Note to Self and St. Andrew's

The title is deceiving.  It isn't a note to self and St. Andrew.  "Note To Self - The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself"  by Joe Thorn is a book I found when I wasn't looking. Because of the subtitle I thought it was for preachers, but I think it was written for me.  It takes an aspect of Christian living such as love, seeking God, or putting an end to complaining, and helps you apply it to yourself.  It reminds you to sing more, stop judging and sow grace.  I scooped up several copies.  

St. Andrew's Chapel is RC Sproul's church.  We went to the 9:00 service and thought we would be early.  Everyone was early.  We sat on the back row.
People kept pouring in and it was amazing how the ushers found seats for all of them.  The sanctuary itself did not seem very big, but it was in the shape of a cross and so there were wings on both sides.  We could not see how deep they were.
Sinclair Ferguson, one of the speakers at the conference preached a great message.  
The choir entered from the back of the church and opened the service from there with an invitation in song to enter into praise of the Lord Jesus and leave the world outside.
We all need to be reminded to do that as we worship.






The scroll in the glass case contains the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.  It is a handwritten manuscript on many panels of leather which have been sewn together.  It is 300 to 400 years old.

Tommy and I had to park in the back lot on the grass.  This vine covered stone wall surrounded the area.  Just beautiful.

A Trip to Orlando

Tommy and I drove to Orlando to attend RC Sproul's Ligonier Conference.  We took our time in getting here and funny things always happen to us on our trips.  They probably happen to you, too.
First of all, let me say that we have never taken as many u turns on a trip as we have on this one.  Let me also say that I am not driving.  You can draw your own conclusions....(Smile.)

We stopped in Louisiana for gas and I was surprised to see these little gator heads for sale.  So, do they kill baby alligators...just to sell their heads?  Really?  They go for $12.99, though it did not look like anyone was buying any.  (BTW - they were made by June Bug...just not this June Bug.)
As we drove along we hit a snag and were in dead stop traffic for one hour and fifteen minutes.  People were getting out of their cars and socializing.  We just turned the car off and read for awhile.
We stopped for lunch and another tank of gas and as we were driving away, the car made a funny noise.  I mentioned it and Tommy said, "It's okay, it stopped" and so we kept going...hmmm.  (Remember who is driving.)
Soon two guys in a hot rod passed us waving and pointing to our car.  Tommy pulled over to discover our gas tank lid flapping in the breeze with the tank door shut.  Now let me ask you...why is it that the young whippersnappers will tell you when something is wrong with your car - and the older more proper people who are traveling in their RVs or the business man going to work will drive by and ignore you, hoping someone else will tell you that you look like an idiot?  Okay, take note of this.

As we passed over the bridge at Mobile, guess what we saw?  Yes, the Carnival Cruise Ship Triumph.  There it was in all of its glory moored next to the port with these big thingys (ok, so I am not familiar with broken sea vessels) on the side of it.  The sun was going down faster than usual and I talked Tommy into getting off and going down to get a closer look.  Here we are driving down dark back roads looking for a cruise ship tail that sticks up in the air. We found it and though we could not get very close, I managed to take a couple of pictures.  I am glad that Tommy is sometimes willing to indulge my whims.
After a restful night we were on the road again.  Sooooo moving along, I see a truck with his gas tank lid flapping in the breeze and the little door is shut.  What do I do?  Do I pretend not to notice?  Really?  How could I not notice?  The truck is white and the lid is bright green.  I guess I could have turned my head towards Tommy and acted like I was in deep conversation while he had his ear phones on listening to...whatever.  No.  I rolled down my window and waved and pointed to the man in the baseball cap to let him know about the gas thingy and he smiled and nodded as if I was the one hundred and tenth person to tell him.  So be it.  I tried.  Later, when we passed him again, his gas lid was still undone, but this time I kept my nose in my book and smiled to myself.

We crossed the Suwannee River in Florida.  There were musical notes written on the sign, so I googled it and sure enough, it is the river that the song was written for.  In fact, Florida's state song is "Way Down Upon the Swanee (Suwannee) River".  Just a bit of trivia for you.

The conference has been wonderful, but busy, and packed.  Lots of traffic, lots of people, and lots of amazing singing.  Our friends, Mark and Cassie are here as well.  Today we met people from Tennessee, Washington DC, and Maryland.  I am looking forward to the final day tomorrow and to attending Sproul's church on Sunday before heading home.
Oh yes, Tommy and I went into a Walgreens last night and what did we see at the check out, but more gator heads...about thirty more.  These little guys need a lawyer.

Moments in Time...My Time

I should make this a page entry over on the side of my blog and add to it occasionally...because I have many moments in time and hope to have many more.  These are moments when I say, "I will remember this time forever, and then I look around and try to embed it into my memory."  Of course I do not remember all of these times, but I do recall the first one.
Moment in Time #1 - It was January 6, 1980 and the Tennessee Titans were the Houston Oilers.  (Those were the days of Luv Ya Blue.)  We almost went to the Super Bowl.  It was the deciding game against the Steelers and we lost and they were returning home.  Lee was five and Luke was three.  We were at Tommy's mom's apt and on a whim, they decided to go to the airport with all the other maniacal fans to welcome them home.  Even Mimi went.  I opted to stay back at the 'ranch' and hang out until they returned.  I don't know why I wanted to remember that time.  I think it was a little rainy.  It left me feeling melancholy and wishing only a tiny bit that I had gone with them.  As I stood at the door looking out into the dark, I thought to myself, "I will remember this."
Like I said, I will have to dig deep to recall some of these moments.  We have moved four times since we have been married and we have lived in our present house for thirty years.  So all of our moves happened in our first twelve years.  As we left each place, I would hug the walls and thank the house for being so good to us and for all the memories we made while there.  I know I am weird. If we ever move again, it will be with much agony and my claw marks will be etched deep into the walls as Tommy drags me out.  (I hate change and I get attached.)
Two Recent Moments in Time - My brother Wilbur and his wife Kasie were over for dinner and Bible Study. Bluegrass music was playing on the CD player.   It was a waltz.  I grabbed my niece Molly and we began to dance.  Soon all joined in and I then picked up Aubrey, Kasie picked up Owen, and Molly tried to teach her dad to stay in rhythm.  I said, "We cannot forget this.  We must remember it forever.  Today we all danced in my kitchen." Actually there have been many a waltz danced in my kitchen. My son Luke and I used to waltz when he was a little boy....seems like a world away, and yesterday all at the same time.
The most recent moment happened last Sunday night after church in the parking lot. There are two Amys in our church: Amy Jackson and Amy Johnson.  We call them Amy Ja and Amy Jo or if talking about them both, we say 'the Amys'.  As I was walking to my car, Amy Jo was outside and husband Andy had his phone to his ear.  He was making calls about cars that were for sale. Daughter Elizabeth is sixteen in a few days and Dad is wanting to find the right car.  She is less than enthusiastic about it because of her reluctance to join the rat race of drivers in the world. (Can't say I blame her.)  Gina Warren, another friend stood talking with us and Amy Ja walked up as Andy asked , "Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla?"  I said Toyota Corolla because I just like saying it. Then Amy and I both asked, "What colors are they?"  to which Andy replied, "What does that matter?"  (Men.)  Gina, the logical, safety minded person asked which was safer.  Andy walked away to talk to the seller, leaving us girls standing in a circle.  Suddenly, I said, "I feel a group hug coming on."  Amy Jo and her four girls, Amy Ja, Gina, and I threw our arms around each other and I said "We will remember this moment forever."  As a dad was taking care of his daughter's first car and the other children were tossing a football in the parking lot, and I was just passing through the crowd to get to my van, we made a memory.  I love those moments in time.  Just wanted to share.  Love, Me

Valentines

Old fashioned ones are the best. Don't they take you back to a simpler time?  These were my mom's from when she was a little girl.  Written on the backs are the names of childhood friends with sweet messages attached.  I just wanted to share some of them with you...
Have you ever gotten a love letter?  Giving is just as much fun as getting...maybe even more. Write a love letter to someone today.  Make someone smile. Share your heart with a friend.
The greatest love letter written is found in Scripture.  It is God's love for man, written in the blood of His Son as He gave His life for all who would believe.  That is love.
1 John 4:10  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Small Addictions

Are there such things as "small addictions" or do we just want to call them "small" because we don't want to admit to having any addiction at all...?  Yes, definitely, "small" sounds better.  Yes, yes.....(ridiculous). An addiction is an addiction.
addict: n. person who is a slave or devotee to a habit.  v. give oneself over as to a habit.
addicted: slavishly following (a habit, practice); strongly inclined.
None of that sounds good or right...hmmm.  Sometimes I think I know myself pretty well and sometimes I am a stranger, even to me.  Make sense?  I am not sure there really is such a thing, but having heard the term "addictive personality", I am thinking it describes me...and I don't like it.  (Maybe this is where I make this a journal entry on paper and not on a blog on the internet...but I will continue to type.  I have not decided to push that "publish" button, yet.)
It is easy to get hooked on things...things we eat, shows we watch, places we go, people we see, activities we partake in.  Do they matter?  I can only answer for myself.  Yes, they do.  There have been many "loves" in my life through the years.  A favorite show - and I am talking about the good, clean ones - a much loved soft drink, a sweet treat, books, even this blog...can all become little idols of addiction.  Though I would clearly love for my blog to be of help to someone, I can't say that my other habits would help anyone at all and least of all me.
So I challenge both of us to check ourselves and see if there is a "love" that we need to be rid of,  free from.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 
In the light of His glory and grace.
Okay, I am hitting that "publish" button now.

Do You Enjoy All You Do?

I posed this question to the ladies tonight in prayer meeting. Sometimes I will throw a question out for their thought and response...as we all continue to get to know each other.  Some of our members drive many miles and we often do not get to socialize outside of church.  It is nice to share personal ideas once in a while.  This question occurred to me this afternoon so I wrote it down.
"What do you enjoy doing?  What makes you happy?"  Some of the answers were "chocolate, learning about parenting, projects, listening to sermons, coffee, exercise, being with family, socializing, reading, writing," and more.  There is nothing wrong with any of these 'little happies'.
Then I asked, "Do you enjoy all that you do?"
Without exception the answer was "no".
I was prepared to tell them before class that it was not a trick question with a spiritual, guilt-ridden answer, BUT in the previous hour of bible study some verses jumped out at me that went along with my question.

Paul is speaking about all he has gone through.  He is in the middle of his third missionary journey and has been a Christian for about twenty-four years.
2 Corinthians 11:24-30  Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.  Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;  on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;  in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?  If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 
The gospel is offensive to many people...obviously.  Centuries have passed, but not much has changed in that regard.  I have been a Christian for about fifty years.  I have suffered nothing worth mentioning.  These torturous things did not stop Paul. He continued on because he loved it.  He loved people, but more than that, he loved the Lord.  We do not always enjoy everything we do, but we do it as it needs doing. Lord, help us to find joy in our daily tasks...and to look outside our little 'worlds' to those in need of Your love and salvation. May we, like Paul, be committed.
Thank You for the all of the joys that come our way, and help us to see the joy in the harder tasks.  Remind us that they are designed by You.

Fires, Hurricanes, Floods, and Me and My Desk

Some of the things from my desk.

Our house has not burned to the ground, but my dryer caught fire one day...no, not from the lint - the motor burned up. Our house has been flooded more than once, but the only thing we lost was carpet.  Hurricane Alecia in 1983 took its toll on us with the most damage.  And then there is me...and my desk.
I cannot remember how I attained this desk. I did not buy it.  It was most likely a curbside find - you know, those treasures that you happen upon by happy coincidence.  (I have lots of those)  It is not an unusual occurrence for me when driving, to slam on my brakes, back up, and load up some item of rare value, saving it from the awful fate to which it was destined.  I love "dumpster diving" as some call it.  After all, "one man's trash..."
ANYWAY, this desk had been at my house, my daughter in law's house, her mother's house, then back to my daughter in law's house and back to me.  Sounds exhausting.  I painted it white, blue, black and white, white and green, white and tan, white and blue, and white and green again...at least that's what it was last time I looked. It had been in a bedroom, the kitchen, the dining room, the living room...and finally I came to the conclusion that it had no "home" in my home.
Tommy and I were on our way out the door after I had spent a day painting that desk three times. In an impulsive moment, I told him to take it to the curb and be done with it. Joy and peace.
That night as I was getting ready for bed, a lightning bolt hit me hard.  I screamed for Tommy to go out and see if the desk was still there....because I forgot to empty it.  Yes, it is true. It was full of...actually I could not remember what it was full of, but my heart was so heavy!  Tommy reported that the desk was gone.  Another person like me had scooped it up.  I grieved.  I thought about families that go through real losses...fires, hurricanes, floods and lose everything they own.  I had only lost a desk full of treasures. Still, I was sick. I prayed that maybe a neighbor took it and would see the lovely (?) things inside and return them or maybe a man in a pick-up full of junk would remember where he had gotten it and bring me its contents...but the truth was I had to just forget about it...as if it had been burned.  This was on a Friday.
Saturday came with no one knocking and no one leaving a bag of my goodies on my doorstep.  On Sunday afternoon we had asked a couple to come and eat lunch after church.  We sat at the table in our kitchen and our neighbor across the street showed up on our porch, holding a sack.  I had seen them working in their yard and thought it might be flower bulbs.  (Our neighbors are always exchanging good things with us.)  Suddenly it dawned on me.  I jumped up and ran out to thank George, who thought I might like to have some things back.  He and his wife laughed at me as I held the sack close to my heart.  I thanked the Lord, too.
My forgetfulness is getting the best of me as I age.  All of this served to remind me that my treasure is in Heaven and not here.  I am glad my neighbors wanted the desk and so very glad to have my things back, though I had already begun to 'let them go'.  I wish I could say I will never do that again, but that would be unrealistic. Some never get back what they lose.  I strive daily to 'unlove' my earthly possessions.
Still learning the hard way, June