did get some watering done, which was desperately needed.
After a quick supper, fixed mostly by Rhiannon, she and I went to try to visit relatives in our search for more family history. We had visited the county courthouse earlier in the afternoon and looked at very old books of handwritten records in our search to verify names and facts. This evening we visited several local cemeteries also looking for graves that might have more information on the stones. We didn't really learn too much, but verified just a few names. It was a real lesson to me to write down as much information for my grandchildren as I possibly can so they will not be frustrated someday if they care to know their family's past. However, as before, I realized once again, that in the end what really matters is if you know the Lord. Lives are short at best and once you're gone, many times you are forgotten after only a few generations. It's kind of sad in a way that that happens, but is a sober reminder to do everything you can each day to live in such a way as to impact your world for Christ, the only kind of impact that has eternal value! All these thoughts of family history kind of fit in with the subject of courtship, don't they? After all, that's where a family starts! Blessings, LORI
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
THOUGHTS ON COURTSHIP
I have decided to post an article or even a series on the subject of "courtship." I think being a "granny" now and having had one child go through what might be termed "courtship" followed by a wonderful Christian marriage, qualifies me to make comments. Another qualifying factor is the fact that for 17 years I have been a pastor's wife, involved with my husband in listening to the heartaches and woes of failing marriages. We have seen the devastation that dating causes in the church and also experienced the heartache and results that a church experiences when families break up. Since my first book is a Christian courtship fiction story and the second and third are sequels of the same subject, I thought it would be appropriate for me to begin writing about the subject on my blog. People are always asking me what my books are about and I have to explain that they are Christian courtship fiction and then I need to explain in a nutshell what courtship is. Most people are then very interested, not turned off as you might suspect!
I know there are alot of definitions of the term floating around out there, but what I am speaking of when I talk about courtship, is a return to a concept of pre-marriage behavior that mirrors more closely what would be biblically sound and have been practiced in earlier days. However, I've got some suggestions and observations that I think are unique. Please bear with me even if you're already married. I find that people that are married and didn't go through a courtship (like me) are sometimes the biggest advocates of such a plan because they realize what the dating system of our culture lacks. Let me make a disclaimer here; I have a wonderful Christian husband and when we were dating in the 70's, there was little or no information out there about "courting" as I'm describing it. Thank God, I was lead to someone who was a Christian and everything worked out for the best. I look back and see that I could easily have fallen into the trap of the culture and settled for all the wrong things in a man just becuase the "system" encourages mostly outward qualities and leaves God out of the process.
There are others out there who have probably done a better job of describing courtship (I've read them) than I will, but since I have some unique angles and thoughts, I'll go ahead and put in my two cents.
Since writing the book, "The Fields of May," which is blatantly in favor and descriptive of "courtship" and strict behavioral standards, I have received a variety of comments from readers and I hope they keep coming! One young girl, not necessarily in a church, raved about the book and used it for a book report at her public school. Many older ladies, I believe unfamiliar with courtship and already married themselves, were equally complimentary. Most folks have been very kind in their comments, even enthusiastic. Interestingly enough, some readers from very conservative Christian backgrounds were the ones that gave me minor criticisms. The criticism I most often hear runs along these lines: people don't really live that way anymore, the characters are too "good," and it's a rare young lady who has a home life like the characters in your book.
This last comment is the one I want to center on for this article. I've read alot of descriptions of courtship that lay out a series of rules that young people should follow to conduct an acceptable courtship. In other words, some people have a pretty clearly defined idea in their minds as to how this should all work. But I really believe that as a society, even in the church, we don't have the fences (that's a hint about my next book by the way!) in place that will allow most young people to follow a courtship model. Is that the fault of the church? Maybe. Probably. After all, we're supposed to be the salt in a society. We certainly could do better as Christians in creating a culture in our churches that supported biblical pre-marriage relationships. So what about the young woman who is a convert to Christianity and she has no believing father or mother to help her walk through the steps of finding a husband? In the traditional definitions of courtship, the father and mother of the young couple are very actively involved in the process of prayer before the young people decide if this will be God's will. This is the way my book goes as well, so I'm not criticizing that. I think it's appropriate. But what about all those young people that are not in a Christian home, but have been converted or what about those who are in Christian homes, but mom and dad are not grounded enough in the word to aid them in such an endeavor (there's way more of that going on than you might imagine!)? I think that's one of the real problems here. Even as Christians, many of us are not grounded enough to even know what we believe or should practice, let alone help someone else through such important decisions. We've got to step up to the plate on alot of issues, this being just one.
I've got a lot more to say on the subject. I'm just hitting the tip of the iceberg and really didn't even get to any of my major thoughts. I'll keep posting on this subject for awhile, hoping it triggers some thoughts for you to meditate on. I want so desperately to be salt and light. Don't you? More on courtship to follow....
Tried to can peaches today. Got all set up only to discover they weren't as ready as I thought. So I stopped that process for today and will try again tomorrow. Got the ham, beans, onions, and red potatoes in the crock pot for supper. Smells wonderful. There's such satisfaction in making a meal that came largely from your garden. It makes all the work worth it! I hope to pick berries this afternoon. Last night we got to eat the first sweet corn from the patch Rhiannon is privileged to use. So tasty, Blessings, LORI
I know there are alot of definitions of the term floating around out there, but what I am speaking of when I talk about courtship, is a return to a concept of pre-marriage behavior that mirrors more closely what would be biblically sound and have been practiced in earlier days. However, I've got some suggestions and observations that I think are unique. Please bear with me even if you're already married. I find that people that are married and didn't go through a courtship (like me) are sometimes the biggest advocates of such a plan because they realize what the dating system of our culture lacks. Let me make a disclaimer here; I have a wonderful Christian husband and when we were dating in the 70's, there was little or no information out there about "courting" as I'm describing it. Thank God, I was lead to someone who was a Christian and everything worked out for the best. I look back and see that I could easily have fallen into the trap of the culture and settled for all the wrong things in a man just becuase the "system" encourages mostly outward qualities and leaves God out of the process.
There are others out there who have probably done a better job of describing courtship (I've read them) than I will, but since I have some unique angles and thoughts, I'll go ahead and put in my two cents.
Since writing the book, "The Fields of May," which is blatantly in favor and descriptive of "courtship" and strict behavioral standards, I have received a variety of comments from readers and I hope they keep coming! One young girl, not necessarily in a church, raved about the book and used it for a book report at her public school. Many older ladies, I believe unfamiliar with courtship and already married themselves, were equally complimentary. Most folks have been very kind in their comments, even enthusiastic. Interestingly enough, some readers from very conservative Christian backgrounds were the ones that gave me minor criticisms. The criticism I most often hear runs along these lines: people don't really live that way anymore, the characters are too "good," and it's a rare young lady who has a home life like the characters in your book.
This last comment is the one I want to center on for this article. I've read alot of descriptions of courtship that lay out a series of rules that young people should follow to conduct an acceptable courtship. In other words, some people have a pretty clearly defined idea in their minds as to how this should all work. But I really believe that as a society, even in the church, we don't have the fences (that's a hint about my next book by the way!) in place that will allow most young people to follow a courtship model. Is that the fault of the church? Maybe. Probably. After all, we're supposed to be the salt in a society. We certainly could do better as Christians in creating a culture in our churches that supported biblical pre-marriage relationships. So what about the young woman who is a convert to Christianity and she has no believing father or mother to help her walk through the steps of finding a husband? In the traditional definitions of courtship, the father and mother of the young couple are very actively involved in the process of prayer before the young people decide if this will be God's will. This is the way my book goes as well, so I'm not criticizing that. I think it's appropriate. But what about all those young people that are not in a Christian home, but have been converted or what about those who are in Christian homes, but mom and dad are not grounded enough in the word to aid them in such an endeavor (there's way more of that going on than you might imagine!)? I think that's one of the real problems here. Even as Christians, many of us are not grounded enough to even know what we believe or should practice, let alone help someone else through such important decisions. We've got to step up to the plate on alot of issues, this being just one.
I've got a lot more to say on the subject. I'm just hitting the tip of the iceberg and really didn't even get to any of my major thoughts. I'll keep posting on this subject for awhile, hoping it triggers some thoughts for you to meditate on. I want so desperately to be salt and light. Don't you? More on courtship to follow....
Tried to can peaches today. Got all set up only to discover they weren't as ready as I thought. So I stopped that process for today and will try again tomorrow. Got the ham, beans, onions, and red potatoes in the crock pot for supper. Smells wonderful. There's such satisfaction in making a meal that came largely from your garden. It makes all the work worth it! I hope to pick berries this afternoon. Last night we got to eat the first sweet corn from the patch Rhiannon is privileged to use. So tasty, Blessings, LORI
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Just More News
Hi, Everyone! It has been so hectic around here that I wasn't able to post anything for several days. Mom's 80th birthday party went so well, we were able to surprise her and for that we were glad. There were many friends and relatives in attendance at the cake and ice cream party on Sunday at the church. I saw cousins I haven't seen for 20 years. It was alot of fun but made for a very long day for us. We were literally at church from 8:30 a.m. until about 5:30 p.m. with only a short break of about a half hour after services to run home and pick up party supplies!
Emma missed her nap that day and was a little cranky before the party. She quickly got over it and was all smiles as she played with other little cousins. We had out of town company that came to attend. They attended church with us in the morning and stayed all night on Sunday. It was great visiting with them. We cooked supper Sunday evening after we got home and had a relaxed time around the dining room table. They left on Monday morning to head back home to Alabama and we did a bunch of laundry and touched up the house just in time for a visit from a minister friend of ours from Texas that was in the area. He had been holding special meetings, most of which we attended in the evenings last week. He came over for a late lunch yesterday and visited with us all afternoon. Very nice to see him again and catch up on news as well as share good fellowship about the Christian life. It is so important for Christians to encourage each other. Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 He was a sharpening to us!
Today we decided to take a little bit of personal time this morning and early afternoon. We went shopping for clothing. We both have been trying to upgrade our "failing" wardrobes. Our clothes are just showing signs of aging and it was time for new things! I found very little, while Clint was finding lots of bargains. I bought some really nice dress material, though, at bargain prices. I did finish the lace shell on Saturday and was able to get it blocked and wearable for Sunday. I got lots of compliments on it and I am sure it will be a standard item in my summer and fall wardrobe from now on. I hope to post a picture (maybe tomorrow.) I wore it with an outfit I made years ago from a Civil War era costume pattern. The costume patterns can be adapted to look like more modern clothing with just a little creativity. This one worked well for that.
Got home this afternoon to find that peaches are in and I needed to pick them up. Rhiannon took me over to get them. I got a bushel and a half. Probably won't be enough. We have only one jar left on the shelf from last year. At the end of the week the corn will be ready to freeze as well. Can you say "busy?" I should pick blackberries as well.
Weeded a bit in the English garden tonight and noticed, much to my delight, that the fragrant honeysuckle is re-blooming! Some cosmos are out now as well and I wish I had more! Not much else in new except more weeds! It's pretty well out of control, but I intend to keep plugging away at the cleanup effort. I pulled most of the green beans out of the rows tonight, dug some potatoes and pulled quite a few onions. Mom cleaned all the onions and potatoes while I picked the few beans off the plants. Mom cleaned and sorted them. We have a good meal's worth of beans from plants that were all but done. I got out a big ham to cook with the potatoes and beans. Yum, yum.
The really big news is that we found out we are having a new granddaughter in the family at the end of the year! That will be just great for Emma to have a little sister. Now starts the name search! Rhiannon and I have been doing a little more family history sleuthing, visiting cemeteries, checking online, and reading old diaries in an attempt to make some connections that are missing in the family history. It's so interesting to read some of the names. We have some real unusual ones here and there. I could suggest a few for the baby.....
If I could encourage you all with something today, it would be thoughts toward diligence. With all the busyness around here and work that's piling up with the canning and all, I've determined to be diligent. As we have learned in our 17 years of pastoring, diligence is a virtue that needs to be developed. It is strongly related to consistencyand discipline. I figure if I'm diligent and consistent, working at a smart pace, I'll eventually get everything done that needs doing around here. Right now it looks overwhelming, but diligence will go a long way toward chipping away at projects that loom large! Proverbs 10:4 declares, "He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich." I want to be a diligent person. Diligent and consistent living of Bible principles produces great reward. We have often seen that folks struggling with life issues could have so many of their heartaches solved with consistenly living the instructions of the word; day after day putting into practice the Lord's principles and commands. It is encouraging when you make an effort at diligence because something is then accomplished every day, making your task or problem or whatever look smaller with each new day. Blessings, LORI
Emma missed her nap that day and was a little cranky before the party. She quickly got over it and was all smiles as she played with other little cousins. We had out of town company that came to attend. They attended church with us in the morning and stayed all night on Sunday. It was great visiting with them. We cooked supper Sunday evening after we got home and had a relaxed time around the dining room table. They left on Monday morning to head back home to Alabama and we did a bunch of laundry and touched up the house just in time for a visit from a minister friend of ours from Texas that was in the area. He had been holding special meetings, most of which we attended in the evenings last week. He came over for a late lunch yesterday and visited with us all afternoon. Very nice to see him again and catch up on news as well as share good fellowship about the Christian life. It is so important for Christians to encourage each other. Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 He was a sharpening to us!
Today we decided to take a little bit of personal time this morning and early afternoon. We went shopping for clothing. We both have been trying to upgrade our "failing" wardrobes. Our clothes are just showing signs of aging and it was time for new things! I found very little, while Clint was finding lots of bargains. I bought some really nice dress material, though, at bargain prices. I did finish the lace shell on Saturday and was able to get it blocked and wearable for Sunday. I got lots of compliments on it and I am sure it will be a standard item in my summer and fall wardrobe from now on. I hope to post a picture (maybe tomorrow.) I wore it with an outfit I made years ago from a Civil War era costume pattern. The costume patterns can be adapted to look like more modern clothing with just a little creativity. This one worked well for that.
Got home this afternoon to find that peaches are in and I needed to pick them up. Rhiannon took me over to get them. I got a bushel and a half. Probably won't be enough. We have only one jar left on the shelf from last year. At the end of the week the corn will be ready to freeze as well. Can you say "busy?" I should pick blackberries as well.
Weeded a bit in the English garden tonight and noticed, much to my delight, that the fragrant honeysuckle is re-blooming! Some cosmos are out now as well and I wish I had more! Not much else in new except more weeds! It's pretty well out of control, but I intend to keep plugging away at the cleanup effort. I pulled most of the green beans out of the rows tonight, dug some potatoes and pulled quite a few onions. Mom cleaned all the onions and potatoes while I picked the few beans off the plants. Mom cleaned and sorted them. We have a good meal's worth of beans from plants that were all but done. I got out a big ham to cook with the potatoes and beans. Yum, yum.
The really big news is that we found out we are having a new granddaughter in the family at the end of the year! That will be just great for Emma to have a little sister. Now starts the name search! Rhiannon and I have been doing a little more family history sleuthing, visiting cemeteries, checking online, and reading old diaries in an attempt to make some connections that are missing in the family history. It's so interesting to read some of the names. We have some real unusual ones here and there. I could suggest a few for the baby.....
If I could encourage you all with something today, it would be thoughts toward diligence. With all the busyness around here and work that's piling up with the canning and all, I've determined to be diligent. As we have learned in our 17 years of pastoring, diligence is a virtue that needs to be developed. It is strongly related to consistencyand discipline. I figure if I'm diligent and consistent, working at a smart pace, I'll eventually get everything done that needs doing around here. Right now it looks overwhelming, but diligence will go a long way toward chipping away at projects that loom large! Proverbs 10:4 declares, "He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich." I want to be a diligent person. Diligent and consistent living of Bible principles produces great reward. We have often seen that folks struggling with life issues could have so many of their heartaches solved with consistenly living the instructions of the word; day after day putting into practice the Lord's principles and commands. It is encouraging when you make an effort at diligence because something is then accomplished every day, making your task or problem or whatever look smaller with each new day. Blessings, LORI
Friday, August 7, 2009
More Busyness!
The week has only gotten busier! Wow, it's been interesting. We decided to have a garage sale and it was very busy yesterday and quite good sales. Today, Friday, which is usually the best sale day, saw business dropping off to near zero. Another person hosting a sale down the road reported the same thing! Well, at least a few items are gone from the house and for that we are thankful.
Part of the busyness came from learning we are receiving out-of-state company arriving Sunday, quite unexpectedly, I might add. I am thrilled to have them come visit. It will be such fun, but I knew it meant some preparation since I needed to arrange two guest areas. We have only one formal guest room and so the basement has to double as a guest room also. That meant two hours of cleaning and preparation down there yesterday. I finished the main floor today. The entire house is in need of a good, deep, spring-style cleaning, if you ask me and I used this as an excuse to clean a bit more thoroughly than the usual week to week. Seems good to have it done!
Today was my mom's 80th birthday. I think she is wondering a bit why no one threw a party for her. WELL.....shhhh! We are having one on Sunday after church and it's a surprise. That's why the out of state company is coming! We just can't tell her yet and I hope she doesn't think we completely overlooked her! It will all be evident Sunday!
I did manage to take my own advice and work on the knitted lace shell whiel watcing a ministry program on tv. I nearly finished it today. I got it all sewn together yesterday and now I'm just doing a little crochet edge finish on the neckline and sleeves. If I get it done tomorrow, I'll block it overnight and wear it Sunday to church. It fits pretty nicely and I was thrilled with that.
Hope you are having a productive week. I certainly am. Busy, but accomplishing! Blessings, LORI
Part of the busyness came from learning we are receiving out-of-state company arriving Sunday, quite unexpectedly, I might add. I am thrilled to have them come visit. It will be such fun, but I knew it meant some preparation since I needed to arrange two guest areas. We have only one formal guest room and so the basement has to double as a guest room also. That meant two hours of cleaning and preparation down there yesterday. I finished the main floor today. The entire house is in need of a good, deep, spring-style cleaning, if you ask me and I used this as an excuse to clean a bit more thoroughly than the usual week to week. Seems good to have it done!
Today was my mom's 80th birthday. I think she is wondering a bit why no one threw a party for her. WELL.....shhhh! We are having one on Sunday after church and it's a surprise. That's why the out of state company is coming! We just can't tell her yet and I hope she doesn't think we completely overlooked her! It will all be evident Sunday!
I did manage to take my own advice and work on the knitted lace shell whiel watcing a ministry program on tv. I nearly finished it today. I got it all sewn together yesterday and now I'm just doing a little crochet edge finish on the neckline and sleeves. If I get it done tomorrow, I'll block it overnight and wear it Sunday to church. It fits pretty nicely and I was thrilled with that.
Hope you are having a productive week. I certainly am. Busy, but accomplishing! Blessings, LORI
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
CREATIVE TIPS ON TIME USAGE
HI! What a week to talk about time usage! We are busy, busy, busy. It seems like any lazy days of summer are being made up for in the first week of August for our family. Just alot going on around here and I know the peaches will soon be ready. I also need to be thinking about getting blueberries. I suppose there are more blackberries out there waiting to be picked as well. Thankfully, they ripen a bit slower than the black raspberries and waiting for them to reach a full maturity is best. (Wow, does that sound like an excuse or what?!)
I was pondering giving a few hints on time well-spent. The Bible says we are to redeem the time for the days are evil. (Read Ephesians 5:15-16) Our family hasn't had television for years. We own a tv set, but didn't have an antenna, cable, or dish. So we just watched movies when we felt like sitting down in front of the tv for awhile. Over the years, we have collected a huge library of quality viewing. Clint is a "western" fan and there's scarcely a famous western he doesn't own.
Recently when all the tv stuff changed, my mom was unable to get many channels no matter what she seemed to try. She decided that for her lifestyle and with the winter coming on, a dish was the best option. She had one installed and since she lives in an apartment that is part of our house, other tv's could be hooked in as well. She encouraged us to get ours attached as well and gave us the hook up as a gift. So for a week now, we've been enjoying programming for the first time in years.
I was hesitant to hook into it at first, feeling it would compromise family time or time that we used to read the Bible. I think it could if we let it, but I have to say that it's been a blessing in other ways. For instance, I have been consistently getting to watch a favorite Christian teaching program that I never could see otherwise. Each morning I spend a half hour watching. I decided the best way to redeem this time is to keep a needlework project by my chair and work on it during that half hour. I think I will soon see results that go something like this: projects that are otherwise laid aside, never to be finished or at least put off for years, will now get done in a timely manner.
Another time saving hint. If you are like me and buy ground beef in large packages, try this: I save some of it in ziploc bags for the freezer but have found that immediately frying some of it and then freezing it gives me more options. A quick bit of pre-cooked burger will heat up for casseroles or tacos very fast if you are in a hurry. It's already cooked and drained and that saves time when you have to cook supper in a hurry. I think I gave this hint once before, but in case not, here goes: at the beginning of the week cook a roast, a whole chicken, and a bunch of hamburger. These three meats will carry you through a lot of meals if they are all prepared. Your options are endless. Of course, be careful not to let them get old. Use them in a timely manner. But roast can be roast one night, beef and noodles the next. Chicken that was pressure cooked can be chicken and noodles, chicken and dumplings, etc., etc. Cooked hamburger options are endless. See if that one day of meat cooking saves you time. Freeze what you can't use quickly for another hurried day.
Another way to redeem time: If you have a favorite program, tv or radio, that you feel you must watch, redeem the time by doing another project during the sitting time. For instance you could snap beans at the same time, do needlework, or dust the room the tv is in! I have decided to not let the tv rule me. At the same time I'm getting great encouragement from the Christian teaching. I remember a time when our adult Sunday School class challenged each other to go without television viewing for a week. I found it was detrimental to me. At that time we had television and I looked forward each evening to a time of relaxation gathered around some quality programs with the kids and Clint. During that week instead of doing other creative things with the time, like playing games, etc., I found myself working non-stop! I just never sat down in the evening. I had to find other work to do to keep me away from the tv set. I felt I lived a bit more balanced life while I had my evening programs! I guess we can get in a ditch on either side of a road!
Well, isn't summer a fitting season to speak of redeeming time? The gardens and orchards just don't wait. You either can or freeze the stuff while it's there or you lose it for another year. I think the lessons of the seasons go hand in hand with biblical teaching. You must witness and work for the Lord when the doors are open or you lose the chance. Be frugal with your time. It's really not your time anyway. I think if I looked at all my days that way, that it's not my time, it's the Lord's that He has loaned to me, I'd get more done for Him. Truly, the times are pressing for us as Christians to be about the Lord's business. I have sensed an increased urgency to be about the work of the Lord, have you? Blessings, LORI
I was pondering giving a few hints on time well-spent. The Bible says we are to redeem the time for the days are evil. (Read Ephesians 5:15-16) Our family hasn't had television for years. We own a tv set, but didn't have an antenna, cable, or dish. So we just watched movies when we felt like sitting down in front of the tv for awhile. Over the years, we have collected a huge library of quality viewing. Clint is a "western" fan and there's scarcely a famous western he doesn't own.
Recently when all the tv stuff changed, my mom was unable to get many channels no matter what she seemed to try. She decided that for her lifestyle and with the winter coming on, a dish was the best option. She had one installed and since she lives in an apartment that is part of our house, other tv's could be hooked in as well. She encouraged us to get ours attached as well and gave us the hook up as a gift. So for a week now, we've been enjoying programming for the first time in years.
I was hesitant to hook into it at first, feeling it would compromise family time or time that we used to read the Bible. I think it could if we let it, but I have to say that it's been a blessing in other ways. For instance, I have been consistently getting to watch a favorite Christian teaching program that I never could see otherwise. Each morning I spend a half hour watching. I decided the best way to redeem this time is to keep a needlework project by my chair and work on it during that half hour. I think I will soon see results that go something like this: projects that are otherwise laid aside, never to be finished or at least put off for years, will now get done in a timely manner.
Another time saving hint. If you are like me and buy ground beef in large packages, try this: I save some of it in ziploc bags for the freezer but have found that immediately frying some of it and then freezing it gives me more options. A quick bit of pre-cooked burger will heat up for casseroles or tacos very fast if you are in a hurry. It's already cooked and drained and that saves time when you have to cook supper in a hurry. I think I gave this hint once before, but in case not, here goes: at the beginning of the week cook a roast, a whole chicken, and a bunch of hamburger. These three meats will carry you through a lot of meals if they are all prepared. Your options are endless. Of course, be careful not to let them get old. Use them in a timely manner. But roast can be roast one night, beef and noodles the next. Chicken that was pressure cooked can be chicken and noodles, chicken and dumplings, etc., etc. Cooked hamburger options are endless. See if that one day of meat cooking saves you time. Freeze what you can't use quickly for another hurried day.
Another way to redeem time: If you have a favorite program, tv or radio, that you feel you must watch, redeem the time by doing another project during the sitting time. For instance you could snap beans at the same time, do needlework, or dust the room the tv is in! I have decided to not let the tv rule me. At the same time I'm getting great encouragement from the Christian teaching. I remember a time when our adult Sunday School class challenged each other to go without television viewing for a week. I found it was detrimental to me. At that time we had television and I looked forward each evening to a time of relaxation gathered around some quality programs with the kids and Clint. During that week instead of doing other creative things with the time, like playing games, etc., I found myself working non-stop! I just never sat down in the evening. I had to find other work to do to keep me away from the tv set. I felt I lived a bit more balanced life while I had my evening programs! I guess we can get in a ditch on either side of a road!
Well, isn't summer a fitting season to speak of redeeming time? The gardens and orchards just don't wait. You either can or freeze the stuff while it's there or you lose it for another year. I think the lessons of the seasons go hand in hand with biblical teaching. You must witness and work for the Lord when the doors are open or you lose the chance. Be frugal with your time. It's really not your time anyway. I think if I looked at all my days that way, that it's not my time, it's the Lord's that He has loaned to me, I'd get more done for Him. Truly, the times are pressing for us as Christians to be about the Lord's business. I have sensed an increased urgency to be about the work of the Lord, have you? Blessings, LORI
Saturday, August 1, 2009
SOME NEW PICTURES
Here is a shot of the English Garden in it's current high-voltage colors! That's Daisy's favorite toy, a ring hanging up atop that shepherd's hook where the bird house is. I hung it there last year when she and I headed out for a walk around the perimeter of the property. It's never been removed! She hurt her leg playing too vigorously with someone who was throwing the ring for her and ended up with an operation and cast from which she is just now recovering after many months. Best it just stays there for now!
Here are some of the results of a day of berry picking. The blackberries were unbelievably thick and huge on the property this year. Their taste is a bit different from the black raspberries, but they make wonderful jelly! Here Mom is holding up a colander of them. The 5 qt. pail was nearly full and I didn't even begin to pick all that was out there!
We got a little rain late this afternoon and that was again, welcome. Hope you all enjoy the pictures! Blessings, LORI
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)